Poland He succeeds to the Kingdom of Sweden Differences between King Sigismund and Charles Duke of Sudermannia The States of Sweden give the Regency of the Kingdom in the absence of King Sigismund to the Duke of Sudermannia The Duke of Sudermannia and the Senate of Sweden are divided King Sigismund Attempts in vain to reduce the Duke of Sudermannia by Force The States of Sweden depose King Sigismund Charles Duke of Sudermannia is chosen King of Sweden The King of Sweden sends the Challenge to the King of Denmark The Death of Charles King of Sweden BOOK III. THE State of France since the Regency of Mary de Medicis The Treaty of the double Marriage between France and Spain The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings Intrigues in the Court of France when the Treaty of the double Marriage was known there The double Marriage at last passes in the Council of France The Popes Nuncio complains of the Sentence of Parlement on the Process of the Vniversity of Paris against the Jesuits The Nuncio's Invectives against the Advocate-General Servin The Nuncio's Advances to the Parlement to procure a Modification of the Sentence The Nuncio's Intrigues with the Clergy The Difficulties of the Jesuits to keep even in their Conduct to the Court of Rome and Parlement of Paris A Book of Doctor Richer Syndic of the Faculty of Paris makes a great Noise there The Cardinal du Perron and the Bishops of the Province of Sens assembled together to Condemn Richers Book Richer has the Syndicat of the Faculty of Paris taken from him Publick Rejoycings for the double Marriage New Disturbances in the Court of France The Duke of Mayenne is sent into Spain to demand the Infanta for the King Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia is Elected Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus II. Antonio Memmi is chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato The Embassy of the Mareschal of Bouillon into England The Discontent of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres Mary de Medicis depresses â—…e Factions of the Duke of Guise and Epernon The Count of Soissons undertakes to ruine the Ministers and engages outragiously to Attack the Chancellor de Sillery The Marquess de Coeuvres diverts the Count of Soissons from this Enterprize The Impostures of the Marquess of Ancres Some Persons suborned to accuse him of Magick The Affair of the Duke of Rohan at St. John of Angeli The Reconciliation of the French Protestant Lords The Protestation of the National Synod of Privas in the Name of all the Reformed Churches of France against the King's New Declaration The Entry of the Duke of Pastrane into Paris The Signing of the Marriage Articles between the Prince of Spain and the Eldest Daughter of France The Duke of Mayenne's Entry into Madrid The Signing the Marriage Articles between Lewis XIII and the Infanta of Spain A Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma A Discourse of Marrying Christina second Daughter of France to Henry Prince of Wales The Death of Henry Prince of Wales The Fortunes of Robert Carr in England The Death of the Count of Soissons A New Face of the Court of France The Condemnation of a Book of the Jesuit Becanus The Sentence of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Schioppius Peace between the Crowns of Sweden and Denmark Revolutions in Muscovy A False Demetrius in Poland Demetrius enters Muscovy and causes himself to be Crowned there Demetrius and a great number of Poles are Massacred at Moscow Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down Ladislaus Prince of Poland is proclaimed Czar of Muscovy The Polanders are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovitz is elected Czar BOOK IV. THE Baron de Luz is killed by the Chevalier of Guise The Regents Anger against the Guises The Duke of Guise desires to combine with the Prince of Conde The Queen becomes jealous of the Prince of Conde The Violence and Mercenary Temper of the Duke of Guise The generous Sense of the Duke of Epernon The Regent is Reconciled to the Dukes of Guise and Epernon The Ancient Ministers are recalled The Confusion and Perplexity of the Prince of Conde The young Baron de Luz is killed again by the Chevalier of Guise The Death of Francis Duke of Mantua New Projects of the Duke of Savoy upon this occasion Artifices of the Duke of Savoy The Governor of Milan demands the Dutchess Dowager of Mantua and her Daughter The Regent of France opposes the Duke of Savoy's designs The Pope's Conduct in the Affair of Mantua The Republick of Venice supports the Cardinal of Mantua Ferdinand Cardinal de Gonzaga takes the Character of Duke of Mantua New Efforts of the Duke of Savoy to fetch away from Mantua the Princess Mary his Grand-daughter Ambitious Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy carries Montserrat This Enterprize is the cause of New Metions in Italy Manifesto's of the Duke of Savoy and the Cardinal Duke of Mantua Artifices and Bravades of the Duke of Savoy His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Marquess of Ancre being found Intriguing with the Duke of Savoy is exceedingly Embarassed The Ministers are reconciled to the Marquess of Ancre The Court resolves to send a powerful Aid to the House of Mantua The Queen is diverted from sending Aid so soon to the Cardinal Duke The King of Spain declares against the Duke of Savoy The Emperor requires the Duke of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize on Montferrat The Governor of Milan constrains the Duke of Savoy to submit to the King of Spain's pleasure A difference between the Duke of Nevers and the Governour of Milan The Marriage of the Elector Palatin to a Daughter of the King of England A Discourse concerning the Marriage of Charles Prince of Wales with Christina of France The Emperor Matthias comes to the Diet at Ratisbon The Catholicks and Protestants reciprocally complain of each other The ill success of the Diet at Ratisbon The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Prince of Transilvania A difference between the Houses of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Prince Wolfgang of Neuburgh Marries the Sister of the Duke of Bavaria and changes his Religion Difficulties to make the Peace concluded between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua lasting The Governor of Milan presses the Duke of Savoy to Disarm The Dukes Evasion The Governor of Milan demands the Princess of Mantua on the King of Spains part The King of Spains Views in this demand The Republick of Venice traverses the King of Spain's Designs The Perplexity of Mary de Medicis in the Business of Mantua A Proposition made to the Council of France to cause Troops to march into Italy The Regent sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres into Italy to treat an Accommodation between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua The vast Ambition of Conchini made a Mareschal of France and Galigai his Wife A Continuation of the Disputes about Grace
place they desired that Sigismund the King 's eldest Son should be bred in the Protestant Religion because that young Prince began to give some Umbrage Queen Catherine Jagellon his Mother had so strongly tinctured him with the Principles of the Church of Rome that the Senators of the Kingdom having one day threatned him that he should lose the Right of Succession to the Crown if he did not soon renounce the Religion he had imbibed and embrace the Ausburgh Confession I prefer replied he boldly the Kingdom of Heaven to all the Crowns in the World No other Answer could be got from him On some Occasions the States of Sweden had more Complaisance for the King All seem'd dispos'd to receive the new Liturgy and the Accommodations he had invented Charles of Sudermannia the Clergy of his Provinces and some great Lords were the only People who defended the Reformation but the Interest of the Duke and the effectual Remonstrances of the rest brought back several whose Hopes and Fears had abated their Warmth and Zeal The King himself had lost much of that Ardor the Jesuit Possevin had inspired into him Whether he could not accommodate himself to the haughty Humour of Sixtus V. Successor to Gregory XIII or his Doubts were not sufficiently cleared or the great Power of his Brother kept him in awe John humbled the Catholicks who thought themselves now Masters of all things He drove out the Jesuits and demolished their College Gennila Bielke whom the King married after the Death of Catherine Jagellon cooled the Fervour her Husband had before shewed for the Roman Religion Kings often think they do that of their own Heads which a dextrous and insinuating Woman inspires into them John King of Sweden thought he had solid Reasons to doubt of the Truth of the Protestant Religion But his principal Motive though he scarce knew it himself was his great Complaisance for Catherine Jagellon The Queen Gennila might have brought him back to his first Religion in the same manner as the other had seduced him from it Sigismond Prince of Sweden is chosen King of Poland After the Death of Stephen Battori King of Poland Ann Jagellon his Widow and Aunt of Sigismond Prince of Sweden managed the Polish Nobility so well that the greatest part declared for him The contrary Faction chose the Arch-Duke Maximilian Brother to the Emperor Rodolphus But Sigismond's Friends carried it He was received in Poland beat the Arch-Duke and Maximilian being taken Prisoner redeemed his Liberty by renouncing all his Pretensions to the Crown of Poland The Swedes made their Conditions before the Prince left that Kingdom as the Poles made theirs before they received him The Principal thing which the Senate of Sweden stipulated with Sigismond was the preserving the Priviledges and Religion of their Country They added this Clause in the Treaty that if the King of Poland becoming King of Sweden after the Death of his Father should contravene any of the Articles agreed on that then the Swedes should be discharged from the Oath of Allegiance they had taken It is very probable that Sigismond before his departure from Sweden urged the King his Father to pursue his Design of causing his new Liturgy to be received together with the ancient Ceremonies which he had establish'd a little after his coming to the Crown When Princes have begun a Work that makes a great Figure they are loth to quit it and soon resume it when they see the least Prospect of Success Sigismond hoped his late Advancement would make it easie for him to accomplish the Work which his Father had drawn a rough Draught of And the King of Sweden strengthned by the new Alliance of Poland flatter'd himself that Charles of Sudermannia would not dare to oppose him He was deceived in his Conjectures The Churchmen of the Dutchy agreeing perfectly well with the Prince refused to receive his Liturgy This disturbed the King so much who was now at greater variance with his Brother than ever that he thought of recalling Sigismond in earnest The new King himself was tempted to return into his Country He would willingly have done it if the Poles had not briskly opposed it A Foreign Prince is easily dazled with the glittering Title of King of Poland But he soon takes distaste at the false Lustre of a Crown which only appears fair at a distance Those who have left their Hereditary Countries to go into Poland have repented This is the way to hazard the loss of an Effective Sovereignty for a Title which has more Pomp than Reality Sigismond knew by Experience the Truth of this Maxim The King his Father finding so great opposition from the Swedes who were more upon their Guard since the Election of Sigismond had nothing else to have Recourse to but to reconcile himself speedily to the Duke of Sudermannia and admit him to a Share in the Administration of Affairs The Apprehensions of John were something lessened by Charles's losing his Wife She left no Issue behind her and John pretended his Brother promised him never to think of a second Marriage If it were so the Duke in his turn broke his Word He soon after married Christina Daughter of Adolphus Duke of Holstein It is reported Sigismond courted this Lady before he went into Poland But a Sister of King John diverted the Prince her Nephew from the Match He after married Constance of Austria Daughter of Charles and Sister of Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Gratz in Stiria Christina enraged at this Contempt conceived so great a Hatred against Sigismond that after she was married to Charles of Sudermmannia she incessantly urged him to force the Crown of Sweden from Sigismond King John was not well satisfied with this second Marriage of Charles But his ill Humour did not last long He died soon after at Stockholm The Duke of Sudermannia was active as soon as he heard this News He set at liberty the Senators and Clergymen Sigismond King of Poland succeeds in the Kingdom of Sweden whom the late King had confined for opposing his Designs Sigismond very much distrusted his Uncle To prevent his enterprizing any thing to his Prejudice the new King writes that he was making all Preparations to come speedily into his Hereditary Countries In the mean time the Duke of Sudermannia takes the Administration as next of Kin to the King Puffendorf Introduction à Histoire Tom. IV. p. 11. Rhap 1. 2. John left another Son by his second Wife but he was yet a Minor The Senators without prejudice to their Oath taken to Sigismond promised to obey Charles in every thing he should order with their Consent for the Glory of God the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the maintaining the just Rights and Priviledges of the Nation The Duke promised of his Part not to transact any thing of weight without the Advice and Consent of the Senate A Council is thereupon assembled at Vpsal to regulate Matters of
Religion They abolished the Liturgy and Ceremonies introduced by the late King and reassumed those of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession They elected an Archbishop who was well affected and deprived those of the Clergy who had devoted themselves to serve the late King in his Innovations The Swedes and the Goths only assisted aâ—… this Assembly The other Provinces weâ—â— afraid of displeasing King Sigismond iâ—… they engaged without his Consent Thâ—… Decrees of the Council were confirmed by the Duke of Sudermannia by the Senate the Clergy the Nobility the Ministers of State and the Burgo-Masterâ—… who were present Those who were noâ—… there subscribed after Sigismond and his Uncle Charles observed each other The Nephew's Distrust was encreased by Charles his demanding that before he left Sweden his Majesty would give him a Promise under his Hand that he would confirm the Liberties and Priviledges of the States of the Kingdom and suffer them to enjoy the same Freedom of Religion they had done under the Reign of Gustavus Ericson and in the beginning of the late King 's The Duke of Sudermannia farther represented to the King that the ill Condition of his Country would not admit him to carry much People away with him These Instructions and Demands increased Sigismond's Jealousie He thought his Uncle plainly discovered he had vast Designs Sigismond was resolved not to heed the Duke's Remonstrances And now Charles had greater Hopes than ever to embarass the new King when he saw the Poles gave Sigismond leave to go into his Hereditary Country under Condition to keep his ancient Oath not to abandon Poland as Henry III. King of France had done â—…nd that his Majesty should return when he â—…ad setled his Affairs in Sweden and have â—…is usual Residence amongst them The Swedes were disatisfied the new King had plainly declared the Decrees â—…ade at Vpsal in his Absence and without â—…is Consent to be null However they reâ—…eived him with great Marks of Joy â—…nd Affection Duke Charles withdrew â—â—fter he had made his Compliments to his Majesty He thought it proper to leave â—…im alone with the Council of his Kingâ—…om The Pope's Nuncio who was with â—…igismond much disquieted the Swedes â—…t was visible the new King hearkened to â—…he Councils of the Court of Rome He â—…roke the Regulations made at Vpsal and commanded another Archbishop to be chosen He who was raised to that Digâ—…ity was in his Opinion an Enemy to the late King Afterwards he demanded a Church in every great Town for the Roman Catholicks The States of the Kingdom and the Clergy vigorously opposed his Enterprize being assured of the Protection of the Duke of Sudermannia The time of the Coronation approaching the Senators demanded in the Name of the States of Sweden that the King should first promise under his Hand-writing not to hinder the Exercise of the Protestant Religion Sigismond replied only in general Terms that he would give his Subjects satisfaction after his Coronation All these Difficulties retarded the Ceremony The Quarrel between King Sigismond and Charles Duke of Sudermannia Men cover Liberty and Independence only for themselves Very far from procuring it for others they strive by all ways possible to enslave the rest of the World The Polish Nobility so Jealous of their Privileges and Liberty but accustomed to keep other People in Slavery incessantly cried to their King Sigismond that an Hereditary State is Governed otherwise than an Elective Kingdom That in Poland he was subject to the Laws but in Sweden he was above them These Maxims easily insinuate themselves into the Mind of a Prince Sigismond displeased to see himself dependant on the Senat of Poland was better satisfied with being Absolute in Sweden He Rejected the Petitions presented to him The Duke of Sudermannia stood Neuter in the beginning of the Dispute He advised the King to have regard to the just Requests of his Subjects but he was not very uneasie to find a Difference arise between them by his Denials and Delays The States secure of Charles Assistance abated nothing of their Pretensions The stubbornness of the King strangely incensed them and the Sermons of some zealous Preachers of the Protestant Religion warmed the most cold â—…nd indifferent They talked of offering â—…he Crown to the Duke and giving it to Prince John in case he would not accept â—…t Being persuaded it was not yet time â—…o hear a Proposition of this kind he conâ—…ented himself with going to wait upon â—…he King at Vpsal and strongly backing â—…he Pretensions of the States The Neâ—…hew and the Uncle so heated each other â—…hey were upon the point of Fighting They were parted and as soon reconcil'd â—…o prevent any Confusion and Disorder in â—…he Kingdom These Accidents conâ—…irm'd the States the more in the Resoâ—…ution they took to make the King Exâ—…lain himself before they would proceed â—…o his Coronation The Popes Nuncio and such of the Poâ—…ish Nation as then attended at Sigismond's Court now perceived clearly that in Pruâ—…ence he ought not to stand it out any â—…onger but must yield to the present Exgency of Affairs They told him withal That he was not bound to keep a Promise exâ—…orted from him by Violence Now Sigismond promises 'em any thing they 'd have He reserved only that he might have the â—…ree Exercise of the Popish Religion for himself within the private Walls of the Castle where he should make his Residence But he from that very time took a Resolution of destroying his Uncle The Plot of Murdering him at a Play having miscarried they undertook to drive at him with all the Vigour and open Violence that was possible Immediate Orders were given to the Polish Army to march toward Stockholm This made the States of that Kingdom begin to think of their own Security They Summoned the Inhabitants of the Highlands to come down to their Assistance In the mean time during all this bustle the King took no care of the Government nor of securing the quiet of the Kingdom When any Proposal was made to him by the States he likewise would make a demand of some other thing at their Hands The Polanders were still at him to return home and to come to no Conclusion with the Swedes They flattered themselves that the wider the Breaches and Divisions grew in Swedeland the easier it would be to reduce it So that Sigismond in fine following their Advice took thipping for Dantzick He left Orders how he would have the Kingdom Governed in his Absence but neither the Duke of Sudermannia nor the States would submit to any of them as judging the Persons imploy'd therein to be averse to the Treaty concluded at Vpsal before the King's Coronation The States of Swedeland commits the Government of the Kingdom during the King's Absence to the Duke of Sudermannia Soon after his Departure the States of Swedeland pray'd Charles of Sudermannia to take upon him the Government The Duke desired to be excused yet
Regency of Mary de Medicis The Tryal and Execution of Ravillac The Condemnation of Mariana's Book and Doctrines The Funeral of Henry IV. The Good and Ill Qualities of that Prince The Regents Council resolve to send Aid to Juliers Edicts revoked to ease the People A Declaration in Favour of the Protestants The Prince of Conde's Return His Arrival at Paris Two Powerful Factions at Court The Prince of Conde Head of the one the Count of Soissons of the other The Mareschal de Bouillon attempts to unite the two Parties The Queen Traverses this Reunion The Rise of Conchini the new Marquess of Ancre The King of Spain's Prospect in renewing the Treaty of the double Marriage Differences between the Emperor Rodolphus and the Arch-Duke Matthias his Brother A Treaty of Peace between the two Brothers Matthias is Elected and Crowned King of Hungary The Discontent of the Protestants of Austria appeased Quarrels about Religion in Bohemia The Pacification of the Troubles in Bohemia The Diet of Prague in 1610. The Emperor gives the Elector of Saxony the Countries of Cleves and Juliers The Siege and taking of Juliers by Maurice Prince of Orange The Meeting at Cologne to determine the Affairs of Cleves and Juliers Reflections on the Coronation Oath The Oath that James I. King of England required of his Popish Subjects occasions a Dispute of the Independance of Sovereigns in Temporal Matters Paul V. forbids the English of his Communion to take the Oaths King James prints an Apology for his Oath without putting his Name to it He declares himself Author of the Apology He Addresses this to all the Princes and States of Christendom Coeffeteau writes against the Apology Cardinal Bellarmine addresses to the Emperor and all the Kings of the Papal Communion his Answer to the King of Englands Apology The Sentence of the Parlement of Paris against Cardinal Bellarmine's Discourse of the Authority of the Pope The King of Spain's Edict against the XI Volume of Cardinal Baronius his Ecclesiastical Annals Differences of the Marquess of Ancre with the Count of Soissons and the Duke of Epernon Their Reconciliation a Party made at Court against the Duke of Sully BOOK II. A Quarrel between Bellegarde and Conchini The Count of Soissons falls out with the Cardinal of Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon A Difference of the Count of Soissons with the Prince of Conde his Brother The two Princes Reconciled Another great difference of the Count of Soissons and the Duke of Guise The Duke of Guise is Reconciled to the Count of Soissons The Duke of Sully's Disgrace The first President de Harlay lays down his Place A Cabal to hinder Mr. de Thou from succeeding him La d' Escouman charges the Marquess de Vernueil and the Duke of Epernon with being concerned in the Murther of Henry IV. She is Condemned Reflections on her Sentence The State of the House of Austria in Germany The Ambitious Designs of Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasburgh and Passaw on the Kingdom of Bohemia The Troops of Leopold advance into Bohemia Matthias King of Hungary Marches to the Assistance of Bohemia He is Crowned King of Bohemia A Cabal at the Court of France against the Duke of Epernon The Cardinal of Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon resolve to leave the Court. The Marquess of Ancre designs to Marry his Son to the Princess of Soissons The Count of Soissons accepts the Proposition The Duke of Epernon's Generosity The Cardinal of Joyeuse's Instructions upon his going to Rome The Regent justifies her self to Paul the V. upon what she did in Favour of the Protetestants Complaints of the Court of France against the Duke of Savoy The Perplexity of the Duke of Savoy upon the Death of Henry IV. The other Princes of Italy not less Embarassed than the Duke of Savoy The Prudent Conduct of the Senate of Venice The ill Designs of the Court of Spain against the Duke of Savoy Divers Treaties to oblige the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy to Disarm in Italy The King of Spain demands the Duke of Savoy to make him Satisfaction by way of Preliminary France lays down her Arms in Dauphine She has some Jealousie of the Spaniards remaining in Arms in Italy The Voyage of Philibert Prince of Savoy into Spain The Form of the Satisfaction which the Prince of Savoy gave the King of Spain for his Father The Reconcilement of the Duke of Savoy to Spain Velasco Constable of Castile and Governor of Milan receives Order to lay down his Arms. Divers Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy resolves to Attack Geneva and the Country of Vaux The Council of France resolves to protect them At length they force the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. The Civil Meeting of the Protestants of France The Protestants preparation to hold a General Meeting The Mareschal of Bouillon suffers himself to be won by the Court The Meeting of the Reformed is Transferr'd from Chatelleraut to Saumur The Reconciliation of the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of Sully The Protestants renew their Oath of Vnion The Duke of Sully's Affair proposed in the Meeting at Saumur The Duke of Sully's Remonstrance to the Assembly A Discourse between the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of Rohan about the Duke of Sully's Affair The Assembly declares for the Duke of Sully The Court undertakes to break up the Meeting at Saumur A Division in the Meeting at Saumur The Wisdom of Du Plessis Mornay on that occasion The Book of Du Plessis Mornay against the Papacy The Book of Du Plessis Mornay is censured by the Faculty of Paris Reflections on this Censure The Troubles of Aix la Chapelle The Meeting of several Protestant Princes of Germany about the Affairs of Cleves and Juliers The Princes of the Protestant League meet at Rottenburgh in Bavaria The Death of the Elector of Saxony The Electoral Diet at Neurembergh The Elector's Requests to the Emperor The Emperor's Answer The Death of the Queen of Spain The Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The Dutchess of Lorrain and the Cardinal of Gonzaga come to the Court of France The Count of Soissons discontented The Faculty of Paris Censures the three Panegyricks of Ignatius Loyola Reflections on the Miracles ascribed to Saint Ignatius and the Character given him Disturbances at Troies in Champagne about the Settlement of the Jesuits in that City The Process of the Vniversity of Paris against the Jesuits upon the opening their College there Disputes on the Questions of Grace and Predestination The Rise of Arminianism in Holland Vorstius is chosen to succeed Arminius James the I. King of England opposes the Election of Vorstius The King of England's Apology for his Conduct in the Business of Vorstius Revolutions in Sweden after the Death of Gustavus Ericson John King of Sweden Attempts to change the Religion Established by his Father Sigismund King of Sweden is chosen King of
and Predestination in the Vnited Provinces A new Contest in Holland about the manner of chusing Pastors The Differences in the Vnited Provinces encrease A Conference at Delft between the Remonstrants and Contra-remonstrants The Prejudice of James King of England against the Arminians is abated Sibrund a Frieseland Minister publishes a Libel on the States of Holland Grotius is ordered to reply An Edict of the States of Holland to compose the Differences about the Questions of Predestination and Grace BOOK V. A New Party form'd at Court by the Marechal of Bouillon Artifices of the Duke of Savoy to raise a Civil War in France Different Measures propos'd to the Council of Franco for dispersing the Prince of Conde's Faction The Regent's Circular Letter upon the Retreat of the Prince of Conde and some Lords of his Faction The Duke of Nevers seizes the Citadel of Mezieres in Champagne The Prince of Conde writes a Letter to the Regent in form of a Manifesto The Weakness of the Parlement of Paris on this Occasion Reflections on the Answer the Cardinal of Perron made the Prince of Conde The Reply of Mary de Medicis to the Prince of Conde Mary de Medicis raises Six Thousand Swisses Bassompierre is made Colonel General of the Swisses in the Duke of Rohan's Place The Conduct of the Reformed in France in the Prince of Conde's Business The Wisdom of Du Plessis The Prince of Conde solicits the Reformed The wise Reply of du Plessis Mornay to the Regent and the Prince of Conde The Duke of Rohan seems to hear the Prince of Conde's Propositions The Duke of Vendome's Evasion He writes into Britany The Death of the Constable of Montmorency The Duke of Savoy shuns meeting the Marquess de Coeuvres Ambassador from France into Italy The Jealousie of the Princes and States of Italy occasioned by the Correspondence of the Two Crowns about the Affairs of that Country The Spaniards secretly traverse the Treaty carried on by the Marquess de Coeuvres The cardinal-Cardinal-Duke of Mantua accepts the Conditions proposed by the Marquiss de Coeuvres The Duke of Savoy seems likewise to accept them Troops are raised at Turin The Treaty of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King with the Prince of Conde and those of his Party The Prince retires to Soissons and goes into Champagne A Division in the Regent's Council on the Demands which the Prince of Conde and the Malecontents make with respect to their private Interests Intrigues of the Marshal of Ancre to divert the Regent from making War on the Prince of Conde The Pope's Nuncio's reasoning on the Resolution taken to make Peace with the Prince of Conde An Examen of the Political Reflexion of a Venetian Author of the Treaty made with the Prince of Conde A Treaty concluded at St. Menehoud between the Regent and the Prince of Conde The Sentiments of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Suarez the Jesuit Paul V. complains of the Proceedings of Parlement against Suarez's Book A Discourse of the Pope to the French Ambassador upon the Parlements Sentence The Conduct of the Court of France to satisfie the Pope The Jesuits stir to have the Parlement's Sentence burnt The King's Declaration in his Council concerning the Parlement's Sentence The Pope will not be satisfied with the King's Declaration The King at last is obliged to suspend the Execution of the Parlements Sentence Differences in the Court of France The Duke of Vendome refuses to accept the Treaty of Menehoud The Ability and Prudence of du Plessis Mornay Mary de Medicis sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres to the Duke of Vendome to dispose him to an Accommodation A new Disturbance of the Prince of Conde An Interview of the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Rohan The Prince of Conde thinks to make himself Master of Poitiers A great Tumult at Poitiers The Gates of the City are shut against the Prince He retreats to Chateouroux in Berry A Remonstrance of du Plessis Mornay to the Regent The King and Queen Mother go to Poitiers The Queen goes to Nants in Brettany to hold a Meeting of the States The Prince of Conti's Death New Differences between the Princes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh about the Administration of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers The Town of Aix la Chapelle is put under the Ban of the Empire The Marquess of Spinola reduces the Town of Aix la Chapelle and seizes divers Places in the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Maurice Prince of Orange takes divers Places in the same Country A Conference at Santheim about the Succession of Cleves and Juliers The Duke of Savoy is more embroyl'd with Spain than ever He seeks to gain the Venetians into his Interests The Marquiss of Rambouillet is sent Ambassador Extraordinary into Italy An open War between Spain and Savoy Several Things writ on both sides The Pope's Nuncio and French Ambassador labour for an Accommodation between them The Duke of Savoy accepts the Conditions proposed and Spain refuses them The King of Spain is not satisfied with the Governour of Milan's Conduct The Majority of Lewis XIII His first Act. Sits in his Seat of Justice Education of Lewis XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK I. THE Reign whose History I am about to write The Plan of the Work abounds in Great Events Here is a Scene of Civil and Foreign Wars Bloody Battles Towns attack'd and defended with great Conduct and Courage The Protestants oppress'd in France and supported in Hungary Germany and the Vnited Provinces The Nobility Clergy Parlements and People reduced to Slavery A King unable to extricate himself from those Difficulties in which some were still busie to involve him leaves the Care of Affairs to his Favourites and Ministers Alike averse to his Mother his Wife his Brother he treats the one ill and obliges the rest to form Leagues at Home and Abroad and at last to throw themselves into the Hands of the ancient Enemies of France The Princes of the Blood and the Great Lords disgusted sometimes at the ill Administration of a Regent at other times with the excessive Power of a Favourite or Minister rise under the specious Pretence of a Concern for the Publick Good The Protestants driven to Extremity by the frequent Infractions of the most inviolable Edict that ever was at last take Arms to defend the Liberty of their Consciences and preserve those Securities which had been so justly granted them in the preceding Reign The Enterprizes of the House of Austria on the Princes of Italy force them to have recourse to the Protection of France and make an Alliance with her These Sovereigns jealous of their Repose and Liberty see without concern the Duke of Savoy give up to the King of France a Place which opens a way into Italy whenever he shall think fit to send any Aid thither A great Conqueror coming from the
take to a contrary Interest possibly underhand countenanced the discontented Party and the Papists in England formed that Horrible Attempt which has since been call'd the Gunpowder Plot. Since that time James ever dreaded the Spaniards And they were so Skillful to improve this weakness of his and Avarice of his Ministers that far from opposing the Enterprizes of the House of Austria you will find he will patiently suffer her to dispossess the Elector Palatine who married a Daughter of England Henry IV. prepares for War In this posture were the Affairs of Europe when Henry Troops and bring them to to raise Troops and bring them to the Frontiers of Champagne John William Duke of Cleves Bergh and Juliers dying without Children lest a contended Succession His four Sisters or their Children had each different Pretenstions some Imperial Constitutions contrary to each other embroil'd the Affair more Some of these determined the Fees of the Contested Countries to be the right of the Heirs Male and others supposed Daughters capable of the Succession Among all the Princes who were pretenders the Right of John Sigismund Elector of Brandenburgh and that of Philip Lewis Palatin of Newburgh were the most plausible The first had married the Daughter of the Eldest Sister of the last Duke and the other was Husband of the second Sister who maintained that the Succession was devolved on her to the prejudice of the Children of her Eldest Sister Deceased before Duke John William These two Princes each took possession of a part of those Estates they pretended did entirely belong to them But it was to be feared a third stronger than both of them would make himself Master of the best places while they made War to drive each other out Therefore the Landgrave of Hess their common Friend made them consent to a Provisional Treaty In this they promised to terminate their Differences Amicably and by Arbitration and to joyn their Forces against any who should Attempt to usurp the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Till this should be decided it was agreed they should govern Individually and in common and without prejudice to the right of the Emperor or the other Princes pretenders The States of the Country Assembled at Dusseldorp took this Affair into their Cognizance at the Intreaty of the King of France who already declared for the two Princes They were both Protestants and the Vnited Provinces supported them as far as they were able This gave Umbrage to the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries whose Estates bordered on one side on those of Juliers A certain Prince of their House in Germany would have been glad to have made his Advantage in this Litigious Title The pretence of Religion is never wanting upon occasion and here it would have been very seasonable The Governour of Juliers then is won over and Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasbourg and Passaw passes secretly into the place He brought with him a Commission from the Emperour who pretended to be the Natural and Soveraign Judge of a Difference arising about the Fiefs of the Empire and in the mean time he gave to his Cousin Leopold the Administration of the contested places This Sequestration seem'd to tend to an Usurpation By the Addition of the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers to its other Hereditary Countries the House of Austria was in a condition to oppress the German Liberties with more ease The Neighbourhood of the low Countries gave the King of Spain an opportunity to send his best Troops to the Assistance of his Kinsmen This Enterprize ought to have alarmed equally all the Princes of Germany but the Jealousie caused by difference of Religion made the Duke of Bavaria the Electours of Mentz Triers and some others fear the Protestant Party would be too strong if the disputed Countries should fall to a Prince of that Religion See then the Catholicks assemble at Wirtsbourg and form there a League of which the Duke of Bavaria was Chief and send a Deputation to Rome and Madrid to demand Aid of Pope Paul the V. and Philip King of Spain On the other hand the Protestants come in great numbers to Hall in Swabia The Electour and Princes of Saxony do not appear there Those of the branch of Weymar and Koburg had their particular Pretensions to the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers and hoped the House of Austria would espouse their right sooner than that of other Princes more jealous of her growing Greatness The Elector of Saxony contented himself to send to Hall in conjunction with the King of Denmark to exhort all the Pretenders to put their Interests into the Emperours hand The Resolutions taken in that Assembly were kept private The Prince of Anhalt whom those of Brandenburgh and Newburg had desired to go on a Negotiation to the Court of France returned to Hall accompanied with Boissise Ambassadour from the King This Minister declared publickly his Master would Assist them with all his Strength and would march himself at the Head of a powerful Army to oppose the Designs of the House of Austria The Vnited Provinces too promised to joyn their Troops with those of Henry The Neighbourhood of the Contested Countries made it unsafe for them to suffer them to fall into the hands of a Kinsman or Friend of Spain The mortal Displeasure the King of France had to see the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries and the King of Spain receive the Prince of Conde with open Arms who had secretly withdrawn himself to Brussels with the Princess his Wife and promise him all sort of Assistance against the Injustice done him by Henry This Accident I say hapning at the same time with the Affair of Cleves and Julieâ—…s urged him more to a War than the Noble desire to assist his Allies Being Resolved to revenge the many Affronts he had received from Philip the II. and his Son and to have the Princess of Conde back what ever it cost him Henry again sent Troops towards the Alps. Lesdiguieres who from a mean Birth and Fortune had raised himself by degrees during the Wars in Dauphiny and Provence and had obtained the staff of Mareschal of France This Man was sent to conduct to the Duke of Savoy the Troops designed against Italy and to Attack the Milanese in Conjunction with him Vast Preparations were made These at first were covered with the ordinary pretence of the Publick Safety the preserving the Râ—…pose of Europe and the maintaining the Kings Allies in their rightful Possession but a Vile and Criminal Passion made them to encrease and march with the greatest Expedition Henry it was said had reason to fear that his ancient Enemies abusing the easiness and resentment of the first Prince of the Blood should excite an Ambition in him and put it into his Head to contest the Validity of the Marriage of the King with Mary de Medicis after a Divorce founded on very frivolous Reasons and the I egitimacy of his Children by this second Wife
but to speak the Truth the Absence of his Fair Angel for so he call'd the Princess of Conde lay nearer his Heart than any thing besides Mâ—…moires de Bassompierre No sooner did Henrietta Charlotte of Montmorency appear in the World but the good King became Amorous to the last degree of Folly The Constable her Father would have married her to Bassompierre a Gentleman of Lorrain who was well received at Court and in great favour with the King but Henry broke off this Match when it was very far advanced Bassompierre seemed too likely to engage the Affections of his Wife The Prince of Conde he thought would be a Husband less troublesom to a Lover by giving him Diversion in Hunting he flattered himself he should find time and means to deceive a Man who was not so discerning and jealous as the other would have been In a word Henry who could not content himself with his own Wife was willing as he freely said to Bassompeierre that his nearest Kinsman should be a Comfort and Support to him in his old Age which he was now entering into The Fliâ—…ht of the Prince of Conde The Prince soon perceived the King was desperately in love with the Lady he had married Henry's Passion appeared more clearly every day than other he could not keep himself within the Rules of Decency The new Husband could not contain himself any more He complains is transported and throws off all Respect To make him more complaisant and tractable his Pensions are taken away Notwithstanding his pressing Instances for the Money promised in Marriage he meets with nothing but denial These Hardships served only to exasperate a young Mâ—…n whom the Malecontents and the private Enemies of the King urged incessantly with Motives of Honour and encreased his Jealousie by representing the King was not Master of his Passion and might be transported by it to some Violence So that in fine the Prince of Conde determined to take his Wife with him and retire into the Low Countries The News of their Flight was a Clap of Thunder to the Amorous Old Man He immediately calls his Ministers who were his chief Confidents to concert Measures with them in so nice a Juncture The Chancellour de Sillery tells him with a great deal of Gravity He ought to make Good and Firm Declarations against the Prince of Conde and all his Adherents Could the slow Proceedings in a Court of Justice be a speedy and effectual Remedy for the Despair of a Lover who thought himself the most unfortunate Man in the World when the Object of his Passion was separated from him Villeroy Secretary of Sâ—…ate was of Opinion the King should write to his Ambassadors in Foreign Courts and order them to press the Princes not to receive Conde who had withdrawn himself without the King's leave and send him forthwith into France The Counsel of Villeroy was not heard This would have required a Negotiation with the Princes into whose Dominions Conde was fled A delay of this kind did not agree with the Uneasiness and Impatience of Henry When the Duke of Sully was asked what his Opinion was I foresaw this Accident said he to the King If your Majesty would have followed the Advice I gave you some days since and put Monsieur the Prince in the Bastile I would have taken care to have kept him well That 's true reply'd the King but what must we do now Nothing said Sully after he had mused for a small time near the Window A Fugitive Subject is soon abandoned by all the World if his Master do not appear concerned to ruin him If you shew the least eagerness to have Monsieur the Prince given up your Enemies will take Pleasure to vex you by receiving him well and aiding him Doubtless this was the best part he had to act but Henry was too Amorous to take it The Counsel of the President Jeannin was more pleasing to him He propos'd to send a Captain of the Guards after him to bring him back if he could seize him otherwise to send immediately to Brussels where the Prince would not fail to shelter himself and demand him of the Archduke and Dutchess and to menace them with a War if they refused to restore him Albert and Isabel added Jeannin have no Tye to Monsieur the Prince and the King of Spain will not have time to write to them to keep him What appearance is there that weak and timorous Persons will for so small a Matter draw your Majesty's Power on them Doubtless the Event would have been as Jeannin had imagin'd if the famous Ambrose Spinola had not been at that time with the Archdukes Albert and Isabel awed by the Menaces of a Warlike King who had made great Preparations would have complied with the Desires of Henry But Spinola with vehemence represented to them they could not in Humanity refuse a Retreat and Protection to a persecuted Prince who asked no more than a Shelter for his Honour and Person against the Insults which he had reason to apprehend That at least their Highnesses ought not to give a positive Answer without first consulting the Catholick King in an Affair of that Importance So in concert with the Court of Madrid an Answer was given to those sent by Henry That the Honour and inviolable Rights of Hospitality would not allow the Archdukes to restore the Prince without his own Consent into the Hands of the King But their Highnesses would take care he should not do any thing during his stay there against the Respect and Obedience due to his Sovereign So modest a Denial serv'd only to inflame the King's Anger and make him more obstinate in his Demands of the Prince and Princess of Conde He sent Orders every Day to repeat the Instances to the Archdukes While he was arming powerfully in his Kingdom the French who were at Brussels took Measures to carry off the Princess who gave ground to believe she was not very averse to it The People ran to Arms to oppose this Violence Conde at last resolv'd to retire to Milan and the Infanta took the Princess into her own Palace The Archdukes had promised not to give her up without the Consent of the Prince The Constable of Montmorency sollicited by the King demanded his Daughter and the nearest Kindred of the Princess wrote to Brussels as well as he They alledged that all the Family would have the Marriage annull'd The King had recourse to the Pope He pressed him to interpose his Authority that the Princess being set at liberty might demand a Dissolution of it She did not love her Husband and the Bigotry of the Infanta who watched her narrowly was so contrary to the Humour of a young Person accustomed to the Pleasures of the Court of France that she seemed not very averse to the Divorce her Kindred proposed to her at least in appearance But all these Subtilties wore fruitless The Archdukes inflexible in their Word
the Memory of his Father by the Love you ought to have for your selves and your Zeal for your Country I will instruct him to follow your Advice in all the concerns of State It is your part to see this be wholsom and good When she had done she came down within the Bar as if she would still give them a liberty to agree in their Opinions concerning the Regency The Princes Lords and Magistrates convinced there was more Ceremony than Reality in this begg'd her to take her place again Mary skill'd in the Art of Dissimulation suffer'd her self to be prest for a long time till the Instances she required seem'd to be a force on her Modesty and Grief Young Lewis rehearsed well enough the Discourse prepared for him It was not omitted here to insert the young King would follow the Advice of his Parliament This is a Language which ancient Custom has made usual in the beginning of a Minority but is never remembred by Princes when their Authority is once Established Ann of Austria and her Son said the same thing Nevertheless we have seen with our own Eyes in the present Reign and we shall see in that whose History I now write that Lewis XIII and his Successor have too much given ear to vile Flatterers who have prompted them to annul the Authority of a Body of Men on which the Preservation of France does depend Reisel Hist de Louis XII dans son livre de la Monarchie de France 1. part chap. VIII X. and which was Established to curb the Absolute power of the King Thus Men talked in the time of Lewis XIII And this Discourse is Seditious under the Reign of Lewis XIV The Chancellour assured them the late King had more than once signified his Intention according to divers preceding Examples that the Queen his Wife should have the Administration of Affairs in case he died before his Son was a Major After the Chancellor's Harangue was over the first President began He exhorted the young Prince to strive to deserve the Title of Father of his People as the good King Lewis XII had done on whose Throne he sat and to follow the Instructions which St. Lewis left to Posterity Servin Advocate-General did the same and all was concluded by the King's Decree sitting in his Seat of Justice and confirming that made the preceding Day and by sending it to other Parliaments and publishing it throughout the Kingdom The Speeches of these Two great Magistrates would have been worthy of their Gravity and Reputation if they had given less excessive Praises to a Princess who never deserved the most moderate ones The New Decree being given out the King returned with mighty Shouts and Acclamations of the Multitude who admire whatever strikes their Senses All People wished a long Prosperity to the Son of the Great Henry crying for Justice on the Authours of his Father's Death Happy had it been if the Prayers and Wishes of his Subjects could have obtained for him the Qualities of Mind and Inclinations necessary to tread in the Steps of the good Kings who preceded him the number of whom is very small But he had not Genius enough to acquire the one and his Mother would not permit him to have a Governour to form him for the other The Count of Soissons was extremely surprized to find all done in his Absence He made haste to Paris Intrigues and Cabals at Court in the beginning of the Regency of Mary de Medicis accompanied with Three Hundred Gentlemen on Horseback To lessen his Discontent which began to discover it self he had the Government of Normandy given him The Regent next rewarded those who had servâ—…d her well The Pensions of the Princes of the House of Lorrain were very moderate in the preceding Reign But Sully who strove to support the greatest Enemies of his Religion raised them to a Hundred thousand Livres The Duke of Guise obtained Two Hundred Thousand Crowns to pay his Debts and the Queen promised to favour him in the Design he had to marry the Heiress of Joyeuse Widow of the Duke of Montpensier by whom she had only One Daughter Epernon was so wealthy and had such Places he seem'd above the Gratifications of the Court He was rewarded according to his own Humour He had great Honours done him and all the Marks of a particular Distinction The Queen lodg'd him in the Louvre I do not said she Vie de Duc d' Epernon L. IV. think my self safe there wihtout him The Secretaries of State communicated all Dispatches to him In a word he seemed on the Point to render himself as formidable now as he had been under the Reign of the weak Henry III. The Count of Soissons sought his Friendship with great earnestness He He aimed by this to strengthen himself against the Prince of Conde who was invited to return and take his Rank at Court The Princess of Montpensier was Daughter to a Niece of the Duke of Epernon and the Count hoped to bring the Wealth of that rich Family into his House by marrying his Son to that Heiress This Match could not be concluded without the Consent of the Uncle Soissons hated Sully mortally He flatter'd himself that Epernon exasperated against that Minister who had done very ill Offices to the One and the Other with the late King would join with him to rid themselves of their common Enemy The Duke did not refuse the Friendship of a Prince of the Blood but would not engage to serve him in all his Projects The Edge of the Count was not taken off by this He proposes to his new Friend to stab the Duke of Sully in the Louvre A base and cowardly Action unworthy I will not say of a Prince but of the meanest Man in the World It struck with Horror one who valu'd himself on his Virtue and Probity Epernon reply'd as civilly as he could his Trust would not permit him to suffer a Violence of that kind in the King's House The Count took this Denyal ill However the secret Desire he had to raise himself above the Prince of Conde who fill'd a Place that Soissons thought belonged of Right to him made him dissemble his ill Humour Could Epernon after this maintain a Friendship with a Man who had discover'd so villainous a Heart However great a Prince is by his Birth or Interest he can deserve nothing but Hatred and Contempt when he once becomes guilty of so black a Crime Jealousies broke out and Intrigues grew numerous State of Affairs in the beginning of the Regency when the Debates began about forming the Regents Council The Princes of the Blood justly pretended to have a place there by Right of their Birth The Constable of Montmorency and the Duke of Joyeuse thought they ought not to be excluded Those of the House of Guise assured of the good Intentions of the Queen towards them hoped to raise themselves They were too weak
Prince The Mareschal de Bouillon undertakes to Reunite both Pazties he made his Account of had neither Genius nor Courage to follow the steps of his Predecessors he resolved to reconcile himself with the Court. Bouillon would have put himself at the Head of the Protestants of France He had thought of this in the preceding Reign But the Dukes of Sulli and Rohan the Mareschal Les Diguieres and divers other considerable Persons of the Party were no Friends to him So he made new Protestations of his Devotion to serve their Majesties He proposes to the Marquess de Coeuvres the Reconciling of the two Princes I 'll undertake to dispose Conde says the Mareschal to the Marquess if you will treat with Soissons who has a Regard for you Sillery Villeroy and Jeannin govern whilst the Princes and great Lords are divided among themselves Let us Reunite the contrary Parties without prejudice to the Queens Authority This is the only way to remove these great Ministers and reduce the rest to the simple discharging the Duties of their Places The Queen Traverses the Vnion of the Princes and great Lords The Count of Soissons was afraid this was a Trick of the Mareschal He imagined if those of his Party gave ear to Bouillon's Proposition he would inform the Queen and create a Distrust in her of the Count and his Friends The Cardinal of Joyeuse was of another Opinion perhaps he sincerely meant the Good and Repose of the State The Cardinal then obtained the consent of Soissons to treat with the Mareschal upon the Subject The Queen to whom the Count communicated the Accommodation proposed seem'd to be well satisfied with it however underhand she Traversed it The Ministers made her sensible that if the two Princes of the Blood the Constable of Monimorency the Dukes of Guise and Epernon the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse were once agreed her Authority would be much diminished by it The Regent thought it better to keep up Jealousies and Misunderstanding between contrary Factions and gain the Heads of both by her Favours The Rise of Conchini the new Marquess of Ancre The Failing of so many Projects made the Mareschal of Bouillon resolve to retire to Sedan at the same time preparations were making for the Inauguration of the King The Mareschals Religion would not give him leave to assist at the Ceremony But before he left the Court for some time he was resolved to make a powerful Friend near the Regent This was Conchini Husband of Leonora Galigai a Confident of Mary de Medicis He had lately bought the Marquisate of Ancre in Picardy As his Favour encreased every day he had obtained the Governments of Peronne Montdidier and Roie in the same Province So sudden a Rise made all the Ministers uneasie I cannot tell whether the Count of Soissons and those of his Party neglected a New Favourite whom they did not think able to serve or hurt them However this was Conchini strove to gain the good will of the Prince of Conde This Man was the Instrument which the Queen employed to divert the Prince and Duke of Guise from hearkning to the Accommodation proposed by the Mareschal of Bouillon the Mareschal was too discerning a Man not to see the Friendship of the Marquess of Ancre might be of great Service to him He offer'd to lay down his Place of first Gentleman of the Chamber if Conchini would buy it the Bargain was soon concluded The King of Spains Prospect in the double Match All Foreign Princes the Republick of Venice and that of the Vnited Provinces had sent Ambassadours to the New King The ancient Alliances were renewed and Lewis with all Solemnity received in the Church of the Feuillans the Garter which the Ambassadour of England brought him from James I. The Duke of Feria appeared with great Pomp and Splendour in the Name of the King of Spain Not being able to embroil France by means of the Prince of Conde Philip offered his Forces to Mary against all those who should disturb her in her Regency The Ambassadour again proposed the double Marriage which his Master had made an offer of to the late King Philip knew very well he could not propose any thing more agreeable to the Regent The present posture of Affairs of the House of Austria required her speedily to conclude a Treaty which might give her time to settle her Affairs in Germany and raise Jealousie and Distrust among those Princes who were Allies of France And because the Marriage could not so soon be finished the King obtain'd Mary's Word that France should not meddle in the Affairs of the House of Austria in Germany and he engaged himself reciprocally not to hear any Propositions which the Disaffected Party in France should make him Behold now how the Court of Madrid was Embarassed Differences between the Emperour Rodolphus and the Archduke Matthias his Brother The Emperour Rodolphus extremely broken seem'd not likely to live a long time Endeavours were used to secure the Empire in the House of Austria by the Election of a King of the Romans Rodolphus lived in a misunderstanding with his Brethren and the Protestants were very powerful The King of Spain was afraid some Men should make use of so favourable an Opportunity to remove the Empire from a House which possest it for too long a time and seeks to make it Hereditary The Archduke Matthias taking advantage of the weakness of the Emperour his Brother had carried on in the Year 1608. a Confederacy between the States of Hungary and Austria He marched sometime after towards Moravia at the Head of an Army of twenty Thousand Men with a design to compel Rodolphus to yield up the Kingdom of Hungary the Arch-dutchy of Austria and Stiria and Moravia Matthias took the Pretext of ill Administration and Infractions of the Privileges of those Countries who after the Example of the ancient Germans never gave their Princes an Arbitrary Unlimited Power A Fundamental Maxim of Government in all States formed out of the Ruines of the Roman Empire Philip II King of Spain had attempted to Abolish the Privileges of the Hereditary Provinces of the Low Countries and he took them away entirely from the Kingdom of Arragon the first Magistrate of which would have opposed the unjust Oppressions of Antonio Perez The Archduke Matthias next Kinsman to Philip better instructed than that cruel Tyrant in the Maxims of lawful Government made no scruple to place himself at the Head of the Vnited Provinces for the Defence of their Liberty against the Spaniards At present too the same Archduke makes without scruple War on his Brother who violates the Privileges of the States of Hungary and Austria If Rodolphus gave just cause for this Opposition or not it is not a place here to examine the Fact I only Remark that in the first years of an Unfortunate Age in which Tyranny has Established it self almost every
followed the Impressions of the Court of Rome Mary disliked too the Austere Humour of the Duke who would not fail to oppose her excessive Expences and Imprudent Liberalities The fear of causing Murmurs amongst the Protestants in discarding a Lord of their Religion without Reason possibly would have restrain'd the Queen and defeated the Cabals against him But they reckoned upon the Interest of the Mareschal of Bouillon with the Party He mortally hated the Duke of Sully and the Prince of Conde tempted by the Confiscation of the Estate of a Superintendant which Bouillon made him cast his Eyes on Declines interceding for a Man whose Plunder would enrich him Mem du Duc de Rohan Liv. 1. a Powerful Spur to make a Prince Act says one of the Wisest Men of that Time THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK II. 1611. The Quarrel of Bellegarde and Conchini IN the Year 1611. Conchini entred upon the Exercise of his New place of first Gentleman of the Chamber Bellegarde who had served the preceding year in the same Quality was loath to leave the Apartment in the Louvre appointed for him who served in that Quality The Marquess of Ancre having already Lodgings in the Louvre upon the account of his Wife but the latter had not respect enough for him to give him any thing which of Right belonged to himself The Key of the Apartments was demanded of Bellegarde Divers pretences were found to defer this The Marquess of Ancre tired with these affected Delays demands it himself of the Great Esquire in the Queens Closet Upon a positive Refusal several Affronting Words past on both sides Conchini did not want Courage He goes out of the Louvre to avoid a Prohibition of Fighting and with a Design to demand the Reason of the Affront and Wrong Bellegarde had done him This Quarrel made a great noise at Court Memoirs de la Regence de Marie de Medicis every one followed that side his Passion or Interest led him to The Count of Soissons and old Friend of the Great Esquires forgot all his New Ties to the Marquess of Ancre He threatned Conchini to drive him from Court and his Passion of which he seldom was Master had Transported him farther if the Marquess de Coeuvres his Confident had not stopt him Is this the way you take said the Marquess to him to compass your Design of Marrying your Son to the Princess of Montpensier and ruine the Duke of Sully your Enemy to quarrel with the Queen and her Creatures Bellegarde is your Friend but the Duke of Guise whom you don't Love has he not contracted an Alliance with this Gentleman by Marrying the Dowager of Montpensier his near Kinswoman Do you think for the future your Interests will be dearer to Bellegarde than those of the House of Guise if you have no Consideration for Conchini at least consider your self The Count began to reflect a little when a Gentleman came to tell Coeuvres the Marquess of Ancre desired to have some Discourse with him in the Hôtel d'Etrees Coeuvres go's instantly exhorts Conchini to consent to an Accomodation Monsieur the Prince and the Duke of Epernon have offer'd me their Mediation says the Marquess of Ancre but if it comes to that Monsieur the Count will be more grateful to me Coeuvres made his Advantage of this Offer The Count of Soissons valued it as a piece of Merit with the Queen to accommodate a Quarrel which gave her Majesty some Disturbance The Count of Soissons quarrels with the Cardinal of Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon Conchini thought himself extreamly obliged to the Count for having so dexterously managed his Honour Full of Gratitude the Marquess of Ancre promised Soissons to labour effectually to procure the Marriage of Mr. of Enghien with the Rich Hieress of Montpensier and to ruin the Duke of Sully The Queen consented in effect to the two Propositions which the Ministers and Marquess of Ancre strenuously pleaded for But when the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse came to understand the Queen disposed of their grand Niece without their consent they complained to her Majesty she had not Communicated to them a Matter which concerned them so nearly Farther they made great Complaints that the Count of Soissons had slighted them in carrying on a Matter of that kind with the Regent without their Privity This Prince full of Life but very Indiscreet took a Pique very unseasonably against two Persons whom he sought to engage in his Interests Endeavours were used for an Accommodation but all in vain Soissons was too passionate and Epernon too haughty The late King had designed the Princess of Montpensier for the Duke of Orleans his second Son and had declared this only to the Cardinal Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon otherwise the Match would have been agreeable to the Niece and the Uncles But how could they prefer the last Prince of the Blood to the first Son of France The young Duke of Orleans died the 17th of November this year In default of him the Princess of Montpensier was desired for Gaston Duke of Anjou third Son of Henry IV. A Quarrel between the Count of Soissons with the Psince of Conti â—…is Brother The Count of Soissons had the beginning of this year two Notorious Quarrels one with the Prince of Conti his Brother and the other with the Duke of Guise Three days after the Marriage of this latter with the Dowager of Montpensier the Prince of Conti going in the Evening to the Louvre in his Coach met near the Croix du Tiroir the Count of Soissons who likewise was in his There being a stop in the Street it was necessary one of the two Coaches should put back to make way for the other The Counts Gentleman began to be rough and without observing the Liveries to use Threats and command the Princes Coachman to put back immediately Conti's Men would not yield bid the Coachman drive on and fear nothing The Count of Soissons then saw it was his Elder Brother in the Coach he instantly sent to make excuses for the Indiscretion of his Gentleman They protested to the Prince in the Name of the Count this happened by Accident and not by Design The weak Conti was not contented with the Deference which Soissons paid him When a Man has little Merit he easily thinks he is despised To Morrow with your Sword drawn cries the Prince as he passed by his Brothers Coach To stifle brutally for a small point of Honour all Sense of Religion and Nature was this the way to make himself less contemptible The two Princes are reconciled The Regent being informed of what had happened prays the Prince of Conde to intercede and Reconcile his Uncles She sends the Duke of Guise whose Sister Conti had Married to dispose his Brother-in-Law to receive the Excuses that Soissons made
Man believe they were about to form a Potent League against the Turk and hoped to engage the King of Great Britain the Vnited Provinces Prince Maurice of Orange and the rest of the House of Nassau in it These Men says the Queen Lovers of Glory they will not be uneasie to have this occasion to add more to that which they acquired by their Valour The Picture which she makes of King James the I. must not be omitted here I own continues Mary that he persecutes the Catholicks cruelly But in shortâ—… he is a Prince who loves nothing but Peace He do's not seek to make himself Great aâ—… the Expence of his Neighbours he declareâ—… himself an Enemy to all Subjects who Rebel against their Princes If he could bâ—… sure of the Fidelity and good Intentions of thâ—… English Catholicks he would let them live peaceably As he is very averse to the Calvinists he will soon change in favour of his Catholicks if they give him no occasion of Suspicion or Distrust Complaints of the Court of France against the Duke of Savoy The Principal Article of this Instruction regards the Duke of Savoy He seemed to threaten to Attack the City of Geneva and the Country of Vaux belonging to the Canton of Bern. The Queen will have it represented to the Pope that the Ambition and Turbulent Humour of the Savoyard would put all Europe in a Flame and hinder the conclusion of the League which it was pretended was designed against the common Enemy of Christendom and that Henry III. and Henry IV. having taken Geneva and the Country of Vaux into the Protection of their Crown honour and Justice engaged their Successors to defend the one and the other in case the Duke of Savoy should attempt to attack them He beasts adds the Queen that his Holiness approves and favours his Designs that it is not probable The Pope knows better than any other Man in the World the Humour Power and Interest of Charles Emanuel His Enterprize can never succeed And when the King of Spain shall Reflect on the ill Consequences of these Motions of the Duke he will be the first Man to Condemn them Besides it is not well known what are the true Designs of Charles Emanuel When we demand why he keeps so many Troops afoot he answers the Spaniards being in Arms in the Milanese Prudence requires him to provide for the Security of his Dominions The Catholick Swiss Cantons making the same Demands the Ministers reply their Master will Reinstate the Bishops of Geneva and Lausanne in their ancient Rights He promises one thing at the same time he is under contrary Obligations to the King of Spain We have great reason to believe he keeps secret Intelligence with the Protestants of France and other Countries At present he is Intriguing to make an Alliance with the King of England by a double Marriage of their Children For the better understanding this Article it is necessary for me to take things a little higher and relate the several steps of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy after the Death of Henry IV. The great Perplexily of the Duke of Savoy upon the Death of Henry IV. This unforeseen Accident mightily embarast him and he was forced to act an hundred different Parts sometimes to pacifie the Court of Spain incensed against him at another time to preserve the powerful Support he had from France and lastly to find an Opportunity to gratifie his unbounded Ambition In the first place the Duke was Sollicitous to gaiâ—â— from the Regent a Confirmation of thâ—… Promise which Henry had made him 〈◊〉 give Madame the Eldest Daughter 〈◊〉 France in Marriage to the Prince of Piâ—â—mont whom he preferred to the Prinâ—â— of Spain who had likewise been propose to him If I would make my Son a Great King said Henry Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis like a Man of good Sense it is not necessary my Daughters should be Queens Care was taken to amuse Charles Emanuel with fine Words whilst a Treaty was privately managed with King Philip. As soon as the Duke discovered this he made complaints to the Court of France but the Regent very far from having regard to his Instances Demanded of him all the Writings about the Marriage designed by Henry IV. The rest of the Princes of Italy not less Embarassed than the Duke of Savoy The other Sovereigns of Italy were not involved in lesser Difficulties than Charles Emanuel The Republick of Venice and some others had a share in the Designs of Henry on the side of the Alpes As soon as they heard of his unfortunate Death they were all equally afraid Spain delivered from so Formidable an Enemy should now in earnest think of over-running Italy under colour of chastising the Duke of Savoy and the rest who kept Intelligence with Henry in order to drive the Spaniards out of the Milanese Paul V. scared sent for the Venetian Ambassador to him Write instantly to the Seignoury Siri Memorie recordite T. II. p. 285 286. says the Pope that I intreat them for the love of God to take care we may all agree in so Terrible a Juncture Measures must be taken for preserving Italy and the young King of France I plainly see he is in great Danger The Spaniards are busie to create strange Work for him I am ready to labour in Concert with and declare my self with the Republick The Wise Conduct of the Sâ—…nate of Veâ—…ice The Duke of Savoy had sent his Secretary to Venice to press earnestly the Senate to conclude with all Speed a League Offensive and Defensive against the Spaniards Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 288 291 They make new Levies says his Minister and Distribute Money to draw Officers into their Service The Duke my Master sees these Preparations are more designed against him than any other He is resolved to continue steddy to his Vnion with France will defend himself to the last gasp of Breath and sooner submit to the Turk than Spaniard You are to consider whether his Fall will not be followed by that of your Republick The speedy Conclusion of a League Offensive and Defensive is the only Means to prevent the Disasters which threaten us alike The Venetians who very well knew the Power of Spain did not presently take the Alarm They thought it necessary before they declared to be well assured of the good Intentions and Concurrence of France the Minority of the King having changed the face of Affairs there To engage Mary de Medicis to declare her self the Seignory wisely caused the League Offensive and Defensive against Spain to be proposed to her The Regent did not in any manner intend to pursue the Designs of Henry This therefore without farther Consideration she replied to the Senate that the Under-age of her Son would not suffer her to engage in a Foreign War but if the Senate thinks it Expedient that she make a Defensive
left but for Charles Emanuel to assure the Spanish Embassador at Turin that he was disposed to make his Brother-in-Law Satisfaction He only demanded to have a Suspension of Arms agreed on and to have Assurance given him that the Governor of Milan would not make any Attempt on Piemont till the King of Spain should be satisfied In stead of hearing the Dukes Propositions they quarrelled with him demanded he should Renounce all his Treaties with France not excepting that of his Sons Marriage and Lastly Philip's Officers at Milan answered they had no Orders to grant a Suspension of Arms or that Security which the Duke of Savoy proposed France lays down her Arms in Dauphine and is jealous of the Spaniards who continue in Arms in Italy At the Solicitation of the Pope Mary de Medicis had broke the Army of the Mareschal Lesdiguieres in Dauphine The Regents Council had consented to this more willingly because they were perswaded the King of Spain would not dare to begin a War in Italy Was it probable he could be in a condition to support one there who had not the boldness to oppose the taking of Juliers by the Confederate Princes Philip had assured the Pope his Design was only to mortifie the Duke of Savoy to give him a Check and Constrain him to make him Satisfaction The rest of the Princes were not displeased to see the Pride of Charles Emanuel humbled All this while he wasted insensibly because he would stand on his Guard and keep up his Troops till the King of Spain Disbanded his Who could yet be sure that Philip would not at last invade Piemont after he had fatigued the Duke of Savoy and craftily engaged the Regent to Disarm on the side of the Alpes The Council of France was of Opinion the Queen should make some Advances and declare positively she would not abandon the Duke of Savoy That the Disbanded Troops might soon be brought together and she would send a powerful Aid into Piemont if Spain should undertake to attack that Country Charles Emanuel was very glad to understand the Regent had Writ to the Pope to complain that the King of Spain continued in Arms though France had broke her Army in Dauphine and to assure his Holiness of the Resolution taken in Council to preserve the Country of Savoy But the Duke of Feria Ambassador Extraordinary of Philip in France had setled so strict a Correspondence between his Master and Mary de Medicis that the Pope could without much Difficulty dispel the Umbrage which the Regent had taken and perswaded her to wait quietly the Success of the Journey which Prince Philibert was about to make into Spain Philibert Prince of Savoy goes into Spain The Prince went through Lyons and Bourdeaux attended by the Count of Verüe and the Bishop of St. John de Maurienne These were to be his Directors in so nice a Matter The Prince Arrives on Post-Horses at Madrid without having received the least Civility or Mark of Respect from the King his Uncle in any of the Spanish Towns he past through Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 416 417 This was to prepare him to appear as a Suppliant to make Satisfaction to a Great King justly incensed against a petty Prince And now he was to endure all the strain of Spanish Pride At the first Interview Philip gave his Nephew an obliging Reception enough Not one Word was said of the Duke of Savoy no News of him was asked the Court affected to enquire of the Welfare of the Princes and Princesses of Savoy without making any mention of their Father The Second Audience was more Slippery and Difficult Here was a Submission to be made to satisfie the Spanish Humour which might not be too mean and low for the Duke of Savoy Charles Emanuel stood very much on an Extream Nicety in point of Honour His Son framed an Harangue according to the Instructions he brought with him The Count of Verüe and the Bishop assisted the young Prince in the drawing it He learnt it by Heart and spoke it with a good Grace It was accompanied with all the Demonstrations of Respect and Submission which the Dignity of a Prince could allow of The King was not Displeased with it but the Duke of Lerma and the Grandees of Spain thought very heinously of it because he had not thrown himself on his Knees before the King and begged Pardon for the Duke of Savoy Lerma made great Complaints and required that the Prince should make Satisfaction by Writing The Spaniards drew up the Form and required Philibert to Rehearse it in the Kings Presence The Savoyards did all they could to spare their Prince so shameful a step The Form of the Satisfaction which the Prince of Savoy made for his Father to the King of Spain But the Spaniards continued inflexible Philibert was treated very roughly till he consented to what was required of him It was in vain the Count of Verüe represented the Prince had exactly followed the Instruction his Father had given him and that he had not Orders to make any such Submissions The Spaniards were pleased to suppose the Prince had a second Instruction in case their King was not satisfied with what was prescribed in the first However this be said they farther the Duke of Savoy will ever be in a condition to disavow his Sons Action After much canvassing the Matter no other Remedy could be found but Philibert and his Council must agree to the following Form The Spaniards drew it almost all up Great Sir said the Prince of Savoy the Duke my Lord and Father sends me hither to throw my self at your Majesties Feet His Age and Business not giving him leave to come in Person to intreat your Majesty on my Knees to be content with that Satisfaction I make you I have not Words lively enough to express the extream Grief the loss of your Majesties Favour has given the Duke my Father I throw my self once again at your Feet and resolve never more to rise but die here unless your Majesty shall grant me the Favour I sue for That is to Receive the Duke my Father and all our House into your Royal Protection In this Great Sir you will give us a Mark of your Clemency in pardoning the greatest Faults and of the goodness you have always shewn to our House which is perfectly devoted to you and Honours you as its Lord and Father A Prince of your Blood protests this now at your Majesty's Feet and I will Sign it with mine if it shall be necessary The Duke my Father relies wholly on your Majesty's good Will and we put our selves all into your Hands If your Majesty shall receive us into your Favour this will be a new Obligation and indissolubly ties us to become your Majesties Servants The Accommodation of the Duke of Savoy with Spain The Bishop of St. John de Maurienne gave the Duke of Savoy an Account of
what passed at Madrid When he heard his Son was received with great Haughtiness and Indifference That the Duke of Lerma boasted he had a Copy of the Treaties made with France and that the Court required Prince Philibert to ask pardon in the Name of his Father Charles Emanuel fell into so furious a Rage that for a long time he could not contain himself within the Bounds of Decency I will sooner lose my Life 〈◊〉 Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 424 425. my Children my Dominions than consent to any thing so unworthy of my Rank Am I then a Vassal to the Crown of Spain that I must ask Philip's pardon for making a Treaty which does not suit â—…ith his Interests There is now no need for management thanks be to God I am not so weak but I can hazard a Battle against Spain Let them Treat my Son ill Let them break the Laws of Hospitality These Hardships shall not oblige me to do so mean an Action When the Pope's Nuncio undertook to represent to the Duke that the State of his Affairs would not allow him to refuse to make some sort of Submission to his Catholick Majesty he was more Transported than before he said a Thousand nasty things he protested he would never consent tho' the Pope himself should order him The Nuncio was not Diverted by this he briskly told the Duke that he must not expect any Aid from France whatever happened if his Country became the Stage of a War it must unavoidably be ruined So that Charles Emanuel convinced at last by the News he had from France that the Regent would assist him with all her good Offices at the Court of Spain he consented Prince Philibert should make Satisfaction according to the Form agreed on with the Duke of Lerma The thing was done the 19th of November 1610. At the Intreaty of the Pope and the King of France replied Philip with his usual Gravity In consideration you are come hither and the Request you have made me I will not put in Execution what I have designed I will give Marks of my good will to the Duke your Father as his good Behaviour shall induce me Prince Philibert made a profound Reverence and humbly thanked the King for his Majesty's Gracious Regard to the Duke of Savoy had always Velasco Constable of Castile and Governor of Milan receives orders to Disarm Philip answered to the Pope and the rest who prest him to withdraw his Troops out of the Milanese that he must wait till Velasco who was appointed to Succeed the Count of Fuentes was Arrived at Milan He was on the Road when the Prince of Savoy performed the Conditions proposed to him The Pope and Mary de Medicis redoubling their Instances to Philip to Disarm he was under a necessity of complying As soon as Velasco was in Possession of his Government he received Orders from Philip to Disband the Army The posture of Affairs of the House of Austria in Germany were so bad and the Kingdom of Spain was so much exhausted of Men and Money that Philip â—…ad no other way to revenge himself of an inferiour Prince who had attempted to take the Milanese from him Nay France and the Pope were forâ—…ed to assist him privately to save his Honour Without this Charles Emanuel would have been a Match for him and the King of Spain would not have dared to attack him Different Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy was ready to burst with Spight to see himself made the sport of all Europe He resolved to defer laying down his Arms as long as he could and to make his Advantage of the Troops he had on Foot Sometimes he would declaim against the King of Spain and made a Mein as if he would Disavow all the steps of Prince Philibert At others he was violent against the Regent of France and threatned to make work for her in her own Kingdom in case she would not perform the Treaties made with the late King One day he thought of Surprizing Genoa and for that purpose enter'd into a Negotiation with the Mareschal Lesdiguieres because the thing was not fesible without the Concurrence of France Some time after he Resumed his old Project on the City of Geneva Filled with new Hopes he strove to engage the Pope and Constable of Castile to favour him in the design to destroy a Common-weath equally hateful to the Courts of Rome and Madrid Charles Emanuel was on the point of Surprizing Geneva at the end of 1602. Some of his Men were got upon the Walls and ready to open the Gates to the Duke who was come near it if the Enterprize had not been happily discovered In the year 1609 he hoped to succeed better on the side of the Harbour The Contrivance was to conceal divers Soldiers in Vessels loaded with Wood and to run these down the River The second Attempt was defeated sooner than the first Du Terrail Head of this Enterprize imprudently spoke of it to some Persons who gave the Magistrates of the City notice to be upon their Guards After this in the Spring time 1611. the Duke of Savoy thought to try if he might not succeed better with open Force The Duke of Savoy resolves to Attack Geneva and the Country of the Valleys His Troops were ordered to pass out of Piemont into Savoy This sudden Motion of a Restless Ambitious Prince gave great Suspicions at first he strove to conceal his Designs on the Country of Geneva but the Inhabitants of the Town and those of the Canton of Bern soon discovered them They first Addressed themselves to the Mareschal Lesdiguieres and desired him to procure Assistance from the Regent Lesdiguieres promised his good Offices Before he wrote to Court he laid before the Duke his Friend that Geneva and the Country of Vaux as being under the protection of France she would not fail to defend them Charles Emanuel did not seem to give much heed to these Discourses and therefore the Mareschal earnestly prest the Queen and her Councel to oppose the Designs of the Duke they saw very well the Consequences La Nove Son to that Brave and Religious Gentleman who gain'd so fair a Reputation in the Wars of France and the Low Countries had order to go to Geneva with two Thousand Foot and the Canton of Bern received New Assurances of the King's Protection The Council of France resolves to protect Geneva and the County of Vaux Bellegarde Gentleman of the Horse was sent into Burgundy and the Marquiss of Alincourt to Lyons to watch the Duke of Savoy's Motions Berrault appointed Ambassador extraordinary at Turin went to represent to Charles Emanuel that his Enterprize would have troublesom Consequences and declare directly that the Regents Council were gathering Troops to defend a Town and Country which the Predecessor of Lewis the XIII had taken into the Protection of their Crown The Duke who reckoned on the
Assistance of the Pope and Governor of Milan did not desist for all this The Count of Soissons sent him privately word to be very reserved to Berrault a Creature of Villeroy who aimed to surprize and daunt the Duke Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag. 463 464. The Pope's Nuncio in France declared his Master knew nothing of the Designs of Charles Emanuel but this Italian Minister maintained them as well as he could and strove to prove the Justice of them to the Queen All this gave Umbrage This was the reason she earnestly recommended to the Cardinal of Joieuse to Discourse with the Pope upon this Subject and to Represent the Reasons which France had to oppose the Enterprize which the Duke of Savoy seemed to design The Duke of Savoy is forced to Disarm The World could not comprehend the Intrigues of this Prince perhaps he himself did not very well know what he would have Charles Emanuel undertakes to make a War on the Protestants and his chief Prospect is to raise the Hugonots of France in case he were left alone to act against Geneva At the same time he proposes to the King of England a double Marriage of the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy and of the Prince of Piemont with a Daughter of England It was very difficult at first to make King James hear the Envoy from Savoy and yet the Duke pushed the Matter so far that the Court of Rome was alarmed at it Paul V. took Measures to break the Treaty which the King of England and the Duke of Savoy had no great mind to conclude A Capucin had Orders to go to Turin with an Instruction from Cardinal Borghese to divert Charles Emanuel from thinking on an Alliance with England All that could ever be guessed of so capricious a Movement was that the Duke thought to create a Jealousie in France and bring her by this means to finish the Treaty or the Marriage of the Eldest Daughter of that Kingdom with the Prince of Piemont He hoped too the Pope would break the Treaty of the Double Marriage between France and Spain and Assist the Prince of Piemont to Marry the Eldest Daughter of either of those two Crowns rather than suffer the Duke to bring a Protestant Princess to Turin The poor Duke spoil'd all his Affairs by aiming too much to be crafty His Intrigue with England did not succeed better than any of the rest The Regent determined too on the double Marriage between France and Spain thought no more on the Prince of Piemont except for Madam Christina second Daughter to the late King For his designs on Geneva and the Country of Vaux these he must quit too Mary de Medicis had acted her part so well with the Pope and King of Spain that they joyned with her to compel the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. La Varenne was sent from the Court of France to Turin to conclude this Matter Charles Emanuel still flattered with some Hopes the Regent would be his Friend had a mind to do this with a good Grace He thought at least to make this Advantage that Mary de Medicis should take in good part the Deference which he feigned to have for her Majesty A Civil Meeting of the Protestants of France The Queen was the more Solicitous to put a stop to the Commotions in Savoy because the Court feared the Protestants met at Saumur might take Umbrage at it When the Reformed of France saw there was a necessity for them to defend themselves against those who attacked them with open force they began to form set Meetings in different Provinces of the Kingdom to agree on Measures for their Safety and the free Exercise of their Religion One or more Provinces joined together first held their Provincial Assembly Out of these they deputed a certain number of Gentlemen of those they called Elders or Ministers to form the General Assembly who were to take Resolutions for the common Good of the whole Body Reason and Natural Equity allow of these sort of Confederacies The Primitive Christians united and had their Meetings for the Regulation of their Discipline and preserving the Purity of the Gospel After their Example the Reformed had their Synods to draw up their Confession of Faith and form the Government of their Churches These being born in a Christian State where Subjects have Privileges and Liberties had not only their Religion to take care of but were under an Indispensable Obligation to defend their Right as far as the Rules of Natural Equity and Christianity admit against their King and a Faction of their Countrymen who strove to oppress them The Sovereign Power ought to hinder as far as may be all Associations and Meetings which may cause Disorder and Confusion in a State but this must be by a due Execution of the Fundamental Laws and maintaining those Rights and Privileges which Subjects cannot without Injustice be deprived of It is reasonable to alledge Men ought not to form a State within a State None would think of this if they were left peaceably to enjoy their Birthright But for Princes to pretend to prevent Disorders which would never happen if they were disposed to do Justice and to use these plausible Maxims to oppress with more ease those whom they have Sworn to protect is a Tyranny which it is lawful to oppose This is ever most dangerous when it is covered with the fair Colours of the publick Good The King of Navarre liked these Principles very well and thought them solid and conducing to the Welfare and Repose of Civil Society whilst he was struggling to defend himself against the power of the League but when he once saw himself Master of a fair Kingdom he soon abandon'd those Sentiments which Interest more than Reason had led him to embrace Princes never consult this Oracle they are only entertained with Discourses of Reason when they are not in a condition capable of understanding it In the following part of their Lives they are flattered and Transported with Passion for their own Greatness Whatever makes them absolute and Independent ever seems most Just and Reasonable to them After the Verification of the Edict of Nants Henry did not without great difficulty grant the Protestants leave to hold a General Meeting He was afraid the Lords that resorted to it or had their Creatures there should attempt any thing to his prejudice Are not the Synods said the King sufficient to determine Matters of Discipline and Religion As for Civil Affairs and the keeping the Edict of Pacification the two Deputies General which I allow the Protestants to have in my Court can represent to me the Griefs and Complaints of the Provinces I will take care to do them Justice This manner of Reasoning had been good if Henry had had the Knowledge and Integrity not to be Surprized by the Popes Nuncio and other crafty Men who were ever near him to Extort
Magistrates to be Elected with the consent of the Protestants The Ambassador of the Arch-Dukes of the Low Countries at Paris made an Instance to the Regent to Annul the Regulations made by the Marquess de la Veuville and his Collegues But the Regent being informed of the truth of Things declared to the Envoys of the Princes of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh and those of Aix la Chapelle that her Son would not suffer any thing to be done to the prejudice of their Masters The Meeting of some Protestant Princes of Germany about the Affairs of Cleves and Juliers They were afraid in Germany that the Litigious Succession of Cleves and Juliers would cause a Division among the Protestant Princes The Elector of Brandenburgh and the Duke of Neuburgh had their Pretensions the Elector of Saxony too was resolved to maintain the Rights of his Family The difference of these three great Protestant Houses was like to give great Advantages to the Roman Catholicks Divers Princes met in May at Introbock near Leipsic in Saxony to Advise about Means to prevent this unfortunate Clashing and bring the Pretenders to an Agreement The Electors of Saxony and Brandenburgh Mercure Francois 1611. divers Princes of the two Houses and of that of Hesse and some other agreed that the Matter should be decided by the Emperor the Countries of Cleves and Juliers should be jointly Possessed and Adminâ—…stred by the Elector and Princes of Saxony together with the Princes of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh on condition that the Saxons should advance a certain Sum of Money to the two Princes which were in Possession The Protestants were glad of this Means to Reconcile the two Electoral Houses But the Prince of Neuburgh having refused to consent to it notwithstanding the whole Assembly of Princes in the Protestant League at Rottemburg in Bavaria intreated him earnestly to comply this Treaty of Introbock had no effect The Princes of the Protestant League meet at Rottemburgh in Bavaria The several Persecutions which the Reformed suffered in Bavaria at Bambergh Wirtsburgh Cologne Worms and elsewhere gave occasion to this Meeting of the Princes of the Protestant League at Rottemburgh They were glad they still had the liberty to Regulate some common Matters and take Measures to preserve and strengthen their Union The Emperor sent two Persons of his Part to the Assembly Complaints were made to these Men Mercure Francois 1611. of the new Execution of divers things which his Imperial Majesty had promised to the Protestants and of the Persecutions which those of the Religion suffered in several places The Emperors Deputies excused this as well as they could His Imperial Majesty said they will keep peace among the Subjects of his Hereditary Countries without any Distinction of Religion But having no Power to Control the Archbishop of Cologne nor the Bishop of Wirtsburg and Bambergh he cannot be Responsible for what those Prelates do The Electors must meet in a little time at Nuremberg to debate there of the General Affairs of the Empire The Emperor desires to act so as to give every one Satisfaction The Protestant Princes being accustomed to these sort of Delays replied in high Terms if the Emperor deferred any longer to keep his Word they would make such Provision as the State of Affairs should require Matthias King of Hungary who hoped to procure himself to be chosen King of the Romans sent the Baron de Polheim to Rottembergh to manage the Princes of the Protestant League It concerned him not to have them Traverse him in his Designs Polheim thanked the Princes for the Affection they shew'd to his Master assured them of the Friendship of Matthias and communicated to them the Agreement made between the Emperor and his Brother After the Complements which Princes Reciprocally make each other on the like occasions the Protestants prayed the King of Hungary to forbear all sorts of Violence to preserve a Respect for the Emperor his Brother and prevent the Foreigners of his Council from taking Measures which might disturb the Repose of Germany The Republick of Venice the Swiss Cantons and the Seignoury of Geneva had likewise sent to the Meeting of the Protestant Princes The Venetians were upon their Guard against the House of Austria and especially against the King of Spain and Ferdinand Archduke of Gratz The Swisses and the People of Geneva feared the Enterprizes of the Duke of Savoy This made them seek the Goodwill of all the Protestant Princes of Germany A like Assistance was promised to the Seignory of Geneva and a very civil obliging Answer was given to the Republick of Venice and the Swiss Cantons The Affair of Aix la Chapelle was brought under debate The Princes resolved to defend the Protestant Citizens if there were occasion for it but they prest them to live peaceably with the Catholicks They undertook to intercede with the Magistrates of Cologne to admit the Protestants to go without Scandal or Fear of being Disturbed into the Countries of the Neighbouring Princes to pray to God with those of their Religion But if the Magistrates refused to comply with this Request they were exhorted to suffer patiently and to avoid committing any Violence Besides this they writ to the Bishop of Bamberg and Worms to pray the first not to disturb his Protestant Subjects and the latter not to introduce the Jesuits and to send away those he had admitted I take pleasure in relating these particulars It shews the Wisdom and Moderation of the Protestant Princes of Germany They did not take Arms for Religion till the last Extremity These Princes farther sent into France England and the Vnited Provinces to renew the Alliances and thank the two Kings and the States-General for the Aid they gave in the War of Cleves and Juliers In the Conclusion several Counties and Towns of the Empire upon their desire were admitted into the League and the Affairs of greatest consequence were remitted to the Judgment of the Electoral Diet appointed at Nuremberg Christian the Second Elector of Saxony The Elector of Saxony's Death died of an Apoplexy before John George his Brother succeeded him Excess of Drinking is a common fault among the German Princes It is surprizing the unfortunate and untimely Death of so many of their Kinsmen as are daily killed by the excess of Wine should not divert them from a Vice so unbecoming Persons of their Rank and so contrary to Christianity Christians ever rewarded the greatest Drinkers best His Successor was forced to be at a greater charge to redeem the Castles and Lordships which he had lavishly given to the Companions of his Debauches Mercure Francois 1611. There is a Report that the Princess his Mother sent a Minister to him to exhort him to leave off that Vice The Elector placed him at his Table and knowing he loved Money promised him a great Golden Cup if he would drink it off at a certain number of times The Minister accepted the
Condition but was drunk before he finished it The Elector caused him to be set in a Chair and ordered the drunken Preacher to be carried back to the Princess The next time Madam he bid them tell her Make a better choice of your Men. If you would have me profit by your Advices send such Men as are more proof against the Temptation than I am Princes often would want place in History if it was not necessary now and then to divert the Reader and paint the Folly of Vice The Electoral Diet at Nutembergh John George the New Elector of Saxony came to Nurembergh with his Collegues about the beginning of October The first Affair treated of there was the Contest between the Dukes of Deux-Ponts and Neuburgh about the Administration of the Electorate during the Minority of the young Count Palatine of the Rhine Mercure Francois 16â—â— 1611. This was to continue till he was arrived at 18 years of Age according to the Golden Bull. Frederick VI. Elector Palatine deceased the preceding year had given by his Will the Guardianship of his Children and the Administration of the Electorate to John Duke of Deux-Ponts He was received at Heidelbergh in this Quality notwithstanding the Opposition of Philip Lewis Duke of Neuburgh who pretended to the Administration as being the nearest Kinsman as is appointed in the Golden Bull of the Emperor Charles IV. The Counsellors of the Palatinate liked the Duke of Deux-Ponts best because he was of the Established Religion of their Country whereas Neuburgh was of the Ausburgh Confession They grounded this Preference on the Examples of several Electors Palatine who appointed Guardians to their Children and Administrators of the Electorate to the prejudice of their nearest Kinsmen The Affair was remitted to the Emperor Till a full Decision of the Guardianship and Administration were adjudged with a provision to the Duke of Deux-Ponts The Electoral Diet of Nurembergh did not any more give a Defensive Judgment It was concluded here that the Duke of Deux-Ponts should keep the Place of Count Palatine without prejudice to the Duke of Newburgh's Title In the beginning of November the Electors sent a Deputation to the Emperor The Electors Demands of the Emperor to represent to him the things which they thought proper to desire from him These were that Justice should be Reestablished That he should chuse more Faithful Counsellors That he should Summon a General Diet That the Electors having no design to chuse a King of the Romans without the consent of his Imperial Majesty or to remove the Empire from the House of Austria Rodolphus would Name his Successor The Electors assured him at the same time they did not approve of the Attempts of his Brother Matthias In the close they Admonished him that the ill Administration of the Empire proceeded from his Majesty 's not following the example of his Predecessors who used to consult with the Electors The Answer of the Emperor Rodolphus Rodolphus only gave a General Answer I know says he the Empire do's want a King of the Romans The Electors have spoke to me of chusing one and I design to Nominate one who is fit to fill the Place I should have done this sooner if the Troubles in Bohemia had not entirely taken me up But before I declare my self I shall be glad to see a General Diet and I will be present there The Electors should take care that I may speak freely there what I think to be for the good of the Empire The Electors having received the Emperor's Answer broke up the 12th of November after they had resolved to hold a Diet at Francfort in the Month of April the next year for the Election of a King of the Romans Europe was then in Mourning for the Death of Margaret of Austria The Death of the Queen of Spain Wife to Philip the III. King of Spain She left behind her four Sons and two Daughters Philip Charles Ferdinand Alphonso and Ann whom we shall soon see Queen of France and Margaret There was a Solemn Service for the Queen of Spain in the Cathedral Church of Paris The Princes of Conde Conti and the Duke of Guise performed the Honours and the Archbishop of Ambrun spoke the Funeral Oration The Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The House of Guise had not long before lamented the Death of the Duke of Mayenne the Famous Head of the Holy League in France He died at Soissons the beginning of October The Duke of Aiguillon his Son Succeeded him and took the Name of the Duke of Mayenne The Father had gained a mighty Reputation in War but his Remissness made him lose many fair opportunities of encreasing it His Revolt against King Henry the III. was pardonable for the desire he had to Revenge the Death of his two Brothers if it were lawful I will not say for a Christian but for any Man whatever to kindle a Civil War to Revenge a private Injury His Opposition of Henry the IV. was not wholly the effect of his Zeal for the Old Religion The Duke of Mayenne was more moderate against this Prince after he left the Communion of the Reformed than before The ill Humour which the Miscarrying of the League had put him into made him take in Despair a Resolution to retire into Spain But the Clemency or rather the Policy of Henry stopt him The King proposed very Advantagious Conditions to him The Duke had in some manner deferved well from him though he strove to exclude him from the Crown Whilst the League was active Mayenne always opposed the design of Philip to procure a Prince of his House to be chosen Farther he kept the Duke of Guise his Nephew steddy who was dazled with the deceitful promises of the Spaniards When they proposed to the Duke of Mayenne to follow the Example of Hugh Capet who reserved the Sovereignty for himself permitting the Governors of Provinces and considerable Towns to make themselves Dukes and Counts Vassals of the Crown I would sooner die replied he generously than make an Advantage of the Misfortunes of my Country Henrietta of Savoy his Wife died of Regret a few days after him and both had the same Funeral Solemnity at Soissons The Dutchess of Lorrain and the Cardinal de Gonzaga came to the Court of France The Court was at Fontainblean when they heard of the Death of the Duke and Dutchess of Mayenne The Cardinal of Gonzaga and the Dutchess of Lorrain his Sister were come thither to pay a Visit to Mary de Medicis their Aunt They had great Honours done them and were regaled with all the Diversions which the place afforded It is reported the Dutchess of Lorrain came to mention the Match which the late King had proposed himself of his Eldest Son with the Princess of Lorrain This was the best thing the Regent could do for the young King's advantage Siri Mem. recondite To. II. p.
Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
declared at the same time that neither his Conscience nor the Love he bore his Country could ever permit him to comply with the Orders left by his Nephew yet notwithstanding his seeming Modesty the Duke wanted only to be further courted in the Matter The Senate was to have almost an equal share with him in the Government and Governors of Towns did exercise a sort of Sovereignty in their Jurisdictions The King had contrived it should be so as a necessary precaution to ballance his Uncle's Authority and to lessen his Power Such a Scheme of Government was not for the Duke's turn He expected that the Senators would abate somewhat of their Rights and Privileges and that more Authority would be allowed him over the Governors of each City Matters were accordingly brought to that pass as he would have it The Duke then as if he had only yielded to the repeated Address of the Senate slides into the Saddle of State and marches to Stokholm Then he was wont to say That the best way of Government at that juncture was to put into execution what the King was indespensably bound to perform himself And are we bound said he to obey such Orders of his that are found to be contrary to his Coronaâ—…ion Oath As soon as the Duke enter'd â—…tokholm he Cashier'd the Governour of â—…he Castle for being a Roman Catholick he â—…lso forbid the Exercise of that Religion within that City he made great Presents to the Senators he granted Pensions to the Bishops and to the Professors of Colleges and won his Clergy's and Citizens Love by his Affable and Courteous ways His Wife Christina was brought to bed at that time and the Child was Christn'd by the Name of Gustavus Adolphus This Ceremony was concluded with a splendid Entertainment which he gave to the Senators and to the chief of the Nobility The Famous Astronomer Ticho Bradhe who then Calculated this young Prince's Nativity pronounced that he should one day wear a Crown This was sufficient to raise his Parents hopes to a high pitch It is usual for Persons that are enter'd upon Difficult and Glorious Designs to entertain such uncertain Prognostications 〈◊〉 undoubted Oracles The Duke of Sudermania thought that the calling together of the States would be a means to Establish his Authority The Confusion in which the King left Matters in Swedeland at his going away was a Specious pretence enough for this Convocation Charlâ—â— together with the Senate writ to the King about it But he made them no Answer This Silence of his was by some Interpreted as an Assent to this Meeting 〈◊〉 the States by others as an unjust Dissent But if so the Prime Officers of State iâ—… Swedeland do pretend that in such a Caâ—â— they are impowr'd by the ancient Lawâ—… and Constitutions of the Kingdom to convene a General Assembly of the States They met accordingly at Suderkopin As soon as the News of it came to the King he charged them not to proceed any further declaring that he would never ratifie such Resolutions that were taken contrary to his Will and Pleasure But no Regard was had to such Prohibitions of the King 's The States maintain'd that their Meeting at this Juncture of time was both Lawful and Necessary for the Welfare of the Kingdom They then came to a Resolution not to allow of any other Religion in Swedeland saving the Protestant Persuasion according to the Ausburg Confession of Faith That the Rites and Worship after the manner of Rome should be every where Abolisht That Priests of that Communion should hasten out of the Kingdom in a Fortnight's time The Duke of Sudermania was declared Regent during the King's Absence With this Limitation that all Affairs should be Administred by him in Concurrence with the Senate Many other Laws were ordain'd for the Preservation of the Liberty and Privileges of the Country and they who would not submit to such Regulations were declared to be evilly affected toward the Welfare of the Land and to be Disturbers of the publick Tranquillity Charles his Regency seemed now to be well Established A Misunderstanding betwixt the Duke of Sudermania and the Senat. so that Sigismond had no other way left him but to endeavour to create Jealousies and Divisions betwixt that Duke and the Senate This took and it was cunningly carried on Charles was the more readily disposed to fall out with the Senat for that he did suspect them with holding a Correspondency with those of the Province of Fineland who still held for the King The Senators on th' other hand complained that he did all things after his own fancy and dealt harshly with such as opposed his Designs in the least Charles alledged that they did wast the Publick Revenue and had fomented Misunderstanding betwixt the King and him with a design as it should seem to ruin both his Majesty and himself that they themselves might thereby become sole Masters He made a shew of laying down the Administration of Affairs that was committed to him but was extreamly surprised when he found not one of the Senate opposed that his seeming Resolution Therefore considering with himself that he had gone too far to retreat in hopes to slip his Neck out of the Collar he again laid hold of the Helm of publick Affairs He Summon'd a General Assembly of the Senates to be held at Arboga There the Senate with many of the Nobility formed a distinct Party in opposition to that of the Dukes many went home again and there were not very many that came to this Parliament held at Arboga The Decrees of the Convocation at Vpsal were here confirmed and whatever was enacted by the late General Diet at Suderkoping Addresses were made to Charles to request him not to Abandon the Government at this juncture with a promise that none should be allowed to have so great a sway as he in the Administration of publick Affairs Yet the Senate refused their Assent to these New Regulations and the Chancellor with some others left the Kingdom upon it Such a favourable Conjuncture as this King Sigismonds unsuccessful Attempt to reduce the D. of Sudermania by force prompted Sigismond to march with a good Army towards Swedeland if he had made more speed he might have disperst the Duke's Party which grew weaker every day but the King's slackness gave him time to gather strength and to seise on many fortified Places and to secure the Fleet. When Sigismond Landed the Elector of Brandenbourg and other Princes of Germany us'd their Endeavour to Reconcile the Nephew and Uncle but their Negotiations proved ineffectual Charles protested that he only sought the Preservation of the Peace of the Privileges and of the Religion of the Country But Sigismond would not trust him He resolved to be the ruine of an Uncle who openly aspired to no less than the Crown These two Princes was each of 'em at the Head of his own Army and there was great likelihood that the
Fate of one Battle would decide the Quarrel Sigismond was so overseen that his Camp was surprised at Linkoping Part of his Army was kill'd and some drown'd To save the remainder he sued to his Uncle for a Peace Charles agreed to it on condition that the five Swedish Senators that were with the King might be delivered up to him he charged them to be principal Authors of all these Distractions and that they should be brought to their Tryal for it at the next Sitting of the States The two Princes concluded a Treaty Charles renewed his Oath of Allegiance to the King And Sigismond ingaged that for his part he would govern the Realm henceforward according to the Constitution of the Country and his Coronation Oath He further promis'd to call a Parliament in four Months time and that all Matters in Controversy should be there decided in presence of such Commissioners as the Emperor the Confederate Kings and Electors should appoint on Application made to 'em for it There were other Stipulations made for the Mutual security of both Princes and for the Disbanding of their Forces on each side Care was taken to add this farther Article That in case King Sigismond performed not this Treaty his Subjects of Swedeland should be discharged of their Oath of Fidelity to him The States of Swedeland depose King Sigismond The King and Duke had frequent Meetings and all things seem'd dispos'd toward a lasting Peace Charles seemed sincerely inclined to observe the Treaty on his part But Sigismond vext to the Heart to see himself forced to submit to his Uncle's Terms retired secretly into Poland instead of going to Stokholm as he had promised He was no sooner arrived at Dantsick but that he publisht in all Courts of Europe that his Uncle was a Traytor and a Rebel and therefore pretended that he himself was in no ways bound to the Treaty concluded at Linkoping Was it possible for him to do any thing that could more contribute to the promoting of Charles his Designs who knew accordingly to turn all this to the best Advantage He therefore so managed the point that the States met at Linkoping where Sigismond was cited and summoned to make good his Promises at the last Treaty of Accommodation That he would embrace the Protestant Religion that he would come to make his Residence in Swedeland or that at least he would send his Son Prince Ladislaus to be brought up under his Uncle's Tuition in case that he himself did chuse rather to tarry in Poland It was at the same time Enacted by the States that in case the King refused to accept these Terms that he and his Issue should forfeit all their Right to the Crown of Swedeland which would be bestowed on a Person capable to govern this Realm after the Fundamental Laws of the Land Whilst Sigismond dallyed to return an Answer the Duke of Sudermania was desired to take the Government upon him and to maintain the Protestant Religion The States since held at Stokholm declared That they were no longer bound to the Oath of Allegiance they had taken to Sigismond because he had contravened his Grandfather's last Will and Testament had not performed the Office of a good King refused to observe the Treaty concluded with him at Linkoping and slighted all Remonstrances made to him Yet after all this they made an offer of the Crown to Prince Ladislaus in case that in a years time he came to reside in Swedeland and would be instructed in the Protestant Religion But that if Sigismond and his Son refused to agree to such reasonable Demands as these they Solemnly protested that neither himself nor his Issue should be ever capable of pretending to the Crown of Swedeland Charles Duke of Sudermnia chosen King of Swedeland Nothing in the World could be more favourable to Charles his Designs than such a Conjuncture of Affairs as this was King Sigismond took a fancy to maintain the Claim of the pretended Demetrius in Muscovia He had afterwards several wrangling Contests with the higher Nobility of Poland so that whilst he was thus taken up all he could do in some of the Remotest Provinces of Swedeland proved to be very weak and unsuccessful Then the Duke become Master of the Heart of the Country and of the best Garrisons summon'd the States to meet at Norkoping in March following in the stear 1607. To make the World believe that he had no hand in perverting the Loyalty of Sigismond's Subjects nor of Usurping of his place on the Throne he offer'd to lay down the Regency committed to him and even proposed to accomodate Matters with Sigismond or to place John the King's Brother on the Throne The States would have no further mention of either Sigismond or of his Son As for Prince John whether it was that he more loved his Ease than Ambition or whether he rightly guess'd at his Uncle's Real Sentiments in the bottom who made such Proposals but for a shew but truly coveted the Government for himself John I say did very generously refuse it in outward appearance declaring at the same time That he was content with his Dutchy of East Gothia and would always approve himself a faithful Subject if any Person that was better able to govern the Realm than himself in such Troublesom times as these Charles therefore after so many shews of declining the Crown which were never thought to be sincere accepted it at last It was ever setled on his Heirs Male and not to devolve to John but for want of such Issue Male of the Body of Charles The States being moreover sensible that Queen Catherine Jagellon was the chief Promotress of the Troubles and Difficulties that King John her Husband and her Son Sigismond had brought the Protestant Religion under decreed that their King might be only Marry'd to a Protestant The New King without any more adoe writ to Sigismond Mercure Francois 1607 1608. and to the Common-wealth of Poland to give them notice of his Accession to the Crown and to make them an offer of renewing former Alliances betwixt both Kingdoms The States of Swedeland writ to the same purpose to the Senate of Poland in particular Charles was presently after Crown'd at Vpsal together with Christina his Wife overjoyed to see her self now above Sigismond's disdain The King of Poland did not vouchsafe to make any Answer to his Uncle's Letter looking on him to be no better than an Usurper The Senate writ only to the States of Swedeland The Polanders took upon 'em to tax the Swedes after an insultting way with Disloyalty towards Sigismond they protested they would own no other as lawful King of Poland saving him They inveighed bitterly against the cunning Tricks made use of as they pretended by Charles to strip his Nephew of the Crown The States of Swedeland replied to this Letter by a Manifesto directed to the Senate of Poland wherein they did justifie their own Conduct all
and Strength of France These Princes who were Apprehensive of the too great Power of the House of Austria were enter'd into a League with the Deceased King The good Correspondency that he took care to maintain in this sort of a Confederacy which he Headed did keep Spain in awe and within due bounds This put Henry in a capacity of undertaking any thing whenever he should think it most expedient But so soon as these Allies of France perceived that the Queen Regent was entring into a strict Alliance with the House of Austria they presently grew Jealous and betook themselves to other Measures The Venetians did not so openly declare themselves The Duke of Savoy extream angry that no regard was now had of the Treaties that had been made between King Henry and him sought all manner of ways to raise Commotions in France he had thoughts of siding with Spain if he might be secured of any thing to content his Ambition France taking no care to preserve the old good Correspondency that was between the Protestant Princes of Germany and elsewhere they fell off one from another The House of Austria that has always a watchful Eye to its own Interest was wise enough to make the best of these Divisions James King of England might have in this case supplied the Place of Henry the 4th and compel'd the Queen Regent to keep to the Model of Government that was left with her by the late King her Husband The concern of the Protestant Religion as well as the Wellfare of England did require that James should have at that time thought on 't better But alas the good Prince never lov'd sincerely either one or th' other Such a State of Affairs as this did well for the Court of Rome The Popes have been ever Spaniards by Inclination The Kings of Spain are wont to bring the Popes over to their Interest by affecting a great Zeal to ruine Heresie The aim of these is to raise their Worldly State and of the former to serve those that will best contribute to restore their Spiritual Monarchy It appears that the Court of France at this time was pleased with this old policy of Spain whereby to gain the Popes favour But was it not a little too late to think of this way The Court of Rome never keeps a Neutrality with France but when reduced to it by some emergent Necessity The French have Principles that are opposite to the Pope's Pretensions and to the greediness of his Courtiers The Factions which had formerly put France into such a Confusion under the Regency of Catharine of Medicis were now seen to revive under this Government of Mary For the maintaining of her own Authority Mary took care to bring down the Princes of the Blood Royal as that other Queen her Cousin had done before She thought fit to make use of the House of Guise which enter'd into a new Knot with that of the Duke d'Epernon Instead of joyning with the real Friends and Well-wishers of the Crown she gave her self over to be led by the Popes and King of Spain's Counsels who could not grow great but at the cost of young Lewis The Princes of the blood understood this great Evil. They were in the Right but in renouncing their Forefathers Religion they had lost all their Credit They likewise wanted Strength to oppose the Queen Regent's Designs They of the Reformed Religion in France being well inclin'd sought to prevent the Mischief this double Alliance with Spain would bring on the Head of the Protetestants But alas how could they help themselves There were now no Princes of the Blood to Head them any more The Grandees of that Communion divided more than ever since the Assembly at Saumur were now ready to undoe one another I come now to particulars of the History of the year 1612. We shall in it begin to see these three different Parties following their Intrigues and the different condition they are in The Queen Regent and her Confidents shall make use of the Kings Authority to cover their wicked Designs The Princes of the Blood shall exclaim against the ill Management of the Government but either no ear shall be given to what they 'll say or their Mouths shall be stopt by false Promises or slight Gratifications The Hugenot Party fully convinced that â—…ll effectual ways are taken to ruine them totally shall make loud Complaints and shall bestir themselves without being able to mend their Matters in the least thereby Their mutual Divisions will hinder them from having sufficient Strength to cause their just Remonstrances to be heard Negotiations touching a double Marriage betwixt France and Spâ—…in Cosme Grand Duke of Toscany now enter'd into a Closer Alliance with the House of Austria by a Marriage with Magdalen Arch-Dutchess of Grats does set on foot the Negotiation that was begun by his Father Ferdinand concerning a double Marriage to be concluded betwixt the two Crowns of France and of Spain The better to succeed for to obtain the Deceased Kings consent he proposed a third Match between Don Carlos King Philip the 3d's second Son and the Princess Christina second Daughter of France The King of Spain did offer to give with the Infant the Sovereignty of the Low Countries after the Arch-Dutchess Isabella's Death But Henry gave no ear to this New Proposal no more than to the former being convinced that it was only a Snare for to get him to Abandon the Protection of the Vnited Provinces As soon as the News of his Death was brought to Madrid Siri Memorie râ—â—â—ndite pag. 3â—…0 3â—â— c. the Duke of Florence's Embassador at that Court did again sâ—…t on foot the Business of the double Marriage He knew well enough how agreeable it would be to his Master to gratifie Mary of Medicis who had an extream desire this Affair might Succeed The Duke of Lerma and the other Spanish Ministers of State readily agreed to the renewing of this Negotiation but they finding that France was not now so much to be feared as heretofore they made some other lower Proposals These Gentlemen would hear no more of that third Marriage of Don Carlos with the Princess Christina pretending that their King was unwilling to Alienate and cut off for ever the Sovereignty of the Low Countries from the Monarchy of Spain and they did even give out that Philip was not out of Hopes of reducing the Vnited Provinces as soon as the Truce was expired or broke And on pretence that the Daughters of France do not carry along with them into another Family any Right of Succession to the Crown the Council of Spain scrupled moreover to give the Eldest Infanta of Spain to the New King of France so that they would offer only the Second Daughter Mary of Medicis would have been contented with this it self so that Philip would also accept of the Second Daughter of France By this means a way was left to satisfie the Duke
of Savoy who with great earnestness challenged that the promise made to him by the late King of giving the Eldest Daughter of France in Marriage to the Prince of Piedmont might be now made good But Spain would also hinder any such strict Alliance and good Correspondency betwixt this Duke Charles Emanuel and the Crown of France So many different Views that Spain had render'd the New Negotiation very difficult The Council of Spain out of a desire to defend the Dukes designs Siri Memorie recondite Tom II paâ—… 359 447 448. choose rather to give the Eldest Daughter to the King of France than that the Prince of Piedmont should go away with the Eldest Daughter of France So that they came to this Agreement about the latter end of 1610. that Lewis and Prince Philip should each of them Marry the Eldest Daughter of the two Houses of France and Spain on condition that the Infant Ann that was design'd for the King of France should renounce all the Pretensions that she or her Children might ever have on any of the Estates belonging to the Monarchy of Spain This was the only Expedient that was found to prevent that the King of France's condition in the case might not be better than those of Philip. Both Kings Authorised the Duke of Tuscany to demand in Marriage the two Princesses in their Names Mary of Medicis had now obtain'd what she had a great while longed for But she knew not how to bring about that this double Marriage might be liked of in France Villeroy did Negotiate this Treaty Being always suspected to be a Pensionary of Spain he used all the Intrigues possible to compass this Business The Duke of Sulli before he was put out of Favour did vigorously oppose the Matter I 'll hinder you well enough said he one day in the presence of the Queen Regent from perswading her Majesty to suffer her self to be led by all the Figaries of the Popes and of the King of Spain The Friendship of the Protestant Potentates is more useful to this State than that of Paul and of Philip The Queen heard all this without saying a word But such bold Expressions and so becoming a true Frenchman did not a little contribute to hasten the Dukes Disgrace It was hoped that this Project of the double Marriage would be carried on very easily when Sully was removed from the Ministry The Mareschal of Bouillon as less stiff was looked upon as a fit Person to get this Undertaking to be liked off by the Protestants both abroad and at home The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings At the end of the Month of April 1611. all points were agreed upon The Treaty of the double Match was Signed and both Kings promised one to the other Reciprocally in Writing to accomplish it The Pope and Great Duke of Florence were to be the Mediators of it Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag. 524 525 526 c. The Treaty of the particular Match between the King of France and the Infanta was to be drawn up and published at Paris that of the Prince of Spain at Madrid Another Treaty was likewise made of a League Defensive between the two Crowns Lewis and Philip engaged themselves to give mutually each other certain Succors in case either of them should be Attacked from Abroad or any Insurrection was to be supprest within either of their States The Spaniards had demanded an Offensive League to be made but the Queen Regent would not consent to it This was sufficient to convince her that Philip sought after nothing more than to make France lose the Amity and Confidence she had in the Protestant Princes and States Mary content to Stipulate that the two Treaties should remain secret for some time had not the prudence to break off a Negotiation wherein the Enemies of young Lewis his Prosperity might serve themselves with an Opportunity of laying Snares for him on all sides The Approaching Assembly of the Reformed Protestants at Saumur was the cause why the Queen demanded this Delay It was feared that this News would too much alarm them and they should take Measures to oppose a design so Contrary to the Repose and Common Security of all Protestants Intrigues at the French Court as soon as the Treaty about the double Marriage came to be known The Queen and her Confidents employ'd all their Wit and Industry to gain to their side the Princes of the Blood and the Grandees to the end the Affair of the double Match might pass without any Contradiction The Union of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons was one of the greatest Obstacles to get over Intrigues were laid to Disunite them and when t' was perceived they were too stedfast one to t'other it was endeavour'd to gain them separately by promises of granting them some new Gratifications Memoites de lâ—… Regence de Marie de triâ—…dicis Both these retired from Court discontented that a Treaty had been made with Spain without their Knowledge though express Couriers were dispatcht to give Cardinal de Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon notice of it The Count of Soissons had a design in his Head to remove from Court the present Ministers of State and chiefly the Chancellor Sileri whom he hated more than the rest Soissons accused this prime Magistrate of shameful and insatiable Covetousness in selling Justice publickly to the dishonour of the Government and damage of particular Persons who had any business to Sollicite with him Though the Count de Soissons was extreamly angry with Conchini since the rupture of a Marriage between the Son of the one and the Daughter of the other yet he kept still some measures with the Marquess of Ancre They agree'd very well together for displacing Ministers of State The new favourite believed he should find some Obstacles to the encrease of his Power as long as they held any Office After some Negotiations both the Princes returned to the Court. The Constable de Montmorency was lured in by a Marriage of his Son Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag 599 600 601 609 612. with a Princess of the House of Mantua the Queens Niece The Mareschal Bouillon said sometimes well in Counsel that too strict a League with Spain would be prejudicial to the State But at the bottom he had made his Market Lesdiguieres longed excessively to be Duke and Peer in all Forms The hopes which were given him of making the Letters which he obtain'd to be approv'd in Parlement made him pliable and complaisant to every thing the Court would have The Duke de Guise to whom Mary had recourse in all her perplexities which the Princes of the Blood had given her assured her of the Service of his whole Family and all their Friends I have only one Favour to ask of you Madam said he to the Queen which is that after this Important Service your Majesty will not abandon us
or against the Court of Rome as the Court of France would have it the Abbot Chanvalon I say propos'd in an Assembly of the Faculty of Paris that another Syndic might be chosen in the room of Richer The Dr. modestly opposeth this last Effort of his Enemies The Faculty was divided Duval was at the Head of 43 cowardly Doctors or Ignoramus's who upheld the Abbot's Proposal 25 Doctors of clearer Judgment and no less fearful declared for Richer The Division in the Sorbonne was so great as the Queen and Parlement made a Prohibition that the Faculty might not proceed to the Election of a New Syndic But Perron the Nuncio and other Creatures of the Pope's stickled so mightily as notwithstanding all the just Oppositions of Richer and his Friends the King sent an express Command to the Faculty to choose a new Syndic They must obey Richer protested openly that he would die in the Communion of the Roman Church that he was a good Servant to the King and Queen that he would ever defend without Stubbornness and Ambition the ancient Doctrine of the Schools at Paris that he believ'd he ought to oppose the Pernicious and Detestable Doctrine which was Artificially insinuated viz. That it is lawful to Depose Kings and kill Tyrants Lastly that he submitted his Book to the Censure of the Church and the Faculty of Paris and his strongest Passion was to see it examin'd by equitable and disinteress't Judges What remains to us of Richer proves that he suffer'd with much Moderation and Patience the Injustice done to him Filesac was chosen to Succeed him in the Syndicate Amongst all these Troubles the Queen Regent diverted her self more than Religion or Decency in the second year of her Mourning would allow of she Mourn'd not the Tragical Death of the Deceased King but for meer fashion sake Nothing said Mary de Medicis to the President Jeannin whose Son had been Murder'd Nothing hath so much appeas'd my Sorrows after the Death of the King as the Affairs of the Regency Her Majesty might have said with more Reality if she had said as to see my self Mistress The Dukes de Vendosme and de Cheureuse were with Bassompierre Memoires de Bassompierre to dance a Ball every Sunday sometimes at the Prince of Conti's House sometimes at the Dutchess of Guise's because the Regent dar'd not to hold publick Assemblies in the Louvre The double Marriage being solemnly declar'd the 25th of March by the Chancellor in presence of their Majesties the Prince of Conti the Peers and Officers of the Crown the Spanish Ambassador gave his consent to it from the King his Master From that time he render'd to Madam the Eldest Daughter of France all the same Honours which the Spaniards give their Queens But the French Courtiers whose Demeanours are much different from those of the Spaniards could not forbear Laughter observing the Ceremonies and affected Gravity of the Ambassador Mary de Medicis had order'd a Magnificent Tournament in the Royal Square for joy of the double Marriage The three Champions were the Duke de Guise the Duke de Nevers and Bassompierre The Constable and four Marshals of France were to be Judges This Festival which doth not deserve a place in any serious History cost an infinite Deal of Money Mary spent in shews and indiscreet Liberality the Millions which the Deceased King had spared with too much providence New Broils at the Court of France The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons were not present at the Declaration of Marriage They were retired from Court with a Resolution not to return till after the King's Majority and not to Sign the Contract of Marriage The Queen said they is able to finish all alone what she hath resolv'd upon Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 640 641 642 c. and Negotiated without our Knowledge God forbid we should do this injury to the late King's Memory as to consenâ—… that the word which he hath given the Duke of Savoy should not be kept whose House hath been so many times ally'd to this of France Such good Sentiments would deserve praises if Princes did not ordinarily use such Pretensions when they are acted only by meer Interest Conde and Soissons did not see that the Regent was forward to grant them the Gratifications which they were made to hope for The Queen being strengthned with the House of Guise and the Duke of Epernon assured of the Constable and the Mareschals of Bouillon and Lesdiguieres who had been brought over Discontented with what the two Princes had said in Council when the double Marriage was propos'd the Queen seem'd not to be any more concern'd for the Princes of the Blood The Constable only endeavour'd to serve them by putting Mary de Medicis in fear He oft-times represented to her that the Civil Wars and Miseries of the precedent Reigns had no other cause than the evil Counsel given to Catharine de Medicis for to despise and lay aside the Princes of the Blood They Madam said he who insinuate into you the same Methods think more of Establishing their Fortunes and Reputation than the good of the State If your Majesty gives ear to them I foresee that Trouble and Confusion will speedily follow The Advice of the Constable allyed to the Princes of the Blood and Enemy to the House of Guise was look'â—… upon as Partial the Regent gavâ—â—â—o Attention to it but at the last push The Guises and the Duke of Epernon Triumph'd while the Prince of Conde and Soissons were absent The House of Guise had taken care to order the Tournament Under pretext of contributing to the Queen's Diversion they became more powerful than ever Some Satyrical Wits said that she lookt upon the Chevalier de Guise with too favourable an Eye He ordinarily waited on her at Table when the Princess de Conti or the Dutchess de Guise regaled her Majesty Mary seem'd very much content to look near the fine Hand of the Chevalier which he himself affected to shew The Marquess d'Ancre who all of this House and the Duke of Epernon hated could not endure the great favour shew'd the Guises and their Ally The Ministers of State were much alarm'd at it They thought to pluck down the pride of these two Ambitious Houses Conchini was so much the more disquieted for that the Queen was angry with him Mary raised him up to this Greatness but in consideration of his Wife and the Marquess did not live kindly with her His anger at home proceeded sometimes so far as he talk't of leaving the Court They quarrelled lately at Table with so much heat as they threw Plates at one another's Head The Regent upheld the Marchioness The Guises and the Ministers of State who lov'd not Conchini took Goligai's part and bemoaned her to Exasperate farther the Queen against her Husband All this set Conchini forward to side with the Princes of the Blood who had a mind to humble the
Guises and Eperâ—…on and who pretended to drive away â—…rom Court the Ministers of State Conchini had a mind especially to do this good â—…urn for the Chancellor He was busied â—…o obtain for Dole his Creature and his â—â—timate Friend the Office of Attorney General at the Parlement of Paris vaâ—â—ant by the Death of De la Guesle but â—…ileri had procured it for Belieure Allied â—…o the Chancellor's House To revenge â—…imself of this Affront Conchini took a â—…esolution to get the Seals taken away from Sileri and to cause them to be given to Dole The Duke of Mayenne is sent to Spain to make a demand of the Infanta in the King's Name In the mean time the Affair of the double Marriage was to be made an end of and Dispatches given to the Duke of Mayenne which were necessary for to demand the Infanta Ann in the King's Name The Presence and express consent of all the Princes of the Blood were of the greatest importance upon this occasion The Ministers of State employ'd divers Persons to Negotiate the return of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons But the Uncle and Nephew would not hearken to the Ministers whom they had undertaken to ruine Memoires de la Regence de Marie de medicis The Marquess d'Ancre who had need of the Princes for his own ends willingly took upon him the Office of going to invite both of them to come to Court All considerations were promis't which were due to their Birth Soissons suffer'd himself to be Lured by the hopes of being Governor of Quilleboeuf in Normandy After this it was noâ—… hard to persuade Conde The two Princes at first went to Paris accompanied with 500 Horsemen The Regent seem'd to be afraid of this but she recovered her Spirits They came in few days after to Fontainbleau where the Courâ—… pass't away the Spring The Count de Soissons Friends counsell'd him to refuse his consent to the double Marriage till he was more assured oâ—… what he was to hope for and hinder thâ—… Prince of Conde from giving his but the Mareschal Lesdiguieres always deceived by the hopes of having made good in Parlement his Brief to be made Duke and Peer though the Court had amus'd him for more than Six Months Lesdiguieres I say persuaded the Count of Soissons to do what the Regent would have him do The double Match having been then proposed in Council with the Envoy of the Duke of Mayenne and de Puisieux Secretary of State and Son to the Chancellor the Business came to a conclusion without any one's opposing of it Moreover the Procuration and Instruuctions prepared for the Duke of Mayenne were read who immediately set out on his Journey with Puiseux The Duke de Pastrana came on his side into France to demand from the King and Prince of Spain Madam Elizabeth the Eldest Daughter of France Matthias King of Hungary and of Bohemia is chosen Emperor after the Death of Rodolphus the Second The year 1612 was stiled the year of Magnificences by reason of the Festivals and Shews set up in France Spain and Naples for the Publication of the double Marriage betwixt the two Crowns and in Germany at the Election of Matthias King of Hungary and Bohemia who was Proclaim'd and Crown'd Emperor at Francfort Rodolph the Second his Brother died at Prague in the beginning of this year of a Distemper in his Legs T' was in the 60th year of his Age and 23d of his Reign A Prince whom one might judge would Govern well if he never had arrived to the Sovereign power Mercure Francois 1611. After his Death the Duke of Neubourg contended for the Vicegerency of the Empire with the Duke de Deux-Ponts as he had already contested the Administration of the â—…alatinate and the Tutelage of the young Elector The two Dukes sent their Letters Patents into the Provinces of the Vicariat Palatine as the Elector of Saxony had sent into his Vicariat for to Exhort all the People to remain Peaceable and seek for Redress before the Vicegerent of the Empire in all Affairs which are needful till the approaching Election But the Duke de Deux-Ponts having been received as Administrator at the Diet at Neuremberg the preceding year it was a great step to promote his interest He was present in the same Quality at the Election of the New Emperor and there gave his Vote The Elector of Mentz according to the right which the Golden Bull gives him had convok't a Diet at Francfort to be on the 24th of May. Ferdinand of Bavaria New Elector of Cologne since the Death of Ernest his Kinsman arriv'd in the Month of February whom he Succeeded in full Right in Quality of Coadjutor nominated The Archbishop of Treves and John George Duke of Saxony render'd themselves there John Sigismond Marquess of Brandenburg sent thither his Embassador to stand in his place Matthias came the last as King of Bohemia accompanied with the Queen his Spouse and follow'd by 3000 Persons He had ask't leave of the Electoral College to have with him a great number of Men which the Golden Bull does not allow of to Electors in the like occasion They held their first Meeting in the Town-Hall at Francfort They observed there all the Formalities which were to precede the Election The 13th of June the Electors went to St. Bartholomew's Church After they had taken the usual Oath they went into the Imperial Chamber and Matthias II. King of Hungary and Bâ—â—emia and Arch-Duke of Austria was Elected and Proclaimed Emperor This is not a place to give a Description in of all the Ceremonies which are practis'd on this occasion The Concourse of the Princes and Nobility of Germany makes the finest Sight Besides the Princes of Sovereign Houses who came in crouds to Francfort Besides the Barons which the Emperor and the Electors had in their Train there were counted Ninety others who paid their Devoirs to Matthias He was Crown'd the 24th of June with the usual Pomp. The Oath cannot but be approved of which they made him take viz. to be a Defender and Protector of the Church in General and in particular to govern the Empire according to the Justice of his Predecessors to preserve carefully all the Rights of it to defend the Poor the Rich Widows and Orphans Lastly to submit himself and obey Jesus Christ But is not this the greatest Indignity in the World that they should put into this Oath the Roman High-Priest immediately after the Saviour of the World The Emperor promises to obey God and the Pope alike Strange blindness of Princes who will not know the Spirit of the Religion they swear to maintain Let the Bishop of Rome be Sovereign of the same Provinces in Italy t' is a grand abuse in Religion But the Emperors and Kings engage to obey him this is an entire overthrow of the Gospel They were wont heretofore to say that the Church is in the Empire
The primitive Christians did they pretend the Empire to be in the Church She ought to obey God and Sovereigns but Emperors and Kings have none but God above them Thus they thought in the primitive Ages All the World would think still the same if Sovereigns would be instructed in their true Interests and those of the Religion they profess By giving great Riches and Principalities to the Clergy they have given them wherewith they may degrade their Benefactors Matthias having wisht the Empress his Spouse was Crown'd the Ceremony was perform'd two days after Leonard Donato Doge of Venice died almost at the same time Antony Memmi chosen Doge of Venice after the Death of Leonard Donato Antony Memmi was Elected in his place the 24th of July and Crown'd the next Morning The Dogate of Donato was famous for the Contest of the Republick with Pope Paul V. who interdicted all the Country of the Seigniory of Venice The Doge and Senate seem'd at first willing to defend courageously the lawful Authority of Sovereigns but when they were come to treat of this with the Pope the Venetians Degenerated from the Vigour and Stedfastness of their Ancestors upon the like occasions They yielded cowardly to almost all the Articles which the Court of Rome required from them except the Reestablishment of the Jesuits who had been gone after the Fulmination of the Interdiction The Society had done much more Mischief in France than at Venice In the mean time being extreamly content to see themselves deliver'd from the good Fathers these Wise Senators Resisted a longer time than France the Solicitations of the Court of Rome for the Reestablishment of their Society During this quarrel with the Pope the Seigniory had forbid the Subjects of the Republick under pain of perpetual Banishment to have any Commerce with the Jesuits or send their Children to studie in their Colleges The same Act was this year renew'd Mercure Francois 1612. upon the account of a Woman of Bresse who was gone to Castilione to live there under the direction of the good Fathers They had Establish't there I can't tell what College of Women and a great many Maids had put themselves into it The Brissan Lady sold the Estate she had in the States of the Republick to Augment this New Foundation but the Senate endeavour'd to stop the Money that arose from the Alienation and caused the Venetian Dames to be recall'd that might have put themselves under the conduct of the Society into the College of Castiglione The Mareschal d'Bouillon's Embassy to England The Mareschal Bouillon was gone extraordinary Ambassador into England and this was to impart to King James the double Marriage and so dissipate all Suspicions and Jealousies which this double Alliance might create in his Majesty Bouillon had a particular design in this Voyage Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 684 685 686. He was minded to Negotiate a Marriage of the young Elector Palatine Nephew of the Mareschal's Lady who was of the House of Orange with the Princess of England Mary of Medicis whom the Court of Rome always made use of for it's own ends had recommended to her Ambassador that he should complain to the King of great Britain for that he had enter'd into a League with the Protestant Princes of Germany against the Roman Religion and to desire his Britannick Majesty to moderate the Rigor of the Laws against the English who were of the Popish Communion The Mareschal had besides express Order to cause King James to Disapprove of the Demeanour of the Reform'd of France in their last Assembly at Saumur but especially to bid him beware of the Duke of Rohan who was the most Zealous of the Protestant Lords Bouillon had already done to Rohan such ill Offices with the Queen of France as he himself was enough dispos'd not to be more favourable to the Duke in the English Court. King James was easily made to believe that France thought of nothing but the General good of Christianity by making this double Allyance with Spain and that the Regent would not less preserve the Amity of Princes and the States Protestants Bouillon endeavour'd at last to make his Majesty understand that the Pope would not use violent means against the Protestants and that he intended only to Convert them by Preachments and the good Examples of the Clergy The Mareschal laid hold on this occasion to insinuate into the King the Regent's Complaints for that he had enter'd into the Protestant League of Germany and the entreaty that Mary of Medicis made him in favour of the English Papists I don't know whether this good Prince was enclin'd to believe what the Ambassador had told him concerning the good Intentions of the Pope Whatever the Matter was James answer'd that the Protestants lookt only to the Reciprocal Defence of the States of the Confederate Princes and that Religion was not concern'd in it As to the English who were of the Roman Communion his Majesty protested he willingly would let them be at Rest as soon as they could give certain Assurances of their Fidelity and Obedience Bouillon sent this into France and then Villeroy imparted it to the Nuncio as a great Secret The Regent press'd Vbaldini to make his Master acquainted of it Subjoyning that she would write of it to Breves her Ambassador to the end his Holiness might find some Expedient to content the King of Great Britain Memoires de la Regence de Mary de Medicis When they came to speak touching the Matters of the Reformed Churches in France James was not altogether so Tractable The Duke de Rohan held a great Correspondence with Henry the King 's Eldest Son This was a very hopeful Prince he shew'd a Zeal little common to Persons of his Age for the good of the Protestant Religion Never did the Roman People so much love Germanicus as the English lov'd this Prince of Wales and the Father perhaps was not much less jealous of the Applauses they gave his Son than Tiberius was of old jealous of the Reputation of him whom Augustus made him adopt Rohan had gain'd over a Gentleman of the Ambassador's Retinue This secret Friend of the Duke was to instruct his Britannique Majesty with the truth of all which pass't in France Insomuch as the King was well prepared whenever he was spoke to concerning the Assembly at Saumur If the Queen your Mistress reply'd he to Bouillon will break Acts agreed to the Protestants of her Realm I don't pretend that the Alliance I have made and confirm'd with France ought to hinder me from succouring and protecting them When my Neighbours are Attack't in a Quarrel that respects me Natural Law requires that I should prevent the Mischief which may arise from thence Believe me Monsieur Mareschal said the King you must be Reconciled to the Duke of Rohan I will let him know 't is my desire that you live friendly together Would to God King James
and his Children had always preserv'd Sentiments so just and necessary for the good of England and the Reformation Lewis the XIII or his Son had never dared to oppress so many innocent Frenchmen The Mareschal Bouillon who was minded to be fair with the King did not insist further upon the Assembly at Saumur The ill success of his Negotiation upon this point brought him to Discredit with the Queens Ministers of State They publish 't that Bouillon had neither follow'd the Intentions or Orders of her Majesty The Mareschal complain'd on his side that he was not well dealt withal he pretended that they had a mind to Affront him Lesdiguieres was not more content with the Ministers The Mareschal de Lesdiguitres is discontented than Bouillon Whether it was that there was an underhand dealing betwixt the Queen and the Parlement or that this Assembly really believed that the prime Dignities ought not to be given to Protestants never could Lesdiguieres bring it so about as to have his Brief of Duke and Peer approv'd of They represented to the Queen Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 696. that Brissac and Fervaques ancienter Mareschals of France than Lesdiguieres would have reason to complain if they had not likewise granted them the same distinction that the Duke of Rohannez had a Brief from the Deceased King which promised him that no other should be received in Parlement before him At last that in a time of Minority t' was dangerous to discontent the most Illustrious and most Ancient Houses of the Realm for to pleasure an Upstart Notwithstanding these Remonstrances the Queen sent the Orders of her Son for passing his Brief Lesdiguieres could not yet obtain it when the Chambers were met to deliberate upon this Affair Memoires de la Regence The Suffrages were twice divided and the Queen who had compass't what she expected from the Mareschal would not use all her Authority under pretence that Prudence did not permit her to provoke the Parlement in the present juncture of Affairs Lesdiguieres vext to see himself play'd upon joyn'd himself to the Princes of the Blood and others who had a mind to ruine the Ministers of State Mary of Medicis brings down the Duke de Guises and de Epernons Party Conchini Reconciled to his Wife made use the most Artificially t' was possible for him of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons in order to diminish the great Authority which the Dukes of Guise and Epernon had taken Caesar Duke de Vendosme was joyn'd with them to the good liking of the Queen but this declared Union drew upon him such troubles as he did not expect As there was need of the presence of the Princes of the Blood to make an end of the Marriage with the Duke of Pastrana whom the King of Spain had sent for this purpose the Queen endeavour'd to content them by bringing down their opposite Party Vendosme desired to go and hold the States of Britanny whereof he was Governor The Princes of the Blood to punish him for having been in League with the ancient Enemies of his Father and the House of Bourbon told the Queen in private that Caesar might be able easily to make a Party in a Province so far distant where he had great Reputation and Estate by his Wife Heiress of the House of Mercoeur Conchini and the Ministers made these Reasons of State prevail with Mary de Medicis When the Duke then of Vendosme came to ask of her leave to go and preside over the Estates of Britanny her Majesty flatly refus'd it him The Mareschal de Brissac Lieutenant General of the Province who had been employ'd to do Caesar this Injury with the Queen had this Important Commission bestow'd on him The Duke of Vendosme was so outragiously angry at the Refusal as that he challenged the Mareschal This young Gentleman's outrageous Heat greatly displeas'd the Queen She without tarrying till Caesar and Brissac were Friends order'd the former to remove from Court and go to his House at Anet The other went afterwards on his Journey for Britanny in spight of all the Endeavours and Intrigues of the Dukes of Guise Vendosine and Epernon who were extreamly netled at the Repulses and disa greeable Words which they receiv'd upon this Occasion from the Queen Regent The Count de Soissons undertakes to ruin the publick Ministers of State This Mortification of the Guise's and Duke of Epernon rejoyc't the Count of Soissons but his Revengeful Humour was not as yet satisfied He plotted in his Head to ruin the Ministers but especially the Chancellor Sileri Soisson's Hatred against them was so much the more lively and vigorous for that he thought Sileri Villeroy and Jeannin hinder'd the Queen from granting what she had given him ground to hope for The Prince of Conde was as much impatient of the Court delays as his Uncle they both fear'd lest the Ministers should Mortifie Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis and bring down the Princes of the Blood as well as the Dukes of Guise and Epernon for to keep up their Credit with the two opposite Parties The Marquess de Ancre craftily Discours't the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons upon this opinion The Queen said he to them hath good Intentions for the Princes of the Blood She would give you both Satisfaction if the Ministers did not constantly Represent to her that t' was dangerous you should be too powerful in two Provinces so considerable as Normandy and Guienne are This is the reason why the Queen defers so long to give the Governments of Chateau-Trompette to Monsieur the Prince Quillebeuf to Monsieur the Count From the first day of the Regency the Ambitious Conchini had taken a design to alter all things at Court to remove the Ministers of the deceased King and put into their places Persons who should entirely depend upon him The present Conjuncture of time appear'd favourable to the Marquess d' Ancre for putting in execution the Project he had contrived He undertales to put a grand Affront on the Chancellor Sileri One day being with the Prince of Conde the Count of Soissons and the Mareschals Bouillon and Lesdiguieres he caused them to agree to work out joyntly the entire ruin of the Ministers The Count de Soissons promis't them at his return from a small Journy he was to make into Normandy he would deal with the Chancellor Sileri after a very Outrageous manner Lesdiguieres who discontent return'd into Dauphiny promised to give the Princes Succors and to bring 'em in case of necessity 10000 Foot and 500 Horse even to the Gates of Paris The Duke of Savoy secretly enter'd into all these Intrigues he entertain'd a Secret Correspondence with the Count de Soissons The desire he had to be Revenged of the Queen Regent who gave to the Prince of Spain the Eldest Daughter of France promised to the Prince of Piedmont the
the Reformed Churches in France The Assemblies held since the Separation of that at Saumar were in very mild Terms declared unlawful And to the end that they who had been present there might not be disquieted the King pardoned them this pretended Crime and forbid his Officers from prosecuting any of them His Majesty suppos'd they went thither with downright Intentions and that they had no Thoughts of disobeying the deceased King's Orders The Reformed were extremely surpris'd they should be pardon'd a Fault which they pretended to have in no wise committed Their Deputies General presented a Petition to the Parlements for opposing the registring of this Declaration They protested that being far from requiring any such Pardon their Churches look'd upon it as injurious and reflecting and that none of the Reformed intended to make use of it This Opposition stopp'd the Registring of it But the Court having got over some of the Reform'd under pretence that they had need of it for their own Security the Declaration was registred and approved of in Forms This Affair made a great noise in the National Synod of Privas 'T was resolv'd there to draw up a publick and solemn Protestation that the Provincial Assemblies had not been held against the King's Will and that the Reform'd look'd upon the Pardon which his Majesty had granted them upon this Occasion as a Reflection which they had not deserv'd They declar'd at the end of the Act that they would never make use of the Pardon which the King pretended to grant 'em and downright disavow'd those amongst the Protestants who sought for it As this caus'd great Stirs in some Provinces so the Court design'd to appease them by another Declaration put forth in Form to explain the former His Majesty acknowledg'd therein to be very well satisfied with the Fidelity and Obedience of his Protestant Subjects but at the bottom he did not remedy the Mischief t'other Declaration had done The Provincial Assemblies remained forbidden And this is all that the Court now delivered from the Deputies Sollicitations intended The Arrival of the Duke of Pastranâ—… at Paris was of great use to diminish the Troubles which all these Affairs had given the Queen He was receiv'd in all the Towns he pass'd through with extraordinary Honours The Dukes of Nevers and Luxemburgh went to meet him out of the Gates of Paris accompanied with four oâ—… five hundred Horse He made a Magnificent Entry He had a splendid Equipage and abundance of Men in his Retinue very well cloath'd Don Francis and Doâ—â— Diego de Sylva his Brothers and many other Spanish Lords were come with him The King gave him his first Audience the 6th of August The Princes of the Blood the Grandees and the Cardinals Sourdis and Bonzi were invited to this Ceremony These endeavour'd to be excus'd under pretence their Dignities would not suffer them to be beneath the Princes of the Blood Ridiculous and insupportable Pretension These Gentlemen to speak properly are no better than Priests and Deacons of the particular Church of Rome Since they have been suffer'd insolently to put on Purple they believe themselves not to be inferiour to crown'd Heads Mary de Medicis who had had a mind the Spaniards should see the Court of France in all its Splendour wish'd that the Cardinals were present at the Audience They were told from her That there should be no distinction of Places and that every one should sit as he came The Princes of the Blood strait took their Seats on the Right Hand of the King The Cardinals excluded from this place â—…ut themselves on the side of the Queen They did not tarry there long The Prinâ—…ess Dowager of Condé wou'd not suffer â—…hem above her and the Regent fearâ—…ng to cross the Princes of the Blood â—…ho wou'd not fail to maintain the Right â—…f the Princess let the Cardinals go out â—…ith Confusion with their sottish deserv'd â—…mbition There was another difference which made more noise on the King's side The Duke de Nevers had plac'd himself on the Bench of the Princes of the Blood The Count de Soissons busied in speaking with the Prince of Conti his Brother was not aware that Nevers had seated himself immediately after him As soon as the Prince of Condé who sat above his two Uncles perceiv'd it he jogs Conti and he did as much to Soissons who fail'd not to push at the Duke of Nevers with all his strength I don't know said he then why you croud me after this manner Because this here is none of your place replied disdainfully the Prince of Condé There were interchang'd on one side and 'tother sharp biting Words We will explain our selves better in another place said at last the Prince of Condé giving a Wink upon him to follow him The Marshal Bouillon run hastily to stop the Prince who in passing by the Duke made him understand that this was a Challenge The Quarrel was presently made up by Order of the King and the Regent blam'd the Duke of Nevers because he had seated himself in a Place which was not design'd but for the Princes of the Blood The Guises had no â—â—mtest aboâ—â— their Places The Duke and his Brotheâ—… were to go and conduct the Duke 〈◊〉 Pastrana to his Audience After the Ambassador had made his Compliments and presented to the King and Queen his Catholick Majesty's Letters he was conducted to Madam Elizabeth design'd for the Prince of Spain and from thence to the Duke of Anjou's Apartment to Salute the Prince and his other two Sisters Daughters of France Articles of Marriage sign'd between the Prince of Spain and Eldest Daughter of France The 25th day of August the Festival of St. Lewis was appointed for Sealing the Articles of Marriage between Madam Elizabeth and the Prince of Spain The Duke de Pastrana and Don Innigo de Cardenas King Philip's Ambassador in ordinary into France sign'd them as the Fathers and Sons Proxies immediately after the King and the Queen his Mother Madam Elizabeth and Queen Margarite The Nuncio and Ambassador of Tuscany as representing the two Mediators set their Names after those of the Princes of the Blood Elizabeth's Dowry was 500000. Crowns in Gold They were to be paid down the Night before the Consummation of Marriage The Princess renounc'd all the Rights she could pretend to in the Succession of her Father Mother and Brothers without excepting the States which are not Fief-Males into which the Daughters may Succeed This Clause had an Eve upon the Rights in the Kingdom of Navarre and Principality of Bearn which Henry the IV. held in right of his Mother The Duke of Pastrana tarried yet some days at Paris He was regal'd with all Divertisements possible upon such an occasion Having got to Bourde aux in his return to Spain he found there the Duke of Mayenne who came back from Madrid He had been gone thither to Sign likewise the Articles of Marriage between Lewis XIII King of
France and Ann Infanta of Spain The Duke of Mayenne had received greater Honours in Spain Entry of the Duke of Mayenne into Madrid than the Duke of Pastrana in France whether it was that they had regard to his Quality as Prince of a Sovereign House allied to the House of Austria or that the Spaniards had an Ambition to outgoe the French in Magnificence and Galantry He found in his way the Duke of Lerma's Mansion House French Mercenary 1612. This Favourite gave Orders that Mayenne should be splendidly regaled and to the end the Feast might seem more Galant it appear'd that all was done at the expense of the Inhabitants of Lerma who were Ravish't with Joy to have amongst them a Guess so honourably distinguish't The Duke fail'd not upon this occasion to set out all his Sumptuous Moveables and Tapistry the Borders of which were all Embroider'd with Gold and richly set out with Rubies and Emeraulds The Duke d' Alva de l'Infantado d' Albuquerque the Admirante of Castile and many other Grandees of Spain accompanied with 500 Cavaliers whose Horses were proudly Harnas't went to receive the Duke of Mayenne without Madrid He made a very fine Entrance But the long and close Mourning the Ambassador wore for his Father and the Court of Spain had put on for the Death of the Queen render'd the Ceremony less Glorious The 17th of July the Duke d'Vseda conducted the Ambassador to his Audience of the King The Prince of Spain stood at the left hand of his Majesty and the Duke of Lerma at the right The Father and Son embrac'd the Embassador when he drew near to kiss their Hands This was a Distinction granted to the Quality of the Prince who was of the House of Lorrain After this he was Conducted to the Audience of the Infanta The Duke kiss'd her Hand because her Highness had declar'd she would use the Embassador as the Queen had used one of her Subjects The Articles of Marriage signed between Lewis the 13th and the Infanta of Spain The Signing of the Articles of Marriage was fix't to be upon the 22d of August All the Court left off their Mourning for that day besides the King The Duke of Lerma went to the Ambassador to Conduct him to the Palace Neither his Majesty or the Prince or Infanta of Spain were present at the Ceremony of Sealing Two Acts were prepar'd one in French and another in Spanish The Duke of Mayenne Puisieux Secretary of State and Vaucelas Ambassador in ordinary at Madrid first sign'd the French Act as Proxies for the most Christian King and the Queen his Mother The Duke of Lerma sign'd afterwards in quality of Proxy for the Catholick King 's Father and Guardian of the Infanta It was after another manner compos'd in the Spanish Act Lerma put there his Name first and the French after him The Infanta renounc't for her self and Children all the Rights of Succession to the States of the Crown of Spain Two Cases were only excepted That if the Infanta was a Widow without any Children she should return into Spain or that for reason of State and the publick Weal of the Spanish Monarchy she should Marry again with the consent of the King her Father or the Prince of Spain her Brother she shou'd in this second case re-enter into her Rights of succeeding one and th' other After the signing of the Articles the Duke of Mayenne was Conducted into a Hall where the King was with the Prince and Infanta at each side of him The Ambassador only made a Reverence to the Father He harangu'd chiefly the Daughter in Quality of the Queen of France When the Duke took his leave some days after he entreated her to give him some Orders to the King his Master Assure him said the Infanta that I am very much impatient of seeing him This Answer did not seem grave enough to the Countess d' Altamira her Governess Ah Madam cry'd the Spanish Lady what will the King of France think when the Duke shall report to him you have so great a passion for Marriage You have taught me answer'd the Infants with a great deal of liveliness that one must always speak the Truth She poor young Princess had a heart burning for a Husband who did not make her so happy as she fancied he wou'd Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma We shall see anon the face of Affairs wholly altered in Italy by the Death of Francis Duke of Mantua which happen'd at the end of the year 1611. But before I enter into this particular which I reserve for the following year I think I ought to say somwhat of an Affair which made a great noise in Italy in the Month of March this present year Francis Duke of Mantua had some days agoe succeded Vincent his Father Husband of the Eldest Sister of Mary de Medicis At this same time Ranutius Duke of Parma discover'd a Plot laid against him for above a year since and against all the House of Farnese He thought that he had sufficient Witnesses to believe that the Deceased Duke Vincent of Mantua the Cardinals Sforza and Este the Prince of Modena the Duke of Mirandola and some other Sovereign Princes had had a part in so horrid a design Here 's what is discover'd now of it Many Gentlemen and some Ladies of Quality of the States of the Duke of Parma and the Neighbouring places Conspired together to kill him with all those of his House and to possess themselves of the Towns of Parma and Placentia which they were afterwards to deliver up to some Neighbouring Princes from whom the Conspirators had receiv'd Money There 's this difference betwixt the true Religion and Superstition that the one Abominates the smallest Crimes whereas the other can very well accord with the blackest Actions The Wretches who attempted upon the Life of Henry the IV were confess 't and took the Sacrament afterwards to prepare themselves for their barbarous Design They who Conspir'd a little time after against Ranutius Duke of Parma and against all the House of the Farnese's swore by the Image of the Virgin Mary to keep their Trust and Fidelity one to t'other and not discover their Enterprise Their first Project whereby they might bring their Design about was to lay hold of the Opportunity which the Solemn Baptism of the young Prince of Parma afforded them where the Cardinal Farnese was to be present with the rest of the Family They had resolv'd to slay there Ranutius his Children the Cardinal and all the Persons Devoted to the Farneses The Ceremony of Baptism having been happily put off the Conspirators notwithstanding continued their Meetings and took their Measures for the Execution of their Conspiracy They had already got a great number of Men and some Neighbouring Princes were to furnish them with Soldiers at the appointed time But seeing that the Ceremony of Baptism was put off too long a time and that the
Plot might be discover'd the Conspirators took a Resolution to set up the Duke of Parma in an Abby whither he had been retir'd to take the Air and be devout with the Capuchins and Assassinate him in this place They were to come after this was done to Parma in the Night-time to kill the Dukes Children and those of his House to sack the Palace and City and possess themselves of the Cittadel Another Party of the Complices were order'd to make themselves Masters by means of some Intelligence of the City and Castle of Placentia which they were to deliver up to the Duke of Mantua In all Conspiracies which require long time for Execution and a great number of Complices there 's almost always some one found who upon consideration reflects seriously on the Enterprize The fear of Punishment the hopes of being well rewarded the Horrour likewise of the Crime and Remorse of Conscience bring them to discover the Contrivance The Duke of Parma happen'd upon some Persons of this Humour who gave him notice of the Danger he was threatned withal After an exact Information of all the particulars of the Conspiracy Ranutius caused a Manifesto to be fixt up in all publick Places which contain'd the Story of the plotted Enterprise and the Names of the principal Complices whom the Duke summon'd to come and justifie themselves It appear'd that the Names of some Persons who were considerable for their Degree and Quality were suppress't Vincent Duke of Mantua some days agoe Deceased was so well describ'd as ev'ry one presently knew him by the Name of Chief Conspirator which was given him The Captain of his Guards was the second Man amongst the Plotters Francis his Successor complain'd aloud of the injury done to the Memory of his Father For this he demanded Reparation This Affair was so much nois'd in Italy insomuch that they fear'd an open breach betwixt the Duke of Parma and the Duke of Mantua The former had his Recourse to the King of Spain for Protection for whom the Famous Alexander of Parma had done Signal Services And the other the Queen Regent of France's Nephew implored the Succors of that Crown Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy would intervene for an Accommodation betwixt the two Princes But t' was strait known that this Disquieted Spirit sought to embroil them further and rather raise a War from whence he hop'd for an Advantage than any ways to make an end of the Differences The Parties agreed to refer themselves to the Arbitration of the Duke of Vrbin as to one part of the Contest The Governor of Milan stifled the rest of this Affair in the Name of the King of Spain and so the Princes dismiss't the Troops which they had raised A Proposal of Marriage between Christiana the 2d Daughter of France and Henry Prince of Wales To stop the continual Complaints of the Duke of Savoy the Regent sometimes offer'd to give Christina her second Daughter to the Prince of Piedmont yet this did not hinder the talk of Marrying her to Henry Prince of Wales the Eldest Son of James the I. King of great Britain Whether it was that Mary de Medicis had an Ambition to make all her Daughters Queens or that she wou'd break off the Negotiation already much advanc'd betwixt his Britannick Majesty and the Duke of Savoy for Marrying the Prince of Wales with the Princess of Savoy James had demanded the Eldest Daughter of France but seeing that the Regent was so far engag'd with Spain he gave ear to the Duke of Savoy's Proposition which he had made him As his Majesty had got in the World a great Name for loving Money very well so Cosmus Great Duke of Florence a more Monyed Prince than Charles Emanuel thwarted the Design He offer'd one of his Sisters for the Prince of Wales with a more considerable Fortune But the Pope perhaps at the Instigation of the Regent who pretended to make the Duke of Savoy amends by bringing about a Match for the Prince of Piedmont with the Princess of Florence the Pope I say wrote forceably to the Great Duke for to persuade him from any Alliance which the Holy Chair could not approve of Notwithstanding the Pope's Letter which seem'd to be Precarious Cosmus thought always to Marry his Sister into England he press't the Queen to assist him with her good Offices at Rome to obtain a Dispensation but Mary de Medicis who had other things in her Head flatly denied him The Duke of Savoy wrote to his Ambassadors in France to tell the King of England's Ambassador that his Highness knowing well the Difference there is betwixt a Daughter of France and a Princess of Savoy Charles Emanuel might not think it strange that a Daughter of Henry the IV should be preferr'd before his but he thought he should receive a sensible Affront if his Britannick Majesty should Reject a Princess of Savoy for to Marry his Son into the House of the Medicis The Regent shew'd so much eagerness for the Marriage of Christina with the Prince of Wales as Edmonds Knight and Ambassador from England believ'd that after the way Villeroy had spoke to him it might be King James's fault if this Affair was not concluded and that Mary de Medicis would with much willingness yield to him all the Conditions he could ask of her When the King had heard this News he order'd Robert Carr Viscount of Rochester his Favourite to write to Prince Henry who was then at Richmond and pray him to speak freely if he like'd of the Match Henry had notice that Christina was not yet nine years of Age and that her Eldest Sister's Portion was but 500000 Crowns in Gold But France said Rochester seems to have so great a desire for this Marriage as no one doubts but she may give more to the Second Daughter in case the Augmentation of her Fortune be insisted upon The Prince of Wales with great Prudence answer'd the King his Father upon all the Articles of the Letter of the Chevalier Edmonds which he had sent him at the same time As for the time said he ' they 'l bring the Princess of France into England I believe the sooner it is the better and that your Majesty ought not to demur hereupon As long as the Princess shall be in France the Queen her Mother will be Mistress either to forward the Marriage or to stave it off and to oblige her Daughter to give her Consent or hinder her from it The younger she is the more time we shall have and easiness to instruct her in our Religion and Convert her Since they ask of your Majesty to Explain your self as to the Liberty the Princess shall have in the exercise of her Religion I desire you Sir to answer your Ambassador positively that you will not agree to any other Conditions with France than what the Duke of Savoy had demanded when he offer'd you his Daughter That is to say that the Princess shall
more particular Light into the State of Euâ—â—pe in Levis XIII his time The Czar John Basilovits fam'd for his Cruelties and the War which the brave Stephen Battori King of Poland wag'd against him with so much Glory and Advantage French Mercury 1605. as the Muscovite was oblig'd to have recourse to the Pope's Intercession for obtaining a Peace Basilovitz I say had left but two small Children behind him of seven Wives which he had Theodorus and Demetrius The eldest stupid and heartless succeeded him Whilst he diverted himself in ringing of Church-Bells Boris Frederovits a Muscovite Lord who had married his Sister govern'd the State This wicked Ambitious Man caus'd young Demetrius to be slain who dwelt with his Mother in a Castle remote from Mosco And the better to conceal his Crime he procured him to be assassinated whom he made use of to commit this Villany The Czar Theodore died in a little time after 'T was though Boris had poyson'd him The Masculine Line of the ancient Czars being thus at an end it was not hard for Boris Brother-in-Law to this last Prince to mount up into the Throne Being as crafty as he was cruel he had taken care to gain the Love of the People and to remove far from him under specious Pretences the Lords who were in capacity to oppose his Ambition He was crown'd at Mosco in all Forms and Ceremonies His bloody and suspicious Nature render'd him quickly odious to the Muscovites A Nation accustomed to Slavery doth not so patiently suffer the Tyranny of a Prince newly rais'd up to the Throne as that which is establisht in a long Succession of one and the same Family A Counterfeit Demetrius in Poland About the year 1604. Boris receiv'd News from Poland which put him to strange Difficulties A Russian Monk had carried thither a young Man who much resembled in Stature and Countenance the Prince Demetrius whom Boris had caus'd to be put to Death The Monk first puts this youth into the Service of Vietsnovisky a Polish Lord who had Marryed the Palatin's Daughter of Sendomir from whence he got into the Palatines Wine-House When the Monk thought he had prepared Men well enough he told the Palatine as a Secret that this young Man was Demetrius lawful Heir of the Empire of Russia who had been privately and happily convey'd away from the Cruelty of Boris by putting another Child in the Prince's room whom the Tyrant intended to cause to be slain This adventure was related with such probable Circumstances as the Palatine believ'd all that was told him He presently discover'd the Secret to Sigismond King of Poland who was willing to be fully acquainted with the pretended Demetrius The Youth who neither wanted Wiâ—â— or Education Rehearseth the Misfortunes of his Life in the presence of the King with much Craftiness and a good Grace he shew'd certain natural Marks on his Face and upon one of his Hands which he pretended to be undeniable Proofs of the truth of his Birth and then addressing himself to Sigismond he thus proceeded I am Sir very happy to have fallen into the hands of a King who having been himself unfortunate and persecuted during his Infancy by his Vncle must have the greater Compassion for my hard Fortune You was born in the Prison where the Cruel Erric had put your Majesties Father and Mother The Polanders have made choice of you before all the Princes in Europe This distinction Sir ought to render you the more respected by the Swedes your Natural Subjects Another Ambitious Vncle raiseth 'em against you he endeavours to snatch forcibly away your Patrimony Thanks be to God your Majesty is still powerful enough to help me to be Restor'd to mine As soon as you shall put me into a condition to be thankful for so great a Favour the Polanders and Muscovites united together shall quickly reduce the Swedish Rebel May Heaven grant that after this Happy Expedition we may joyntly set upon the common Enemy of the Christians If King Sigismond did not believe what was told him he hop'd however that the Story whether true or false might stand him in some stead against the Muscovites T' was resolv'd upon to Assist the pretended Demetrius and to send him first into Lithu mia that from thence to write to the Pope he might be nearer Muscovy He askt of him to do him all the good turns he cou'd in Poland The Court of Rome always attentive to what is capable of extending her usurpt Domination willingly gave an ear to the Person who made her hope to Reduce the Russians to the Obedience of the Holy Chair Demetrius enters into Muscovy and there Crown'd A private Rumor presently run aboroad at Mosco that the Prince Demetrius having scap'd the fury of the Tyrant Boris shew'd himself near to the Frontiers The Malecontents and they who lov'd Novelty confirm'd for truth what others had said The People easily drawn to believe extraordinary Contingencies and who flatter themselves with finding a milder and more supportable Government seem'd to wait with impatience Demetrius's coming Boris inform'd of what had pass't at Poland and of the practices begun at Mosco did not know which side to take whether he should despise this Story as if it was but a ridiculous Story the noise of which in a little time vanisheth or if he should downright prepare himself to press and quell a Party which seem'd to fortifie it self ev'ry day both at home and abroad Persuaded at last that nothing was to be neglected he caus'd it to be spread abroad on his side that the pretended Demetrius was a known Mag cian and after Orders for the safety of the Frontiers he sent Ambassadors to the Diet at Warsaw They were to complain to the King and Republick of Poland for that they had Transgress'd the Conditions of Peace made betwixt the two States by shewing their willingness to uphold the Impostures of the miserable Son of a Priest and to demand the delivery of him up to 'em alive or dead In case the Ambassador cou'd not obtain of 'em a favourable Answer Boris had order'd 'em to Negotiate with some Popish Lords for to engage them to oppose a design which the King might have against him Sigismond answer'd the Muscovites in general Terms and in the mean time prepared himself underhand to assist him who averr'd himself to be the rightful Heir of the ancient Czars Demetrius enter'd into Moscovy at the Head of an Army consisting of Ten thousand Poles and Cossacks which the Palatine of Sendomir commanded under him Demetrius and he not having known the advantage they had of so good an occasion to rout the Muscovite Army were themselves defeated in the beginning of the year 1605. Demetrius too weak to keep the Field any longer shut himself up in a Town which he had before taken he hop'd to receive new Succors from Poland before the Enemy could retake the places which had been taken from
him The Death of Boris while these things were doing arriv'd and chang'd the face of Affairs Tho' the Muscovite Army had sworn fealty to his Son division got into it in a little time after All follow'd the Example of some Lords who declared aloud for the pretended Demetrius The Son and Widow of Boris were Apprehended and Stifled At length the New Czar is receiv'd and Crown'd at Mosco the last day of July French Mercury 1600. in 1605. The Palatine Sandomir's Daughter whom Demetrius afterwards Marryed by a Proxy at Cracovia was conducted in great Pomp the following year to Mosco Her Father and her nearest Relations were present at the Ceremony of her Marriage and Coronation Demetrius and many Polish Lords are Massacred at Mosco The New Princess did not long enjoy her good Fortune Susky a Moscovite to whom Demetrius had pardon'd his Life against the Advice of many Persons who Counsell'd him to let the Sentence of Death be executed which had pass't against a Man of a restless and ambitious Spirit and of whose Fidelity no one could be assured Susky I say and a great number of Muscovite Nobles had now laid a Plot against Demetrius They render'd him odious to the Clergy and People by spreading abroad a Rumour that he design'd to alter Religion to bring Muscovy into subjection under the Pope and cause Jesuits and Roman Priests to come in And because the People thought Heaven would not have so much declared in favour of the New Czar if he had been an Impostor t' was endeavour'd to make it be believ'd that he had not goâ—… so great advantage against Boris and hiâ—… Son but by the help of Magick This Discourse made so great an Impression as the People could hardly suffer that Demetrius should have two or three Companies of Foreigners to guard his Palace and Person The natural Aversion which the Muscovites have for the Poles made the People yet more apt to receive what they took care to insinuate into them to wit that the Treasure of the Czars was to be Transported into Poland and that the State should be govern'd for the future by a Polish Princess and other Confidents of the same Nation Susky and the principal Heads of this Conspiracy having taken their Measures by the favour of the Malecontents to make an Insurrection of the People in Mosco the 27th of May 1606. came to the Palace at the Head of a great number of armed Men broke it open with violence slew the pretended Demetrius betray'd by his best Friends and did a thousand Indignities to his dead Body The People afterwards put all the Polanders to the Sword 't is reported that there died of 'em more than seventeen Hundred The Palatine of Sendomir was only saved his Daughter his Son and some Lords who were ev'ry one of them put into private Houses Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down his Dignity Susky caus'd himself to be chosen and Crown'd in the room of Demetrius whether he was the right or Counterfeit one for at last many pretended that he spoke truth But the Circumstance of the Monk who conducted him into Poland and that of his being put into Service in two different Houses this I say makes the History to be very much suspected It seems to me that a Child of this Importance shou'd have been first carried to the King of Poland What had he there to fear from him Whatever this Affair was yet to confirm further the People in their Opinion that this was a Cheat Susky was willing they shou'd dig up the dead Body of him whom Boris had caus'd to be Slain The Bones were carried to Mosco and the Patriarch order'd that he should be Reverenced as a Martyr Susky not doubting but that the Poles would wage a War against him enter'd into a Negotiation with Charles of Sudermania the New King of Sweden who sent him Succors under the Conduct of de la Gardie The Divisions of Sigismond with the Palatines of his Realm did not permit him to attack the Muscovites so soon In the year 1609. he resolved to take the City of Smolensko which the Muscovites had taken from the Poles The Siege or Blockade of this place lasted two years and more than two Hundred Thousand Inhabitants died before it was surrender'd He sought several times to cause the Siege to be raised Susky troubled at the ill success of his Arms retired into a Monastery after having laid down the Scepter and Crown Muscovy was then divided into three Parties A New Demetrius was put up Ladislaus Prince of Poland proclaimed Czar of Muscovy and a great many declared for him others to remedy the ill condition Muscovy was in would have Ladislaus King Sigismond's Eldest Son and a hopeful Prince set upon the Throne At last a third Party would have a great Lord of the Country these being united to Ladislau's Party he was chosen Czar in his absence in the year 1610. and the most considerable of the Clergy and Nobility took an Oath of Fidelity to him The false Demetrius strove to make himself Master of Mosco but the Poles having twice beaten him he was obliged to Retreat beyond the River Volga This put the Poles into a condition of undertaking ev'ry thing They made themselves Masters of the Castles of Mosco and made it known to King Sigismond who daily Besieg'd Smolensko that his Son was Proclaimed Czar The Inhabitants offer'd to yield themselves to Ladislaus Elected Sovereign of Moscovy But Sigismond was willing to get the place for Poland The Inhabitants resolved not to separate themselves from the interest of Moscovy held still the Siege out till the Month of June 1611. So that Sigismond had got but a City almost quite Dispeopled and reduc'd to Ashes The King of Poland who did not think so much of Establishing his Son in the Throne of Moscovy as to make advantage of the Country's Divisions and bring it into Subjection deferr'd too long to carry Ladislaus into Mosco He had put off this Affair to the year 1612. but the continual Contentions he had with the Palatines did not suffer him to execute his Project The Poles are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovits is chosen Czar So long a delay gave time to the Relations of the Deceased Czar Boris to get together a strong Party Michel Federovits put himself at the Head of 'em and march't towards Mosco The Polish General came out of the City gather'd Troops together and gave Battle to the Moscovites revolted from Ladislaus The Polandâ—…rs were Defeated and their General Retreated towards Smolensko with the broken Remnant of his Army After this t' was easie to drive the Poles out of the Castle of Mosco The Moscovites thus deliver'd from a Foreign Power chose a New Czar in the year 1612. This was Michel Federovits the nearest Kinsman of the Deceased Czar Boris A New Party united in favour of Charles Philip Brother to
They can never hinder her from hearing you make your Defence if you are Innocent But if your Conscience reproaches you with any thing rather retire to your Government of Amiens Let your Wife and Friends do what they can they will find a favourable moment to appease the Queen Conchini who knew himself guilty at present though it the best way to secure his Person in Amiens to which Place Bassompierre was willing to accompany him But Dole fearing he should be Ruined if the Marquiss d' Ancre left the Court perswaded him to change his Resolution He had recourse to the Goodness of the Queen who too much doted on Leonora Conchini's Wife The Queen was not very backward to forgive them this Trick The Commissioners who examined Magnac gave in an account very favourable of the Marquiss and Marchioness Mazurier and Mangor whom they had made their Friends did them good Service in this Rencounter And these mercenary Souls were well Paid for their Pains Each of them was advanced to be a First President Mazurier was named for the Parliament of Tholouse and Mangot for that of Bourdeaux The Names of Conchini and his Wife were suppressed in the Proceedings of the Lieutenant du Prevot de l'Hotel against Magnac and this wretch which had not the greatest share in the Guilt was broke upon the Wheel alive at Fontainbleau This being a certain proof that the Marquiss and Marchioness of Ancre were so well settled in the good graces of the Queen The Minissters renew their Friend ship with the Marquis d' Ancre that nothing could make them Forfeit her Favour The Ministers took a Resolution to come to an Agreement with Conchini The President Jeannin who had always carried himself well enough towards the Favourite proposed to the Queen the Reconciliation of Villeroi and the Chancellor with the Marquiss She desired nothing more than to Reunite her People in order to oppose the contrary Party There was a proposal made of a Match between Conchini's Daughter and the Marquiss of Villeroi Memoirs de Bassompierre Grandson to the Secretary of State And at the same time the Ministers promised this Favourite who was all along endeavouring to Raise himself upon their Ruin that they would assist him in all his Enterprizes and contribute their utmost for the making his Fortune as great as he could wish Bassompierre who had done such Service both for the Ministers and Conchini complained that they coming to an Agreement without his having a hand in it both united in their endeavours to turn him out of the Queen's Favour They made the Queen so Jealous of Bassompierre's Conduct that despairing to obtain any thing of her he was upon the Point of leaving the Court of France and going to seek his Fortune elsewhere But Bassompierre's good Friends especially the Duke of Guise and the Princess of Conti spoke so effectually to the Queen Regent that her Majesty gave him good words to Retain him The Princess of Conti wou'd not lose her Lover and the Duke of Guise was perswaded by a long Experience that Bassompierre was serviceable to him The Queen Regent was not so taken up with these Intrigues at Court that she did not at all reflect upon foreign Affairs That of Monferrat seemed to her the most important They resolve at the Court of France 〈◊〉 to send powerful Succours to the House of Mantua Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis that was likely to come into her hands during the Administration But her Majesty would not come to any Resolutoin without the Advice of the Princes and all the Principal Men of the Kingdom Here was an opportunity to recall to Court the Prince of Conde and the other Heads of the Party They had withdrawn one after another very much disgusted that the Queen was Reconciled to the Duke of Guise and d' Espernon and that she had called back the Ministers They presently agreed to send Two thousand Men to Casal Historie du Connètable de Lesdiguieres Liv. VIII Ch. 4. 〈◊〉 under the Command of the Chevalier de Guise who should Embark in Provence to pass by Savone into Monferrat And the Court of France being perswaded that the Governor of Milan privately sided with the Duke of Savoy or at least that the Spaniards would make their Advantage of this Quarrel resolv'd to send Three Armies to attacque Charles Emanuel in three different Places The Mareshal de Lesdiguieres was to march the greatest through Dauphine into Piedmont Siri Memoire recondite Tom. III. p. 92.93 c. The Duke of Guise had the least considerable to attacque the Savoyard on the Side of Provence Lastly the Third was designed to make an Irruption through Burgundy under the Command of Bellegarde As soon as this was concluded on in the Queens Council The Dutchess of Nevers went away to Grenoble to engage the Marquiss of Lesdiguières to march with all speed They diswade the Queen Regent from sending so speedy Succour to the Cardinal Duke Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 But the earnest desire which the Queen Regent at first discovered to Succour her Nephews grew cool by degrees The secret Friends of the Duke of Savoy cunningly represented to her Majesty that 't was dangerous to trust great Men with Armies under their Command during a Minority and to place a Mareschal of France an Huguenot at the Head of the most considerable Vbaldini the Popes Nuncio was on their side for fear the Arms of France should make too great advances in Italy and that Lesdiguieres should bring too many Protestants along with him of which the Court of Rome has been always very Jealous The cunning Italian with some others endeavoured to perswade the Queen yet fearful and irresolute that it was not necessary to be hasty in carrying the Arms of France into Piedmont since the King of Spain himself intended to oppose the Duke of Savoy and to take care that what the House of Mantua had lost in Monferrat should be restored Said they Madam if you send powerful Aids to the Cardinal Duke that step will create a jealousie of you in King Philip. Then he 'l assist the Duke of Savoy and so of Course you must break with Spain Had not your Majesty better threatten the Duke of Savoy to agree with Spain wou'd not that be sufficient to stop a Prince who has began a War which he can never maintain without the assistance of one Crown or the other By these insinuations the Queen was perswaded to suspend the march of the Armies till she should see how affairs went at the Court of Madrid The Spaniards having seriously considered the consequences of those Commotions The K. of Spain declares against the D. of Savoy which the ambition of the Duke of Savoy had raised in Italy and other Places his Catholick Majesty resolved in good earnest to oppose the designs of this restless and turbulent Prince He sent his
Secretary Vargas to Milan to declare plainly to Charles Emanuel that if he would not consent to restore the Towns he had taken in Monferrat that Philip. would force him to it Besides that the Duke of Lerma hated the Duke of Savoy this Minister did not care for War whether it were that he thought Peace more proper for the Conservation of his Authority or whether he was willing to conform himself to the calm and pacifique temper of his Prince So that Charles Emanuel is in worse confusion than ever He had pretended to listen to some proposals of accommodation Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 81 82. c. Nani Historia Veneta 1613. which Massimi the Popes Nuncio had made him in the Name of the Pope Victor Amedeus Prince of Piedmont was also gone to Milan to Negociate that Affair But his Father always found some occasion when the matter was near being concluded And even at that very time when the Duke appeared inclined to Peace He endeavoured to carry on his Conquests in Monferrat Althô France and Spain then threatned him equally and the Princes of Italy had almost all declared against him yet he was not daunted but steddily resolved to make a new Effort to lay the Storm which roared on both Sides of him He sent out of hand the Prince of Piedmont to Madrid to represent his Rights to the Catholick King and he engaged his Brother the Duke of Nemours to make a Journey into France to bring over the Queen Regent if he could or at least to oppose the Duke of Maienne who made a powerful Interest in favour of the House of Mantua But they had less Respect for him in Spain than they had in France when Victor Amadeus arrived in Catalonia the King let him know that he forbid him to pass any farther till he should receive news of his Father's submission to his Majesty's last Orders The Emperor Commands the D. of Savoy to desist from his Enterprize upon Monserrat Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 84.85 c. According to the Project of Accommodation proposed by the Pope's Minister the Duke of Savoy was to deliver up to his Holiness the Places which he had Possession of in Monferrat At this the Court of Vienna took offence And indeed the Marquisat being a Fief of the Empire It belonged to the Emperor to decide the Controversie and to be the Sequester preferably to all others Matthias therefore sent Orders to the Prince of Castiglione his Commissary in Italy to go to Turin and tell Charles Emanuel that he should immediately raise the Siege he had laid before Nice de la Paille a Town of Monferrat and consent to the suspension of Arms which his Imperial Majesty had ordered on both Sides upon pain of forfeiting the Emperor's Protection and that he must with all speed lay down his Arms to dissipate the Jealousies which his Enterprize had given him But as the Emperor pretended to be the sole Judge of a Controversie concerning a Fief of the Empire so the King of Spain he too would be the Arbiter without the concurrence either of the Empire or of France All these incidents pleased Charles Emanuel What with Criticizing on some of the Articles that were proposed to him and expecting till the Competition should be decided he had time to push on his Conquests in Monferrat The Prince of Castiglione tired with the delays of the Duke of Savoy publisht a Proclamation in the Name of the Emperor where he enjoined Charles Emanuel to deliver up to his Imperial Majesty's Commissary all that he had taken in Monferrat to send within Ten days a Deputy who should Treat the Prince of Castiglione being present with him whom the Duke of Mantua should send about means to determine the Controversie to the satisfaction of those who were concerned in it And that the Affair must be finisht within a Month after they should meet on one Side and on the other But was it prudent to use a precise and absolute way of speaking before he had sufficient Forces in Italy to Command Obedience if either of the Two Sides should resist This was to expose the Authority of the Emperor too rashly The Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had no other regard for him but as his great Name might sometimes do them a kindness The Princes of Italy Feudatories of the Empire are willing to withdraw themselves as much as possible from any Authority which incommodes them as weak as it is The King of Spain himself undermines it slily upon this occasion His Catholick Majesty will have no other Arbiter in a Country where he is most powerful The Governour of Milan acts more effectually than the Imperial Commissary The Governour of Milan compels the D. of Savoy to submit to the K. of Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 Inojosa being perswaded that his Master was resolved to bring this Affair to a Conclusion without the interposition of France sends the Prince of Ascoli at the Head of Five thousand Men which joined Three thousand more of the Troops of Mantua Commanded by Prince Don Vincent the Cordinal Dukes Brother This Army advances towards Nice near to which that of Charles Emanuel lay the Savoiards did not then doubt Mercure Francois 1613. but that the Governour was firmly resolved punctually to execute the Orders of his Catholick Majesty There being no other way left but that of putting a good face upon it the General of the Dukes Army sent word to the Prince of Ascoli that the Duke his Master entred into Monferrat not imagining that King Philip would have espoused the Cause of the House of Mantua against a Prince which had the Honour to be his Majesties Brother in Law Since it is so added the Envoy the Troops of the Duke my Master are ready to retire I will only say that 't is not the fear of the Arms of Mantua but the Respect which his Highness has for the King of Spain that inclines him to this Resolution He will never Employ his Forces in any thing that shall displease his Catholick Majesty The Prince of Ascoli answered that he had Orders to Relieve the Town of Nice and to take Care that the Army of the Duke of Savoy leave Monferrat He added If the General will lead off his Army no body will pursue it but if he is resolved to stay we 'l presently be with him After so many cunning Tricks and Contrivances the Duke of Savoy was entaged to see himself once more the Jest of all Europe and to have spent a great deal of Money in Projects that were defeated in a Moment Before he would quite give up he had a mind to try Inojosa whose friendship he had always reckoned upon He proposed to him that he would blindly devote himself to the King of Spain in opposition to all the World on Condition he would leave him in Possession of what he had taken Offers so Honourable so
Advantageous to the King of Spain in appearance were despised The Duke was reduced at last humbly to desire that till the entire decision of the Controversie he might have one Place left him in token of his pretensions to Monferrat They would not enter into any Treaty with this good Prince but sent him Padilla a General of the Artillery one of the most morose Men in Spain who at first word told his Highness in Terms very concise and with an Air of severity that he must even restore all To compleat his mortification Padilla produced a Letter of the King of Spain's Short but Expressive which obliged the Duke to comply with whatsoever the Marquiss of Inojosa should prescribe to him Nothing so much mortifies an haughty and valiant Prince as to be treated like a Subject by one that is more powerful than himself But what shall say Poor Emanuel abondoned of all the Word was forced to receive the most rigid Terms Instead of giving a Positive answer to grave Padilla he sent of his Ministers to Milan with such proposals as tended to lengthen out the business and delay his Resolution Inojosa rejected them with Indignation and sent word to Charles Emanuel that if he did not presently Restore all that he had Usurpt the Prince of Ascoli should lay Siege to one of those Places which were Re-demanded that the Governor of Milan should come himself upon the Spot and hang up every one that dared to Resist him The Duke knowing no means to prevent it offered to Surrender and Resign all that he was in Possession of in Monferrat I can't tell but still he might have some little hopes of gaining time by reason of a Quarrel that arose between Inojosa and Castiglione Each pretended that the Places were to be delivered up into the hands of his Master But Castiglione who had only the Name and Authority of the Emperor to back him soon complied with the other who had the Power in his hands The Imperial Commissary only received one Town for Form sake and the Spaniards took Possession of the rest Never was there an Agreement sooner Concluded than this thô the Duke of Savoy made a great many Difficulties before he would be brought to it This was the last Artifice of a Prince who had a mind to have in Reserve a pretence to Break when he should see it Convenient A Treaty made with precipitation is never well fixt Ther 's always some room for Evasion left for one that has no mind to be honest A dispute between the D. of Nevers and the Governor of Milan Before the conclusion of this Agreement the Duke of Nevers who as we said was come thither for the Relief of Monferrat had some words with the Governour of Milan Nevers had joined Prince Vincentius of Mantua with an Hundred or Six score French Gentlemen Mercure Francoise 1613. These observing the steps of the Spaniards grumbled that the Prince of Ascoli had not the pleasure of an opportunity to Bang the Savoiard Army The Marquiss of Inojosa being angry that his Collusion with Charles Emanuel was discovered declared openly that he would not suffer the French to have any Soldiers in Italy nor that any should come into the Country of Milan that he would give no civil reception to any that should pass thrô that Province and if the Two thousand Men which the Chevalier de Guise was to bring with him into Italy should come thither he would cut them in pieces This Spaniard was so offended at the coming of the French that he Commanded the Gallys of Naples of Sicily and Genoa unitedly to oppose those Vessels which brought Aids from Provence and to hinder the French Troops from Landing in the Coasts of Italy Inojosa after all endeavoured to make the Cardinal Duke Jealous by giving it out that Nevers had a greater design to make himself Master of Monferrat than to assist the House of Mantua The Duke affronted with the arrogance and moroseness of the Governour told him that 't was too much in all reason for a Man of Inojosa's Quality to march with so great a Train but that the Duke Nevers of the Family of Gonzagua might be allow'd to have an Hundred or Sixscore Men at his Heels He added excepting four or five Friends that are come to me all the rest belong to me If the Marquiss d'Inojosa offers to abuse any of them I know the Reason As for his threatning to cut in pieces the Troops which may come from France to assist the House of Mantua 't is not to be rhought that his Catholick Majesty approves such Language There 's no body in the World can hinder the most Christian King from Assisting his Kinsman and Ally or opposing the unjust Designs of the Duke of Savoy He would also raise a suspition concerning me but I am not afraid that the vain talk of the Marquiss d'Inojosa should make the least impression My Interest is so much one with that of the House of Mantua Monsieur the Governour confirms himself the just suspicions we have of his Conduct We know his Aversion to the Cardinal Duke and we are not ignorant of the Reasons which he has to favour the Duke of Savoy agrinst the Pretentions of his Catholick Majesty Thus it was that the Duke of Nevers supported the Honour of France better than the Regent of the Kingdom And not listening to the wise Remonstrances of the Senate of Venice who prest her to bring Troops into Piedmont and other Places she suffered the Court of Madrid to have all the Honour of this Affair being ready to reap advantage from it as there should be opportunity Whilst the greatest part of Europe was in some Commotion The Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the K. of England's Daughter Larrey Hist d' Angliterr Tom. II. 1612.1613 on the account of the death of Francis Duke of Mantua James King of Great Britain who did not much concern himself with the Affairs of Italy lived peceably in his own Island he was Entertaining himself with Diversions and giving the People afflicted for the death of the Prince of Wales a Thousand spectacles Some said that the Father had a mind insensibly to efface the Memory of his Son which a little before charmed all England Instead of taking pains to discover the secret of the hasty death of his Son the King heaped new favours upon his unworthy Favourite who was thought by some to be the Author of it Robert Carr Viscount of Rochester was made Earl of Sommerset a very high Title which was not wont to be bestowed but upon the Princes of the Blood of England or at least to the near Kindred of the King by the Mother's Side This Favourite married afterwards Frances Howard Countess of Essex famous for her Crimes and Exploits Should I make a rash judgment if I should say that the good King lookt upon himself as a Man happily raised from the dead after the
little thing and the one pretended to disannul what the other had done Prince Wolfgang of Newbourg marries the D. of Bavaria's Daughter and changes his Religion The Spaniards wisely made their Advantage of so fair an occasion to weaken the Protestant League and to bring over the House of Newburg to their Faction They proposed to Prince Volfgan a Match with Magdalen Sister of Maximilian Duke of Bavaria and of Ferdinand Elector of Cologne They promised him the Protection of the House of Austria a Pension from the King of Spain and the Support of the Catholick League if he would quit his Religion and enter into the Communion of the Church of Rome a very sensible Temptation to an Ambitious young Prince and who was big with Revenge for the horrible Affront which had been offered him Newburg falls before the force of it But Wolfgang whether 't were to keep fair with his Father who was a zealot for the Confession of Ausbourg or whether he had some other Reasons would not renounce his Religion before his Marriage He only consented to Marry the Princess Magdalen and the Duke of Newbourg gave his Consent not seeing the Snare which was laid for his Son who was blinded with Passion The Marriage was Celebrated at Munich the 10th of November this Year And that he might keep within bounds as to outward appearance the Prince was not Married by the Mass he only received the Nuptial Benediction by the hands of the Bishop of Aichstat at Evening Service in the great Church of Munich But at length Wolfgang declared himself in the Month of May the next Year He made publick profession of the Popish Religion at Dusseldorp The Duke his Father was extremely troubled at it The Proclamation which he publisht immediately after is an infallible proof of it It imported that every Munday throughout the Year publick Prayers should be made for the Conservation of the Protestant Religion in the Dutchy of Newbourg The Artifices and Fetches of the Duke of Savoy The Peace mude between the D of Savoy Mantua has much ado to continuefirm stable oblige us frequently to return to him The Treaty of Peace between Charles Emanuel and the Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua had been concluded with so much precipitation that they spoke there only of Resigning the Places in Monferrat without making any mention of the Mutual pretentions of each Party of the reparation of the Damages done in Monferrat which Ferdinand demanded nor of an Amnesty for the Subjects of the House of Mantua who had declared for that of Savoy which Charles Emanuel was willing to obtain These Affairs not being settled Disputes must presently revive Neither were the Princes of Italy very well satisfied with a Peace that was so infirm and subject to a Rupture They imagined and that with probability enough that the Marquiss d'Inojosa had made it because he could tell how to refuse Obedience to the positive Orders of the King his Master They were still afraid there was a Collusion between him and the Duke of Savoy and that they both of them had an under-hand Design At the very same time that Charles Emanuel Restored the Towns in Monferrat he re-enforced his Troops and the Governor of Milan remained in Arms diligently observing all these steps of which the most penetrating head could not understand the Secret The Venetians took care to continue to the Cardinal Duke the assistance which they had given him since the beginning of the Quarrel and to be themselves upon their Guard The Quarrel which arose between their Republick and Ferdinand of Austria Arch-Duke of Gratz who had a great Interest at the Court of Madrid obliged them to distrust the King of Spain 'T was upon the account of the Vscoques Pyrats and Robbers upon the Coasts of Dalmatia whom the Arch-Duke openly protected although the Venetians and the Turks did equally complain of their Robberys We shall say something in the Course of this History concerning this Quarrel which occasion'd the Vscoques to be known in the World The Governor of Milan presseth the Duke of Savoy to lay down his Arms. That which most perplext the speculative Italians about the Affair of Monferrat was that the Governor of Milan who was thought to be in the Interest of Charles Emanuel nevertheless powerfully prest him to lay down his Arms as soon as possible And at the same time that he was contending with him he would constrain Ferdinand to do all that the Savoyard could wish These steps Contrary in appearance are not difficult to be reconciled Spain endeavoured to make its advantage of the Quarrel His Catholick Majesty pretended to be the absolute Arbiter and to direct the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua as should be most for his Interest The Governor of Milan who had no mind to be at the charge of having an Army on Foot to oppose the Duke of Savoy in case his Attempts should make it necessary was continually pressing him to Disband his Troops And because it was of Importance to the King his Master to have at his Disposal the Heiress of Monferrat he boldly demanded her of the Cardinal Duke and thus the Intrigue comes out Now let us see how these Two Parties will get clear of the Demands of the Catholick King Inojosa had sent to Turin the Commander of the Castle of Milan possitively to tell the Duke that he must comply immediately with what was required of him Charles Emanuel bore very impatiently this Imperious way which the Spaniards took with him and with the other Princes of Italy althô he had been used to it for many Years But not being able openly to resist the will of King Philip he found out according tâ—… his usual way divers pretences to shrinâ—… back Never was a Mind more fruitfuâ—… of such Inventions than that of thiâ—… Prince He answered to this Message that he was ready to dismiss his Troops when the Marquiss of Inojosa should perform the private Articles to which the Cardidal Duke of Mantua had agreed at the time of the Treaty made with him Mr. the Governor hath himself given me positive assurances said Charles Emanuel that the Cardinal Duke did consent to deliver up into my hands the Princess Mary my Grand-daughter and to grant a general Amnesty to â—…he Subjects of Monferrat which declared for me Is it not fit that I should continue â—…n Arms till this be performed All the World was mightily surpriz'd when this Answer of the Duke of Savoy was known The Cardinal Ferdinand denied that he had â—…ver promis'd any such thing He pretendâ—…d likewise that Inojosa had told him to the â—…ontrary People could not tell what to â—â—ink of this Riddle Some said that â—â—e Governor of Milan having received â—…resents from Charles Emanuel and Ferdiâ—â—nd had impos'd upon them both in telâ—â—ng the Duke of Savoy that which I have â—â—lated before and in promising the clear â—â—ntrary to the Cardinal Duke that
to their Ambassadors at Rome Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 133 134 137. Vienna and at Paris to Treat zealously with the Pope the Emperor and the Queen of France in Ferdinand's favour The Ministers of the most Christian King and the Republick of Venice represented to Paul V. that his Title of universal Father indispensably obliged him to prevent the ill Consequences of the Enterprize of the Spaniard but the Pope was unconcerned and acted not in this matter being resolv'd peaceably to enjoy all the rest of his days the advantages of the Popedom he would have seen all the Princes of Italy Ruin'd without any Concern so that they let him alone and suffered his Nephews to grow Rich at their ease Breves Ambassador of France affronted at this natural or affected Negligence writ to Mary de Medicis that the Pope was but a lump of Flesh which grew Fat in Laziness a Man without Courage and without Experience who took no other Care but of making his advantage of the highest Place in the Church which Fortune had given him thô he did not see Merit in himself to pretend to it So that there were not hopes that his Holiness would give the least assistance to the House of Mantua All that Paul V. could do was to whisper in the Ear of the Cardinal Duke that he should obstinately refuse to part with his Niece and to Marry Margarite his Sister-in-Law to which the King of Spain perswaded him so much afraid was this timerous Old Man to offend the Court of Madrid Might it not be thus also that the Pope being well informed of the peaceable Temper of Philip III. and of the Weakness of the Spanish Monarchy did rightly Judge that all this Bustle was but an Intrigue of the Catholick King 's Ministers and that when their Master should see himself â—…hreatned with a War with France â—…e would put a stop to the forwardness of his Ministers and hear Reasons As to the Emperor there was less to be hop'd for from him than from the Pope Mary de Medicis perplext about the Affairs of Mantua-Siri Memo. recondite Matthias neither was in a Condition nor in an Humour to send Troops to Italy and besides he was afraid too openly to offend the Court of Madrid His Imperial Majesty confirm'd to the Cardinal Duke the Guardianship of his Neice But he writ immediately to King Philip to excuse himself and tell him that he could not fairly refuse that favour to Ferdinand And to satisfie the Spaniards yet more Matthias advised Ferdinand to deliver up the Princess Mary into the hands of his Catholick Majesty The House of Mantua had no other Refuge but the Protection of France The Kindred and Friends which it had there Solicited for it with all its might The Ambassadors of the Republick of Venice and of some other States did still Treat in its favour Mary aâ—… Medicis was well pleased with the Reasons which they alledged to her to exhort her to take her Nephews under the Protection of her Son Interest of Blood was united together with Reasons of State But the Timerous Regent could not come to a Resolution Being fond of the double Marriage with Spain which she had managed with a great deal of application and which she lookt upon as the strongest support of his Authority her Majesty was afraid least the Affairs of Mantua should produce a Rupture between the two Crowns and all her Projects should be unravel'd She suspected the Importunities of the King of Great-Brittain Ibid. p. 174. the Republick of Venice the States of the United Provinces the Prince of Conde and the great Men of the Party us'd with her to send Troops into Italy Her skill went so far as to discover that all these endeavoured only to Engage France openly to oppose the Designs of the Court of Madrid to declare War against the King of Spain and consequently to break the Treaty of the double Marriage which did not so well suit with their Interests In this perplexity Mary de Medicis did her endeavour at the Court of Madrid that the Affair of Mantua might be soon amicably Concluded But the Spaniards which knew her Temper did amuse her with fine Words whilst they heartily endeavoured to effect their Enterprise not being concern'd about the Negociations against their Master in France and Italy Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 the Ministers of Philip declared plainly that he expected that he should have the Princess of Mantua committed to his Care and that the Cardinal Duke should Marry Margarita of Savoy his Sister-in-Law in order to compose the differences of the two Houses That Charles Emanuel and Ferdinand should immediately lay down their Arms and that the other contested Points should be referr'd to the Judgment of the Pope the Emperor and his Catholick Majesty 1615. These Conditions were agreeable to the Demands which Charles Emanuel had made And hence it appeared that the Prince of Piedmont who had at last obtained leave to go to Madrid had not ill managed the Affairs of his Father In the mean time the Duke of Savoy was enraged to find himself always curb'd and over-rul'd But Ferdinand was more agriev'd than he They were not content to take away his Niece but would also force him to Marry against his Will his Sister-in-Law whom he did not Love The hatred which he bore to Charles Emanuel very much Estranged him from the Daughter of a declared Enemy of the House of Gonzague He lik'd better the Sister of Cosmo Great Duke of Tuscany she would be a considerable Fortune The Venetians his particular Friends advis'd him this Match And Cosmo was inclin'd to Conclude it as soon as the Quarrel between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua should be made up It is proposed in the Council of France to send Troops to Italy The Spaniards spoiled their Business by speaking too proudly It was earnestly represented to the Queen Regent that it was a Shame and a Dishonour to suffer the King of Spain to Domineer over Princes Allied to that Crown and that he should endeavour to hinder the King of France from concerning himself about the most important Affairs of Italy Mary de Medicis hard put to it on every Side began to give some signs of Life She declared roundly to the Ambassador of Spain that the King her Son should not see the House of Mantua Opprest Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 141 142. c. and that he should employ his Arms to assist his Kindred and Allies They talkt of nothing in France but a Rupture between the Two Crowns And the Nobles who breath'd nothing but War althô it be the Instrument of their Ruin and by consequence of their Slavery were in readiness to get a Horsback They held a great many Councils at Court about the Affair of Mantua every one advis'd according to their own particular Interest Villeroy and the Ministers who were best pleas'd with
having delayed too long was seized at the Louvre and kept close Prisoner in a Chamber by the Regent's Order Mercurâ—… Francois 1613. Memoires du duc de Rohan The Mareschal de Bovillon was one of the last to leave the Place To render himself less suspected he got himself Commissioned to Visit the Ministers first and to declare to them the Intentions of the Prince and the Rest The Mareschal was always Master of the Affair and could manage Conde as 〈◊〉 pleased he made no offer to stir from Court till he had first promised the Queen to bring back Conde and all the Lords of his Party Artifices of the Duke of Savoy to raise a Civil War in France 'T was so much for the Duke of Savoy's Interest to find business for Mary de Medicis in France that he must by all means Correspond with the Prince de Conde Besides that a Civil War would incapacitate the Regent to succour the House of Mantua Charles Emanuel had yet further hopes that the Prince and Lords combined with him breaking the double Marriage which was concluded with Spain as they pretended to him he would revenge himself on the Regent in forcing her to give her Eldest Daughter to the P. of Piedmont and perform the Promise which the late K. had made him The D. of Savoy at the same time that he held a private Correspondence with tha Party endeavoured to amuse the Regent he exhorted her vigorously to exert her Authority against all that should oppose it The Agents of Charles Emanuel had Orders to Protest to her Majesty that he did readily forget all the occasions of Complaint and the Affront she had given him in the Sight of all Europe by the Treaty of the double Marriage with Spain that he was extremely concern'd to see the new Troubles which Men of a Factious and unquiet Disposition gave her and that he never haâ—â— a Thought as some Persons would accuse him to support the Party of the Prince of Conde and to give him any Assistance Although his Highness said the Agents of Savoy to the Regent Doubts not but your Majesty's Prudence will soon dissipate this new Faction as you have the former the sincere Respect which the Duke our Master has for the Crown of France makes him take the Liberty to offer his Mediation to your Majesty If you believe 't will be of any Service to you He would likewise offer his own Person and his Troops if he was not persuaded that your Majesty has no need of such weak Assistance and if he was not under a necessity of putting strong Garrisons into his own Towns till the Difference between him and the House of Mantua should be adjusted The Regent had need of more sincere and honest People than the Duke of Savoy The King of Spain and the Duke of Lorrain offered her their Assistance as well as Charles Emanuel Different advice in the Council of France how to dissipate the Party of the Prince of Conde Memoires de la Regence de Mary de Medicis But her Majesty had no Inclination to bring Foreign Troops into her Country That might have been the way 〈◊〉 have made more Rise than did The Duke d'Epernon was immediately called back whom the Queen had again disobliged since her last Reconciliation with him There was more of Ostentation than Reality in the generous and disinterested Temper which this Noble-Man affected when he was recall'd Epernon had a little before solicited the Queen to receive the Office of first Gentleman of the Chamber Vie du Due d'Epernon Liv. VI. which he had enjoy'd under Henry IV. and to bestow it on Candale his Eldest Son Being disoblig'd that he could not obtain a thing which he thought due to his Services he desired leave to go to Mets of which Place he was Governor But when she began to hear the threatning Storm to Roar she pacifi'd the Duke d'Epernon by granting what she had before refused The Duke de Guise received also new marks of distinguishing Favour He pleased himself with the hopes of being General of the King's Forces in case they should March against the Prince of Conde 'T was the Advice of the Cardinal de Joieuse of the Duke d'Epernon and de Villeroi They said that the Malecontents not having Troops nor Money nor any Place of Retreat that therefore they should pursue them out of hand with the Troops of his Majesty's Houshold and that if his Majesty should advance as far as Rheims with that little Body of Men the Prince and the Lords of his Party being surprized unawares would be necessitated humbly to implore the King's Mercy or to flee out of the Kingdom in Disorder and Confusion The New Mareschal d'Ancre and Chancellor de Sillery were of another Opinion they said it were better first to Treat with them He could not endure that the Duke de Guise whom he both hated and feared should have the Command of the Army The other being fallen out more than ever with Villeroi was blindly led by Conchini Ever since the death of Madam de Puisieux the Chancellor's Eldest Son's Wife and Grandaughter of Villeroy these two could never agree Dole a Creature of the Mareschal d'Ancre was disgusted upon the Conclusion of the Marriage of the Marquiss de Villeroy Grandson of the Secretary of State because they had not given Dole the Office of Controller of the Finances which the Marquiss d'Alincourt Son of Villeroy had given him hopes of in case the Marquiss de Villeroy should Marry the Daughter of Conchini The Chancellor de Sillery took the advantage of this Discontent of Dole to gain the Favour of the Mareschal d'Ancre and to Ruin his Rival with whom Conchini had fallen out This Second Expedient pleased the Regent best who relied upon the assurances that the Mareschal de Bovillon had given her Mercure Francois 1613. She sent the Duke de Ventadour and Boissise Counsellor of State to Invite the Prince of Conde who was thought to be at Chateauroux to Return to his Post at Court Villeroy could not forbear saying that she exposed her self to the same Inconvenience which befel Henry III. when the League first took Arms against him The Duke d'Epernon had advised him to March immediately against the Duke de Guise who could not then make any Resistance But Henry not listening to such wholesome Advice rashly threw himself into those Misfortunes which cost him his Life God grant said Villeroy that the same thing doth not befall us since we neglect to crush this Conspiracy in its Birth which is likely to produce great Revolutions in the State They thought that this Old Statesman spoke thus only to get the Command of the Army for the Duke of Guise and that he would not be sorry to see a Civil War which might in the Issue prove fatal to the Mareschal d'Ancre and the Chancellor de Sillery The Prince de Conde and the Duke de Guise hated them
both Conde would have had them removed from Court if he could have had any advantage against them and the Duke de Guise would have done his endeavour to have remov'd them as soon as he should have been at the head of the King's Army The Duke d'Epernon angry that his advice to oppose the Malecontents with an open force was not followed resolved not to assist at any Treaties which they should afterwards hold with the Prince and the united Lords where the King was to buy of his Subjects a short liv'd Peace at a shameful Rate The Circular Letter of the Regent upon Retreat of the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party When the Duke de Vantadour and Boissise were gone to the Prince de Conde in Berri the Regent wrote a Circular Letters dated the 13th February to all the Parlements of the Kingdom to the Governors of Provinces and other Places to the Provost of the Merchants to the Mayors and Sheriffs of the Cities to exhort them to remain faithful to the King and not suffer themselves to be surpriz'd by the Prince de Conde and his Party If you will believe Mary de Medicis Mercure Francoise 1614. These Gentlemen had no just ground of Complaint neither with relation to their own private Interest nor to the Administration of the publick Affairs Her Majesty had Treated this Prince and those Lords with all the Respect imaginable she had heap'd as many Favours on them as they could reasonably desire and had taken no Step of any consequence without their Advice The Kingdom was in as flourishing and quiet a Condition the Dignity of the Crown of France as well Supported the People as easie and happy as ever To write the History of a Reign from Manifesto's from prefaces of Edicts and Declarations from Letters and other Papers published under the King's Name is to have but very bad Authority for what one writes In the mean time to amuse the People with the hopes of a better Government the Regent declared in a Letter that her Majesty resolv'd to call as they speak in France an Assembly des Notables of all Orders in the Kingdom in which they should consult together for the publick Welfare The Duke de Nevers seizes on the Cittadel de Mezieres in Champagne Ventadour and Boissise had Intelligence upon the Road that the Prince de Conde was gone from Chateauroux and designed â—…o pass the Loir accompanied by 30 or â—…o Horse They sent one of their Comâ—…any to inform him of their Commissiâ—â— and to know where they might meet â—â—m Mercure Francoise 1614. Conde refused to receive the King's â—…eputies and went immediately into â—…hampagne where the Duke de Nevers â—â—ceived him The Prince was immediâ—…ely Conducted to Chalons from thence â—â—vers and he went to Mezieres Descuâ—…es Commanded there in the absence of â—â—e Marquiss de la Vieuville There â—â—ing a good understanding between him and the Duke de Nevers Descuroles made as if he would shut the Gates of the Cittadel and defend it according to the Order which he had received from Vieuville But the Prince and the Duke de Nevers threatning to attack it if he did not shew express Orders from her Majesty to Resist them Descuroles received the Prince and Duke into the Place Nevers wrote afterwards to the Queen to complain of the Marquiss of Vieuville to desire that Justice might be done him for the resistance that had been made him who was the Governor of the Province Was not this to Affront the Queen under pretence of paying I know not what respect to the Majesty of a Sovereign The Prince de Conde wrote to the Regent a Letter in Form of a Mà nifesto Mercure Francois 1614. The Prince de Conde the Dukes de Nevers de Maìenne de Longueville and some others of the chief of the Party being met at Mezieres Conde wrote a long Letter to the Queen in form of a Manifesto He expresseth there an extraordinary Zeal for the publick Good and offers to Restore the Pensions and Gratifications which he had Received from the King to her Majesty's hand when all the States shall be assembled and Act with entire Liberty In a Word he speaks much like the Ancient Greeks and Romans of whose Impartial Justice we read of in History If he had a mind to impose upon the World he should have taken care that his Actions did not contradict his Words In truth the Complaints which the Prince de Conde and those of his Party made concerning the wasting of the Treasury the giving the highest Employments to People unworthy of them the too great Authority of the Ministers the little Respect that was paid to the Princes and Peers of the Realm the Officers of the Crown the Obstacles which the Parlement found in exercising of their Power the Ruine of the Nobles the excessive Price of the Places of Judicature the Oppression of the People neglecting to Assemble the States of the Kingdom the Haste with which they had concluded the Marriage of the King before his Majority all these Complaints I say were well founded In the mean time what ever Protestations the Prince of Conde made that he had no other design but to procure an effectual Remedy for these heavy Grievances yet the World could never firmly believe the integrity of his Intentions nor the sincerity of his Words He added to these Three or Four Demands which were not less Reasonable the Assembling of the States of the Kingdom within Three months at farthest the Suspending the Marriage of the King and his Sister till after the sitting of the States and the placing near her Majesty Persons of known Honesty and Integrity Conde at the same time wrote to the Prince of Conti his Uncle to the Dukes Peers and Officers of the Crown to the Parlements to Cardinals and he sent them a Copy of the Letter he had sent to the Queen In that to the Parlement of Paris he Stiled them the Chief Guardian of the Kingdom He was willing to give them an account of his Actions he desired their Advice and Concurrence in this Laudable undertaking of his to Reform the Government Thus it is that Kings and Princes and great Lords have used to play with a Senate The weakness of the Parlement of Paris on this occasion the Chief Members whereof being Ambitious and Slaves to the Court take no care to maintain its Reputation and Authority When there are hopes that the Parlement of Paris will be of any use to impose upon the People they bestow upon it magnificent Titles and Treat it with the greatest Honour and Respect imaginable but when these Considerations cease they despise and ridicule it The Parlement upon this occasion gave a Proof of its Weakness They would not open the Letter which the Prince de Conde sent them Two of their Members were deputed to carry it to the Queen who sent them to the Chancellor
a Sum of Money in requital Rohan whose great Design was to be Head of those of his own Religion whom he was willing to Defend and to maintain the Reputation which he had gotten by his Zeal and Probity in Poitou in Guienne and Languedoc where he had very well Supported the Interest of the Reformed Party against the Connestable Governor of the Province Rohan I say was not concerned to keep his Post near the King A Sum of Money was very welcome to him in the present posture of Affairs Bassompierre is made Collonel General of the Swisses in the Room of the Duke of Rohan The business was to get a Man devoted to the Queen and agreeable to the Swisses She proposed Bassompierre in the Council But Villeroy who favour'd the Duke of Longueville whose Family he was a great Friend to told her Majesty that the Place of Colonel General of the Swisses had always been fill'd by a Prince and that the late King promised to give it to no Person but one of that Rank when he renew'd his Ancient Alliance with the Thirteen Cantons The Duke of Rohan said Villeroy was afterwards chosen as a Prince of the Blood of Navarre and Scotland Several of the Ancestors of the Duke of Longueville have Commanded the Swisses The offering him this Post of his Forefathers will be a likely way to draw him off from the Party of the Male-contents Mary did not approve of trusting a young Lord who declared against her and who had often quarrelled with the Mareschal d' Ancre about the Execution of their Offices Longueville was Governor of Picardy and Conchini of the City and Castle of Amiens Because Bassompierre was excluded by the Treaty with the Swisses Mary de Medicis proposed the Chevalier du Guise who unhappily died a little after Villeroy interposed a Second time by saying that this would open the mouths of the Male-contents more than ever who complained of the too high preferments of the House of Guise 'T was happy for Bassompierre that they did not come to a resolution then After he understood from the Queen her self that he was excluded from the Office of Collonel General of the Swisses because he was not one of the Princes he used all his endeavours to take away this obstacle One of the Montmorenci's having had this Employ with the consent of the Helvetick Nation Galatis a Friend of Bassompierre's undertook after all to obtain for him the consent of the Cantons He acquainted the Queen with this who gave him Three Weeks to try what might be done Galatis went directly to Switzerland where he obtained leave to raise Six thousand Men and the Consent of the Thirteen Cantons in favour of Bassompierre And thus this Lorain Gentleman became a Collonel General of the Swisses The sooner to bring this advantageous business to an Issue he paid out of his own Estate the Money promised to the Duke of Rohan But her Majesty afterwards re-embursed him Bassompierre was afraid that if the Duke of Rohan was not paid presently he might have some contrivance to prevent him from an Employ that was likely to be a Step to higher preferment The Conduct of the Reformed in France in the Affair of the prince of Conde The better to Engage the Prince of Conde and his Party to Rise against the Government the Mareschal de Bovillon flattered them with hopes that the Reformed Churches would declare for them He had taken care to discover this Project to the most intimate Friends of the Duke of Rohan Memoires of the Duke of Rohan whether it were that the cunning Mareschal had a mind to make the Prince believe that Rohan would readily join him or whether he had a mind to raise yet greater suspicions in the Court against a Person whom he had a mind to Ruine and make himself more necessary to the Regent Conde seem'd so well persuaded of the favourable Inclinations of the Huguenot Party that he wrote to the Deputy Generals of the Reformed Churches to let them know the Obligations he had laid upon them in not forgetting the Interests of the Protestants in the Manifesto which he had Addressed to the Queen But the Wise du Plessis-Mornai had the precaution to prevent the Deputy Generals from interesting themselves in this Affair and to prescribe to them the Conduct which they were to observe in this Conjuncture After having reflected upon the Steps of the Prince and the measures which he had taken with the Male-contented Lords du Plessis said very aptly that they which Halt at the Threshold are not like to go far And when he had read the Prince of Conde's Letter to the Queen he said Judiciously to the Ambassador of the States General of the Vnited-Provinces to the Queen that he could not imagine what was the Principle of that Charity which the Prince of Conde and his Party pretended to the Reformed Churches These Gentlemen added he are no less at the Devotion of the Pope than the Queen her self of whom they Complain Thâ—… Court of Rome will interpose to reconcile them and his Emissaries will not fail to make us more odious if we imprudently Side with those who hate us in reality and sollicite us only with hopes thereby to obtain better Terms for themselves The wisdom of du Plessis Mornai Villarnoux came to visit du Plessis his Father-in-Law upon the first report of the Rising of the Prince of Conde He sent him immediately back to Paris with Orders to admonish the Deputy-Generals that they should take Care not to draw the Reproach upon themselves of Rising upon any other account but the obtaining of the liberty of their Conscience That would be to wrong their good Cause to mix with it Interests purely Civil and that those of the Religion as they were Reformed Christians ought not to meddle with the Reformation of the State Altho' added he we should think it our Duty to joyn witih them as French-men who desire it of us the Opportunity is not Inviting the design of the Prince according to all appearance will not succeed His Retreat will be look'd upon as an effect of his Discontent or as a desire to Embroil the State The Queen will easily break all their Measures by promising to assemble the States of the Kingdom and to defer the Marriage of the King To what purpose do they think to meet together in a Corner of France Those People which the King can Attack without making any great diversion of his Forces will not continue long before they are reduc'd to beg his Mercy The Event justified this right Guess of this able Old Man Conde could not have drawn himself out of the Intrigue so safely if the Mareschal de Ancre had not apprehended that the Duke de Guise would have been too powerful if he should have had the Command of the Royal Army When the Mareschal de Bovillon had joined the Prince of Conde in Champagne The
Nevertheless Condi Duc de Rets joined Vendome they gathered together some Troops and set about Fortifying Bâ—…avet of which they had made themselves Masters as also of some other Places of the Dutchy of Ponthievre which belonged to the House of Mercoeur whose Heiress Coesar had married He writ to the King to Complain of the unjust Treatment that he found Instead of Answering this Duke who was never feared nor valued they sent Orders to the Comte de Vertus and to the Parliament of Britagne to hinder him from Levying or Assembling any Troops not excepting his Company of Guards unless he shewed express Orders from her Majesty Caesar wrote a Second Letter to the King he Complains there of the Affront which was offerd him in degrading him from his Government and justifies himself as well as he can with respect to the Fortifications of Blavet The Court as little regarded this Letter as the First Being more concerned about her Negociations in Champagne the Regent slighted the Duke of Vendome and Concluded a Treaty with the Prince of Conde The death of the Connetable de Mont morenci Henry Duc de Montmorenci Pair and Connetable of France died in his Government of Languedoc during these Troubles The late King had invested him with the First military Dignity which had not been filled since the death of Anne de Montmorenci his Father History gives us no great Character of this Connetable he was a Man of moderate Merits The judicious President de Thou is far from giving us so fine a Description of him as of his Eldest Brother the Mareschal de Montmorenci Henry his Son had married some time ago the Daughter of the Duke de Bracciano of the Family of the Vrsins in Italy He left Three Daughters Two by a First Wife one of which married the Duke de Ventadour and the other the Comte d'Auvergne afterwards Duke d'Angouleme The Third by his Second Wife was married to the Prince of Conde Whilest the Duke de Ventadour the President of Thou and Jeannin Boissise and Bullion Counsellers of State were in a Conference at Soissons for Mary de Medicis with the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party the Marquiss de Coeuvres Ambassador Extraordinary from France in Italy was there finishing his Negociation concerning the Affair of Mantua The Duke of Savoy The D. of Savoy avoids meeting the Marquiss de Coeuvres the Fr. Ambassador in Italy Memoires de lo Regence de Marie de Medicis Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 109. 191. who was not Ignorant that this New Minister of France was to join with the Ambassador who was sent from Spain at the same time to press his Highness to Disarm and to Conclude the marriage of his Daughter the Widow of Duke Francis of Mantua with the Cardinal Ferdinand de Gonzagua his Brother and Successor Charles Emanuel I say went out of Turin as soon as he heard of the Arrival of Coeuvres under a pretence of going to settle some Disorders which had happen'd in his County of Nice in Provence He could not digest the loftiness of the Court of Spain towards him Two of his Sons were Hostages as it were Victor Amadaeus Prince of Piedmont the Eldest which his Father had sent into Spain very imprudently upon the occasion of his Quarrel with the House of Mantua and Philibert whom the Spaniards had the precaution to hold in Custody ever since Charles Emanuel had sent him to make Satisfaction to his Catholick Majesty as we said before Indeed they had given Prince Philibert the Command of the Spanish Gallies but this Important Charge was properly spèaking but an Honourable prison The Guards and Officers which were about his Person had an Eye upon all his Steps and Actions Althô Two Hostages so Dear to their Father might have Secured the King of Spain that Charles Emanuel had no ill Design upon the Country of Milan yet his Majesty Ordered him to Disarm presently and Acting upon this occasion in Concert with the Regent of France his Orders were the more positive and pressing The Jealousie of the Princes of Italy by reason of the Correspondence between the two Crowns with relation to the Affairs of Italy The Republick of Venice and the Secular Princes of Italy saw with excreme Concern that the Alliance made between the Two Crowns by the Treaty of the Double Marriage tended only to Enslave Italy and that they must be contented for the future with whatsoever Spain should resolve upon in Conjunction with the Regent of France who willingly sacrificed the Interest and Authority of her Son to a prejudice which she had taken up that the surest way to be absolute in France was to hold a good Correspondence with the Court of Madrid The Cardinal Duke of Mantua whom the Two Crowns pretended to Protect Complained that the Catholick King endeavoured to marry him to a Woman he did not care for and to take away the young Princess his Neice from him Charles Emanuel made a greater noise because they would have the absolute disposal of his Daughter and compell him to lie at the Discretion of the Spaniards when he was Disarmed What now said he to the Ministers of the Princes of Italy which were about him Are we become the Subjects of the King of Spain Where we shall do the least thing that displeaseth him must we humbly beg his Majesty's Pardon and undergo the penance that he shall impose upon us Shall we bear the Caprices and the Haughtiness of his Ministers and Governors who upon any pretence will wage War against us and we be not in a Condition to oppose them Althô several Princes of Italy were not sorry to see the Duke of Savoy humbled yet they murmured Every one was afraid that upon the first occasion the Court of Madrid would Treat them in the same Imperious manner The Prince of Piedmont gave his Father notice that the Duke of Lerma an Enemy to their Family threatned to humble the Pride of the Duke of Savoy and to punish him for his Attempts We must submit said Victor Amadeus or prepare to feel the Effects of an angry and imperious Favourite against us All these Remonstrances did not shake the Duke of Savoy being resolved to do nothing unworthy of his Quality He protested he would rather abandon his Two Sons to the Discretion of the Spaniards and die with his Sword in his Hand than be anothers Slave And this is the reason why he left Turin when he understood that the Ambassadors of France and Spain were come to speak with him He would not stay to have Terms imposed upon him by these Two Ministers who had before agreed together to make the same Proposals Charles Emanuel had yet some hopes that the Face of Affairs in France would be changed by the motions of the Prince of Conde and that he should then find some way of coming off with Honour The Spaniards privatly traverses the Negociations
of the Marquiss de Coeuvres In the mean time he took care that the Ambassadors of the Two Crowns should be received with all Respect He writ very Civil and Obliging Letters to the Marquiss de Coeuvres sometimes to desire him to come to Nice sometimes to tell him that within a few days he would return to Turin Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis The French Ambassador easily understood what he meant He informed the Court of France of all this management They thought there that it was not agreeable to the Dignity of the King Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1. 1614. to let the Duke of Savoy any longer play upon an Ambassador Extraordinary which his Majesty had sent to him Coeuvres was Ordered to go to Mantua and to take Milan in his way that he might there take some Measures with the Ministers of the King of Spain The Marquiss d'Inojosa received the Ambassador with a great deal of Civility And they took care to give him the Pleasures and Diversions of the Carnaval But when they began to speak about the Affair of Mantua the Spanish Ministers who could not bear that the Court of France should have any hand in this Accommodation told the Marquiss de Coeuvres that that Affair would henceforward be negociated at Madrid whither the Cardinal Duke had sent one of his Principal Ministers The French Ambassador then understood that the Jealousie of the Spaniards would underhand give him a great deal of Trouble He set out for Mantua The Governor of Milan dispatcht immediately a Franciscan Friar with Orders to Treat privately with the Cardinal Duke to hinder him from accepting with the Mediation of France and to give him hopes of better Terms by the single Mediation of the Catholick King who was provok'd by the delays and resistance of Charles Emanuel The Prince de Castiglione the Emperor's Commissioner in Italy went himself to Mantua He lay Incognito in one of the Duke's Houses near the City This Journey was undertaken by Agreement with the Marquiss Inojosa who design'd to Corroborate by sending the Prince de Castiglione all that the Franciscan should say or at least to interpose the Name and Authority of the Emperor as a new Obstacle to the Interposition of France in the Affair of Mantua Castiglione represented to the Cardinal Duke that the Dispute between him and the Duke of Savoy being about a Feif of the Empire his Imperial Majesty took it ill that their dispute was referr'd to the Arbitration of another Power Thè Cardinal Duke of Mantua accepts the Conditons proposed by the Marquis de Coeuvres In spight of all these Intreagues of the Spaniards the Cardinal Ferdinand took the Advice of the Republick of Venice to accept the Terms proposed by France and to Consent to what was Demanded of them provided he should have the liberty of keeping the Princess Mary at Mantua Ferdinand made some Objections against the Amnesty which they desir'd of him in favour of those of Monferrat who had declar'd for the Duke of Savoy But he consented at last The Marquiss de Coeuvres having therefore obtained the Consent of the Cardinal Duke to marry the Dutchess Margarita the Widow of his Brother Francis to choose before the Consummation of the marriage Arbiters to Examine the pretensions of the Duke of Savoy to Monferrat to Pardon all those Rebels which Charles Emanuel protected lastly to require no Reparation for the War which had been made against him Ferdinand dispatch'd a Courier inâ—…o France to give the Queen Regent notice of what had been done He desir'd her to perswade the Catholick King to approve of this Agreement The Court of Madrid did not seem to wait till it was solicited Affecting to be as it were the sole Agent on this occasion and to give Laws to the Two Parties the Catholick King sent Express Orders that he should come to an Agreement upon these Terms The Republick of Venice thought that this Expedient would avert this War with which Italy was threatned if the Quarrel was not quickly ended and the Cardinal Duke by this Submission would gain the Favour of the Two Crowns in case the Duke of Savoy refus'd to accept the Terms which they jointly proposed The Marquiss de Coeuvres went to Venice to divert him self The D. of Savoy pretends to consent likewisè expecting Orders to return to France Mary de Medicis sent them to him She was well pleased to have made a certain shew of her Authority in Italy at a time when the Spaniards spoke so big there Coeuvres was Commanded to return by Turin and there to Treat with the Duke of Savoy to persuade him to accept of the Terms which the Cardinal Duke of Mantua had agreed to The Court of France was not much concern'd that Charles Emanuel should so soon come to an Accommodation with Ferdinand Being persuaded that the Spaniards would sufficiently mortifie him they were heartily glad that this bold and turbulent Man had his hands so full in Italy that he could not Succour the Prince of Conde The Marquiss d' Vrfe was lately come to Turin to Treat with the Duke of Savoy Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 222.223 in the Name of the Malecontents of France Coeuvres received a thousand Caresses at the Court of Charles Emanuel They there seem'd well dispos'd to the Accommodation But under a pretence that the Spaniards had ill Designs against him the Duke of Savoy Levied New Troops and strengthened himself more than ever New Troops levied at Turin The account which the Prince of Piedmont upon his return from Madrid gave of the Coldness and Haughtiness with which he was Received there Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and of the aversion which the Duke of Lerma had for the House of Savoy made Charles Emanuel almost mad Not content to make continual Invectives against the Attempts of the King of Spain upon the Liberty of the Princes of Italy he endeavoured to put himself in a Condition to Resist any that should Attack him Hereupon he Negociates with Maurice Prince of Orange John Comte de Nassaw comes into his Service Invited by a great Pension He raises new Regiments of Swisses and offers Commissions to several French Officers in short he intrigues with all Nations that were Enemies to or jealous of the Monarchy of Spain What an unhappy thing is it for poor Subjects to be at the Direction of a Restless Ambitious and Revengeful Prince They are ruin'd to day for the carrying on a chimerical Design to morrow to satisfie the desires of an unreasonable Ambition or else for the revenging of an injury which a Wise and Judicious Prince would out of Prudence overlook But such was the Fate of Piedmont and Savoy as long as Charles Emanuel lived The Negociation of the D. of Ventadour and other Commissioners of the K. with the P. de Conde and those of his Party The Marquiss
de Coeuvres was informed before his departure from Italy that the Prince of Conde and the Regent were upon the point of Agreement This News unravelled the Designs of the Duke of Savoy He flatterr'd himself he should have time to make good his pretensions to Monferrat in spight of the King of Spain whilst his Catholick Majesty should be busied in Supporting the Authority of Mary de Medicis shaken by a Civil War rais'd by the Prince of Conde in France The Treaty which the Regent was about to Conclude at St. Meneboud in Champagne Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis with the Malecontents was not so Binding but that the Prince de Conde held still a great Correspondence with Savoy Mercure Francois 1614. and there was still great Confusions in France These Considerations gave Charles Emanuel some hopes of being in a Condition to make the Governor of Milan know that his Catholick Majesty was not powerful enough to be absolute Master of all the Affairs in Italy Before we relate this new Quarrel which the Duke of Savoy had with the Marquiss of Inojosa or rather with the Court of Madrid it is necessary to look back on the Course of the Affairs in France and to give an account of the Negociation of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King of France with the Prince of Conde and the Lords of his Party at the Conference of Soissons The latter came thither attended by Six or Seven hundred Horse and Four thousand Foot The Duke de Mayenne Governor of the Isle of France had put a strong Garrison into Soissons for the Security of the Prince and the Lords that came with him The 14th April they assembled in the Castle of Soissons After the Prince of Conde and the Malecontented Lords had protested that they had no other Design but to Serve his Majesty and to secure the Peace of France they desired Three things of the Regent that the States of the Kingdom should be Conven'd as soon as possible that the double Marriage with Spain should be Superseded and that both Sides should lay down their Arms. Hitherto things went very smoothly they pretended to design nothing but the publick Good But they reserv'd a Power to Treat not only concerning the Liberty and Security of the Assembly of the States of the Kingdom but also concerning the particular Interests of each of the Lords The Convocation of the States were granted without any difficulty The Regent had offered that in her Answer to the Prince de Conde's Manifesto There was a dispute about the Second Article They demanded a Suspention of the double Marriage till the End of the Assembly of the States The Commissioners of the Court had only Orders to grant it till the Majority of the King And to save the Authority of the Regent in an Affair which she had Negociated and solemnly Concluded with Spain the Court would not allow that this Article should be inserted in the publick Treaty They offered a particular Letter of the Regent to the Prince in which her Majesty would engage her self to defer the double Marriage till the Majority of the King The thing was accepted of with this modification There was only a formality wanting The day appointed for the opening of the Assembly of the States falling out before the Majority the double Marriage could not be Celebrated before the end thereof The Prince de Conde retires from Soissons and goes into Champagne The proposals which the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party made with Relation to their particular Interests raised great disputes in the Council of Mary de Medicis under a pretence of providing for their own Security The Prince and the other Malecontents demanded that they would put some important Place into their Hands and grant them several things for their own convenience 'T was necessary to send Couriers to Court Memoirs de Bassompierre Mercure Francois 1614. and to receive Instructions concerning these Affairs Thus the King's Army gained time to reinforce it self considerably Galati brought Six thousand Swisses which he had Commission to Levy Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis Bassompierre their New Collonel General went to receive them at Troies in Champagne from thence he Conducted them to Vitri where Praslain was gathering together the King's Army These motions made the Prince de Conde Jealous who immediately left Soissons He had written to the Queen before to thank her for the Three Articles which she had consented too and to Advertise her Majesty that the Duke de Maierne and the Mareschal de Bovillon remained at Soissons with full power to Treat of those other Conditions which his Highness and the Lords of the Party had demanded Conde had a mind to seize Vitri with his little Army which he led towards Sedan But the Kings Troops prevented him He made amends for this by assisting the Duke of Nevers to make himself Master of St. Menehoud When the particular Demands of the Prince and the Malecontented Lords were proposed in the Queen's Council their Opinions were divided The Dukes de Guise d' Epernon de Bellegarde The Regents Council divided about the demands which the P. of Conde the Malecontents make with relation to their particular Interests the Cardinal de Joieuse and Villeroi Secretary of State cried out upon them as unworthy Conditions which the Queen could not grant with Honour and without parting with too much of her Authority Guise and Epernon said boldly that if the Regent granted Places of Security to their Enemies they likewise would demand the same and that they would look for Assistance out of the Kingdom This was plainly to threaten Siri Meme recondite Tom. III. p. 238 239 c. that they would join themselves with the Crown of Spain This appeared so much the more a contriv'd Design because the Ministers of Philip declar'd that the King their Master would not send the Infanta his Daughter into France as long as the Enemies of the House of Austria were there the Strongest Mary de Medicis began to be shaken by their Reasons who were of Opinion that she should suppress the Prince of Conde by Force The Parliaments the greater part of the military Officers in a word almost the whole Kingdom were at her Majesties disposal The Hugonots did not Rise only the Duke of Rohan was perhaps tempted to join with the Prince of Conde But Rohan did not eare to embark himself without having a prospect what was like to be the Success However 't was easie to stop him by giving some Satisfaction to the Reformed Churches concerning the Edicts of Pacification and above all in not accepting the assistance which the King of Spain offer'd and of which the Regent had no need Her Majesty did not want Money she had a good Army Conde and the Lords of his Party lying in the extreame parts of
the Kingdom without hope of Foreign Succour were not furnished with any necessaries to maintain a War The Intrigue of the Marschal de Ancre to dissuade the Regent from going to War with the P. de Conde Mary de Medicis would have followed this Advice the most advantageous to her Reputation and her Authority if the Mareschal d' Ancre and the Chancellor de Silleri had not dissuaded her Not content to alledge their Reasons in the Council that it was the best way to grant the Prince of Conde and those of his Party Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 241. almost all their Pretensions they Intrigued in the Parlement they excited the People of Paris earnestly to demand the conclusion of the Peace They engage likewise the Deputies General of the reformed Churches to say That if the Regent gave the Command of the Army to the avowed Enemies of their Religion they should think they had very good reason to take care of their own preservation by uniting with the Prince of Conde The Mareschal de Lesdiguieres represented that the War would be lookt upon as a revival of the Ancient Quarrels between the Guises and the Bourbons In this diversity of Opinions the Queen thought that to save her self from the Reproaches which might be hereafter thrown upon her 't was necessary to assemble an extraordinary Council and to Summon thither the Presidents of the Parliament and the chief Magistrates of Paris All these Gentlemen of the Robe being prepossess'd by the Chancellor favoured a Peace The Cardinal de Joieuse seeing that their Advice would not carry it went out of the Assembly Guise Epernon Villeroy and some others who had spoke for the War were afraid to oppose the Torrent therefore they approv'd the continuation of the Treaty begun at Soissons Viguier was dispatch'd by the Regent to the Prince of Conde who was retired to St. Menehoud This new Agent had Orders to persuade his Highness to agree that the Duke de Maienne and the Mareschal de Bovillon should conclude the Treaty with the King's Commissioners who remained at Soissons notwithstanding the Retreat of the Prince with some other Lords Conde having answerd by Viguier that things would sooner come to an Issue if the Duke de Ventadour and his Collegues would advance as far as Rhetel to Treat with himself her Majesty sent an express Commission to her Deputies to make an end of the Negociation The Regent sent likewise a particular Letter to the Prince She there promis'd a Suspension of the double Marriage till the Majority of the King her Son The reasons of the Pope's Nuncio about the resolution taken to make a Peace with the P. of Conde The Pope's Nuncio was troubled at the Resolutions which Mary de Medicis had taken to come to an agreement with the Prince of Conde upon Terms so disadvantageous to her Royal Authority he was afraid that this Treaty would make the First Prince of the Blood too powerful and put him into a capacity of pushing his attempts much farther Conde said this Minister of the Pope hath a design to break the double Marriage How must he Effect it 'T is necessary then that he Support the Hugonot Party that he favour the continual Vsurpations of the Parliaments upon the Jurisdiction of the Church that he make Creatures in the Sorbonne by fomenting the Richeriste Party who endeavour to Ruine the Authority of the Holy See in France and if the Pope hath not Power to dispense with Canons as he thinks fit how can the Divorce of the late King from Marguerite his first Wise stand good This Prince of Conde hath but one Step more to make to Ascend the Throne The Italian Politicians Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 241. oftentimes carry their Reasonings beyond all Bounds The Author which relates these Speculations of the Nuncio adds that the fear of this Minister would have been very well grounded in any other Country besides France The Genius of the Nation is so changeable they take different measures every day The examination of a politick reflection of a Venetian Author concerning the Treaty with the Prince of Conde so contrary one to the other that one can moke no certain Conjectures about the several Commotions there The Reflection is not amiss and indeed we must agree with him But this Author should have added that Conde was a Man of so faint a Temper so little capable of any Resolution that he would never have done the Regent much mischief thô she had granted him Conditions yet more advantageous A Noble Venetian speaking of the same Affair in the History of his own Republick says that France did Recompense those Actions Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. which elsewhere they Punish by the hands of the Hangman I approve no more than he that which hath often happenned in France in these Leagues which the Princes and great Lords have often made under the Honourable pretence of the publick good they more design'd their own Interest than those of the People But why does this Senator affirm so boldly that the Prince of Conde and the Lords of his Party ought to have their heads cut off for this Enterprize This is done in other Places I grant it in those Countrys where the Government is Tyrannical One would be surprized to hear a Republican speak at this rate if we did not know that the Government of Venice is rather an absolute Domination of a small number of Noblemen than a free Administration of publick Affairs by a well-compos'd Senate This Decemvirate which is always standing is as good an Invention to maintain Tyranny as ever was It keeps both the People and Nobility equally in awe They study and pursue the Maxims of Matchiavel in Venice as much as in any part of Italy The undertaking of the Prince of Conde was neither Honest nor Prudent enough But in what was it so Criminal This Man must be well seasoned in the Tyrannical principles of his Matchiavel to maintain that a first Prince of the Blood and the Lords of the first Rank in a Kingdom who Demand the Re-establishment of good Laws the general Assembly of the States of the Kingdom the Suspension of a marriage concluded during the Minority of the King against the true Interest of his Crown to maintain I say that these who only make use of that Priviledge which their Birth and Dignity gives them and which desire some Security for their Persons against a Regent and suspected Ministers deserve to die upon a Scaffold The Prince of Conde is not to be blamed for Combining with some other Lords to Demand those things of which he speaks in his Manifesto But he did not take the Right way to do any good His Designs did not appear Sincere nor Disinterested The Parlement and the Magistrates of Paris were very Wise in advising a Peace A Civil War might have been fatal to France and in making a Peace
the Spaniards satisfied to see themselves after this the sole Arbitrators of the difference between the Two Houses of Savoy and Mantua summoned again Charles Emanuel to conclude the Marriage of his Daughter the Widow of Duke Francis with Cardinal Ferdinand Duke of Mantua and to Disband his Army forthwith Immediately after this was done they promised to endeavour an accommodation of his differences with the said Cardinal Charles Emanuel made this indifferent answer That he could not break up his Troops so long as France was in Arms on all Sides As for the Marriage of my Daughter with his Brother-in-Law he continued that my Council is of Opinion that I ought first to have Justice done me and be Endemnified for the Pretensions I have to Montferrat and the House of Mantua The Ambassador desired he might have his Answer in Writing to the end he might send it to Madrid The Duke made no stand at this and to give notice to the Spaniards that he would not obey them as their Subject Orders new Levies Casts new Cannon Stores his Magazines in presence of his Catholick Majesty's Ambassador This Resolution made the Spanish Agent fear lest Charles Emanuel repulst after an Imperious way as Inofosa had used him should run out into more desperate Attempts wherefore in milder Language he proposed to his Highness the sending of Lawyers to Milan with a power to Negotiate with them who should come from the Cardinal Duke upon the mutual pretensions of both Houses The Governor of Milan and the Prince of Castiglione were to be the Mediators of this new Negotiation in behalf of the Emperor and King of Spain Charles Emanuel could not reject the proposal He nominated Three of his most able Lawyers Both Parties met and divers Expedients were proposed to bring the Two Princes to an Accommodation The first Demands of Savoy's Agents appeared Extravagant but in the end were much slacken'd The Prince of Castiglione might by chance have ended this Affair upon Terms reasonable enough by a double Marriage betwixt the Two Houses and yielding up some dependance of Montferrat which was near to Piedmont and lay fit for the Dukes of Savoy if the Governor of Milan less Patient than Castiglione had not spoilt all through his too high Demands For he imperiously caused it to be signified that the Duke should disarm in Six days time being vext that Charles Emanuel made so much difficulty to accept of the Conditions which the Spaniards had offer'd him He before he had commanded thus after so absolute a way should have put himself into a Condition of making himself to have been speedily Obey'd in case of a refusal To send these precise Orders as coming from the King of Spain and not to have his Troops in any readiness for making an Irruption into Piedmont was not this to Expose out of Season a Powerful King in an Engagement with an Inferior Prince who had sufficiently made it known that he would never yield but at the last Extremity As soon as a Monarchy believes it self to be Superior it grows Imperious and instead of Treating upon Affairs imposeth Laws The Spaniards had got this haughtiness of Mind in the Reign of Philip II. and were willing to preserve it after his death Would not one have done better to have called to mind that Spain had already given some certain signs of her declining Condition What Spain would have Effected in those days France is endeavouring to imitate in ours We have seen him talk extream haughtily to Charles Emanuel's Grandchild He hath been proudly threatned to be Invaded by the Arms of France And what was the upshot of this The Duke of Savoy as Courageous and Prudent as his Grandfather was like him weary to see himself dealt with as a Subject He 's in Confederacy with a great Number of the Enemies which France has brought upon it self And he hath quickly seen those who had taken Cities and won Battles come to him and speak as Supplicant Too fortunate for to buy shamefully a Peace from a Prince whom they had slighted In Three Months time said a Proud and Brutish Minister of France There shall be no mention longer made of the Duke of Savoy The History of our times will speak quite another thing than this Man ever thought for Posterity will read there with astonishment and pleasure that so proud a King hath been glad that Savoy should acquiesce to let him quit all his Conquests towards Italy in his present and Predecessors Reign The Duke of Savoy endeavours to gain the Venetians to his Side As discontented as the Venetians were with the restless and troublesome Humour of Charles Emmanuel who strove to disturb the quiet of Italy to satisfie his Ambition yet they were not sorry to see that a Prince so unequal in Power to Spain Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. should be alone capable to Hector and Perplex People who had a mind to make the whole World tremble at them The undaunted Courage of the Duke of Savoy which he shewed in maintaining his Dignity of a Sovereign Prince so well pleased the Senate as they were the better disposed to hearken to the proposals which Charles Emmanuel had to offer to this Republick Siri Memo. recondito Tom. III. p. 241. The Duke of Savoy perswaded that the Senators who did not want Courage were angry at the pride and haughtiness of Spain and that they would be glad to see an imperious plotting Nation far removed from their Frontiers sought to fathom the Inclinations of the Senate by making an Overture to them of a League Offensive and Defensive for the Conservation or rather Recovery of the Liberties of the Sovereigns of Italy But yet he did not know how to enter into a Negociation with them who had openly Complained against him for sending back their Ambassador after an unworthy manner Cardinal Aldobrandin his Friend had tryed to make up the business for him with the Senate but they would not give Ear to him James I. King of Great-Britain sought to be a Mediator in the Affairs of Italy and gain some Authority and Reputation in those Parts He laboured after the Amity of the Venetians for a long time and the Duke of Savoy had laid many of his Intrigues in England wherefore Charles Emmanuel resolved to apply himself to Carleton James's Ambassador at Venice and desire him to get leave for Piscina's Audience a Man of great Ingenuity and Eloquence whom he had sent to the Senate Carleton had not much trouble to obtain this The Seignory consented to receive Savoy's Envoy having a better Opinion of Charles Emmanuel since the Spaniards had molested him Piscina set forth all his Eloquence in a Speech to the Senate He Complain'd in it of the King of Spain's Attempts Protested that the Duke his Master had rather die than endure the Indignities the Spaniards shew'd him he lamented the unfortunate Servitude of the Princes of Italy Argued upon the
Consequences of the great Power the Court of Madrid usurpt to themselves Entreated the Senate to reflect seriously upon all the Steps his Catholick Majesties Ministers had proceeded At last this long Harangue tended to Declare that Charles Emmanuel who gloried to be the Eldest Son of the Republick threw himself into the Arms of the Senate a Protector of Oppressed Princes whom his Highness did earnestly Entreat to assist him with their Advices and stand by him as a Father As the Venetians had some cause to Complain of the Duke's Irruption into Montferrat spight of their Remonstrances so his Envoy had Orders to appease 'em by offering to make them Arbitrators of the Duke's Difference with the House of Mantua The Venetian Writers Embellish with all the Art they are able these Actions in their History One would say that they were going to Insinuate into us that Sovereigns have the same Respect for their Senate the same Honour which mighty Kings had heretofore for the Senate of Old Rome I grant to the Senate of Venice all that is their due but I find them far beneath the Senate of Rome after she had extended her Dominions into Africa Spain Greece and Asia The Romans besides Scofft at those Kings who basely Crept to them And I don't know if the Quality of being Eldest Son of St. Mark which Charles Emmanuel took upon him be not as unworthy of the Duke of Savoy as to be a free Citizen of Rome is unworthy of a Sovereign Possest of a fair Kingdom A Prince who intends to make himself distinguisht thrô all Europe by upholding so bravely his Dignity against the King of Spain does it become him to Creep after this manner to the Nobles of Venice whose Original is not very Illustrious nor their Independence so Ancient The Ambassador whom the King of Spain had at that time at Venice will know at some time or other how to prove this to them He was the famous Marquiss of Bedmar whose Name will be odious to the Venetians for more than one reason When this Minister as jealous as any other would be of the Glory of his Prince had understood what Piscina had said to the Senate from the Duke of Savoy he Demanded to be heard in his Turn The Spaniard spoke briskly of Philip's good Intentions for the Conservation of the repose of Italy of the Money he had disburst and of the pains he had taken every day to this purpose The King my Master said Bedmar was in the right to make use of the most efficacious and rigorous means he could for bringing the Duke of Savoy to the reasonable Conditions which have been so often offered him The fear which his Majesty hath of creating too great a Jealousie in the Princes of Italy hath been the only means of keeping him back in this Occasion We have had all the Patience imaginable All Expedients have been set on Foot that were judged the most proper to end the difference that hath lasted so long a time betwixt the Houses of Savoy and Mantua If the sweet Temper and Clemency of my Master are of no other Service than to render the Duke of Savoy more Proud and Daring can any one think it strange that his Majesty should threaten him to use at this time the Power God hath put into his Hands and that he should Protect with the force of his Arms the Duke of Mantua who is Attackt with great Injustice The Proceedings of the Duke of Savoy are sufficiently known in the World and now he sees himself brought to that pass as that he must be contented with the equitable Conditions granted him and break up his Troops which his Restlesness and Ambition had rais'd to his vast Expences he laies Intrigues endeavours to Surprise unawares the Princes of Italy with a design to stave off the Composition offered him and avoid the shame of disarming after so great a Bustle The Senate hath insight and pries narrowly into Affairs They know from a long Experience the Humour and Dissimulation of the Duke of Savoy And this is sufficient to prevent their being blinded by the Artificial Discourse of his New Envoy Thô the Venetians were more favourable to Charles Emmanuel than to the King of Spain's Ministers the Senate avoided the making of any Engagement with the Duke of Savoy They excused themselves from medling with the Affair of Montferrat and the reciprocal Pretensions of the Houses of Savoy and Mantua the Arbitration of these things being referred to the Emperor and King of Spain His Highness was Exhorted to make an Agreement with the Cardinal Duke to give Some satisfaction to the Catholick King to yield to the strongest as far as the Quality of a Sovereign Prince would permit him At length the Senate endeavoured to comfort him with their promise of doing him all the good Turns they could upon this Occurrency and not to suffer him to be Opprest The Spaniards took it ill that Savoy's Envoy had so favourable an Audience at Venice The Governor of Milan who had conceived Anger against the Republick loudly Complained of it Mistrust encreased on both Sides insomuch as the Senate ordered New Levies and kept themselves on their Guard in Case there should happen an open Rupture betwixt Spain and Savoy The Venetians however affected to shew outwardly a perfect Neutrality They discours'd like common Friends who strive rather to be Mediators than embrace one Party before another Yet what ever care they took to hide and dissemble their true Sentiments the Court of Spain would not trust them 'T was well enough perceived that they would never suffer the Duke of Lerma to bring about his Designs which he had contriv'd for the Duke of Savoy's Ruine and to put the Princes of Italy into an entire dependance on the Catholick King 's will The Spaniards Jealousies and Suspicions were hereupon more awaken'd Charles Emmanuel had sent his Chief Minister's Son to Venice in Quality of Ordinary Ambassador and the Senate nominated Renier Zeno to be Resident with the Duke of Savoy whilst his Highness openly maintains a War against Spain The Marquiss of Rambovillet is nominated Ambassador Extraordinary from France into Italy Charles Emmanuel relied upon the Officers and French Soldiers who would never fail to Run into his Service as soon as the Governor of Milan should make a shew of being willing to attack Piedmont His Highness kept a strickt Correspondence with the Mareschal Lesdiguieres who was Governor in Dauphiny and the Spaniards did not question but this Old Friend of the Duke of Savoy Siri Memo. Recondite Tom. III. p. 263. 264. would willingly give him Succours These Considerations Engaged Inigo de Cardenas the Spanish Ambassador in France to go for Nantes where the Regent was at that time He had received Orders to Complain to her Majesty of the Duke of Savoy's obstinacy and to secure France Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis in case the Catholick King
should find himself in a necessity to protect with open Force the Cardinal Duke of Mantua and punish the Pride and Rashness of Charles Emmanuel The Affair having been debated in the Queen's Council the necessity of an Accommodation of the Difference as soon as possible was throughly perceived the Consequences of which might go a great way farther This was not so much a Contest between the Houses of Savoy and Mantua There was behind-hand a fear lest the Spaniards should Invade Piedmont The Marquiss de Rambovillet was nominated her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary into Italy for to go and Negotiate an Accord joint with Julius Savelli the Pope's Nuncio Extraordinary France and Spain had sollicited Paul V. to interpose his Authority with the Duke of Savoy but the good Man did not care to meddle with Savoy's Affairs Charles Emmanuel profest he had no great regard of his Holiness and the Pope said Historie de Connestable de Lesdiguieres Liv. VIII Chap. 7. he did not care to Treat with a Prince whose Word he could not trust to The Instance of Spain came in Season to hinder the Duke of Savoy from taking any Officers and French Soldiers into his Service The Mareschal de Lesdiguieres sent to ask of her Majesty leave to raise in Dauphiny Two thousand Foot and some Horse for the Duke of Savoy The Regent would not grant this she forbids likewise all the French to go into Charles Emmanuel's Service In spight of all these positive and severe Orders of the Queen Lesdiguieres found out a way to pass some Thousands into Piedmont who wonderfully reinforc'd Savoy's Army Open War betwixt Spain and Savoy Charles Emmanuel was constant in his Resolution not to Disband his Troops unless the Governor of Milan would do the same likewise or give assurances that he would do it as soon as the Duke of Savoy had first began this in Honour to his Royal Majesty Inojosa would not flinch back a jot from his Pretensions that the King his Master had Right to give the word of Command Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and that it did not belong to a Duke of Savoy to Treat with the Crown of Spain as an Equal does with an Equal or a Sovereign with a Sovereign Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 226 227. c. There was then a necessity of coming to an open War The Spanish Ambassador at Turin having greatly reproach't Charles Emmanuel told him down right that his Catholick Majesty provok'd through so long a Resistance was going at last to do himself Justice Charles listn'd to this without being mov'd at it but plucking the Collar of the Golden-fleece from off his Neck Mercure Francoise 1614. which had been heretofore presented him returned it disdainfully to the Ambassador saying God forbid that I should ever wear the Order of a Prince who intends to deal with me as if I were his Subject The Governor of Milan had his Troops in readiness to march and he further expected a reinforcement which was to come to him from Naples and Sicily And now see Inojosa advanc'd near to Verceil with the thoughts that the Duke would humbly submit himself as soon as the Spanish Army should enter his Country 'T was believ'd this was not done without some Design that the King of Spain had ordered Prince Philibert Son of Charles Emmanuel whom his Catholick Majesty had made General of his Forces at Sea should Conduct himself to Genua the Troops designed against Savoy Was not this to insult over the Duke by making him see that his Son carried if I may so say to the Governor of Milan Rods wherewith Philip or rather the Duke of Lerma intended to whip a poor Prince who dared to resist a Potent King These Bravades did not at all astonish Charles Emmanuel He on his Side entered into the Milanese Country where his Troops did more harm than the Spanish had done in his His Highness got both Glory and Reputation For at last the Marquiss Inojosa appeared to be a Novice in the Art of War The Spanish Army fail'd of the fair opportunity of beating the Savoyards who were inferior to them in Number The bad Conduct of this Expedition had render'd the Governor of Milan despicable in Italy They were glad to see the Pride of Spain humbled Inojosa for to be avenged in some manner and at the same time curry favour with the Duke of Lerma who Protected him undertook to raise a Fort near enough to Verceil upon the King of Spain's Lands It 's called the Fort of Sandoval from the Name of the Duke of Lerma's Family The Governor's design was to bridle Verceil cover the Milanois and close up an Entry to Foreigners who might easily this way make an Irruption into it The Spaniards had for a long time thought on this Enterprise but for fear that such a Novelty might allarm the Neighbouring Princes the Court of Madrid let alone their Design They expected some favourable Conjuncture Inojosa thought that the opportunity of the Breach with the Duke of Savoy was a fit time to do it The important Service which he pretended to do his Master did not secure him from the Reproaches of the understanding Men of his own Nation They Complained that the Governor had lost time in building of the Fort of Sandoval They loudly said that 't was easie to Reduce the Duke of Savoy by Entering a good way into Piedmont with an Army much stronger than his The whole Court of Madrid took the liberty of talking sharply against Inojosa and Charles Emmanuel They accus'd the First of his Slowness Fear Ignorance and perhaps Infidelity As for the Duke of Savoy his Name was abhorred amongst them and detestable Philip's Chief Agent did not threaten Charles Emmanuel with less than irrecoverable Ruine Reciprocal Writings from the K. of Spain ☞ Duke of Savoy The Spaniards were laught at when they resolved to Fight with the Pen against the Duke of Savoy The Captain General of Justice in the State caused a Placaet to be put up wherein he Declared That the County of Ast and all other Seigniories Mercure Francoise 1614. which the Duke of Savoy as they said held in Fief of the Dukes of Milan were Confiscated to his Catholick Majesty by reason of Charles Emmanuel his Vassal's Treason The Prince of Castiglione the Emperor's Commissioner in Italy caused it likewise to be signified to the Duke That there was a Mandate wherein he was Ordered in the Emperor's Name to Disband his Army presently and refrain from all Acts of Hostility in Montferrat and upon the Lands of the Cardinal Duke of Mantua under Penalty of being put under the Ban of the Empire Charles Emmanuel on the contrary defended himself with his Pen very vigcurously His Exchequer Chamber Declared by a publick Act that the County of Ast was immediately held of the Empire and as for the other Lands specified by his Catholick Majesty's Officer they had never
been Fiefs of the Dutchy of Milan The Emperor was much more respectfully dealt withal Charles Emmanuel writ to him a long Letter by way of Apology and Manifesto The Duke gives therein the reason of his Conduct Complains mightily of the Haughtiness and Enterprises of the Spanish King and his Ministers in Italy and accuseth the Prince of Castiglione of being devoted to the Humour of the Spaniards against the true Interest of his Imperial Majesty 'T was said that the Spaniards were not over-satisfied with Castiglione's proceedings They would have had the Principality of Piedmont put under the Ban of the Empire and the execution of this committed to the Governor of Milan The Imperial Court did not think it convenient to go with so much precipitation They were not so blind but they could perceive that the Spaniards were too powerful in Italy The Pope's Nuncio and the Ambassador of F. endeavour an accommodation betwixt Spain and Savoy Whilst the Spaniards and the Savoyards Fight one the other sometimes with their Swords and at other times with their Pens the Marquiss of Rambovillet and the Nuncio Savolli proposed different Projects for an Accommodation of the Duke of Savoy with the Governor of Milan The Regent of France who otherwise was not well pleased with the Duke of Savoy Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1614. and would deal tenderly with the Court of Spain had given Orders to her Ambassador to endeavour for the Peace of Italy without much troubling her self to satisfie the nice Pride of Charles Emmanuel who aspired to Treat with Crowned Heads as if they were his equals Therefore Rambovillet Siri Memo. Recondite Tom. III. p. 287 288 289. c. press'd the Duke of Savoy to Disband his Army the first upon the Governor of Milan's word which he should give as coming from his Master to the Pope and King of France that neither Piedmont nor any other of the States belonging to the House of Savoy should be attackt Mercure Francois 1614. and that his Catholick Majesty should Disband his Troops Fifteen or Twenty days after The Pope and the King of France offered to be Guarrantees of the Treaty and Rambovillet protested to Charles Emmanuel that the Mareschal Lesdiguieres should come to his Succour with all the Forces of France in case Spain should break the Treaty The Duke was a long time shuffling hereupon He did not believe that he ought to put too great a Confidence in the words of France at a time when France had greater Engagements with the Crown of Spain than ever Besides he considered that the Governor of Milan not disbanding till after him he should lie at the discretion of the Spaniards who might chase him out of Piedmont before the Succours of France could get over the Alps But on the other Side reflecting that if he provok't the Pope and France in refusing with too much stubbornness the Conditions which their Agents offered him he should be forsaken of all the World Charles Emmanuel found himself in so great a perplexity as he did not know what Resolution to take A League with the Republick of Venice was his only Remedy he sollicited the Senate as much as he was able to join with him to drive away the Spaniards from the Milanese Spain said he to Zeno the Venetian Ambassador is nothing like what it was heretofore The Country of Milan lies on all Sides open and may be over-run in the space of one or two Campaigns If France doth not Declare for us she won't be against us Her best Officers and Soldiers who are most Experienc'd will come over to us and take our part even by the King's consent The Princes of Italy who are mostly depending upon Spain will make an Insurrection against her as soon as they see her Power shaken in our Principality Every one will be glad to share a Part in the Spoil The Duke had to no purpose exhausted all his Eloquence and Policy upon the Senate This prudent Assembly was not disposed to follow the impetuous and revengful Humour of Charles Emmanuel A too long Experience had taught them that his Highness sought for nothing but to Embroil Italy and set it all in Fire in hopes of making himself Great or at least be talkt of His Remonstrances and Proposals were not better hearken'd to in England nor by the States General of the Vnited-Provinces nor the Protestant Princes of Germany He proposed Leagues in all the Courts that were Jealous of the Grandeur of Spain and he could not find so much as one of these who would be drawn into his vast and Chimerical Projects Only the King of England did him some kindness with the Venetians But the Issue of this was to let the Senate see that it was not convenient to suffer Spain to oppress the Duke of Savoy and that a way ought to be found out of making an Agreement which might be Honest Firm and as Advantageous as possibly might be to a Prince who held so considerable a Rank in Italy The D. of Savoy accepts of the Conditions proposed Spain refuses them Charles Emmanuel after he had seriously reflected on the Posture of his Affairs took such a Resolution as he had been observ'd to take upon the like Occurrences and this was to accept of the Conditions which the Nuncio and the Ambassador of France had proposed to him The fear of having all the World upon his back and the hopes of getting the Mediators to be on his Side in case the Spaniards should make any difficulty of consenting to the Project of an Accommodation contributed much to the sudden alteration which appeared to be in the Duke of Savoy's mind Savelli upon this and Rambovillet prepared at Verceil a provisional Treaty till such time as a difinitive Judgment was pass'd upon the Difference rais'd betwixt the Houses of Savoy and Mantua Charles Emmanuel fairly offered to Sign it The Marquiss Inojosa would not do the like As he had at that time been for the Interests of the Cardinal Duke of Mantua with as much zeal as he at first had favoured the Duke of Savoy so he rejected the Article which contained in it that a certain dependance of Montferrat called Canavese should remain in Sequestration till the Controversie upon the Duke of Savoy's Pretensions against the House of Mantua was determined by Arbitrators chosen on both Sides The Mediators prepared in the City of Ast another Project of a Treaty in presence of Charles Emmanuel The Article touching Canavese in this was left out and they put into the Room of it That the Cardinal Duke should pay the Dowry give up the Jewels of Maragarite of Savoy his Sister-in-Law at a certain prefixt time and besides this should pay in Two years space the Portion of Blanche of Montferrat for which the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua had Contested so long a time The other Articles Decreed That the Prisoners and Places taken on both Sides should be Restored
and that each of the Two Princes should make an Act of Oblivion for all those of thier Subjects who had served against them Charles Emmanuel sign'd this willingly being exceedingly contented Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 293. 294. c. that he was to give no satisfaction to the King of Spain or to ask his Pardon but the Marquiss of Rombovillet was blamed for having been too hasty in his Negociation The Spaniards accus'd him for suffering himself to be lead by the Duke of Savoy Nani Hist Veneta Lib. 1.1614 Others reported that he was too impatient of his Return to the Court of France Mercure Francoise 1614. The Cardinal Duke of Mantua was in all appearance to better himself in this Treaty for how could he dispense with the payment of a Dowry and give up the Jewels of his Brother's Widow As for Blanche's Portion of Montferrat he pretended that the House of Mantua had been acquitted of it Ferdinand then when they Demanded it might have answer'd That his Predecessors had already satisfied the Debt But he was so devoted to the Spaniards for obtaining their Protection as he did not dare to accept of any thing without their Approbation The Duke therefore seeing that they had rejected haughtily the Treaty of Aste thô the Pope and States of Venice judged it reasonable Protested he had rather die than sign it The Emperor wonder'd he was not so much as mentioned in an Accommodation which toucht a considerable Fief oâ—… the Empire in Italy But there was not much care taken of his Complaints The King of Spain his Relation had less regard than any one else to the Rights of the Empire in Italy As to the Court of France the Opinions there of the Treaty of Ast were divided Mary de Medicis who favoured the King of Spain and had a thousand reasons to be angry with the Duke of Savoy was not very well contented with what Rambovillet had Negociated She would have been in the mind to have given Charles Emmanuel the Mortification of humbling himself before the King of Spain as he had done some years before But the Duke had his reserve of Friends in France A great many People there cryed out against the Pride and Haughtiness of the Spaniards who would not have Charles Emmanuel acquitted for Disbanding his Army Fifteen or Twenty days before the Governor of Milan They pretended that this Sovereign Prince whom the Duke of Lerma hated mortally ought to be obliged to Submit to the King of Spain and his Favourites discretion and beg Pardon of his Majesty for that he had not obeyed the Orders of the Court of Madrid without making any Reply Did ever any one behold the like Arrogance Inojosa carelesly answered them who brought him the Treaty of Ast to Sign That the King his Master had but newly forbid him to make any Peace with the Duke of Savoy The Mediators surprised at this sudden refusal desired of him however a Suspension of Arms for Forty days till they could have an answer from Madrid The Governor of Milan denied this and gave them to understand that Winter season was already begun and the bad Weather did oblige him enough to grant them what they Demanded The Marquiss of Bedmar the Spanish Ambassador at Venice made a great noise there saying to the Senate That 't was loud Injustice that the Duke of Savoy was not punisht for his Attempts against the Repose of Italy Ought not all the Potentates who are Interested to preserve its quiet unite with the King my Master and Chastise this Rashness of the Duke of Savoy Carleton the English Ambassador kept to another sort of Language He sollicited with all his might the Senate to declare that the Treaty of Ast was reasonable and that all the disinterested Princes believ'd his Catholick Majesty ought to be contented with it Beamar maintain'd against Carleton That this was not the King of Griat-Britains Opinion and that he had explained himself in this matter to the Spanish Ambassador at London The Venetians saw that this Treaty gave the Catholick King all that he could reasonably demand In the mean time because they would not further provoke the Spaniards who minded to do them much mischief they observ'd all possible discretion in their Answers to the Marquiss of bedmar We are very sorry said they that the Conduct of the Duke of Savoy has constrained the Catholick King to come to so great Extremities But we hope that God will inspire him with milder Sentiments and that his Majesty will Sacrifice a part of his Resentment and rest contented with the Justification which the Duke of Savoy will never be far from giving him These Civil dealings and Compliments nettled the Spaniards who perceived that they were not disposed to let them take the liberty of Revenge upon the Duke of Savoy according to their own will and fancy nor humble him as much as they pleased Give me leave here to make some Reflections upon these particulars What is the ground of this Controversie between Savoy and Mantua which makes for Two whole years so great a noise 'T was well nigh puting Italy and perhaps Europe in a Flame Almost all Potentates did concern themselves in it The dispute in the bottom is but some small Sum of Money or at most some Castles which the Dukes of Savoy pretended to against the House of Mantua Here 's the Reason why Charles Emmanuel takes up Arms overburdens his Subjucts carries desolation into Montferrat which becomes the Theatre of War The Cardinal Duke of Mantua represented to us as a Person of no very strong Head-piece and guided by Interested Ministers had nevertheless the cunning Ingenuity to bring Spain on his Side though at first they were against him whether this was an Action of his ability and parts or an effect of Fortune his Affair became the Catholick King 's business But upon what grounds did Philip or rather his Agents reject the Treaty of Ast and believe themselves in the right for to kindle a War and destroy Piedmont Upon a Trifle upon I do not know what punctilio of Honour Is' t then for this that Princes imagine they are dispens'd with from observing the chief Rules of Humanity and keeping the most express Commandments of Jesus Christ Sad unhappy Condition of Men if they must suffer that they who are set over them to study the Welfare and Preservation of others should lay wast Provinces ruine their Subjects and Neighbours and cause the Lives of an infinite number to be lost in satisfaction to their Vanity and for the pleasure of their capricious Humours All the King of Spain's Agents in Italy bustled after a strange manner in order to engage the Governor of Milan to make a new Irruption into Piedmont They flatter'd themselves that this Effort would render the Duke of Savoy more Submissive and tractable Inojosa prest forward through the Reproaches of his Countrymen on all Sides prepared for some
motion but this was so slowly as Prince Thomas Son of Charles Emmanuel had time to prevent the Spaniards and enter himself into the Milanese Country The City of Candia was taken at this time and put to Fire and Sword The Savoyard's Army return'd loaded with considerable Booty The Mediators complained of this Action But the Duke of Savoy disclaim'd his Son's proceedings 'T was endeavoured to excuse him by saying that the Prince knew nothing of what was done The Spaniards afterwards repair'd their loss by taking some small Places in Piedmont Charles Emmanuel a little time after intercepted a Letter from the King of Spain to the Governor of Milan 'T was there seen that some certain Persons had done some ill Offices to Inojosa with his Majesty He seem'd much dissatisfied with Inojosa's Conduct He was order'd to cause his Army to take their Winter Quarters in Piedmont and not to agree to any accommodation with the Duke of Savoy unless he did before hand submit to every thing his Majesty had prescribed before his last motions Charles Emmanuel did not fail to make this Letter publick And he found thereby a double convenience one in mortifying Inojosa's Arrogance whom this Letter had strongly censured the other in making it appear to the Princes who interceded for a Peace that Philip intended as absolute a Command over the Princes of Italy as he had over his Grandees of Spain Lewis XIII his Majority In the time that the Marquiss of Rambovillet began his Negociation in Italy Lewis XIII enter'd into the Fourteenth year of his Age. Mercure Francois 1614. Here then you may see him in his Majority Conformable to the Edict of Charles V. made at Vincennes in the Year 1374. and Registred in the Parlement at Paris with great Solemnity the following Year One might think it strange that he of all the Kings of France who was Surnamed the Wise Recherches de Paschier Lib. II. Chap. 18. should judge that a Prince could be capable to Govern of himself so young Historians relate that Charles believed it was very important for the Minority of Kings to be as short as possibly could be Mezerai dans la Vie de Charles V. for fear the Regent of the Realm should grow so powerful as to Dethrone his Pupil or at least carry away from him a great part of his Estate and Authority The good King thought more of his Family upon this occasion than any else He had not his health so well and his Two Sons in all appearance would be left Minors Of Three Brothers whom Charles had Two of them did not want for Boldness or Ambition Having now a Power to declare sooner For to secure the Crown to his Children it behov'd the King to forward their Majority The Uncles had less time to undertake any thing against the young King sooner than he would Govern of himself Of the Princes who might be mistrusted that Person might be turn'd aside from governing Affairs by other who were better minded under the plausible pretension of the King 's being at Age. That which is singular in this new Law is that he in favour of whom the Father made it had need of a Tutor and Regent the greatest part of his Life He was out of his Wits became crack-brain'd and infirm in Body And this sad Accident caus'd in France all the great Evils which Charles V. had a design to prevent This very Edict proves to us that 't is a long time since the Council of France set themselves on work to set out piteous Prefaces at the beginning of their most solemn Ordinances Charles V. saith in his That the Sons of France have such excellent Masters so good Governours to inform them as they become capable of managing themselves and administring Affairs much sooner than other Children We have seen Two Princes under Age in the Two last Reigns Have the Regents had the care to give their Sons any extraodinary Education Was France so unprovided of Men of Merit that Souvre and Villeroy should be judg'd the most capable of instructing the young King Charles V. besides brought another Reason which is no better than this God said he who gives Sovereign Power to Kings never fails to enrich them the soonest as may be with necessary Qualities to make use of it Alas Let 's behold now how God doth Miracles to enlighten young Princes Understandings and make them more Prudent than other Children These Gentlemen seduc'd early by Flattery hurried away by their Passions which find no great stop in their way usually begin later than others to become reasonable and oftentimes by a just Judgment of God upon a People whom he punisheth a King never knows the First Principles of Reason and good Sense According to Charles the Fifth's Edict a King ought not to be Inaugurated and Crowned till after the time of his Minority But this Formality was past over in favour of his Son who had publisht this Law Charles VI. was a Minor when his Father died and his Uncles contended amongst themselves for the Regency Lewis Duke of Anjou pretended to it as being the Eldest of the Brothers to the deceased King The Dukes of Berry and Bourgundy would have a share in it The Duke of Bourbon Uncle to young Charles by the Mother's Side maintained for his part that he ought to be call'd to the Administration of the Government as well as the Paternal Uncles Some Lords chosen for one Party and t'other were Arbitrators of the Difference 'T was determined That Charles VI. notwithstanding his Father's Law might be Inaugurated and Crowned Affairs dispatcht in his Name and under his Seal the Dukes of Berry Bourgundy and Bourbon might take care of the King's Education and of Lewis Duke of Orleans his Brother the Duke of Anjon might have the Name and Honours of Regent but should do nothing but in Concert with the Three other Princes From that time it hath been a Custom to Crown Kings during their Minority and dispatch Affairs in their Names and under their Seals The first Act in the King's Majority The First thing they made young Lewis Enact in his Majority appeared to be an Act of Religion and Justice I don't know whether Policy and Dissimulation were not the secret Motives to this Performance They were willing to impose upon the People Mercure Francoise 1614. who easily believe what they wish for with all Fervency His Majesty held a Council the First day of October The Declaration which he would have to be Registred next day was there dispatcht and Sealed Lewis at first promised to study every thing that was Expedient for a most Christian King who was Zealous of God's Glory a lover of Peace and the Tranquility of his Subjects to watch the Execution of the good Laws publisht by his Predecessors and make new ones as he should be advised in the approaching Assembly of the States General of the Realm The Edict of Nantes
Power of a Favourite or a Minister The King's Brother was not always in a Passive Humoun If the first Prince of the Blood was weak a younger Brother of his House would not submit to creep to a Cardinal Some of the greatest and wealthiest Men of the Kingdom shew'd great Vigour and Courage on divers Occasions The Reform'd did not tamely suffer themselves to be oppress'd without making any Opposition The Court was forced to keep Measures with them after they were Masters of their Cautionary Towns The Monarchy of Spain was not at that time so formidable abroad But the Emperour Ferdinand II. began to grow so Potent in Germany that it was apprehended he would entirely subdue it There was a necessity to make Alliances with the King of Sweden the United Provinces all the Protestant Princes and those of Transylvania which created Trouble enough to the House of Austria The Affair of Mantua caused extraordinary Motions beyond the Alps. There was a Necessity to assist the Duke to preserve a Succession which could not rightfully be contested France began a Treaty and join'd with the Princes and States of Italy alarm'd at the new Projects of the House of Austria At length the Revolutions which happen'd in Portugal and Catalonia gave occasion to several Projects and Treaties on the part of Spain For these Reasons no one can write the History of Lewis XIII without entring into the Particulars of what happened all over Europe These are the Reasons why I have thought fit to proceed a little higher in some places of the first Part in the Affairs of Foreign Countries Gustavus Adolphus for instance must make so great a Figure in this Work that it was almost indispensable to â—…epresent how this Hero came to the Crown to the prejudice of Sigismund King of Poland Son to his Father's elder Brother None can well understand the Affairs of the Empire under Ferdinand II. unless he understand what passed about the end of Rodolphus and under the Reign of Matthias I have not a good Opinion enough of my self to think my Style such as Lucian â—…equires for an History Some of my Friends have told me that the begininng of a pretty large Work would endure â—…eading This is enough for me The chief Business of a Writer is to profit the Publick by discovering the Truth or Probability For after all in History we must often be content with the latter The Principal Facts are certain but in â—…he Reasons Motives and Circumstances of an Action or Enterprize there are ever â—…ome Grounds of doubting and we must â—…cquiesce in what is most likely I am only follicitous for the most essential Quaâ—…ities of an Historian Lib. II. de Oratore Not to dare to advance what he knows to be false and to speak freely what he knows to be true withâ—…ut being byassed by Prejudice Discourse of the manner of writing History Lucian on this Subject very judiciously says That we must not imitate the Painter who invented the drawing Side-Faces to conceal the Defect of a Prince who had â—…ut one Eye The Historian ought to paint Persons whole Let not his Affection for his Country hinder him from relating the Losses she has sustained or the Faults she has committed An Historian is like an Actor Neither of them are accountable for the bad Parts they represent The former is obliged to prefer Truth to his Interest and Passions This is the only Divinity he should adore He must ever have the Judgment of Posterity in his sight if he would pass more for an Historian than a Flatterer It is reported Alexander desired to revive for a little time after his Death He would have been pleased to see what Men would then say of a Prince who had made such a noise in the World I do not wonder said he to find every one praise me now Some are afraid of me others court my Favour If Princes judged as reasonably as this Conqueror to whom they so much love to hear themselves compared they would not be at the trouble to here Writers or cause Triumphal Arches and Statues to be erected nor assemble Men of Letters to form Designs for Medals to be coined to their Honour or to compose Magnificent Inscriptions to be engraven on Marble or Brass at the Pedestal of their Statues or over a Triumphal Arch or the Gates of a Capital or other conquered Places Contented with well governing their People and making them happy they would leave to them the Care of immortalizing their Benefactor after his Death What Service will those Histories wrote by Command those Monuments of your Vanity or the Flattery of Mercenary Wretches then do you An Historian who will not be led by Fear or Hope Friendship or Hatred who is of no Country or Party who will call Things by their Names without caring whether he please or give Offence such an Author I say as Lucian requires with one Stroke of his Pen will shew the ridiculous Folly of your Pride and the Baseness of your Flatterers Polybius who may be called the Master and Model of good Historians had given the same Precepts as Cicero and Lucian A private Man says he Polybiuâ—… L. I. ought to love his Friends and his Country He may shew his Affection to those who do them good and his Aversion to their Enemies But when a Man has once put on the Person of an Historian he must forget all that Then you are often obliged to speak Good of your Enemies and to praise them when their Actions deserve it Farther you ought to blame your nearest Kindred and expose their Shame if they have committed unexcusable Faults Take Truth from History and it is like an Animal which has lost its Eyes What remains is useless Let none then scruple to reprehend his Friends and praise his Enemies Let him not fear on certain Occasion to condemn those Persons whose Merit he commonly extols Those who are at the Helm do not always succeed on the contrary they do not eternally commit Faults A good Author ought to judge of things without respect to Persons speaking of these as the Subject requires For my part I so little fear being Censured for the Fault Frenchmen are usually reproached with of being fond of their own Nation that I do not know whether I ought not to justifie my self here to my Countrymen for not speaking through the whole Series of this Work very Advantageously of France and its Government They would not do me Justice if they thought I was fallen out with my Native Land and this had introduced me to leave it I am a Frenchman and I think it an Honour to be so but I am not so partial to my Country as to think it far Superior to any other There is good Sense Merit and Virtue to be found in all places If some Nations have more Vivacity and Politeness than others these Advantages are not so considerable that they should set themselves
Men and perhaps by degrees ruin them by engaging them after his Example to make excessive expences in Buildings Play and other more Criminal Pleasures In this he found his Account in a double manner It was his natural Inclination though he was a Manager good enough and those who could embroil the State would be drained of Money and Credit and forced to depend on the bounty of their Prince This did not succeed in all points as he had projected it If the Constable of Montmorency the Dukes of Montpensier and Epernon the Mareschals of Bouillon and Biron did not proceed so far as to take Arms to express their Resentment some because they were not Rewarded according to their mind others because some Ministers Confidents of the King had a greater share in secret Councils than themselves Yet these I ords created him great Disquiet The just punishment of Biron the most imprudent and violent of all the Malecontents and the Submissions of the Mareschal de Bouillon Defeated the Conspiracy which Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy had laid in his Journey to Paris and Philip the III. the New King of Spain had promised to support That of the Marquise de Vernueil a Mistress of the King who had foolishly promised to make her his Wife before he was married to Mary de Medicis was likely to have had terrible Consequences but was fortunately broke by the Condemnation of d'Entragues Father of the Marchioness and the Imprisonment of the Count d' Auvergue her Brother by the Mothers side and Natural Son to Charles the IX The King complained the Court of Spain promised Aid to all his Factious Subjects He shew'd his Resentment publickly when he discovered an Intrigue of the Spanish Ambassador with a Gentleman of Provence who undertook to deliver up the Town of Marseilles to Philip the III. Two Rival Powers have ever matter to Recriminate when the one thinks he can convict the other of a secret Infraction of Treaties The Ambassadour without scruple Reproached the King with assisting the Vnited Provinces after the Peace of Vervins and endeavouring to raise the Moors in Spain In some occasions Henry was not more upright and sincere than Philip. Princes seldom concern themselves much about so fair a Vertue No sooner had the King of France setled his Affairs and amassed several Millions by the Care and Management of the Duke of Sully Superintendent of the Finances but he began to think in earnest of Humbling the Pride of the House of Austria This was the Language of those times the World is busi'd at present in Leagues to oppose the Ambitious Designs of France Henry waiting only for a Specious Pretence to make War on Spain renewed his ancient Alliances abroad and carried on Negotiations with diverse Princes to bring them over to his Interests By the Treaty of Marriage between the Infanta Isabella and Arch-Duke Albert Philip the II. had given his dear Daughter the Soveraignty of the Provinces which Spain had at that time in the low Countries Catherine Sister of Isabel brought Charles Emmanuel Duke of Savoy her Husband but a very moderate Fortune So unequal a Division did not satisfie the Ambition of a Prince who was always stirring to make himself Great though he could never obtain his Aim Charles thought the Dutchy of Milan ought in Right to be given up to him Henry seeks to take the Advantage of Discontent of the Duke A Proposition is made to Assist the Duke in the Conquest of a Country which lay so convenient for him and to give the Kings Eldest Daughter in Marriage to his Son On these Conditions Charles voluntarily makes a League Offensive and Defensive with France Some pretend all the Powers of Europe were engaged in it or at least ought to have been to confine the House of Austria to Spain and its Hereditary Countries in Germany but the Project which is ascribed to Henry on this occasion is strangely Chimerical If it be true that this King ever entertained a thought of that kind and proposed no other end in so vast Enterprize than the glory of having brought Euâ—…ope to a Balance Henry doubâ—…less was the vainest Man in his Kingdom Is it not much more probable that seeing so favourable an occasion to revenge himself on Spain he was resolved to make his advantage of it The Declension of that Monarchy was visible to all the World Philip the III. a Prince Inferiour to his Father for his Parts found it in so ill a condition that being unable to supply Arch-Duke Albert with Provisions necessary for carrying on the War against the Vnited Provinces he was constrained to make a shameful Truce with the States-General in which he owns them to be free and Disclaims any Pretension of his own or the Arch-Dukes over them We must not think Spain wanted good Generals brave Officers or States-Men bred in the Cabinet of Philip II. but the Duke of Lerma her first Minister had neither Genius nor Ability to gain his Master Reputation abroad or govern a Monarchy opprest with its own Greatness The House of Austria was still weaker in Germany The Emperour Rodolphus had no great Vices but the Vertues which make up the chief Character of a Prince were wanting in him Shut up in his City of Prague he employed himself in any thing rather than Politicks Had he had good Ministers he would not have hindred them from acting well But he had so little care to chuse them or observe their steps that himself did not know whether he was well or ill served Rodolphus did not live in good understanding with his Brethren The Arch-Duke Matthias forced him to give up the Kingdom of Hungary to him and secure to him the Succession to the Crown of Bohemia Both unable to keep their Subjects of different Religion in Peace were obliged to receive the Conditions which the stronger Party imposed on them England is so seated it ought equally to fear least Spain or France become too Potent James the First succeeded to Queen Elizabeth a Princess whose Memory is still dear to the English for her great Courage her matchless Prudence and her sincere Love to her People Both Crowns strove which should make an Alliance with the New King They believed that being more Potent than his Predecessors by the Union of the Crown of Scotland to that of England he would be more able to hold the balance even or make it incline to which side he pleased But James still fearful and wavering governed by his Wife or his Favourites soon shewed the World he was fitter to manage the Pen than the Sword to write on a Question of Civil Law or Divinity than to Reign gloriously and make himself formidable to his Neighbours He made a Treaty of Alliance with Henry Both Kings engaged to assist the Vnited Provinces and to defend each other in case either of them was attacked by the Spaniards The Court of Madrid exasperated to find the King of Great Britain
to the Prince answer'd still to all the Instances and Menaces made them That they would not restore the Princess without the Consent of her Husband who had entrusted her with them A very generous Resolution indeed But is there not ground to think their secret Desire to excite some Commotions in France to traverse the vast Projects of Henry inspired them at least as much as their love to Equity and Justice Henry IV. prepares to march at the Head of his Army The great Preparations in France and other places kept the World in suspense None doubted the King had some greater Design than to drive Archduke Leopold out of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers In the mean time the House of Austria appeared Serene It could not be observed that she made any Provisions against this approaching War which openly threatned her either because she expected that Stroke which soon changed the State of Affairs or that the King of Spain a stupid and unactive Prince suffer'd himself to be perswaded by a weak Minister that the Ardour of Henry would cool when the French had spent their first Fire on the Countries of Cleves and Juliers and some other places of Italy The King had Thirty Thousand Foot and Six Thousand Horse in Champagne Sixty Pieces of Artillery and abundance of Money and Provisions Twelve Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse waited in Dauphine the Orders of Lesdiguieres to go and join the Duke of Savoy's Army The Venetians promised to declare themselves on condition they might have that part of the Milanese which lay most conveniently for them Henry burned with Impatience to march at the Head of so fair an Army Sometimes he would try the Arms he design'd to bear in the Day of Battel at other times he took pleasure to see the brave Prince Maurice of Orange bring him the best Troops of the Vnited Provinces Vex'd at the Advantages which Alexander Duke of Parma had gain'd over him in the Sieges of Paris and Roan he hoped to take his Revenge against the Marquiss of Spinola whose Reputation began to equal that of the other He was the only General now which the House of Austria had to oppose to the King Measures were taken for the Administration of Government in his Absence The Queen was to be Regent and the Duke of Epernon President of her Council It is amazing that Henry would trust his Wife and Children in the Hands of a Lord whom he never loved and whose Fidelity was ever suspected by him But after all he could never have made a better Choice Of the Three Princes of the Blood the first was in the Enemies Hands Conti passed for a weak Man and the Count of Soissons was disgusted 1610. Their ancient Enmity and the strict Tie the Guises had to the Spaniard made it unsafe for him to trust any of that House Epernon had Wit Courage Honour and was not without some Vanity So great a Mark of Respect engaged him to exert himself to answer the good Opinion the King had shewn of his Prudence and Fidelity Henry had yielded to the Importunities of the Queen Henry is Assassinated the 14th of May 1610. who ardently desired to be Crowned in all the Forms He imagined this Complaisance would make that jealous Princess forget the ill Humour the Kings Mistresses and above all the Marquise de Vernueil had so oft put her in The Ceremony of Consecration was perform'd at St. Denys with great Magnificence All things were disposed for the solemn Entry of the Queen into the Capital of the Kingdom When on the Eve of the Day design'd for that Pageantry Henry going in his Coach to the Arsenal to confer with the Duke of Sully Superintendant of the Finances and great Master of the Artillery received two or three stabs with a Knife one of which cut through the Artery of the Lungs He fell down dead on the Duke of Epernon who was on one side of him and to whom he was whispering in the Ear when he received the first blow Francis Ravillac a Native of Angoulême committed this execrable Parricide the 14th day of May 1610. In the Hurry and Confusion which attend Accidents of this kind he might have saved himself by hiding his Knife But perswaded this was an Action worthy of Reward he kept it in his hand till he was seized One of the Kings Gentlemen in ordinary and some Footmen would have given him a thousand stabs upon the spot but the Duke of Epernon remembring the fault committed in killing in this manner the Monk who murthered Henry the III forbid any on pain of Death to touch him So he was secured and carried to the Hôtel of Retz By a Negligence which appear'd suspicious and affected instead of throwing this Wretch into a Dungeon every one had the liberty to speak to him during the two days he remained there If the first Persons of the Kingdom thought they had more pressing Affairs than to revenge the Death of the King what hindred the inferiour Magistrates from doing their Duty in discovering the Authours of so black an Attempt The Queen labours to procure her self to be declared Regenâ—… during the Minority of Lewis XIII her Son The Queen wiped off her Tears as soon as the Chancellour and Villeroy had made her sensible every Moment was precious and she must labour incessantly to make her Advantage of the absence of two oâ—… the Princes of the Blood and the weakness of the other to procure her self to bâ—… declared Regent during the Minority oâ—… her Son The new King Lewis XIII was about to begin the tenth year of his Age being born the 27th of September 1601. The Dukes of Guise and Epernon seemed the most proper Persons to execute the Project The unbounded Ambition of both these Men made them equally believe by doing this service to a Foreign Princess unskilled in the Arts of Ruling a Nation they should make themselves Masters of the Government Behold then both of them marching through Paris at the Head of divers Armed Men to suppress any Tumult might be caused by the unexpected Death of the King Guise goes directly to the Town-House Epernon arrives a little after and both exhort Lejay Provost of the Merchants the Echevins and the Citizens met there to continue faithful to the Son of him whose Loss they Regretted and to take all necessary care to prevent Disorder and Confusion The Duke of Sully came from the Arsenal as soon as he heard of the Death of his good Master He went to the Louvre as other Persons of Quality did who all ran to offer their Services and swear Fidelity to the New King and the Queen his Mother Memoires de Bassompierre Surpriz'd to find Bassompierre at the head of a great number of Horse he thought fit to exhort him to take an Oath of Fidelity to Lewis Well Sir replyed Bassompierre in a haughty disdainful Tone We come here to require that
of others and there is no need of â—…our preaching to us on that Chapter I cannot tell whether this answer made the Duke suspect these Men went to seize the Arsenal and the Bastile and that his Enemies were resolved to drive him out as soon as they could However this was Sully returns back shuts himself up in the Bastile takes away all the Bread in the Markets and Bakers Shops and writes to the Duke of Rohan his Son-in-Law Colonel General of the Swisses to come to Paris with six Thousand Men of that Nation which he commanded in Champagne In a word he seems to make Provisions to sustain a Siege in case any Attempt should be made to Dispossess him without his consent An Imprudent step and subject to the most Sinister Interpretations especially in a time of universal Jealousie and Distrust Whilst Sully confin'd himself in the Bastile Vie du Due de Epernon L. VI. others were providing for themselves by labouring for the Queen The Duke of Epernon had placed the Regiment oâ—… French Guards on the Pontneuf and in thâ—… Streets round the Convent of Augustinâ—… The Parlement was there at that time because the Courts were fitted up for the Feasts prepared against the Crowning oâ—… the Queen As soon as the Chamber were met by the care of the Presidenâ—… Seguier with whom the Duke haâ—… conferr'd he entered boldly into thâ—… Hall with his Sword taken out of thâ—… Belt It is yet says he in the Scabbarâ—… with a Rough Menacing Air. If the Queeâ—… be not declared Regent before the Court break up it must be drawn and I foresee there will be Blood spilt Some of you Gentlemen says he demand time to consider This is an unseasonable Prudence What I propose may be done now without Peril but to morrow it cannot without Blood The Duke added somewhat to soften so violent an Advance The Members lookt on one another astonished at the Novelty of the Proposition to put the Administration of the Government into the hands of the Queen without the participation of the Princes of the Blood and the Officers of the Crown The Magistrates remained for some time in a pensive Silence The first President de Harlay broke this at last and said in few words the Court was obliged to the Duke of Epernon for the Zeal he had shown for the Publick good and exhorted him always to retain Sentiments worthy of his Rank and Virtue This short and general Answer made Epernon reflect a little Far enough from perswading them the Soldiers were placed â—…round the Covent only to secure 〈◊〉 free Debate the Duke gave occasion to believe he intended to extort a Vote at any rate He went out of the Hall to give the Chambers liberty to deliver their Opinions without Constraint I â—…ave proposed said he as he withdrew the â—…est way There is no time to be lost La â—…uesle Procurator General who had his Hopes as well as the rest concluded in favour of the Queen and the Parlement awed declared her Regent during the under Age of her Son In the breaking up of the Assembly the wisest Men deplored more than before the Misfortune of their Country in losing a King whose Life was so necessary for its Welfare Now said they are we once again at the Discretion of an Italian Woman What good is to be expected from a Regent Prodigal Imperious and unexperienced Our dependance must be now on Galigai and Conchini her Husband Confidents of the Queen and Pensioners of Spain What Confusions will not their Covetousness and Ambition cause in the Court and Kingdom If the King added others had followed the Advice given him and drove out that Rabble who were always cherishing Jealousie and Discontent in the Queen perhaps we might not have had occasion now to bemoan the loss of so good a Prince It is well known Conchini and his Wife threatned the Person of the King if he attempted to punish their Villanies Might not People of this stamp suborn an Assassin â—â—â—moiâ—…es de â—â—â—â—gence de Mâ—…rie de Medicis The next day all was ferene at Paris Guise so well managed the humour of the Duke of Sully that he brought him to the Louvre to pay his Duty to the King and Queen Villeroy had disposed them to receive him kindly He insinuated incessantly to the new Regent that the ancient Ministers of her Husband being most acquainted with Affairs at home and abroad it would not be convenient to make any alteration in the Council The Secretary of State was afraid the Disgrace of the Superintendant might be of dangerous Consequence to the rest This was an Example might be made use of against Villeroy himself Sully made a set Speech to the Queen and being perswaded she was averse to the War with Spain and would unite her self with those her Husband sought to depress the Duke assured her Majesty he had endeavoured to divert the late King from his Designs The Duke of Vendome being luckily there Sully appeal'd to him for the truth of what he had said to his Father in his presence Base Courtier who Sacrificed so early the Reputation of his Benefactour to his wavering Fortune The Provinces followed the Example of the Capital Catholicks and Protestants alike submitted to the Regency of Mary All was calm in the Armies At the Sollicitation of his Father-in-Law the Duke of Rohan had brought the Swisses a days march towards Paris but Sully content with the good Reception of the Queen sending a speedy Countermand he returned back Gonzague Duke of Nevers who commanded the Army in Champagne made all the Officers swear Allegiance and the Mareschal Lesdiguieres kept that in Dauphine to their Duty The News being dispersed on all sides that the new King was Recognized by the Parlement the day after his Fathers Death and the Regency of the Widow was confirmed there in a Solemn manner this did not a little conduce to settle the Tranquility of the Remote Provinces The Constable the Peers of the Kingdom and the great Officers of the Crown Lewis XIII sits in his Seat of Justice the first time appear'd in the Parlement The King came thither followed by the Queen his Mother the Prince of Conti and the Count of Enghien Son of Soissons who was retired to an Estate in the Country Disgusted that some mark of Distinction was refused to his Wise at the Queens Coronation After every one had taken their place Mary began a small Discourse which she had premeditated Scarce had she uttered two or three Words but a shower of Tears hindred her from proceeding farther It was doubtful whether they proceeded from Grief or Joy Every one made what construction he pleased Resuming her Discourse after a sew Sighs Mercure Francois 1610. either Affected or Sincere I have brought you here my Son says the Queen to intreat you to take that care of him which you are obliged to do I conjure you to do this by
now to flatter themselves for the future with obtaining the Superiority they formerly had over the House of Bourbon yet they did not despair at least to rival the Princes of the Blood But they found at home a great Obstacle to their coming into the Council Two Lords of the same House could not be called to it The Duke of Guise was the eldest but the Age and Experience of the Duke of Mayenne his Uncle requir'd him to be preferr'd Henry being dangerously ill some Years before had a mind to form a Council He named this Lord then who was heartily reconciled to him and since that time had given the King Marks of his inviolable Fidelity This was a great Prejudice in his Favour The Duke of Nevers too demanded to be admitted and disputed the Precedence with the Guises New Perplexities on all sides The Emulation between the Marechal of Bouillon and the Duke of Epernon was grown to so great a height that it was not possible the one should be in the Council to the Prejudice of the other This latter was considerable for his Charge of Colonel General of the Foot and other great Places The Queen did not dare to give distaste to a haughty and powerful Man who had just served her in a very Handsome manner Bouillon had a great Heart a capacious and discerning Mind kept a strict Alliance and constant Intelligence with Foreign Princes The Sovereignty of Sedan made him considerable at home and abroad No one had more Interest than he with the Protestants of France The late King stood in fear of him He gave a Check to his turbulent and ambitious Humour but would not push the Matter to an Extremity So that the Marechal was capable of doing a great deal of good if he followed his Reason or a great deal of Mischief if he abandoned himself to his Passion There were other Lords of great Bitth who might pretend to have a place in the Council but they were yet of an Age in which Men of Quality have stronger Inclinations to Pleasure than to concern themselves in Matters of State Of this number were the Duke of Vendome the Grand Prior of France both Natural Sons of Henry Duke of Longueville and the Count of St. Paul a younger Brother of the same House The Chancellor de Sillery the Duke of Sully Villeroy and the President Jeannin saw all this Emulation with Pleasure This left the entire Direction of Affairs to themselves under the Name of the Queen Therefore in the first place they advised her not to give Distaste to any Person till the first Prince of the Blood should return and to admit into her Council all the great Lords who demanded a Place there The greater the number of these was the less Interest and Power any particular Persons could have In the mean time each took his Opportunity to entertain the Regent They took care to prepare Matters to be proposed to give seemingly some Employment to the Assembly But these Gentlemen foresaw it would soon degenerate into Confusion That some would take a distaste themselves and others might be removed under colour of sending them to execute their Places and Governments While these Intrigues employ'd the Courtiers The Tryal and Execution of Ravillac the Parliament was busie in the Process of Ravillac The first President assisted by another and Two Counsellors examin'd him several times All that can be drawn from the Interrogatories now extant are That Ravillac was an Enthusiast who imagining on some Reports that he had heard that the King was about to make War on the Pope and did not concern himself for the Conversion of the Hugonots took a Resolution to kill a Prince whom he looked on as an unjust Tyrant What Ravillac had learnt from the Sermons ef the execrable Preachers of the League who justified James Clâ—…ment confirm'd him in his Belief that any private Man might take away the Life of a Prince who was an Enemy of the Holy Father Mercure François 1610. To make War on the Pope says Ravillac to his Judges is to make War on God in as much as the Pope is God and God is the Pope This moves our Pity indeed But do not those Princes who by a strange sort of Politicks submit their Dominions to the Pope deserve our Pity more than Assassins seduced by the Emissaries of the Court of Rome After the Attempt of John Chastel Henry was always afraid of the Knife of the League The Desire he had to keep himself from it did not a little conduce to make him recal a sort of People who have the Secret to make themselves formidable to Sovereigns He loaded the Jesuites with his Favours But had he not better provided for the Security of his Life and the Publick Good by giving Ear to the wise Remonstrances of the first President De Harlay Ravillac otherwise ignorant knew so well how to maintain the Dogm of the Society of Jesuites and the Leaguing Sorbon one might easily guess a certain set of Men had taken care to instruct him But whether to pleasure a Religious who call'd him his Friend and recommended to him in express Words at the Hôtel of Retz not to accuse honest Men or that he conceiv'd himself â—…he horrible Design the Criminal constantly affirmed to the end of his Life that no Person whatever Frenchman or Forigner had put him upon killing a Prince who had never done him any wrong and whose Death though unpunish'd could do him no good He was condemned to suffer the Punishment which the Laws of France appoint for such Parricides and the Sentence was executed on the 27th of May. The Proceedings of Parlement the same Day Ravillac was executed are an evident Proof that that Body saw that the Writings and Sermons of some Doctors of the Sorbon The Condemnation of the Book and Doctrine of Mariana the Jesuite engaged in the League and poison'd by the Books which the Jesuites publish'd to revive that pernicious Doctrine which the Faculty of Paris had censur'd in the Year 1413. and was confirm'd by the Council of Constance The Decree I say made the same Day Ravillac suffered convinc'd the World that they thought those Books and Preachments had plunged the Knife in the Heart of Henry and his Predecessor The Parlement therefore ordered the Faculty of Paris to meet and confirm anew their ancient Censure authorized by the Council of Constance against those who teach That a Vassal or a Subject may and ought in Conscience to kill any Tyrant whatever and Assault him all sort of ways and that this Action is not contrary to that Oath of Fidelity which Vassals and Subjects take to their Soveraigns The Doctors obey'd the order signified to them The Parlement on the 10th of June gave another Sentence condemning the Book de Rege Regis institutione of Mariana the Jesuit to be burnt by the hands of the Hangman as containing says the Decree diverse execrable
it However the Mareschal De la Chátre was preferr'd to him The Court would not give an Abâ—… Man and a Protestant whom they were jealous of the Command of an Army designed to joyn Prince Maurice his Friend and Brother-in-Law Bouillon made a great noise Must my Religion said he exclude me from all Employs due to my Rank and Services When Mons the Prince returns I 'll try to make a Party to oppose this new Triumvirate of the Count of Soissons the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse These Men would be Masters of all things Edicts revoked for the ease of the People A Declaration in favour of the Protestants To hinder the Princes and discontented Lords from causing an Insurrection among the People or raising the Protestants they took care to give Satisfaction to every Man FÃfty four Edicts for taxing the People were Revoked diverse Commissions were superseded and the price oâ—… Salt abated one fourth part To remove alâ—… Distrust from the Protestants a Declaration on was set forth to confirm the Edict of Nants Though as the young King is reported to have said this Formality was not necessary in regard that Law was Irrevocable and Perpetual Those who had the greatest Interest in the Party they strove to gain by Presents The Regent sent word to Du Plessis Mornay He might ask what he liked best and that her Majesty would readily grant it Vie de Mr. du Plessis Mornay 〈◊〉 a la fin No Man shall ever Reproach me said that Wise and Religious Gentlewoman with taking Advantage of the Disasters of my Country or extorting the least thing from a Minor King or his Distressed Mother If the Queen order me to be paid what has been long due to me I will look on this Order as a new Gratification The Prince of Conde's Return Affairs were in this Posture when the Prince of Conde prepared to return into France No sooner did the Count of Fuentes hear of the Death of Henry but he employed all his Wit and Address to perswade the Prince not to neglect so fair an Opportunity to make himself King Mem. de la Regençe de Marie de Medicis The Divorce of your Kinsman from Margaret of France and his Marriage with Mary de Medicis says the crafty Spaniard are contrary to the Laws of God and of the Church Will you tamely lose a Crown which belongs to you Have but Courage to assert your Right you will not want Power or Support I offer you all the King my Mâ—…ster can do for you If the Authority of the Holy See interposed in the Divorce of Henry we will find a way to engage Paul V. to declare null what his Predecessour did The Thing is not without Example Fuentes caused the Project to be proposed to the Pope who rejected it Condé did not any more give ear to it either because the Design appeared Chimerical to him or remembring the proceedings against Charlotte de la Trimoville his Mother he did not dare attempt to contest the Legitimacy of the Children of a King who had employed all his power to make him so when a great many thought his Condition doubtful Conde went from Milan to Brussels to take the Princess his Wife Firm in his Resolution to content himself with the Rank he had in France he would not suffer himself to be allured by a deceitful Appearance and therefore prepares to resume his former place at Court The Regent pressed him every day to it and his Friends waited with Impatience for him Tâ—…e Arrival of the Prince Conde at Paris Those of the House of Lorrain the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of of Sulli went to Senlis to meet him And now a new Part began to appear on the Stage The Regent took Umbrage at this The Count of Soissons the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joleuse fearing there was a design to drive them from Court began to think of defending themselves Mary alarm'd her self hearkned to the Advice given her to arm the Parisians New Officers were chosen who took an Oath to the Queen in the Town-Hall and in less than eight days time above an hundred Thousand Men were in Arms. However Conde enter'd Paris accompanied with fifteen Hundred Gentlemen He had received intelligence from different Hands that at the Sollicitation of the Count of Soissons the Regent would secure his Person and the Mareschal of Bouillon But the kind Reception he met with from their Majesties dispersed all these Jealousies Two powerful â—…aâ—…tions at Court The Prince of Conde at the head of one and the Count Soisson 8 of the other 〈◊〉 He declared at first he had no design to dispute the Regency which the Queen was in possession of Notwithstanding this the frequent Cabals he had with the Heads of his Party sometimes at the Hôtel of Mayenne and sometimes at the Arsenal gave an extream Jealousie The Duke of Sulii Master of the Artillery which was there and the Money the late King had lodged in the Bastile could have furnished Conde with means to undertake something considerable But he had not the Courage Either because the Arming the Citizens broke his Measures or the Guises united with him were more concerned for their own Interests than the greatness of a Prince naturally an Enemy of their House These Men privately had assured the Queen they only joined themselves to the Prince of Conde to skreen themselves from the ill Designs of the Count of Soissons who endeavour'd to depress them and they should be the first to leave him if he ever declared against her Majesty Conde might have spared the Guises and might have made the Queen the Count of Soissons and all the contrary Faction tremble by following the Counsel of the Mareschal of Bouillon Memoires de Dac de Rohan This was to return to the Reformed Church which Henry had forced him to forsake and declare himself Protectour of the Protestants in France Supported by the Experience and Credit of Bouillon secure of the Money in the Bastile which Sully could put into his hands strengthned with a great number of Swisses which Rohan their Colonel General would have brought to him followed by all the Protestant Nobility who would have been at his Devotion Master of several good and well fortified Cities with all these great Advantages the first Prince of the Blood would have balanced the power of the Regent and made himself formidable at home and abroad But he was only good to enrich himself like a Country Gentleman Covetous and Contentious in reasoning a point of Law or Discussing a Question of School Divinity Some had put it into his Head to desire the Reversion of the Dignity of Constable but he had the Mortification to see himself denied Too Happy in obtaining the Hôtel of Condi now called Conde which the Queen bought for him As soon as the Mareschal of Bouillon perceived that the
of Cleves and Juliers the Emperor had a mind to perplex this matter more The Archduke Leopold whose small Army every day received some check from the Troops of the States-General or of the Confederate Princes was not strong enough to preserve the contested Countries Besides Maurice Prince of Orange prepared in earnest to come and lay Siege to Juliers with the Auxiliary Troops of France and England The House of Austria then found it would be impossible for her to resist so many Powers united to oppose the Usurpation she designed The only means she could have recourse to was to bring the Succession of Cleves and Juliers into the hands of a Protestant Prince less contrary to her Interests than those of Brandenburgh and Neuburgh She cast her Eyes on the Elector of Saxony His House had pretensions on this Litigious Succession by virtue of several Grants of the Emperor These had lain dormant a long time though there had several times been occasion to have presented them A Daughter Inherited the States of Cleves and Juliers since the Emperors had granted the House of Saxony a Right to succeed in defect of Heirs Male But when a fair Soveraignty is the Subject of Dispute Princes are not very Scrupulous The least colour of Right is enough for them to dispose of it or reserve it for themselves Rodolphus then gave on certain considerations to the Elector and House of Saxony all the Estates which belonged to the late John William Duke of Cleves and Juliers The Siege and taking Juliers by Maurice Prince of Orange This had been a more handsom Present if when the Act of Concession was put into his Hands he had at the same time an Army given him to assert his Title Maurice Prince of Orange invested the Town of Juliers the 28th of July with the Troops of the Vnited Provinces join'd by those sent from the King of England The 18th of August the Mareschal de la Chatre brought twelve Thousand French Foot and two Thousand Horse Rauschemberg Governor of the Place defended it with great Prudence and Courage But Prince Maurice was so great a Master in the Art of Attacking and taking Towns that Rauschemberg Capitulated the 1st of September Thus Juliers was put into the Hands of the Princes of Brandenburg and Newburg These were then called the Princes Possessors to distinguish them from the other Pretenders The Meeting at Cologne to adjust the Affairs of Cleves and Juliers After the Surrender of Juliers some Princes of Germany met at Cologne to find out some way of Accommodation The Elector of Triers and the Count of Hohenzollern came thither in Quality of Commissioners for the Emperor Lewis Landgrave of Hess made divers Propositions The Princes in possession did not care to accept them They tended to a Sequestration into the hands of the Emperor and to put the Elector of Saxony in possession of the Litigious Countries conjointly with the Princes of Brandenburg and Newburg The French Ambassador proposed another way which was not liked by the Landgrave nor the Imperial Commissioners The German Princes never love that Foreign Soveraigns should meddle too much with the Affairs of the Empire There was a great number of Writings on the side of the Possessors the Elector of Saxony and the Commissioners of the Emperor but they could not come to any Agreement The Assembly broke up and each one protested for himself he was not the cause that hindred the Troubles from being pacified This was the better for Brandenburgh and Newburgh They continued in peaceable Possession of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers till the Affair should be determined The Protestant confederated Princes did them yet very good Service by obliging Maximilian Duke of Bavaria Head of the Catholick League to Disarm and the Elector of Collen to put a stop to all Hostilities of his Subjects against those of the Country of Juliers The Coronation of Lewis XIII The Court of France was then at Rheims for the Coronation of the young King The Cardinal of Joycuse representing the Archbishop of the place performed the Ceremony with the usual Pomp. The Princes of Conde and Conti the Count of Soissons the Dukes of Nevers Elbeuf and Epernon Represented the ancient Dukes of Burgundy Normandy and Aquitain and the Counts of Thoulouse Flanders and Champagne It is not needful for me to relate in this place all the particulars of this long Ceremony it may be found in divers places There is one thing not to be forgotten which well deserves our Attention Before that which the Credulous People call the Holy Bottle be made use of the King promises when required by the Prelate who Officiates to the Bishops and Churches to preserve their Canonical Priviledges to make good Laws to do Justice to protect his Subjects according to the Obligations of a King to his People Two Bishops Peers of France after this ask all present if they receive this Prince for their King and all the Orders of the Kingdom having given their consent the Solemn Oath of Inauguration is administred to him A convincing proof there is a Reciprocal and Relative Engagement between a Soveraign and his Subjects Reflections on the Coronation Oath In an Elective Kingdom the Subjects oblige themselves only to the Prince who is chosen on Conditions mutually agreed on in the Act of Election But in an Hereditary State they stand engaged to him whom they have Elected and to his Descendants it being still understood they shall observe all the Conditions promised by the first of the Royal Family Thus we see why each of these in particular is not received as King till after the Ratification of the Original Contract made with him from whom they derive their Pretensions to the Crown This Maxim is founded on Divine Right and Natural Equity The good Frenchmen commonly believed this in the XV. Century Joan Gerson Oposculo adversus adulatores Principurm Considerat VIII It is a gross Mistake says one of the most Famous and Pious Writers of the Gallican Church to pretend that a Soveraign has not contracted any Obligation to his Subjects In the same manner as by Divine Right Natural Equity and by the true end of Government the latter are bound to continue faithful to and assist their Prince so he Reciprocally engaged to be Faithful to them and protect them If it shall happen then that a Sovereign shall do manifest Injustices without having regard to the Remonstrances of his Subjects they have a Liberty to defend themselves according to the Rule of Natural Right which allows every one to repel Violence with all his Might Claude Despence Institution d'un Prince Chrétien Another Divine of Paris not less Eminent for his Birth than his rare Learning said frankly to Henry II. That his Majesty ought to detest a Tyrannick Maxim more fit for a Turk or Tartar Soveraign than a Christian Prince a Maxim I say since received at Court That the
Excommunicates and Absolves by himself or his Magistrates all Laymen and Ecclesiasticks Bishops and Cardinals themselves residing in his Kingdom This Right say they farther though derived from the Holy See is now Irrevocable it is the Sovereigns Property Thus the King of Spain is alike in Spirituals and Temporals and has the same Right there as the Pope has in Countries under his Obedience Joan the foolish Mother of Charles V. and divers other Princesses who Reigned alone Sicily every one of these Ladies were Sanctissimo Padre This Title was given them and their Magistrates They might in this Quality preside in Provincial and National Councils or substitute others in their Room The Kings of Spain are so jealous of this rare Prerogative that in the Reign of Charles V. a Vice-Roy of Sicily Collected all the Titles and Acts which serve for the Justification of it Three Authentick Copies of this Collection were drawn at the same time by order of the Viceroy In the year 1698. one was exposed to Sale in London it had been brought away the last time Barcelona was taken by the French I had it a pretty while in my Hands The Right Reverend the Bishop of Norwich curious in all good Books did not purchase it too dear considering the rarity of the Manuscript This is a Collection like that of the Proofs of the Liberties of the Gallican Church It contains chiefly divers Judgments given in the Tribunal commonly called of the Monarchy of Sicily The Cardinal Baronius in the eleventh Tome of his Annals vigorously Attacked this Spiritual Power which the Catholick Kings ascribe to themselves without Scruple A Right never heard of says the Cardinal A Right that Frederick the Second and his Children those unjust Tyrants and Rebellious Persecutors of the Roman Church never were so Audacious as to usurp This caused a great Contest between Baronius and the Cardinal Colonna who pretended his Brother had no Reason to set himself so violently against the King of Spain The Court of Madrid was so displeased at the Author of the Annals that she procured him to be excluded in a Conclave where he had 37 Voices At last upon the 3d of October 1610. Philip III. published an Edict where after great Complaints made against the Invectives of Baronius and a long Enumeration of the Services which the Kings of Spain and Sicily his Predecessors had done for the Church of Rome he forbids his Subjects on severe Penalties to Read or Sell the Eleventh Volume of Baronius Annals till the place Repugnant with the Monarchy of Sicily was Expunged Servin knew very well the example of the King of Spain was of great weight with Mary de Medicis who every day contracted new Tyes to Philip he hoped this would hinder the Regent from taking exception at the Proceedings of the Parlement against Bellarmine's Book The Advocate General was deceived in his Conjecture The Queen was not less devoted to the Court of Rome than that of Madrid The Nuncio in Spain did not dare to open his Mouth against the Edict of Philip. The Popes Agent was bolder and more Successful in France At his Sollicitation the Regent ordered the Execution of the Decree of Parlement against Bellarmine's Book to be Superseded The Enemies of the Sovereign Power of Kings ever had Liberty of Speaking and Writing Differences of the Marquiss of Aucre with the Count of Soissons and Dpke of Epernon The Marquess of Ancre a Favourite of Mary's began to be insupportable to the Princes and first Lords of the Court. In the Kings Journey to Rheims the Servants of the Machioness had some Contest with those of the Cardinal Joyeuse about Lodgings Conchini made first Gentleman of the Chamber had likewise a Dispute about the Precedence with Bellegarde Great Esquire at the Publick Entry of the King into Paris on his return from his Inauguration The Duke of Epernon a Kinsman of Bellegarde declared against Conchini Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis and the Count of Soissons enraged at him for assisting the Duke of Guise to marry the Dowager of Montpensier would not any more speak to the Marquess of Ancre The Enmity of two such powerful Men made him very uneasie He labour'd to be reconciled to them Soissons was not very averse to this but he required the Marquess and his Wife should serve him in two Things which he passionately desired to marry the Count of Enghien his Son to the Princess Heiress of Montpensier and to ruine the Duke of Sully Their Reconciliation For the first Proposition the Marquess delivered himself in General Terms to those who were concerned in this Accommodation He spoke more positively on the Article of the Duke of Sully in case the Ministers would side with him Conchini did not love the Duke He was afraid the Interest of an Old Minister might be an Obstacle to his growing Favour Nevertheless the Count of Soissons did not dare to conclude this Reconciliation till the Duke of Epernon was satisfied It was not so easie to bring down his Haughty and Stubborn Spirit who pretended to be his own Support independently on all Favourites Epernon required Conchini should come to him and make him Satisfaction in the presence of the Count of Soissons He blown up with his Favour and New Honour refused that Submission to the Duke which he could without meanness make to a Prince of the Blood Soissons found an Expedient which might be a Salvo for the Nicety of the one and satisfie the Haughty Humour of the other The President Jeannin had presented Conchini to the Count after those Compliments had passed which were agreed oâ—… before the two New Friends sate down to play together The Game being over It is not enough says Soissons to the Marquess that we are Reconciled You must have a right understanding with all my good Friends I am going to make a visit to onâ—… of them I beg your Company I am disposed to do what you please replyed Conchini They were soon at the Hôtel of Epernon all things were carried there to thâ—… content of both Parties That which 〈◊〉 lookt on as a Trifle amonst Private Meâ—…passes for a weighty Matter with greaâ—… ones A Party formed at Court against the Duke 〈◊〉 Sully There was no need to take much painâ—… to gain the Ministers over to act in Concert with the others to ruine the Duke of Sully He had a Misunderstanding witâ—… Villeroy the only Man of their Number who had taken pains to keep him in Employ Sharp and Affronting words paâ—…sed between them in the Council in thâ—… Queens Presence Villeroy who though himself to be the more necessary and to have the better Interest leaves the Court. This was a sort of Menace that he would not return as long as Sully had a share in the Government The Regent her self was inclin'd to dismiss him A Protestant could not be very grateful to a Princess who blindly
him Conde and Guise go the same day to the Abby of St. Germain des prez where the Prince of Conti's Residence was Whether the Duke had a mind to shew the Princes of the Blood and his New Wife that the House of Guise was not less considerable now than in the preceding Reigns or whether it was mere Accident he went from the Hotel of Montpensier where he was at that time attended with an Extraordinary number of Gentlemen on Horseback to Visit the Prince of Conti and did not decline passing by the Hotel of Soissons in this mighty Pomp. In his Return from the Abby of St. Germain Guise met the Prince of Conde going thither with only four or five Horsemen following him They Saluted each other the Duke told Conde that the Prince of Conti was well disposed and had promised things should not go farther If your Highness will give me leave added the Duke of Guise I will return back and have the Honour to Accompany you to Monsieur the Prince of Conti and put him in mind of his Promise to me Conde did not care to accept this Civility of Guise the Train of one was too different from that of the other the Prince would have appeared to have done the Duke honour in a day of Triumph The Chevalier of Guise Brother to the Duke left the Company and followed the Prince of Conde to the Abby of St. Germain Conti repeated to his Nephew the Assurances he had given his Brother-in-Law and this Difference was ended Another great Difference between the Count of Soissons and the Duke of Guise The Duke of Guise only pretended said he to perswade the Prince of Conti not to break in such a manner with his Brother In the mean time he made himself work with the Count of Soissons Guise cryed they at the Hotel of Soissons had with him a Hundred and Fifty Horse armed and fit to Fight It was not without Design that he affected to pass by this House He would huff the Princes of the Blood thinks he to awe us and shew us that if the House of Guise should take part with the Prince of Conti their Kinsman ours would be far inferior The Count of Soissons Jealous of the great Advantages which the Heiress of Joieuse brought into an Enemies House believed all these Reports The Prince of Conde perhaps vext that the Duke of Guise had made a far better appearance in the Eyes of the People than himself fell into the same Sentiments and drew in the Constable of Montmorency who still remembred the old Jars between the Mareschal his Brother and the Guises The crowd of Lords and Gentlemen which came in on all sides to the Hôtel of Guise served very much to Exasperate the two Princes and the Constable Mem. de Bassompierre mercure Francois 1611. The World was amazed to see the Grand-children of the Admiral of Coligny the Dukes of Sully and Rohan the Mareschal of Bouillon and the most considerable of the Protestant Party forget the bloody day of St. Bartholomew and go to offer their Services to the Children of Balafre against the Son of the brave Lewis Prince of Conde The Regent and the Ministers feared this Affair would have troublesome Consequences Orders were given to the Inhabitants of the parts of the City which were nearest the Louvre to be Armed the Chains were ready to be put cross the Streets in case there should be need and the Mareschal of Brisac was sent to the Count of Soissons to hinder him from coming out of his House The Marquess of Vitry Captain of the Guards had order to continue near the Duke of Guise and his Brethren Soissons was not denyed Permission to speak to the Queen but Guise did not obtain the same Favour A slight Distinction to content the Nicety of the Princes of the Blood When the Council came to consider of a way to put an end to this New Difference the Constable demanded Justice of the Queen against the Duke of Guise who had Insulted said he the Count of Soissons by passing by his House with a hundred and fifty Horse The Duke of Sully strenuously defended Guise Was it an Offence replied he to Monsieur the Count to pass by his House Was not this the Dukes way to discharge the Order her Majesty had given him to treat with Monsieur the Prince of Conti Divers of his Friends and Servants Accompanied him There was no Design in this A great deal of Company went to Complement the Duke on his Marriage They followed him to the Abby of St. Germain was this such an extraordinary Matter Princes and Lords come every day to the Louvre attended with such Gentlemen who have a Respect for them The Duke is the Counts Humble Servant He is disposed to give the Princes of the Blood what is due to their Birth Monsieur the Count would have had a proof of this if he had met the Duke in his way What more can be required of Monsieur the Duke of Guise The Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of Epernon confirmed what the Duke of Sully said The Reconcilement of the Duke of Guise with the Count of Soissons The Regent sent to ask whether the Count of Soissons was satisfied with the Excuses made for the Duke of Guise Very far from accepting them he denyed Admittance to four of the Council upon the score they were Friends of and Related to the House of Guise Nothing but a Treaty would serve the Duke of Guise tired with his long Confinement to his House consented to Visit the Count of Soissons and make very humble Excuses to him But the Duke of Mayenne Uncle of Guise laying before him the Consequences of a Step which gave so many Advantages to the sworn Enemies of their House he recalled his word Soissons was extremely moved at this he threatned the Regent to leave Paris if he had not that Satisfaction given him which had been promised However he was perswaded to content himself with the Duke of Mayenne's making Excuses to the Queen for the Duke of Guise's marching through the Streets of Paris with so great a number of Horse Monsieur of Guise says the Duke of Mayenne never designed to cause any Disturbance he would sooner die than do any thing Displeasing to your Majesty For Mons the Count of Soissons our House will always preserve that Deference and Respect is due to him When Monsieur the Count will please to be reconciled to Messieurs of Guise they will not fail to Honour him and be his Humble Servants The Queen replyed she would acquaint the Count of Soissons what the Duke of Mayenne had said I will speak to him said she to forget what is past and content himself with this Satisfaction The Prince of Conde on the Queens part went to his Uncle and told him her Majesty wished things might stop there The Count of Soissons promised to conform himself to her
Pleasure Mayenne by his Address and Resolution had brought his Nephew with Honour in a very Nice case if it be true that the Duke of Guise had no ill design yet he made an Ostentation which might well give Vmbrage to the Princes of the Blood In vain did the Duke of Sully thus meanly make his Court to the Guises The Duke of Sul'y's Disgrace They would not hinder the accomplishing the Design on foot to ruin him their Party indeed made a Mien as if they would Combine to oppose the Ruine of one who had taken pains to very good purpose to serve them but the contrary Cabal was too Powerful and Zealous Perhaps too the House of Guise were not very Solicitous 〈◊〉 Bottom to support a Protestant Lord whom the Courts of Rome and Madrid were dissatisfied to see in the chiefest Employs The Marquiss of Ceuvres was the Man whom the Enemies of the Duke made use of to sound the true Sentiments of Mareschal of Bouillon in this matter of Sully The Interest of their Religion ought to have united these Protestant Lords It s Preservation depended in part on a good Understanding between them but Courtiers never think of this Sully deserves the worst that can befall him says the Mareschal However I ought not to appear among those who declare against him It concerns me very much that those of our Religion should not Reproach me with removing a Man who is necessary to them in the post he is in If Bouillon would seriously have avoided that Reproach should he have join'd himself to the Count of Soissons The World saw plainly the poor Duke of Sully was the Sacrifice in his Reconciliation The Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons joyntly demanded of the Regent to have him removed Her Majesty readily granted a thing she desired no less than they To keep fair with the Hugonot Party who must think it strange Mary should so soon take away the Rewards Sully had deserved by his good Services to the late King They gave out and would make Sully himself believe it was his desire to have his Ease The Regent civilly offer'd him a Sum of Money for the Government of the Bastile which she took away from him at the same time with the place of Superintendent of the Finances The Duke was very much surprized to see himself taken at his Word upon General Complements made to the Queen He had protested upon some Occasions to her Majesty that she might dispose of all that he had Mercure Francois 1611. I did not think said Sully that such Offers made to ones Prince were Crime enough to forfeit ones Places I have now learnt this new Maxim but I do not repent of having done my Duty The Duke shewed great Constancy in his Adversity and was Skillful enough to conceal his inward Disturbance He writ a Letter to the Queen which was filled with fine Thoughts was not this a Noble Effort of the secret Pride of his Heart to seek thus to repair his Losses by making himself Admired Perhaps he thought he should perswade the World he deserved those Places which he could quit with so much equality of Mind â—…nd Disinterestedness This Greatness of Mind would have appeared less affected if he had not made a long Enumeration of the Services he had done for the late King This was Reproaching his Widow he might talk plausibly how that without encreasing nay by lessening the Excises and Duties he had paid the immense Debts of his Master had put the Finances in a good Method subsisted three great Armies amassed seventeen Millions in ready Money the People could not believe him in his Word Fifty four Edicts revoked in the beginning of this Reign were a proof the Superintendent had not yet found the secret to enrich the Prince and at the same time to ease his Subjects The first President de Harlay resigns hiâ—… Place A Cabal to hinder Mr. de Thou from succeeding him The Duke retired to his Castle of Sully on the Loire no Superintendent was put in his Room The Presidents Jeannin de Chateauneuf and de Thou were named for Directors of the Finances De Thou declined this Employ this did not suit with a Magistrate so Upright so Zealous for the publick good and so great a Lover of all good Learning The Place of first President of the Parliament of Paris was more worthy of his Noble Ambition Christopher de Thou his Father had filled it with a mighty Reputation His Memory would have been Irreproachable if the necessity of excusing his Master had not forced him to seek out for frivolous pretences to give colour to that cruel Massacre of St. Bartholomew which this Wise Magistrate abhorr'd in his Heart Achilles de Harlay succeeded him in the most unhappy and difficult Time that ever was All Men still speak with Honour of the Integrity Justice and Affability of that great Man All good Frenchmen cannot forget the Services he did for his Country when she was almost opprest by the Efforts of the League Worn out with Age and Labour he desired to lay down his Office Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Mediciâ—… All Honest Men wished to see James Augustus de Thou in the Place his Father had formerly been but the Regent too much depended on the Pope The Knowledge and Moderation of so Learned a Magistrate did not suit with the Interest of Rome besides the Jesuits had too important Business to Sollicit in the Parlement of Paris They did not care a Man who was not less acquainted than his Brother-in-Law had been with the secret designs of the Society should preside in the determining the Process they had against the University of Paris Condé who had great Obligations to the President de Thou promised to assist him in his Pretensions to a Dignity justly due to his Merit and Services But the Weak and Ungrateful Prince had not the Courage to oppose a Cabal of Bigots Villeroy made his Advantage of this Opportunity he procured Verdun his Kinsman to be preferr'd who ought to have been content with seeing himself at the Head of the Parlement of Toulouse La d'Escouman accuses the Marquess of Vernueil and the Duke of Epernon of being concerned in the Murther of Henry IV. Some few days before his Resignation Harlay had presided in the Sentence against La d'Escouman This Creature it is said did not want either Wit or Address But her lewd Life ought to have taken away the Credit of her Evidence if all concerned in Villanies were not of necessity Scandalous Persons It is not known who put d'Escouman upon presenting her self to Queen Margaret whom she was known to and discovering to her that the Duke of Epernon and the Marquise of Vernueil had suborned Ravaillac Whether Margaret was in a Combination to ruine these two Persons or was afraid of ill Consequences if she did not give notice of what she heard to the Court the
Princess sent to let the Regent know that La d'Escouman had great things to Reveal Some Persons were ordered to go to the Hôtel of Queen Margaret They conceal themselves in an adjoyning Closet while the Princess makes la d'Escouman repeat with a loud Voice what she had said Margaret testified the Woman did not vary but repeated Word for Word before to her what they had now heard She is Condemned Upon the Report made to the Regent her Majesty ordered her Letter Patents to be dispatched for the Parlement of Paris to take cognizance of this New Affair La d'Escouman being examined by the first President de Harlay accuses two Persons one of which had been Valet de Chambre to the Marquess d' Entragues These Men are Seized Examined thrown into a Dungeon confronted with d'Escouman who affirms peremptorily all was true she had charged them with Farther she declares the Marchioness of Vernueil had sent Ravaillac to her with a Letter for one Madamoiselle du Tillet and that in her Presence du Tillet had spoke to Ravaillac to Assassinate the late King But the Evidence so ill maintain'd her Charge was so deficient in describing the Person of the Murtherer and said so many things directly false that no Credit was given to her Depositions The two Prisoners were acquitted and la d'Escouman condemned to close Imprisonment for the rest of her Life Reflections on 〈◊〉 Sentence The care taken to confine this Wretched Woman and the keeping her Examination so private gave occasion for divers Suspicions and many Reflections It was pretty commonly believed Persons of Eminent Quality had a share in this Mystery of Iniquity and it was not judg'd convenient to disclose it Some pretended this was only done to spare the Reputation of certain Persons of the first Rank who had made this use of la d'Escouman to ruine their Enemies So ill and revengeful a Woman as la Vernueil said they may well enough be guilty of a great Crime But is it to be believed the Queen who mortally hates the Marchioness would spare her Could she ever find a fairer opportunity to revenge the frequent Disquiets which the ill Nature and Raillery of a Rival had given her The Duke of Epernon 's Interest added some Judicious Men could never stifle this Matter He has powerful Enemies at Court The Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons declare openly against him The Mareschal de Bouillon and the Marquess of Ancre strictly tied together seek to remove and ruine him If any one reflect on the Conduct of the Duke of Epernon his Humour and Inclinations he will not appear capable of so black an Attempt And if he had Malice enough to conceive it is he so void of Common Sense to trust this in the Hands of a Fool as Ravaillac was In short if he suborned the Assassin would he have taken pains to keep him from being killed on the spot as James Clement was The Duke of Epernon said some who were the most prejudiced against him could not be called to an Account without bringing in the Queen whom he served in it Doubtless said others to them it would be much safer and easier to have poison'd the King than to depend upon a Blow of that Importance on such a Fellow as Ravaillac was There was a greater Division in the Court of Prague than that of Paris and the Princes of the House of Austria in Germany lived in a more visible Misunderstanding than the Princes of the Blood in France The Emperor Rodolphus had three Brothers Matthias Albert and Maximilian The first had forced from his Elder Brother the Kingdom of Hungary and the greatest part of what the House of Austria calls her Hereditary Countries Albert lived contented with the Provinces of the Low Countries which the Infanta Isabell brought to him in Marriage and Maximilian having long agoe relinquished his Pretensions to the Kingdom of Poland which he disputed with Sigismund King of Sweden led a quiet Life with Matthias King of Hungary These four Brothers had two Cousin Germans Children of Charles Brother to the Emperor Maximilian II. The small Country of Gratz in Stiria did not satisfie the Ambition of Ferdinand the Eldest of this second Branch of that House and Leopold the younger Brother desired something more than the Bishopricks of Strasburg and Passau Rodolphus and his Brothers had no Children this gave their Cousins mighty Hopes but as yet they were a great way off The King of Hungary this year Married Ann Archdutchess of Austria and might leave Heirs Ferdinand Wisely concealed his vast Ambition he seemed contented with managing the Pope and keeping a strict Correspondence with Spain and seem'd willing to wait patiently for a more favourable Opportunity to obtain the Succession of his Cousins All Men looked on the Emperor as a dead Man The Courts of Rome and Madrid were not very well satisfied that Matthias kept fair with the Protestants which he did to prevent being opposed by them when there should be a Debate about chusing a Successor to his Brother Perhaps too his Inclination led him to follow the steps of Maximilian II. a very Wife and Moderate Prince He had had a good Opinion of the Protestant Religion and it is thought would have embraced it if he had not met with Obstacles from Ferdinand the I. and the Court of Rome The Emperor his Father pressed by the Pope threatned Maximilian to Disinherit him but if the Son had shewn greater Resolution the Father would have found it no easie Matter to have made such an Exclusion valid I very much doubt if he would have dared to attempt it Ferdinand Archduke of Gratz was very far from this Moderation of Maximilian He was violent against the Protestants to a prodigious degree The Jesuits and Ignorant Monks who had too great Influence on the Councils of this Prince and his Descendants kept him in this extravagant Bigotry flattering him with the Assistance of the Pope and King of Spain to obtain the Empire even whilst those of the Elder Branch were yet alive The Archduke Leopold had no less Ambition but was still more impatient The Ambitious Designs of Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasburg and Passaw on the Kingdom of Bohemia vext to see himself reduced to live on his Benefices and to find his mighty Designs on the Countries of Cleves and Juliers prove Abortive he resolved to take his Advantage of the Weakness of Rodolphus and to make himself King of Bohemia to the prejudice of Matthias to whom that Crown was promised after the Emperors Decease Leopold had raised a small Army with the consent of Rodolphus under colour of keeping Juliers against the Confederate Princes The Town being taken by the Brave Maurice of Orange the Arch-duke kept his Troops in his Bishoprick of Passau with an intention to employ them in some greater and more prositable Work Romeo their General as Active and Stirring as Leopold
perswaded him to treat with his Friends in the Court of Prague and the Roman Catholicks in Bohemia who could not endure to see the Gospellers enjoy the free use of their Religion Leopold designed in the first place to make an Alteration in the Government of Prague and Expel divers Lords of the Emperors Council who were in the King of Hungary's Interests the thing did not seem practicable in a free Country as that of Bohemia was There was a Necessity for him to content himself with gaining over the Catholick Party and chiefly the Churchmen and Monks by giving them hopes that if Leopold should enter Prague by force of Arms he would oblige the Emperor to revoke the Edict in favour of the Gospellers The Jesuits were the most forward to favour the Designs of Leopold they filled their Colledge with Canon Arms and Ammunition to make use of in case there should be occasion Leopold's Troops â—…arch into Bohemia Leopolds Army was compos'd of nine Thousand Foot and four Thousand Horse They marched strait towards Austria under the Command of Romeo who found the means to help the Soldiers to Money in their way they plundered divers considerable Castles King Matthias being unprovided to resist was very much alarmed He writ to his Subjects and Friends to come immediately to his Aid In the mean time Romeo passes the Danube ravages whereever he comes marches into Bohemia under pretence of exacting those Subsidies the Emperor had promised Leopold for the Subsistence of his Troops He took two or three important Places and Leopold joined him when he was at the Gates of the Capital The States of the Countries amazed at these Motions prepar'd for a Defence The Gospellers appear'd more active and warm than the rest they were afraid to fall under the Government of one of the House of Gratz But it was not possible to hinder Leopold from entring into a third part of the Town which is called the little Prague He had a good Intelligence there the two other Quarters which they call the Old and New Prague defended themselves so vigorously that Leopold could not make himself Master of them Matthias King of Hungary Marches to the Assistance of Bohemia During the Confusions which Accidents of this Nature must needs cause in a Town divided into two Factions Violent against each other Rodolphus remained in his Castle contented with commanding both Parties by a Herald to lay down their Arms he seemed to stand Neuter His old Piques against his Brother made him encline to Leopold who seized on the Castle and was declared Lieutenant General for the Emperor The King of Hungary had at that time a Dispute with Gabriel Battori Prince of Transilvania He chose rather to give up his Pretensions than to have Bohemia taken from him Behold him then at the Head of an Army of eighteen Thousand Men. Leopold and Romeo make a quick Retreat to the Frontiers of Bohemia as soon as they are informed Matthias was enter'd into the Kingdom too fortunate in carrying off their Booty and two Hundred Thousand Florens which the Emperor gave them The King of Hungary being come to Prague the States of the Country received him with all possible Magnificence Matthias is Crowned King of Bohemia After some of Rodolphus his Counsellors were clapt into Prison and others forced to fly it was no hard Matter to make Rodolphus consent to a Demise of the Kingdom of Bohemia in favour of his Brother This poor Prince had very good Conditions in appearance made for him at the Solicitation of the Elector of Saxony who always was a Friend to the House of Austria The States of Bohemia too proposed theirs to the New King for the securing the Privileges of the Kingdom and Liberty of Conscience The City of Prague made some separate Stipulations and particularly that the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction should be restrained and the Abuses of it corrected After Matthias had been Solemnly Crowned at Prague the 23d of May by the Cardinal Ditrechstein an Agreement was made with Leopold who still had divers Important Places in his Hand He promised to quit these upon the payment of a certain Sum of Money In Conclusion the King of Hungary and Bohemia having agreed to some Articles for a perfect Reconciliation with the Emperor he went to Breslau his Design was to go and take Possession of Silesia which had likewise been given up to him The Bishop of the City the Lords and States of the Province took an Oath of Fidelity to him and he likewise swore to preserve to them the free Exercise of that Religion each of them professed before A Cabal in the Court of France against the Duke of Epernon The Princes of the House of Austria lived the rest of that year in a good Understanding as to outward Appearance those of the Royal Blood did the same in France Conde and Soissons being now combined together were not content with Supplanting Sully they resolved farther to ruine the Duke of Epernon the Marquess of Ancre took part with them He promised the Count of Soissons to remove a Man who was insupportable to all the Favourites Epernon hated them in effect because he loved to engross Favours he thought no one besides himself could deserve it Conchini provoked by the great Contempt the Duke treated him with resolved to humble a Man who ow'd his Rise to the Favour of Henry the III. and was now more haughty and hard to be bended than the Princes of the Blood The more Epernon found his Interest at Court sink the more he strove to make the Princes of the Blood Sensible if they would not love him they should have reason to fear him After the Count of Soissons had threatned to insult him he went through the Streets of Paris attended with Seven or Eight Hundred Gentlemen he would sometimes take Pleasure in going to the Louvre a foot His Men marched in order of Battle and when the first were at the Louvre the last were at the Hôtel of Epernon The Distance of these is near two thousand Paces In the midst of this outward Splendor the Discontent to see himself Excluded from Publick Business tormented him exceedingly The Cardinal of Joyeuse who only Subsisted by the Dukes Support resolved to go to Rome and Divert himself in the Chapels and Congregations there since there was no more occasion for him in the Court of France Epernon desired leave to go to his Estate and Government this he obtained with the good liking of the Court Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis The Regent gave him on this occasion several Marks of Confidence and Respect The Prince of Conde had a mind to go and take Possession of the Government of Guienne and nothing could divert him from this Resolution His stiffness gave Umbrage to the Court The Reformed had a civil Assembly at Saumur and the Regent did not know whether Conde might not have some secret design
to take his Advantage of this when he should be in that Neighbourhood The Duke of Epernon's going to his Governments of Limosin Angoumois and Xaintonge bordering on Guienne gave great Satisfaction The Queen gave him a thousand Caresses and recommended earnestly to him to observe Conde's steps This Precaution was not necessary the good Prince thought no harm he was too well satisfied with his feigned Greatness and acting the part of an Imaginary King on the Stage at Bourdeaux and elsewhere he was charmed to see himself received with so much Ceremony took his Place in the Parliament made his Progress thrô the several Towns and heard with great Gravity the Harangues and Complements of the Magistrates and Gascon Gentlemen The Marquess of Ancre designs to marry his Son to the Princess of Soissons The Count of Soissons was now the only Person who managed the Queen The Marquess of Ancre whose Favour encreased every day shew'd an extreme Devotion to him Soissons Transported with bringing so potent a Favourite into the interests of his House did him all the good Offices he could He Assisted him in obtaining the Government of the Town and Citadel of Amiens in Spight of the Opposition and Discontent which the Count of St. Paul shewed at it This Lord being a younger Brother of the House of Longueville pretended to this Employ But Soissons who had an entire Ascendent over him made him desist Farther he engaged St. Paul to return out of Picardy where he Commanded during the Minority of the Duke of Longueville Memoires de la regence de Marie de Medicis to prevent any Difference that might happen between him and the New Governour of Amiens if they should meet Conchini was now risen to such a height nothing seemed to be above him There was a Discourse of Marrying his Son to one of the Princesses of Soissons You have a mind to flatter me said the Favourite to a Gentleman who made the Offer but I confess this Flattery do's not displease me He did not long continue in this Modesty he affected at that time The Count of Soissons accepts the Proposition The Generosity of the Duke of Epernon Conchini had the boldness to say to the Marquess of Coeuvres a Confident of the Count of Soissons that the Marriage talked of must be concluded that a Prince of the Blood would find great Advantages in it that the Queen had already given her consent Soissons meanly complyed with this shameful Match He was punished for it as he deserved The Ministers laid before the Queen Consequences of a Marriage which would sooner or later draw on it the Indignation of the King the Princes of the Blood and all sensible Men. Vie du Duc d'Epernon L. VI. Thus the Count of Soissons by this Treaty only obtained the Scandal and Reproaches of consenting to prostitute his Daughter to a young Italian whose Father and Mother soon became the Horror of Mankind not so Wise and Generous as the Duke of Epernon inferior in Birth to a Prince of the Blood Conchini caused a Marriage to be proposed for his Daughter with the Marquess de la Valette second Son of the Duke Besides the Great Wealth he would have given with his Daughter he promised to obtain the Sword of Constable of France for Epernon as soon as the King should be a Major Far from hearing his Friends and Servants who advised him to accept this Proposition the Duke rejected it with a Noble Scorn Nay he was Angry with those who pressed him to make an Alliance which if rewarded by the first Dignity of the State would be still the more Scandalous The Cardinal of Joyeuse took for the pretence of his Journey the Obligation he had to go to Rome to perform the Functions of his Dignity of Protector of France a Pompous and Ridiculous Title which the Pride of the Court of Rome has invented and the mean Complaisance of Sovereigns has Authorised These like Monks have each their Cardinal Protector with the Pope A Subject who is Agent for his Prince becomes his Protector at Rome The Regent Diverted her self at that time at Fontainbleau There on the 12th of April she drew up a long Instruction for Joyeuse No one can read these Pieces without complaining of or to speak better contemning Crowned Heads who suffer such a strange Slavery to be imposed on them A King must give the Holy Father an account of what he do's at home Siri Memorie recondite Tom II. pag. 502 503 c. for the good of his Dominions and what Alliances he contracts abroad for their Security Has he done any thing which is not well relished at Rome then see him humbly making his Excuses and taking all ways imaginable to extenuate his Fault He is very Submissive he promises to do great and mighty wonders on some other Occasion for the Holy See What a Pother's here about the Instruction of the Cardinal of Joyeuse The Regent justifies to Paul V. what she had done in favour of the Protestants Mary de Medicis will have him to inform Paul V. exactly of what has been done since the beginning of the Regency without omitting the least Particular To justifie her confirming the Edict of Nantes he must represent to his Holiness this was extorted from her to prevent the Jealousies of the Protestants and disappoint some busie Turbulent Men. The Protestants having Permission granted them to meet for the Regulating other Civil Matters she pretended it was impossible to do otherwise in a Minority Endeavours are used to pacifie the Disquiet which that Assembly gave the Pope promising to allow the Hugonots nothing that could be dispensed with The Regent had given several Employs and bestowed her Favours on some Protestant Lords for fear the Court of Rome should be alarmed at this it was said this was to gain the Heads of the Party over Paul the V. took it ill that the Parlement of Paris had made a Decree for the Suppression of Cardinal Bellarmine's Book against Barclay Her Majesty is a little Embarassed upon this Article she is troubled the Defamatory and Scandalous Books of the Gardinal should give occasion to the Magistrates to concern themselves But the Queen in Recompence has interposed her Authority to hinder the Sorbonne from vigorous Censure which she intended against the Propositions of Bellarmine It was not thought fit to give the Hugonots so great Advantages what Baseness what Trickings are here but this is not all The Renewing the Alliances with the Protestant Princes and States were coloured with the common good of Christendom and the Example of the King of Spain was alledged who made a League with the Vnited Provinces all good Offices were promised with the Electors and Protestant Princes of Germany in favour of Matthias King of Hungary whom the Courts of Rome and Madrid wished to have Elected King of the Romans In the last place the Court would make the Old
League for the Safety of Italy we are ready to give our ancient Allies proofs we desire nothing more than to preserve and secure that Repose they enjoy Upon this Declaration the Senate answered very Wisely to the Duke of Savoy that it very much concerned all the Sovereigns of Italy to keep a good Understanding and provide for their common Safety But it is to be feared said they this will only serve to incense the Spaniards more and encrease the Distrust and Jealousie of a Crown whom it behoves as much nay more than its Neighbours to seek for Peace The Wise Politick Old Ministers of Henry IV. saw very well the Spaniards were not so much to be feared and there was more Ostentation than Reality in the threatning Advances of the Court of Madrid The Death of the Count of Fuentes Governor of Milan which happened at that time helped to revive their Courage They thought Spain would not be able to find a Subject capable of so well Supporting the Reputation of the Crown and covering so artfully the weakness of Philip III. and the Duke of Lerma his first Minister Pedro Gusman of Toledo Count of Fuentes died aged 85 years on the 22d of July 1610. He was a Man of extraordinary Capacity and great Experience in all Civil and Military Affairs He gained mighty Reputation in the Campagnes of Picardy about the end of the preceding Age and especially at the taking of Cambray But the care he took to profit by the Lessons of his Master Philip II. sullied the good Qualities of so finisht a Statesman and Soldier The ill Designs of the Court of Spain against the Duke of Savoy As Charles Emanuel was the boldest and I will add the most Imprudent of the Italian Princes to declare against Spain so he was the first and chief Object which felt the Displeasure of that Revengeful Court. In the first place all the Spanish Troops in his Service were remanded back He saw plainly they were seeking for an Occasion to pick a Quarrel with him being assured of a speedy Aid from the Mareschal Lesdiguieres his Friend Siri Memoire recordite Tom. II. p. 282 304. who commanded in Dauphine the Duke was not struck with the Threats made him from the King of Spain He spoke not only like a Man who was resolved to defend himself Couragiously but like one who would pursue the Designs set on foot before Henry's Death All the World was so fully convinced that the Superiority of Genius and Strength which had formerly made Spain formidable were entirely wanting in Philip III. that Princes far inferior to him haughtily insulted him The Imprudence and double dealing of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy might have securely despised all the Threats of the Spaniards if he had been more prudent and less Knavish Could he not plainly see France had no design to break with Spain but that the Regent would stir to prevent him from being Opprest He ought not then in point of Discretion to have provoked a Neighbour who notwithstanding her Weakness was stronger than a Duke of Savoy At the same time that Charles Emanuel was earnestly pressing Mary to obtain what the late King had promised him he was at the same time keeping secret Intelligence with the Count of Soissons and the rest of the discontented Lords and Heads of the Protestant Party in hopes of kindling a Civil War in France Being perswaded that the King of Spain would be glad to be reconciled to him and sought his Friendship he endeavoured to insinuate into the Court of Madrid that if she would grant him good Conditions he would do her very good Service against France Both Parties soon saw his Ways Thus was he equally odious and suspected in all the Courts of Europe suffered the Disgrace of being humbled in Spain despised in France and Italy and hated in his own Country which he ruined by his Chimerical Projects Divers Negotiations to oblige the Kingâ—… of Spain and Duke of Savoy to lay down their Arms in Italy Whilst these Intrigues were carrying on the King of Spain was in Arms in Italy and the Duke of Savoy had a considerable number of Soldiers there Strange Confusions for France and the Sovereigns of Italy The Regent was very impatient to Disband the Army in Dauphine Commanded by a Hugonot General but Prudence would not suffer her to do it in such a Juncture Siri Memoire recâ—…ndite Tom II. p. 335 336. The Pope apprehended least the Mareschal Lesdiguieres should pass the Alps under colour of coming to the Assistance of the Duke of Savoy When Mary pressed Charles Emanuel to lay down his Arms he asked such conditions as she did not care to grant him The Pope too made his Instances that Spain and Savoy should send away those Troops which gave France and Italy so great uneasiness But Philip pretended Charles Emanuel ought in the first place to lay down his Arms and make him Satisfaction The Duke on the contrary alledged that the weakest ought to stand upon his Guard when he seemed to be threatned by a Powerful Neighbour so that the Difference now seemed only to consist in Ceremony Nevertheless the more discerning Men thought they saw a Collusion here The Duke Dissatisfied to find the Regent intended in earnest to fall in with the Spaniard he began to talk too of sending Prince Philibert his Son to Madrid The King of Spain demands the Duke of Savoy should first of all make him Satisfaction Whether it were that the Court of Spain were assured that the Regent of France would willingly suffer the Duke of Savoy to be humbled provided no harm were done him or that Philip was absolutely resolved to reduce his Brother-in-Law who behaved himself so Haughty at a time when he sought the King of Spain's Favour Charles Emanuel received News from Madrid That his Catholick Majesty was exactly informed of his Ties to the late King of France and that before the King would consent to an Accommodation he required a very mortifying Preliminary of the Duke of Savoy Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 336 337. This was that he should send his Sons or at least one of them to Madrid to remain there as a Pledge of their Fathers Fidelity and farther that he should ask Pardon for his secret Treaties with France to the prejudice of the Crown of Spain Charles Emanuel presently summoned his Council together No Expedient could be found to evade these hard conditions but to press France earnestly to send a speedy Aid For now the Spanish Troops in the Milanese seemed ready to pour into Piemont Lesdiguieres gave the Duke fair words but Mary de Medicis very far from breaking with Spain in favour of Charles Emanuel advised him to send Prince Philibert to Madrid to pacifie King Philip. Thus did the two Courts make sport with a Man who thought himself crafty enough to deceive them both There was no way
as you have already done to the Resentments of the Princes of the Blood The Duke of Epernon was yet more necessary to the Queen upon this occasion he was gone from Court much discontented but he was gently dealt with during his Absence as soon as he came back to Court they made him all imaginable Caresses The Prince of Conti the Duke de Guise and the House of Lorrain the Duke de Nevers all the Courtiers except the Creatures of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons paid him extraordinary Honours The Chancellor Villeroy and Conchini shewed him as much respect and deference as he could possibly wish from them T' was the surest way to engage this proud and haughty Man by letting him gain to himself a point of Honour of being Victorious over the Princes of the Blood and opposing them vigorously when ever they should undertake to break the Treaty of the double Match The Ambassador of England complain'd aloud of this Alliance but t' was hop'd they could appease his Master by sending to him the Mareschal de Bouillon Aersens Ambassador from the Vnited Provinces made a great Noise he moved Heaven and Earth to hinder this Affair the Consequences of which appeared to be dreadful to his Republick Refuge was order'd to go to the Hague to secure the Amity of Prince Maurice and the States-General Lastly Schomberg was sent to the Protestant Princes in Germany in order to dissipate the jealousies which this Alliance might give them The Double Marriage is in fine carryed in Council The Prince of Conde and the Count de Soissons being come back to Court about the beginning of the year 1612. all Persons were brought about to consent to the double Match whensoever it should be proposed in Council but the two Princes were not yet satisfied Siri Memorie recondite To. II. pag. 618. 619 ctc. The same day they were call'd to Council Conde first demanded that every one might declare his Opinion according to his degree Chancellor Sileri spoke much in praise of the Queen's Administration of Affairs and laid open the great benefit which would accrue to the State from this double Match The Duke de Guise set forth the Eloquence which was natural to his Family There 's no need said he of Deliberation upon so Advantageous a Proposition we ought only to thank God that her Majesty hath happily brought about the Noble design which Heaven had inspired into her The Constable Montmorency with the Dukes of Nevers and Epernon extreamly approved of what was said The Mareschal Bouillon and Lesdiguieres said only this that they ought to take care the New Treaty with the Spaniards might not be prejudicial to the ancient Alliances of the Crown with other Sovereigns At last came the Prince of Conde's turn to speak but he was so startled with the Duke of Guise's positive way of delivering himself as that he was quite dasht out of Countenance and after an indifferent manner said that since this was an Affair resolved upon it was needless to ask our Opinion It was believ'd that the two Princes came with a design to oppose the Treaty The words which the Count de Soissons let fall confirm'd Persons in this Opinion You see Sir said he turning himself to the Prince of Conde that we are dealt with here as Fools and Serving-men The Queen vext at this Reproach would have spoke but the Chancellor cunningly turn'd her by from it by proposing some other matter to discourse upon and so it was concluded that the double Match should be publisht the 25th day of March following and the New Duke of Mayenne was design'd for an extraordinary Embassy to Spain to demand the Infanta with the usual Ceremonies The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons shewed a great weakness upon this occasion their Consciences would not suffer them to approve the thing and either fear or hope hinder'd them from speaking as they ought to have done Sir then said the Constable to his Son-in-Law the Prince of Conde you neither know how to Fight with Courage or yield with Prudence The Popes Nuncio's Complaint of the Edict of Parliament given in favour of the Vniversity against the Jesuits The Queen Regent found her self otherwise troubled upon the occasion of an Edict which the Parliament had made upon the Contest of the University of Paris with the Jesuits for the opening of their College of Clermont The good Fathers flatter'd themselves that the chief President de Verdun would be as favourable to them as his Predecessor had been to the contrary but they were deceived in their Hopes whether it was that this Magistrate affected to appear Zealous for the Liberties of the Gallican Church or that the Remonstrances of Dr. Richer Syndick of the faculty of Paris Siri Memorie recondite To. II. pag. 624 625 c. or the pleadings of the Advocate General Servin had convinc'd the chief President that if once the Society should set footing in the University of Paris it would Establish there its pernicious Doctrine or Lastly whether it was that Verdun did not love so much the Jesuits at the bottom of his Heart as other Magistrates had done before he pronounc'd the Edict he put on so gay and content a Countenance as the good Fathers believ'd they had gain'd their Cause But what was their Mortification when they understood that t' was ordered them forthwith to Sign a Conformity to the Doctrine of the Sorbonne Schools and even in what concerned the preservation of the sacred Persons of Kings the maintaining their Royal Authority and the Liberties of the Gallican Church according as it was mentioned in the four Articles which had been proposed to them and were recited in express words in the Edict From hence was the Society brought to great Extremity They must Subscribe a Doctrine detested by the Court of Rome or must be exposed a second time to leave the Kingdom The Curates of Paris had now bound themselves to present joyntly a Petition to the Parliament that they should be hinder'd from hearing of Confession The University put up another Petition that the Jesuits might be enjoyn'd to shut up their Colleges in all the Towns of the Parlement of Paris's Jurisdiction where they have taught without allowing their Letters Patent which the late King had granted them to be made good in Parlement Now the good Fathers had no other Remedy but to make use of the Nuncio's Intercession and cause the Cardinals and Prelates devoted to the Court of Rome to act for them Vbaldini the Popes Nuncio was very forward to bestir himself in favour of them he was no less alarm'd than the Jesuits The chief President brag'd that he would make the four Articles proposed to the Jesuits be made Solemnly received in the faculty of Paris and whatever the Advocate-General maintain'd in his Pleading The Nuncio in his first Audience he had of the Queen greatly complain'd against the New Edict and Servin
hopes to make Advantages of the broils of France and to retake what Henry the IV. had forc't him to give in exchange for the Marquisate of Saluces all these Motives spurr'd on Charles Emanuel to omit nothing of what ever was capable to kindle a Civil War in France by means of the Princes of the Blood or at least by the Huguenot Party And for this reason he constantly Negotiated sometimes with the Count of Soissons sometimes with Mareschal Lesdiguiers He renewed his Intrigues according as he saw one or other Dissatisfied with the Court. The Marquess de Coeuvres dâ—…verâ—…s the Count de Soissons from such a Design The Prince of Conde and others had made Count Soissons promise to say nothing to the Marquess de Coeuvres his intimate Friend of the Complot against the Chancellor They foresaw that Coeuvres being used to stop the Count when his Choler had carried him too far he would not fail to Represent to Soissons that it was unworthy of a Prince of the Blood to be Outragious against the chief Magistrate of the Realm The thing happen'd as they had guess't it The Count de Soissons could not keep the Secret He discover'd it to the Marquess de Coeuvres who shew'd him the troublesom Consequences of such like undertakings But the Subject Matter was how to Disingage the Count from his Word which he had given to others Coeuvres luckily found out a way The difference that Soissons had in his Journy to Normandy with the Mareschal de Fervacques on the occasion of the Garrison of Quillebeuf which Fervacques had reinforc't unknown to the Count this Difference I say occasion'd the Marquess de Coeuvres to go several times into Normandy and to come back again to Court to give some satisfaction to the Count de Soissons who complain'd aloud of the Mareschal Fervacques Conchini impatient that Soissons did not return time enough to work the ruine of the Chancellor told himself to the Marquess de Coeuvres at the Mareschal Bouillons House in the presence of the Prince of Conde Harlai of Beaumont and Dolé the Reasons there were to hasten the Count of Soissons to return Coeuvres fain'd not to know any thing of a Plot amongst them against the Chancellor When they had discover'd it plainly to him he so lively represented the Indignity of the Action as they were ashamed of it If you have wherewithal to prove said he that the Chancellor hath not done his Duty is it not a more honest and surer way to inform the Queen of it and perswade her Majesty to take the Seals from him than to outrage unworthily the Chief Justiciary So great a Violence offer'd will not fail to pluck more upon your own Heads Who hereafter will succeed Sileri when he sees he can't exercise the Office with Security which of times exposeth him who is possest of 't to discontent Princes and Grandees in obeying the King's Orders The Mareschal de Bouillon was the first who yielded to the Remonstrances of Coeuvres These Reasons said he have so much the more reason in them to be received for that the Marquess generously alledgeth them in favour of one of whom he hath cause to complain T' was not then farther thought upon to put any such bloody Indignity on the Chancellor ev'ry one then took only Measures to destroy his Reputation he had in the Queens Breast The Marquess d' Ancres knavery and double dealing Conchini and his Wife labour'd herein with better Success than all the rest This Italian was the falfest Politician in the World At the same time he made use of the Count Soissons to destroy the Chancellor and Ministers of State he himself was the Person who hinder'd the Regent from contenting the Prince in giving of him the Government of Quillebeuf The Baron Luts Agent for the Marquess d' Ancre Sollicited in his behalf the Duke of Guise to declare for the Queen and uphold the Refusal which she design'd to give the Count of Soissons Guise was so adverse to this perfidious dealing of Conchini as he gave notice of it to Soissons The House of Guise the Cardinal Joyeuse and Bellegarde Master of the Horse dissatisfied at what Mary de Medicis had done to the Duke of Vendosme sought to reunite themselves with the Princes of the Blood against the Marquess d' Ancre Only the Duke of Epernon neglected to enter into this new Treaty whether it was that his Pride hinder'd him from Courting the Princes of the Blood to confirm his reeling Credit or that the Rheumatism which then afflicted him would not give him opportunity to think of Court Intrigues There was in Guise's Party a pack of French Lords who were not much better and perhaps worse than the Marquess d' Ancre T' was generally believ'd Persons suborn'd to accuse him of Witchcraft that Bellegarde had this year Suborned some Persons to accuse Conchini that he had of a long time us'd some Love-spells by means of a Looking-Glass This Affair much Alarm'd the Marquess d' Ancre He believ'd himself now so near his Ruin as he try'd to make the Duke of Mayenne his Friend to return to Court who was now at the Foot of the Pirenees to go into Spain Conchini intended to serve his Occasions with him and the Count of Soissons against his Enemies But he found out a means to rid himself of the Intrigue without the Duke of Mayenne's Assistance This occasion serv'd him likewise to do the Chancellor ill Offices with the Queen He had got some Commissions to Seal in order to have his Accuser Examin'd Sileri who did not love the Marquess d' Ancre but favour'd his Enemies made some Scruples of putting the Seals t' ' em Conchini complain'd of this to the Queen who from that time began to shew to the Chancellor some Displeasure Affairs of the Duke of Rohan at S lean d' Angeli's The Evil Counsels which the Queen Regent hearken'd to caus'd her troubles on all sides with the Princes of the Blood with the Grandees with the Parlement and at the end with the Reformed Protestants The Division amongst the principal Persons of this Communion afforded Mary de Medicis and her Ministers the means of undertaking certain things against the Edict which never would have been thought on if two Men capable to maintain their Religion against the whole World had liv'd in good Intelligence amongst themselves and acted Unanimously Memoires du Duc de Roâ—…ohan Livre f. Vie du Plessia â—â—rna Livre â—…L I speak of the Mareschal Bouillon and the Duke of Rohan The first serv'd himself with the Queen's Ear to ruine the other in the good Apprehensions she might have of him What pass't in the Assembly at Saumur exasperated so much the Mareschal against the Duke that Bouillon undertook to throw out Rohan from the Government of St. John d' Angeli which the Deceased King had bestow'd upon him The Duke de Rohan being well
advis'd of the evil Offices that were constantly done him at Court went to justifie himself After having represented to the Regent that he had behav'd as a good Man in the Assembly at Saumur I confess to you Madam said the Duke that I oppos'd the Designs of Monsieur de Bouillon But this was done but in order to give your Majesty fresh Tokens of my Fidelity and Zeal which I have for your Service I Distrust those Persons who turn Scales and pay their Services on both Sides 'T is seldom known that such Men are upright in their Intentions If Monsieur Bouillon had brought his Designs about in our Assembly at Saumur he might have understood how to have used them and prevailed even against your self When Monsieur Bouillon comes to be the Master amongst us your Authority shall be never the better Established in this Realm The Duke of Rohan upon this occasion prov'd the Truth of a Reflection which he himself made viz. That a Prince who hath a prejudicate Opinion is hard to be perswaded The Regent gave no Attention to these Remonstrances The time now of the Election of the Mayor of St. John of Angeli was near It was a thing of the greatest Importance that could be to the Duke of Rohan that he who was in the place might not be continued The adverse Party to the Governor had got over this Man to their side and if their Project had succeeded the Duke had lost all his Authority in the place Feigning then that his Brother was dangerously sick he took a Journey suddenly from Paris Rohan took Soubize in his way and they both got to St. John d' Angeli The day of Election being come a Letter under the King 's Privy Seal was produc't that the Ancient Major should continue this not being to be any Rule for the future and to be without prejudice to the Privileges of the Inhabitants The Duke de Rohan Remonstrated that her Majesty had been ill inform'd of the State of the City where there was not any thing at all of Division as the Letter under the King 's Privy Seal had suppos'd and that they might proceed to a new Election according to the accustom'd Form I hope said he I shall bring her Majesty to agree to it To this effect I send my Secretary to Court The Mareschal Bouillon flatter'd himself that the Duke of Rohan would infallibly lose himself whatever Party he would take in an Affair that was so ticklish for him to manage If Rohan suffers the former Major to be continued they wou'd strip him of all his Authority and if he oppos'd the Court's Orders this would find it self in a necessity of punishing a Man who neglected to observe the Authority of the King To engage the Queen after such a manner as she should not flinch back for the future the Mareschal perswaded her to send a more express Order for to contitinue the old Major But the Duke of Rohan being perswaded that if he lost the Government he himself was lost without any Redemption believ'd that he ought not to obey the Orders which the Queen had sent as being Surprised unwarily by his Enemies A New Major was chosen that is to say three Persons were Nominated whose Names were sent to the Court to the end her Majesty might pitch upon one whom she judg'd most proper for the place Whilst they were expecting an Answer from the Regent the Keys of the Town were put into the Hands of the Eldest Alderman and thus the Duke of Rohan made himself Master of the Town from whence he caus'd some Subaltern Officers to be put out who were against him This bold Action mightily stir'd up the Queen against the Duke of Rohan Those whom he had sent to Court were committed to the Bastile T' was forbid the Dutchess his Mother his Wife his Sister to stir out of Paris Some Persons proposed to the Counsel that t' was fit to go and Besiege the Duke in St. John d' Angeli as a Rebel Orders were dispatch't for raising Troops and sending the Artillery The Queen publish't abroad that she would go her self in Person to the Army which the Mareschal Bouillon and Lesdiguieres were to command to make the Reformed know that there was no point of Religion here in Question but only a Chastisment of a particular Lord who had Revolted from his Obedience The Duke as soon as he understood this published a Manifesto which he Addres't to the Reform'd Churches he gave them notice that his Zeal for their Preservation brought upon him this Persecution that the loss of St. John d' Angeli drew along with it other places of Retreat and Security and their Enemies wou'd not stop in so fair a way after they had taken from him his Government Mercure Francois 1612. The Manifesto ended with a lively Exhortation The Duke complain'd because his Enemies had made Information of his Conduct and that having found him irreprovable they had inform'd against some Gentlemen who were not at all faulty of any other Crime than his giving him a Visit The Court said he fears that our divided Body will reunite the Reputation Monsieur de Rohan hath acquired by his Quality and Probity which he hath always made profession of gives Vnbrage must they for this cause apply themselves by little and little to weaken our Party and to undoe us by Peacemeals Let us know our selves if we would Live and Subsist Let us revive the good Intelligence which was heretofore amongst us Let us Devote our selves to the Service of our God and our King Let us work for the Good of our Church and the State We were the most judicious and considerable Party before our Divisions at Saumur This great Man who knew better to Fight than to Write not standing upon Manifesto's only prepar'd himself for a courageous Defence Another Manifesto was publish'd on the Queen's side She took great care therein to advertise the World that her Majesty complain'd only of the Duke of Rohan's Undertaking All the French of either Religion were exhorted in it to relieve their Majesties in the just Design they had to punish a Crime of so dangerous Consequence to the Common Good of the State At last the Queen protested to the Reformed that Religion not being concern'd in this Affair the Edicts of Pacification should not be less exactly observ'd Du Plessis Mornai was then in a great Perplexity The Town of Saumur of which he was Governor was in the Queen's way in case she went to St. John d' Angeli and Prudence required that she would assure her self of that important Passage Du Plessis did not know which side to take If I fortifie my self said this Judicious Gentleman if I call for Succours they will attack me under pretence of Rebellion Besides if I don't think at all of being aware beforehand I leave a place of Security which I am entrusted withal to the Discretion of our Enemies Let 's run
Government of Dauphiny She was willing to keep that of Normandy to her self and have it manag'd by a Lieutenant General But the Prince of Conti was to be satisfied who ask'd for one of his Brother's two Governments This seem'd very reasonable Conti having heretofore given up the Government of the Dauphinate to the Count. To give him and the Guises some satisfaction a Sister of whom the Prince had married it was caus'd to be propos'd to Charles of Valois Natural Son of King Charles IX whom we before call'd Count d' Auvergne and henceforth shall be stil'd Duke of Angoulesme to lay down the Government of Auvergne Henry IV. had put him into Prison for a Conspiracy and the Regent kept him there still The Marquiss de Coeuvres was ordered to speak to him for accommodating the Matter The Duke d' Angoulesme who long'd for his Liberty accepted the Proposition to obtain his Liberty and so the Prince of Conti was made Governour of Auvergne The Count de Soissons had vast Designs rolling in his Head when he died 'T was said that he had bound himself in a great Correspondence with Henry Prince of Wales Maurice Prince of Orange the Duke of Savoy and the Huguenot Party The Duke of Rohan perceiving him discontented with the Regent and her Ancestors sent to offer him his Services He did not ask for the Government of Quillebeuf but only to be in a Condition of giving Entrance to the Succours which he had projected should come from England and Holland His greatest Passion and Desire was to remove the Ministers and quell the Party of the Guises and of the Duke of Epernon He would have had the Joy of seeing his Wishes almost fulfill'd if Death had not taken him hence the first Day of November The Marquiss and Marchioness d'Ancre had so much prepossess'd the Queen against the Ministers of State and especially against Sileri that she began to keep them in the dark as to her Cabinet Affairs Galigai had the Insolence to say a thousand offensive things to the Chancellor in presence of the Queen and to upbraid him with the ill Administration of his Office Mary de Medicis suffer'd her She-Confident to speak all and poor Sileri dar'd not to answer a Word for himself He was afraid lest the Queen should second the Reproaches perhaps too true which were said against him The Marchioness d'Ancre being sure of her Mistress's Sentiments spoke confidently as she was able to put out of Countenance the boldest Man alive 'T is a Maxim amongst interested Courtiers not to be put off and repuls'd easily and not to quit the Game but at the last Extremity The Chancellor went into the Queen's Closet with other Ministers but there he was afresh mortified Her Majesty turn'd her Back to him affecting to speak with a deal-of trust to the President Jeannin A new Party was now set up at Court which having got the upper most dissipated all the rest The Prince of Condé headed it The Dukes of Nevers Maienne Longueville the Marshal Bouillon and the Marquess d' Ancre came into it The Guises Epernon Amville and their Friends found their Affairs retarded by these Means The Duke of Amville was Brother to the Constable Montmorenci in whose Absence being gone to his Government in Languedoc he joyn'd himself to the Guises whom he thought had got further into the Queen's Favour than others The Master of the Horse Bellegarde of the same Party was then at Bourgundy as Governour of it He receiv'd Orders to come presently to Court Bellegarde obey'd the more willingly for that the Duke of Guise had hasten'd him to come to their Relief As soon as he had reach'd Sens they gave him notice that the Queen had sent for him only to put him out of his Government Understanding this he went back to it with all speed The Marquess d' Ancre had laid an Intrigue for causing Bourgundy to be given to the Duke of Mayenne There were more open Contentions at the Sorbonne than at the Court The Jesuit Becanus his Book condemned The Jesuits let loose against the lawful Authority of Sovereigns publish'd new Books every Day upon this Subject to court and please the proud Borghese Becan a famous Author of the Society had printed one this Year Mercure Francois 1611. with this Title The Controversie of England touching the King and Pope's Authority When Doctor Filezac new Syndic of the Faculty at Paris had perus'd it he spoke of it to Cardinal Bonzi to know whether the Queen would think fit the Sorbonne should censure so pernicious a Book The Nuncio and the Jesuits strove alike to shake off the Blow Vbaldini saw that the Faculty would not fail to have a fling in its Censure at the pretended Authority of the Holy Chair The good Fathers feared lest a new Decree of the Faculty of Paris publish'd throughout all France might further confirm the common Opinion That the Society makes Profession to teach constantly a Doctrine which is contrary to the Authority of Kings and Security of their Persons But the Propositions of Becan were so loudly complain'd of as it was expedient to appease Mens Minds by some Condemnation of them Here 's the Expedient which the Pope's Counsel and the Jesuits resolv'd upon They told the Queen that it would be of greater efficacy to have these sorts 〈◊〉 Books condemned at Rome and that 〈◊〉 Censure coming forth from the Holy Chair would carry more Authority with it than one from the Faculty of Paris Mary de Medicis was easily drawn into the Snare they had laid for her She bid the Cardinal Bonzi tell the Syndic of the Faculty That her Majesty would not have the Sorbonne to determine any thing upon Becan's Book because the Queen had a design to have it condemn'd by the Pope the Court of Rome and the good Fathers to make for them this Evasion If the Sorbonne had left off making a noise the Examination of the Book had been stopt Whatever came on 't the Inquisition condemning a Book in general Terms without specifying any thing People could not exactly know upon what Point the Condemnation fell and thus the exorbitant Proposition concerning the Pope's Authority would have been not touch'd or meddled with It was supposed that the Inquisition never intended to condemn them One Paris having presented in the Sorbonne the first of December some Propositions extracted out of Becan's Book wherein the Assassination of Kings and Princes was permitted and many other things contain'd which were contrary to Divine and Humane Laws the Syndic made a Report of what Cardinal Bonzi had told him concerning the Queen's Intentions Dr. Paris's Mouth being stop'd with this Answer desir'd that what he had propos'd might be register'd and that a Copy of what the Faculty had concluded upon might be given him It was granted him The first Day of the Year following the Faculty of Paris deputed four Doctors to represent to the Chancellor that
Gustavus King of Poland might have been able to have thwarted this Election if Gustavus had not lost the Opportunity by thinking rather to extend his own Dominion than endeavour his Brothers Establishment The Muscovites had time to reunite themselves Their New Czar having nothing more to fear at Home undertook to be revenged of the Poles He said Siege to Smolensko the following year and the City being but weakly defended was in a little time taken The Poles were then so divided as that they were not in a condition to hinder the Enemy from retaking all that Poland had taken away from him and making inroads further into Lithuania THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK IV. FRance was not much less troubled with Commotions than Poland 1613. The Baron de Luz Slain by the Chevalier de Guise If there was not yet Civil War in France the Number of Malecontents was so great and the Factions encreast after such a manner ev'ry day as all seem'd to be in a readiness for an open Rupture The Death of the Baron de Luz Knight of the King's Order and his Lieutenant General in Burgundy who was kill'd in the midst of Paris the 5th of January 1613. by the Chevalier de Guise gave the Queen new Disquiets Luz whilst he liv'd had made many Persons he had been in a League with different Parties and we find him in several Intrigues Under the Reign of the Deceased King he was one of the intimate Friends of the Mareschal Biron At the beginning of this he was Intrigu'd with the Guises but believing he shou'd settle himself better thro' the Marquess d'Ancre's favour he left them to be of Conchini's side He was suspected to serve this Italian in a design he had to undoe Bellegarde and take away from him the Government of Burgundy This provok't more against him the House of Guise Friend and Ally to Beuegarde This House sought but an occasion to be reveng'd and rid of a Man who not content to have left him in the Lurch was moreover Intrigu'd to mischief him as much as he could French Mercury 1613. Some of the Baron's indiscreet words seem'd to the Chevalier de Guise Siri Memorie recondite Tom. III. pag. 23 24. a sufficient reason to fight him The Baron had unwarily brag'd of his being at Blois with the Mareschal Brissac in the Chamber where King Henry the III. had taken a Resolution to cause the Duke of Guise to be Slain and to have hinder'd Brissac from Advertising the Duke of this evil Design against him This was reason enough to animate the Chevalier de Guise to be reveng'd of an Enemy of his House who boasted to have contributed to the Death of his Father by hindring Brissac from saving his Life The Chevalier then met the Baron in St. Honoré's Street makes him draw his Sword and at the second Pass he made at him kills him The Queen's Anger against the Guiseâ—… The Regent who made use of the Baron de Luz was extreamly provok't at this boldness She being perswaded that they thought rather to give her Trouble than revenge the Death of the Deceased Duke of Guise left her Dinner which she had just set down at as soon as she heard of the Baron's Death and throwing the Napkin upon the Table she retir'd with Tears in her Eyes into her Closet Her Majesty straitways calls for the Princes and Ministers to deliberate upon this Affair Memoires de Bassompierre which she extreamly took to Heart It was there resolv'd that the Parlement should take Informations and proceed immediately to prosecute the Murderer and send somebody in her Majesty's Name to Guise's House for to command the Nobility who were met there to be gone forthwith and forbid the Duke appearing at the Louvre till such time the Queen had sent for him T' was said that Guise was resolv'd to go to Court accompanied with a great number of Gentlemen Some scrupl'd to go out of Guise's House thô the Duke had pray'd the to obey the Regent's Order The Count de la Rochefoucault Master of the King's Wardrobe Signalized himself amongst all the rest He alone refus'd to go out and the Queen was angry at his Disobedience and commanded him to be gone presently from Court The Mind of Mary de Medicis was somewhat quieted when she heard that the Duke of Guise had made the Chevalier his Brother depart from his House and that he had order'd him to be gone into the Country Bassompierre a friend to the Guise's for the Princess of Conti's sake their Sister whom he lov'd and to whom his Person was not indifferent took an Opportunity to tell the Queen that the Duke humbly desires leave of her Majesty to justifie himself The Queen granted him this on condition he wou'd only come when it was almost Night and without any Company Bassompierre went and fetcht him immediately The Duke spoke in such Respectful and Submissive Terms as her Majesty seem'd to be appeas'd But the Dutchess Mother of the Guises spoilt all in a Visit she afterward made to the Queen The Dutchess spoke of the Matter so proud and lofty as her Majesty was more provok't against the Guises's than before The Duke was enrag'd against the Prince of Conde's Party Siri Memoire recondite To. III. pag. 24. which had opposed him He could not Digest that the Duke of Mayenne his Cousin was enter'd into it Guise if the Duke of Epernon had not stopt him in company of some of his Friends would have Assaulted Mayenne who likewise walk'd well Guarded insomuch that there might have been mach Blood spilt The Queen advertis'd of this New Accident order'd the Duke of Mayenne to be reconcil'd with the Head of his Family and to go and visit Guise at his House They had a long Discourse together and parted seemingly good Friends The Duke of Guise would joyn himself to the Prince of Conde's Party I don't know whether it was not Mayenne who persuaded the Duke of Guise incens't that the Queen deny'd him to call back the Count Rochefoucault to Court to unite with the Prince of Conde for removal of the Ministers already sunk in their Credit The Marquess d' Ancre had so great a desire of drawing into this new Confederacy the Dukes of Guise and Epernon which was so prevalent at Court as Guise having address't Conchini to get the Regent to give the Count de la Rochefoucault leave to return to Court this politick fer me a Reward I should look on it as an Affront done me What I can do for the Queen is already sufficiently paid I should be unworthy of the Name I bear and the Offices I am dignified withal and ought to be as despicably look'd upon as the most ungrateful of all Men if I should make my Master buy my Services Bassompierre averr'd that he never forgot what he heard the Duke of Epernon up-this Occasion The
Words certainly deserve to be committed to Memory and if there was not more of Vanity perhaps than of Reality in the Duke of Epernon's Sentiments it must be confess'd to his Glory that he had a more Noble Heart than any Prince or Grandee of the Court of France The Regent reconciled with the Dukes of Guise and Epernon In the mean time Bassompierre went to wait again on the Queen after she had dined as her Majesty had order'd him I am so sick at Stomach said Mary de Medicis when she was alone with him as all that I have eaten seems to be Poyson If I am not suddenly rid of this Trouble I fear that I shall be out of my Wits She spoke probably more Truth than she thought for They who best understoood this Business testified this of her that she had a great Spirit but not the large Capacity nor the Constancy and Experience which another Queen of the same House shew'd in some Precedent Reigns and those excellent Qualities were needful to Mary de Medicis for to govern a State full of Factions Bassompiere continued she you must bring me back the Duke of Guise whatever it costs Offer him a Hundred Thousand Crowns which I 'll pay him in ready Money with the Lieutenancy-General of Provence for the Chevalier his Brother and the Reversion of the Abbey of St. Germain for the Princess his Sister In a Word I give you full Power to offer what you please provided you make him quit this Cabal and I can be ascertain'd of his good Intentions ' Madam answer'd Bassompierre smiling you have put such a Stock into my Hands as 't will be very hard if I do not make a good Bargain Now see here what the Reversion is of the Abbey of St. Germain de Prez at Paâ—…is The Prince of Conti enjoy'd this rich Benefice though he was married The same was promis'd to the Princess his Wife in case he died before her Strange Abuse of Ecclesiastical Revenues But a Dispensation from the Pope solves all Let it not be said that these Disorders are now reform'd Have we not seen a younger Brother of the House of Lorrain in France The Count of Marsan confirm'd by a solemn Edict in the Enjoyment of a considerable Pension from a Bishoprick because the Pope had granted him a Dispensation to keep it notwithstanding his Marriage And certainly every thing fully consider'd if the Revenues of the Church been't employ'd for the Relief of the Poor or any other good Work they are as well in the Hands of a Prince or Princess as in any idle Monk's hands Cardinal's or Abbot's of Quality who spend them in rich Equipage great Feasts keeping of Horses and Dogs and maintaining Misses But I return to Bassompierre's Negotiation Before he had taken leave of Mary de Medicis for to go and execute his Orders he spoke to the Queen to call back to Court the Duke of Epernon I would withal my Heart she reply'd but he is a Man whom I have offended and he never pardons ' Yes his Enemies answer'd Bassompierre smiling but not his Masters The good Princess did not well know the Duke's Temper He was not so good a Christian as to pardon his Enemies yet he was too ambitious not to pardon the Regent provided she would set him up higher in Authority and Reputation Tell the Queen answer'd he to Bassompierre that I only supplicate to her to be somewhat more constant for the future to distinguish better and continue her good Servant At length Bassompierre propos'd to the Regent she would be pleas'd to give leave that her Ministers of State might come back to Court again He offered to speak for Villeroy and Jeannin but as for what concern'd the Chancellor the Regent was to declare her self to the Chevalier Sileri Brother to this Magistrate It 's needless to relate all the Particulars of Bassompierre's Negotiation He had so good Markets to make as there was not much trouble to bring 'em to an end The Duke of Guise said Bassompierre at first ranted according to his Custom but afterwards he consented to all His Lady Dutchess who was made use of in this Affair did not make many Words to make him accept of a good Sum of Money The Duke of Epernon ask'd nothing better than to have a Share in the Government This haughty ambitious Man saw with Pleasure that they thought him the most proper Person to break up a puissant Faction contriv'd by the first Prince of the Blood and Grandees of the Realm The Two Dukes saw the Queen the next Morning in private to both of their Satisfactions The old Ministers of State recall'd As for these Ministers of State they were not less tractable These Gentlemen were too much discontented to lose their Credit The Chancellor and Villeroy were at odds but quickly reconcil'd Jeannin had a Commission to give the Queen a Visit in the Name of these Three in Luxembourgh House whither she repair'd every Day to see the fine Palace she had begun to build and the pleasant Gardens she was planting The secret Discourse which the Queen had with the President Jeannin caus'd many Thoughts in the Marechal de Ancre who was come to Luxemburgh House His Surprisal was yet greater when the Officer of the Queen's Guards would not let him come near to her because she had given express Order to hinder whomsoever he was that came from interrupting her whilst she was talking to the President Jeannin Conchini from that time began to fear some new Revolution at Court he did not doubt of it farther when he saw the next Evening the Queen give the Duke of Epernon a Thousand Marks of distinction She caus'd a Chair to be brought for him and plac'd next to her under pretence that he was newly recover'd from a great Sickness They discours'd a long time together She invited him to see a Play and order'd a Chair to be brought for him and Zamet the Duke 's great Friend who bore him Company without giving the least Attention to the Duke of Mayenne who was there present Conchini swore bloodily and considering how the Scene was alter'd said I laugh at the Affairs of this World The Queen takes care of a Seat for Zamer and never takes notice of the Duke de Mayenne After such a Stir as this depend if ye will upon the Friendship of Princes Mary of Medicis was then the most satisfied Princess in the World The very Day that she was reconcil'd to the Duke of Guise and Epernon was in her Opinion the most difficult and weightiest Day of her Life This is a Play said she with a many Intrigues in it at the end we have nothing but Peace and Rejoycing Whilst she was in so good a Humour she plentifully bestow'd her Liberalities The Duke of Guise was secured of an Hundred thousand Crowns and that the Count of Rochefoucault should be call'd back to Court The Chevalier de Guise got the
Yoland his Daughter and of Edmund of Savoy whom she had married should inherit Montferrat preferrably to the Daughters of the Family of the Paleologues who might only pretend to a Portion suitable to their Quality Charles Emanuel had other Pretensions to a part of Montferrat by Virtue of the Will of Blanche Paleologus married into the House of Savoy She made Duke Charles II. Heir of a part of Montferrat which she laid claim to and of what was besides due to her for her Jointure The Sum was but Fourscore Thousand Crowns but the Interest for a long time added to the Principal made it amount almost to a Million of Livres This occasioned a very long Sute between the Houses of Savoy and Gonzaga Instead of ending the Process by a Definitive Sentence the Emperor Charles V. made the Affair more perplex'd He to content both Parties awarded the Possession of Montferrat to the House of Mantua and left as they were the Pretensions of Savoy by Virtue of a Testamentary Donation of Blanche Paleologus The Marriage of the last deceased Duke Francis with Margaret of Savoy was at last concluded with design to put an end to all the Differences of both Houses In favour of this Alliance Charles Emanuel gave up all his Pretensions to his Daughter and the Children begotten of her if she should have any 'T was agreed likewise on both sides that a Line should be drawn to divide as equally as possible could be the two Princes Estates which ran into one another But this Division being made the Duke of Savoy was minded to renew his ancient Rights insomuch as he was not so ready to maintain the Pretensions of Mary his Grandchild for Montferrat as his own Cartifices of the Duke of Savoy As soon as he had heard of the Duke of Mantua's Death he sent two Persons whom he chiefly rely'd upon not so much to comfort his Daughter as to instruct her in what she was to do in this present Conjuncture The first counselled her to say she was with Child to hinder Cardinal Gonzaga who came in haste from Rome to put himself into Possession of the deceas'd Duke's Estate his Brother Margaret was extreamly fix'd on the Interest of her House and Charles Emanuel had taken care to breed up his Children upon an entire dependance on their Father so that the young Widow was easily brought over to counterfeit her self big with Child Victor Amedaeus Prince of Piedmont went in Person to Mantua under pretence of visiting his afflicted Sister but he had secret Orders from his Father to take her out of Mantua with her Daughter to Turin or Milan or lastly to Montferrat of which Place the Princess Mary was Heiress It is not convenient said Victor Amedaeus to the Court of Mantua for a disconsolate Widow to live in a Place where she constantly finds Objects to renew her Sorrow and Decency will no more permit her to be with the Cardinal her Brother-in-Law who is not much older than she and hath so great Interest for the Succession of Mantua He besides ought to wish it so for his own Reputation Would he make himself responsible for all the Accidents â—…hich might happen to the Mother or the Daughter My Sister continued he ought â—…lso to take along with her the young Prinâ—…ess she can't be in better Hands Natuâ—…al Right gives to Mothers the Education of â—…heir Children They can take more care of them and be more tender of them than any other Person The Cardinal Ferdinand understood very well that the Savoyards thought of nothing more than making sure to themselves Montferrat under the Name of the Pupil who was in their Hands or at least at the disposal of John Mendoza Marquess of Inojosa Governor of the Milanese their good Friend Therefore the Cardinal alledg'd several Reasons to hinder his Sister-in-Law and his Niece from going out of the States of Mantua Is it Reasonable answer'd Ferdinand that we should suffer the Princess to go away who perhaps may quickly bring an Heir capable to make this Country happy The Princes of the House of Gonzaga are ordinarily born where they are to Govern and is it not more convenient for my Niece to be brought up in a Country where we shall endeavour to make her some time a Sovereign Mistress by Marrying her to the Heir of the House of Mantua If the sight of my Deceased Brother's Palace troubles too much his Widow we have other places whither she may retire for her Pleasure with all imaginable Liberty Charles Emanuel Negotiated at Milan with as much Zeal and Artifice He persuaded that they would not consent to entrust with him the Heiress of Montferrat caused it to be reported at Inojosa that she was the King of Spain's Grandchild that his Catholick Majesty was interess't to get her out of her Uncles Hands by the Father side that they should before-hand beware of the Cardinal from whom she carried away with her the Succession of a rich Marquisate that Philip III. was to take so much the more care of the Princess Mary that it was of great concern to his Majesty that Montferrat should be in the possession of a House which might be the best agreeable to him Lastly that it was to be feared lest the Gonzagues should marry their Niece into France with the Son of the Duke of Nevers their near Relation The Governor of Milan demands the Widow Dutchess of Mantua and her Daughter These Reasons t' was said backt with some Presents which Charles Emanuel had sent to the Marquess Inojosa engaged this Governor to send the Prince d'Ascoli to Mantua with a great Retinue to demand of the Cardinal the Widow Dutchess and her Daughter Such a Proposal at first surprised him but recovering himself a little he found an Expedient which broke the Measures of the Prince of Piedmont and the Envoy of the Governor of Milan T' is true answer'd Ferdinand that the Princess Mary hath the Honour to be related to the King of Spain but she hath this likewise of being the Emperor's and Queen of France's Niece I can't disdispose of her without the consent of their Majesties Besides the Dutchess my Sister-in-Law and I are at difference about the Tutelage of her Children It belongs to the Emperor on whom our Estates depend to judge which of our two Rights are best grounded The Prince of Piedmont and d'Ascoli departed after this Answer whether it was that the respect they had for so greaâ—… a Name stopt their Mouths or that they had not taken necessary Measures for speaking more resolutely The Regent of France opposeth the designs of the Duke of Savoy The Marquess Trenel was at Turin iâ—… the behalf of Mary de Medicis when the News was receiv'd there of the Death oâ—… the Duke of Mantua Amongst the Complements of Condolence to Charles Emanuel upon this troublesom Accident which happen'd in his Family Trenel as from himself insinuated into the dissembling Savoyard
who fain'd to talk of the Count of Spain that his most Christian Majesty had so good Intentions for the House of Mantua as he would never fail to take it into his Protection and Oppose with the force of his Arms those who should undertake to offer violence to his near Relations Charles Emanuel well understood this Discourse concern'd him more than it regarded the Spaniards He then laying aside his ordinary Dissimulation answer'd frankly that he hop't from the Equity of the King and his Mother Queen their Majesties wou'd not take it â—…l if he maintain'd in case he was forc't â—…'t the Right of his Children to the Estates of the House of Mantua My Daughter is big with Child proceeded he â—…nd don't we know but that she may be â—…rought to bed of a Son Be it what it will â—…he Princess Mary is the undoubted Heiress â—…f Montferrat If the House of Gonzaga â—…ill do any Injustice to the Mother or Daughter am not I in a necessity to take their Inâ—…rests I can't be perswaded that his most â—…hristian Majesty whom I have always â—…erv'd the best t' was possible for me would â—…rotect upon this occasion Persons who would â—â—ke away Mine and my Childrens Rights Whatever comes on 't if Men fail to do Juâ—â—ice we shall have Recourse to the Soveâ—â—ign Judge of the World and we trust he â—…ill be favourable to us Such is the Lanâ—…uage of Princes when they are going â—â—on unjustifiable Actions Geffier Resiâ—…ent from France at the Court of Savoy â—â—d Orders to speak more positively to â—â—e Duke and declare to him that the â—â—areschal Lesdiguieres should have an â—…rmy ready to march forward into Italy as soon as there should be any Attempt against the House of Mantua which the Crown of France took under its Protection The French being gone to Mantua to make his Complements of Condolence in behalf of the King of France and the Queen his Mother to the Cardinal upon the Death of the late Duke gave the same Assurance by the Queen's Order This did not a little serve to secure Ferdinand whom these Affairs had put into great perplexity The Popes Conduct in the Affairs of Mantua He was to expect some Succours from the Pope whose chief Interest is to maintain peace in Italy but the fearful and interessed old Man acted but weakly in this matter However urgent Breves the French Ambassador at the Court of Rome was with Paul V. for to stir him up to prevent the Troubles which this Controversie might raise in Italy Siri Memorie recondite To. III. pag. 16 17 c. no other answer could be got from him than that the Queen of France ought to press thâ—… Catholick King to send a precise Order to the Governor of Milan not to bacâ—… the Pretensions of the Duke of Savoy The Pope secretly gain'd over by the Spaniards to whom he was wholly devoted and who at first flatter'd themselves oâ—… making an Advantage of the Ambition 〈◊〉 Charles Emanuel had Counsell'd the Cardinal of Mantua to send the Mother and Daughter to Milan And when it was propos'd to him to take them both to Boulogne under the Care and Protection of the Holy Chair he excus'd himself of this for that Charles Emanuel had no confidence in him At length Breves having told Paul that it was however expected from his love for the common good of Italy that he should oppose his Spiritual and Temporal Arms against the Duke of Savoy in case he attempted to attack with open Force the Cardinal of Mantua the Pope answer'd in General Terms that he would follow the Dictates of his own Conscience and do as God should inspire him an usual Evasion of these Gentlemen who hearken to their Interests and Passions more than to the Voice of the Holy Spirit Pope Paul spoke with more Sincerity when in Reference to this same Affair of Mantua he said that he would not meddle with the concern of Princes who had no regard for his Authority and such indeed are the Sentiments of the great Personages who are of the Popes Communion They all of 'em know that this is but Usurpation Deceit and Pageantry yet in the Interim I cannot understand by what politick Interest all these Princes who are under the Popes Obedience keep still in with him These imagine whether it be good or bad that his Authority is necessary to them upon certain occasions and the Court of Rome crafty to make an Advantage of their so beneficial prejudicate Opinions think that they are quit with 'em if from time to time they wipe off and connive at some disdainful Aspersions whilst they can preserve their Revenues and a Spiritual Power over the Ignorant and Superstitious People without which the Pontifical Chair could have no long continuance or Duration The States of Venice stand by the Cardinal of Mantua The Venetians upon this Occurrency were less Fearful and more Wise than the Pope for these able States-men foresaw too well the Consequences of the Affair of Mantua and easily discover'd where the Artifices of the Duke of Savoy drove at The Senate therefore took particular care to encourage Cardinal Ferdinand and gave him the best Advice for not to suffer himself to be surpris'd unawares Nani Hist Veneta Lib. I. 1613. The Republick did moreover Negotiate very effectually both at Vienna and at the Court of France to persuade those Princes to oppose the secret Designs of the Spaniards and the undertakings of Charles Emanuel Matthias the Emperor did as much instruct his Kinsman the King of Spain as any other Prince in Europe and the Cardinal de Clessel kept him in this Jealousie Being both perswaded that the Spaniards design'd rather to Ruine than to Support the Authority of the Emperor in Italy Upon this account Matthias did not make any difficulty to chuse the Cardinal of Mantua for the Guardian of the Children of the late Duke and to dispense with his Age he not being old enough according to the Common Laws to be their Guardian Ferdinand Cardinal of Gonzague takes upon him the Title of Duke of Mantua At length after Three months pretence the Dutchess Margarita declared she was not with Child and Ferdinand de Gonzague took the Quality of Duke of Mantua The Prince of Piedmont came to fetch his Sister and Conduct her to Turin Isabella of Savoy another Daughter of Charles Emanuel Married to Caesar d'Este Duke of Medena came also to Mantua that so she night have a meeting with the Prince of Piedmont her Brother and the Dutchess Margarita her Sister This was a new â—…ontrivance of Charles Emanuel The Marriage of the Cardinal Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I 1613. Siri Memorierecondite Tom. III. p. 52 53 54. c. Duke of Manâ—…ua was thought a proper expedient to â—…ompose all Differences 'T was proposed â—…nd Ferdinand did not seem very averse to 〈◊〉 Margarita thought by shedding a few Tears 't would be easie
to work upon her â—…over and to obtain leave of him to â—…arry away the Princess Maria but tho â—…he Cardinal might have some inclinatiâ—…ns for Margarita yet his love was not so â—…olent as to overcome all those Reasons which engaged him not to part with his Niece The Prince of Piedmont seeing him resolute in this point thought fit to try another method which was this that the Dutchess Dowager should retire to Modena with her Daughter till the proposed Marriage should be Consummated but in case it should be broke off she should go alone to Turin and that Caesar de Este should be obliged by promise to send back the Princess Mary to Mantua if the Emperor or Cardinal Duke should re-demand her New efforts of the D. of Savoy to fetch the Princess Mary his Grandaughter from Mantua Ferdinand was caught in the Snare Whether it was that his Ministers were bribed or that he had not quickness of apprehension enough to receive it the Cardinal imprudently accepted the proposal which his Enemies made him When the Ministers of France had notice of it they admonisht Ferdinand that if his Niece should once go out of his hands 't would be impossible for him to get her again and that the Duke of Modena would be so confined by the artifices of Charles Emanuel and the Marquis d'Inojosa that he would not be able to restore her thô he should be willing to do it They added farther if you should marry any one but Margarita and it should please God you have any Children what perpetual disputes will there be between them and the Heiress of one part of the Estates of your Family Have you duly weighed all these inconveniencies This Remonstrance opened the Cardinal Dukes Eyes but he had given his Word and he could not tell how to go back The Ministers of France and the Venetians helpt him out by perswading the Duke of Modena not to charge himself with a Trust which was like to enâ—…angle him in a great deal of trouble and vexation So that the Prince of Piedmont set out for Turin with his Sister Margarita â—…he being very much grieved to leave her Daughter behind her They came to Milan in the holy Week The Governor â—…nvited them to spend those days of Devotion there But Victor Amadeus and â—…nojosa had something else to mind than Holy-days The latter sent immediately â—…o Modena to engage Este to charge himself with the Dutchess and Princess of Mantua which according to Agreement were to be committed to his Care And when they were sure of the Duke of Modena the Captain of the Governor's Guards was sent to Mantua in Inojosa's Name to desire the Cardinal Duke to be â—…s good as his Word Ferdinand who â—…id not expect thus to be importuned aâ—…resh had no other way to come off but â—…o retract what he had said He alâ—…edged for his excuse that he could not â—…eliver up his Niece without the consent of the Emperor who had committed her â—…o his Guardianship The Titular Bishop of Diocesarea was sent to Milan to make up the business with the Governor Ferdinand ordered this Prelate to go likewise as far as Verceil whither Charles Emanuel was advanced under a pretence of coming to meet his Daughter Margarita but really with a design to execute a Project which he had in his Head The ambitious Projects of the D. of Savoy The Bishop of Diocesarea had power to Negotiate the Marriage proposed between the Cardinal Duke and his Sister in Law The Dissembling Savoiard sometimes seemed to listen to this Expedient but he had no desire to bring the matter to a conclusion The opportunity which he had of seizing on Monferrat was too good to be neglected Charles Emanuel plainly told the Bishop of Diocesarea that he would not give up the pretensions of the House of Savoy to Monferrat in favour of the Match he demanded back again not only the Jewels which his daughter had carried into the Family of Gonzague but also those which her Husband had presented her with The Cardinal Duke refused to restore the latter and Charles Emanuel full of great expectations designed nothing but to satisfie his Ambition He pleased himself with the thoughtâ—… of having time to effect his Enterprize before the Princes of Italy would be awakened out of that Sleep which â—…long and profound Peace had brought upon them The watchful Eye which the Republick of Venice had upon every thing that was doing in their Neighbourhood gave him some Disturbance But he imagined that if they did not approve of his Invasion yet they would stand by and look on rather than engage in a War As for the Emperor he did not much concern himself about it The Authority of the Empire in Italy is but a vain Title without Power The two Crowns were more to be feared But the Duke thought Maria de Medicis having her hands full by reason of the Factions of the Princes and great Men at home could not send any mighty Assistance to the House of Mantua And then he hoped to curry favour at the Court of Madrid by means of the Governour of Milan his Friend Besides there were at that time no Troops in those parts and it would require time to bring them thither However he thought the fear of bringing the French into Italy would make the Court of Madrid backward to declare it self either one way or the other And this in the very thing which would have checkt Charles Emanuel if he had not been blinded by his Ambition For indeed his Catholick Majesty fearing nothing more than that the French should have any pretence to carry their Arms into Italy his business was to take care that the Duke of Savoy should not tacque the House of Mantua which France would not fail to take under its Protection The Duke of Savoy invades Monferrat Charles Emanuel assembles his Troops as secretly as he can and parts from Verceil the 22th of April 1613. to enter Monferrat with his Army He presently surprizes several places others being not prepared to make any Resistance Surrender so that within a few days he was Master of all the Province except Casal He had also took this important Town and the rest of the Marquisat if Charles of Gonzague Duke of Nevers in France had not happily been in Italy at the time of his Invasion whether it was upon the account of assisting the Cardinal Duke with his Advice and with his Sword if there should be occasion or whether he pretended to Negotiate at Rome and at Venice about an imaginary descent into the Morea which he had designed he undertook to Conduct to Florence his Sister in Law Daughter of the late Duke of Maienne married to the Count of Saintfiore Son of the Duke of Sforce When Nevers was arrived on the Coasts of Genoa he received Letters which invited him in the Name of the Nobility of Monferrat to come immediately to their
assistance to stop the progress of the Arms of the Duke of Savoy Nevers went away presently with some Soldiers which he got together and with the assistance of a good Guide he luckily entred Casal which the Cardinal Duke had made as strong as he could Vincent de Gonzague the Cardinal's Brother hasted towards that place at the same time and in his Passage thrô Milan he endeavoured to convince Inojosa of the secret designs of the Enemy of their Family who flattered himself that the Conquest of Monferrat would facilitate that of Milan one day which was a thing he had long ago contrived This Enterprize occasions great commotions in Italy All Italy was allarmed at the report of the March of Charles Emanuel 'T was not doubted but Inojosa was privy to his Designs tho' he took particular care openly to condemn the Dukes Enterprize And tho' the Governor inveighed against him sent Circular Letters to the Princes of Italy and writ to France declaring that the King his Master disapproved the Action of the Savoyard and that his Catholick Majesty would vigorously oppose all those that troubled the Repose of Italy All the World believed that Charles Emanuel and he understood one another and that he had received considerable Presents from him And 't is a question whether the Marquiss of Bedmar Ambassador of Spain at Venice was more sincere in the Protestations which he made to the Seigniory implying that Philip would willingly concur with them in securing the quiet of Italy that the Cardinal Duke should be re-established in his Possession of Monferrat and that Charles Emanuel should be punisht for his Temerity When the Duke of Savoy's designs were publickly known the Republick of Venice represented to him that they were surprized to see him begin a War which in all probability would draw Foreign Forces into Italy which must first pass through his Territories These prudent Senators said to him There are some Conquests which don 't deserve to be bought with the loss of that Quiet and Tranquility which a Prince enjoys Have a regard to your Glory and to your Interest You thus hazard the loss of the one and expose your Country to be the Theatre of a War the End of which perhaps you may not live to see France and Spain will Interest themselves at least they will make themselves Arbiters in the Case and you must submit to their Decision Instead of listening to these wise Admonitions Charles Emanuel ordered the Ambassador of the Republick to leave him but t was not long before the Ambitious Duke perceived he was engaged in an Enterprize which was not like to prove Honourable to him in the Issue The Venetians sent Three thousand Men for the preservation of Casal The great Duke of Tuscany promised Two thousand Foot and Two hundred Horse to the Cardinal Duke The House of Mantua levied Three thousand Switzers so that they hoped in a short time to be in a Condition to meet the Duke of Savoy with Sixteen or Seventeen thousand Men but things did not perfectly succeed according to his Expectation As for the Pope he only promised his good Offices in order to a Peace The Quality of Universal Father is of mighty use when he thinks fit rather to Enrich his Family than to Succour an injured Prince The Manifesto's of the D. of Savoy and the Cardinal D. of Mantua In the mean time they publisht Manifestoe's on both Sides The Duke of Savoy asserted that the Guardianship of the Princess Mary belonged to the Dutchess her Mother he insisted mightily on the Cardinal Dukes refusing to keep his word Mercure Francoise 1613 and the excuse that that Prince could not part with a Pupil which the Emperor had committed to his Tutelage was pretty well refuted as indeed it was not a very good one The Emperors Interposition in that affair was desired by him that so he might make use of it afterwards as there should be occasion And he had sufficiently explained himself as to that Point when he promised to deliver back his Niece into the hands of the Duke of Modena Charles Emanuel laid forth his Pretensions to Monferrat with as much boldness as if they had been the clearest and justest in the World This is the way of Ambitious Princes They imagine that the World is easily imposed on and that Men will believe them upon their Word As for the Cardinal Duke he replied in his Manifesto that the Dutchess his Sister-in-Law not being of Age the Law did not allow her to be Guardianess of her Daughter and that Mothers forfeit the Guardianship of their Children when they voluntarily withdraw from the Family and Dominions of their Husbands From whence he concluded that Margarita having earnestly desired to go to Turin had thereby renounced her Guardianship of the Princess of Mantua He endeavoured to make good the Emperor's committing her to his Care But the Promise which he made and broke afterwards was such a Slurr upon him that he could not possibly give it a good Colour His best way had been ingeniously to have confest his Imprudence such a false step costs a Prince Dear The superannuated and extravagant Pretensions to Monferrat are very well refuted He did not fail to put the Duke of Savoy in mind of the Grant which he had made upon the Marriage of his Daughter with the late Duke Francis of Mantua In which Point he had been guilty of a far more considerable Breach of his Word than that was which Charles Emanuel made such a noise about How could he have the Face to insist so much upon the retractation of a surprized Man who himself was the most Perfidious and falsest Prince of his time At this time he Acted a Thousand parts to justifie his Conduct to the World or at least to gain time in managing the two Crowns Artifices and bravado's of D. of Savoy Sometimes he proposed to set the Arms of the King of Spain over the Gates of all the Towns which he had taken in Monferrat and to put them into the hands of his Majesty on Condition there should be a Garrison of Savoyards Sometimes he offered to let Philip III. have Casal on Condition that the House of Savoy should remain in Possession of all the rest of Monferrat When he writ to the Queen Regent of France he did it in the most submissive manner imaginable he was ready to deliver up to her Majesty all that he had taken from the House of Mantua And when Charles Emanuel perceived that his pretended Submissions did him no kindness he put on another Shape he Hectored and Threatned all the World Just as if all Europe had been at his Disposal If the Spaniards required him to desist from his Enterprize he answered them haughtily that he would side with France If the Pope urged him to make Peace he talkt of calling to his assistance an Army of Protestants into Italy And if the Republick of Venice pretended
to assist the Cardinal Duke he threatned them with nothing less than bringing the Turk against them and covering the Adriatick Sea with Corsairs and Pirates Sometimes nevertheless he talkt of Peace but his Proposals were so extravagant that they could not be accepted or else so ambiguous that no body could tell what he meant His Intrigues at the Court of France are discovered The Intrigues which this turbulent Spirit had formed in the Court of France with some great Men there gave him more Confidence than any thing else He sent Couriers continually to the Mareschal de Lesdiguieres his Friend who Commanded in Dauphine by reason of the Non-age of the Count Soissons Siri Memoirie recondite Tom. III. page 81. He made Lesdiguieres believe that he did nothing without his Privity and Advice that so he might get him into his Interests and hinder him from obeying too punctually the Orders the Queen Regent had sent him to assist her Nephews of Mantua and amuse the Mareschal with divers Proposals of accommodation Charles Emanuel held also a great Correspondence with the Duke of Bellegarde one of the Malecontents of the Regency The Government of Burgundy in which he was settled might render him very useful to the Designs of the Savoiard In short he had Agents and secret Spies in the Court of France who gave him notice of every thing and who were neerly Allied to the Prince of Conde the Male-contented Noblemen and even the Marquiss and Marchioness of Ancre the most intimate Confidents of the Queen Being exactly informed of all that past at Court and in the several Provinces The Duke of Savoy flattered himself that Mary de Medicis being embarrast with Factions which he managed with extraordinary application would not be in a condition to let her thoughts run abroad and that she would shortly be engaged in a Civil War Memoires de Bassompierre And really what care soever the Queen Regent took to secure her self of the Duke of Guise he still wavered and the Prince of Conde was forward enough to take notice of it The Duke of Vendome Gevernour of Britagne had given his word to the Dutchess of Mercoeur his Mother-in-Law that he would be faithful to the Queen And nevertheless he grew into a great intimacy with Conde before he set out for Bretagne whither he went to call together the States of that important Province The Marshal of Bovillon disgusted that he could not rise so high as he aspired was the Man who underhand endeavoured to take off the Duke of Guise from the Queens Interests and to strengthen the Prince of Conde's Party that so Mary de Medicis might see her need of him and buy him at a dearer rate The Marquiss d' Ancre being earnestly bent upon the ruin of those Ministers which the Cabâ—…l had a mind to undermine went so far in that business that the Queen Regent was obliged to threaten him with Banishment if he did not break up the Cabal and presently return to Court from which he affected to be at a distance under a pretence of some Discontent I am a Man of Honour answered he to Bassompierre when this Nobleman spake to him in the behalf of his Benefactress The Queen thinks she may break her Word to People for my own part I 'l be Faithful to Mr. the Prince and those others with which her Majesty has united me The cunning Italian loved Conde no more than those Ministers but being resolved to remove all those Princes and Noblemen that stood in his way after he had driven from the Court all those which he thought had too great a share in the management of Affairs The Ministers did not let slip so good an occasion of irritating the Queen against the Marquiss they studiously aggravated the Ingratitude of a Man whom the Queen had raised Galigai his Wife was the first that exclaimed against him But at the bottom there was a very good understanding between him and his Wife they were both in the same Intrigues Their Enemys thought they had found out enough to be the Ruin of both without remedy Gueffier the Resident of France in Savoy had discovered that the Duke had notice of all the secret Passages at Court Mercure Francoise 1613. and that the Letters were directed to a certain Baron de la Roche of Dauphiny whom Charles Emanuel often kept company with and I can't tell how Gueffier had gotten a piece of a Letter written by the hand of the Duke of Savoy's Spie He sent it back to France Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis to be examined to see if they could know the Hand of this Person that sent secret Advice They suspected divers and the Officers of the Post had Orders to seize him who should bring Letters written by the same hand The Queen Regent was then at Fontainbleau where she was entertaining her self with the Pleasures of the Spring 'T was there they seized a Dauphinois by Name Magnac as he was carrying to the Post a Letter addressed to the Baron de la Roche they examined him before the Queen's Council Magnac accuses the Marquiss and Marchioness d' Ancre but above all Dole their intimate Confident The Ministers began to triumph hereupon They boasted that Conchini and his Wife or at least Dole should never get clear of this unhappy affair And certainly there was matter enough to ruin them entirely The extreme Embarrassment of the Marquiss d' Ancre which he brought himself into by intrigueing with the D. of Savoy Memoires de Bassom if their Friends had not stood by them and if they had had a Mistress more Advised and less Indulgent than Maria de Medicis Bassompierre had dextrously gotten all the Secret out of Lomenie the Secretary of State something of which the Queen had before told him He thought he was obliged immediately to advertize Conchini of it whom he looked on as his Friend The Marquiss d' Ancre denied that he knew Magnac and affected to speak without any concern Bassompierre being satisfied that he had performed a good Office to a Man that might make his advantage of it if he pleased left the Marquiss and took a walk along the Canal of Fountainbleau But Conchini reflecting upon the notice that had been given him he presently sent to enquire for Bassompiere They shut themselves up in a Gallery and Conchini being uneasie having walkt sometime without saying any thing Cried out all of a suddain in his odd Language half French and half Italian I am Ruin'd Mr. Bassompierre The Ministers my Enemies have got the better of me with the Queen Then he wept bitterly and threw out a thousand Execrations Bassompierre suffered him to torment himself for some time After the Marquiss was a little come to himself he said thus to him Sr. your business now is to take a good Resolution The favour of the Queen may be a great stay to you against your Enemies
Germany it made them greater and more incurable The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Pr. of Transilvania Since Bethlem Gabor must often appear upon the Stage in this History I think it necessary to say something of his Fortune and Elevation He was one of the most dangerous Enemies the House of Austria had in this Age. I will look a pretty way backwards upon things that so the Reader may the better understand the Ancient pretenions of the Emperor upon Transilvania The brave Stephen Battori was the first who was declared Prince of Transilvania under the Protection of the Ottomans After his Elevation to the Crown of Poland by his means Christopher his Brother was Elected to the Principality of Transilvania Sigismond his Son and Successor steered another Course by the persuasion of the Emissaries of the House of Austria which he had about him This Prince who did not want Courage was persuaded that it was more advantageous and more honourable for him to quit the Alliance of the Sultan and unite with the Emperor But to the shame of Christianity Sigismond found that which has happened to a great many more I mean he met with less Justice and Fidelity among those of his own Religion than his Uncle and his Father had found among Infidels That he might be more firmly united with the Emperor Rodolphus he Married a Princess of the House of Austria but this marriage was the cause of the misfortunes of his Life They made him give up his Right to Transilvania for a certain Dutchie which they gave him At length repenting of the bad Market which he had made he retracted the Cession which he had made to the Emperor and gave his Principality to Cardinal Battori his Brother who was chosen by the States of the Country under the Protection of the Grand Seignior The new Prince had a terrible War to maintain against the Emperor and in it lost his Life Botskay his Kinsman Elected afterwards by the Transilvanians Mercure Francois 1606 1607 1608 c. defended himself with a great deal of Courage and Success insomuch that he took a great many Places from the Emperor in upper Hungary The House of Austria was forc'd to make a Peace with him One Article of the Treaty Imported that if Bortskay died withot Male-Issue Transilvania should Devolve upon the Emperor The Sultan Ratified this Treaty in another which he afterwads made with Rodolphus The House of Austria not long before it Demanded Transilvania by Virtue of this Agreement Borskai being poisoned immediately after by his Chancellor The States of the Country did not fail to choose Sigismond Ragotski for their Prince There were then so great Divisions in the House of Austria and such Commotions in Hungary and Bohemia that neither Rodolphus nor Matthias his Brother were in a Condition to press the Execution of the Treaty made with Botskay The New Prince did not long enjoy Transilvania but Generously gave it up to Gabriel Batori Heir of that Family whom the Turks publickly Supported Mercure Francois 1613. He being rendred odious by his Cruelties Bethlehem Gabar a Transilvanian Gentleman of boundless Ambition took care to gain the Favour and Protection of the Ottoman Court This is the Man which formed a powerful Party against Batori and which made War against him The Assistance of the House of Austria was of no use to Batori who was presently Reduc'd to the lowest Despair so that he begged of his own Friends to kill him His Enemies Soldiers did him that kindness which they refused Three days after his death Bethlem was declared Prince of Transilvania by the General of the Turkish Army who invaded Hungary The States of the Country assembled at Claussembourg afterwards chose him upon Condition that he should ask the Authentick Confirmation of the Sultan When Bethlem was in Possession of his New Principality he wrote a Letter to the Palatine of Hungary to desire the Favour of the Emperor But his Imperial Majesty intended to make the best of his Pretensions to Transilvania by Virtue of his Treaty made with Botskai which the Sultan Confirm'd Matthias declared this publickly in the Diet of Ratisbonne and it was principally for this End that he desired Assistance of the States of the Empire With this Prospect the House of Austria kept up the Party of Batori who refused to acknowledge the New Prince Bethlem Protected by the Turks whose Favour he had cunningly gained not only maintained himself in Transilvania but was upon the Point of taking away Hungary from them that would oppose him The Protestant and Catholick Leagues were Formed in Germany upon the occaâ—…ion of the Quarrel that arose about the Succession to the States of Cleves and Juâ—…iers The Division between the Houses of Brandenburg and Newbourg concerning the Government of the States of Cleves and Juliers Interests de Princes per M. de Rohan Part 1. Disc 4. the Princes of Brandenbourg and Newbourg Governed these Dutchies in Common Peaceably for many Years under the Favour of the Protestant League The strong Places were guarded by equal Garrisons The Two Princes Resided in the same Palace and did all by Concert But how difficult is it that a Country should be long governed after this manner without Divisions Princes of a different Family and different Religion have not the same Interest and Designs These began to fall out about Ecclesiastical Affairs Mercure Francoise 1613. Brandenburg would have ordered something without the consent of his Colleague and Newbourg opposed him The King of great Britain and the States of the United Provinces Mediated for a Reconciliation they were afraid their Division would give opportunity to the House of Austria to Seize upon a Contested Succession which would have been so convenient for it to prevent the Increase of their misunderstanding their Friends proposed a Marriage between the Two Families That of Newburg was free to it Prince Volfgang goes to the Elector of Brandenburg and desires his Daughter in Marriage But this step made by the wholesome Advice of those who designed nothing but to Establish a good Correspondence between the Two Houses was the occasion of an inplacable hatred between them and of the Distraction of those fine Dutchies which they might have divided between them I cannâ—…t tell how it came to pass but in the heat of Wine and at a Feast The Prince of Newburg said something at the Table of the Elector which displeased him Brandenburg was so enraged at it that he gave a Box in the Ear to him who desired his Alliance This unhappy accident might have been redrest if the Elector would have made a suitable Satisfaction but he obstinately refused to do it Volfgang being provokt with such an Affront returns to the Country of Cleves being resolved to be Reveng'd on him what ever it cost him From that time Brandenburg and Newburg did nothing by Concert in the Government of the States of Cleves and Juliers they Cavild at every
it was fit that the Five Articles should be Considered in the Synode before they that maintained them should be Tolerated by Law To give leave to any said they in the same Church in the same Pulpit to Preach such contrary Doctrines is to expose the Province to great Destractions The Disputes Replied the others are about Speculative Doctrines which are of no Importance to Salvation What Inconvenience is there in giving every one the Liberty of Speaking their own Thoughts with Modesty The Emperors and Christian Princes have often without the Assistance of the Clergy made Laws to Regulate the Doctrine and Practice of the Church These Reasons did not then Convince the Deputies and Magistrates of several Cities of Holland They a long time denied their Consent to the publication of the Edict These of Amsterdam were more obstinate than the rest They Demanded that their Dissent should be Entred in the Register of the State And hence it came about that the Edict Projected in the Year 1613. was not published till the beginning of the Year 1614. The States of Holland Exhorted the Ministers when they Preachâ—… from those Texts where Predestination destination is mentioned to follow the Precept of St. Paul and to Preach that the Beginning Progress and End of Salvation was owing alone to the Grace of Jesus Christ and not to Works of those that are Called They were forbid to Preach that God made Men to damn them and that he puts them under a necessity of Sinning and that he invites those to Salvation whom he has resolved never to Save Lastly the States Ordered that they should not be molested who in explaining the Doctrine of Predestination suppose that Men are saved by the alone Grace of Jesus Christ in persevering in the Faith unto the End and that all those that believe not in Jesus Christ are damned As for all other Doctrines the States forbid them to Preach any that was not agreeable to the Doctrines commonly received in the Chuches of Holland So far was this Edict which was drawn up with such Care to satisfie all the World from Calming the Tempest which had some time continued that it encreased its Fury some Contra-Remonstrants Ministers wrote Books to persuade the People not to submit to the Edict They openly accus'd the States of favouring Popery and of introducing a bad Doctrine into the Vnited Provinces Vytenbogard wrote in Defence of the Edict of the States There came out every day some Book or other for and against the Edict One for Sibrand and another for Grotius This Division entred the Churches The Contra-Remonstrants being resolved to hold no more Communion with their Adversaries met by themselves in private Houses It was matter of great Dispute between them whether the Edict was approved of in England or no. Grotius received a Letter from Casaubon a Man equally sincere and accomplished with all polite Learning Casaubon assur'd his Friend that the King the Archbishop of Canterbury and several other Prelates of greatest Note had approved of the Edict The Strain in which it is Writ says Casaubon seems to the King and to the Rest equally distant from the Two opposite Extremes Manicheism and Pelagianism The necessity of Grace is there Establisht The Contra-Remonstrants produc'd of their Side Letters from England which Imported that neither his Brittannick Majesty nor the Prelates of the Church of England approv'd the Edict and the Conduct of the States of Holland But upon the whole the Testimonies of Casaubon who in Person spoke to the King and the Bishops seems preferâ—…able to any angry Mans Letters which the Contra-Remonstrants pretended to THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK V. THE Joy which Mary de Medicis had conceived to see her self delivered from a Rupture with Spain occasioned by the Affair of Mantua was of short Continuance The Retreat of the Prince de Conde and several other Discontented Lords who by Consent had left the Court in the beginning of the Year 1614. very much allarmed her Majesty The Mareschal de Bovillon had very cunningly Formed this new Party to serve his own Interests This subtle and ambitious Man taking it ill that he was not intrusted enough in the management of Affairs Memorie du Duc de Rohan Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 222. and that the Regent did not Reward him suitably to the great Services he imagined he had done her Majesty try'd to make himself necessary to the Queen and her Ministers by involving them in Troubles out of which he alone was able to deliver them Hereupon he persuades with all his might the Prince de Conde whom the Queen had disgusted by the denial she had given him of the Chà teau-trompette and by recalling the Old Ministers who he thought were utterly turned of as also by the hasty Rise of Conchini who had been drawn of from his Party publickly to make known his Discontent The Dukes de Nevers de Maìenne de Vendòme de Longueville de Piney-Luxembourg and several others being brought over by the Mareschal de Bovillon enter into New Engagements with the first Prince of the Blood They agree to retire all from Court almost at the same time and to meet in Champagne in order to Demand conjunctly Redress of the Disorders of the Government An Illusion with which the Princes and great Lords have too often blinded the Eyes of the People when they have a mind to make use of them to effect their own private Designs The People would have been Fool'd by them to this very day in France If having been less Covetous of the Preferments of the Court they had had at least the Wit to have kept them from utter Slavery and had not utterly incapacitated them to joyn with them upon occasion But the Princes and great Lords by Sacrificing the Interests of the People to their own avarice and ambition are now themselves undone without Remedy After having opprest those who might have stood by them It was an easie matter to reduce them to a most shameful Slavery The Party which was then form'd under the specious Pretence of the publick Welfare might have done good Service to the whole Kingdom if those who Listed themselves in it had done it with an honester Design and had taken better Measures Nevers Commanded in Champagne Maìenne in the Isle of France Vendòme in Bretagne Longueville in Picardie the Government of which the Comte de St. Pol his Uncle had Surrendred to him But the Mareschal de Bovillon upon whom they most depended by reason of his wisdom and his Sovereignty of Sedan had no mind to Unite a Party which he was not able to dissipate when he should find it for his advantage so to do The Prince of Conde Retired to Chateauroux an Estate which he had in Berri The Duke de Nevers went to Champagne Maìenne to Soissons the Dukes de Longueville and de Vendòme were shortly to follow But the latter
prince of Conde solicites the Reformed he advis'd him to send some of his Domesticks to the Heads of the Huguenot Party to exhort them to take Arms. Conde and Bovillon had each their particular Designs in this Step. The first hop'd to make a more advantageous Treaty with the Regent if the Reformed Declared in his Favour The other thought to make himself doubly necessary to reclaim the Prince and the Discontented Lords and to Travers the Designs of the Duke de Rohan amongst the Reformed Des Marais Lieutenant of the Princes Guards was of the Religion he seemed a fit Man to Negotiate with the Duke of Rohan they sent him therefore to St. Jean d'Angeli with Orders to pass first through Saumur and to sound his old Friend du Plessis Mornai They did not doubt if Rohan and du Plessis would listen to the proposals of the Prince but that the Credit and Reputation of these Two Men would draw after them all the Protestant Party in France Mary de Medicis did likewise manage the chief Men amongst the Reformed The wise answer of du Plessis Mornai to the Regent and the prince of Conde Hist du Connetable de Lesdiguieres Liv. VIII Chap. 6. Memoires de Duc de Rohan she sent immediately to the Mareschal de Lesdiguieres to Treat at the same time with those of the Religion and the Prince of Conde and the discontented Lords to hinder the one from being drawn over and to persuade the other to an accommodation The Duke of Rohan was likewise solicited by her Majesty he answered that his Design was always to adhere to the Reformed and that the readiest and surest way to reduce the Party of the Prince of Conde was to give Satisfaction to the reformed Churches who are able to weigh down the Scales to that Side which they should be of As for du Plessis Mornai the President Jeannin and the Queen her self writ obliging Letters to him They knew that this Gentleman who was very honest and zealous for the welfare of his Religion and his Country might be gained by shewing themselves willing to maintain the Edicts which were granted by the late King to his Reformed Subjects They gave therefore du Plessis the highest hopes in the World in this respect Jeannin assured him that the Regent had not Concluded the double Marriage with Spain with a design to Effect the Ruine of the Protestants in Conjunction with the House of Austria The Marriage which is at present Negociated with England said this cunning and dissembling Minister is a convincing Proof of the Contrary This business is in such forwardness that in my Opinion nothing can hinder it In the mean time they had no desire to Conclude it This was but a Trick to amuse the Protestants whom the double Marriage Alarm'd through all Europe Du Plessis gave the Ministers and the Regent all possible assurance of his Fidelity and Devotedness to the Service of their Majesties He took this occasion to represent to the Court how important it was for the Peace of the Kingdom exactly to observe the Edicts which had been granted to the Reformed who were better Subjects than the Catholicks when they were left to the free Exercise of their Religion The Answer which du Plessis gave the Prince of Conde is yet more worthy of his great Wisdom We have seen several Princes saith he Vie de Mr. du Plessis Liv. III. 1614. use the specious Pretences of the publick Good only to carry on their own particular Interest I would believe the Designs of his Highness are upright and sincere but that is not sufficient we must use lawful means to obtain a good End all the World knows that there are Disorders in the State they are greater than Men imagine But prudence will not admit that Mr. le Prince should apply Remedies worse than the Disease The well meaning Towns of the Kingdom are so afraid of a Civil War that they will never Declare for Mr. le Prince He has a mind to Correct some Abuses which 't is for the Interest of the Towns to suffer those which tell him that the Reformed will Rise don't know us or at least they have a mind to impose upon his Highness They offer him People which are not at their disposal 'T is true we Complain of some Grievances but we will remain peaceable as long as the Edicts are observed The Allies of the Crown will not approve of this Enterprise of Mr. le Prince France is the only Counterpoise which can oppose the greatness of the Spanish Monarchy If a Civil War should arise in the Kingdom who can resist the ambitious Designs of the House of Austria The Agent of the Prince de Conde had better encouragement at St Jean d' Angeli than at Saumur He invited the Duke of Rohan to take Arms in Favour of his Highness The Duke of Rohan seemes to listen to the proposals of the prince of Conde Memoires du Duc de Rohan Vie de Mr. du Plessis Liv. III. 1614. promising that his Highness would not come to an Agreement with the Court without his Consent The Duke did not seem very backward to join the Party But the distrust which he had of the Mareschal de Bovillon whose artifices and ill-will to him he was aware of made him more reserved Before he would Engage himself he sent one of his Confidents to the Prince to discover the real Designs of his Highness and the discontented Lords When du Plessis Mornai understood that the Duke of Rohan was inclined to join with the Prince Mr. de Rohan said he does not think to appease the Troubles by Interesting himself The Queen will be more inclined to satisfie the Prince and the Mareschal de Bovillon jealous of Mr. de Rohan will take care to conclude a Peace as soon as possible No body could have better foretold what would come to pass The Envoy of the Duke was kindly received by the Prince the Party gave out that Rohan offered a Thousand Horse and Eight thousand Foot The Treaty with the Court that was already far advanced was immediately concluded and the Prince obtained that which otherwise would never have been granted As for the Mareschal de Lesdiguiâ—…res he only exhorted Conde to the Peace and offer'd him his good Offices for that purpose Caesar Duke of Vendome Hist. du Connetable de Lesdiguieres Liv. VIII Chap. 6. The escape of the D. of de Vendome he retires into Bretagne that was seiz'd at the Louvre and kept Prisoner in his Chamber made his escape Eight days after he took the Road to Bretagne but when he came to Ancenis he found that the Regent had given such good Orders on that Side that the Duke de Montbason who was sent to Command in his Place and the Comte de Vertus in Conjunction with the Parliament de Rennes took care to have the Gates of the best Cities in the Province shut against him
they were sure of a speedy Convention of the States The well-meaning Men would have endeavoured at a Reformation of the Government if they had been better Seconded and the Prince of Conde had had more Wisdom and Sincerity A Treaty concluded at St. Menehoud between the Regent and the Prince of Conde He concluded at last his Treaty with the Regent at St. Menehoud in Champagne the 15th of May. The Duke de Ventadour and his Colleagues were there I will not recite all the Articles The Castle of Amboise was to be put into the Prince's hands until the meeting of the States The Duke de Nevers had St. Menehoud Mercure Francoise 1614. Memoires de Duc de Rohan de la Regence de Marie de Medicis say some Authors thô it is not mentioned in the Treaty These gave him besides a Sum of Money to satisfie him for pulling down his House to make way for the Fortifications of Mezieres which were part of them to be demolished Blavet and the other Places that were Fortified a little before in Bretagne by the Duke de Vendome being Dismantled He was restored to his Government and all his Places This was all that was agreed upon for Vendom He highly complained that the Prince oâ—… Conde had abandoned him in this Negociation As for the Mareschal de Bovillon it was easie to satisfie him The Money which the Regent Ordered to be paid him was thought by him a sufficient Recompence See said the Duke of Rohan who had more Integrity in him than all the rest that made such a noise see saith he how Mens private Interest make them forget the publick welfare of the Kingdom The Prince de Conde the Dukes de Nevers de Longueville de Maienne and the Mareschal de Bovillon who signed the Treaty very readily performed their Conditions Mary de Medicis was not less punctual of her Side The Dukes de Longueville and de Maienne were the first that return'd to Court Conde retired to his House of Vallery where Descures Governor of Amboise went to resign that Place into his hands His Highness came sometime after to pay his Devoirs to their Majesties That Restless Temper that was Natural to him would not suffer him to stay long at Court. Being vext that his late Design had lessened the Respect due to his high Quality instead of increasing it as he had flattered himself it would This Prince was again tempted to raise new Troubles before the meeting of the States But having taken no better Measures than he did before he was forced to let the Regent alone who was endeavouring to reduce the Duke de Vendom who refused to agree to the Treaty of St. Menehoud The Decree of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Suarez the Jesuit Mercure Francoise 1614. It is a great while since we have had occasion to speak of the Jesuits But we shall now see them appear again upon the Stage upon the account of a Book published by Suarez a famous Divine of that Society in Spain The Book is Intituled The Defence of the Catholick and Apostolick Faith against the Errors of the English Hereticks There are always a certain sort of Men at Paris who narrowly observe all the Actions of these Good Fathers and will not forgive-them if they do amiss This new Book of Suarez being come to France Abstracts of it were presently made and brought to the King's Officers in the Parliament of Paris The Sollicitor General look'd upon it as a Book so dangerous that he thought it his Duty to desire the Condemnation of it The Parliament met upon the 26th of June and Condemn'd the Book to be burnt by the Hands of the Common Hangman as containing Seditious Principles tending to the Subversion of Kingdoms and to perswade the Subjects of Kings and Princes to attempt their Sacred Persons They ordered besides That certain former Decrees of the Faculty of Paris which condemn'd the Doctrine of Suarez should be Read every year on the 4th day of June not only in thâ—… Schools of Sorbonne but also in those in the Colledge of Clermont and of the Mendicant Friers The greatest mortification to the Society was this that the Parlement Decreed that the Fathers Armand the Rector of the Society Cotton the late King's Confessor Fronton le Duc and Sirmond two Persons very famous for their Learning should appear the next day before the Parlement When they came thither the first President told them in the Name of the Court that the Book of Suarez their Brother Jesuit was contrary to a Declaration they had made and to a Decree of their General in the Year 1610. They commanded them afterward to write to Rome for a Revival and Publication of that Decree and to get from thence an Order in Six Months to prevent the Members of that Society from writing any more in their Books such damnable and pernicious Doctrine and to Command them to Preach to the People Doctrines contrary to those of Suarez or else the Parlement would proceed against such Offenders as Guilty of High Treason and disturbers of the publick Peace Paul V. complains of the proceedings of the parlement against Suarez his Book The Court of France foresaw very well that the Proceedings of the Parlement of Paris against the Book of Suarez would make a great noise at Rome for indeed the Book was writ by Order of the Pope But the Regent to whom the Parlement had been very Serviceable in the Affair of the Prince of Conde would not oppose their Zeal which they expressed against these pernicious Opinions Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 256 257. 270. Her Majesty had more need than ever to keep fair with the Parlement by reason of the approaching Assembly of the States As soon as Paul V. had notice of the Decree of the Parlement against Suarez his Book he sent the Bishop of Foligni to the Marquiss of Trenel who succeeded Breves in his Embassy at Rome This Prelate had Orders to complain in the Name of the Pope of the proceedings of the Magistrates of Paris by which they Encroached on the Rights of the Holy See His Holiness said he to the Ambassadour is the more surpriz'd because he expected nothing less than a grateful acknowledgement of his kindness to the Queen of France Her Majesty cannot be Ignorant of that Affection that he has always shewed to her and the King her Son All the World is witness of that Zeal which his Holiness has discovered for the prosperity of France T is not long since he offered his good Offices to the Queen to appease the Troubles of the Kingdom And they are no sooner ended but the Parlement of Paris makes a Decree injurious to the Holy See If Suarezs Book contains any Positions contrary to the Sovereignty of the most Christian King her Majesty might have complained to the Pope He would have censur'd the Doctrine of the Author and
imbrace one of the most pernicious Heresies that ever was Upon this Ridiculous Foundation Paul V. would never be satisfied with the Declaration of the King he always demanded with Arrogâ—…nce and Threats that the Decree should be legally Revoked The K. is at length obliged to suspend the Execution of the Decree of Parlement They were forc'd to use humble intreaties that the Execution of the Decree should be suspended Poor Mary de Medicis had in all her Son's consent to give this satisfaction to Paul V. There was no necessity of such a base compliance with the Pope whose Threatnings were but mere Rhodomontadoes What could he have done if the Court had resisted him The general Assembly of the States were Sitting They zealously demanded that the Doctrines of Swarez and such like should be declared heretical and pernicious If the fierce Borghese had thought fit to throw out his thundering Anathemas they would have been as much despis'd in France as they were sometime before in Venice All the Kingdom except a few Monks and Eccle iasticks would have oppos'd him But it is not only now that France makes a great noise against the arrogant pretensions of the Pope and at last basely comply Lewis XIV in the height of his Power hath made a more shameful Submission than his Father did when he but just entred into his Majority He published Declarations to maintain his Sovereign Power The Archbishops spoke more boldly than ever The Ambassadors and Ministers of France insulted the Pope even in the Vatican To what did these appeals to a Council and the other proceedings of the Parlement against the Court of Rome come to To sacrifie to the Pope the honour of the Clergy who did nothing without the express Order of his Majesty Divisions at the Court of France Mary de Medicis had more troublesome affairs to settle than that of Rome occasioned by the Condemnation of Suarez's Book by the Parlement of Paris The Mareschal d'Ancre and the Ministers of State were always Quarrelling with one another There had been endeavours used the Year before to reconcile them The Marquiss de Coeuvres did all he could to effect it One would have thought that the marriage between the Marquiss de Villeroi the Secretary of State 's Grandson and Conchini's Daughter might have produced an Agreement which had been endeavour'd with so much Care But whether it were that he being advanced to one of the first Dignities of the Kingdom imagin'd that an Alliance with Villeroi was not sufficient for him who reacht at all or whether Dole the Marescal's Confident and Villeroi's secret Enemy who accused him of having broken his word in not getting him some preferment which he had promised him did continually create Jealousies between them or in fine whether there were some other secret Cause which we are not acquainted with the Mareschal d' Ancre and Villeroy were greater Enemies than ever And besides the Chancellor de Silleri and the Secretary of State professed an open hatred one to another There seem'd to be a necessity that either the one or the other should leave the Court. Silleri had the advantage of him because he was supported by Conchini All these Divisions were hindrances to the Affairs of the Regent Her Ministers and her Favourites had each their Friends and Enemies at Court and in the Prince of Conde's Party which they would favour or otherwise according as they thought it tended most to the Establishment of their own Fortune The Duke of Vendome refuses to consent to the Treaty of St. Menehoud There was yet another thing which was vexatious to the Regent Caesar Duke of Vendome was very unquiet in his Government of Britagne Taking it ill that the Prince of Conde had too much neglected him in the Treaty of St. Menehoud he refused to stand to their Agreements with relation to himself But Caesar was not strong enough to maintain the War alone in Britagne The principal Towns and the Parlement declared for the Court Not knowing how to render himself more formidable and to obtain better Conditions of the Queen be thought it his best Course to try the Duke of Rohan La Roch-Gifart a Gentleman of Britagne and of the Reformed Religion undertook to go to St. Jean d'Angeli and in Caesar's Name to make the greatest promises imaginable in favour of the Reformed upon Condition he would join with the Duke of Vendome Rohan answered that he was very sorry that Caesar's Interest had been no better provided for in the Treaty of St. Menehoud but that in the present Conjuncture the Duke of Vendome ought not to discover his concern but that 't was his best way to come to a speedy Agreement with the Queen He is not in a Condition to resist added Rohan what will he do if the Court undertakes to reduce him by Force Thus he will be Ruined without Remedy The Duke of Rohan himself had not Interest enough in the Huguenot Party to make them Rise as the Duke of Vendome imagined Rohan had made an Essay to call a general Convocation of those of the Religion at Tonneins in Gascogne where they were to hold at the same time a National Synode I cant tell whether the Duke intended to take any Resolution there in favour of the Prince of Conde and the discontented Lords The wisdom of du Plessis Nornai But du Plessis Mornai who had no mind that the Reformed should engage themselves in an ill contrived Civil War prevented it The Convocation which the Council of the Reformed of the lower Guienne had called at the sollicitation of the Duke of Rohan was judged unlawful and the National Synod by the advice of the Wise and Religious du Plessis refused to have any hand in Politick affairs The King of England always inclined to interest himself in Disputes of Divinity and to neglect his great Duty had writ to this Assembly upon occasion of a difference between du Moulin and Tilenus both Professors at Sedan concerning the Hypostatical Union The Synod judged that 't was the best way to let fall a Controversie between Two Divines that disputed only for want of understanding one another They desired du Plessis to reconcile them He accepted the Commission and succeeded Let one turn over never so much both Ancient and Modern History I question whether one should find his equal Being alike versed in Learning and the Affairs of the World he defends by Religion he discusses the most difficult Points of Divinity supports the Reformed Churches by his Prudence Negociates the most troublesome Affairs gives good Advice to Ministers of State Princes and Kings themselves who heard him with pleasure Marie de Medicis saends the Marquiss de Coeuvres to move him to an accommodation The Regent being resolved to avoid War as much as possible sent into Britagne the Marquiss de Coeuvres lately arrived from his Embassy in Italy to reclaim the Duke de Vendome Coeuvres
would willingly have excused himself but he was forc'd to obey He was afraid that his Enemies procur'd him this troublesome Commission that so he might fall out with the Queen and the Duke Memoires de Mary de Medicis whose near Kinsman he was by the Side of the famous Gabriel d' Etrees The Marquiss at first made no Impression on him only brought some Complaints of the Dukes de Vendome Retz who thought that the Treaty of St. Menehoud was injurious to him Mary de Medicis ordered him to Return and to tell the Duke de Vendome that her Majesty would not Demolish the new Fortifications of Blevet provided he would let the Garrison March out and suffer Swisses to be sent in their Room Mercure Francois 1614. Vendome Subscrib'd this and some other Conditions which were offered him The King and the Queen his Mother advanc'd towards Orleans with a design to pass the Loire and to go into Poìtou and Bretagne The Marquiss de Coeuvres made a Third Journey into Britagne He Garrisoned Blevet with the Swisse And the Duke de Vendome having laid down his Arms was re-established in his Government by Letters Patents from her Majesty dated at O leans the 14th July New Discontents of the Prince of Conde The Prince of Conde was come to take Possession of his new Government of Amboise He there observed that the Court had not granted him any thing considerable and that he should reap no great advantage from that Place of Security which he had Demanded with so much Earnestness Discontent seizes him he seeks for new Occasions for falling out Vie de Mr. du Plessis Liv III. he endeavours to render himself formidable to the Regent Accordingly he goes to find out du Plessis Mornay at Saumur and has a meeting with the Duke of Rohan at Roche des Aubiers in Anjou He thought if he could have at his Devotion those Two Men who had the greatest Reputation in the Reformed Churches in France that all the Huguenot Party would Declare for him upon the first oportunity The Prince affected to discover a great Confidence in du Plessis Mornai He endeavoured to justifie his Retreat from Court and his Enterprise against the Regent he told him his pretended Designs in desiring a Convocation of the States of the Kingdom and how it was the likeliest way to promote the Reformation of Abuses he desired du Plessis Mornai to give him his Advice freely This experinc'd Gentleman knew very well what Conde was able to do He exhorted him only in general Terms to preserve the Peace of the Kingdom to take those measures which were most agreeable to the welfare thereof whose present Condition could not bear violent Remedies to manage Affairs in concert with the Queen lest a misunderstanding between them should hinder that good success of the next Assembly of the States lastly to listen to the Advice of the most wise and understanding Persons with relation to the rectifying such Abuses which the present posture of Affairs would admit of When Conde saw that du Plessis was not so easily to be perswaded he pretended to take in good part the Counsels which he gave him He desired du Plessis to prepare a Memorial of those things which were necessary to be done in the Assembly of the States But his Highness who did not care for such wise Remonstrances and so contrary to his Inclinations went immediately to la Roche des Aubiers where Rohan and Soubize expected him The Prince made great Complaints of the Mareschal de Bovillon 'T is he The Interview of the P. de Conde and D. de Rohan said he who hath drawn off the principal Men from my Party He hath endeavoured to make his advantage of every thing If the â—…est had testified as good an Affection for me as the Duke de Nevers I should not have been forc'd to so suddain an Accommodation with the Court I know very well that you have the same reason to Complain that I would have Engaged you in the Treaty when it was almost Concluded 't was none of my design to be so hasty But how could I help it The Mareschal de Bovillon deceived me Thanks be to God there is yet some Remedy left us I shall have a powerful and numerous Party in the Assembly of the States The great Men of the Kingdom in Conjunction with my self will be able to oblige the Queen to change her Conduct It will be easie to set Bounds to her Authority and to make Considerable Alterations in the Administration of Affairs If the Queen absolutely refuses to grant our desires we shall have a fair pretence to Arms. We are never without Malecontents in France There is a great number of Gentlemen and Soldiers ready to Declare themselves Althô the Duke de Rohan had other Principles than du Plessis Mornai and his displeasure against the Court inclined him to a violent Resolution yet he had the Prudence not to Engage himself with the Prince de Conde He only remonstrated to his Highness that he ought not to depend so much on the States of the Kingdom The Queen will have more Authority there than you added he Those which you reckon upon at present will leave you instead of Supporting you Fear and Hope are the Two great Springs which move the Members of these Assemblies You are not in a Condition to promise them great matters nor to fright them by Menaces The Queen has Preferments and Places to dispose of she can do a great deal of mischief to those that oppose her Will. Who is there that will Declare openly for you against her Majesty Believe it Sir the States General will oppose your Designs Conde seeing that this Interview did not at all incourage his new Projects he was afraid that his Discourses with the Duke of Rohan should raise some Jealousie in the Regent He writ immediately to the President Jeannin to tell him that his Discourse with the Duke of Rohan only tended to hinder him from joining with the Duke de Vendome What meanness what shameful Artifices are these for Men of high Birth Was it necessary that Conde to excuse himself to the Court should render the Duke of Rohan suspected that he held Intelligence with the Duke of Vendome The Prince knew that Rohan had advised Vendome to consent to the Treaty at St. Menehoud Rohan told Conde this who appear'd very well pleas'd that he had given this Advice to a young Man who was like to Ruine himself The Prince of Conde designs to make himself Master of Poitiers The Prince de Conde had yet another Design in his head He thought to make himself Master of Poitiers The Duke de Roannez Governor of the City favoured his Design and the Marquiss de Bonnivet was to assemble the Gentlemen to serve this purpose The time for choosing the Mayor was at hand there were a great many Factions in the Town Roannez and some other
Friends of Conde had made one to put into this important Office a Man in their Interest Chataigner Bishop of the Place informed the Regent of their several Practices and gave her Majesty reason to suspect a secret Design of the Prince of Conde The Court was higly pleased with the Prelate They ordered him to have a watchful Eye upon their Contrivances and to oppose as much as he could the Intrigues of the Governour and Conde's Friends Chataigner who was skilled in something else besides his Breviary gains the greatest part of the Inhabitants doubles the Guards every where and rendred himself more powerful than the Duke de Roannez in the City His precaution disappointed the Party of the Prince de Conde He expected with Impatience at Anjou the news of the Success of the Intrigue which had been formed for him at Poitiers He sent Latrie a Gentleman to exhort his Friends not to desist from their Enterprise But great Men often spoil the Success of their Affairs by carrying themseves too high Conde Being offended that the Bishop did not only openly thwart him but had spoken disrespectfully of him writ to Chataigner a sharp and provoking Letter which Latrie was to deliver to him The Prelate was confirmed in his Opinion that the Prince had some secret and great Design upon the Town he resolves to be Revenged of Conde and to prevent what ever it cost him the Execution of his Design Chataigner having confer'd with some of his Relations and Friends thought it his best way to rid himself of the Prince de Conde's Emissary A great Tumult at Poâ—…tiers A certain Person suborn'd for that purpose attackt Latrie and wounded him in several Places The Bishop caused a Cry to be made in the Toâ—…n Mercure Francoise 1614. that there was a Design to deliver it up to the King's Enemies the People Rose shut the Gate put up the Chain Barricadoed themselves in several Places The Bishop Arms himself with his Pike in his hand he encourages the Inhabitants to Stand upon their Guard The Duke de Roannez the Governor of Poitiers runs immediately thither from his House which was hard by And Commands them to demolish the Barricadoes and goes to the Bishop's Palace to ask of him the reason of this extraordinary Tumult But the People being yet more heated by the noise of the arrival of the Prince de Conde near the City fell upon the Governor and slightly wounded him in the Face The Bishop at whose Instigation all this was done pretends to receive Roannez into his Palace to defend him from the fury of the People Under this pretence they secure the Person of the Duke and Chataigner by virtue of a Commission from the Queen gives all necessary Orders for the safety of the Town What a fine thing it was to see a Bishop turn'd Souldier and a Captain With his Sword by his Side he Marches round the City every Night he encouraged the Soldiers and gave them Money out of his own pocket The contrary Party reproach'd him in the highest manner But the good Prelate was not concerned about it He caused an Apology to be published the Author of which proved that it is Lawful for Ecclesiastiks to take Arms in case of necessity The Duke de Roannez took it for a favour that he might have Liberty to go home Some of the Magistrates and the principal Inhabitants of the Party of the Prince and Governor left the Town Latrie who was not very dangerously wounded likewise made his escape and found the Prince of Conde who was come in great haste to Poitiers with a Resolution to stand by those of his Party But the good Prince had not laid his Designs right The Gates of Poitiers are shut agaenst the Prince of Conde When du Plessis Mornai understood by an Express from his Highness that he was gone to Poitiers with a design to revenge the outrage that was done him in the Person of Latrie He sent a Gentleman immediately to the Prince to beseech him not to expose himself upon this occasion and content himself with writing to his Majesty and demand Justice Vie de Mr. du Plessis Mornai A Person of your Rank said du Plessis in a Letter is in danger of being Mortified when you Expose your self to an enraged Populacy who have no reason to be afraid of you The Inhabitants of Poitiers have formerly refused to open their Gates to King Henry III. They may well keep them shut now against the first Prince of the Blood In the Name of God don't proceed to Action don't call the Neighbouring Nobility to your assistance The Queen will think this to be a Consequence of your Interview with Mr. de Rohan and that you have a design to raise new Troubles A Prince ought not to take one Step from which he may be forc'd to retire whether he will or no. Conde who was neither wise nor cool enough to receive this good Advice pursues his March towards Poitiers accompanied with a very small number of Men but soon saw reason to acknowledge that du Plessis had guest right they shut the Gates of the City against his Highness the Inhabitants take Arms and Fire upon his Men. Enrag'd with this Affront he retires to Chateleraut with those Gentlemen that had joined him and discharged his Anger upon the Country House of the Bishop of Poitiers which lay in his way From Chateleraut he writ to the Regent complaining of the Inhabitants of Poitiers and to demand Justice of her Majesty who laughed heartily at the Mortification which he had brought imprudently on himself These new Motions the Consequences whereof were to be feared obliged the Regent to go into Poitou and Bretagne with the King her Son and to make the Troops March at the same time The K. and the Q. his Mother set out for Poitou and Bretagne They had spread abroad a Report that young Lewis was so ill that he could not Live very long The safest way to confute this Report to Reduce the Duke of Vendome who was always aiming on some ill design in Britagne and to appease the discontented Prince de Conde was to carry the King well Guarded into Poitou and Bretagne and shew him to the People in those Provinces In the mean time Mary de Medicis sent Monpezat to the Prince de Conde to amuse him with good Words Mazurier Master of the Requests had Orders to go to Poitiers He had either a real or pretended Commission to enquire who they were that acted against the Prince of Conde Monpezat press'd him to retire from Poitou The Queen said they to him designs to do you Justice Mazurier comes to this end to Poitiers But the Prince being reinforc'd by the Nobility and the Soldiers which the Marquiss de Bonnivet had brought him refus'd to go till they had given him Satisfaction The Confusion of the P. de Conde he retires to Chateauroux in Berry He
was extremly troubled when he understood that their Majesty's were at Orleans and that the Troops were on their March Uncertain which way to take he sometimes made a shew of going to the Duke de Rohan at St. Jean d' Angeli But what Assistance could he expect from the Huguenots They were never disposed to stir in the favour of a wavering Prince that was imprudent in all his Steps I don't see says du Plessis Mornai of what advantage the Prince's Journey to St. Jean d' Angeli will be to him If he goes there with a few Men he will be despised if with a great many it will be troublesome to Mr. de Rohan to Entertain them can one imagine that the People of St. Jean d' Angeli will Expose themselves to the danger of having all the King's Forces upon their backs by giving Reception to a Prince who has no Inclination for a Religion which his Ancestors have Defended and is not capable of doing any great Service to our Churches Conde was very sensible he would never have Reputation enough to draw after him the Huguenot Party as long as du Plessis Mornai persisted to perswade the Reformed from having any hand in their Commotions The Prince wrote therefore to du Plessis to ask Advice of him But his real Design was to make the Reformed afraid of their Majesties March This Journey said he in his Letter was not undertaken but for one of these Three Reasons Is there not a Design to take away from those of your Religion that which the late King hath granted them Some think that they are going to receive the Infanta and to accomplish the King's Marriage For my own part I believe they come to Ruine me here Pray tell me added Conde what is in your Opinion best for me to do in this Juncture Du Plessis easily perceived that under a pretence of asking Advice he solicited him to appear for him He answered the Prince that the King's Journey did not at all allarm the Reformed Churches We are perswaded said he that the Queen is very sensible she would put the whole Kingdom into a Flame if she should suffer those of our Religion to be injured I confess some People have given it out that the Queen is going to Receive the Infanta But should a Prince take his Measures from common Rumour Are there any Vessels ready in the Ports of Spain Are there any Gallys fitted out at Barcelona The Infanta can't come any other way than by Sea The Spaniards are too Proud Don't think they 'l ever send their King's Eldest Daughter to us Incognito She will never come away before the Court of Madrid is sure that she will be received as Queen before ever she sets Foot in France I doubt not but her Majesty is either coming into Bretagne against Mr. de Vendome who has not consented to the Treaty of St. Menehoud or at lest to Poitiers Her presence seems absolutely necessary there For this reason your Highness can't do better than make an handsome Retreat from Poitiers It concerns your Hignesse's Reputation not to stay till you are forced to it The Duke of Maienne was at that time at Chateleraut He went there with the Consent of the Court and urged Conde forthwith to Submit to her Majesty The Prince had no other Course to take From this last foolish Design he got nothing but the shame of being forced to hide himself in Chateauroux in Berri He did not dare to Return to his New Government of Amboise Those which Commanded for him in that Place of Security which he had so earnestly desired had so little Respect for him that they Presented the Keys to the New Queen when she came there a little while after Her Majesty seemed to despise the vain Efforts of the Prince in letting him have a Place which she could recover at pleasure without any Resistance The Remonstrances of du Plessis Mornai to the Queen Regent The Regent used her endeavours to take away the Suspicions which the Prince of Conde and his Emissaries had â—…nspired the Reformed Churches with concerning their Majesty's Journey As â—…oon as the Court was arrived at Orleans Mary de Medicis dispatch'd a Gentleman â—…o Saumur with Credential Letters Vie de M. du Plessis Mornai Liv. III. He was to assure du Plessis that the King's Army should not Advance into those â—…rovinces which lie on the other side of â—…he River Loire Lettres memoires du Meme 1614. That the Queen had no â—â—oughts of Concluding the double Marriage with Spain before the Meeting of the States of the Kingdom and that they only designed to Reduce the Duke of Vendome who every day raised new difficulties against the Treaty of St. Menehoud although the Marquiss de Coeuvres had already made two Journeys into Bretagne to persuade him to comply The Court moved from Orleans to Tours Her Majesty invited du Plessis to come thither They gave it out the King and Queen his Mother would not pass by Saumur in their Journy to Bretagne They don't care said some to be at the discretion of the most Zealous Hugonot in France These Discourses troubled du Plessis He resolved to complain of them to the Queen Madam said this Genâ—…leman whose Virtue exceeded even that of Cato and Aristides I don't give any credit to what I hear But if it should be proposed in your Majesties Council that the King's Person would not be safe at Saumur I should look upon it as the greatest Injury that could be done me The Government of Saumur was committed to me as a Reward of the Treaty which I had managed between the late King and hiâ—… Predecessor That Negotiation which 〈◊〉 brought to a happy Conclusion made way for the late King to sit upon the Throne oâ—… his Ancestors God forbid that that Placâ—… which he entrusted me with should ever bâ—… suspected by the King his Son This generosity pleased the Queen She lookeâ—… upon it as a handsome Invitation to go to Saumur Du Plessis had several private Audiences of Mary de Medicis during her stay at Tours Her Majesty discoursed very freely to him concerning the present Condition of the Affairs of the Kingdom He on his Side undertook frequently to inculcate upon the Regent the necessity of avoiding a Civil War Nothing said he does more weaken the Authority of a Prince I have heard it several times said to the late King That he never was really King till the end of the Civil Wars Whatsoever they may say to your Majesty against those of our Religion believe Madam that you have no such faithful Subjects as those who obey from a Principle of Conscience We have at least this Advantage above our Adversarys that we acknowledge no power under God Superiour to his Majesty The fundamental Maxims of our Religion will not allow us to hold any Commerce with Foreigners who would Encroach upon the Kingdom or the King's Authority Suffer me
to represent to you further Madam that they put you to needless Expences to gain certain Persons of our Religion We know who those mercenary Souls are They deceive your Majesty who tell you that they can he Serviceable to you I can tell you a far less Chargeable way to have all the Reformed at your Devotion That is to give Orders that all Promises made to us be performed our Griâ—…vances be redressed some ambiguous Expressions in the Edicts be more favourably Interpreted and some things be granted us which may secure the Peace of our Churches and do no great Injury to the Roman Catholicks The ardent and sincere Zeal which I have for your Majesty makes me speak against my self Pursue the Method which I take the liberty to propose you may take away when you please our Offices and Pensions Our Churches living peaceably under his Majesty's Protection will never concern themselves in my favour or for any of the Lords of the Kingdom This Advice was generous and worthy of a truly Christian Gentleman It might have had some good Effect upon such as had no other design but to preserve Peace in the Kingdom by doing Justice and perhaps some small gratification to the Reformed But they were resolved to Ruine them and to effect a design long since contrived and pursued For almost an Age together the Court could not take more convenient Measures than the corrupting of those who had any Credit or Authority in the Reformed Church The ambition and avarice of the Lords and a great number of Hugonot Gentlemen has done more mischief to the Religion than the haâ—…red of the Pope and his Clergy or the Zeal of the blind and superstitious Kings and Queens of France If the Dukes and Peers the Mareschals of France the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had had as much Religion and Probity as du Plessis Mornai I question whether the Son of him whose History I write would ever have ventured to attempt the overthrow of the Reformed Churches of his Kingdom The Posterity of a corrupted Gentry who had no great Concern for their Religion does at this day bewail the fatal Consequences of the Baseness of their Ancestors The Regent received at Tours The K. and Q. his Mother go to Poitiers Letters from the Duke of Maienne He informed her that the Prince de Conde was retired to Chateauroux and that he defired at the present no Reparation of the Injury Mercure Francois 1614. which he had complained had been done him at Poitiers It was wisely done to seem to neglect an Offence for which the Court would never have granted him the Satisfaction which he expected The Bishop was too much favoured by the Queen He went boldly to Tours with Two hundred of the Inhabitants to pray their Majesty 's to come to Poitiers That day when Chataigner made appear that he understood the Office of a Captain better than that of a Bishop was in his Opinion the day of the preservation of Poitiers Their Majesties went thither They were Received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy They Elected a Mayor Mazurier had Orders to remain there as Intendant Rochfort Lieutenant General for the King in that Province a-little after resigned his Office The Count de la Rochefoucaut of the Party of the Guises succeeded him They had a mind to have Poitou in their Power that they might go and Receive the Infanta of Spain when the time should come Memoires de Duc de Rohan The Duke de Rohan being admonished by Velleroi that the Queen was surprized that he did not appear at Court since she was so near to St. Jean d' Angeli came to pay his Respect to their Majesty's They received him kindly and the Regent taking all oportunities to get him near her self made him promise to be present at the meeting of the States of Bretagne which was to be held at Nantes their Majestys being present and to go afterwards to the States General which were already appointed to Meet Mary de Medicis The Q. goes to hold a meeting of the States of Bretagne at Nantes Vie de M. du Plessis Mornai Liv. III. pleas'd that every thing went according to her mind took the Road of Anger 's to go to Nantes Her Majesty had a mind to give a Proof of her Confidence in du Plessis Mornai as she passed through Saumur He went to meet the King being followed by an Hundred Gentlemen As soon as the Young Lewis had enter'd the Castle du Plessis Offer'd to make the Garrison march out But his Majesty would not permit him It is not against our Kings said the Governor that we have strong Places in our Possession they have been willing to grant them us that we may be secured against the hatred of our sworn Enemies If at any time his Majesty does the Honour to be present there Mercure Francoise 1614. we desire no other Security but his Presence The Duke de Vendome seeing their Majesties came in good Earnest towards him submitted himself They gave him New Letters of Re-establishment Memoires de Bassompierre which were Registred in the Parliament of Rennes But he had the Mortification of see that in the meeting of the States of the Province of which he was Governor they made Invectives against him and took Resolutions injurious to his Person and utterly contrary to his Interest So bad a Beginning was no good Omen for the rest of the Life of Coesar de Vendome He could never after recover his Reputation or Respect Henry IV. his Father had Married him to the Heiress of the House of Mercoeur and one of the greatest Fortunes of a Subject in Europe He wasted the great Estate which she brought him The death of the Prince de Conti. Maâ—…y de Mâ—…dicis Returned triumphantly to Paris She found there a Court deprived of a Prince of the Blood The loss was not very great Francis de Bourbon Prince de Conti who died the 13th of August made no great Figure in the World His Widow was soon Comforted after the loss of a weak Husband She was desperately in Love with Bassompierre There had passed between them that which they call Marriage before God Entragues the famous Marchioness de Vernueil's Sister and Daughter to Mary Touchet Charles IX his Mistress had commenced a Suit against Bassompierre upon the account of a Promise of Marriage which he had made her This happy Spark had Two Wives at the same time The First out of a Family more Renowned for the fine Ladies which were Married into the Family or were of it than for any of its Military Exploits the Second being the Daughter of the Duke of Guise and the Widow of a Prince of the Blood might have done Bassompierre great Honour But by an odd Accident Bassompierre would never own the one for his Lawful Wife the other never dared to make her Marraige Publick New Contests between the Princes of
Brandenbourg and Vewbourg about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Whilst the Regent was making present Reflections upon the good Success of her Journey into Poitou and Bretagne the Spaniards wifely made their Advantage of the private Agreement which they had made with Mary de Medicis to Assist her to maintain her Authority in France on Condition she would not Support or at least not openly oppose their Designs in Germany and Italy These false Politicks of a Regent who was Ridiculously persuaded that the Support of the Pope and the King of Spain was necessary for the maintaining her Authority has already made her take a great many false Steps contrary to the true Interest of her Son Interests of Princes by Mr. de Rohan part II. Disco V. And we shall take notice of Two more She should never have suffered the Archdukes of the Catholick Low-Countries to send the Marquiss de Spinola with a powerful Army to Execute the Proclamation which the Emperor had Published against Aix Mercure Francois 1614. and under this pretence to seize many Important Towns in the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Since the Marriage of the Prince of Newbourg with Madeleine of Bavaria there was a more open difference than ever between him and the Duke of Brandenbourg They were Employed in strengthening themselves one against the other both abroad and at home Two Passions very blind but extremely active in the heart of a young Prince Ambition and resentment of an Affront offered him in the face of the World had inclined Newbourg to join with the Emperor the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes of the Catholick Low-Countries He hoped that the House of Austria and the Catholick League of Germany of which the Duke of Bavaria was the head would assist him to recover those Countries which were in Dispute as soon as he should Embrace the Communion of the Pope This way of Revenging which the Elector of Brandenburg had given him seemed to Newbourg the most Advantageous and Glorious He declared himself a Roman Catholick the 15th of May at Dusseldorp There is reason to think that the Prince deferred his publick Abjuration of the Confession of Augsbourg in hopes that passing some time longer under the Name of a Protestant he should the more easily effect his Design of making himself sole Master of some of the Principal Towns in Dispute 'T was not without Design that being in Juliers in the Month of March he desired Pitham the Governor of the Castle to give him and his Retinue Entrance The Officer being a greater Friend to the House of Brandenbourg than to that of Newbourg refufed to admit him although he would enter alone Pitham relied upon an Article of the Transaction which passed between the Two Houses that the Governors of Castles and Fortified Places should not give Entrance to one of the Princes in Possession unless the other were present The Governor remaining firm to his Resolution Newbourg went towards Leige He went to make a visit to the Elector of Cologne his New Ally The Prince of Brandenburg attempted a little while after to surprize Dusseldorp but he likewise mist his aim as well as the other The States of the Vnited-Provinces the Electors and Princes of the Empire as they were Friends to both Houses Exhorted them to a Peace but in vain The Jealousie of each other encreast every day especially after Newbourg had chang'd his Religion The States of the Vnited-Provinces Sided at that time with the Prince of Brandenbourg 'T was for their Interest to hinder that the whole Succession of Cleves and Juliers should not fall to a Prince devoted to the House of Austria and Engag'd in the Catholick League of Germany Brandenbourg agreed to them that they should be Possest of the City and Castle of Juliers which they should hold by way of Sequestration This undertaking had its Success by means of Pitham who was gained over He suffered the Soldiers to enter therein with the Officers which the Prince of Orange had sent Newbourg on his Side had the Policy to make himself Master of Dusseldorp where he Fortified himself the best he could These Enterprises of Brandenbourg and Newbourg seem'd to be the Preliminaries of an open War which began quickly after There was talk of an Accommodation at a Conference held at Wesel but the Prince of Newbourg not being willing to dismiss the Troops he had raised unless the City and Castle of Juliers were put into the same Condition they were before the Holland Garrison enter'd they separated without coming to any Conclusion Each one thought of nothing more than maintaining taining his Right by open Violence and the Succours of his Allyes The Affair hapen'd otherwise than the Two Princes imagin'd The Spaniards and the States of the Vnited-Provinces these under the pretence of Relieving the House of Newbourg the other that of Brandenbourg divided betwixt them almost all the Succession which was in Controversie The Emperor Rodolph had put the City of Aix-la-Chapelle under Interdiction of the Empire by reason of the Change the Protestant Party had made in the Magistracy The City of Aix la-Chapelle under Interdiction in the Year 1611. But being dead before that the Archduke Albert his Brother and Ernest of Bavaria then Elector of Cologne dared to execute the Commission his Imperial Majesty had directed to them for the reducing the Inhabitants of Aix the Duke of Deux-Ponts Administrator of the Electorate Palatine and Vicar of the Empire during the Interregnum made all the procedures void and what ever Rodolph Ordained against the City of Aix-la-Chapelle After Matthias his Brother had succeeded him Complaint was made to the Imperial Court of the Duke of Deux-Ponts's Undertaking and the Catholicks press'd forward the Execution of the Ban publisht by the deceas'd Emperour His Majesty easily granted what the Pope and the Spaniards maintain'd in his Council However it appear'd to him That the D. of Deux Ponts had gone beyond his Authority and Enchrocht upon the Emperor by annulling what Rodolph had in his life time Ordered Wherefore the City of Aix-la-Chapelle was again put under the Ban of the Empire the 20th of February in this Year The Arch-Duke Albert and Ferdinand of Bavaria Successor to Ernest in the Electorate of Cologne had Commission to put the new Order in Execution Albert straight after rais'd great Forces in the Low Countries under his Dominions The States of the Vnited Provinces watchful of the Spaniards motions so near to them put themselves on their Side in Arms and posture of Desence Good Policy required no less than that they should stand upon their Guards and oppose what the House of Austria should attempt against the States of Cleves and Juliers which they found to lie conveniently for them 'T was not necessary to raise such great Forces to bring the City of Aix-la-Chapelle into Submission for every one well knew that the Spaniard kept close another Design which was
along towards Sigismond and the choice they had made of a new King Some Arguments were made use of in this Apology which were unanswerable by the Senate of Poland they being levelled peculiarly against it On Sigismond's sudden and clandestine Retreat after the Treaty of Linkoping the Swedes retort it thus on the Polanders You must needs own that if your King had served such a slippery Trick you would have long ago taken away the Crown you had bestow'd upon him The Act you formerly made against King Henry III. of France is an evident proof of it He secretly retired unknown to you to take Possession of his Father's and of his Uncle's Succession He soon after writ to you that he would take care ye should be as well govern'd as if he were among you in Person You took no notice of such a Pretence but immediately proceeded to a new Election Poland said you was never wont to be governed by Deputies Well be it so And what do you make of us whose Case is no ways inferiour to yours Swedeland neither cannot be without a King resident in it The Swedes made as pertinent Answers to that Charge of their having called an Assembly of the States without Sigismond's leave It is a received Custom among us said they That the chief Officers of the Realm have a Right to summon an Assembly of the States in the King's Absence and you have practis'd the same on certain Occasions It is not so long since that you held a Diet without your King Sigismond's leave It was for the maintaining of your Liberties Well then and we are resolved to do the like for the preserving of ours The King of Swedeland sends a Challenge to the K. of Denmark Charles both before and after his coming to the Crown was engaged in a War in Livonia against the Polanders He sometimes got the best at other times he sustained considerable Losses But the Polanders had Work enough both at home and in the Parts of Muscovia that hindred the Advantage they might have taken by a considerable Victory they had obtained in Livonia After this Christian IV. King of Denmark declared War against the King of Swedeland Perhaps Christian thought he might easily reduce Swedeland weakned by Civil Divisions and the Diversion of its main Strength and Army at that present employed abroad both in Livonia and Muscovia where Charles supported against the Polanders the Interest of Suski whom the Muscovites had placed on the Throne However the King of Denmark wrote a long Letter in the Year 1611. to the States of Swedeland wherein he complained of several Losses and Damages which he pretended himself and Subjects had sustained by means of the Swedish Nation Their Answer did not satisfie Christian and he doubtless expected a satisfactory one Denmark therefore declar'd War against Swedeland They that have a mind to pick a Quarrel with their Neighbours are generally more ready to make an Irruption than those are to make a Defence Christian enters into Swedeland takes the City of Calmar attacks the Islands of Oeland and of Borkholm becomes Master of them But the King of Denmark at his coming back finds the King of Swedeland incamp'd before him near Calmar Then it was that Charles sent a Challenge by a Herald at Arms to King Christian Copies of it were spread abroad in all Parts of Europe After some hard and reproachful Expressions that Charles uses against his Enemy Since you are at the Head of your Army said he to him Let us spare the innocent Blood of our Subjects let us decide our Quarrel in a single Combat after the laudable Custom of the Grecians of old I challenge you to it If you decline fighting I 'll never look on you to be a Man of Honour or a gallant Soldier But the King of Denmark's Answer was much more abuseful He declared That whatever Charles chargged him with was but a parcel of impudent Lyes vended by one who was better at such Railings than at downright fighting at the Head of his Army As for the Challenge he had received he said it argued that Charles stood in need of some Hellebore to purge his Brain withal Might not such course Language as this justifie that way of the Greek Poet of old who is tax'd with representing his Kings and Princes scolding at one another after a mean and scurrilous manner Truly Princes are much like other Men they forget themselves too often they happen to utter Words sometimes unbecoming their Rank and Character Here you have a Proof on 't Death of Charles King of Sweden It is likely that Christian by those last Expressions intended to upbraid Charles with an Apoplexy of which he had a Fit not long before Charles required pretty large Supplies of Money for making the necessary Preparations for a War with which Swedeland was threatned by the King of Denmark The States refused to grant any which put him into such a violent Passion that he fell into a Fit of Apoplexy upon it This Accident left such ill Symptoms behind that they brought a Weakness both of Body and Mind on him ever after It was thought the Grief which seiz'd him to see the Progress the King of Denmark had made over him did occasion this Relapse which cost Charles his Life for he died the 31st of October following being sixty one Years old His Son Gustavus Adolphus succeeded him This Prince was yet in his Minority though notwithstanding he had already given signal Proofs of his Courage and Valour THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK III. 1612. The Condition France was in since Mary of Medicis came to be Regent THE face of Affairs was quite alter'd in Europe since the Death of Henry the 4th France was in such a Flourishing Condition both at Home and Abroad that Spain which a year or two before did stand in extream awe of her began now by degrees to get the uppermost The false Maxims of a depraved Policy with which the Pope and the Duke of Tuscany had slily prepossest an Imprudent Queen together with some Spanish Pistoles seasonably bestowed among her Cabinet-Councellors as a great States-man in those times has it did bring about this sudden Revolution This Queen Mary of Medicis being perswaded that an Alliance of a double Match to be made between both Crowns was altogether necessary toward the Establishing of her Authority both against the Princes of the Blood and all other Opposers III. Discours du Duc de Rohan sur l'Etat de la France Apres ses Memoires in 40. did therefore foment Divisions both at Court and throughout the Kingdom She created Jealousies and gave Umbrage to the best Allies the Crown had and raised the sinking Spirits of her Sons most formidable Enemies The Confederacy with England the Vnited Provinces the Protestant Princes of Germany the Commonwealth of Venice and the Duke of Savoy had been the Bulwark