1611. of Parents whose Birth was not only Eminent but ev'n recommendable among Sovereigns He was the Son of Henry de la Tour D'Auvergne and of Elizabeth of Nassaw These two Houses are so blaz'd throughout Europe nay and i' th Other Parts of the World that it wou'd be needless in me to Enlarge much upon their Grandeur That of Nassaw has giv'n an Emperour to Germany and continu'd his Posterity in Severall Branches equally Illustrious and particularly in that of the Princes of Orange That of La Tour D'Auvergne has possest the County of Boulogne and severall other Lands in Sovereignty and for a top of Greatness matcht one of it's Daughters to a Majesty of France Not but there are those who are of Opinion that this Ancient House of Boulogne and that of Bouillon are very Different Nay and I have heard it affirm'd by the present Duke of Elboeuf tho' he had marry'd a Daughter of this Family and that his Interest led him to take that Part But it is not for me to decide these sorts of things and tho' I were better informed than I am I should circumscribe my relation to what is commonly said upon this Point I shall leave then to others to judge of the Case as they think fit and content my self to say that it is however a most Illustrious House Consider we it either as issu'd from the Counts of Boulogne or from a House of Limosin from whence some derive it's Original Such as are of this sentiment affirm it's Name to be La Tour of which there are many Gentlemen setled in the Kingdom and that they have thereto added the name D'Auvergne Mrs de Gouvernet de Montauban de la Chartre are of that House and some of 'em have told me the House of Bouillon and theirs to be one and the same thing But one would willingly have more than bare words for it for no doubt but they would be very glad to be look'd on as Relations of Monsieur de Bouillon who hold'st not only an Eminent rank in France but are likewise very considerable in Germany on the score of the Allyances they have there with several Princes As for the rest the Principality of Sedan had not been long in this House when the Viscount de Turenne came into the World His Father was oblig'd for it to Henry the 4th Who had match'd him to the Heiress But we may assure it to be in acknowledgement for the Services he had receiv'd from him For during the Civil Wars of France he brought him sundry Succours from Germany and spar'd neither his Estate nor Person to help him to Subdue his Enemies For this Reason did Henry the fourth prefer him before many Others when the Marrying that Princess was the point in Agitation and it 's believ'd he did it too that he might not remit her Territories into the hands of a Person less affectionate to him than this Lord For as they border with France on the side of Germany it was that Great Kings Interest to be carefull on whom he bestow'd the Heiress But be it as it will the new Duke of Bouillon on his very Wedding night endeavour'd to acquit himself of that Obligation for leaving his Brides Bed he put on his Armour and went and Surpriz'd the City of Stenay which acquired him Great Reputation Nevertheless tho' Henry the 4th Esteem'd him dayly more and more yet he did not long entertain him with the same favour which I shall attribute to what I am going to relate This Great King was obliged to turn Catholique so to appease the troubles of his Kingdom and the Duke of Bouillon a Protestant not being of a humour to follow his Masters Example he became suspected to the King for the kindness born him by those of his Religion The Jealousy conceiv'd by the King on this Occasion was so Great that the Duke of Bouillon found himself oblig'd to withdraw into Germany from whence he Writ to the King and procur'd other Letters from Divers Princes his Relations The King sent to him to return and trust in his Royall Word but he was loath to obey as knowing he had Enemies at Court who endeavour'd to render him answearable for Sundry Complaints made by People of the Religion in great pow'r at that time Moreover accus'd he was of having endeavour'd to draw into the Kingdom the Army of Mansfeld a famous General who without being in any Bodies Pay had found the Secret to keep on foot an Army of thirty thousand men and make himself feared by all Europe At length time having appeas'd all things the Duke of Bouillon went to kisse the Kings hand and then retired to Sedan where his main Care was to educate his Children sutably to their Condition God having given him as I have already sayd the Viscount de Turenne whose Life I here delineate he was brought up in the Protestant Religion to which his Mother shew'd her self as zealous as his Father As soon as he was come to an age ripe for Instruction he had Masters given him accordingly some appointed to teach him the Exercizes befitting a Person of his Quality 't is inconceivable how easily he learnt every thing which sufficiently Testify'd the Vivacity of his Wit Nevertheless as some things he apply'd himself more willingly to than others his Inclination lay for those that concern'd Arms For as for Sciences he set himself slightly to them or as I may say for fashions sake which sometimes put Monsieur de Bouillon out of humour because he would have render'd him accomplisht in all things When he had attain'd fifteen years of Age Monsieur de Bouillon resolv'd to send him into Holland at that time the School of War for all Persons of Quality and where was already his Eldest Brother For the States after having brought Spain to demand a Truce saw themselves upon the point of renewing Hostilities for ascertaining their freedom He gave him Letters for Prince Maurice his Brother in Law the Greatest Captain of his Age and the Person to whom the Hollanders are most endebted for their Establishment For tho' they began to cast off the Spaniards yoak under William Prince of Orange and that they acquir'd their freedom under the Government of Frederick Henry We may say that without Maurice they would have found it difficult to compass their Designs This Prince being the Person who began not only to restore Discipline in Armies but likewise put in Practice a world of things till then unknown by Judges He had the Love of his Souldiers beyond Imagination was fear'd by his Enemies and esteem'd by all his Neighbours Worthy in short of Commanding the Greatest States but happy in having been only the Head of a rising Commonwealth since so many Great events can only be imputed to his virtue The Viscount de Turenne had had Order at his Departure from Sedan to apply himself to all that Prince should do as to a Perfect Model
a Suddain become Constable by having had the trick to ingratiate himself with his Majesty by teaching several sorts of Birds to fly promoted this Expedition which he might have hinder'd by his Credit But being very willing not to Embroil himself further with the Queen-Mother with whom already he stood not in over-good terms by reason of the Murther of the Mareschal d'Ancre of which he was the Principal Cause for he it was Whisper'd the King that this Mareschal was more in a Certain Princesse's favour than suted with her Honour and as the King had already admitted some suspicion from certain occurrences the Duke found little Difficulty to obtain Orders to Kill him In Effect their Intrigue was become so much the Publick Discourse that nothing was more Common than the hearing it talk'd of and the Count de Lude was banish'd on that account for this Lord who to the Prejudice of his fortune lov'd to flush a Wittycisme when Occasion serv'd had one day answer'd a Lady who said she was going to fetch that Princess's Vail there 's no need of a Sail for a Frigat that rides at Anchor Great Preparations were made for the War against the Hughonots out of whose hands the Court was minded to wrest the Places they had demanded for their Security Four Armies were brought on foot one of which was design'd against the Places in the Neighbourhood of Rochel another against the Hughenots of Berry another against those of Guyenne and the King in Person March'd against St. Jean d'Angelâ— with the most Powerfull This War was quickly terminated the King Subdued all the Places he undertook with more ease than he durst have hoped for Division reigned in the Party where the very heads were the First that Betray'd 'em For under Colour of giving all contentment they took Care of a great many Places that cou'd do 'em no Good and left Others that were Strong and Desensible wholly unprovided Lâ—sdiguires was made Constable in the Room of Luines Dead of sickness for the Good Services he did in that Occasion and Chang'd his Religion La Force had the Staff of Marechal of France and Chatillon had money so as the whole Party had no hopes save in Messieurs de Rohan Soubize who remained faithfull Montpellier having by their means made a vigorous Defence the King was compell'd to stay a long time before the Town to reduce it but fearing his inability to compass that Design and the hazzarding his Reputation he made a Treaty with the Hughenots which prov'd short-liv'd In the mean while the Princes of Italy not listen'd to while the War continu'd nicking the advantage of this Peace brought the affairs of the Valteline again into consultation and having accus'd Puisjeux either of corresponding with the Spaniard or of Male-administration in the King's Service he was expell'd the Court and Chancellour de Sillery his Father involv'd in his Downfall The Chancellour's Brother was likewise recall'd from Rome being there in Quality of Ambassadour on the Pretence he had exceeded his Instructions insomuch that the Count de Bethunes was sent in his stead for the Pope began to understand the Affair of the Valteline and necessary was it to have about him a man in whom Confidence might be put All this as I have said made the world conclude that a War was drawing on with the Spaniards for they far from listening to any Restitution built Forts in several places to secure their Conquests Besides this they endeavour'd to gain over England or at least to amuse it with some Hopes that so it might not beard and thwart their Ambition For this purpose they had propos'd the Marriage of their Infanta with the Prince of Wales Heir Apparent of the Crown and the Pourtraict of that Princess flattering the Original being seconded with plausible offers and Assurances invited this Prince to undertake a journey into Spain which Court was in reality no wise inclin'd to conclude this Allyance for that Crown aspiring to the Universal Monarchy and thinking to attain it by affecting a zealous steddyness to the Court of Rome was far from closing-up this Match and deferr'd it from day to day under various Pretences At length the Prince of Wales finding the Pageantry of the Spaniards proceedings and the insincerity and trifling of their Conduct towards him return'd thence Extreamly Piqu'd against that Nation and resolv'd when occasion serv'd to make 'em feel his resentment The Marquess de la Vieuville succeeding into favour at the French Court after Puisieux's Disgrace and willing to avail himself of this Discontent to do his Countrey service propos'd then the Marriage of that Prince with a Daughter of France and the thing having been approved of by all the Parties concern'd the Allyance was quickly concluded on with a War against the Spaniard For besides what I have newly instanc'd England was Wonderfully Edg'd against the House of Austria that had stript the Elector of Palatine of his Dominions and Vow'd his Ruine for having accepted the Crown of Bohemia to the Prejudice of it's Interests Nevertheless this Allyance which must have produc'd a good effect between the two Nations only serv'd to alienate their minds by the Interest of the two Ministers for the Duke of Buckingham being come into France in Quality of Embassadour Extraordinary fell in Love with a Lady of the first rank whom Richelieu loving also became jealous and made use of the credit he began to have with the King to mortify the Duke so as instead of concuring together to the Ruine of the Spaniard their thoughts were wholly taken up how to ruine one another and their animosity drew-on in a little time that of the two Nations The Prince of Wales coming suddainly after to the Crown was not wanting to Arm powerfully by Sea to Execute his first Intentions But Richelieu to be reveng'd on Buckingham who had a great Ascendant at the Court of England not only refus'd him the Succours which the French were bound to supply him with by the Treaty but likewise prevail'd with his most Christian Majesty to forbid that Duke Entrance into the Kingdom whither his Master meant to send him in Quality of Embassadour And the pretext for all this was a pretended ill treatment to the Queen of England and her Domesticks part of whom for their Insolencies were sent back into France and the others disturb'd in the exercise of their Religion Besides the Feud between those two Ministers some Reasons were there of Policy which induc'd Richelieu to act in this manner for his being in favour had Created him a considerable number of Enemies among whom was the Duke of Orleans with most of the Princes of the Blood Thus he fear'd that if he undertook a War against the Spaniard they wou'd have the more means to harm him joyn'd to this that the Queen Mother tho' much declin'd in her Credit never ceas'd threatning to ruine him if he was so hardy as to undertake it
oppos'd the Passage of our Forces the Army disperst of it self for want of Provisions or rather thro' the Intrigues of the Queen Mother who had gain'd the Principal Commander to draw upon Richelieu this Check and Affront This Disgrace was rewarded by the English being baulk'd of their expected Successes for they being call'd by the Hughenots of Rochel to free their Town from it's Blockade made a Descent into the Isle of Rhe But having neglected out of too much Confidence to Secure the Fort de la Pree Thoiras made such a Brave Defence as gave time to Canaples to come to his Succours with Eight hundred men and afterwards to Schomberg with a Greater Number So that the English leaving their Canon behind retir'd in some Disorder to their Ships This happy Success hasten'd the Design of the Siege of Rochel for the Execution of which the Hollanders promis'd Men and Ships tho' the Conformity of Religion seem'd rather that they should have undertaken the Defence than the Ruine of that City But other Considerations having prevail'd over this they perform'd their Promises The Rochellers despis'd at first this Enterprize as being above the Kings Forces But when they saw that the Cardinal Caus'd a Dyke to be made in the Sea to divest 'em of all hopes of Succours they joyn'd Joaks and Mockeries to Contempt imagining this Work wou'd only turn to his Confusion And indeed 't was as a Dream to many People to see 'em aim at Subduing so furious an Element But when they perceiv'd the Work advanc'd they began to change that great Confidence into a fear which did not however bereave 'em of the Courage to stand upon their Defence On the Contrary the more they saw the Danger was pressing the more things they did to remove it they call'd in the English to their Assistance Who Fitted out a brave Fleet under the Command of the Duke of Buckingham But still not finding the Occasion to wreek his Revenge on the Cardinal against whom he was infinitely enrag'd he return'd to England after having been worsted in two or three Encounters The King of England still persevering in his Good intentions for the Rochellers having given order for repairing the Fleet and putting out new Ships to Sea the Duke of Buckingham was again nominated for that Expedition But was assassinated at home upon the point of his Departure which occasion'd the King to name another in his stead This latter was not more Prosperous than the Lord of Buckingham for after having in vain attempted to give Succours to the Beseiged and been repuls'd he return'd in like manner into England abandoning the Rochellers to their own Defence At length after they had made the utmost efforts of Resistance even to eating the vilest things for want of victuals they Surrender'd the City which held out from the 10. of September 1627. to the 29 of October 1628. The taking of Rcohelle look'd upon as an Impregnable Place not only Surpriz'd Strangers but likewise most of those of the Nation who in the Broiles and Confusions the State had been in for near a Century had ever found their Sanctuary in that Town against the Royall Authority And indeed it was reckon'd as the Center of Rebellion and this is what most powerfully excited the King and his Minister to undertake it's Reduction Thus amidst the Publick Rejoycings which the Court order'd to be made for that happy Success tokens were seen in Peoples faces which bely'd Appearances But the King without otherwise minding what they harbour'd in their Bosomes receiv'd indifferently from Strangers and from the French Congratulations upon that Great Event Among those however who plaid the Plain-Dealers and spoke from the Bottom of their Hearts were the Parties concern'd in the Affairs of Italy who were under a total Despondency unless a speedy Remedy was apply'd For the Emperours Troups were not only before Cazal but also before Mantoua around which Place they had seiz'd all the Considerable Posts For this Reason When they made him the Complements upon his new Conquest they desir'd him to run in to the Succours of Italy certainly lost without his Aid The Queen Mother covertly oppos'd this Expedition to which the King seem'd of himself inclin'd But Cardinal Richelieu to whose management the taking of Rochelle was indebted Soaring to blaze his Name among Forreigners egg'd the King on in his Design Thus the Italian Expedition having been resolv'd on notwithstanding the Rigours of the Season and the obstacles thwarting it the King sell to march with his Army and the Rumour of his Coming being Spread far and near long before his appearing Upon the frontiers His Adversaries thoughts were wholly employ'd in barring him Entrance either willingly or by Force The first means seeming more easy than the second The Duke of Savoy having declar'd against the new Duke of Mantoua sent his Son to meet the King and encharg'd him with Sundry Proposals but not one of 'em being Satisfactory to the King or Cardinal to whom the King referr'd all things this Prince was oblig'd to get him back to his Father and return with new Instructions In the mean while the Pass of Susa was forc't but while the King was preparing to make the Duke of Savoy repent the Resistance he dar'd to make his Son arriv'd who in virtue of the Pow'r he had from him submitted to all the Conditions the Court of France thought fitting to impose As soon as the Spaniards knew of the Accommodation they drew their Troups from before Cazal for that otherwise the Land of Milan had remain'd Expos'd The Imperialists did the like and the King overjoy'd with having sav'd the place by the bare Rumour of his Fame sent Thoiras thither without engaging himself farther The King's journey into Italy had been the Discourse in all Courts long afore it's being undertaken for we were very willing to shew thereby to Our Allies that in the hurry of Domestick Combustions we were not wanting to take care of Forreign Affairs The news of it came to the ears of the Viscount de Turenne still in Holland as well as to the ears of many Others and being enflam'd with a desire to signalize himself in his own Countrey he thence took occasion to desire his return into France But Prince Henry Frederick wou'd in no wise grant it alleadging the War of the Hughenots not to be yet terminated and perhaps wou'd be again renew'd in a very little while that thus it was not justice to go draw his Sword against his Brothers who had ever had so much regard for their Family that it became him to follow his Fathers example who retir'd and staid at his own home as soon as he saw the Ministry benâ— upon infringing the Edicts under whose Faith those of their Communion had thought themselves in safety His Mother wrote to him to the same purpose upon this Subject and as he was all Obedience to her Monsieur the Duke of Bouillon being Dead at
Successes gave still more Courage to the Garrison of Cazal who defended themselves with much Bravery and hoping to be quickly Releived Thoiras found it no difficult matter to make 'em support patiently Famine and other Inconveniences of a long Siege In the mean while the Spaniards being startl'd at these Conquests thinking to do much by gaining of time they amuz'd the King with some Ouvertures of Peace and the King relying on them return'd to the Queen at Grenoble But they no sooner saw him at a Distance but that they press'd Cazal more then ever Insomuch that it was reduc'd to Extremity The King dispatcht forthwith away the Mareschal de Schomberg with the Duke of Montmorency to march into those Parts and the Duke of Montmorency meeting with the Prince of Piemont near Veillaine deliver'd him Battle and utterly defeated him His Victory was follow'd with the taking of Veillaine Salluces Villa-Franca Pontrallier and with the Desolation of Piemont Turin still upheld the Duke's tottering Fortune but his Troups having been beaten in endeavouring to Defend the Passage of the Po in all likelihood the Rest of his Dominions were going to fall into his Enemies hands if not hindred by two things One the Pestilence beginning to make Great Havock in Our Troups Other his Death which brought a great Change for his Son not succeeding to his Passions as he did to his Dominions instead of resolving upon Continuing the War manifested so much inclination to Peace that he Peremptorily declar'd his meaning was to remain Neuter After this thinking that another Declaration wou'd still advance this work he promis'd to employ his Arms against that Party as shou'd refuse to make Peace so as this wrought a Truce to be made between the Spaniards and Us by which Cazal was promis'd to be deliver'd to them in a certain time in case of Non-Relief and they bound themselves on their side to furnish the Garrison with victuals of which it had extreme need All the Parties believ'd they had got by this Treaty for the Spaniards imagin'd they had been sufficiently Cunning in having been able to hinder our Troups from passing on Wee pretended to have sav'd Cazal by delivering it from Famine and gaining time to relieve it Be it as it will Mazarine who had a hand in this Treaty and came to the King as far as Grenoble on this Account thereby acquir'd great Honour and this Beginning of good fortune laid the foundation of his future Advancement Spinola having likewise been employ'd in this Treaty did not gain the like Repute On the contrary the Spaniards having complain'd of his easiness in making this Cessation they began to misuse him and their ill treatment being so much the more sensible to him in that he had rendred them great Services the grief of it Kill'd him In the mean while as greater Preparations than ever were making on the one side to Succour Cazal on the other to Attack it News came that Monsieur de Lion and Father Joseph a Capuchin the Cardinals Confident residing at Ratisbon on the King's behalf had made a Treaty by which the Emperour was to give the Duke of Mantoua the Investiture of his Dominions This Treaty in all Probability must make all the Parties concern'd lay down their Arms but none being content because it contain'd several matters which each side interpreted to it's Disadvantage this notwithstanding the Armies march'd The Marquis de St. Croix succeeding Spinola in the Command of the Troups of Spain and being already come before Cazal kept close and cover'd in his Lines hoping the scituation of his Camp wou'd hinder us from passing the River of Gattola between him and Us but knowing we had Cross'd it a terrour was spread among his Forces and Mazarine being there as a Sub-delegate of the Pope's Nuncio taking that time to make New Propositions Both Parties ceas'd Hostilities 'till they had seen the Result of his Negotiation Fortune that had been already propitious to him did not abandon him in this occasion for after sundry goings and comings he prevail'd with both Parties not to proceed further The Principal Conditions of this Treaty were that we should remit Cazal into the hands of an Italian Garrison Subject to the Duke of Mantoua But having caus'd some French to enter Disguis'd into the Place the Hostilities were just a going to be renew'd had not Mazarine interpos'd again Nothing more now remain'd than the restoring to the Duke of Savoy the Places taken from his Father but the Cardinal de Richelieu being minded to retain Pignerol the taking of which was his Atchievement he wou'd never listen to any such-Proposals as were contrary to what he intended In the mean while new Troubles arose in France and gradually as the Cardinals Repute encreased among Strangers his Enemies endeavour'd to debase him in France The Duke of Orleans who serv'd for an Implement to all the Male-contents who were hewing at and undermining the Cardinal's fortune Vext that a Certain Person had been confin'd to Vincennes took thence Occasion to withdraw from Court and went to Orleans The King no sooner knew of his Departure but being Inform'd at the same time of the Correspondence he had with Foreigners he resolv'd to prevent the Inconveniencies that might happen if he left the Kingdom For which Reason he sent Men after him to Seize on his Person and went himself to Second those Men in Case it Chanc'd to break forth into a Rebellion The Duke of Orleans knowing with what Design the King his Brother was departed Paris left Orleans and fled into Burgundy where the Duke de Bellegarde Governour of the Province had promis'd him a Retreat But having found all things there ill dispos'd for Maintaining a War and besides several Persons who had promis'd to follow his fortune having fail'd him he past on into la Franche-Comâ—è and from thence into Lorrain whither he was call'd by New-Amours The Duke of Lorrain of as Turbulent a Temper at least as the Duke of Orleans receiv'd him with Open Arms and to make sure of him gave him his Sister Marguerite in Marriage a Princess of Extraordinary Beauty but of somewhat an Odd sort of Humour The King suspecting the Queen-Mother not only to have â—ent a hand to all these Transactions but to have been the Cause of 'em by her Ill Councils commanded Her to retire to Compeigne and put Her under Guards The Queen-Mother provok'd a this Ill-treatment only watcht to deceive their Vigilance to make her Escape to Capelle where she had Intelligence with the Governour Cardinal Richelieu being her greatest Enemy and willing to have her far enough off tho' he ow'd to her the Obligation of his fortune commanded the Guards to allow Her the Occasion of making her Escape But himself Securing Capelle that Princess found no Harbour there so as not knowing where to put her Head she entred the Low-Countreys where the Governess receiv'd her neither more nor less than if she had
been Queen of Spain Cardinal Richelieu was overjoy'd to see her in the Spaniards hands for after this the King cou'd no longer doubt of her holding correspondence with them and as he hated them mortally his Aversion for his Mother became still so much the Stronger However still more and more to heighten this Aversion of his the Cardinal dispatcht away several Courriers to desire her to return but as he Expected that the more she saw her self Courted the more Stiff and Refractory she wou'd be against all Complyance the Courriers only brought back Refusals with arrogant Propositions so as this fail'd not of producing the effect he expected In the mean while all the Resentment sell upon the Duke of Lorrain The King having assembled a Powerfull Army put himself upon the March to go attack Nancy while on another side the Mareschal de la Force laid Siege to Moyenvic Moyenvic made no great Resistance for a Place so strong but the King was not so Quick as being willing to give the Duke of Lorrain time to prevent his Anger This Duke had foreseen this Storm and Endeavour'd to draw Madam de Bouillon into his Party who in the Absence of her Children had full Pow'r in Sedan but this Princess in no wise minded to be concern'd in those sorts of Affairs had refus'd his Offers so as that the Duke having no hopes left save in Submission he came in Person to the King After he had Excus'd himself in the business of the Duke of Orlean's Match and promis'd to abandon him there remain'd nothing more than his giving of Sureties for his keeping his Word and the King being contented with those he offer'd him he retreated with his Forces out of Lorrain But the Duke forgetting his Promises accordingly as he saw the King drawn farther off he never troubled his head further about performing the Treaty so that bating that the Duke of Orleans was gone to Bruxelles there was not any Change in his Conduct The King being well inform'd of his Designs had hardly had time to refresh himself when he must think of going to Chastize him anew But during these Occurrences Madam de Bouillon had a Secret advice that he might possibly turn his Arms against her upon his knowing the Proposals made her by the Duke of Lorrain At the same time she sent a Courrier to her Children to impart to them this News But Mr. de Bouillon not thinking the Intimation did Challenge any Credit left M. de Turenne the Liberty of going to reincourage her in this Occasion The Viscount de Turenne who desired nothing more than to get near the Court was far enough from making any longer stay in Holland and after having taken his Leave of the Prince of Orange and his Friends he departed for Sedan where he was no sooner arriv'd than that he went to assure the King of his Obedience and of Madame his Mothers The King receiv'd him very obligingly and having declar'd to him he never doubted of the fidelity of his House he sent him back to Sedan where the Mareschal de la Force since his Father-in-Law arriv'd some time after on the King's behalf to Swear Madam de Bouillon in the Present Conjunctures and he who commanded in her sons Absence to remain Loyal to him An Act was drawn-up in due form by which the Mareschal oblig'd himself in the Kings Name to take their House into His Protection Which had been allready once done since the King came to the Crown and once afore under the Reign of Henry the Great of happy Memory In the mean while the King was Entred Lorrain where after having taken Pont-a-Mousson Barleduc and St. Miel he approach'd Nancy The Duke whose Forces were not capable of facing these of so Powerfull a King fearing that with the Loss of his Capital City he might run the risque of losing his Dominions Chose to go in Person to the King to whom he had allready sent several times the Prince his Brother The King receiv'd him very cooly and the Cardinal whom he was also oblig'd to see in this Occasion made him yet a worse Entertainment but this Prince pretending not to mind it in his Present Circumstances entred into Negotiation with this Minister and cou'd not free himself out of this Business but by abandoning the Propriety of Clermont and Suffering Garrisons to be put into Stenay and Jametz The Viscount de Turenne being come into the Kings Army as he had giv'n a thousand Proofs of his Courage he receiv'd from this Prince and his Minister all manner of Good Treatments and the latter a man well known in all things finding him to be a person Excellently well qualify'd was willing to oblige him to the Kings Service and so procur'd him a Regiment of foot The Viscount de Turenne being highly Satisfy'd with the manner of his Reception at Court long'd only for Occasions to Signalize himself that he might be able to give proofs of his Acknowledgement In the mean while as the Eyes of all People were upon his Merit and that his Birth besides render'd him Considerable he was quickly courted by those who aim'd at Embroiling the State as an Instrument capable of making them Succeed in their Design But this Prince too much hated their Cabals and their Rebellion to suffer himself to be Seduced He had over and above so strong an Aversion to the Spaniards who had a hand in all these Intrigues that he was their most Mortal Enemy He had been train'd-up in this Aversion by the Duke of Bouillon his Father and after having suck'd it as I may say with his Milk he had observ'd from the time he had any knowledge of things the Persecutions they had brought upon those of his Religion For they it was who to divert the King's Arms from off their own Territories had fomented the Wars made upon them and Cardinal Richelieu had too much Wit to be so grossly deceiv'd yet considering the State of things at his entring upon his Ministry he did not dare to interrupt them out of fear of the Queen-Mother who would have it so and least it shou'd be said that he who as a Bishop had more strict obligations to destroy the Hughenots had sav'd them being so near their Ruine Yet he let no occasion scape of making known to the King the little Faith they shew'd in all things and principally at the Siege of Rochelle for after having promis'd to send Ships they deserr'd from day to day the Execution of their Promises and when they were at length oblig'd to do it they arriv'd in so ill a Condition that they were wholly unserviceable The Opinion which the Viscount de Turenne had of them was known to the Cardinal and it pleas'd him infinitely for whether it proceeded from the Zeal he had for his Religion or from an Antipathy natural to him or the one or the other was still advantageous to the service of the Crown In the mean while a man
pretended to be furnish'd with Provisions having learnt this News fell Sick of Grief or perhaps by an accident meerly Natural be it as it will he Dying some days after the Mareschal d'Estree was sent in his Room who laid Siege to Trier This Place more considerable for it's Scituation than it's Strength made but a Sorry Resistance Yet the Viscount de Turenne then in the Army Scap'd not running much Danger having receiv'd a Bullet in his Armour Coblentz Clutch'd by the Spaniards Surrendred in like manner to the Suedes and they put it in our hands Conformably to a Treaty we had newly made with them by the Ministry of the Marquis de Bressé These Novelties took away all doubt of a War with the Spaniard joyn'd to this that they had formally declar'd themselves for the Queen Mother and the Duke of Orleans whom they had furnished with Troups But the Hollanders having in that time besieg'd Mastricht they were constrain'd to take them back and employ them on that side Mastricht was so important a place that they resolv'd to use their utmost efforts for it's conservation But their Forces not being sufficient for so great a Design they had recourse to Papenheim Commanding a flying Camp for the Emperour's Service Papenheim after having pass'd several Rivers across a thousand Dangers came at length upon the Meuse where he was joyn'd by the Spaniards But having perceiv'd the Prince of Orange's Camp to be so well fortify'd that he wou'd have much the Disadvantage in coming to Blows he caus'd several Skirmishes to be made so to draw him out of his Lines The Prince of Orange resolving to maintain his Advantage let him spend his flame and rested satisfy'd with opposing him with some small Troup of Horse that risqued nothing So as Papenheim perceiving he only lost time retir'd without making any further Attempt Thus the City of Mastricht fell into the States hands who conferr'd the Government of it on the Duke of Bouillon This Unfortunate Success did not paule the Duke of Orleans in his sinister Designs but not being able to get from the Spaniards the Succours he expected nor from the Dukes of Bellegarde and Lorrain he march'd away for Languedoc where the Duke of Montmorency had caus'd all the Towns to rise In his Passage he endeavour'd to draw-in Dijon to his Party but that Town refusing so much as to receive his Letters he reveng'd himself upon the Houses in it's Neighbourhood which were plunder'd by his Souldiers In fine after having in vain endeavour'd to urge into an Insurrection divers of those Provinces thro' which he directed his way he came into Languedoc and was receiv'd by the Duke of Montmorency nor more nor less than if he had been the King himself For to attract the more people into the Rebellion it was requisite to set up some vain Image of Royalty to which those People as well as the rest of the French have a strong Inclination However he still retain'd the Authority in his own hands and this Prince only serv'd him for a Cloak to cover his Ambition As soon as this Rebellion broke out there 's no describing the sensible Affliction it gave the Viscount de Turenne Besides his being the Duke of Montmorency's Relation he had for him a peculiar esteem and vex'd to see him fully so many noble Actions by one so contrary to the former he equally apprehended both the Success of his Enterprize and the Chastizement The Criminal was Dear to him but on another side his fault was Great and requir'd the King's revenging his Authority wounded by so Enormous an attempt so that notwithstanding all his great Concern for his Safety he wou'd have Condemn'd him himself had he been his Judge In the mean while the King still in Lorrain had detach'd the Mareschal de Schomberg to suppress this Rebellion and the Duke of Montmorency having notice of his being already entred Languedock with full Design to fight him he went to meet him so to Spare him half the way A River was there between the two Armies and the Duke of Montmorency having pass'd it rather as a Volunteer than a General his temerity was attended with a speedy Repentance Before his men cou'd come-in to his Assistance dangerously was he wounded but not losing Courage he pierc'd thro' to the last rank of a Bataillon of the Guards and being only follow'd by a few of his men among whom were the Count of Moret the Kings Natural Brother with the Counts of Rieux and de la Feuillade he receiv'd several wounds more and was at length taken fighting like a Lyon As for those three Counts they were kill'd upon the spot and their Death 's hindred them from perishing by the hand of an Executioner as undoubtedly they cou'd not have avoided for they were no less culpable than the Duke of Montmorency and especially the Count de la Feuillade who had occasion'd the Insurrection of all the Nobless of Limosin to Conduct 'em to the Succours of the Duke of Orleans If the Duke of Montmorency's Rebellion had sensibly griev'd the Viscount de Turenne his Imprisonment overwhelm'd him with Affliction for he thence fore-saw fatal Consequences and principally when he made Reflexion upon the jealousy born him by Cardinal Richelieu For out of the Desire this Minister had of Promoting his House he endeavour'd to debase all others and especially those that had been in Lustre since the Establishment of the Monarchy and which would ever top his whatever Settlement he might procure it And indeed without Vouchsafing to hear those who spoke in the Dukes Behalf he referr'd all the Interceders to the King whom he had allready dispos'd to severity and now the Man wont to be intermeddling in all e'vn the least things was very willing to be thought not to intermeddle in the least in this Occasion so to reject upon the Prince the Spite that might be conceiv'd at his justice This however did not hinder several Persons from laying themselves at the Kings feet to obtain this Dukes Pardon but shewing himself inexorable Judges were Commissionated who sentenc'd him to be beheaded The Viscount de Turenne whom nothing cou'd divert from his duty without considering it to be in no wise making his Court to the Cardinal implor'd Mercy of the King for this Poor Lord but the King having not Yielded to the Prayers of the Duke of Orleans nor to those of the Prince of Condé nor wou'd he hear his so that the Sentence was Executed to the great Grief of all People Thus dy'd Henry of Montmorency Peer and Marshal of France at Thirty Seaven years of Age a Lord of a Comely Personage Brother in Law of the First Prince of the Blood and whose House had possess'd the first Offices of the Crown but still more considerable by his Merit then by that of his Ancestors In fine illustrious in all his Life Excepting it's last Action His Death did not appease the troubles of the Kingdom
The Duke of Orleans being Exasperated at his Execution so much the more that Bullion had promis'd him his pardon from the King withdrew anew into Lorrain where he found the same Retreat he had found some time afore For the Duke of Lorrain as faithless as Ever desired nothing better than to foment Broiles and Cumbustions notwithstanding the losses he had suffer'd hoping that if fortune was once adverse to the Cardinal a time wou'd not only come for him to recover what he had lost but likewise to make some Other Conquests But the King not thinking fit to give him time to prepare for his Defence departed immediately from Paris and went and laid Seige to Nancy where the Duke of Orleans was in no wise minded to Stay his Coming The Regiment of Turenne was at first Commanded on this Expedition but having receiv'd a Counter-order two Days after this Prince who had particularly pleas'd himself with the Expectation of signalizing himself in the Kings presence march'd away for Alsace whither Troups were sent against the Duke of Feria there at that time with an Army of Germans and Spaniards In the mean while a Great Viciscitude had happen'd in Germany The King of Sueden after having reduc'd the Emperour to the bare Hereditary Provinces forc'd the Duke of Bavaria out of his Capital City and extended his Reputation ev'n beyond his hopes At last fortune grown weary of favouring him had terminated so many gallant Actions by his Death The Emperour seeing himself as low as he had seen himself Exalted a little while afore attributing so great a Change to the fault he Committed in having divested Wallestein of the Command of his Armies and being rosolv'd to restore it him had Caus'd such advantageous Conditions to be offer'd him that a man might say he had with him shar'd the Empire for Wallestein had the Power of making Peace and Warr of disposing of Conquests of the Booty of Winter Quarters and of all that Soveraigns are wont to reserve to themselves for fear of giving too much Credit to their Generalls Wallestein having thus on these Conditions taken the Command on him again had no sooner caus'd his Drum to be Beat than that flocking there was from all sides to list under him for Martial Men knowing his Liberal humour and the Kindness he had for Souldiers reckon'd it unworthy to dissolve in repose while that he they look'd on as their father should Expose himself to hardships Dangers Thus he had quickly brought on foot a New Army compos'd of Veteran Officers and Veteran Souldiers and tho' the Imperial Court had great faith in him yet could it not refrain being Surpriz'd at the Suddainness with which he had accomplisht so difficult a matter Fortune that had ever favour'd this Captain till such time as the Duke of Bavaria had depos'd him out of Jealousy seem'd then to make him a Reparation for that Injury For this Duke being distress'd by the King of Sueden dispatcht to him divers Courriers to intreat him without remembring what was past that he wou'd march to his Relief But Wallastein being very glad to Mortify him contented himself with giving him fair Promises and marching sometimes slowly and sometimes stopping on purpose at Paultry Borroughs he had the pleasure to see him reduc'd to such an Extremity that he was already become a Fugitive and just upon the Point of Emploring his Enemies Mercy Thinking it then Glorious to Succour this Unhappy Prince he turn'd his Arms against Nurembourg expecting the King of Sueden to abandon Bavaria to run to the Defence of that Place The Bavarians joyn'd the Troups of Wallestein and having render'd themselves still the more formidable by this Means the King of Sueden March'd against him with Design to give him Battle The two Armies being but a League and half distant from one another Wallestein retrench'd himself in his Camp and the King of Sueden's thoughts were only how to lure him thence to decide their Quarrel in one Day But Wallestein rather using the Skin then the Sword stopp'd the fury of his Enemy Insomuch that the Two Armies remain'd some days gazing upon one another All Peoples Eyes were in the mean time turn'd upon these Two Great Generals to see on which side fortune would declare her self But the King of Sueden thinking that after so many Victories it tended to his Prejudice to remain so long without any Performances undertook to force his Camp and gave the Orders Necessary for the Execution of that Design The First Successes were answerable to his hopes The Bavarians whose Quarter he had attack'd were forc'd after a Vigorous Defence But just in the Nick when he thought he had won all Wallestein with his own Troups ran to Succour his Men and not only re-establish'd things by his Presence but likewise made them Change face so that the King of Sueden after having left three Thousand Men on the Spot was constrain'd to retreat The Duke of Bavaria re-conquer'd his Dominions after this Advantage and having put a Garrison into Ratisbone the Empire that had groan'd so long began to breath again In the mean while Wallestein being minded to be reveng'd on the Duke of Saxony one of the King of Sueden's Principal Buttresses entred his Territories through which he Shot Terrour and Consternation The King of Sueden durst not oppose this Torrent before he had encreas'd his Army with some Succours brought him by his Lieutenants her there dispers'd for divers Conquests But when he saw himself strong enough as not to be under any fear he March'd against the Enemy who had attack'd Leipsik and was become Master of that Place before he cou'd get up to it's Relief The Experience of the Commanders and the Valour of the Souldiers render'd the two Armies allmost Equal and as Both sides were Cock-a-hoop to fight they came to Blows near Lutzen a little Village of small renown before but made famous by so great a Battle The Fight began at Break of Day and the Beginnings were favourable to Gustavus who drove away the Enemies from Certain Ditches that Separated the two Armies took Six of their Cannon and turn'd 'em against 'em which put 'em into Great disorder However the German Cavalry being come up before the Suedish could fill up their Ditches for their Passing it drove away the Enemies in it's turn retook four Canons and seiz'd on the Posts the infantry had Newly lost The Germans being now become fierce and haughty with this Success pass'd then the Ditches which hinder'd them from joyning the Suedes and now no more Impediment intervening the Designs of either side Both Parties fell in Pell-Mell with one another Each demonstrating a Great Passion for Victory The King of Sueden being in the Right Wing of his Army and his Presence augmenting the Courage of his Men routed all that stood in Opposition but being minded to go from One Wing to the Other to see how matters went he encounter'd Picolomini in
Brave Defence and layd several dead at his feet After this manner dy'd Albert Wallestein Who after having render'd the Empire Flourishing and been depos'd out of jealousy had had the Pleasure to see his Enemies so confounded that they were reduc'd to have recourse to him who sav'd the Empire when just upon the point of falling but having conceiv'd Criminal Designs was at last treated as he merited Though he was of Eminent Extraction yet born to a very scanty Estate but his Courage Supplying this Defect he found means to acquire such immense Riches that he several times brought Armies on foot at his own Cost built Stately Palaces in fine Equall'd the Greatest Princes whether for the Number of Domesticks for the Sumptuousness of Movables for the Delicacy of the Table or for the Beauty of his Stable The next day after his Death Duke Albert Francis of Saxony whom the Duke of Weymer sent to agree with him the Conditions under which they were to make War upon the Emperour was Seiz'd on without having had notice of what Occurr'd Such Great Mutations cou'd not happen in the Empire without Occasioning it new Losses Cardinal Richelieu having had correspondence with Wallestein and having the faculty to improve all things to advantage imagining some time wou'd be spent before the Emperour cou'd retrieve and settle his Authority he had so prevail'd with the Duke of Weymer as that he had made him beseige Brisac while the Rhingrave with another Body of Troups had taken Ensheim Fribourg and Rhinfeld Two Battails had also been fought against him wherein he had had the Disadvantage the one against the Rhinegrave near Tarn the other at Lignitz against General Arnhem So many Great Successes Courted the Attention of all the World and at the same time the Admiration But they still waited to judge of the Event of Things by what should happen at the Siege of Brisac which was to open to us the Gates of Germany and furnish us with the means of joyning our selves to our Alleys This only seem'd wanting to the Kings happyness he having newly reduc'd the Duke of Lorrain to Reason and constrain'd him to put his Metropolis into his hands for he cou'd take no other Assurance of a Prince who had fail'd him so often in his word In the mean while tho' the Viscount De Turenne took as much Interest as any Body in the Success of the Kings Arms he cou'd not hear so many Great events discourst of without being affected with a strong Emulation It vext him to remain a Spectatour of so many Great things without having more share in them and it seem'd to him as if all the Glory of 'em was reserv'd for Others while he himself was only an eye-witness of 'em For which Reason after Alexanders example whose Courage he had he was seen to shed tears several times at the recital of the Actions of so many Great Captains which the Age was full of But as he admir'd not any one so much as the King of Sueden he wept and bewail'd him no less than if he had been his Father He said it to be great Pity for so Great a King to dye in the flour of his Age but that he shou'd nevertheless be content to Live much less than He to acquire a like Reputation He caus'd all his Glorious Exploits to be related to him and cry'd so great a Man ought to be immortal An Officer unwittingly having told him that he that had kill'd him had done his Country a great kindness and I said he believe he has done it a great injury for never any other will fight with so much Courage for the Interest of the Religion These Words seem'd very fine to those who took Notice in what sence he had said them for by this they perceiv'd that he prefer'd Religion before all things yet he did not love to dispute about it for he knew that these sort of Disputes rather engender Division than reunite Peoples minds He said that People never brought the Necessary Disposition for such sort of matters that it was rather amidst Wine and Debauchery that points of Religion were canvast than when they were fasting Though he was very passionate as I may say for the Memory of the Great Gustavus yet was he not wanting to bewail and Commiserate Wallestein's Destiny whose Services he fancy'd merited a Better treatment I do not doubt said he but that he conceiv'd Criminal Designs against his Master all his Actions are reputed as so many Crimes and as things of this World may be diversly interpreted it is not to be wonder'd that if his have been explain'd in ill part In reality some there are that assert he did not fall into Cabals till after the Particular Knowlege he had that his Ruine was resolv'd on Be it as it will the Viscount De Turenne did not thus take his part but thro' the Goodness of his Disposition which did not suffer him to hear any Body spoke ill of for as well for Others as for himself he was enclin'd to judge favourably of all things He said a Worthy Man that is a man of some Extraction and had been brought up by Virtuous Parents had ever an inclination prone to Good that true it is Ambition as well as several other Vices often Corrupted Manners but that it must be granted that the Ambitious ever retain some shadow of Virtue and that before they throw themselves into the Precipice they are hurry'd thither by several ill treatments People generally delighted to hear him discourse in this manner for tho' his Speech was not absolutely free what he said was attended with more gracefullness in his Mouth than in the Mouth of many others gifted with a more easy utterance And indeed they only consider'd the Sentiments without dwelling upon an Infirmity of Nature which serv'd only the more to Set of and Enhance his Merit for he was so much the more Circumspect in speaking and when he spoke they were as so many Sentences I know not whether the kindness we have commonly for those who have some conformity of humour with us made him esteem those who talk'd little like himself or whether this Esteem was naturall to him but as much as he lov'd them as much did he hate great Talkers He said it to be impossible for those sort of People to Obviate bolting frequent fooleries and as there sometimes arose Quarrels among the Officers from over-much babbling he thence took occasion to remonstrate to Others that they could not with too much Precaution abstain from that infirmity Yet he never address'd his Speech to any one that could be suspected of this Defect but spoke indifferently to all People Nay and sometimes out of fear that some one of the Number might apply to himself what he said he discourst with the Wisest and most reserv'd as if it had been to him he directed his Discourse Yet he was very well content not to be allways applauded for he
Arm for he did not approve of the procedure of of those who to accquaint others they have receiv'd a Wound in a certain occasion make Parade or of a Scarf or of a Plaister a long while after they are no longer needfull as if such contingencies render'd 'em the more worthy of Esteem He said to this purpose that a Coward was wounded as soon as a Brave man that thus it was a mistake to think to derive a Vanity from a thing which was as common to those that wanted heart as to those that had Courage Tho' his Wound was not considerable as I have already said the whole Army not only express'd their Concern for this Accident but also all the great personages in France from whom he receiv'd Letters But willing to undeceive them he writ himself his Answers to them thinking there to be no better means to let them see that the mischance was not so bad as they might perhaps imagine Some of his Servants having nevertheless told him it wou'd be for his Advantage not to undeceive so soon the Court from whence he might hope for the more favours he answer'd him that he was not of a humour to deceive any body and much less the King than any other About this time or a little afore the Duke of Orleans not being able to calm the Spleen he bore the Cardinal was retir'd to Blois and wanted not a Pretext to Palliate his Retreat The Count of Soissons being pusht on with the same Spirit was likewise gone to Sedan which made the Viscount de Turenne fear that this might excite troubles in the Realm and in his House for Monsieur de Bouillon his Brother must necessarily have giv'n his Consent to the Count of Soisson's fault and as he did not doubt but that the Cardinal de Richelieu wou'd be very glad to augment the Frontier with so fine a Place as Sedan he lay under some apprehension the Cardinal wou'd lay hold on this occasion to divest his Family of it And indeed it is to be presum'd that this was sufficiently this Ministers Design But as the Kingdom had been as I may say within two inches of it's Ruine he was afraid least that as he was the Author of the War he might be render'd responsible for the bad events that might happen if after having introduc'd a Forreign he also introduc'd a Civil War Wherefore this consideration inclin'd him to handle things mildly and having found the means to sweeten the Duke of Orlean's Discontent by making him hope the King wou'd consent to his Marriage only the Count de Soissons had he now with whom to treat but whose humour was more difficult to manage This Prince as all know was only the last Prince of the Blood but as he had Pretensions to become the first for he had had Process against the Prince of Condé hoping to cause him to be declar'd a Bastard by reason he came into the world thirteen Months after his Father's Death he carry'd it so high that many people thought him to be proud However the source of his Discontent proceeded from his imagining his not having Justice done him and tho' he had lost his process by an Arrest of Parliament that had judg'd in Consequence of a Result of Physicians that the Princess of Condé's grief for her Husbands Death might have retarded her Fruit he treated this as a Trifle and made Annually Protestations against this Arrest Cardinal de Richelieu knowing that this Affair lay deep in his Heart had a Proposal made to him by Senneterre the Intendant of his family that if he wou'd Marry Madam de Combalet his Niece he wou'd serve him with all his Credit but this Prince refusing to exalt himself by a baseness of this nature for this Lady was said to be one of the Cardinals comfortable Importances was furiously angry with Senneterre for having taken upon him this Commission and having ratled him with severe language nay and as they say cuff'd him too he wou'd not see him any more This ill usage wrought his Fortune for the Cardinal thinking himself oblig'd to take care of him conferr'd on him Benefits and procur'd him Honours which afore he durst not have hoped for In sine his Son has pusht things still further and dy'd Duke and Peer and Mareschal of France So true is it that when Fortune once begins to look on us with a good eye She 's not weary afterwards of Conferring on us Favours The Cardinal's Arrogance incens'd him at the manner of the Count de Soisson's receiving his Offers but being retain'd by the considerations above-mention'd he dissembl'd his Resentment and consented he should stay at Sedan where to divert him from the thoughts he might have of embroiling the State he engag'd him in some little Amours by the means of some of his Domesticks that were his Pensioners Being assur'd on that side his thoughts soar'd only now at waging War against Forreigners For that purpose he desir'd the Duke of Weymar to take a turn to Paris that he might conferr with him and they took together Measures for the Affairs of Germany yet without forgetting those of Flanders where he design'd to make his greatest efforts The Duke of Weymar being return'd satisfy'd with the Reception made him by the King and his Minister assembled his Army while that a part of our Troups that had serv'd in Germany the year afore had orders to file upon the Frontier of Flanders The Viscount de Turenne who had been alarm'd at the Count de Soissons Affair and had an inconceiveable joy to see it had no sequel having been appointed to serve in those Troups went thither with the Cardinal de la Valette who had the Command of them but to whom they had giv'n the Duke of Candalle his Brother to Command jointly with him Besides this two Other Armies were there One under the Conduct of the Marquis de la Meillaraye Great Master of the Artillery Cardinal Richelieus Nephew the Other under the Mareschal de Chatillon This to hinder the Succours of the Germains advanc'd into Luxembourg where it took Danvillers the Other march'd on the Sea side and pretended thro' some Correspondence to make sure of St. Omer but the Traytors having fail'd in their Word it was not strong enough to attack a Place of that Consequence and whose bare Approches were capable of making it receive some Affront for this City is invironed with an Infinite Number of Forts that Defend it and are not Easy to be Won In the mean while the Cardinal de la Valette was entred Flanders at the Head of an Army of Eighteen Thousand Men and had attack'd Chateau-Cambresis Having taken it he caus'd his Troups to march against Landrecies a Small Place but strong thro' it's Scituation and it's Out-works so that not daring to undertake this Conquest with such a Handfull of Men he rested Satisfy'd with investing it till such time as he was joyn'd by Meilleraye This
could not have had more for a Son Not that withall this there was any great Sympathy of Humour between them The Dake d'Anguien lov'd all sorts of Pleasures ev'n to becoming the Slave of Voluptuousness whereas the Viscount de Turenne's whole Delight Consisted in his Duty The Duke d'Anguien was Cholerick and full of Fire the Viscount de Turenne Mild and Temperate The Duke d'Anguien Eloquent and a great Talker the Viscount de Turenne spoke little and had as I have already said some difficulty to Express himself In short they had no affinity but that they were both Brave and Cool in Command but otherwise so different of Humour that People had reason to Wonder how that Nature having made them generally so unlike had nevertheless giv'n them two Qualities so resembling In vain did the Viscount de Turenne seek out the Enemies their precaution to shun Meeting him was greater than his Cunning to find them out so as that fearing to lose his time if he persever'd in his Design he drew near Philipsbourg that stood in Want of Sundry Necessaries He had there a World of Proposalls made him on the behalf of the Grandees of the Kingdom who being dissatisfy'd with Cardinal Mazarin sought to wrest new favours from his Eminency by making themselves formidable but nothing being so Dear to him as his Duty he wou'd not give the least hearing to any of their Offers tho' they would have assur'd him of vast Pensions and promis'd him a thousand fine things capable of staggering another's fidelity The Spaniards assisting allso in the Attacque offer'd him great Advantages and endeavour'd to Engage him thro' the Resentment they fancy'd he could not otherwise than harbour for the Concerns of Sedan but his answer to him who broke their business to him was that in case he was ever urg'd upon the like point again he wou'd make him that did it from ever more being capable of making such like Propositions Yet he knew not whether he ought to mention these sorts of things to the Queen-Mother having no proofs in hand and fearing he might be fac'd down into a Lye for he suspected the Greatest of the Kingdom to be tampering in this Intrigue his Suspition reach'd even as far as the Duke of Orleans And indeed that Prince less to content his own Ambition that that of his favourits was not satisfy'd with the Place he held in the Council and though it was the first yet he had it buzz'd in his Ears that while the Cardinal left his Royal Highness the superficiall Badges of Authority he attributed it all to himself The Prince of Condé on his side though he accumulated immense Riches found fault if he was refus'd the least thing either for himself or his Creatures and wou'd have listen'd to any sort of Proposall that tended to render him still more powerfull than he was The Cardinal was very much at a plunge how to buoy himself up amid such self-Interest'd and such Turbulent Spirits and all his Policy tended only to make the Duke of Orleans his Rempart against the Prince of Conde and then again the Prince of Conde against the Duke of Orleans The Spaniards had a fair opportunity to do their Business amid all these Divisions And indeed the King of Spain being unwilling to let slip such an Occasion as this return'd himself into Catalonia where he beleaguer'd Lerida which the Mareschal de la-Mothe try'd in vain to Succour A part of our Army was there defeated but this having not hinder'd that Mareschal from undertaking to besiege Terragona he was also compell'd to raise that Siege which a little lessen'd the same he had acquir'd in that Country Yet some there were who found he had reason for doing what he did For besides that His Catholique Majesty had forces infinitely above his and that it was not safe staying his Coming he was afraid least that King might have some Design upon Barcelona or upon Balaguier and that it wou'd be too late to redress it if he stay'd any longer before Terragona Be it as it will the Court imposing to him those unhappy Events sent the Count of Harcourt in his Room hoping that after the Glory he had acquired in Italy his bare name wou'd be capable of Creating a Terrour in the Enemies The Spaniards were not altogether so happy beyond the Alpes Prince Thomas though he had only a feeble Succours from us sustain'd the Affairs of Italy by his own Repute and Credit Insomuch that after having taken the Cittadel of Ast he laid Siege to Final which nevertheless he cou'd not take As concerning Portugal that had revolted as I have already said the Spaniards cou'd do no great matters there because that the Affairs of Catalonia having robb'd'em of many of their Measures their Thoughts were wholly taken up how to reduce that Province to it's Obedience preferably to all the Rest Thus the Duke of Braganza who had been elected King by an Universal Consent of all the People dexterously making use of that Conjuncture to secure his Power he disperst some Conspiracies which a Remnant of love for the Spaniands had foster'd in the hearts of some Persons of Quality The Beginning of the year 1645. was not over-propitious to France nor to the Viscount de Turenne Who had still the Command of the Army in Germany The Efforts the Enemies had made on that side having oblig'd him to pass the Winter upon the Rhin he was at a very great loss how to provide for the Security of severall Towns that were Equally threatned Having nevertheless effected it by his Prudence so much trouble undergone seem'd now to require his enjoying some Quiet when that he had Notice that the Enemies were marching towards France He immediately pass'd the Rhin at Spire hoping that if he cou'd possess himself of the Passes they wou'd find it a hard matter to Execute their Enterprizes It was now towards the End of Winter which is very severe in those parts so as that an Army suffer'd much in a march long and difficult But the Viscount de Turenne Encouraging his Souldiers with his wonted Sweetness made them find things less painfull because that he shar'd with them ev'n to the least Inconveniencies And indeed he would have 'em Want for Nothing and Especially recommended to the Quarter-Masters to take Care to pitch upon such Posts as where the Souldiers might be shelter'd as far forth as the Place and Enemies would permit If he was oblig'd to make them Encamp he commonly Encamped with them without making use of the Privilege of a General for his Opinion was that for the well disciplining of an Army the Head must Serve it for an Example When there was a Want of Victualls he wou'd have it appear upon his Table tho' his Men could have got for him in sufficient Abundance he said it was not justice he shou'd feast while others endur'd Thirst and Hunger that would to God he cou'd afford them all sustenance
were retired they had a Gigot of Mutton and a Loin of Pork upon the Spit of which he Eat with such an Appetite that he thought he should never have been sated The Horses also met with Provender so as that after having made so good a meal he reachs the frontiere where he joyn'd the Wreeks of his Army Tâ—is Dâ—fâ—â—t so puft up the Cardinal that he troubl'd not much his head about contenting the Frondeurs And this making them consider that they had only labour'd for his Settlement resâ—lv'd to ruine him The Duke of Beaufort who immediately after the Kings Death had had singular marks of the Queens good Will had as well as the Prince of Condé Experienc'd a strange Reverse of fortune The Cardinal thro' the Ascendant he had got over this Princesses mind had found the means to render this Duke suspected and he had undergone a hard Captivity instead of the favours he might reasonably have Expected However he had happily made his Escape out of the Donjon of Vincennes but was so animated against the Cardinal that his Sufferings were as present as if he still endured them He was become Head o the Party of the Frondeurs but had little Commerce with the Court which made him gratefull to the People having withall Popular Manners The Disposition of his mind wou'd have been very advantageous for the Liberty of the Princes if another thing had not been a great Obstacle He was a Sworn Enemy of the Prince of Condé who on his side having declared himself absolutely against his House was partly the Occasion of his Misfortune for he had openly oppos'd the Match which the Cardinal wou'd have made 'tween one of his Nieces and the Duke of Mercaeur this Dukes Eldest Brother and the Cardinal had resented this so highly that he had hasten'd his Ruine The Duke of Nemours being in th' Interests of the Prince of Condé and having marry'd a Sister of the Duke of Beaufort might indeed be a mediatour between them but he was not in over-good terms with his Brother-in-Law for that his Carriage was not over-kind to the Sister He was in Love with Madam de Châtillon and either out of Complaisance to his Mistress or that he did not Love his Wife he refrain'd her Bed The Prince of Condé's friends fearing lest his Imprisonment shou'd be very long and not seeing any speedier Remedy than to come to an Accommodation with the Duke of Beaufort and his Cabal they went to the Duke of Nemours and engag'd him to remain some time without seeing Madam de Châtillon This Prince did still more He lay with his Wife and having hereby regain'd her Affection She reconcil'd him with the Duke of Beaufort her Brother This good understanding having made way for what was desired the Affair of the Princes was brought into Deliberation But as the Frondeurs demanded Conditions which the Duke of Nemours cou'd not grant without first knowing the Prince of Condé's mind he was sent to under pretence of Madam the Princess of Condé his Mother's Last Will and Testament she Dying at Châtillon upon Loir a little while afore The Person that went to his Highness having had leave to discourse him in private he explain'd to him th' Occasion of his Journey and having told him that there wanted only his Consent for his being again at Liberty the Prince of Condé gave a Promise in Writing touching the Prince of Contâ— his Brothers Marriage with Madâ—moiâ—â—lle de Chevreuse which was the unravelling of the whole Affair from the very Moment that the Promise was seen by the Frondeurs they imagin'd it to be a tye that was going to â—ink them so fast to one another that it wou'd be indissoluble Upon this supposition they went to the Duke of Orleans who was not over-well satisfy'd with the Cardinal and having still animated him by Reports full of Cunning and Artifice and wherein some Truths were blended they made his Royal Highness vow that Eminency's Ruine The Parliament far from extinguishing the hatred it bore him had still augmented it Thus finding so saiâ— an Occasion to ruine him all these Pow'rs combin'd together to effect that Design The Parliament pass'd Arrests against him the Duke d'Orleans told the Queen that he wou'd come no more to the Council as long as he shou'd be near her Person and the Frondeurs tho' they durst not talk alltogether so loud yet said enough to make the Queen apprehend some fatall Revolution In the mean while they all demanded the Princes Freedom as a thing on which depended the Peace of the State and it was a wonder to see that those who had alone Conspir'd to ravish them of it shew'd themselves so Zealous for their recovering it As the Parliament perceiv'd the Queen had much ado to resolve upon the Cardinals remove and to the Princes being set at Liberty it redoubl'd its Arrests against that Minister and pass'd one in favour of the Prisoners so as that the Queen apprehending some Disorder consented at the long run that the Cardinal shou'd go off and the Princes be releas'd out of Prison Yet this notwithstanding she was some days without Expediting an Order under the Privy Signet necessary for their Liberty but being press'd she cou'd no longer refuse it The Cardinal being the cause of this Delay tho' absent from Court having notice of what Occur'd receiv'd at the same time an Order just like that which had been Expedited and was dated two days before and departed immediately for Havre he pretended the Princes shou'd have th' obligation of their Freedom to him Yet he durst not come into their Presence till he had first pumpt them by the Mareschal de Grammont But the Prince of Condé had too much Wit to be slurr'd upon in this manner and having told his mind to that Mareschal his friend the Mareschal fear'd he shou'd not prevail with him to see the Cardinal In the mean while the Mareschal ply'd him with so many reasons and represented to him so many inconveniencies in this refusal that this Prince at length consented to his Introduction The Cardinal enter'd trembling and setting about Excusing himself the Mareschal de Grammont perceiving he wou'd make a Blundering Business on 't interrupted him saying that all thoughts were to be discarded of what had pass'd He invited them to drink together and the Prince of Condé being loth to do it as longing to be out wou'd not suffer any thing to be dress'd But calling for a relishing Bit and taking a Glass he drunk the Cardinals Health and then rose up immediately Each having done the like tho' they had not had time to put a Crumb into their Mouths the Prince of Condé went down out of his Chamber the Cardinal keeping Close at his Elbow desiring him to remember upon Occasion that his Imprisonment was the work of the Frondeurs and not his that he it was on the Contrary that contributed to his Freedom and that if his Advice had
not a Week pass'd without receiving two or three Letters under the Privy Signet but this did not hinder it from pursuing it's Road and when it had done what it pretended to they contented themselves with remonstrating to the King th' inconvenience there wou'd be in complying with his Desires They sent him Deputies ever and anon that spoke siercely against the Cardinals Return which was whisper'd up and down notwithstanding all th' Assurances giv'n to the Contrary But at length diverse Letters that were intercepted having left no room for Doubt the Prince of Condé who had long minuted the War took his journey towards Guyenne after having sent Orders to the Counts de Tavanes and de Marsin to bring him the Forces that Espous'd his Interests By this piece of Treason those two Leaders one of whom commanded in Champange and the other in Catalonia left those two Provinces as a Prey which very much further'd the Affairs of the Spaniards as well as the Civil-War which kindled at the same time in sundry parts of the Kingdom For several Governours either egg'd-on by the Zeal they had for the Interests of the Prince of Condé or hoping to advance their Fortune declar'd themselves in favour of his Highness The King seeing the main of the War was going to fall in Guyenne went into Poitou that so he might be the nearer at hand after having provided for the Frontiers as far forth as his present Circumstances wou'd allow of During these Transactions he call'd about him those in whom he cou'd put any Trust and having Written to the Viscount de Turenne he repair'd to his Majesty at Poitiers Since his return from the Enemies he had staid in his owu Family where he enjoy'd Ease and Quiet he had endeavour'd to set his Affairs to Rights by the means of some Benefits he had receiv'd from Court and seeing that in the Troubles that arose a great deal of Ambition was mingl'd with the Pretexts laid hold of to trouble the State he was very glad in having avoided the Ambuscades that had been so long laid to trepan him Being arriv'd at Poitiers he receiv'd from the King and Queen-Mother all the kind Treatments he cou'd desire For besides their being acquainted with his Merit as they stood in need of him they did not stick sometimes doing more for him than they wou'd have done in another occasion the Queen especially embrac'd him recommending her Son to him in such terms as Created Compassion for she had every moment Tydings brought of new Insurrections which made her afraid that this bad example might seduce others The Viscount de Turenne comforted her the best he was able and having assur'd her of his Loyalty he receiv'd her Orders which were to go oppose the Duke of Nemours who with a Body of Seav'n or Eight Thousand men was on the side of Montargis The Count de Harcourt March'd in the mean while against the Province of Guyenne many Towns of which allready repented of their Revolt for when the business is Waging War against one's own Prince so many things arise that were not foreseen that one wou'd often wish it were again to begin Bordeaux was divided into Factions that were all in Appearance for the Prince of Condé but were so opposite one to another thro' the Private Interest of those at the Head that the City was dayly upon the Point of it's Ruine The other Towns in the Province after their Capitals example were not in a better Posture the most part had declar'd themselves thro' the hatred they bore the Cardinal but seeing the Remedy they thought to have apply'd to their Evils was worse than the Disease it self they complain'd that those they had call'd to their Succours were only come to render them still the more miserable The Prince of Condé dissembled these things to his Principal Officers for sear they might be pall'd by seeing the Weakness of his Party Bur at the long run he cou'd not bar them of the Knowledge of it by a Sedition that happen'd at Agen wherein he wou'd have put a Garrison He found it a difficult business to disentangle himself handsomly from that matter whose Consequences he dreaded as fearing the other Towns might thereby Square their Conduct But having terminated things in an amicable manner tho' a little to his own Diminution he had news brought him which render'd him again uneasy The Duke of Beaufort had some days afore joyn'd the Duke of Nemours with four or five thousand Men and pretended by reason of his having the hand at Court of Forreign Princes to retain allso that Prerogative in the Army The Duke of Nemours did not agree to the matter and tho' Brothers in-Law they had often come to Blows if those about them had not narrowly Watcht them This Division was injurious to their Party and both remain'd without the least Action while the King drew near Anjou where the Duke of Rohan had form'd his Party thinking to pen him up between the Prince of Condé and his Adherents This News gave as I have already hinted a great deal of Vexation to the Prince of Condé and lessen'd the joy he had for some happy Successes gain'd o'er the Marquis de St. Lue the Kings Lieutenant of Guyenne However the time present made him less uneasy than the future he receiv'd dayly new Advertisements how that the misunderstanding encreas'd between the Duke of Beaufort and the Duke of Nemours and fearing that this might at the length produce some bad business he resolv'd to march that way that so by his Presence removing the Subject of Division between those two Leaders he might by that means sree himself from Apprehensions The Enterprize was extreme Dangerous several Provinces and several Rivers had he to Cross and this journey was to be perform'd without Attendance so not to abandon Guyenne but his Fortune having carry'd him thro' all these Difficulties after having evaded sundry Dangers he came into the Army of those two Dukes to the Great Contentment of all his Adherents The King had newly reduc'd the Duke of Rohan to Reason and was again mounting up the Loire to secure the Towns scituated upon that River The Viscount de Turenne having joyn'd the Marquis d'Hocquincourt who had been made Mareschal of France for having shewn Great Affection to the Cardinal to meet whom he had been upon the Frontiers and had Conducted him afterward to the very Court Commanded the Army joyntly with him they were in Quarters where Hocquincourt thought himself in Safety as imagining the Prince of Condé far distant But this Prince being desirous to signalize his coming by some illustrious Action march'd all the Night and won two of this Mareschals Quarters before he cou'd put himself into a Posture of Defence At last Hocquincourt having re-assembled all he could in hast in the general fear by reason of the night he advanc'd towards the Prince of Condé who after having Plander'd two more of his Quarters thought
of St. Cloud which the Kings Forces had a Design to seize on This Detachment being weak and St. Cloud no place of Defence it rested satisfy'd with making it self Master of the Bridge an Arch of which it blew-up by this means did they hinder the In-roads that were made to the very Gates of Paris and which had occasion'd some Clamour in the Inhabitants of that great City But the King meaning to Mortify them and punish so many Disobediences sent to recover the Bridge and upon the notice the Prince of Condé had of it he left Paris to go encourage his men being attended by several Persons of Quality nay and by several Citizens that had taken Arms. His Presence having stopp'd th' Enemies Design he march'd against St. Denis where the King held a Garrison and after having taken it he retired to Paris where there was more Caballing than Ever The King was advis'd to draw near it to retain there some Servants that were still Loyal to his Majesty and he did so upon their Desire after they had remonstrated to him that otherwise all was lost And indeed his Remoteness had made it presum'd that he abandon'd that Beauteous Town but his Presence having giv'n another Opinion those who had as it were forsaken his Party made reflection upon the fault they had Committed and their thoughts were wholly how to repair it The Viscount de Turenne still Cover'd the Kings Person in a March that lasted above forty Leagues and after having Notice of his being arriv'd at Melun he lead his Army towards Chastres that so the Prince of Condé then at Estampes might have no longer any Communication with Paris All these motions that cou'd not be made without the Desolation of the Countrey rais'd a Murmuring in the People that began to grow weary of the War so as that several Deputations were made to the King to beseech him he wou'd distance the Cardinal from his Person after which he shou'd find as much Obedience as ever in Paris and in all the Rest of the Kingdom But the most trusty servants his Majesty had in that great Town told him without mentioning to him the removing this Minister out of the way that there needed no more than his returning thither to make all things hush again that the greater part of the Parliament and of the Citizens were very much undeceiv'd of the Prince of Conde after having seen him neglect their Interests to think barely of his own that this Disposition was to be improv'd and not to wait till he had regain'd their Confidence by new Artisices In a word that they stood Warrantees for the Event and that their Lives shou'd be answerable for it These Reasons joyn'd to the Desire the King had to make the Parisians still sensible of the Inconveniencies of the War that so they might have still the more Passion for Peace made his Majesty resolve upon Causing Estampes to be attack'd the taking of which wou'd have cut off the Communication with Orleans from whence they receiv'd a world of Wines and other things necessary to Life Yet wou'd â—e first know of the Viscount de Turenne if he approv'd of this Resolution But this General having represented to the King a world of Inconveniencies that might thence ensue the King left all things to his Ordering continu'd still in his Quarters near Chastres and Montlery In the mean while the Viscount de Turenne having Intimation that Mademoiselle d'Orleans the Duke of Orleans's Eldest Daughter had in her passage thorough Estampes desired to see the Prince of Conde's Leaguer in Arms he broak up with his own and Surpriz'd one of the Suburbs in the time the Enemies were Sprucing themselves up for that Review The Disorder therein was so great that most of the Troupers abandon'd their Horses and without Lauville the Mestre de Camp of the Regiment of Conti and who commanded the Guard and did effectually his Duty the Disorder had been much greater This Success having Surpass'd the Viscount de Turenne's hopes made him Change his mind and thinking to improve the Consternation the Enemies Army had plung'd them in he beseig'd Estampes that far from being a place of War has but one bare wall with a sorry Castle on the side of Dourden without Outworks without a Ditch nay and open on sundry sides But the Army within the Town supply'd all these Defects and an enterprize was it Sufficiently great to attack it there how ever sorry the Place Nevertheless the Viscount de Turenne having taken his Precautions rais'd his Assaults and Batteries and as he press'd the Town he had Notice that the Duke of Lorrain advanc'd to cause him to raise the Siege The Court having no Ressourse left if it chanc'd to loose it's Army was extremely Surpriz'd at this Tydings and not standing to consider what Course to take it dispatch'd away an Agent to this Duke to see whether his humour wou'd lead him to treat for some Money In the Int'rim the Viscount de Turenne had orders sent him to raise the Siege as soon as that Duke should draw near but his answer imported the thing not to be yet so Urging and that when it were so he wou'd take such Care that nothing ill shou'd come on 't The Duke of Lorrain having no greater Passion than to heap up Money was byast to the offers of the Court but as the point was the more or less he stay'd in the Neighbourhood of Paris under Colour of coming to Conferr with the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé there arose a Contest between him and the Prince of Condé for the rank and he caus'd it to last some days that so the Court might have time to bethink it self whether it shou'd give him what he demanded At last the Court not very opulent at that time having found the means to furnish the sum he requir'd it was agreed in Concert with the Duke of Orleans his Brother-in-Law that the Siege of Estampes shou'd be rais'd on Condition that as soon as the King's Army was drawn-off the Prince of Condé's Forces should Evacuate the Town The Duke of Lorrain having thus provided for his Honour talk'd of returning according to the obligation he lay under by a secret Treaty he had made with the Court But the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé exclaiming against him he promis'd to stay and instead of directing his March back for Flanders as he had engag'd to do he March'd away towards Corâ—â—al where he laid all the Open Country in Fire and Blood This oblig'd the Viscount de Turenne to March against him and some Hostilities having pass'd between the Two Armies the Duke of Lorrain took a Pretext from thence to say that the Court fail'd in its Parole to him and both Parties were oblig'd to come to New Explications But the Viscount de Turenne having learnt by Experience that mild Remedies had no effect upon him prepar'd to give him Battel The Duke
Issue of this Battel and every one was possess'd with various sentiments according to the various Passions with which he was animated Mademoiselle d'Orleans tho' such a Spectacle ought not to be over-agreeable to a Person of her Sex was come her self to the Bastille from whence she view'd all that pass'd but at length considering that notwithstanding all the Prince of Conde's admirable Performances he was upon the point of being oppress'd by numbers she caus'd the Canon to be pointed upon the Kings Army and sent to tell the Person that was upon the Guard at the Gate St. Antonie that unless he soâ—â—â—with open'd it she wou'd have him hang'd within an hour The Person at the Gate having receiv'd so precise a Command durst not Countervene it though he wou'd very willingly have render'd the King Service for he knew this Princesses humour that wou'd absolutely be obey'd and who under a female Attire shew'd the face of a man and a Heart capable of the Greatest matters she once had harbour'd hopes of marrying the King But both the Queen and Cardinal having oppos'd it she expected to match with the Duke d Anguien notwithstanding the Disproportion of Age and the Prince of Conde fed her with these hopes either that effectually he had such a design through the temptation of her great Riches or that he did it only for the Service she might do him with the Duke of Orleans her father The King seeing that Paris had declar'd it self against him sent to the Viscount de Turenne to retreat and the King embracing him as well as the Queen-Mother and the Cardinal they promis'd him all three they wou'd never forget his Services The King cou'd not however refrain giving Praises to the Prince of Condé whose Valour and Conduct had appear'd with such a lustre that his very Enemies proclaim'd that only he was capable to disengage himself from so dangerous a point The Cardinal distrusting the Affection of most of the Grandees interrupted this Conversation as much as he cou'd but the King peculiarly delighting in discoursing upon such sorts of matters wou'd needs know of the Viscount de Turenne all the Particulars of the Action and the Cardinal was forc'd to give him a hearing as well as others The Prince of Conde's Army having thus sav'd it self in Paris the Citizens being excited by his Great Actions seem'd never to have born him so much Affection they crowded their Windows to see his Entry and nor more nor less than if he had been victorious they cover'd him with Prayses but this Kindness extended ev'n to the very Soldiers they carry'd 'em drink to the very Gates and those that had occasion for Linnen for their Wounds found twice as much as they needed The Prince of Condé was a person of too much shrewdness to suffer their Affection to cool he had new Treatyes concluded for the Extermination of the Cardinal and that this Design might be General the People were oblig'd to give outward marks of it by carrying straw in their hats Thus nought else was seen in all Paris than straw hatbands nay and Trophys were made of the same material for Coaches and for Horses Those that had not timely notice of the Necessity of Wearing them had like to have been kill'd by the Populace and they ran after them as after mad Dogs crying a Mazarin During these Occurrencies an Assembly was held at the Hostel de Ville but much disorder happen'd there which some attributed to the Prince of Condé who to destroy some Persons whom he suspected of not being well-affected to him did not care though Others were expos'd to the like Danger some Musket-shots were made into the Windows and some meaning to look out of the windows to see what was the matter they were oblig'd to retire The thing proceeded much farther the Gates were forc'd and some Members of the Parliament were killâ—d This Violence which many attributed as I allready hinted to the Prince of Conde made him lose the Peoples Affection and his Enemies gave our to take away all Doubts that it was him that among those Seditious Persons there had been seen Soldiers of his Army and that they had been seen going into his House a Day or Two afore This Misfortune did not be fall him singly it was follow'd with his losing the Duke of Nemours who quarrelling with the Duke of Beaufort upon such another matter that had set 'em at Odds before he was kill'd in Duell by a Pistol-shot It was doubtless great Pity for he was as brave as a Man cou'd be Gentile Civil Liberall and having in short all the Good Qualities that can be desired in a Person of his Condition Neither of the Two Armies did any thing in the mean while that of the King was withdrawn into the Neighbourhood of St. Denis and that of the Prince of Condé into the plain of Yvry the River of Seine between both Paris suffer'd equally from Each Party the one made Excursions to the very Gates of St. Denis and St. Martin the other laid all Desolate as far as the Suburbs of St. Victor and St. Merceau the Prince of Condé not having a Penny to pay it The Parisians who had allready dwindl'd in their Affection to him by what happen'd in the Hostel de Ville lost all the Rest thro' the sacking of their Houses However their Odium to the Cardinal still prevail'd over all other Considerations and while the Prince of Condé endeavour'd to make his Accommodation by the means of the Duke of Bouillon Deputies were sent to the King to beseech him to distance that Minister The King detain'd the Deputies without vouchsafing them an Answer and having left them at St. Denis while he went to Pontoise the Prince of Condé went to fetch them away at the head of Two Thousand men and brought 'em as in Triumph back to Paris During these Occurrences the Viscount de Turenne had a great Affliction occasion'd by his Brother the Duke of Bouillon's Death which happen'd after a sickness of but few Days Continuance He was Lamented by Both Parties by whom he was Equally Esteem'd for his Merit and Probity He was a Faithfull Loyal Friend a Man of Wit and of the Cabinet but whose Humour had seem'd Chang'd within this Seaven or Eight Years for as much as he had formerly lov'd Intriguing and Cabals as much did he now love Rest and Tranquillity This must be attributed to his Consideration of his Numerous Family and to the Affection he bore his Wife by whom he left Ten Children five Boys and five Girls For his Principality of Sedan he had as a Recompence the Dutchy of Eureux with several other Large and Noble Lordships He dy'd in the Kings Esteem and Affection but in the Aversion of the Hughenots whose Religion he had forsaken at his Wifes Persuasion In the mean while the King endeavour'd to gain o're the Topping Men of the Parliament and of the Citizens and to sow some
Division in that Body he Transferr'd it to Pointoise but few of 'em repair'd thither which making the King presume that it wou'd be a Difficult thing to reduce the City to it's Duty without distancing the Cardinal he comply'd with the time yet with a resolution however of recalling him when occasion serv'd Then thinking he had remov'd all sort of Difficulty he demanded of the People and Parliaments th' effect of their Promises But they quickly manifested that this Removal which they had demanded with so much Passion had been only a Preteuce to cover other Interests Their Disobedience put the King into great fits of Anger he resolv'd to employ Force since he had not prosper'd in Mildness and having Reinforc'd his Army as far sorth as his present Circumstances wou'd allow of he Block'd-up Paris so close that the Parisians were pincht with great Necessity The continual Taxes they were over and above to pay for the maintenance of the Prince of Condé's Army undermin'd 'em utterly so as being no longer capable of furnishing what was requisite to raise Forces to oppose the King's they for the second time call'd-in the Duke of Lorrain to their Succours He came with an Army of Twelve Thousand men and Encamping near the Viscount de Turenne the Prince of Condé's Troups did the like while that the Duke of Wittembourg on another side endeavour'd to shut him up between those two Armies and his Never did the Court lye under so much Disquiet as at that time it wou'd needs also bargain with the Duke of Lorrain for him to get him gone his ways but the Viscount de Turenne pretending dayly to discamp at length took his time to pass the River d'Hieres and having broke his Bridges he was far off before th' Enemies were in a condition to pursne him The Prince of Conde being sick at Paris fancy'd that this could not have been done without Correspondence with the Duke of Lorrain but he durst not express his thoughts of it as fearing he might have occasion for him in the condition he was reduc'd to And indeed the Parisians wou'd no longer furnish Money for the maintenance of his Troups and being enrag'd at the Violences committed by the Duke of Lorrains Army and that of the Duke of Wirtemberg in the Country they resolv'd at length to recall the King The Prince of Conde did not at all prevail in his opposing this Resolution Deputies were sent as far as Compeigne to beseech his Majesty to return and all the Prince of Conde's Credit cou'd prevail no further than to deserr the business for some days In short seeing all his Intrigues abortive he chose to withdraw out of France to the Spaniards an Action that tarnish'd many of those he had done afore Thus the King return'd to Paris and recall'd the Cardinal who was already come upon the Frontier for his Remove had been only properly speaking a pure Grimace The Kings was follow'd with several Novelties the Duke of Orleans withdrew to Blois a Town of his Appanage with his Wife and Children several of the Parliament were Exil'd and the Coadjutour Confin'd nevertheless having brib'd one of his Guards he made his escape from Vincennes and went to find out the Prince of Conde his most Mortal Enemy But this Prince thought him sufficiently Punish'd in his Misfortune without adding to 't by making him sensible of his Resentment wherefore he receiv'd him with Humanity and having shewn himself more Generous in Pardoning him than he wou'd have done by treating him after another manner he won so much upon him that the Coadjutour gave himself absolutely to him All these Mutineers having been thus punish'd the world expected that the Partizans of the Court were going to be Rewarded the most part of whom had great need of Recompence having been at vast Expences in a time when the necessity of the State oblig'd 'em to take all upon themselves But the Cardinal whose Credit was much greater than ever bent his thoughts much less upon contenting his Old Friends than in acquiring New ones Thus the Viscount de Turenne who had reason to expect something for his Services receiv'd only fair words while others receiv'd Effects The Rebellion was still on foot in divers Provinces and especially in that of Guyenne but the Prince of Conde having not been able to retain Paris where he had a world of Creatures and where his great Valour was equally admir'd by all Parties it is not to be wonder'd if the Prince of Conti who had no other repute than that he deriv'd from his Brother cou'd not hinder Bordeaux from being lost However L'Aine who was in th' Interests of the Prince of Conde did all in his Pow'r to dispell the Practices that arose against him But Father Favre a Cordelier to whom the Cardinal had promis'd a Bishoprick for a Reward of his Cares got that Ascendant over the minds of both Male and Female Bigots that those of his Order confess'd it to be impossible for him to remedy this Misfortune Yet this was not effected without shewing a Fleet in the River of Garonne for Marsin who had the Command of the Arms in Guyenne under the Authority of the Prince of Conti threatned to put all to Fire and Sword if he saw the least Appearance of a Conspiracy He had moreover sent for Succours to Cromwel who under the name of Protector had usurp'd the Crown of England after the most Execrable of Parricides committed on the Person of the Late King This made it necessary the Court not being sure of the Answer he wou'd give to let a fleet appear ready to oppose his Enterprizes But two things hinder'd Cromwel from declaring himself One he had a War to Sustain against the Hollanders the Other he was willing to make as few Enemies as possible for him in the Beginnings of his fortune However he allow'd the Spaniards to make Leavyes of Irish of whom he was very glad to rid himself as being his most formidable Enemies By this means the Spaniards whom Marsin had allso call'd to his Succours still for a while foster'd the Rebellion in Bordeaux But the Duke of Vendôme commanding the Fleet of France having Seiz'd on the Burrough and Castle of Lormont and having Batter'd Two Forrs upon the Garonne shut up Bordeaux so Closely that they found themselves reduc'd to Great Extremities Thus the Rich beginning to grow as sensible of the famine as the Poor the Number of the Conspirators augmented dayly and if Marsin had not repair'd in all hast to the Town they were going to deliver it up into the Kings Hands Nevertheless falling suddenly at Odds with the Prince of Conti and they conceiving a jealousy of oue another quickly occasion'd this Prince to Listen to some Proposalls made him on the Courts Behalf or rather he made use of this Pretence to abandon a Party not only allready Staggering but allready fall'n For tho' the Prince of Condé had taken Rhetel Château Porcien
him on all sides However as he still feared it might be said to have been Interest that caus'd him to do it he refus'd all the Favours the King offer'd him which gave admiration not only to those whose Party he had newly embrac'd but also to those he had newly forsaken The Fathers of the Oratory who had contributed most to so great a Change had after this the greatest share in the Affairs of his Conscience But tho' that their Party was entirely opposite to that of the Jesuites he did not forbear following Father Mascaron whose Sermons pleas'd him above all others on the score of his Eloquence and of a most peculiar Gracefullness he had in the Pulpit Thus he spent three or four Years in the Exercises of Piety without being troubled by Motions of War from which the Kingdom was Exempted But the King who had a Grudging to the Hollanders for what they had done having found the means to disunite them from the Kings of England and Sueden prevail'd with the former to make War upon them by Sea after having promis'd him to declare against them by Land As among Sovereigns there 's never a want of a Pretext for a rupture when they please the two Kings found quickly matter to pick a Quarrel with the Republique but withall this they would perhaps have found great Difficulties in the effecting their Designs if it had not been divided in it self by the different Interests that Reign'd there Three Parties were there of one of which the Prince of Orange was the head John de With of the Other and the Other had none nor wou'd it have any as believing it to be derogating to the Dignity of the Republique to have one The First had for Object the rendring of the Prince of Orange as Potent as his Predecessours had been The Second wou'd exclude him from all sorts of Employments to Establish it self upon his Ruines and the Third was for the advancement neither of the one nor of the other because that as I have newly said the Republique after having render'd it self so Flourishing of it self had no need neither of the Prince of Orang nor of de With to maintain it self in the Splendour it was in However when the two Kings came to Declare War this third Party perceiv'd there to be a necessity to have a head for the opposing such Dangerous Enemies so as that the thing only turning between the Prince of Orange and de With all the Provinces found themselves as it were divided between the One or Other But the most part still remembring the great Actions of this Prince's Predecessours to whom as I think I have allready said was owing their Liberty they suffer'd themselves insensibly to be led into the desire of seeing him at their head and he was at length nothwithstanding all the Obstacles de With us'd to the Contrary proclaim'd Captain General of the State This Prince tho' without Experience by reason of his Green Youth was not wanting to give all the Orders necessary for a stout Defence and if his Advice had been follow'd many Places had been abandoned wherein a Number of Garrisons had been maintain'd to no Purpose But not having been Master of the Resolutions he saw himself a General without an Army for the States far from having Troups sufficient to put an Army into the field they were far from having enough to line all the Towns they pretended to keep The King meeting with so much ease in his Designs enter'd into the heart of the Country by the means of the Electour of Cologne who had also declared War against the Hollanders and the Bishop of Munster attacking them on another side the Republique was in great Perplexity The King who had made extraordinary Preparations for this War had giv'n Employment to the Prince of Condé This Prince march'd away before with an Army of thirty five thousand men and the King follow'd him at five or six Leagues Distance with as numerous Troups He wou'd not have the Viscount de Turenne to leave him for being to advance very far into the enemies Country he was very willing to have such a Person as him about him to free him out of Danger And indeed such things might have happen'd as wou'd have put him in some Danger he was going to engage himself amid Powers that ought to be extremely suspected to him joyn'd to this that he left Mastricht behind him which might give him a furious Disquiet for the enemies had put so great a Garrison into that Place that many Armies were not more considerable and things might turn after such a manner as to make the Retreat difficult To remedy this it would have been necessary to have attacqu'd that Place But the King fearing it might take him up too much time or that he might lose there a part of his Army he drew near the Rhin where he shou'd not meet with so much resistance The Spaniards who watch'd all his Paces being little less concern'd in them than the Hollanders themselves had still reason to augment their jealousy by the ill Treatments they saw themselves expos'd to for the King having not been able to make that step without passing o'er their Territories they were ravag'd whatever Care he had taken to prevent it However as he had them re-inburs'd for the forrages his Army took it wou'd not have been to them a Subject for a Rupture if his Conquests had not augmented their Distrusts they paid him nevertheless in his Passage all the Honours that are due to a Great King the Governour of the Low-Countreys sent to Compliment his Majesty and those that Commanded in the Towns caus'd their Canon to be Fir'd when he passd by them However it was not they only that had their Eyes turnâ—d upon this Expedition all Germany knowing the King to be powerfully Arm'd trembled if I may say it lest he shou'd carry his Arms beyond the Rhin where he was known to have Considerable Allyances for the King of Sueden tho' he allready offerâ—d himself to be Mediatour between the Hollanders and his Majesty was his Pensioner as well as the Electour of Cologne the Palatine the Duke of Newbourg and the Bishop of Munster and all this Procedure made it apprehended he might have quite different Aims from what appeared to the Publique Thus every One endeavour'd to precaution himself by making Leavyes But the King's first Exploits gave quite another Apprehension in four days space he took Orsoy and Rhinberg while the Prince of Condé and the Viscount de Turenne reduc'd Wesel and Burik These Conquests so startled the Enemies that they animated the King to make new Ones But not being able if a man may say so to be without the Viscount de Turenne he caus'd him to repair to him again and after having pass'd the Rhinâ— at Wesel he march'd in the Traces of the Prince of Condé who had directed his way against the Town of Rhees The Garrison knowing
that Wesel a much stronger Place had Surrender'd forthwith deputed to the Prince of Condé to have some favourable Composition But this Prince who wou'd sooner have granted it some favour if it had made an answerable Resistance wou'd not receive it otherwise than a Prisoner of War no more than that of Emmerick which he afterwards attacqu'd The Garrison of Wesel of Orsoy and Burik had not a better Treatment and that only of Rhinberg had been distinguish'd yet not in consideration of its Bravery but because it had not stopp'd the King who had a Design to pierce farther into the Countrey Many other Places Surrender'd still without striking a Blow Nay and without waiting for the Person of the King or that of the Prince of Condé for the fright was so great that every Individual thought he gain'd much in currying the Conquerours favour By this means the King made himself Master of all that was not shelter'd by Rivers But as the Rhin by the means of two Branches it makes contains a good Part of the Countrey he thought himself at the end of his Conquests or at least that they wou'd cost him Dearer than they had hitherto done He thereupon consulted the Viscount de Turenne who was not of Opinion to attempt to force the Yssel one of those two Branches on the Banks of which the enemies had intrench'd themselves However to make them believe that we march'd directly against them he persuaded the King to take that way but at the same time he sent orders to the Prince of Condé to inform himself where the Rhin might be pass'd with less peril that he might fall upon the back of the Enemies The Prince of Orange who had an eye to all suspecting this Design sent Mombas to the Castle of the Tholus where the Prince of Conde had caus'd the Passage to be Sounded But Mombas having abandon'd his Post either through Correspondence or Cowardice another was to be sent in his Room for they durst not yet abandon the Yssel by reason of the neighbourhood of of the Enemies Army which still made a shew of entering that way into the heart of the Country And indeed the King Skipt on the Right and Left as if he had had no other Design But all of a suddain he departed with his Horse to repair to the Prince of Conde's Army having march'd all the night he arriv'd upon the Bancks of the Rhine in the same place where the Prince of Conde had caus'd the passage to be Sounded Wurtz was there to defend it and had with him some Horse and foot but instead of going against the Enemies he gaz'd on them while they pass'd one by one thinking perhaps they wou'd never have the Boldness to pass before his eyes or that he shouâ—d defeat them easily when they were pass'd by reason that he shou'd attacque them in as small numbers as he pleas'd But if the Contempt which the Regiment of Cuirafieers had shewn of Death in passing so large and so rapid a River and wherein several of that Body had been Drown'd hâ—d wherewithall to surprize Wurtz he was much more so when that going to oppose it he saw it come with Sword in hand though as yet no more than the Van pass'd We cannot say that the Brush was great or Obstinate since that Wurtz his Troups gave ground as soon as they had made the first Discharge and this Success having put Courage into those that were still in the Water they made hast to joyn their Companions who after having thus drove away the Enemies staid for them upon the Shore The Prince of Condé being willing to render himself considerable to the King by the Success of this Action which particularly regarded him pass'd allso the River with the Duke of Anguien his Son and the Duke of Longueville his Nephew and as this latter had been debauching it in the Prince of Condé's Camp where the King had made some stay at his Coming the sumes of Wine not being yet dissipated made him Commit a fault which Occasion'd his Death and that of several Persons of Quality For instead of following the Prince of Condé who advanc'd towards some Infantry that were intrench'd on this side the Castle of the Tholus and demanded nothing more than to be assured that they shou'd have good Quarter giv'n them to lay down Arms he himself alone went to insult them in their very Retrenchments which caus'd it to make a Discharge upon him and upon the Prince of Condé who doubting of his Imprudence was advanc'd to prevent his Nephew But not coming soon enough he had the regret to see him fall Dead before his face as well as several Persons of Condition who were rang'd around him However as they did not discontinue their firing he was wounded in his hand which so inflam'd him that instead of the Promises he had before pass'd to the Enemies of giving them Quarter he had them all put to the Sword In the mean while the King who staid on the other side the Rhine press'd his Troups to pass with all imaginable Diligence and this occasion'd their throwing themselves by Squadrons into the Water but tho' this seem'd to be a much greater Contempt of Death yet they did not hazard so much as the Others had done because that as the Great Number of Horses broke the Stream they withall animated one another Thus a great part of the Army having allready pass'd the King causâ—d a Bridge to be laid over the Rhine which was however needless for the King was hardly got over the River when he had an Account of the Enemies having abandoned the Yssel for fear of being taken behind Upon this Notice he turn'd back and at the same time sent a Relation to the Viscount de Turenne of the success of this day which would have been one of the most Glorious of his Life without the Duke of Longueville's Imprudence who had caus'd a World of brave Men to perish with him The Viscount de Turenne receiv'd this News with an inconceivable joy and having divulg'd it among the Troups that staid with him Every Individual regretted his not having been present at an Action that was like to make so much Noise in the World And intruth it was not very usual to see such a River as the Rhine pass'd in the Enemies Presence so as they may be said to have been very faulty for if they wou'd but have advanc'd into the Water when our men still pass'd but one by one we shou'd without Difficulty have been oblig'd to retire It is allso certain that from hence proceeded the Disorder the Republique was in for the King wou'd have thought twice before he wou'd have attempted to pass the Yssel which was thought to be much more Dangerous than indeed it was for the King had been assured that the River was not fordable that the Entrance and going out were Difficult for the Year was so dry that there was hardly any
against her Consent These Conjunctures having brought prejudice to the Intentions of the King of England his Fleet return'd into Port after having been notably endamag'd by foul weather The King of England being incenc'd at France's Breach of Promise and having resolv'd to be reveng'd was still excited by Buckingham who joyn'd to the Resentment of the King his Master his own Private Piques The occasion was quickly offer'd The Hughenots having found after the Peace they had newly concluded that it had been only made to divide and set them at odds threw themselves into his Arms and having implored his Protection he promis'd it tho' not so much for their sakes as his own This Transaction was not so secretly manag'd but that Richelieu a Minister that spar'd no Costs for Intelligence had intimation of it from several parts but tho' this gave him some Alarum yet was it nothing in Comparison of the Disquiet things put him under that were brewing in the Kingdom The Spaniards to prevent their medling in Forreign matters endeavour'd to find 'em work at Home And knowing the bent of the Duke of Orleans's temper who turn'd and Weather-cock'd it as I may say with all winds they had prepar'd him for strange Novelties This Prince being look'd on as Presumtive-Heir of the Crown for that his Brother had no Children nay and without hopes of having any wanted not Creatures to in-blow him with ill Counsel for some out of the Spleen they bore the New Minister and others in hopes of a better fortune had a furious grudging for a Change The Queen her self had a deep hand in this Intrigue for the Spanish Embassadour having possess'd her she shou'd be suddenly repudiated on the score of her Sterility she bent her thoughts to ruine Richelieu whom she look'd upon as the Author of that Counsel The Queen Mother out of the same Passion of removing him from Affairs still augmented her Daughter in Law 's Suspicions so as she was inclin'd to baulk no means as might prevent this Misfortune The Count of Soissons Prince of the Blood espous'd the Interests of the two Queens with Messieurs de Vendôme and many other Persons of the first Quality at Court and their Intention was to Marry the Duke of Orleans with the Infanta of Spain the Queen Regnant's Sister that in Case the King came to dye she might remain in France with Honour without being oblig'd to return into Spain as a Person unhappy and a Fugitive The Duke of Orleans had another Design he lov'd the Queen and wou'd have been well Content his Brother had been Dead or put into a Convent that he might be in a capacity to satisfy his Passion But the Mareschal D'Ornano who had been his Governour and still retain'd a great Authority over his Mind jumpt in neither of their Projects He was enamour'd of the Princess of Condé and to ingratiate himself the better with her he had promis'd her his Master should never Marry any other than the Princess her Daughter since marry'd to Mr. de Longueville This Obstacle retarded the Queen's Design But Madam de Chevreuse their Confident occasion'd another sturdy Impediment For being in love with Chalais Master of the Queen's Wardrobe and having told all to him in Private he went and told it again to the King and alarm'd him to that Degree that his Majesty wou'd have had forthwith confin'd his Mother Wife and Brother with all those engag'd in their Intrigue Richelieu had all the pain imaginable to Moderate his Passion But having remonstrated to him that if he wou'd secure his Revengâ— it was needfull to Dissemble He went to Fontainebleau where he Causâ—d the Mareschal D'Ornano to be secur'd with Mr. de Vendôme The Count of Soisson's withdrew into Italy and by his flight evaded â— like treatment and perhaps a Worse for neither the King nor Richelieu lov'd him and perchance might have made sure of him against the future by some fatal Resolution The Queen was Ill treated both by the King and Richelieu who meant by this means to be reveng'd for her slights to him had Chang'd his Love into Hate Messieurs de Vendôme were releas'd some time after out of Prison but the Mareschal D'Ornano dy'd in 't not without suspition of having been poyson'd The Duke of Orleans's Chastisement was to be match'd out of hand to the Courts mind and he marry'd Mademoiselle de Montpensier a Princess of the Blood and extremely Rich. Nevertheless he wou'd more willingly have Embrac'd a forraign Allyance out of the Design he had of raising a Commotion But what made him desire it being a Reason not to grant it he was under an obligation to Conform to the Will of the King his Brother who promis'd in consideration of this Complyance to forget all former Passages The Queen Mother having been at first desirous for another Allyance shew'd herself in the sequel passionate for this But the most sagacious attributed it to her Policy which did not allow her to declare her Reall Sentiments So as that the World did this notwithstanding entertain the Opinion that this still the more incens'd her against Richelieu to whom she before bore sufficient ill will because gradually as he made Progresses in the Kings Favour he endeavour'd to drive her thence All that I have now said did not however hinder this Minister from making a Treaty with the Spanaird for tho his thoughts were wholly upon the Grandeur of the Kingdom he was still retain'd by the fear of the Queen Mother who ever threaten'd him if he came to an Open Rupture with that Crown But underhand he neglected Nothing that might tend to Create it troubles He sent Money into Holland and endeavour'd to Engage the King of Sueden to make head against the Greatness of that House the German Branch of which was become so formidable to Other Princes that it had nothing left to do but taking of Straelsundt for the reducing them into an absolute Slavery The Duke of Mantoua's Death happen'd also very seasonably to furnish him with new Designs of Greatness Several Princes pretending to his Succession oppos'd the Investiture of it demanded by the Duke of Nâ—vers the Lawfull Heir and Ferdinand the Emperour requiring only a Pretext to take Possession of the Dukedome of Mantoua and the Marquisate of Montferrat then in Debate sent vast Armies into Italy All the Princes to whom that Enterprize was capable of giving jealousy had recourse to the King as they had done in the Affair of the Valteline and Richelieu notwithstanding the Cabals of the Queens and Spaniards promis'd the Venetians who seem'd more alarum'd than Others that an Army shou'd be sent beyond the Alpes to Secure the Succession to whom it belong'd And indeed the Marquis D'Vxelles had orders to draw together the Troups that were upon the frontiere and Conduct them to the succours of Cazal which the Imperialists being assisted with Spanish Troups had allready besieged But the Duke of Savoye having
Sedan in the Year 1623 he was far from insisting any longer upon that journey Nevertheless he was in no wise content to remain any longer in Holland where the Climate and the Demeanour of the People did not in the least sute his humour he said they in France breath'd a more pure and Temperate air and to express the aversion he had for those who took Tobacco he sometimes maintain'd out of a kind of Raillery it to be the smoak that came out of the Pipes which rendred the air so thick and heavy yet knowing it to be a thing the Souldiers cou'd not be without he said nothing to them when he found 'em funcking but had not the same Complaisance for others but told 'em freely his Opinion He had still more aversion for Drunkards whom he cou'd in no wise endure He said if Drunkenness was a Defect in all sorts of Persons a much greater was it still in a Martial man who had not like others the times of Recreation and Repose that it became a Souldier to be ever ready for the first Command which when Drunk he could not be He never was the first to broach these sort of Discourses for fear of being tax'd with the Arrogancy of rebuking others but when once flush'd in Conversation he cou'd not well refrain letting them slip without speaking his Sentiments in the Case for most of the Officers without so much as Excepting the French had such a Propensity to Debauchedness that it seem'd to make part of their Profession In the mean while the occasions of Signalizing himself were not very frequent in the Country he refided in since his abode there they had allmost ever been forc'd to play the Defensive Part and tho' they attempted several enterprizes not one of them sped They fail'd in that of Antwerp where they had Correspondence and this young Courage became pawl'd as I may say to see that Fortune did not appear in favour of it's Party Afraid he was that Maurice who had not been over-Successfull a Year or two before his Death had left his Brother the Heir of his Ill Fortune as well as of his Estate and like to those Hunters who are not content unless they take the Game they have pursu'd he wou'd have had all things tune in Consort with his Expectation Prince Henry Frederick blam'd him sometimes for his Impatience but considering it only departed from an excess of Courage he found not much to incurr his Censure and Rebuke He only told him it to be sometimes needfull to moderate one's self and acquainting him with the Reasons for all he did he instructed him in what he had the most Passion to learn In short this Prince being desirous to see some great Occasion remain'd not long without having satisfaction Boisleduc at the Extremity of Brabant was if a man may say it a Thorn in the State 's foot of which they dayly found the smart and inconvenience and being necessary to pull it out the States gave order to Prince Henry Frederick Prince of Orange since his Brothers Death to lay Siege to that Place This Fortress is much stronger by it's Scituation then by Contrivances us'd for it's Fortification 'T is Scituated in the midst of a Marsh which seems to secure it from all Insult and no Approaches can be made to 't but on the side of the Gate of Maestricht wherein two Forts have been rais'd in which consist all it's Fortifications Nevertheless these Fortifications seem sufficient for the safeguard of the Place for the Ground is so narrow as not to bear more than ten men afront nay and out of this compell'd have they been to raise a Caussey for the conveniency of Waggons for the Water is so deep both on the Right and Left that without this Contrivance no means wou'd there be for their Passage In this so difficult a place was it the Prince of Orange made his Attack and to repair the inconveniences of Nature he employ'd all the stratagems of Art Yet new Difficulties arose to those allready in view for eight hundred men of the Garrison of Breda got into the Town in despite of those that had planted themselves upon the Avenues to hinder that Design yet this did not discourage the Prince of Orange but as he thence foresaw new Difficulties he demanded new Succours of the States who sent him a Reinforcement of six thousand men The Viscount de Turenne's Assiduity was a remarkable thing in the Beginnings and Prosecution of this Siege for tho' he had been present at that of Grol which the Prince of Orange had taken the Year afore that seem'd to him nothing in comparison of this He admir'd the address us'd to divert the Course of the Rivers the Invention of Mines that of Bombs and all the rest employ'd for the Destruction of his Enemy But amid all this far from being in the least wanting to his function of his Charge of Captain he was present at all the Attacks nor more nor less than if he had been a Volunteer and oblig'd to expose himself to all sorts of Perils The Sieur de Vassignae his Governour being under a continual Disquiet for his Life made his Complaints to Monsieur de Bouillon and to the Prince of Orange himself desiring them to moderate the excess of his Courage But Monsieur de Bouillon whose humour delighted in those sort of things was far from condemning an Action he approv'd On the contrary being the first to do like him he stopp'd Vassignae's mouth who after this cou'd not do otherwise than follow them whereever their Courage carry'd them to seek out Danger But the greatest risque the Viscount de Turenne ran in all the time of this Siege was in an occasion created him by the Duke of Bouillon who being Engag'd in the pursuit of four or five hundred men of the Garrison of Breda that aim'd at putting themselves into the Town receiv'd two shots in his Cloaths The Sieur de Vassinae seeing him in the hottest of the Action and all cover'd with Fire threw himself in with him to do the best he could to bring him off or at least to interpose between him and Danger but was not so happy as his Master being somewhat dangerously wounded After the Enemys had made still some further Resistance the Duke of Bouillon drove them from certain Hedges to which they had made their Retreat but still flying to others he was fain to dismount The Viscount de Turenne was he that first set foot to ground and that had not the least part in their Defeat The Prince of Orange well knowing to how great danger he had expos'd his Person Dissembl'd the joy he had upon this occasion by giving him an honourable Check but withall cou'd not forbear telling his Principal Officers that he was very much mistaken if that Young Prince wou'd not one day come to Eclipse the Glory of the Greatest Captains For he was noted to retain a cool temper in the
that time Tho' Monsieur de Turenne was vext to see his hopes miscarry Yet he comforted himself for he thought after having done what lay in his Pow'r he cou'd do no more that he had gone a great way in making known his Zeal to the King and that His Prince being inform'd of it it was now for his Majesty to Command his Return when he judg'd it fitting In the mean while the War that had been made in Flanders with much fury the Campain afore cool'd thro' the Spaniards want of Forces they having caus'd a great part of their Troups to march towards Italy The Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia Governess of the Low-Countries being afraid the Hollanders might make advantage of that occasion bethought her self then to make several Proposals of a Truce and tho' the Hollanders knew on what Account these Overtures were made the desire they had to enjoy some Quiet after troubles of Eighty Years continuance caus'd 'em to suffer themselves to be amuz'd The Cardinal de Richelieu resolving at any rate to cross these Negotiations sent an Embassadour to the Hague who by the help of Money which he did not want brought the States to change their Sentiments who instead of that Truce Struck-up a new Allyance with the King The Prince Palatine then at the Hague whose Interest led him to Create Enemies to the Spaniards Us'd also on his part his utmost Pow'r to frustrate their Negotiations but with all this he had but a very slender Prospect of recovering his Imaginary Royalty or his Quality of Elector which the Emperour had stript him of with it to invest the Duke of Bavaria Dayly did he receive new Mortifications and People far from acknowledging him as King of Bohemia as he fain wou'd have been own'd his near Relations deny'd him so much as the Quality he inherited by his Birth and added to the outrages done him by his Enemies Injuries to him still more sensible The Duke of Newburgh being come to the Hague to adjust some Differences he had with the Republick refus'd him the Upper-hand and this provoking the Prince Palatine such things pass'd between these two Princes as would have transported 'em to Blows had not the Prince of Orange Prudently interpos'd But the Viscount de Turenne the Palatine's near Kinsman espousing his Interests undertook to demand satisfaction for this Affront but cou'd not bring it about because the Duke of Newburgh wou'd not accept of a Duel Two or three days pass'd before this new Quarrel was terminated and in the mean while so many Persons throng'd to the Mareschal de Turenne to offer him their Service as sufficiently manifested the great value the world had for him The Prince of Orange was not sorry for this Accident for he was in the Interest of the Prince Palatine but out of an unwillingness to declare himself he oblig'd the Viscount de Turenne to make some Excuses to the Duke of Newburgh In the mean while matters of a much greater Consequence occurr'd in France Cardinal Richelieu whose favour augmented more and more notwithstanding the hatred of his Enemies inclin'd the King to Succour Powerfully the Duke of Mantoua upon the point of being oppress'd But the Spaniards to divert this Blow induc'd the Duke of Orleans with whom they kept Correspondence to retire into Lorrain where the Duke a great lover of Novelties afforded him a Retreat Tho' such a juncture was capable of laying by all other thoughts the Cardinal de Richelieu who sutably as Difficulties augmented perceiv'd his Courage to encrease after having pacify'd the best he cou'd Domestick troubles procur'd from the King the Quality of Generalissimo in Italy and with a Flourishing Army march'd away towards Savoy For in the occasion that then offer'd it self the first thing to be done was to see if the Duke of Savoy wou'd keep to the late Treaty and conformably to what had been resolv'd on joyn his Troups to those of the King or if he would take the Party of his Enemies The Duke of Savoy upon the first Proposals made him of this matter sought out Evasions and Pretexts to avoid declaring himself one while excusing the Emperour and Spaniards for what they had done and another making semblance of blaming them contriving thus to gain time But the Cardinal as Crafty as He not contenting himself with these put-offs press'd him so hard to say what he would stick to that he was at length oblig'd to promise Provisions for the Army and to joyn Troups in case the Peace then in Discourse prov'd difficult to conclude But he no sooner fancy'd he had diverted the Storm but that forgetting his Promises he not only deny'd Provisions but also kept upon the Borders of the Army to take his advantages on 't if occasion serv'd The Cardinal de Richelieu finding there was no trusting him had a Design to surprise him at Rivoli a House of Pleasure whither he was gone to take the Diversion of Hunting but the Duke being advertiz'd of it as it is believ'd by the Duke of Montmorency had time to scape to Turin with the Prince his Son The Cardinal having miss'd his Aim declar'd openly against him and without any more ceremony laid all his Territories Wast and after this making a show as if he would besiege Turin he oblig'd him to put the better part of his Forces into that Town But having made that feint only the better to Compass his Designs upon Pignerol he laid Siege to that Place and took the Town in one Days time Insomuch that nothing now stood out but the Cittadel The Cittadel quickly follow'd the Town 's Destiny the Cardinal being become Master of it he Employ'd his Troups in the Conquest of the Places that are in the Marquisate of Saluces The Duke of Savoy who had Secret Intelligences with the Spaniards having demanded Succours of them in so pressing an Occasion they sent him Troups and Money and while he made head against the Cardinal they laid Siege to Cazal Spinola Commanding their Troups as I have already said detach'd his Son to attack Pont-desture which Thoiras had Fortify'd and made himself Master of it allmost at the same time the Imperialists found the means to Enter Mantoua Surrendred to them by Treachery Of all the Dominions of the Duke of Mantoua he had only Cazal left nay and that so shut-up by Spinola that there was no likelihood of its being able to hold out long The Garrison wanted Provisions and no means could be contriv'd how to get any In. This Extremity having induc'd the King to pass himself into Italy he put his Kingdom into the Best Order and Posture he cou'd and having left an Army under the Duke of Orleans to defend the Campagne he made his Resentment fall upon the Duke of Savoy to whose Infidelity he attributed all these Disorders Being entred his Countrey he in a few days subdu'd all Savoy saving Montmelian at which he thought it not convenient to stop These good
Place was likewise Secur'd with a Good Garrison but put its Principal Confidence in the Succours it Expected from Germany and to be brought it by Picolomini As what was a Subject of hope for the Besieged was a Subject of fear for the Besiegers they hasten'd the Works and the Attacks that so the Succours might not arrive in time The Viscount de Turenne in whom the Cardinal de la Valette had a most peculiar Confidence did not stir out of the Trench save only to go give him an Account of Occurrences But the Continual Rains hinder'd things from advancing as they desired besides the frequent Sallies of the Besieged incommoded the Labourers and Occasion'd sometimes disorder Colonel Gassion whose Reputation was already very Great in the Troups having been wounded in the Neck in one of those Sallies seem'd to Paul the Souldiers Courage who consider'd him as a Man capable in case of a Battle to make the Victory turn on their side But the Viscount de Turenne did with Mildness remonstrate to them their Duty and insensibly put them again in the Right Way He was in the Water with them up to the very Middle and to animate them by his Example he was the first to labour and the last to finish the labour he told them that the Rain wou'd not last always but that in the mean while they were not to lose time because that the Enemies who were already but too much puâ—t up with presumption wou'd conceive at it the more Audatiousness At length the Rains ceasing and the Works being advanc'd as much as the foul Wether wou'd allow of the Place was Won after the Governour had done all in his Power for a Brave Defence From Landrecis Part of the Army march'd to Maubeuge under the Command of the Duke of Candalle who had under him the Viscount De Turenne This Place having made a shew of Resisting was quickly reduc'd by force as well as that of Beaumont belonging to the Princes of Chimay In the mean while the Duke of Candalle sent the Viscount De Turenne against the Castle of Sobre Whose situation was advantageous and where above Eight hundred Peasants had taken refuge with their Goods These being inured to fire by the long Wars they had in their Country March'd out against him and he slighted at first this Occasion as Unworthy of his Courage But having observ'd their Countenance and that they had Possess'd the Hedges from whence they fir'd briskly he retain'd his Souldiers who wou'd have fall'n upon 'em without order as People that did not deserve the using so much Caution After having thus hinder'd his Men from Exposing them selves rashly he Caus'd the Enemies to be attack'd who Manag'd their Defence with much Courage but cou'd not however stand against the fury with which they were Assaulted They wou'd have retreated into the Castle but the Viscount de Turenne Pursu'd them so warmly that he enforc'd the Place Pell-mell with them Some in the mean while making their Escaple into the Town they put on again the face of Defence but the Viscount de Turenne having Sworn that they should be all hang'd if they made one shot This made 'em warily consult what Course to take Insomuch that they Surrender'd upon Discretion After this Our Troups had a Design to attack Avâ—snes or else some other Place in the Neighbourhood but upon the Advice that Picolomini had pass'd the Meuse at Namur they thought it sufficient to stand upon the Defensive or at least untill they had received Succours Bussy Lamet who had newly defended Hermesteim with great Renown having brought Assistance just in the nick this kept Picolomini in Awe and produc'd the Desire in Cardinal de la Valette to Besiege la Capelle But Bussy venturing too near to view it with the Marquis de Rambures Governour of Doullens a Mareschal of Camp the one was kill'd stone-Dead and the other Wounded so dangerously that he liv'd but a few days La Capelle notwithstanding the loss of two such brave men was press'd so close as to be forc'd to surrender before Picolomini cou'd arrive Picolomini endeavour'd to revenge himself for this Affront upon Maubeuge which he plunder'd as soon as he took it and made divers Attempts upon our Army some of which he sped in and others only turn'd to his Confusion The Viscount de Turenne had been an Intimate friend of Count de Bussy Lamet and was so sensibly afflicted at his Death as to render him almost incapable of all Consolation And indeed he was a man of extraordinary merit and had but one step to make to the being Mareschal But a Sudden Death having ravish'd him from his Family and his Friends he miss'd that Honour the greatest a Gentleman can attain While Cardinal de la Valette was performing the things I have now mention'd the Prince of Orange with whom the Cardinal de Richelieu was come to a Right Understanding had Besieg'd the City of Breda and was stimulated to that Conquest by more then one Reason For besides the Glory that must thence redound to him he fought for his own Patrimony Yet as Spinola's staying a long while before that Place minded him that nothing was to be neglected he Fortify'd his Camp and Skreen'd it from Insult The Spaniards also prepar'd to go Fight him but fearing a Descent upon the Coasts by reason of some Ships that had appear'd at Flushing they lost time and when they came in view of the Enemy they found him so well intrench'd that they durst not proceed to an Engagement The Prince of Orange making use of his Advantage press'd the Town and his Conduct being no less than his Courage he took it in Two Months time whereas it's Conquest had cost Spinola Nine The Spaniards expected Comfort for these Unhappy Successes in the taking of Leucate which they thought near at hand This Place is Scituated in the very further parts of Languedoc and bordering on Roussillon and Besieg'd it they had with all their Forces Nothing was wanting in their Camp they receiv'd all their Ammunitions from Perpignan just at hand and Victuals came to them in abundance whereas that the Besieged were destitute of all things and ev'n without hopes of Succours for only some few Garrisons were there in the Province which we durst not draw out for fear of some Accident But the Duke d'Halâ—in the Governour of This Province having assembled his Friends and a good number of the Nobless with them undertook to march against the Enemies notwithstanding their Advantages and his good fortune was such that fear so seiz'd upon their Spirits that after having stood a feeble Conflict they abandon'd their Canon and their Equipage This happy Success procur'd him the Baton of Mareschal of France and since was he call'd the Mareschal de Schomberg by his Father's Name All these Advantages were capable of giving much joy to the Court if the Duke of Weymar had been as Successfull in his Enterprizes
of with the French she might enjoy in Quiet her Territories and the Guardianship of her Children These Assurances were Charming to a Woman little acquainted in Affairs of Warr and whose misfortune was to have her Country Scituated 'twixt the States of two Princes who pretended both to give the Law But finally she in a short time perceiv'd all these fine Words were only to amuse her for Leganes to the Prejudice of all his Promises approach'd Verceil after having Sack'd all the places in his Passage As there had been much imprudence in her to listen after this to any of his Propositions She had recourse to the King her Brother of whom she Earnestly requested a Succour conformable to the Exigency of the present posture of her Condition But the concerns of Blood being a small matter among Princes in Comparison of their Interest they ty'd and hamper'd her so to purpose that she had now nothing left but the Name of Sovereign under Colour of Preserving Piemont for her we Garrison'd it's strongest places and from which the Capital only was exempt but as all the rest was nothing without our getting this into our Clutches so many Distrusts were injected into this Princess's mind that dayly imagining her self upon the point of being seiz'd she of her own accord was the first to demand we wou'd introduce Troups into the Town Yet it was to be fear'd the Inhabitants would shut up the Gates if they had the hint of this Design This made it thought convenient to manage the thing so Dextrously as that it cou'd not miss For this purpose Troups were order'd to draw up hard by under the pretence of a Review and the Principal Persons being gone out for sight-sake it was easy to seize on the Town by keeping in their hands those who might make Resistance Every one was not content with this proceeding and many now favour'd Prince Thomas that without this wou'd not have thought of him The Dutchess of Savoy having thus thrown her self into the King her Brother's Arms it was now his part to espouse her Interests being henceforward become his own In the mean while the great Affairs he had on all sides hindering him from doing all he willingly wou'd he cou'd only send her Eighteen Thousand men under the Conduct of Cardinal de la Valette And indeed we were very much perplex'd in Flanders where we had with not overmuch consideration under taken the Siege of St Omar under the Beard of a Powerful Army But the Grudging we had to that Place making us pass over all things Provision was made of Men and Mony Yet cou'd we not hinder the Spaniards from putting Succours into the Place and this Misfortune having befall'n us twice this so chill'd our Souldiers Courage and flush'd that of our Enemies that as much as ours dreaded fighting so much theirs desir'd it The two Armies coming to Blows with Dispositions so little favourable to Us the Success was adverse to Us. They forc'd our Lines beat a Quarter and at length having put a new Succours into the Town they Compell'd us to raise the Siege This Disgrace was rewarded by taking du Catelet but as it was a poor pittance in Comparison of what we had miss'd of taking it prov'd no great Subject of Consolation add to this that the Prince of Condé was oblig'd to raise the Siege of Fontarabia where strange things occurr'd For this Prince designing to reinforce the Quarter by which he knew the Spaniards were to come those that were there already took up Arms against those that came to their Assistance and thus so well-favour'd the Enemies Design that they entred the Town without striking a blow It was necessary to look out in the mean time to what wou'd happen in Germany and in Italy where the War was wag'd with no less intent and Application Certainly tho' we came by the Lee in Flanders and Navarre Fortune made us a great Reparation in Alsace where the Duke of Weymar did Wonders This Prince having been beaten as I have said the Year afore in endeavouring to relieve Hanau and undergone other more Disgraces for having pretended to retaliate upon Bezanson where he had some Correspondence he had miss'd his Aim◠From thence after having giv'◠some repose to his Army and encreas'd it with some Succours he went and attack'd Rhinfeldt a Town scituated upon the Rhine and one of the four Forrest-Towns This Place being well Garrison'd made a brave Defence and gave the Duke de Savilly and Jean de Wert time to run in to it's Succours The Duke of Weymar having with him the Duke of Rohan and holding himself secur'd by the Presence of so great a Captain did not stick to accept the Battaile offer'd him by the Enemy But fortune to make him the better relish the Advantages she was preparing him in the sequell turn'd her back upon him still and the Duke of Rohan fighting with the same Courage he had so often fought receiv'd a Wound of which he dy'd in a few days after He was doubtless a great man and had all the Parts of an Excellent Captain but wou'd have seem'd much greater if he had been in a State where the Prince had been of his Religion or He of the Religion of his Prince for this occasion'd the Conferring on him only difficult Commands and wherein was design'd rather this Ruin than his Fame He liv'd with the Amity of the People of the Reform'd Religion to whom he render'd great services as well as the Duke of Soubize his Brother but only carry'd along their Esteem at his Death being suspected of having abandon'd them for his Interests After the loss of this Battaile the Enemys meaning to make advantage of their Victory pursu'd Weymar who was retir'd towards Offembourg and reduc'd him to the necessity of fighting a new Battail or of ruining his Army by a new flight the one seeming more glorious than the Other he recall'd the Courage of his men who seem'd stun'd and having let 'em know the necessity there was of Conquering or of Dying they unanimously demanded an Engagement with the Enemy He was too knowing to suffer their Courage to Cool and having taken them at their word at the very same moment he began the Charge himself and was the first that broak in up the Enemy The Conflict was Sharp and obstinately fought on Both sides but Weymer performing Wonders with his Arms as well as with his Head encourag'd his men in such manner that all the Resistance the others cou'd make prov'd in vain The Duke de Savelly after having several times been helter-skelter among the Suedes was forc'd to be take himself to flight abandoning Jean de Wert who maintain'd his Ground still a while but seeing himself surrounded on all sides he layd down his Arms to save his Life Weymar having repaired by so great victory the misfortunes that had befall'n him return'd before Rhinfeld which Submitted to his Obedience from thence after having
reduc'd the Principall Citys of Alsace he laid Siege to Brisac which was as the Master-piece and Coronation of so many Great Actions The Enemies rais'd several Armies and fought several Battails for the Relief of a Place so strong and of such great Consequence But Weymer receiving all Requisits in Abundance from Cardinal de Richelieu so Efficaciously defeated their Endeavours that after an Extreme long Siege he accomplish'd his Enterprize The Affairs of Italy wanted much of being in so good a Posture the Viscount de Turenne was there with the Cardinal de la Vallette but very much perplex'd how in due manner to second him in a thousand Difficulties arising Ev'ry Moment As to military Concerns they were of easy management but the juncture requir'd a dayly dissipating of factions the reconciling the Dutchess with her Ministers the being sollicitous for the fidelity of the Towns observing the Governours and above all a Weathering th' Aversion they boar him in this Countrey on the score of his Religion For the Italians that are e'en more superstitious than the Spaniards said little cou'd be Expected from so ill match'd a Succours that it was an unheard of thing to see a Cardinal have for one of the Principall Officers of his Army a Heretique whose father wou'd have set France in a Combustion so to have caus'd his Religion to have flourish'd in that Realm and who had been brought up in a City which after the Example of Rochell serv'd for a Retreat to Rebells and Malecontents and had in fine perform'd his Apprentiship in Holland the very Center and Azylum of Heresy But if this Matter had anything Extraordinary it lay rather in seeing a Cardinal using a Profession so Extrinsique to his own seeing him I say dayly besmeering his hands in the Blood of an Infinite Number of Christians without remorse or any other Disquiet than that giv'n him by an immoderate Ambition Yet must the Viscount de Turenne inâ—re himself to the Manners and fashions of the Countrey not to say the follies and by his Patience overcome so many obstacles that all at once interfer'd our Designs He durst hardly make Profession of his Religion and if he had been less zelous he wou'd have quickly come to have liv'd like an Atheist but nothing being capable of making him fail in what he ow'd to God he slited the hatred of those who boar him ill Will and perform'd his Duty The Dutchess of Savoy was not alltogether so prepossess'd as Others but nevertheless did not refrain often telling him that being so very worthy a Person but one thing more cou'd there be desired in him namely the Change of Religion He heard all this without suffering himself to be Seduc'd being insensible to flatteries as well as Persecution But so many other matters were then on foot that these were only talkt of as a man may say for fashions sake The Viscount de Turenne one day found a Note under his Napkin by which he had Intimation that the Governour of Cazal corresponded with the Enemies and that if not obviated Evident Proofs of this his Intelligence wou'd be seen in a little while Having perus'd this Note he took no manner of Notice but after Dinner repair'd to Cardinal de la Vallette and having imparted the note to him they were Both very much at a loss not knowing what to think on 't for on the one side they doubted it might be a forg'd advertisement to decoy 'em into some false step and on the other it requir'd their baulking no Precautions The Cardinal was of the first Opinion but the Viscount de Turenne of the Second and grounding his thoughts upon that the Governors being in the Place on the behalf of the Duke of Mantoua he wou'd now no longer mind remaining Loyal that Prince being lately Dead and having left for his Heir only a young Child incapable of Exerting his Resentment for the faults committed against his Service He added to these a World of Other reasons and having at length brought the Cardinal o'er to his Opinion the result was to have him narrowly watcht and that in the mean while a Rumour should be gi'v'n out of a Design to visit the Garrisons that so he might not be Startl'd if they went by Chance to Cazal Accordingly they began to go to some and in the Interim intercepted Letters that left no Room to doubt of the Correspondence The matter having been thus averr'd the Cardinal went to Cazal with the Viscount de Turenne and the Governour coming to pay them his Respects was Seiz'd tho' they had discover'd his Actions to be wholly directed by the Dutchess of Mantoua's Orders For this Princess having none of the Deepest Reach and considering only the time present and seeing Piemont full of troubles and Caballs had Entertain'd a Phancy she should better secure the fortune of her Grand-Son by putting him under the Protection of the Spaniards than by leaving him under Ours The Viscount de Turenne could never Guess from whose hands the Note came but imagin'd it to be thro' the means of the Dutchess of Mantoua who had repented what she had done and wou'd have been very glad to have had another Prevented it's taking effect Having thus quasht this Conspiracy they had now no Other Disquiet then of releiving Verceil besieg'd by Leganez with all his forces and he holding himself cocksure of the Success for all that commonly contributes to the Defence of a Place was wanting in this Men Money Ammunitions Provisions Ingeniers and with great Probability might it have been said these Omissions had been made on purpose to further the Enemie's Design The Governour meerly by his own virtue made good these Defects in the Instances he gave of his Courage and Prudence the situation of the Place having withall much obstructed the works for the River of Seâ—ia making several little Islands at a Musket-Shots Distance occasion'd the Circumvallation to be much larger and the Lines more difficult to keep Nevertheless Leganez having by his Patience accomplisht all before Cardinal de la Vallette had been able to assemble forces Sufficient to give Battle he fell to pressing the Town and reduc'd it to so great an Extremity that it could not thence forward hold out long without a speedy Succours The Governour having found the means to make known it's Circumstances to the Cardinal de la Vallette the Cardinal fell to March with twelve thousand Men of his own Troups and those of Savoy to repair to its Relief But Heav'n beginning to thwart his Enterprize by Continuall Rains this so â—atigated the Army that when it was come in view of the Enemies Camp it stood more in need of rest than Labour Leganez that it might not take any Repose wou'd willingly have march'd with all his forces to give Battle if at the same time he cou'd have maintain'd his Lines but having not Men sufficient for Both he detachâ—d his Cavalry to Skirmish while the Infantry remain'd
King in case he wou'd divorce himself from the Spaniards and having joyn'd the Marquis de Leganez who had recover'd his Health he made himself Master of Montcalve and Villeneuve d'Ast of the latter by Surprize and of the former by force of Arms. Ast was taken afterwards or rather surrendred of it self the Magistrates going out to meet him with a Present of their Keys The Governour made a shew as if he wou'd defend the Cittadel but yielded without staying 'till the Canon playd which made the world believe that what he did was only to guild over his Treachery The Spaniards seiz'd the Cittadel and the Princes the Town conformably to their Treaty which reviv'd the jealousy of Both Parties for the Spaniards had Ambition enough to clutch all and the Princes on their side thinking all the Country ought to belong to them were sufficiently vex'd to see themselves under an obligation of sharing it with others Cardinal Richelieu having spyes in all places laid hold of so favourable a time to endeavour the setting them at odds but they were at a loss what course to take knowing his Ambition and fearing his deceiving them after having got of them what he pretended What gave them still the more apprehension was that they knew he sought to make them jealous of one another and that while he made them Proposals to Both in Common he made others to Each in Particular seeking only to sow Division in the Party And indeed not prevailing in his Design of getting Prince Thomas over to his side he had levell'd his Intrigues upon Cardinal Maurice into whom he had endeavours us'd to insinuate that being as he was the Eldest if any one he ought to have Pretensions that thus it became him not to Suffer his Brother to acquire all the Authority while the World consider'd him only as a Man having a great Name but fit for Nothing that he must not believe that if the young Duke should chance to dye Prince Thomas would not put in for a part in the Succession that a Man us'd to Govern cou'd hardly fall again to truckle in Obedience that he already plaid the Master in his conferring of all Civil and Military Offices and that if matters were communicated to his Eminency 't was when they were done and rather to have his approbation of them than to leave 'em at his Disposal In the mean while Prince Thomas was bid to make a serious reflexion upon what he did that tho' he took the Pains he would not reap the fruit and that after all his Industry and Endeavours he would find he had only ruin'd his Country to enrich the Spaniards and invest his Brother with the Wrecks of a state appertaining to him by Birth-right that it would be much more Glorious for him to undertake the Protection of his Nephew and the Dutchess his Sister in Law and that he would besides find therein more advantage that what cou'd be his meaning by augmenting the Pow'r of the Spaniards and whether he imagin'd they wou'd be content with their Dividend that he was very far from the sentiments of the late Duke his father who had ever held for a Generall Maxime that a Duke of Savoy ought Equally to distrust the two Crowns that France had no other Design in this Warr than to hinder the Conquest of the Spaniards and that as it became his to be the same he ought not if well advis'd any longer to deferr joyning his Armes to those of that Crown But he was so deeply engag'd with the Spaniards that he cou'd not so easily disintangle himself from them for aiming to keep him by indissoluble Bands they had desir'd before all things he shou'd send his Wife to Madrid and fear'd they wou'd use her ill upon the least alteration they shou'd perceive in his Behaviour Thus Cardinal Richelieu not in the least prevailing by this Intrigue the juncture requir'd his bending his thoughts upon Succouring the Dutchess who was in Despair to sâ—e her selâ— as aba 〈◊〉 don'd However the two Brothers having made Reflexion that effectually they labour'd more for the Spaniards than themselves resolv'd to make a Body apart of their Troups in hopes they wou'd quickly multiply because many of the Savoyards were detain'd by the same Considerations as those which made them take this Resolution What made them still the more desirous to separate from the Spaniards was that they cou'd not agree among themselves how to employ the Army for the Spaniards aiming only at their own ends after having open'd the passage of Montferrat by taking the Castle of Montcalve harbour'd no other thoughts than those of making themselves Masters of Cazal which they consider'd as a place capable of giving Law to Italy Cardinal de la Valette was very much puzzl'd how with such a handfull of men as his to oppose so many things at once for Trin being surrendred to the Enemies without it's being in his Pow'r to prevent it Cazal was in danger of being lost if the Viscount de Turenne newly made Lieutenant General had not brought thither a speedy Succours La Tour Commanding in Mantoua enter'd this place at the same time and had it's defence recommended to him as being then destitute of a Governour by the Duke of Candalle's Death who had had that Post after the Discovery of the Conspiracy before mention'd This Succours hinder'd the Enemies from laying Siege to 't but they block'd it up so close that nothing more now cou'd enter this fastness Cardinal de la Valette had writ several times to France for Succours but as the Court deferr'd from day to day the sending him any he thought himself oblig'd to abandon sundry places and keep such only as were of most Consequence by this means he form'd a small Body with which if he cou'd not keep the Field at least was he in a Condition to traverse the Enemies Designs At length the Court being importun'd by the Generals and the Dutchess whose Afflictions dayly augmented sent the Duke of Longueville into Italy with a Reinforcement of Seaven Thousand men Cardinal de la Valette who with his little Army had not been wanting to recover Chieri had not giv'n it some days rest when he march'd against the City of Ast wherein he had some Correspondence The two Princes of Savoye were in that Town and he thought they cou'd not scape him but they having discover'd the Conspiracy had the Authors of it punish'd and were upon their Guards La Vallette being on the way inform'd of what occurr'd shifted his Course and march'd against Chivas which the Marquis de Leganez undertook to Succour but as he wou'd have been very willing to have effected that Design without coming to a Battle he drew near Turin expecting that the jealousy this march of his wou'd occasion in La Valette to be capable of making him raise the Siege he also hop'd that by Posting himself between the City and him he shou'd cut off
the Count de Harcourt to supply the Room of Cardinal de la Vallette which it would not have done as having sufficient Confidence in the Viscount de Turenne if the Concerns of his family had not been in such a state as render'd him in some manner suspected I said before that the Count de Soissons was retir'd to Sedan and had been Suffer'd to remain there as if nothing was to be apprehended from his Retreat but the time and juncture having occasionâ—d the harbouring other Sentiments it was believ'd that Mr de Bouillon having quitted the Service of the States and being withdrawn to his own home with the Marquis of Berghin's Daughter whom he had Marry'd fomented his Discontents and that they were both contriving how to disturb the Prosperities the Kingdom at that time enjoy'd The Sanctuary which the Duke of Guise and the Baron du Bee who were Malecontent with Cardinal Richelieu had found with him still augmented his suspicions and the Court fearing the Viscount de Turenne might Espouse his Interests to the prejudice of his Duty it was very willing to tye his hands from doing ill supposing him so inclin'd In the mean while the Count de Harcourt was no sooner nominated to go Command the Troups in Italy but that he went away Post for the greater Expedition He found the Viscount de Turenne had allready atchiev'd sundry Exploits and being very willing to Share in the honour that must thence redound to him he went to the Army the Command of which he took upon him Tho' the Viscount de Turenne had some Occasion not to be Satisfy'd with his Arrival he paid him all the Duties he ow'd to his General joyn'd to this that his Birth and Peculiar Merit challeng'd a decent demeanour to him The Count de Harcourt being the best bred of all Mankind return'd him his Civilities with usury but neither of 'em stopping at these outward Marks of Civility they contracted together so strong a Friendship aâ— not to be able to be without one anothers Company The Count de Harcourt signaliz'd his arrival with very glorious beginnings and tho' his Army was no more than four thousand Foot and three thousand Horse yet fail'd he not of performing Enterprises that seem'd above his forces The Spaniards meaning to Cross them advanc'd to meet him whilst Prince Thomas march'd directly to the River de which the Count de Harcourt was to pass for the making his Retreat The Count de Harcourt knowing the Spaniard had double his Number of Men did not think Convenient to venture a Battle and march'd away to the Bridge de la Route as Prince Thomas had well foreseen but perceiving he was penn'd-up between the two Armys he made hast to pass the Bridge while the Viscount de Turenne by his Order intrench'd himself there to stop the Spaniards He then march'd against Prince Thomas who advanc'd fancying he cou'd not miss of Victory but fortune declaring her self in favour of the Count de Harcourt as a reward for so bold an Action and manag'd with so much judgement Prince Thomas was beaten tho' his Personal Performances were Extraordinary As Leganez cou'd not be ignorant that they were Engag'd from the Noise of Cannons and the Volleys from the Muskets which he heard distinctly made hast to arrive at the River and after having taken some Carriages that had not as yet had time to pass he caus'd the Bridge to be attack'd which was defended with great Courage This Resistance cool'd the Spaniards heat and having known Prince Thomas allready to be Deseated they durst not attempt to force the Bridge for fear of enlarging their Misfortune by some fresh Mishap However the Viscount de Turenne having caus'd his Troups to pass the River was follow'd so closely as reduc'd him several times to face about but the Enemies having perceiv'd by his looks there was no great matter to be got by him left him to joyn the Count de Harcourt without using any further Impediment This Success being equally admir'd by Friends and Enemies rais'd the Count de Harcout's fame to a high pitch and tho' the Viscount de Turenne seem'd to have little share in it by reason th' other had the Command in Chief yet was part of it nevertheless attributed to him but this the Count de Harcourt was so very far from finding fault at he own'd himself that things wou'd no perchaâ—se have turn'd so happily if he had not contributed thereunto with his Courage and Conduct The Spaniards joyning afterwards Prince Thomas we durst not keep the Field however the jealousy they had of one another hinder d them from atchieving any considerable matter and the Dutchess taking that time to make new Proposals to her Brothers in Law so as the world at length thought an accommodation must infallibly be brought about considering the advantages Both Parties must thence derive for Cardinal Maurice had the Dutchesses Eldest Daughter offer'd him for a Wife with a considerable Portion and as he had his mind possess'd with an opinion that the Young Duke of Savoye cou'd not live he thereby secur'd to himself the Succession On the other side they offer'd Prince Thomas to dismember the Dutchy and to invest him with the Sovereignty of some places But these Princes began to become jealous of one another thro' these Proposals which wou'd severally have fitted their turns but displeas'd 'em in Common out of the Passion each had to attribute to himself the Sovereign Pow'r at last they began to harbour a Diffidence of one another and Leganez not having 'till then been able to obtain their Consent to his laying siege to Cazal took so favourable a time to attack it The Spaniards had ever consider'd that Conquest as the most important they could make in Italy but fancying it cou'd not miss falling into their hands after the Count de Harcourts retreat and the Bickerings of those two Brothers they march'd thither with such great Confidence that they neglected taking a world of Precautions needfull to their Enterprize But what made them believe it the more certain atchievement is that the Garrison was weak and that La Tour the Commander of the place had reason to distrust the Inhabitants the most part of whom held Correspondence with the Dutchess Thus by minding affairs within doors this Governour as I may say forgot affairs without doors and gave Leganez time to make his approaches Leganez seeing every thing contributing to his Success press'd on his point and met with no other Impediments than the wonted inconveniencies of the Season not much advanc'd as yet In the mean while he dayly expected the Tydings of Rossignano's being taken having sent thither a Detachment by reason it might have obstructed and Cut off Provisions from going to his Army Rossignano was only a plain Castle but tho' the Garrison had not any hopes of Succours yet it held out longer than expected nay and beyond La Tour's hopes La Tour took thence
those they in the Town had so long Suffer'd This Capitulation in which Mazarin who had been sent by Cardinal Richelieu on purpose into Italy had a great share gave great Umbrages to Leganez And indeed he knew this Minister had made Sundry Propositions to Prince Thomas nay and that this Prince had giv'n 'em so farr a hearing that he had promis'd to put himself under the Kings Protection with his Wife and Children provided he might have left to him the Places he possess'd They say too he had promis'd to joyn his forces with those of the Count de Harcourt to wage Warr in Conjunction upon the Spariards but whether it be so or not oâ— that he cou'd not perform this Design before he had got his Wife out of their Hands who was at Madrid as I say'd afore he enter'd into New Engagements with them and continu'd his Hostilities as he formerly had done Nevertheless he made a Truce with his Sister in Law during Endeavours which were us'd to reduce him to his former sentiments by offering him still greater advantages both for himself and for his Adherents but he still wav'd Complyance on the score of his Wife who was narrowly guarded in Spain as a sure Pledge of his fidelity And indeed the Spaniards having without much difficulty got the Wind of these Negociations which we were not over-Exact in Concealing on our side that so we might render him suspected fancy'd this to be the only means to keep him Close to their Combination The Success of Turin and the raising the Siege of Cazal gave not only reputation to the Count de Harcourt but allso to the Crown which had been sufficiently slighted 'till then in Italy but seeing it to have the Alpes open by the means of Pignorol and its Pow'r mightily augmented by the Possession of Cazal all Princes with Emulation courted its Protection and the Amity of the first Minister to whom they attributed so many prosperous Events Yet this did not hinder his particular Enemies from declaring against him I have before said how that the Count de Soissons was withdrawn to Sedan with other Persons of Consideration and there was br 〈◊〉 ng a Rebellion then just upon the point of breaking-out Mr de Bouillon had been tampering very far in these Practices and besides several Leavies he had made he had allso sent to the Enemies who had promis'd him great Succours The Duke of Lorrain to whom part of his Dominions had been newly restored combin'd allso with these Malecontents and they all prepar'd for War As it was impossible but that this must be come to the Viscount de Turenne's Knowledg he lay under an unconceiveable Apprehension and dayly Expected such sad news from all these things that he had not one Moments repose At length the Design broak out by the Troups Lamboy put into the City of Sedan and as this Town was under the Kings Protection which Monsieur de Bouillon by this means renounc'd the Cardinal having for a while conniv'd at Passages of this nature seeing he cou'd no longer do it at least without betraying Weakness caus'd an Army to march under the Conduct of the Marschal de Chatillon The Count de Soissons to whom as Prince of the Blood the Duke de Bouillon had deferr'd the Command assembled his on his side and being come in sight of one another they fought and the Battaile provâ—d fatal to Both Partys For after the Count de Soissons had entirely broaken the Mareschal de Chatillon a certain Person calling out to him at some distance that the Enemies rally'd again he lift up the vizor of his Helmet with his Pistol either to take air or view the man that brought him this tydings But the Pistol going off he kill'd himself to the great Grief of all his Party Others say he was kill'd by a Trouper of the Company of Orleans and some by the hand of an Assassinate hired for that purpose by the Cardinal but I have heard it affirm'd by Persons then present and among Others by Lamesan who dy'd Sub-Lieutenant of the Kings Gendarmes that he killâ—d himself in the manner I have now related Thus I think it more fitting to credit those then upon the Spot than such as speak out of passion or upon the testimony of Persons at that time far remote His Death did not Change the face of the Battle but wrought a great Change in the affairs of his Party whom this accident having plung'd into amazement or rather Consternation gave the Mareschal de Chattillon time to bring his Army again on foot The Cardinal being rid of so dangerous an Enemy sent this Mareschal more fresh Troups and the Mareschal drawing near Sedan after having giv'n out the report that the King himself was going to follow with another Army the Duke de Bouillon had recourse to Supplications and Prayers and obtain'd by this Marschal his Kinsman's Intercession a Pardon for all that had pass'd As for the Duke of Lorrain he was devested anew of his Dominions and pitty'd by none as ever occasioning his own misfortune The Cardinal after having so happily terminated this Affair seeing himself above all had a design to be reveng'd on the Prince of Conde Whom he accus'd of having Clandestinely Conspir'd his Ruine and as he never wanted a Pretext when he meant to use one he resolv'd to revive the Business of Fontarabia and Dole which had been discourst to that Princes disadvantage The Prince of Conde having an infinite deal of Wit entertain'd some suspition of what was in agitation and attributed it to the Coldness he had shew'd to a Proposal that had been made him on this Cardinal's behalf touching a Match with his Eldest Son But going one day to make him a visit he converted his suspicions into Certainty when he observ'd at his going away Guards had been set to secure him he mounted up again immediately and pretending he had forgot something he return'd into the Cardinals Chamber with whom he discourst of a marriage of his Son with his Niece This Proposition mollify'd the Cardinal having at the very instant sent orders to the Guards to withdraw he reconducted the Prince of Conde to the very Door of his Antichamber giving to understand by this Civility which none receiv'd from him that a great Change was wrought in his Mind The Viscount de Turenne whom his Brother's Concern had Extremely ruffl'd being again at rest thro' the Upshot it had had thought himself oblig'd to make his Acknowledgements to the King who had the goodness to declare it to have been in consideration of him that he abated of his justice He also wrote to the Cardinal upon this matter and this Minister having a particular value for the Viscount and willing to Wedd him to his fortune had him offer'd by the Count de Harcourt to marry one of his Kinswomen But this Prince having more Disposition to a Single Life than to Matrimony wav'd the Match upon
Mareschal de la Meillerare who notwithstanding the Hâ—tred born his Uncle was generally acknowledg'd a man Skillfull in the trade of War For he had newly taken Aire a strong place in Aâ—â—ois and tho' the Cardinal Infant had recover'd it yet had he not the less repute The Viscount de Turenne having ever been desirous to fight in the Kings Presence was overjoy'd at his being Chosen to serve in his Army and thinking he lay under an Obligation of making his acknowledgments for it to the Cardinal of whom he had several times begg'd this favour he mention'd it so handsomely to him that this still the more redoubl'd the kindness that Minister had for him In the mean while the rumour which ran of the Kings journey prov'd true and the Viscount de Turenne his having kiss'd Majesties Hand this Prince took him aside and confirm'd to him by word of Mouth what he had Written to him several times namely that he had much regard for him and that on his account he had so soon forgot the Offence of his Brother the Duke of Bouillon The Viscount de Turenne not knowing what thanks and humilities to pay his Majesty for his Grace and Bounty and as the Duke of Bouillon had been newly nominated to go Command in Italy under the Authority of Prince Thomas so many favours at a time seem'd to incapacitate him of being ever able to acknowledge such great obligations He testify'd to the King the Sentiments he entertain'd but the King Embracing him tenderly told him that he was too well satisfy'd with him that he had it from good hands all possible Endeavours had been us'd to Embark him in the affair of the Count de Soissons but that before he knew his answer he had rightly judg'd he would do nothing contrary to his Duty The Viscount de Turenne begg'd his Majesty to believe he had never had that matter mention'd to him but if they had he wou'd not have fail'd of informing his Majesty But the King taking him up short told him that he ought to be content he was satisfy'd with his Conduct and that as so near a Relation of his had been concern'd in that occasion he had been the first to excuse him In the Interim the Army assembl'd around Perpignan and as we had not been able to hinder Provisions from being convey'd into that place from Couilloure which was continually supply'd by Sea the French resolv'd to attack Couilloure and to shut up Perpignan so close as should barr all Entrance and Conveyance into 't for the future The Mareschal de la Meilleraye directing his Maâ—â—h to Couilloure with the Viscount de Turenne attack'd it on the Land side while the Kings Fleet batter'd it from Sea The Marquis of Montarre was in the Town with a strong Garrison and had built several Forts around to hinder the Approaches The Mareschal de la Meilleraye having thereupon judg'd convenient first of all to take in those Forts sent thither the Viscount de Turenne who carry'd them by dint of Sword but before he cou'd render himself Master of the Town the Spaniards seeing Perpignan lost unless they reliev'd Couilloure they entred Cani with a Body of Horse and Reformed Officers while la Motte Houdancourt who had an eye to their Motions took the Field on his side The Spaniards who had their Design wou'd have declin'd fighting but la Motte having overtaken them at a Pass made 'em face about against their wills and after having defeated their Rear press'd 'em so close that he forc'd 'em to a second Engagement The success now was as little to their advantage as before and they lost full Eight Hundred men more However la Motte not being yet satisfy'd pursu'd 'em Night and Day into the Mountains of the Copsi and having overtaken them near Villa-franca he so compleated their Defeat that what remain'd of 'em were either slain upon the spot or taken Prisoners The King whom this Army had giv'n some Disquiet was overjoy'd to see it so happily defeated and as he had already receiv'd great Services from la Motte and that his last actions recall'd others into his mind he sent him the Staff of Mareschal of France Couilloure was quickly forc'd after so signal a Victory Yet as the Marquis de Montarre had fulfill'd the Duty of a Good Captain and of a Brave Souldier the Mareschal de la Meilleraye wou'd not refuse him the three days he still required before he surrendred rather to save his Honour than in hopes of any Succours The three days being Expired the Garrison march'd out and was found still Eighteen Hundred men strong This Conquest having much facilitated the Reduction of the rest of Roussillon the Blocade of Perpignan was converted into a Siege and the King meaning to be there in Person leâ—t Langue doc where he had staid some time and arriv'd at Pia whither came the Mareschal de la Meilleraye to give him an account of all his Actions In the mean while this Town lay under all sorts of wants except Mâ—n of whom it had a sufficient number but as they had no Provisions the French resolv'd not to Press it but to husband the Souldiers as much as they cou'd The Marquis de Flores d'Avila perceiving after what manner we design'd to have him distributed his Victualls in such small parcels that he made them last much longer than was expected and in the interim had hopes of Succours or of some Change in our Affairs for the Kings health rather impair'd than augmented and besides that of the Cardinal was in so bad a Condition as had oblig'd him to stay at Narbonne where he suffer'd inconceivable pains But what troubl'd him most was the account he had of the Cabals then on foot against him which so topsy-turvy'd the King's mind that he was contriving to rid himself of this Great Man whose exalted Genius was nevertheless the Cause of all his Prosperities Cinqmars the Mareschal d'Essiaâ—'s Son whom the Cardinal had been the means to introduce very far into the King's Favour but whose Destruction he endeavour'd for a Recompence was the most Dangerous of his Enemies This Young Man being not content with his Favour nor with the Charge of Master of Horse which he possess'd pretended himself to the Ministry and as he fancy'd the King near his end he enter'd into so particular an Engagement with the Duke of Orleans that he promis'd him not only to Kill the Cardinal but also to do all he requir'd The Duke of Orleans being naturally fearfull and dreading least after the Cardinals Death his Relations and friends might take up Arms he engag'd Cinqmars to send into Spain for Succours so as while the King endeavour'd to ruine that Crown his Brother did his utmost to uphold it The King of Spain seeing no other ressource but this to save Roussillon Entertain'd with great Caresses the Person sent him by Cinqmars and promis'd him all his Demands as well as to the
it Prince Thomas his Illness still Continu'd and though he remain'd in the Camp till the Town was taken he had now left it for the better Convenience of his Cure The Count du Plessis who was already very expert in the trade of War meaning to make advantage of the Season which allow'd him still the opportunity for some Enterprize he sat down before Pontesture and having batter'd it with twelve pieces of Canon the Beseiged Surrender'd it after having done all in their Power for a Stout Defence These Successes were still Seconded by Others which we had in Catalonia by the valour and Conduct of the Mareschal de la Moâ—he which gave so much alarum to the King of Spain that he resolv'd to go himself unto his Army But his Catholique Majestie 's Presence having not been able to repair his Losses His Councell thought it wou'd lessen his Honour to remain there any longer so as that he return'd to Madrid very little Satisfy'd with the pains he had taken This Year was there allso an Engagement sought between the Fleets of France and Spain in which all the Advantages fell on our side But notwithstanding all these happy Events We saw our selves dayly threatned with a strange Revolution thro' the Ambition of the Grandees and the Audaciousness of the Parliaments that under Pretence of the Publique Good made such Continuall Usurpations as were no longer in the Power of the Queen Mother to dissemble for at least without suffering her Son to fall under the same Destiny with the King of Great Brittain whom the Parliament of England Aim'd at Robbing of his Crown as they at Length robb'd him of his Life she was timely to oppose all these Innovations that were odious to all Honest People On the other side it was needfull to provide against the necessities of the Leaguer in Germany whose wrecks were Retreated on this side the Rhin without a Head without Arms and without other Reputation than that of being the wretched Remains of an Army formerly the terrour of the whole Empire for in truth these were the men with whom the Duke of Weymar acquired so much Glory and the Mareschal de Guebriant had render'd himself so recommendable This Monsieur de Guebriant after having serv'd for Mareschal de Camp in the Valteline had been sent into Germany to Command under the Duke de Longueville But this Prince refusing to obey the Duke of Weymar and the Duke of Weymar to receive him for his 〈◊〉 ner Guebriant had of a sudden Mounted a Degree and the Duke of Weymar dying shortly after as I have before related His Merit occasion'd that no other than himself was pitch'd on to Confide in the Command But to leave this point the business now being to Supply a Place that had been possess'd by two such great men the Queen-Mother made choice of the Viscount de Turenne to the Great Contentment of the Army and of the Princes ally'd to the Crown to most of whom he had the Honour of being related by his Mother's side As soon as he had been nominated to that Employment he repair'd immediately to the frontiere where he found things in so bad a posture as required his Wisdom and Conduct to restore them to any good estate But as nothing seem'd to him impossible when the Kings Service was the point in agitation he Surmounted these Obstacles by his Cares and Patience insomuch that all began to Change face The greatest Difficulty was to find Money to Cloath the Souldiers then stark naked for thro' the Disorder the Court was in at that time it had been forc'd to bestow its Liberalities on the several Parties and for prevention of Mischief had incapacitated it self from remedying what was most pressing Besides Cardinal Mazarin having got an Absolute Ascendant over the Queen had lavisht the Moneys in the Treasury to gain Creatures to himself and she was so prepossess'd in his favour that she imagin'd it to be for the Interest of the State tho' it was only for the private Interest of the Minister Thus all these Disorders having reduc'd the Army in Germany into the Pittious Estate I have newly Represented the Viscount de Turenne was oblig'd to borrow a Considerable sum upon his own Credit and making also use of some Money which the Queen-Mother had made him a Present of before his Departure he laid out both in Cloathing the Souldiers and in the Other Necessities of the Army This once done he caus'd it to pass the Rhin as believing that after what had happen'd the Year afore it behov'd the Kings Reputation and principally of his Minority to re-incourage his Allyes who seem'd still all in a maze at the last Defeat Now to make a powerfull Diversion the Queen-Mother wisht that the Duke d'Anguien would likewise repair to the frontier of Germany where the whole Stress of the War was like to be not but that she likewise meant to make some effort against Flanders but she cou d in no wise decline promising the Duke of Orleans the Command of the Arms on that side and he was already preparing to take the Field at the head of an Army of Twenty Thousand men The Siege of Gravelines had been resolv'd on at Paris for which reason he directed his way thither after having detach'd the Mareschal de la Meilleraye to secure the Passage and take in some Forts that might be some Obstruction to his Enterprize that of Gaiette was won first and by that means did they cut off from the Enemies the Communication with St Omer and procur'd that with the Mareschal de Gassion who was hovering up and down with a flying Camp Those of Gravelines having by this step perceiv'd the Design to be levell'd upon them let open their Sluyces But the Duke of Orleans having found the means to draw-off the Water invested the Place on all sides and had his Canon brought up with much Difficulty for the ground being thus soak'd sunk under the Horses and they were so tyr'd that it requir'd twice the ordinary number However all these Difficulties being overcome by a little Patience they reduc'd the other Forts that were around the Town and tho' they could not hinder Succours from getting into 't yet was it so briskly attack'd as compell'd it to Capitulate This siege having lasted some time and câ—st a Great many Men hinder'd the Duke of Orleans from daring to engage in any other Enterprize Especially having Picol mini to oppose him Besides all this he had a hankâ—ring to return to Court thereto wrest new favours for he had rather sold than granted his Protection to Cardinal Mazarin so as that this Minister had been oblig'd to give way to all his Pretensions so far as to grant a Paâ—ent of Duke and Peer to one of his Favourites The Prince of Condé seldom letting slip any opportunity of improving his Interests in like manner sold his favour to this Minister and refus'd him nothing provided he paid roundly
for it and indeed he ever sold it him as Dear as possible he could for as he was considerable of himself and gain'd dayly more and more regard by the Merit of the Duke d'Anguien he fancy'd all things were due to him The Cardinal saw himself in truth at the head of Affairs but was reduc'd to such an Exigency that all the pains he took was for Others And indeed the Duke d'Anguien himself prompted perchance by these Examples or perhaps allso because his Father was not over-Liberal had not been so strongly affected with Glory to which nevertheless he was very sensible as to be prevail'd with to be gone without that Ministers having giv'n him wherewithall to supply to a Great Expence Thus all the Treasures were for these Three Princes and as the Cardinals own affairs were not in over-good terms and that he had as good an Appetite as Others he on his side appropriated to himself all he could Insomuch that the finances being thus unprofitably Squander'd away recourse was to be had to Edicts which made the People Clamour and render'd his Ministry Extremely Odious Not a man of 'em besides the Viscount de Turenne who Neglecting his own Interests only Study'd those of the Crown tho' the Consideration he was in might have made him hope as well as Others to have gain'd by the Weakness of the Ministry for the Grandees after the Example of the Princes set their Services at a Price and in Case the least Neglected they fell into Caballs which made the Cardinal quickly recall them with a grant of still more than they had demanded The Duke d'Anguien after having obtain'd what he desir'd was departed for the Army and having caus'd it to pass the Meuse he joyn'd the Count de Marsin who brought him a Considerable re-inforcement General Bek being to observe his Motions retreated from before him and being under apprehensions for the Towns in Luxemburg he provided them with Men But this Princes Design was not to stop so near at hand and he had reasons which oblig'd him to pass on The Imperialists to give the Suedes work had set upon them their Ancient Enemies the Danes who having no want of Pretexts to declare Warr against them made so powerfull a Diversion of their forces that hardly any of 'em were left in Germany Thus the Viscount de Turenne found no small Difficulty to resist with Six or Seav'n thousand Men the forces of Bavaria and Lorrain that were joyn'd together for as to those of the Emperour the Prince of Transilvania had been rais'd up against them and he gave them Sufficient Employment Thus the Warr was extended into so many Parts that one wou'd have said Men had been bent upon Worrying one another In the mean while the Hollanders gain'd dayly by these Disorders and by little and little setled their State which we have since seen so flourishing As for Us besides Domestique troubles some Sparkes of which were already perceiv'd the Affairs of Germany began to render us uneasy The Viscount de Turenne with all his Experience and Capacity found himself so weak as has been allready hinted that he was oblig'd to retire upon the Rhin and put himself under the Shelter of Brisac while the Bavarians and Lorrainers being puft up with some petty Advantages they had gain'd march'd with displaid Ensignes against Fribourg As their Forces were Numerous in Comparison of those of the Viscount de Turenne he durst not venture a Battail but neglecting nought of what cou'd serve for the Defence of Fribourg he provided it with men Provisions and Ammunition and keeping hovering himself he sent to the Duke d'Anguien to advance with all speed This young Prince naturally coveting Glory but whose hands itch'd still more than usuall since his victory of Rocroy march'd day and night to come up in time But the Garrison not having made the Resistance Expected he found the Town taken at his Arrival which provok'd him to a high degree against the Governour Being however a thing for which there was no Remedy he conferr'd with the Viscount de Turenne to see what course was thereupon to be taken and Comforting one another in that it was neither of their faults they went together to view the Enemies who upon the rumour of the Duke d'Anguien's arrival were Encamp'd upon two Mountains whose Accesse though Difficult of itself was render'd still more so by several Retrenchments and by the Trees they had fell'd to Embarasse the ways But all these Empediments having rather Whetted than paul'd their Courage the Duke d'Anguien sent Marsin order with whom he had left his Army to bring it him with all Expedition Hardly would he allow it a day or two's Rest after so long a March and as if he had been afraid the Enemies shou'd have scap'd him he lead it himself on to the Battle which was long and obstinate on both sides The Enemies trusting in the strength of their Retrenchments and Scituation of their Camp seem'd at first to make a mock of the efforts he made but coming to perceive that the Viscount de Turenne after having made himself Master of a Wood which they had lin'd with Infantry came to attack them thorough a Place not so difficult they caus'd their Horse to march which Stop'd our foot that had pass'd sooner than our Cavalry by reason the Wood was fill'd with trees and Ditches that hamper'd the ways The night coming on hinder'd things from proceeding farther The Viscount de Turenne spent that time in passing the Cavalry which he had drawn up in Batalia at Break of Day But the Enemies making use of the Darkness to Conceal their Rerreat abandoned their Camp without having had time to break their Baraques or Carry away a thousand Conveniences we found there both for Men and Horses The Duke d'Anguien having suffer'd his Army there to rest after being Extreamly tyr'd and harrass'd with the Business of the day before by reason of the Continuall Rains departed again at Break of day with a resolution to pursue the Enemies who were retreated near to Fribourg He found they had Chosen an Advantageons Post which caus'd him to make a halt before he attack'd them But as he was Squaring his Measures by the Viscount de Turenne's and some Other Officers Advice the Souldiers fell a Skirmishing and had so far engag'd into a Battle as wou'd have render'd it impossible to have avoided it if the Viscount de Turenne to hinder the Disorder which began to appear among our men had not plac'd himself at the head of the Regiment of Flexâ—eim with which he repell'd the Enemies The vigour wherewith he broke in among them made them return into their Retrenchments out of which they came in hopes of an impending victory Things being thus retriev'd as well as cou'd be desir'd the Resolution was to attack them in their very Camp But we found the Passes so well intrench'd that after having fought on till night Our men were oblig'd
to leave them at Quiet Yet was this of no long Duration For the Duke d'Anguien who delighted in Bloud and was not daunted at the loss he had suffer'd in that Occasion thinking it a lessening of his Glory if after having prosper'd so well in the Beginning he desisted for so small a matter he remov'd his Camp to Landeslinghen that so by cutting-off their victualls they might quit so advantageous a Post His hopes were not abortive the Enemies coming quickly to be under all soâ—â—s of wants wou'd seek out a Place where they might live with more Conveniences But the Duke d'Anguien falling upon them on the one side while the Viscount de Turenne attack'd them on the other they were constrain'd to abandon their Canon and make their Escape into the Mountains The Duke d'Anguien having thus disperst their Army would have retaken Fribourg provided with a strong Garrison But the Viscount de Turenne remonstrating to him that the Enemies had left unprovided all the Other Places to Secure that persuaded him to go rather to Philipsbourg which being stronger by its â—c 〈◊〉 tuation and Outworks must afford him more Honour This was a sufficient hint to a Prince who valu'd nothing so much as things of great Renown to Wing him to this Enterprise He forthwith drew near that Place and having beleaguer'd it he had it surrender'd to him after the Trenches had been twelve days open This Conquest having been put into a Good Posture the Viscount de Turenne Advanc'd towards Worms and after having beaten part of General Bek's Cavalry he caus'd that Town to be Summon'd which submitted without striking a Blow From Worms he march'd against the City of Mayence whose Electour had Embrac'd the Enemies side and after having on his way reduc'd Oppenheim he came before Mentz allready invested by part of his Troups The Electour neither whose Will nor Character led him to be in a Town besieged had timely left it to retire to Cologne He had Carry'd along with him if it may be said the Courage of the Garrison so as the Chapter that besides had its Interests apart from those of the Electour sent a Deputation to the Viscount de Turenne to desire him not to ruine so fine a Town when just ready to open its Gates to his Exeellency The Viscount de Turenne in his Answer told those Deputies that he must allso have put into his hands the City and Castle of Binghen which the Chapter had under its Protection and seeing that after some Consults they had had with those of the Town they had at length thereunto consented he gave notice of all to the Duke d'Anguien that being greedy of Honour he might himself repair to the Camp that the World might presume his Highness to have made this Conquest The Enemies were retreated to Heilbron where they endeavour'd to re-inforce their Army But the Succours came in so slowly to them that before they were in a posture of forming any Enterprize the Viscount de Turenne had taken allso Landaâ— and Baccarach with several Castles which secur'd all those Conquests But the hast the Duke of Anguien was in to go to Court to receive fresh Applauses having occasion'd many to leave the Army it became so Weak that the Enemies were no longer afraid to show themselves Whereupon they began to march after so long a repose and having attack'd Manhein that had no more than Two Hundred Men in Garrison they carry'd it with Ease This Succes having puff'd up their Courage they conceiv'd a Design upon Spire which open'd it's Gates to us before the Siege of Philipsbourg But as this had been Suffering Philipsbourg to be block'd up on that side the Viscount de Turenne did not content himself with putting Succours into that Place but having also lin'd the Banks of the Rhin with his Infantry he hinder'd the Passage of some Boates that by the means of Certain Traytors in the Town thought to have been receiv'd therein upon sight He likewise sav'd Baccarach threatned with such another Enterprize and as the Governour by his valour had afforded him time to come to it's Succours he gave him two hundred Pistols of his own money and Writ to Court in his behalf for this Prince had no greater Pleasure than in procuring favours for those whom he found Worthy of them but he did these kind of things without affectation vanity or attributing to himself honour as most others do so as that many found themselves by him rewarded without knowing to whom they had the obligation Thus he rarely promis'd but nevertheless employ'd his Offices as much as if he had promis'd for he said that those who promis'd with so much Earnestness seem'd to Engage to bring that about which they had promis'd which ought not to be done unless it depends on one's self He said further that a man that had been amuz'd with specious Promises oftner blam'd him that had engag'd to be his Intercessor than him in whose Disposall the favour he demanded lay that this proceeded from the fault of a Certain Number of Persons whose Character was to promise lightly or not to remember what they had promis'd In the mean while the Enemies having miss'd of Spire and Baccarach as I have newly said attempted Creusenach which the Viscount de Turenne had in like manner reduced to his Obedience But he being on his march to relieve it they pass'd the Mein and went and beleaguer'd Hochst a small Place in Possession of the Lantgrave of Hesses Arms a Prince in our Allyance The Viscount de Turenne being afraid it was not in a Posture of making a Defence hasten'd to its Relief but having Notice on the Way of its being allready Surrender'd he turn'd his Arms against Gernsheim which compensated him for that loss He wanted nothing more now to Compleat so Glorious a Campagne than to Encounter the Enemies again which he wisht above all things as Phancying whatever Glory he had acquir'd at the Defeat of the Bavarians and Lorrainers the Duke d'Anguien had robb'd him of part of it being Commander in Chief of the Army Nothing did it avail his telling himself that that Prince being still Young and with small Experience the World would do him so much Juâ—lice as to believe that he had Contributed at least as much as his Highness to so many Great Successes but this was not capable of Satisfying him he told himself also at the same time that this Prince was one of the bravest Princes in the World and that his Bravery had perhaps produc'd all these Great Events he remember'd to have seen him all Cover'd with Fire in the Midst of the Enemies and he had often been more afraid for him in those Perils he saw him Expose himself to than he could hope to see him come Happily off For as he was one that most admir'd that Young Princes Virtue the Affection he had ever had for his Highness was improv'd to so high a Pitch that he
Duke of Orleans had the Mareschal de Gassion for his Lieutenant-General and being drawn near the Fort of Mardyk he Won it after a Siege wherein he lost some men The Prince of Orange was in the mean while upon the Wing to Awe and Create jealousy in the Spaniards and one while making a shew as if he meant to attacque Bruges and another some Other Place he gave the Duke of Orleans all so the leisure to take likewise the Fort of Link and Bourbourg The Army standing in need of some Repose after these last Conquests at fifteen days end they took the field again and the Prince of Orange still favouring our Designs we took Bethune Lislers St. Venant and Armentieres The Duke of Orleans being after this enclin'd to take a Turn to Court being either dispos'd to it of himself or by his favourite who had a mind to wrest some new kindness from the minister left his Army in the hands of Gassion and Rautzau who had been lately made Mareschal of France and these two Generals to return the Prince of Orange his Complement open'd to him the Passages for his going to besiege Hulst which he compell'd to Capitulate As for the New Army going into Germany the Cardinal put it under the Command of the Duke d'Anguien as he had done the Year afore But tho' Affairs were pressing on that side this Duke had order to favour the Enterprizes of the Marquis of Villeroy then busy'd in reducing some Places in Lorrain that still Obey'd their Natural Prince For the Duke of Lorrain being asham'd to suffer so many brave Men to Perish without giving them Succours he remounted all along the Meuse thinking that nothing wou'd oppose his Passage but having met with the Duke d'Anguien advantageously Encamp'd he was forc'd to stop on a Suddain and the Marquis de Villeroy in the mean while render'd himself Master of La Mothe whose Governour had acquir'd much Honour by his Defence This Affair being thus compleated the Duke d'Anguien continu'd his Way and was Urg'd to make the more hast by the bad News which arriv'd every Moment For besides that the Imperialists had retaken Gernsheim the Viscount de Turenne having joyn'd the Suedes and the Troups of Hesse after the Disaster that had befall'n him was continually sending him Word that he was ready to be abandon'd by Both Especially by the Count de Coningsmark who being wont to give much License to his Souldiers could not keep them in Discipline which the posture Affairs were in at that time did nevertheless require them to Observe All these things were sufficient enough as a man may say to give Wings to the Duke d'Anguien Having thus march'd Day and Night he us'd so much Diligence that he was but one days journey from the Viscount de Turenne who on his side drew near the Nekre where they were to joyn The Viscount de Turenne secur'd Wisloc on his Way and having Conferr'd with the Duke d'Anguien they resolv'd to pass the River tho' the Enemies allready appear'd on the Other side But Coningsmark refusing to fight under the Pretence of his being oblig'd to give Tortenson Succours who was Encompass'd with two Armies the Troups of Hesse after his Example demanded in like manner to retreat which occasion'd the Enterprize to be deferr'd The Rest of the Day and a good part of the Night was spent in gaining over Coningsmark and the Officer that Commanded the Troups of Hesse but Coningsmark having shown himself inexorable Ours durst not attempt the Passage of the River tho' the Troups of Hesse offer'd to stay The Duke d'Anguien was vext beyond imagination the Viscount de Turenne no less so tho' of a much more Temperate Humour for he hoped this Occasion would afford him the means of Retaliation But in short there being no Remedy they took leave of Coningsmark and after that squar'd their Measures otherwise Coningsmark being gone they beleaguer'd Wemphem and by taking it which the Enemies could not prevent became Masters of a Pass upon the Nekre by which they intended to make themselves a way into Bavaria The Enemies needing their Forces to defend the entrance of their Country dreading the fortune of the Duke d'Anguien wou'd not accept of the Battle he offer'd them and having put some Troups into Dunkespiel they retreated near to Norlinguen The Duke d'Anguien whom that Place had already afforded so much Glory hoping that it was still destin'd to acquire him fresh Lawrells after having taken Rotembourg march'd to Dunkespiel being willing to insinuate into the Enemies that he meant to fasten upon that Place But passing on all of a Suddain he would have Surpriz'd them if they had not happily met with a marsh behind which they drew themselves up in Battalia The Duke d'Anguien whose Courage was above all sorts of Difficulties wou'd needs fall upon that Post whatever the Danger in attacking them But the Viscount de Turenne having made him sensible that they could not stay long there temper'd the furies of his Youth so as that he resolv'd upon driving them thence by famine In the mean while he Caus'd his Canon to advance and the Enemies having also pointed theirs this Din lasted till night and two or three hundred men were kill'd on either side At the long run the want of provisions having as the Viscount de Turenne had well foreseen oblig'd the Enemies to discamp the Duke de Anguien fell upon their heels and having overtaken them before they could reach Norlinguen they drew up their Army in Batalia after having seiz'd on a village wherein there was a Competent strong Castle they put into 't a good part of their infantry and having plac'd their Cavalry behind they Phancy'd themselves so much the more in safty as that their Camp was upon two Mountains of Difficult access by reason of a Marsh on the one side and a Wood on the Other The Duke de Anguien after having view'd all these things gave the Command of his Right Wing to the Mareschal de Grammons and that of the Left to the Viscount de Turenne and having resolv'd to Cause the village to be attack'd he caus'd a Detachment to march thither led on by Marsin that was repuls'd with great loss Marsin himself having been dangerously Wounded was oblig'd to retreat and la Moussaye who had order to take his Room had not a better fortune The Duke d'Anguien imagining all things were to Square with his Courage march'd himself to see what was the matter they went not better But his Horse having been kill'd under him and having also receiv'd a Bruise the Battle began to cool when the' Viscount de Turenne found the means to pass between the village and a Mountain the Enemies Cavalry Seeing him coming endeavour'd to stop him that he might remain expos'd to the firing of the village which took him in the Flank but the Viscount de Turenne after having Chang'd his Horse his first having been wounded receiv'd 'em
Parts that not a Place was there but became a Bloody Theatre the Winter it self a time that seems destin'd for repose was spent in making divers enterprizes as if the other Seasons had not been sufficient The Spaniards impatiently supporting the taking of la Roque de Vigevane from whence excursions were made as far as Milan laid Siege to that Place and continuing their Attacks notwithstanding the bitterness of the Cold made themselves Masters of that Fastness This enterprize having been begun towards the end of the Year 1645. and compleated at the beginning of the Year following far from disheartning Prince Thomas stimulated him to take his Revenge upon some other place and having taken a turn to Paris he prevail'd with the Court to send a Fleet into Italy to favour a certain Design he had upon the Coasts of Tuscany But fearing least this might alarum the Grand-Duke he had the Secret imparted to him and a Bargain was struck up with his Highness that he should not give any Succours to the Spaniards The Court having thus settled matters on that side the Duke de Brezé Admiral of France and Brother in Law to the Duke d'Anguien put to Sea with a Fleet while Prince Thomas bent his March to Orbitella which place he had taken a Resolution to beleaguer This Town could not be Releiv'd by Land save by the Forces of the Kingdome of Naples but this Succours being slow and besides very uncertain the Spaniards assembl'd Ships and made in the interim some Attempts with the Garrisons of Porto-Ercole and of other Forts they held in those parts Carlo de la Gatta being in the place perform'd on his part all that cou'd impede the Approaches and having by his Bravery spun-out things into a Length the Fleet put to Sea and the Succours departed from Naples but in so Scanty a Number that according to all Appearances they were not much to be rely'd on The Fleet being ready before the Succours the Spaniards offer'd an Engagement and the Duke de Brezé being Young and desirous to signalize himself having met them half way they fought on both sides with great Courage At length the Spaniards not being able to resist the French Fury thought of nothing now but of retreating and wou'd perhaps have been maul'd in so doing but that by good luck for them the Duke of Brezé was kill'd by a Canon Bullet which made the French not mind pursuing them Carlo de la Gatta had no other hopes now but in the Succours of Naples and which I have already said to be so poor a bus'ness that he did not presume of it much to his advantage but the Issue of the Engagement that had been lately fought at Sea having alarum'd the Neighbouring Princes each of 'em under-hand augmented this Succours and it prov'd so considerable before it came in the presence of the Enemies that Carlo de la Gatta might well entertain a better opinion of it without fearing to be tax'd with too much Vanity And indeed after having rested a day or two this Succours attack'd the Lines with so much Valour as forc'd Prince Thomas to untrim the Trenches to line a Thousand several places where the Enemies appeared But Carlo de la Gatta laying hold of so favourable a time to make a Vigorous Sally he drove out those that were left in the Works and having set fire to the Bavins and fill'd the Trench Prince Thomas had no other course to take than of making his Retreat The ill Success of this Enterprize gave some disquiet to France that had found by this occasion the little kindness the Princes of Italy had for that Crown and as Prince Thomas after this saw himself slighted by his Adherents and that his Despair was capable of hurrying him to great Extremities it was resolv'd that a New Effort should be made to endeavour a Diversion of the Spanish Forces that were preparing to find him Work sufficient The Mareschal de la Meilleraye had Order to fit out a New Fleet and being embark'd he laid Siege to Piombino where the Mareschal du Plessis came and joyn'd him with some French Troups This Enterprize being more Prosperous than that of Orbitella repair'd in some manner our Reputation in Italy But the taking of Piombino having been follow'd with that of Porto-Longone the jealousy of the Neighbouring Princes was stronger than ever fatal marks of which had it been in their Pow'r they would liberally have bestow'don us In the mean while tho' the War was carry'd-on with so much heat in Italy yet did it in no wise cool in Flanders or in Germany The Duke of Orleans was enter'd Flanders with an Army containing the flow'r of the Troupes of the whole Kingdom and had the Duke d'Auguien under him The Principal Aim was upon Dunkirk and this Design had been Sufficiently manifested the year afore by the Enterprizes that had been made on that side for which reason the Court of France had prevail'd with the Prince of Orange who had surpriz'd Tirlemont in the very heart of the Winter that he wou'd send Ships before it and into other parts where they might be requisite This Prince advanc'd himself in Person flustering at a rate as if he meant to attack the Best Places and thereby make a Great Diversion he gave the Duke of Orleans Means who was not yet willing to give vent to his Design to go besiege the City of Courtray Having Secur'd that he pass'd the Canal of Bruges and the Prince of Orange drawing near on that side the Mareschal de Grammont went into his Camp with Six Thousand Men. Thus the Spaniards imagining him as ready for any sort of Attempt were oblig'd to divide their forces but the Duke of Orleans drawing near Mardik which the Spaniards had recover'd the year afore he laid siege to 't The Duke d'Anguien who Expos'd his Person as much as the Meanest Souldiers ran there a risque of his Life and was wounded in several Places In the Interim Picolomini endeavour'd to impede this Conquest as much as he could but the Prince of Orange Crossing his Design he had the Vexation of not being able to effect his Ends. Mardyk being taken the Duke of Orleans return'd to Court and the Duke d'Anguien march'd against Berguen which after he had taken he beleaguer'd Dunkirk The Siege of this Place being a Sea-Port at another time wou'd have Created much jealousy in the English and perhaps they wou'd have us'd their utmost endeavours to hinder it But the Execrable Rebellion they were Engag'd in at that time rendring them incapable of any other Sentiment they with great Tranquillity beheld the Beginning Prosecution and End of this Enterprize The Duke d'Anguien having Compleated his Lines of Circumvallation press'd the Town briskly tho' Picolomini had laid all other Bus'ness aside to attend the Relief of this Place he took it to the great amazement of Strangers who Expected this Place must have held out much longer
This Conquest augmented still the Glory which that Prince had acquir'd in Germany and the Court had so much regard for him as began to create a Jealousy in the Duke of Orleans but as the Duke d'Anguien had a Sly and Cunning Wit he manag'd his Royal Highness so dexterously as that he removed all his Suspitions The Prince of Orange thinking to make advantage of the Consternation the Spaniards were under after this loss laid Siege to Venlo but having undertaken it only to his own Confusion he Retreated into his own Country while the Mareschal de Grammont had much ado to get into France The happy Successes we had had in Flanders were a little tarnished by raising the Siege of Lerida undertaken by the Count de Harcourt and where he consum'd many Men and much Mony But the heat of the War was no where so manifest as in Germany where the Viscount de Turenne's Prudence exerted it self in many Instances The Imperialists having had a little Respite by means of the Winter endeavour'd to Emprove it to advantage and as they were in their own Countrey and had advantages the Suedes wanted they retriev'd many Places in Bohemia and in other Provinces where they had been losers The Viscount de Turenne being upon the Rhin was too remote to give Succours to our Allyes yet he endeavour'd as much as lay in him to oblige the Enemies to Divide their Forces for which reason he now and then was Tampering in some petty Enterprize and by that means kept 'em in Suspence and Jealousy But in short his Forces were not sufficient to Archieve what he otherwise wou'd he had but Six Thousand Men both Horse and Foot and with such a handfull he was not capacitated for any great matter Thus having not been able to hinder the Enemies from taking their Quarters in Hesse this had Cut him off all Communication with the Suedes and when the Season came to prepare to take the field he knew not what in the World to do to give them Succours In the mean while he was at a sufficient Plunge himself how to be upon his Defence against the Surprizes of the Enemies who at any time supply'd the want of force with all sorts of Stratagems against him He had newly discover'd a Correspondence they had in Philipsburg and though he had Caus'd it's Authors to be punish'd he knew not whether there might not be still some Other and so durst not remove far from hand the time however press'd the Imperialists laid Hesse desolate and so incommoded the Suedes as reduc'd 'em to strange Distress The Land-Gravinne of Hesse sollicited him to give her Succours the Suedes demanded the same thing of his Excellency and he saw little likelyhood of effecting either thorow the Dfficulty of the Ways and the fastnesses the Enemies had between Both. At last after having weigh'd well what he had to do he sent to the Prince of Orange to desire him to lend him a Bridge of Boates he had upon the Rhine and having pass'd that River above the Borders of Wesel he fram'd a Design in his Turn to cut off the Ennmies Communication and to pen them up when he had once joyn'd the Suedes in which he cou'd not have been hindered if he had the Good luck to compass the Conjunction The Enemies might as yet have exempted themselves from that inconvenience but fearing he wou'd march into Bavaria whose Passes were open they quickly left Hesse while they were marching in a Body they made Detachments to advance in all hast upon the Mein The Viscount de Turenne upon the news he had of all these motions fancying that the Success of his Enterprize depended only on his opening the Passage of that River Caus'd some troups to advance and these Troups having driven away three hundred men that defended a Ford the whole Army pass'd being a days March before that of the Enemies In the mean while he Seiz'd on Aschaffembourg and of some other Places of less importance and having left a Garrison in some blown up Others he march'd towards the Danube where most of the Citys open'd their Gates without making other than a mean Resistance Rhenen however stopp'd our Armes for some days but having been Won as well as the Rest all Bavaria remain'd a Prey to our Army it having also pass'd the Lek Ausburg only now wanted to be reduc'd it having at first demanded a Newtrality but calling in the Enemies afterwards this step oblig'd the Viscount to lay Siege to 't The Duke of Bavaria had like to have been surpriz'd in a Country House where he was taking the Diversion of Hunting for having not foreseen that so many Rivers cou'd be pass'd in so short a space he was far from suspecting a misfortune to be so imminent he withdrew into his Capitall City but not thinking himself there in safety he wou'd have gone much further off if he had found the means to remove off the storm with which he was threatned by proposing to remain Neuter This Prince notwithstanding he appear'd the Most formidable of our enemies having ever kept a Secret Correspondence with Us for We were not over-willing that the Suedes should become so Potent and he for his part was not Sorry that the Imperialists now and then receiv'd some small Mortifications Thus were poor Miserable Wretches Sacrific'd for the publique weale by some times giving ground and at others by making a fluster of pushing on This is the reason of our Army in Germany's being ever so Weak and if Succours had been sent thither the two years afore 't was rather to show what France was capable of than to make any Considerable Conquests And indeed Experience had shown in the Course of one and the same year that Victorious Armies had been oblig'd to give ground and retreat for these two Powers had the Secret to make Detachments so in the Nick as to bring matters again to the Equilibrium they had underhand agreed on but now at this time it fell out quite otherwise and the Viscount de Turenne not knowing the least of all these secret practices had push'd things so far as neither side knew how to remedy In so great an Extremity only were there two Expedients One to send the Viscount de Turenne order to retire the other to direct him to suffer himself to be beaten The former cou'd not be done without manifesting the Intelligence the Other was dangerous because it had been imparting the Secret to him which they wou'd not do notwithstanding As matters were urging and that Bavaria suffer'd extraordinaryly by the stay of so many Troups they Chose to offer a Treaty under Colour of which the Viscount de Turenne had order to repass the Rhin This Extremely Surpriz'd this Prince for the Court trusted entirely in the Duke of Bavaria's Word he promising to abandon the Emperour but as it was not for him to Pry into the Secret and that it became him to content himself
Recommendation in his behalf that they shou'd not engage him in it in case their affair was ticklish in the least The Treaty above-mention'd being concluded with the Duke of Bavaria the year 1647. was allready far spent when that the Suedes having no mind to evacuate the Places they held were not in a humour to ratify the Treaty unless they might be left in Possession of what they then had in their hands In the mean while the Prince of Condé Dy'd before the Year was finisht and the Duke d'Anguien assum'd his Name so as when I shall henceforward mention the Prince of Condé I shall mean that Duke The Contests that arose between the Suedes and the Duke of Bavaria occasioned the Viscount de Turenne to remain still sometime upon his Territories where he fought a short and smart Battle for having Notice that the Enemies were marching towards the Rhin he attack'd them Vigorously and pursu'd them to the very Gates of Newbourg he also took several small Cities of of his Electoral Highness's Country for to oblige him to give all manner of Contentment to the Suedes it became him to exert still the same heat In the mean while as Affairs spun-out into a Length a Part of the Army advanc'd towards the Lake of Constance and alarum'd the Cantons by the taking of Bregens and of some other places They sent Deputies to the Viscount de Turenne to know his Intentions but this Prince having assur'd them that the King his Master had not the least thoughts of making any Innovation in their Regard they return'd very well satisfy'd as being persuaded he would not have giv'n them this assurance if he meant afterwards to Violate it And indeed those who knew him knew that for any thing in the world he wou'd not have been prevail'd with to deceive any body And it was also a Common saying of his that there was a great Difference between the Stratagems of War and Cheats and forasmuch as a man was esteem'd who knew how to put the former in practice so much ought he to be blam'd who made use of the later to bring about his Designs that a man's word ought to be inviolable as well to Enemies as to Friends and that if they were to be surpriz'd 't was not to be by promising them what a man never meant to perform At lâ—st the Treaty before-mentioned being made the Suedes having been thereunto oblig'd by the French harbour'd a Secret Resentment in their Hearts of which they were not long without giving them Instances During these Transactions the Viscount de Turenne having left Bavaria turn'd his Arms against the Electour of Mayenz and the Landâ—grave of Darmstadt from whom he recover'd the Cities of Aschaffemburg Sclingenstadt and some Others for while he was busy'd on the One side the Enemies Acted on the Other and sometimes in one and the same Campagn a Town Charg'd its Party three or four times He allso took the City of Darmstadt the Capital of the Landtgrasts of that name's Dominions and having Cast a Terrour into the Electorate of Cologne he oblig'd those Princes to demand a Neutrality All these Treatys would have startl'd the Emperor if he had believ'd them any thing long-liv'd but he expected what in effect happen'd that the Duke of Bavaria having left his Principal Towns in the hands of the Suedes and being Constrain'd to remain Armed could not Subsist any longer without endeavouring to affranchize himself from their Slavery that this wou'd rather make him Chuse the hazzards of War than Moulder away by little and little For which reason he resolv'd to try if he cou'd induce him sooner to the Rupture than he wou'd have fall'n to 't of himself In the Interim his Circumstances were so low that all his Credit seem'd lost in Germany For we were Masters of the Bancks of the Rhin from Colin to Basel and as the means to pierce into the Countrey We had also reserv'd to our selves Heilbronn and Lawinghen which afforded us a free Passage as far as into the Hereditary Countreys On another side the Suedes possess'd an infinite Number of Places in the heart of the Countrey but the Emperour hoping to avail himself of the strangeness between them and Us since the Treaty of Bavaria expected not only to recover what he had lost but also to sustain with some sort of Repute the Affairs of Flanders that were under great Decadency since the taking of Dunkirk For considering that if the King cou'd once render himself Master of those Provinces he wou'd be capable afterwards to give Laws to all the Empire he fancy'd that tho' he had not so much Interest therein as the King of Spain he ought nevertheless to Espouse it as his own Bus'ness For this purpose he sent the Arch-Duke Leopold thither that so the Grandees being Excited by the Grandeur of his Birth might rid themselves of a certain jealousy to which he attributed the Unhappiness of the foregoing Campagns The Arch-Duke being accompany'd with Numerous and well-disciplin'd Forces and being desirous to Signalize his Arrival in Flanders by some Considerable Exploit he lead his Army against the City of Armentieres whose Governour made a Valiant Defence but after having held out about three Weeks without the prospect of any Considerable Succours it at length Surrender'd upon Honourable Conditions From Armentieres the Arch-Duke March'd against Landrecies where he had Intelligence with the Marquis d'Haudicourt Commanding in that Place Thus having taken it with much Ease the French Leaguer then Marching to its Succours was oblig'd to turn its Arms another way To repair these Losses it took Dixmuyden and La Bassée but it kept the former of these Two Places so little a while that 't is not worth the pains to boast of it for the Arch-Duke laid Siege to 't immediately while the Mareschal de Gassion Attack'd Lens At the siege of this fastness was it that this Captain who had acquir'd great Renown in all his Enterprizes receiv'd a Musket-shot of which he dy'd he was much Lamented by his Men esteem'd by the Enemies and his Relations who were great Losers by his Death nevertheless lost still less by it than the State did to which he was more than ever capable of rendering great Services In the mean while the Arch-Duke's Army still Augmenting and the Court being afraid it might make advantage of Gassion's Death sent Orders to the Viscount de Turenne who staid upon the Banks of the Rhin to Secure his Conquests to repass it on to this side But by taking Care of the Affairs of this side those on that fell into Decay for the Emperour improving this Diversion drove the Suedes from several Posts For a Height of Misfortune Colonel Rose who serv'd in the Viscount de Turenne's Army being gain'd and egg'd-on by his Country-men who as I said before were Exasperated at the Treaty of Bavaria made Caballs in his Regiment and in that of some Suedes that serv'd as well as
his Reputation which had suffer'd some blemish by raising the Siege of Lerida he of his Person did Wonders and after having defeated their Left Wing He fell upon their Right which the Mareschal de Grammont had attack'd with less Success The Disorder was great among the Arch-Dukes Troups and this Prince was never able to rally them whatever Peril he himself confronted for the setting them an Example Rantzau taking the Advantage of this Victory went and Attack'd Frondatte who with a small Body of Spaniards Cover'd the Places on the Sea-side and after having beaten him into his very Retrenchments he beleaguer'd Furnes whither the Prince of Condè repair'd He receiv'd there a Musket-Shot on the Reins but the Bullet being flatted by his Buff that happen'd to lye in folds he came off with a Bruise These losses so allarum'd the Spaniards that they resolv'd to pass o'er all Considerations that had thitherto hinder'd 'em from coming to a Conclusion with the Hollanders and the Treaty having been sign'd they imagin'd they might be in a Capacity to take their Revenge However their Concerns went not only ill on that side but they had been also compell'd to raise the Siege of Flix in Catalonia and the Mareschal de Schomberg had taken Tortose from them they had likewise been oblig'd in Italy to abandon some Islands they had possess'd themselves off upon the Po and the Duke of Modena having the Command of the Army by reason of some Discontent Prince Thomas had giv'n the Court had besieg'd Cremona in the State of Milan with an Army of Fifteen Thousand Men. They apprehended the Event of that Siege as a thing fatall to their Grandeur The Duke of Modena us'd all possible Care and Industry in this Occasion as well as the Mareschal du Plessis and the Marquis Ville who particularly had the Whole Care of the Attacks but the latter having been been wounded by a Cannon shott of which he dy'd two days after seem'd to carry all Good luck away with him In effect the Duke of Modena having Suffer'd some Losses in diverse Sallies thought it became him not any longer to prosecute that Enterprize and though he had lost Men and time in 't he made less reflexion on the Shame that wou'd redound from raising the Siege than on the Obligation he was under to save the Rest of his Men. The joy the Spaniards receiv'd from raising the Siege of Cremona was preceeded by another Event to which they had been still more sensible and indeed the thing was of much greater Consequence to them and as I have not yet Spoke of it I shall here drop a Word or Two since the Occasion serves The Vice-Roy they had at Naples having displeas'd the People as well as the Nobless a General revolt there was against him the Night afore and fearing least the King of Spain might inflict an Exemplary Punishment they call'd in His most Christian Majesty to their Succours who sent them the Duke of Guise a Person to them acceptable This Duke being brave sustain'd things for some time with great Vigour but being addicted to his Pleasures he suffer'd himself to be led away by his Temper without considering the humour of the Nation jealous ev'n to fury Thus they not pardoning him some little Amours that had made but too much noise they fram'd severall Conspiracies against him nay and render'd him so suspected to the King that his Majesty left him as it were to himself In so great an Exigency he wou'd have open'd to himself a Passage to introduce Provisions into the Town then labouring under great want of them but going out himself imprudently those that had a Design against him deliver'd a Gate to the Spaniards who on another side seiz'd on his Person Now this Event was to them of too Great a Consequence for them to refrain entertaining an Extraordinary joy but it wou'd have been still much greater without what occur'd in Germany I have said before that the Duke of Bavaria having broke his Treaty the Viscount de Turenne was march'd away again for Germany by order from the Court and as this Prince knew the necessity there was to make hast he march'd long Days journeys till he had pass'd the Rhine He joyn'd the Suedes whose great occasions for him from them extorted great excuses for having receiv'd his Mutinous Troups and having offer'd to put them again into his hands to Chastize them as he pleas'd his answer was that all thoughts shou'd be laid aside of what was pass'd and that provided they were more Obedient he willingly pardon'd them This Affair being thus terminated without there appearing any bitterness on either side the Army march'd directly to the Danube where the Enemys waited with thirty thousand men as if they meant to give Battail but upon the Tydings they had that the Viscount de Turenne drew near they march'd to Donawert where they pass'd the River The Viscount de Turenne perceiving by this that they had no Intention to fight design'd to force them to an Engagement by passing it himself at Lawinghen and to make the more hast he left there his sick aud his Baggages Melander who commanded two years afore the Troups of Hesse but out of some Discontent had sided with the Emperour thought it not yet fitting to accept of the Battail and thinking to reach the little River of Armuth he was much Surpriz'd to see that his Rier attack'd before he cou'd pass Sommerhawen He immediately repair'd thither to put things in the best posture he cou'd but in his striving to stop the enemy that pusht him briskly he receiv'd a Pistol-shot in his Reins He easily perceiv'd the Wound to be Mortal but being a man of Great Courage he told those that were very earnest to give him help that they shou'd only think of saving the Army and having commanded them to press it on as much as they cou'd he Surrender'd his Soul in uttering these Words Advance Gentlemen Adv-a-n-ce The Rier had much adoe to pass the River and a great Number of them were kill'd upon the Bancks but the rest having at length got over they broke down the Bridges and still pursu'd their way In the mean while the Duke of Wirtembourg posted himself in a Meadow with twelve hundred Horse sustaining two Batallions plac'd to impede our Passage and he behav'd himself so valiantly in this imploy that a Man cannot say too much to his Honour And indeed though he had lost above the half of his Men they being kill'd by our Canon he stood firm in his Post untill Night when he made his Retreat The Darkness made the Viscount de Turenne not dare to pass in his Pursuit but at break of day the Army began to work upon the Bridges while the Cavalry were seeking out a Ford. At length having found the means to pass in less than three hours space it fell a tracing the Enemies who fled towards Lek As they had got a nights start
of the High and Mighty their Complaints would have been little minded had they not joyn'd effects to menaces by the Occasion that was imprudently afforded them Emeri the Super-intendant having Exhausted his Wit in a vast Number of Edicts not knowing what to have recourse to for the filling the Exchequer insinuated to the Cardinal that he shou'd retain the Pensions of the Officers of the Parliament of those of the Other Sovereign Courts and in short of the Presidials and of the other Jurisdictions The Edict having been Seal'd by the Chancellour a man devoted to the Cardinals Designs the Parliament far from verifying it gave an Arrest of Union that is to say an Act by which the Sovereign Courts should Unite themselves with one another to bring a Change in Affairs so as that the Interest of some Private Persons did what the Interest of so may Provinces had not been able to bring about that had groan'd under Oppression since the Regency The Court Dissembling this Affront made semblance of disgracing Emeri and gave the Administration of the Finances to Meilleraye and the Edict was revok'd with many other tokens of weakness During these Occurrences the Prince of Conde having won the Battle of Lens whereof I have before made mention the Queen-Mother who had not without difficulty consented to all these things thought her self now in a State of Exerting the Royal Authority and the Parliament having assisted at the Te Deum sung at Notre-Dame as a Thanksgiving to God for that Signal Victory two of it's Members were taken into Custody at their going out of the Church The People who hated the Cardinal were in Commotion upon these Tydings All thronging into the streeets and as the Sedition was going to break-forth the Queen-Mother sent Persons of Consideration to the People to reduce them by Lenity and Mildness But being return'd to the Palais-Royal where the King then Resided after having ran a hazard of their Lives the Queen-Mother Commanded them to take some Troups of the Guards and to seize on the Mutineers that pursu'd the Chancellor when a going to carry new Edicts to the Palais The Command was easyer to give than execute a Hundred Thousand men were there already in Arms and those that were at the Head of those Troups having had the Imprudence to cause fire to be giv'n were quickly forc'd to betake themselves to flight so to steal away from the fury of a Mobile no longer capable of Obedience The Queen-Mother who had word brought every moment that the Sedition augmented wou'd not believe it in the least and continu'd to take Vigorous Resolutions On this Account was it she receiv'd so ill the Coadjutor of the Arch-Bishop of Paris He advising her to give way for a time to that fury which she cou'd no longer suppress by force but having intimation that they were every where Barricadoing it Necessity requir'd her taking Designs more Moderate and more conformable to the time In the mean while the Parliament being assembled sent a Deputation to the King his Counsel to have its Members releas'd that were then in Durance But these Deputies returning without having been able to obtain any thing in their favour the People sent 'em back with Menaces that if they were once again refus'd the return of their Members they wou'd go set fire to the Palais-Royal and stab the Cardinal with all his Adherents The Deputies having not in the least Conceal'd any of these Things from the Queen-Mother and her Councel an Answer was to be glv'n at the very Instant and tho' the Queens Opinion still was to sustain the Royal Authority to the very last the Duke of Orleans and Mazarin having been of another Sentiment they prevail'd over Her Majesty so as the People had promis'd them what they demanded This Success gave a new audaciousness to the Parliament and as it found it self backt by the People it Pretended to turn out the Cardinal and put in a Minister to its Phancy for this purpose Measures were taken with the Duke of Orlean he being egg'd on to the same thing by the Abbot de la Riviere then become Bishop of Langras but not being contented with this Dignity wou'd needs joyn to it the Lustre of the Purple which the Cardinal had in vain sooth'd him with the hopes of Thus accusing him of having amuz'd him he was become his Enemy and lay at Watch for all Occasions to ruine his Eminency The Cardinal having the Duke of Orleans and the Parliament against him had now no other Recourse than to the Prince of Condé then in great Consideration for his New Victory But the Duke de Châtillon his Relation and a Person that had a great Ascendant over his Mind endeavour'd to direct his Highness from siding with his Eminency Complaining as well as la Riviere that the Cardinal had long promis'd him the Baton of Mareschal of France without his seeing any effect of his Promises In fine all depended on the Byass this Prince should give to his Resolution when the Mareschal de Grammont being instigated by the Affection he bore the Cardinal found means to make him incline on his side Whereupon the Prince of Condé having declar'd he wou'd take the Court and his Eminencies Part the Parliament that had allready pass'd an Arrest against the Cardinal which Enjoyn'd him to depart the Kingdom durst not push things farther and the Duke of Orleans whose Spirit was so-so Moderate unwilling to draw upon his Back a Man of the Prince of Condé's fame and Courage consented to a Conference demanded by the Court to Salve such Matters as were complain'd of Nevertheless as La Riviere still possess'd the Duke of Orleans Cardinal Mazarin judg'd it Convenient to Confirm to him the Assurances he had giv'n him of a Cardinals Cap which the Crown was to demand for him at the first Promotion and la Riviere having taken his Sureties as far forth as such an Affair wou'd allow off the Obstacle vanish'd that retarded the Publique Accomodation The Cardinal being thus deliver'd from the misfortune that threatned him instead of thinking to Content la Riviere he phancy'd he ought to be cautious how he procured him such a settlement which wou'd have put him into some manner of Concurrence with him Nevertheless he was very much at a loss after what manner to break his word with him But the Mareschal de Grammont who had an infinite deal of Wit free'd him out of this Plunge he so order'd matters by the Prince of Condé's means that the Prince de Conti his Brother demanded to be made Cardinal at the first Promotion and as his Birth did not allow of any one soever to dispute with him that Honour la Riviere saw himself as far off from his hopes as he had phancy'd himself near their Accomplishment He cou'd not refrain showing his vexation he hinder'd his master from going as he was wont to the Palais Roial when he cou'd not dispence himself
from going his Discourse with the Cardinal was tart and eager and much more ready to quarrel with him than to give him any good words The Queen-Mother being justly incens'd that a man of la Riviere's Birth should so embroile affairs again that the Kingdom was ready to relapse into Disorder and Confusion propos'd to the Prince of Conde without whom her Majesty durst not venture upon any thing to have him taken into Custody But the Prince fearing lest this might the more exasperate the Duke of Orleans and as he was at that time far from the Resolutions which he since embrac'd he desir'd the Queen to take Milder Courses The Queen follow'd his Advice and things were Pacify'd more easily than expected for La Riviere having had the wind of what was propos'd against him fearing lest the Prince of Condé might suffer him to be Expos'd to that Princesses just Resentment was the first to Suggest to his Master the Renouncing of that Danger Yet tho' the times hereby seem'd to have retriev'd their Serenity yet was it not of any long Continuance The Parliament being made up of many Members who out of private Considerations hated the Cardinal they were not at quiet till they had rais'd new Combustions They had recourse to the Coadjutour whose haughty Spirit and full of Ambition was equally inflam'd with the Desire of wreaking his Revenge for the Contempt the Queen had had of him and to fiâ—â— the Cardinals Room However as he did not find his Shoulders strong enough all alone to accomplish so great a Design he tempted the Prince of Condé's fidelity and insinueted into his Highness such great hopes that he prevail'd with this Prince to promise him something However he did not keep his Word with him which so Vex'd the Coadjutour that without having regard to the Respect owing to his Birth he spoke of him in very ungratefull Terms and which being again told to this Prince gave the start to that strong Aversion which they since prosecuted against one another The Coadjutour no longer minding to husband him Phancying he might pester him so much the more by striking up an Union with the Prince of Conti his Brother out with him at that time upon the account of some Amours he sought to regain his Confidence and having but sped too well in that Design He had him declar'd Head of the Party of the Frondeurs a name giv'n to those that had Sworn the Cardinals Ruine In the mean while the Parliament still continued its meeting and the Princes of the Blood were there for the most past present by their Authority to divert the finister Resolution that Assembly wou'd otherwise have taken The Prince of Condé whose hatred to the Coadjutour Extended to all those who had any Affinity with him seeing that Viole one of the Boldest Frondeurs had bolted out something against the Cardinal interrupted him smartly and the Other nevertheless continuing his Invective he threatned him with his Hand This Action did not please the Company that pretended a Right to Command Pow'rs still above him But as they were fearfull all their resentment only appear'd in a surd Murmur which nevertheless went to his very heart And indeed whether that his Highness imagin'd he had lost it's Affection by what had happen'd or that he was Stimulated by the Mareschal de Grammont he undertook to humble it to that Degree as that it never more might be in a Condition to attribute so much Pow'r to it self Yet a Difficult matter was it for him to effect his Purposes for the Parisians infinite in number made its Cause their own and the Court had Sufficiently perceiv'd by what had happen'd that there was no imprifoning any of its Members with Impunity wherefore he took another Course which was to block up Paris hoping the Parisians would no sooner find Scarcity and Dearness in their Town but that they would attribute their Miseries to those they then stil'd their Protectors The Design was Great this Prince having but Seav'n or Eight thousand Men but his Passion showing him more things easy than they really were he prevail'd with the Duke of Orleans to Strike in with this Resolution by the means of the Abbot de la Riviere to whom he promis'd that the Court wou'd abandon the Prince of Conti's Interests at Rome for the giving him satisfaction This Resolution being taken they caus'd the King to leave Paris with the Duke D'Anjou his Brother and the Queen carry'd him to St Germain en Laye to see from thence as from off a Theatre what wou'd be the result of so great an Enterprize In the mean while the Grandees were sollicited by each side to declare themselves and the Parliament allur'd-in some of them dayly to come and offer it their Service for they did not speak their Intentions to be against the King on the Contrary they publish'd Manifests by which they made appear that the Cardinal to stretch the Royal Authority too far shock'd all the orders of the Kingdom and brought the State within an ace of it's Ruine Besides the Prince of Conti who had embrac'd it's Party as I have already hinted the Duke d'Elboeuf the Duke de Bouillon and several others had already declar'd themselves in it's favour The Viscount de Turenne was press'd to do the same with his Army and the Duke de Bouillon expecting these Commotions wou'd make way for his Restauration in Sedan never ceas'd solliciting him to draw near Paris He was Deaf to his Persuasions as long as there were any Enemies in the Field but seeing the Peace made he began to think it no such Criminal business to improve his Brothers Pretensions joyn'd to this that he was piqu'd against the Cardinal who after such long Services had newly refus'd him a favour he had requir'd of him for one of his Friends The Cardinal distrusting his Resentment forthwith dispatcht away Hervart Controlleur General of the Finances to his Army and Hervart by the means of his Money having gain'd the Colonels they abandoned the Viscount de Turenne tho' they had promis'd his Excellency to assist him in all his Undertakings Hervart's Design was after this to have seiz'd on his Person but having notice giv'n him by an Officer he stept aside betimies and made his Escape The Spaniards knowing his Experience did all in their Pow'r to get him enter France in the Head of one of their Armies but as things were not long without coming to an Accommodation they cou'd not derive all the Advantages they expected from these Commotions In the mean while the Blockade of Paris made so numerous a People Clamour and perceiving a Scarcity on the very first day of the March above half of 'em repented of what they had done however now it was too late the Parliament in whom resided the Sovereign Authority not being reduc'd to such great Distress far from talking of humbling themselves pass'd a new Arrest against the Cardinal but the Prince of
Condé without stopping thus at such frivolous things proceeded from menaces to deeds and the Parisianâ— being still Masters of Charenton a passage upon the River de Mâ—rne he resolv'd to drive ' 'm thence He encharg'd the Duke de Châtillon with that Attack while he himself advanc'd upon an Hill on this sine Paris to oppose the Succours And indeed an infinite Number of People departed out of this Great City that having repell'd them with two or three Squadrons he Surpriz'd his own Party as well as the nemies by so Extraordinary a Boldness This having favour'd the Duke de Châtillon's attack he won the first Retrenchments with a singular Bravery But when there was but one Barricade more to force he receiv'd a Musket-shot of which he dy'd the next day to the great grief of the Prince of Condé who lov'd him sufficiently to have procur'd him the greatest Employments His Disaster did not hinder the Royalists from making themselves Masters of the Barricade but this Burrough was of too small Censequence to comfort the Prince of Condé for the loss he had had There were several other petty Engagements to gain or defend Other Posts but they were all Disadvantageous to the Parliament which as much enhanc'd the Prince of Condé's Glory as it lessen'd that of the Generals that had undertaken its Defence The Parisians who had dayly promises of having the Passages open'd knew not what to say of all this and mutter'd aloud enough against the Parliament to give occasion to fear they wou'd abandon it They began to say publickly that the Peace was preferable to so Unhappy a War and the Parliament not being in a Capacity to continue it wou'd willingly have found out a favourable means to have return'd into its Duty Of all the Persons of Quality that were in its Party there was not one but had Commerce at Court none of 'em thus standing out but to reap the more Advantage Thus now were they the Impediments to the Conclusion of the Peace Nevertheless not a man of 'em wou'd be the first to propose it for fear such a tender might be Injurious to his Fortune But the Court whose Interest requir'd the appeasing these troubles with the soonest sent an Herald to the Parliament with a Letter and the Parliament Embracing that Occasion to make its Peace sent back the Herald with his Letter under Colour that Heralds being only sent to Sovereign Princes and to Enemies they had neither of those Qualities to receive him but that if it pleased the King they wou'd send Deputies to St Germain to be inform'd of his Will and Pleasure The Queen-Mother was too sagacious to miss of perceiving from whence these Submissions departed but labouring under the Apprehension that the Spaniards might improve these Disorders to whom the Prince of Conti had allready sent an Agent she took that Occasion by the foretop to make proposalls of Accommodation they agreed upon a Congress at Ruâ—l and at length after some Contests on Both sides a Treaty was made which brought some Appearance of Serenity I say appearance because the Minds of the Grandees were possess'd with too much Ambition to leave the People long in Quiet A generall Amnesty was granted to those that had been tampering in this Affair and the Viscount de Turenne returning by this Means he kept Close about the Prince who after such Signal Services had reason to Expect Complyance from the Court to all his Desires During all these hub-bubs the Enemies had Caus'd the Siege of Cambray to be rais'd which the Count de Harcourt had attack'd with all his forces and they recover'd the Towns of Ypres and of St. Venant with some Other Posts on that side All these Places had been so ill Desended that it 's incredible how much Weakness not to say Cowardice our Men shew'd in those Occasions But all these Losses wou'd have been quickly repair'd without the Civill Warr which began more siercely for the Reasons I am going to deduce What the Prince of Condè had newly done in favour of the Cardinal produced two effects One that this Prince pretended all was owing to his Deservings the Other that the Cardinal seeing he was nearer to be satisfy'd resolv'd upon getting ridd of the Dependancy he was going to fall under For that purpose he instill'd a jealousy into him of all People so farr as to persuade his Highness the Frondeurs had a design upon his Life The Prince of Condè that did not love them over-much before redoubl'd his aversion for them and they not thinking themselves in safety at least without joining themselves to the Cardinal they diving into his Sentiments forgot the hatred they had for his Eminency The Cardinal finding his Advantage in treating with them did not boggle on his side to follow that Course Insomuch that the only difficulty lay in ingaging the Duke of Orleans or rather la Riviere who was entirely devoted to the Prince of Condé upon his giving him his Promise to Serve him as has been allready mention'd in obtaining him the Cardinals Cap. But the Coadjutour being in no ill terms with this Duke having found the means to inject into his Royal Highness a jealousy of the Prince of Condé who had had the imprudence some days afore to beat an Officer of his Guards He made him Swear he would not reveal o the Queen what he had to tell him and after having taken his Oath which he caus'd him to make upon the Bible he propos'd to him the Securing the Person of the Prince of Cordé of that of the Prince of Conti and of the Duke de Longueville their Brother-in Law And indeed this feat was not to be done at twice because there had been danger in Confining some without All. The Duke of Orleans after having acquiesc'd in the Reasons the Coadjutour brought him to make bim approve of this Design conferr'd with the Cardinal and the thing having been resolv'd on between them two they purposely brought a Cause into Debate then depending in the Council for one of the Duke of Longueville's Relations hoping they would all three meet there for iâ—s Accomplishment In the mean while the Guards were doubl'd but that this might not give the Prince of Condé any suspicion he had a forg'd Secret paulm'd upon him as under the Rose so as that he thought it only with intent of Securing certain Persons that held insolent Discourses against the Present Government Yet he had notice from several Parts not to go to the Palais-Royal and that there was some Design against his Person but his Destiny hurrying him into the Precipice he was Secur'd in the Queens Closet with the Prince de Conti and the Duke de Longueville He was committed into the hands of the Count de Miessens who at the head of Sixteen Gens-d'armes conducted him to Vincennes taking his way thro' the field least by going thro' the Town some Accident might befall him As soon as this News was
spread about Paris His friends fearing to be involv'd in his Misfortune fled their Ways some into Normandy Others into Guienne in hopes of Causing those two Provinces â—o revolt But the Queens forecast render'd all their Designs Abortive so as that there wou'd not have been the least Bustle or Commotion if the Viscount de Turenne who had receiv'd new Outrages from the Cardinal His Eminency having refus'd him the Government of Avergne after having promis'd it him had not Repair'd to Stenay a Place giv'n to the Prince of Condé as a Reward for his Services He had so little Money when he left Paris that he had not wherewithall to perform his Journey But in Champagne he met with a Gentleman at his Devotion who gave him Six Hundred Golden-Lewisses The Dutchess of Longueville arriv'd at Stenay in a few days after with her Jewels which she offer'd the Viscount de Turenne to raise Forces and ' for the more efficacions endeavouring the Freedom of her Brothers and her Husband As the Money that cou'd be rais'd upon them was not sufficient for so great a Design they resolv'd upon sending an Agent to the Arch-Duke But while they were in expectation of his Answer the Viscount de Tu enne not being proof against the Charms of that Princess fell in Love with her Highness She was of a Complexion extremely tender and of which several Persons neither of his Merit nor Quality had had Instances But some reason I know not of rendring him more Unhappy than others she was not contented with being Cruel to him but she also past railleries upon his Passion with la Moussaye Governour of Stenay so as that instead of continuing to love her he slighted her extremely At length came th' Arch-Duke's Answer and being conformable to expectation the Viscount de Turenne departed with some Troups that were at his disposal to go joyn the Body of an Army the Arch-Duke was to commit to his Conduct They Conferr'd and Consulted together what Course they had best to take and having laid their measures the Viscount de Turenne entred France while that the Duke of Lorrain who had Correspondencies in his own Country advantag'd himself of so promising a juncture The Marquis de la Ferte Seneterre was sent against the Duke of Lorrain while that the Mareschal du Plessis who had been sent for from Italy march'd against the Viscount de Turenne This Prince's Design was to draw as near as he cou'd to Paris to seize on the Passes of the Rivers and to advance with Two Thousand Horse as far as Vincennes from whence he pretended easily to free the Princes And indeed he had already got Possession of all the Passes as far as Vela-Ferté Milon when by the Treachery of the Count de the Arch-Dukes Favourite who had a Pension of a Hundred Thousand Livres from the Cardinal and to whom the Arch-Duke had reveal'd the Secret the Princes were remov'd to Marcoussis and from thence to Havre de Grace This Count had also Correspondence at the Court by the means of the Dutchess de Chevreuse with whom he had had a Charming Engagement at the time of her being at Bruxelles under the Reign of the Late King and she had procur'd him this Pension in Acknowledgement for the Pleasant Pastime he had procur'd her during her abode in Flanders But tho' this Pension was so considerable the Cardinal did not grudge his money after having receiv'd so wholesome an Advertisement The Viscount de Turenne having miss'd his Aim brush'd back the the same way he came and went and posted himself near Sompais where the Arch-Duke was arriv'd in Person The Mareschal du Plessis had Coasted him in his Retreat and the two Armies Skirmish'd dayly without daring to Engage in a Battle for on th' one side th'Arch-Duke was afraid that if he lost the Day he shou'd find it difficult to make his Retreat and on th' other the Mareschal du Plessis left the very Heart of the Kingdom for a Prey if Fortune prov'd adverse to him While that such weighty Considerations with-held both sides Cardinal Mazarin repair'd to the Mareschal du Plessis's Army and giving him order to Fight he staid in the Camp where he lay upon the bare Ground without fearing to fully his Purple He made some largess to the Souldiers to oblige them to do their Duties and having spent the Night under some disquiet for th' event Break of day was no sooner come than that the Mareschal du Plessis drew-up his Troups in Battle-array The Arch-Duke and the Viscount de Turenne did the like on their side and the two armies being separated only a Musket-Shot from one another quickly came very furiously to Blows The Success was equal on both sides at the first brush the Arch-Duke's Right Wing where he was in Person was put to Rout while the Viscount de Turenne Commanding the Left broke the Mareschal du Plessis's Right Wing The Viscount thinking to improve the advantage he had to compleat the Battle at a blow attack'd the Enemies left Wing but this being in good order made such a Defence as gave the Right leisure to rally and the Arch-Duke having not been able to do the like with his the Viscount de Turenne was quickly encompass'd on all sides He did wonders to dispute the victory but having been forsaken by the Arch-Duke nay and by a part of those that fought under him he was forc'd to Court his safety in his flight He had not gone a League when he perceiv'd himself pursu'd by a Squadron which made him say to those about him that there was no other Course to take than to face about upon the Enemies These his followers being all Officers and men of great Courage having declar'd to him they were ready to do all he thought expedient they marchall'd themselves in order and the Viscount de Turenne leading them forthwith to the Charge they utterly routed this Squadron the most of whose Troupers were kill'd upon the Spot Having thus got rid of this importunate Attendance they continu'd their way with the more freedom but to this inconveniency there Succeeded another which though not so dangerous was not the less pressing Hunger and Thirst began to distress them in such manner that it was impossible for them to support them any longer At lengâ—h the Viscount de Turenne pitying them more than he did himself made up to a Wood with whose least Paths he was acquainted and having bid em â—ollow one that led 'em to a Spring he alighted off his Horse and having unbridled him hâ— held him to graze himself while his men went to squench their Thirst One of whom brought him water in his hat and having found it in this manner the most delicious Beveridge in the world he mounted again on Horse-back and march'd untill he saw a light He went directly thitherwards and found it to be a Mill where some of his Men that had timely made use of their Heels
been follow'd his Highness had obtain'd it sooner The Prince of Condé made him no great Compliment and taking Coach he drove away for Rouen from whence he got to Paris in three days All the Town went out four Leagues to meet him and the Duke of Orleans went to receive him at St. Denis where he presented the Duke of Beaufort and the Coadjutour to him He Embrac'd 'em both and after having thank'd 'em all for procuring him his Freedom he mounted into the Duke of Orleans's Coach wherein went allso the Prince de Conti and the Duke de Longueville with the Duke of Beaufort and the Coadjutour They went to alight at the Palais-Royal follow'd by an infinite Number of People who proclaim'd by their Huzza's and Acclamations the joy they had for their Return They were receiv'd by the King and Queen-Mother with seeming Marks of Good will But this notwithstanding the Cardinals Spirit still reign'd at Court though his Person was at a Distance this Manifested it self Two Days after by the Reproaches the Queen made certain Persons that went to visit the Prince of Condé Nay she happen'd to bolt out publickly that the Court was become a Desart now since the Prince of Condé's Return which being told again to this Prince he conceived suspicions as by what happen'd afterwards were found not to be ill grounded In the mean time the Exiles return'd that is to say those that withdrew upon the Princes Imprisonment The Viscount de Turenne return'd also tho' the Spaniards had endeavour'd to get him stay with them by a Thousand fair offers with which they thought to have tempted his Fidelity but this Prince made great difference between such an Action as this and that he had done Being come to Paris the Prince of Condé receiv'd him with open Arms and as a man that had for his sake expos'd himself to all sorts of Danger But some days after this Prince appear'd more cold and reserv'd thro' the Dutchess of Longueville's persuasions she complaining he had aspers'd her with poynant Railleries when he was with the Arch-Duke The Viscount de Turenne finding by this unjust carriage how things went and how unworthy it was after what he had done for him so lately thought not fitting to enter upon great Justifications but laying hold on that occasion to divorce himself from him he made his Court more assiduously to the Queen who had giv'n him a favourable Reception and let nothing slip that might wed him to her Service In this Design she caus'd some Offers to be made him by Messieurs de Lionne and le Tellier who in the Cardinals Absence were her most trusty Agents as being very affectionate to the Cardinal But he made answer that his humour was not to sell his Services that his Refusal did not however proceed from the desire of embracing other Interests that he shou'd thence-forward espouse those of that Princess as much or more than those in whom she most Confided and that when he should have thereby merited some Reward he wou'd receive it more willingly than at present that he own'd himself unworthy of her Bounties The Queen knowing the occasion he had to complain of the Prince of Condé found something so handsome in this Answer that she us'd still further endeavours to gain him but he neither chang'd his Sentiment nor Stile which the Queen attributed to his Policy imagining that what he did to be only that he might not come to an absolute Breach with the Prince of Condé In the mean while matters were more than ever embroil'd at Court Letters had been intercepted from the Cardinal to the Abbot Fouquet and from th' Abbo◠Fouquet to the Cardinal by which a Thousand Engines were discover'd for the procuring his Return All the Grandees mutter'd and cut at the Root of all these Mischiefs the Frondeurs press'd the Prince of Condé to conclude Mademoiscille de Chevreuse ' Match with the Prince of Conti that was to remove all the Jealousy they might harbour of his Conduct In effect this Prince having forgot that his Freedom had only been mediated and obtain'd on this Condition dayly found Pretexts to retard that Allyance and the least delay being Suspicious in the then present posture of Affairs the Frondeurs fell into inconceivable Diffidencies and such as were not without Foundation In effect the Prince of Condé being cover'd with Glory by his past Actions seem'd to think only of his own Interests he had listen'd to some Proposals made from the Queen and tho' he feign'd at first that he cou'd not enter upon any Negotiation to the Prejudice of his Friends This was only to wrest the more advantage to himself And indeed when he had got with the Promise of the Guyenne Government of a world of considerable matters for his Relations and Creatures he no longer shew'd himself so scrupulous but as there wou'd have been weakness in him to be the Author of the Cardinals Return he that had made him undergo so harsh a Captivity he demanded to clear himself in some manner in the world that the Queen shou'd not oblige him to contribute thereto and that she shou'd be contented with his not interposing any obstacle This was all the Queen desired thus it prov'd no Difficulty But another made the Prince of Condé more at a loss which was to disengage himself handsomly from the Match of Mademoiselle de Chevreuse with whom the Prince of Conti being fall'n in Love it was not easy to disswade him from it As the Prince of Condé had kept all very Secret he had Negotiated with the Queen it had been difficult for the Frondeurs to shrift into it but perceiving by his Deportment that there must need be something more than ordinary in Agitation they desir'd to make so sure of the Prince of Conti as to prevent his giving ear to the Counsels that shou'd be inculcated into him For this purpose they resolv'd to proceed to the Marriage and secretly sent to Rome for a Dispensation by reason of the Kindred between those Parties The Coadjutour being Allmighty in Paris for these sorts of matters they pretended by his means that the Dispensation being once come they should be marry'd without the Privity of any The Prince of Conti to content his Passion further'd their Designs Madam de Chevreuse to see her Daughter a Princess of the Blood desired it and the Daughter long'd for nothing More than to be Marry'd In a word all Paris had an Extreme desire to see this Matter brought to a Conclusion when the Prince of Condé having intimation of what occur'd told the Prince of Conti that being so well shap'd and handsome a Person he had reason to seek after some further Pleasingness that his Marriage was going to adorn his head more than he imagin'd that he wou'd have horns loaded with Mitres Arms and Corner-Caps and in fine by taking Mademoiselle de Chevreuse for his Wife he was going to make sure to himself of
the Church of the Nobless and of the third Estate Thereupon he pointed out to him the Coadjutour the Marquess de Noirmoustier and Commartin to be his Mistresses Intimate friends and as the Distance is not great from a great Passion to a great Jelousy the Prince of Conti was so Strongly seiz'd with the later that he reproach'd his Brother with not having giv'n him notice sooner Nothing at all had been known of this Conversation but for the Prince of Conti he being too much smitten to hold his Peace He discourst his Mistress upon the Matter but in such bitter terms as provoak'd her Madam de Chevreuse shar'd as farr as became her in her Daughters Resentment as well as all the Caball but the Coadjutour a Man naturally violent Suffer'd himself to be hurry'd to so great an Excess of Anger that if he had been of the Quality and Profession of the Prince of Condé he wou'd not have staid so long without taking his Revenge For want of this Satisfaction he made his Party resolve upon Contriving the Means to ruine that Prince and having none more certain than by salving up Matters again with the Queen he made all the Advances and thereby break the Treaty which the Prince of Condè had rough-drawn with her The Queen to keep some Measures nevertheless pretended that le Tellier and de Lionne had Engag'd her beyond th' Orders â—he had giv'n them she retrench'd her self to less advantageous Offers she propos'd still some Accommodation Suspecting he wou'd not abate the least of what had been promis'd him In effect this Prince seeing he had been paulm'd upon was rather contriving to engage the Queen in New Troubles than to accept of the Proposals tendred him and the Duke of Orleans being necessary to his Design for the gaining him he buckled his Spirit to all sorts of Complaisances The Dutchess of Longueville who for some little Amours was out with her Husband who dayly threatned her to carry her into his Government of Normandy Nay to shut her up did in the mean while all she cou'd by the means of her Lovers to whet him on to raise a Civil War imagining that in a time of Confusion and Disorder they wou'd have something else to do than to mind her Conduct Thus the Prince of Condé being Excited by his Resentment by the Interest of his Sister whose Reputation he had a mind to Spare in the Eyes of the Publique and by the Persuasion of his friends employ'd his thoughts wholly upon gaining new Creatures and to assure himself of those over whom he formerly had Pow'r As he stood not in the same terms with the Viscount de Turenne as he had done before his Return he grew fervent again in his Regards for him hoping this new Ardour wou'd produce its effect But the Viscount de Turenne without unbosoming himself either one way or th' Other receiv'd as became him the marks of his Amity which not satisfying the Prince of Condé he Engag'd him in a Design of Pleasure he was to be present at in the Marais hoping that amidst Wine and Debauchery wherein the greatest Sages commonly discover their Sentiments it wou'd be easy for him to conjecture what was from him to be Expected The Viscount de Turenne wou'd not deny him going thither but shew'd himself so reserv'd that the Prince of Condé not being able to fix any judgment that tended to his Advantage was oblig'd to induce him to a Clearer Explication of his Sentiments Whereupon Persons having spoken to him on his behalf he made them answer that he was his Highnesses Servant but that his Highness had us'd him so ill that he was not resolv'd to Espouse his Interest to the Prejudice of his own that he had not thought of his friends since his return tho' he might have done them Service that on the Contrary he had affected to rob 'em of the Knowledge of all he had treated of under-hand as if he had been afraid of their Partaking in his good fortune as they had done in his bad that to have an Occasion not to do any thing for him he had laid hold of some ill-grounded Complaints of Madam de Longueville tho' he had let him know that she it was that had held Discourses to her own Disadvantages that he had run himself over Head and Ears in Debt upon his Account and that being lately Marry'd it became him to mind more narrowly his Affairs In effect he had newly Marry'd the Daughter of the Duke de la Force an Extreme Virtuous Lady and more considerable thereby than by a thousand other Qualities which nevertheless render'd her very recommendable for besides her being of one of the Best Families in France she had a vast fortune and was besides handsom enough to invite the Affection of a Husband The Viscount de Turennes answer having made the Prince of Condé presume that it wou'd be difficult for him to Engage him on his side Yet wou'd he try all sorts of Ways rather than be baulk'd of his hopes and as the Duke of Bouillon did not seem so Malecontent tho' he wou'd not give him any positive Word he tender'd him a World of Advantageous things for them both he desir'd the Duke of Bouillon to hint it to his Brother for the Viscount de Turenne had a Regiment of Horse of Sixteen Hundred Troupers with his Regiment of Foot which render'd him still the more considerable to the Prince of Condé whose posture of Affairs at that time needed both Troups and Friends These offers mounted to a Hundred Thousand Crowns each and the Prince of Condé Engag'd to procure them besides this ample Pensions from the Spaniards with whom he was allready in Treaty The Duke of Bouillon suffer'd himself to be insensibly lur'd by these fair Promises and considering that his House had at all times been link'd to that of Condé he endeavour'd to gain his Brother who took other measures for he had Commerce with the Queen who to take them both off from the Prince of Condé made them on her side a very advantageous Offer However they were both deep in Debt and for the paying their Creditors needfull was it to procure themselves the best fortune they could they did not absolutely break off with the Prince of Condé that they might Whet the Queen to do still more The Prince of Condé knowing their Negotiations and foreseeing that considering the State things were in at that time the Queen wou'd not let them Scape her press'd the Duke de Bouillon to tell him what they both requir'd that so this Affair might with the soonest be terminaâ—ed The Duke of Orleans who by the means of his Daughter was in the Prince of Condé's Interests said the same thing to the Duke de Bouillon and being at length oblig'd to come to a Declaration he demanded two hundred thousand Crowns for himself and his Brother that the Parliament of Bordeaux should pass the like Arrests against the
Cardinal as that of Paris had done that so they might be thereby assured that Guienne whither they pretended to carry the Warr wou'd side with the Prince of Condé that they shou'd have in the Places appertaining to him the same pow'r he had there himself and that in fine the Spaniards shou'd give them Sureties for a hundred and fifty thousand Livres Pension for them Both. The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Condé found these Pretentions Extreme great Especially in reguard of the Places for they pretended to no less than the Power of appointing or deposing Officers but in short the State of things obliging them to pass over all sort of Considerations they agreed to all and the Hour was set for Signing the Treaty at the Palais d'Orleans whither the Prince of Condé repair'd But the Viscount de Turenne having struck up an Engagement with the Queen and pretending his Duty oblig'd him rather to take her Part than that of the Prince of Condé who aim'd at Embroiling the State told his Brother that he had not giv'n his Word to sign any Treaty nay that he advis'd him to turn as well as himself to the Queens side and having both sought out expedients to come off handsomly from this matter they treated with the Queen who caus'd the Duke of Bouillon to be declar'd Minister of State destin'd the Command of the Armies to the Viscount de Turenne During these Transactions matters grew to that exasperation between the Queen and the Prince of Condé that the Frondeurs propos'd to her to rid her hands of him by a Violent way The Queen being a good-natur'd Princess and at a distance from such sorts of Sentiments rejected this Proposall but concluded afterwards on that of securing his Person The Frondeurs took upon them to make the Duke of Orleans agree to the Matter he being properly speaking a Weather-Cock for all Winds and having atchiev'd what they had promis'd nothing now remain'd but to contrive th' occasion which was some time after Mett with when the Queen least expected it Going the Tour with the King she there found the Prince of Condé all alone in his Coach but not having had her Wit so ready as to make use on 't she miss'd a stroke that wou'd have prevented many Disorders The Prince of Condé having had intimation of the Design that was upon his Person trembl'd when he saw he had so imprudently giv'n himself up into the hands of his Enemies and going his ways presently he resolv'd to have more Cautâ—on for the future However he fell from one extremity into th' other for having notice that two Troups of Guards were Commanded out towards the Fauxbourg St. Germain he fancy'd that it was to invest his House and not willing to stand to that extremity he took Horse and advanc'd towards the Chartreux the nearest place to the Hostel de Condé to get into the fields This Alarum'd him extremely having heard at a distance Horses coming towards him but it was found to be nothing this noise being only caus'd by Market-People bringing their Provisions to Paris Day-light being come he got upon a high place to see what he cou'd discover and then perceiv'd that those Troups which had put him into that fright were going to Tournelle to assist with main force the Loyalifts that were affronted for in the then unhappy State of Affairs every one took such freedoms as wou'd have been sharply punish'd at another time He was at a great loss whether it was best for him to return to the Hostel of Condé or pursue his first Design of retiring from the Town But as he had already undergone a hard Captivity it made him more Susceptible of fear than he otherwise wou'd have been so he chose to repair to St. Maur one of his Houses but three small Leagues distant from Paris His Retreat being generally known so great a number of Persons of Quality went to offer him their Services that he thought himself more in a State of Creating Fear than of Entertaining Apprehensions The Queen sent the Mareschal de Grammont to him under Colour of asking him th' occasion of his Retreat but in Reality to work him to return to Paris where she imagin'd it wou'd be more easy for her to Surprize him But the Prince of Conde bearing an ill will to the Mareschal de Grammont for not having Reveal'd the Design in hand to Secure his Person to which he was Privy wav'd entring into any Parley with him and only told him that the Cardinals Spirit still reign'd too much at Court for any relyance to be had in the Queens Word However to place his Family in safety he sent his Wife and only Son to Montrond a strong Place he had in le Berry and Madam de Longueville being desirous to free her self from the Apprehension she justly labour'd under of her Husbands designing to punish her for her Infidelities to him went along with her Sister-in-Law Thus the Prince of Condé having no longer the trouble of a Wife and Son the Weakness of the former's Sex and the Greenness of the others Years made him dread ill Consequences in case he was forc'd to a Suddain Departure he returned again to Paris to re-animate his friends Especially such as were Members of Parliament whom endeavours were us'd to Spirit away from him He found the thing more difficult than he Expected for besides the Credit the Coadjutour had in that Assembly the first President to whom he had done an ill turn render'd him as much suspected as he cou'd Yet as the Present juncture of Affairs requir'd his seeming united with this Body from whom the People seem'd if a Man may so say to borrow its Motions He assisted at all its Assemblies Caress'd One and Caress'd Another and appear'd very wide from that Violence which formerly made him threaten one of its Members The Coadjutour who would have thought it wou'd have been abandoning the Party for him not to be present there too assisted at it in like manner as Councellour of Honour a Quality attributed to the Arch-Bishops of Paris But knowing the Prince of Condé to be persuaded that him it was that wou'd have insinuated into the Queen the Causing him to be Kill'd he went not thither without being well attended The Prince of Conde not knowing with what Intention he did this for his part he invited his friends to do the like with him and Each side bore Arms nor more nor less than if they were going to War The Queen siding in this Occasion wou'd have the Coadjutour to be Guarded by a Brigade of Gens d'armes and of the Kings Light Horse and the Prince of Conde that knowing what she did to be rather out of the hatred she bore him than out of any Love she had for th' Other more then ever thwarted her Intentions The only design of this Princess tended to procure the Cardinals Return but she had difficulties to overcome on all sides
before that cou'd be effected For tho' the Frondeurs were seemingly in a strict Union with her Majesty they had a very different Aim They were in the Interests of Châteauneuf Keeper of the Seales who after having posses'd the first Place in the Council had try'd a Reverse of fortune that had distanc'd him thence Yet the most part did not despair of his being restor'd and not a Person besides the Coadjutour but wisht it as not being of a humour to leave to another what made him do so many things unbeseeming his Character However being one day at the Palais he happen'd into a great perplexity for going out of the Great Chamber to hinder any Disorder from happening between his Friends and those of the Prince of Conde that staid in the Great-Hall he saw himself all of a suddain Surrounded with Swords and if every Individuall had not retired to his own Company he wou'd have fancy'd that not a man of 'em All but had his Person for the mark of his Revenge At length having distinguisht his friends from his Foes he rang'd himself among the Former while that the Duke de la Rochefoucaut plac'd himself at the Head of the Latter Thus a man wou'd have said they were just going to fight but the fear they were under of discrediting their Party in the Parliament occasion'd their resting satisfy'd with threatning one another After this they wou'd both return into the Great Chamber But as the Duke de la Rochefoucaut had got the Start he wayted the others coming behind the Bar-Door and just upon his passing he Clapt it strongly to and Caught his Head between the other half of the Door that remain'd shut The Coadjutour schream'd-out as if he had been upon the point of being Assassinated and the Parliament being interrupted by all these things was rather contriving how to appease this Disorder than to deliberate about the matters for which it was Assembled The Duke de la Rochefoucaut that he might not shock the Parliament answer'd the Complaints the Coadjutour made immediately against him that he had â—â—d no Design of insulting him in any manner and that if he had shut the Door it was only to hinder those of his Party who pursu'd him from wanting Respect to so August a Body But the Respect born it was so small that the Duke de Brissac the Coadjutours near Relation fell to using bitter Words which the Duke de la Rochefoucaut wou'd never have suffer'd without taking satisfaction if the Duke of Orleans had not interpos'd to bring 'em to an accommodation This was a more vexatious Bus'ness to the Coadjutour than can be imagin'd he was Universally blam'd for offering to measure himself with the first Prince of the Blood and as his Profession did not allow him to do any thing Violent of which all his Actions had the Appearance what the Prince of Conde gave out of him found the more easy Credit namely that he had a Design of Assassinating him As the Queen cou'd not doubt of the hatred they bore one another she look'd upon it as a great piece of Merit from the Coadjutour to her Majesty and for th'engaging him to continue as he began she promis'd him the first Cardinals Cap which the Court of Rome should grant to France Thus in that time of Disorder and Confusion Vice had the Compensation of Virtue for sufficient was it for a man to be in a capacity to make himself fear'd by his Intrigues Cabals and provided one did not directly thwart the Queens Intentions he had fair hopes of obtaining any sort of favour During these Transactions the Parliament being back'd by the Duke of Orleans who through his natural inconstancy chang'd his Party as often as his Shirt dayly perceiving more and more that the Queens whole aim tended to bring about the Cardinals return who in lieu of distancing himself from France as she had promis'd staid at Liege pass'd new Arrests against him importing that not any Cardinal tho' of the same Nation shou'd thenceforward have admittance into the King's Council The Queen not daring openly to declare her Intensions was oblig'd to subscribe to so hard a Condition by causing an Edict to be expedited in Conformity with the Arrest This did not hinder her however from sending him money and the Duke of Orleans caus'd a Carriage design'd for him to be stopt that came from the Provinces bordering upon the Loire where the Blood of the People was not spar'd no more than the rest of the Kingdom which was lavisht upon him to facilitate his Return The Cardinal by the means of this money rais'd Forces and having wherewithall to keep in with his Quondam-Friends and get new he Fortify'd his Party as much as he cou'd and did not yet renounce the hopes he had of becoming more than ever Potent The People suffering by all these Novelties complain'd in the mean while that for the interest of one single man the whole State was near it's Ruine but withall most of the Grandees were glad that they had this Pretext given them to render themselves the more Powerfull and tho' that amid their Disobedience they had ever the Publique Good in their Mouth when it came to the making of Proposalls all turn'd upon their Interests and not a Word was there about the Poor People In the mean while the King entred into his fourteenth year being the time six'd for the Majority of our Kings and People hop'd that being a Major he might possibly apply some Remedy to the Evils that afflicted the Realm principally when he shou'd be let know whence they proceeded and the Means to be made use of to put a Stop to them But the wisest Expected but little Ease from that side they said it to be a great mistake to believe that a Child foster'd in the Love of his Mother and in the hatred of the Princes of the Blood whom he was made to believe had a Design to bereave him of his Crown had the judgement to discern truth from falshood that if Our Kings were declar'd Majors at fourteen years of Age 't was rather thro' Custom than Reason that well known it was that at that Age a Man was not capable of any great matter that it was also Manifest they needed Council more than Ever by cause that beginning to have some Intentions yet without being able to distinguish what was wholesome from what injurious they were to be redress'd and set to Rights when they had made a false Step. And in truth this Ceremony was perform'd with more Pomp and Lustre than Profit and all the Change there was consisted in there being no more than the Kings name in the Declarations whereas that of the Queen was there allso before But the same Maximes and the same Sentiments still appear'd so as that it was plainly seen the Peace of the Realm was not hence to be expected In the mean while the Parliament still continu'd it's Sessions and
of Lorrain being stript of his Dominions and his Repute and Credit subsisting only by his Troups he did not think fit to hazard them but Caus'd a Bridge to be laid over the Sein so to have that River between the Two Camps But seeing himself press'd in such manner that he cou'd no longer avoid fighting he desir'd My Lord Digby that his Lordship wou'd interpose in a New Treaty then on foot The Viscount de Turenne wou'd by no means hear it mention'd and with the Sword pretended forthwith to decide the matter But the Court standing then also in need of his Forces wou'd husband every thing with the utmost Waryness and Chose rather to grant the Duke of Lorrain some farther favour with which as I may say it drove him out of the Kingdom Tho' all these Successes were not great on either side the Court however thence derived great advantage for the People growing impatient to see an End put to their Miseries did more earnestly wish for Peace than before and complain'd of the Violences the Duke of Lorrain had Exercis'd in lieu of the Advantages they had Expected by his coming The Prince of Condé's Troups being drawn near the Bancks of the River Seine made a Shift to render these Complaints alltogether Legitimate by the Desolation they spread thro' all the Countrey whose Grain and Forrage they not only consum'd but Pillag'd the very Houses The Prince of Condé had dayly Complaints made him of 'em but whatever Care he us'd he cou'd not Suppress the Licentiousness of the Souldiery who imagin'd that a Civil War Entitl'd 'em to all Exorbitancies and whom besides he durst not command absolutely to refrain having not the means to pay them All these things stimulating thus the Parisians to return to their Allegeances the Prince of Condé was oblig'd to place himself at the Head of his Forces that so they might not only live in better Order but also to preserve them from Danger For the Viscount de Turenne seeing himself freed from the Lorrainers pretended to force them to a Battle notwithstanding they thought themselves secur'd from that by the Bridge of St. Cloud which afforded them free passage to either side the River The Court seeing no better means to terminate the Civil War than to Defeat the Remains of that Army which dayly diminisht for want of Pay sent for the Mareschal de la Ferté with the Troups he had in Lorrain and this Mareschal having caus'd a Bridge of Boats to be made over the Seine near St. Denis pretended to nab the Prince of Condé on the one side while the Viscount de Turenne shou'd attacque him on th' other This Prince to avoid his Defeat otherwise inevitable discampt forthwith and having abandon'd the Bridge of St. Cloud he had a Design to demand Passage at Paris to shelter his Forces with the Rivers of Mâ—rne and Seine but not knowing whether that the Parisians wou'd grant it him and fearing besides that his Army wou'd totally disband in the City he directed his Way upon the Left to gain the Upper-end of the Fauxbourg St. Martin from whence he pretended to make towards the Bridge of Charenton beyond which is an Island capable of containing an Army But the Viscount de Turenne plying him Close at his Heels not having giv'n him the leisure His Rier was oblig'd to face about to stand the Brunt of some Squadrons which the Viscount de Turenne had detach'd with intent to begin the Battle Much a do had it to disengage it self and to gain the Point of Faux-bourg St. Antoine where the Van was drawn up in Batalia the Prince thinking that by reason of Paris and some Intrenchments made to hinder the Inroads of the Duke of Lorrains Army the Viscount de Turenne wou'd be Cautious how he attack'd him Wherefore he chose this Post as the only one that cou'd hinder this Defeat for the Viscount de Turenne was much stronger than he and besides Expected the Mareschal de la Ferté who upon notice of the Prince of Condé March was to come suddainly with his Troups All these things making him presume as I have newly hinted that he wou'd find it a Difficult matter for him to come off from this Push he meant however to have sav'd his Baggage in Paris But those that held there the Kings Party caus'd him to be deny'd the Gates and he was oblig'd to place 'em upon the Ditch that 's between the Town and the Fauxbourg In the mean while the King who in so tender an Age allready manifested his Warlike Humour mounted upon the top of du Mesnil to have the Pleasure of seeing his Troups fight they forthwith Fil'd and Marshall'd into Order and the Viscount de Turenne unwilling to leave the Prince of Condé any further time to contrive his Matters Caus'd him to be attack'd by a Batallion which the Prince repuls'd he having plac'd himself at the head of a Squadron made up of Men of Quality The Viscount de Turenne perceiving it wou'd be a hard Matter for him to force that Place where the Prince of Condé was himself with the flow'r of his Troups weakned that attack to re-insorce those that were made on another side the Prince of Condé having not minded it cou'd not hinder his Men from being forc'd and tho' the Marquis de St. Maigrin one of the Cardinals Favourites and who had boasted he wou'd seek out the Prince of Condé was kill'd with several other Persons of Condition the Rest continu'd nevertheless to march in Batalia as far as the Abby of St. Antoine The Prince of Condé who had done Wonders whereever he had been present hearing this bad News march'd immediately that Way-words and with the same Squadron at the Head of which he had allready fought several times he allso beat these Troups But his forces vanish'd and grew Evidently thinner and as the Mareschal de la Ferté began to come in sight allready they abandon'd after some Dispute a Post they kept at the End of Charenton street The Viscount de Turenne caus'd several Houses to be pierc'd thereby to maintain his Ground and the Prince of Condè having no hopes of driving him thence with his Horse caus'd the Infantry to come up which shamefully ran away It is not to be Express'd how angry the Prince of Condè was at this sight nor the Disorders some Squadrons were in that were Expos'd to the firing from the Houses before-mention'd However the Prince of Condè having a Courage too great to be dejected by any Disgrace meaning to try if he cou'd not Speed better than the Rest march'd himself with all the men of Quality in his Army But as he Advanc'd one of his Squadrons that were upon its Retreat taking him for an Enemy Charg'd him and he did the like while that those of the Barricade that had other thoughts fir'd upon both In the mean while all Paris was throng'd upon the Rampart to see what wou'd be the
his Return that they might be imputed to some others and not to him But being known to give the turn to all things as well at a Distance as near at hand this piece of Craft render'd him but so much the more Odious The Duke of Orleans as I have said was withdrawn to Blois and the Duke d'Anvilie being his Confident but who out of hopes of a Greater fortune had promis'd friendship to the Cardinal perform'd several journies to endeavour to prevail with him to return to Court The Duke of Orleans who suffer'd himself to be easily govern'd already comply'd but his Wife who had still more Power over him than the Duke Danville interrupted his Negotiations out of the Aversion she bore the Queen-Mother the Cardinal Besides she lov'd Solitariness which making her Desire to spend her days remote from the tumult of the Court and from so many Intrigues with which she had been overwhelm'd since her marriage she at last prevail'd with her Husband to renounce all sorts of Caballs which was what the Cardinal most desired Thus this Ministers good luck having made him meet with easynesses which he cou'd not with any likelyhood have entertain'd the hopes of for if the Duke of Orleans had been so minded he might have deriv'd considerable Advantages for him and his if he had only feign'd to do in ConsIderation of the Cardinal what he did out of Complaisance for his Wife Fortune having thus declar'd her self for the Cardinal in a matter of such great moment his thoughts were wholly employ'd how to fix his Pow'r by Allyances with the most considerable Persons in the Kingdom and as the Prince of Conti who had been allways design'd for the Church had a Spirit far remote from that Profession he caus'd one of his Nieces to come from Italy being the Daughter of Roman Gentleman and offer'd her to this Prince with Considerable Advantages The Prince of Conti was loath to close with this Match but after having seen the Young Lady who had Merit and Beauty this Allyance did no longer Bug-bear him so very much to which he was still the more egg'd-on by People about him the Cardinal had gain'd They were perpetually representing to him that the Duke of Mercoeur had not made so much scruple tho' his did not turn so well to Account that the Prince of Conde his Brother being with the Enemies all his Riches all his Offices and all his Governments were for him if he knew but how to make use of his Good Fortune that there was no likelyhood of his ever making Peace after the Measures he had taken with the Spaniards that he was not to stand Sâ—illy-Shallying 'till some other was enrich'd with his Spoiles that the sooner the better and that perchance by overmuch paâ—sing and Deliberation he wou'd lose an Occasion never to be retriev'd These Discourses being familiar to the Prince of Conti he had no reluctance to resolve upon a thing he was allready egg'd-on to by his natural Levity In the mean while the Cardinal who had not yet lost hopes of coming to an Accomodation with the Prince of Conde deferr'd this Allyance untill he had seen his last Resolves and was very glad to give him Intimation of it that so out of the fear of losing all his Estate which was considerable he might not push things to Extremity But this Prince after having gone so far as he had done did not one minute stand pondering what Resolution to take and being besides Instigated by the Spaniards who promis'd him no less than giving him some Places in Sovereignty He us'd his utmost Endeavours to Enter France where he had still good Acquaintance This broke the Cardinalls Measures who had spar'd nothing to put the Army of Champagne in a state to reduce the Places which this Prince possess'd in that Province The Viscount de Turenne Commanded it to whom the Cardinal had at length granted the Government of Limosin He had besieg'd Rhetel which very much incommoded the People of Rheims they having sent to Court several times to beseech the King to deliver them from that Servitude The Prince of Condé making use of that time to Execute what he had resolv'd pass'd the Somme and being enter'd France caus'd all to Tremble to the very Gates of Paris Roy offer'd at some Opposition but its Chastizement for so doing follow'd so Close that the Other Towns became Wise at its Cost so as that they receiv'd in Garrisons and furnish'd him with all he stood in need of However he wou'd not divide his Forces wherefore resting satisfy'd with the Assurances they gave him of their Fidelity he still march'd further on hoping perhaps to cause some Sedition in Paris But seeing that no body stirr'd in his Behalf he repass'd the. Somme after having gain'd much Booty The Viscount de Turenne having had time to assure the taking of Rhetel march'd towards Picardy to oblige him to a Retreat But seeing he had prevented him His thoughts were only how to secure the Places upon the Somme which the Prince of Condé seem'd to threaten All Equally He put Succours into Peronne St. Quentin and Guise and staying in the Neighbourhood of Ham he kept in a Readiness to march where occasion requir'd The Prince of Condé seeing he broke all the Measures he cou'd take on that side made a feint of designing to attacque Arras so to draw him into Even Ground But the Viscount de Turenne having not forces to resist him troubl'd his Head not much about this Enterprize knowing the Place to be well provided with all Necessaries and keeping in his Camp he deferr'd resolving what Course to take till he shou'd be more particularly inform'd of his Designs The Prince of Condé seeing him remote took that time to beleaguer Rocroy and repairing thither with all his Army he Won it while the Viscount de Turenne made himself Master of Mouzon not but that he wou'd rather have reliev'd Rocroy but the Cardinal wou'd by no means venture a Battel fearing that if the Success prov'd adverse to him this might renew the Faction by the Advantages the Prince of Condé wou'd derive from his Victory Wherefore he Chose rather to reprisal that Loss by the taking of Sainte Menchou whither he sent the Mareschal du Plessis while the Viscount de Turenne observ'd the Prince of Condé During these Occurrences another Party was framing in Alsace where the Count de Harcourt seem'd to Erect a Sovereignty He had been Employ'd in the Beginning of the War of Guienne but being become Suspected to the Cardinal he was gone aside Malecontent upon a Suspicion he had of a Design to secure him He had afterwards found the means by forging false Orders to get himself receiv'd in Alsaâ—ia where he had so gain'd the Hearts of the Principal Officers that he made himself to be Master of the Principal Towns He gâ—ve out however that he held them for the King but insensibly attributed to himself a
other Pleasures invited him for before he went to the Army he had found this Marquis's Lady so Charming as gave him an Urging to see her again The Marquis de Humieres being come to his House receiv'd him there as one of his most particular Friends and the good Reception he met with both from him and his Wife oblig'd him to return often thither These Visits which he paid still more frequently at Paris made him at length so very much in Love that he no longer seem'd to be the same man The Marquis de Humieres after the wonted rate of Husbands did not take notice of these sorts of things and attributing to the freedom which reigns among Persons of Condition this Assiduity which wou'd perhaps have giv'n suspition to another he continued to live with him as he was wont In short this Fancy lasted Eight or Ten Years and was not unprofitable to the Marquis de Humieres's Fortune who having a great deal of innate Merit and much acquir'd has attain'd to the Dignity of Mareschal of France thro' what the Viscount de Turenne said dayly in his behalf And indeed the Chevalier de Grammont knowing whence this proceeded and loving a little Drollery cou'd not refrain breaking a Jest to the King upon his Majesties asking him at the time of his Promotion to that Dignity if he knew whom he had made Mareschal of France he answer'd him Madam de Humieres which so offended this Prince who did not love Railleurs that he Banish'd the Chevalier at that very Instant The King's Arms had not been alltogether so flourishing in other Countrys as they had bâ—en in Flanders no not by much The Court had sent the Mareschal de Grancey into Italy and tho' the Kingdom of Naples that began to rise again might have very much facilitated him in his Enterprizes he was under a continuall uncertainty of what he ought to do Thus did he suffer much time to slip after which he pass'd into that part of the Land of Milan call'd the Alexandrin but the Rivers being swell'd by continual Rains his whole Campagne terminated in Consuming the Forrages and some slight Skirmishes In th' Interim as the Fleet bound for the Coast of Naples under the Conduct of the Duke of Guise was forc'd to return into our Ports after that our men who had made a Descent had been repuls'd with great loss the Mareschal de Grancey was also constrain'd to repass the Tanare for fear of seeing all the Forces that had been employ'd in that Kingdom come pouring upon him The Duke of Guise and He did not want reasons to excuse the failings they had made and they charg'd all to the fault that had been committed in having been too sparing of all things that had been sent them as if what pass'd in that Country had not been of any Moment and indeed a man wou'd have said the Cardinal had discarded all Sollicitude for those Parts nay and he would have little minded th' Affairs of Catalonia if he had not been willing to content the Prince of Conti whom he had sent thither on purpose that he might not yet disrelish his Allyance This Prince had no great Experience but to supply that want he had good Lieutenant-Generals in th Army who unwilling to suffer it to lye Idle caus'd it to march against Villa Franca a small Town at th' Entrance into Conflans Scituated between two Mountains and seems to have been Built rather for the retreat of Bears than for th' abode of men Yet as it obstructed th' Entrance into Cerdaigne a small Province so-so Pleasant and that the taking of it must besides bereave th' Enemies of that of Roussillon it was attacqu'd and won allmost at the same time Puicerda the Capital City of Cerdaigne surrendred afteâ—wards after having sustain'd a Siege of Eight Days But the Prince of Conti growing quickly Weary of War was very willing to find a Pretext to go hold the States in Languedoc that he might gratify his Natural fickleness His Wise repair'd to him thither tho' allready dissarisfy'd with him for he had made her a Present which Modesty does not suffer specifying and which after having reduc'd her to strange Extremities at the long run occasion'd the loss of her Life Thus was the Year 1654 spent But I ought not to forget what befell the Viscount de Turenne whose Wisdom was so generally known that the Count de Montbelliard who had disputed together for their Principality referr'd themselves to him and the Duke of Wittemberg for the Determination of their Differences And indeed after having Examin'd into the Rights of Each he pass'd his Judgment which so pleas'd those two Brothers that they resolvâ—d to Submit to it It was not only with those two Princes that he pass'd for Prudeht and for a Lover of Justice His Virtue was known much farther in Germany and he dayly received Letters by which he was desir'd to give his Opinion upon certain Matters that fell under Debate He did it immediately but without pretending to derive thence a Vanity far from suffering that his Advice shou'd be taken for a Sentence These are my thoughts Writ he back to those that had sent him these Letters you will needs have me give you my Sentiment it is for you to judge whether I am now mistaken or not for that I often am God grant I am not so at this time that so you may receive from my Councills the Consolation you Expect from them He was as modest in all things as he was in that for whether that he was desir'd to give a particular Account of an Action he had been present at or to say rather whose Primum Mobile he had been or that he was oblig'd by Reasons that wou'd be needless to specify to entertain the Company with Discourse he never spoke of himself but in confounding himself with others We did such and such things said he such a Regiment did this or that such an one did by such a motion occasion the Defeat of the enemies But he was never heard to say that it was I that gave this Command who took the Enemies in the flanck and a thousand other such like things which all Generals are wont to attribute to themselves and which he might attribute to himself as well as others But he did not do so when he was to blame himself he was the first to tell his own failings and he often found out such as no body else had taken notice of which happen'd more Especially when he was to excuse any one Not a man said he is there exempt from Committing faults this is what commonly renders us wise and if there were no vicious People Virtue wou'd not be in such Great Admiration But his Goodness never appear'd more than when any one had done something in War for which he might be blamed to prevent the Reproaches that might be made him he told every one a thousand things in his favour 't is
himself and still continu'd his old Road being well persuaded that many were there that did him Justice But in short the Enemies quickly decided the Question and made appear with whom they most fear to have to do After the taking of La drceies th' Army divided into Two Ths Viscount de Turenne took one part of it and the Mareschal de la Ferté th' other the later March'd against St. Guilain the former against Condé The two Garrisons were very different As th' Enemies were particularly under Apprehensions for the later of those two Towns they had put two Thousand men into the place and above three Hundred Reformed Officers Th' other was nothing near so well provided However the Mareschal de la Ferté having lost time to no purpose in trifles th' Enemies March'd against him and oblig'd him to Retreat He return'd and joyn'd again the Viscount de Turenne's Army who had been more cautious and directed his Measures better so as that th' Enemies drawing near durst not undertake to force his Lines Having thus had time to continue his Attacques he won the Out-works and forc'd the Garrison to Surrender The Spaniards having lost this Town made divers motions to hinder him from attacquing St. Guilain but having provided for all the places they might threaten he laid Siege to 't and carry'd it under their Nose They endeavour'd to Revenge themselves on Quesnoy round which they held divers Posts but the Viscount de Turenne went and Encamp'd upon the Avenues and their Army durst never attempt to open the Passage So prosperous a Campagne still augmented his Repute and if the Cardinal had not still had a Secret jealousy of him the King wou'd have heap'd on him so many Bounties as wou'd have put him into a Condition to Envy no Bodies Fortune But this Minister told the King in Private that it was not conveuient to raise him so high and that after having twice sided with Rebells he was more than rewarded for the Services he had since perform'd The King was not wont to resist the Cardinalls Wills thus things stopp'd there tho' there was a great deal of difference between his Actions and those of th' other Captains that Commanded the Armies In effect People observ'd sundry faults they committed during this Campagne and yet all the Rewards were for them The Prince of Conti who was in Catalonia after having taken Cepdaquiers that incommoded the City o◠Roses instead of quickly passing the Mountains trifl'd away his time in Debauchery with the Duke of Mercoeur his Brother-in-Law who was arriv'd upon the Coast with the French Fleet so as that he gave the Enemies time to Assemble on whom he might have made considerable Conquests For the Cardinal to take away a thousand Distasts that People endeavour'd to give him of his Allyance had done all he had been able to put him in a Capacity of acquiring Honour But all this was bounded in taking Castillon and Solsonne two sorry Places but whose Conquest was Highly Boasted among those who knew not what they were for the offering Incense to the Cardinal This gave him Occasion to shed his Bounties upon this Prince who was in no good Condition to enjoy them for in the Middle of the Campagne he was forc'd to leave the Army to go seek for Remedy to a Malady that was become too inveterate to be cured The Count de Merinville had the Command of the Army after his Departure and made the Spaniards raise the Siege of Solsonne which they thought to have recover'd But the same Misfortune befell him before Bergues which they had taken and he wou'd have retaken from them Insomuch that neither side had any great reason to Vaunt of its Great Successes Much the same thing was it in Italy where if we had the Advantage of Causing the Siege of Reggio to be rais'd which the Governour of the Milanez had laid out of spight to the Duke of Modena our Ally We had afterwards the vexation of discamping from before Pavia whither we march'd under the Orders of that Duke and under those of Prince Thomas As divers faults had been noted in the Conduct of all those Generals it was a Subject of enhancing the Viscount de Turenne's Glory who knew so well how to disgest his Entirprizes that without some great Misfortune he was sure of bringing them about However tho' his friends made use of all these things for matter in his Praise it was not needfull to go seek it so far of and there needed only to make reflexion upon what he dayly did to judge that few there were like him For without mentioning Military Actions he gave every moment Occasion to admire his Virtue this was principally manifested in point of Interest which may be said to be the touch-stone of Men since the truth is few there are but shew Weakness upon this Chapter As his Charge gave him the Pow'r of Establishing Safe-Guards this was a sure means of making himself Rich and the Mareschal de la Ferté set him th' Example deriving thence dayly three or four hundred Crowns for he sent Troupers thither to whom he gave a Crown of the five or six he Exacted of each Place and the Number produc'd him a vast Revenue The Viscount de Turenne did not want People that advis'd him to do the like Especially those that had the management of his Expences who remonstrated to him that this was a Succours ready at hand for a thousand things that were wanting in his family But the Prince was ever so far from being prevail'd with to be tampering in so Villanous a Commerce that he chid those very much that made him the Proposal and left those sorts of Profits one while to his Captain of the Guards and another to Officers that needed it Not a man cou'd refrain admiring a Generosity that had no Example among the Generals but he said when he was spoke to upon the point that he did not believe they did all that was imputed to them and that he wou'd lay a Wager the same thing was said of him tho' the truth was he was never reckon'd in that Number Thus did he endeavour to excuse others for the avoiding the Praises People wou'd have conferr'd on him and he evaded them in such manner that often he prevented them by Discourses as would have made it believ'd he had been in Anger if the reason of his speaking so had not been known However to hinder any one from being so hardy as to give him the like vexation he was wont to say there was nothing savour'd more of the Flatterer than a man that pretended to commend another in his Presence That it was with them as with those Women who after having told one another a Thousand obliging things are no sooner at a distance from one another than that they bespatter one another as much as possibly they can However in the time that this Prince was the most esteem'd it wanted little
but that an unexpected Death had cropt him in the flower of his Age. As he was extremely weary'd in the foregoing Compagn he was hardly arriv'd at Paris but that he fell ill and having been oblig'd to keep his Bed People were afraid that his sickness might have Dangerous Consequences for he had a fierce feavour with Redoublings Insomuch that the Physitians did not tell their Opinions The King sent twice a day to enquire how he did as well as most of the Grandees But the Cardinal in this Occasion laying aside the jealousie he bore him by reason of the Interest of the Kingdom paid him not only diverse visits but brought him also some Medicaments which he had been told to be wonderfully effectuall against his Distemper In a word the Viscount de Turenne Escaping more happily than the World expected he return'd his visits as soon as he was in a Condition of going abroad and being dayly more and more confirmed in his health nothing any longer hindred him from repairing to the frontiere but the Marriage of Mademoiselle de Bouillon Courted by the Duke of Elbaeufi's Eldest Son This Prince was of so Illustrious a family that all the kindred agreed immediately to the Match For besides this he had a great Estate might also pretend to some considerable Settlement at Court but the Viscount de Turenne seeing farther than Others oppos'd it Clandestinely and Remonstrated to Madam de Bouillon that this Prince having us'd his first Wife Ill whom he had kick'd when with Child of which she dy'd 't was exposing her Daughter to the like treatment that he was addicted to Wine and Women Qualities not only unworthy a Person of his Rank but all so to a little Catamitism that besides he had a Son by his first Bed who by Birthright wou'd have all his Father's Estates and Offices that thus it wou'd be rendering the Children that shou'd come of her Daughter and him so Unhappy that they wou'd uot have wherewithall to uphold the Lustre of their House that it wou'd be better to think of providing for her in Germany where they had already some Allyances and where Enow other Matches might be found that she ought not to consider that she distanc'd her self from her by doing this that it were much better for her Daughter to be happy far off than unhappy at her Door that the true kindness of a mother consisted in procuring her Children's felicity and not her own and that in brief any farther thoughts of this Match were steering the quite Contrary Course Madam de Bouillon in all things rely'd very much on the Viscount de Turenne but wou'd not refer her self to him at this time for she imagin'd it wou'd be the same thing to her to have her Daughter Dead as have her marry'd so remote However this was not th' only Impediment She was Extremely Wedded to her Religion and afraid that if ever her Daughter went into Germany she might with the air of the Country have instill'd into her the Sentiments of her Ancestours that had been all Protestants Thus the Viscount de Turenne having not been able to dissuade her was oblig'd to consent as well as Others to this Marriage which was perform'd in the presence of the King and Queen-Mother and of all the Court their Majesties meaning thareby to testify to the Viscount de Turenne the Consideration they had for a Person of so near Relation This Match was quickly attended with a great â—ecundity whereas the Viscount de Turenne was not Bless'd with any Children which was the only Subject of trouble in his Marriage for he had otherwise a Wife that lov'd him infinitely and was an Example of Virtue He resign'd himself however to the Will of God and thro' this want he look'd on his Brother's Sons as if they had been his own He had also other Nephews but as they were his Sisters Sons and did not bear his Name he made some sort of difference between 'em Not but that he strove to give 'em testimonys of his kindness in all Occasions principally to the Counts de Duras de Lorge who had great need of it For they follow'd the Prince of Condé's Party wherein they were so Engag'd that they had all imaginable trouble to get out of it However the Viscount de Turenne lost no time in his endeavours to disentangle them thence and having at length effected his purposes he obtain'd the King's leave for their Kissing his Majestics hand After that he sent them to serve in Italy for as they were Young he thought it not fitting that they shou'd be expos'd to the Jealousy and Suspitions that might arise if they staid in the Neighbourhood of a Prince they esteem'd and with whom they had newly broke as a man may say against their Wills In the mean while the Campagn drew near and that having oblig'd him to leave Paris at a time when all his Family was in joy for the Match before-mention'd he repair'd to Flanders whither all the Troups directed their March We had newly made a strict Allyance with Cromwell who after the most Enormous Crime that had been ever heard of in the world had found the Secret to become formidable not only to the English but also the neighbouring Princes In virtue of this Allyance he was to give us Succours by Sea and Land and we were Engag'd to share with him the Conquests we might make These Conventions amaz'd the Spaniards this notwithstanding they omitted nothing of what might contribute to their Defence and Don Juan of Austria being newly arriv'd in the Low-Countrys shew'd himself indefatigable after the Prince of Conde's example who was on Horse-back Day and Night they had in the Winter miss'd of the City of St. Guilain which render'd us a little haughty not to say insolent but fortune prepar'd them matter of Consolation which we were far from distrusting I said before that the Marschal de la Ferté had great jealosie of the Viscount de Turenne this had been already adverse to the Kings Service in Sundry Occasions But the Cardinal out of I know not what Policy being not willing to Seperate them they had orders to march joyntly against Valenciennes one of the strongest Towns in all the Low Countrys but whose out-work were not in an overgood Condition They work'd on 'em with great Application yet if we had made right use of the Conjunction it might have been taken without Difficulty before they had put it into a Condition But the Marschal de la Ferte labouring under an Indisposition on purpose staid the forces that were under his Command for fear the Viscount de Turenne might without him accomplish that enterprize Being somewhat recover'd of his health he came before the place which the Viscount de Turenne had allready invested and where there arose between 'em new subjects of Division for after they had open'd their Trenches and push'd on their Works very far the Viscount de
thousand Spaniards sent him by the Governour of the Low-Countries for in short tho' they had thitherto been so Circumspect as to declaring themselves it was only fear had retain'd them and not the desire of keeping the Peace The Prince of Orange not wanting Courage and seeing himself now in a Condition of making some Enterprize which he had not yet been able to do since the Beginning of the War resolv'd to attreque some Place and having feign'd that he wou'd besiege Nareden he puzzel'd the Duke of Luxembourg who repair'd forthwith that way-wards but the Prince of Orange all of the sudden turning towards Nerden he laid Siege to that Town and drew two forts at the head of the Dykes by which the Duke of Luxemburg might come to him he lost not a moments time to put those Forts into a Posture as well as to batter the Town briskly and taking no Rest either day or night his Courage which seem'd Seconded by the Situation of the Places put him in such a State as was free from Apprehensions when he knew that the Duke of Luxemburg notwithstanding a thousand Reasons that ought to divert him from his Design did nevertheless march against him In effect as the Prince of Orange had dexterously conceal'd his Enterprize the Duke had had time to assemble only three thousand men which was but a small business to go attacque a Considerable Army joyn'd to this that he cou'd advance only upon the Dikes at the head of which as I have newly said two forts had been erected provided with Canon However as the Duke of Luxemburg had sent the Marquis de Genlis Marchal de Camp to bring him Succours he still persisted in his Design and march'd directly to Camprict where he was afraid the Bridge might have been broken But the enemies having not thought of that either that they were too buisy or that they imagin'd it to be needless he caus'd his men to pass over it and having made a halt to wait for the Marquis de Genlis he was strangely Surpriz'd at his having no Tydings of him Being afraid of engaging himself hand over head he held a Council of War with the Colonels and Principal Officers of his Detachment and they being for the most part young and having more Courage than Experience were of Opinion this notwithstanding to continue their march so as that he jogg'd-on till that being come pretty near the enemies he caus'd the Inundation to be sounded that was on the side of the Dyke for to go to the attacque of a House where the enemies had lodg'd some Infantry and from whence they wou'd have fall'n upon the Rear of his men when they shou'd have march'd against the first fort the Water was of necessity to be enter'd there being no other Passage The Water was found but three foot high or thereabouts Thus the Duke of Luxemburg took it first after having order'd a part of his men to advance against the Fort. This Duke did wonders of his Person as well as those that follow'd him and having taken the House notwithanding a strong Resistance he facilitated to his Party the attack of the fort which was preceded by a mill around which some Intrenchments had been made Our Men drawing near them forc'd them with ease enough so as that those that were in the Fort allready trembled as I may say out of fear of the like Success when the Imprudence of our Men reviv'd their Courage Instead of making use of the Darkness which had thitherto favour'd their Enterprize they set Fire to that Mill which gave such Aim to the Enemies that with their Canon which they Charg'd with Cartridges they kill'd in a trice above two Hundred Men. Then matters began to change their Aspect Ours gave back instead of advancing and if the Duke of Luxembourg had not re-incourag'd them by his Presence all had been lost without Difficulty but as he was very brave he Expos'd himself the first of All and our Soldiers who wou'd have been asham'd not to follow their General behav'd themselves so well that the Fort was won notwithstanding all the Efforts that Zuilesteim cou'd make he being the Prince of Orange's natural unckle who was kill'd in defending it This Action that had perhaps more temerity than Conduct having nevertheless sped so well the Enemies not only abandoned the Other Fort but also rais'd the Siege The Prince of Orange drew off his Canon and his Infantry and standing firm with his Horse he secur'd Both. But the Duke Luxembourg aiming only to put Succours into the Town wherein being come himself he conferr'd with the Count de la Mark who was Governour of it and who had made diverse sallies wherein he had shewn much Courage The Prince of Orange Supported this misfortune with a Constancy as Created Admiration in all People and seeking less to Excuse himself by Words than by Actions he resolv'd to surprize the Duke de Duras who was with a flying Camp on the side of Tongres For which purpose he gave out he had a Design upon that Place and upon Maseik appertaining to the Electour of Cologne which oblig'd the Duke of Duras to send to Montal Governour of Charleroy to take Care of Tongres while he wou'd Watch on another side The Prince of Orange to render his Design the more feasible did at Mastricht make great Provision of Shovels and other Instruments proper to break Ground and the Spaniards on their side Acting in Concert with his Highness tho' they had not declared War did the same thing at Namur at Ruremonde and Venlo But all of a sudden Bolting from their Garrisons they Seiz'd on the Passes by which the Duke of Duras might retreat to Charleroy While that the Prince of Orange drew near the Meuse to cut him off it had been easy for the Duke of Duras to shut himself up in Tongres or in Maseick but as he cou'd not do it without famishing those Towns he chose to retire towards Cologne hoping the Priuce of Orange wou'd leave him in Quiet out of the fear he might be under of wanting Victualls by Pursuing him But this Prince holding his Victory certain pass'd the Meuse after having joyn'd the Spaniards and pursu'd him so briskly that he compell'd him to cross the Roer upon the Banks of which he would have Defeated him if the Spaniards who had the Vanguard wou'd have march'd after having also pass'd that River but having been of Opinion to stay for the coming up of the Rear this gave the Duke of Duras time to make his Escape and as he ruin'd all in his Passage and that besides the Enemies began to want Provisions they durst not Engage farther and repass'd the Roer They directed their way along the Meuse as if they had been still uncertain where to let fall the Effort of their Arms But having pass'd the River they made a shew as if they design'd upon Tongres which oblig'd Montal to put himself into that
Place with two or three hundred men The Prince of Orange knowing him penn'd up there sent Seav'n or Eight hundred Horse around the Town to make him still believe the same thing but repairing in all hast before Charleroy he sorely afflicted Montal who being Consummated in Experience was disconsolate that he had been thus trepann'd by a Young Prince who as yet perform'd but the Apprenticeship of his Trade The King was no less amaz'd than Montal and as the thing was of great Consequence he let the Courtiers know that they wou'd make their Court much better to him by resorting to the Army than in staying as they did about his Person This was sufficient to put 'em all upon the Spurr all the Road from Paris to Charleroy was Cover'd with Persons of Condition who to please the King scour'd to the Rendezvouz without having had the least time to make any Equipage On another side Montal being resolv'd to perish or Re-enter his Town departed Tongres at the head of a hundred Choice Cavaliers and having march'd in the Woods he mingl'd himself among the Enemies as they descended the Bivao Insomuch that they took him to be of their Party Thus did he continue his way without discovery 'till that being drawn near the Town an Advanced Guard distrusted something which oblig'd him that Commanded it to call out the Who goes there But having been only follow'd by a part of his Men the Rest having not had time to Bridle Montal routed him and got safe into the Town There without trifling away his time in receiving the Compliments of Every Individual that wou'd have congratulated him upon his Action he repair'd to the Rampart where he caus'd furious Discharges to be made as well from the Canon as the Infantry after that he made a Sally wherein he had some Success so as that the Enemies having grounded their hopes principally upon his Absence resolv'd to raise the Siege having besides intimation that the Mareschal de Humieres was bringing a great Succours The Prince of Orange appear'd more sensible to this Misfortune than he had done to that which had befall'n him before Naerden he retreated under a great Despondency But this notwithstanding continuing to assist the Common-wealth with his Arm and his Head he attracted more Compassion than Contempt which is nevertheless allmost an inevitable Attendant of Unhappy Events Nothing but the Season hinder'd the French from attempting New Conquests or rather the Waters which Cover'd the Surface of the Earth The Duke of Luxembourg being still at Vtrecht hop'd however that if it once came to Freeze he might by means of the Ice surprize several Posts that were otherwise inaccessible As the Enemies were not unacquainted with his Design they had ever the Shovel and Pick-Ax in their hand to precaution themselves against this Misfortune upon the first Frost that should come they broke the least Ice hoping by taking such strict Care they shou'd render all his Measures Abortive But it falling a Freezing all on the Suddain it was impossible for them to repair in several days what happen'd in one Night This cast so great an Alarum into the Places that were the most Expos'd that Peoples Minds were wholly set upon removing thence what they had most Precious The Consternation spread it self to the very Hague which being destitute of Walls and Defence cou'd not otherwise Expect than a strange Desolation if the Posts that cover'd it came to be forc'd However the Prince of Orange who laid the Publique Miseries as much to heart as if they had only regarded him himself had not from all this been under any Apprehensions if his Troups by having been so often beaten had not utterly lost their Courage for tho' the Ice seem'd to give a great Advantage to the Enemies they wou'd however run a great risque in coming to attack him in Places well Intrench'd and where his Highness might oppose against them as many Men as they cou'd have He was busy'd Day and Night either in adding New Fortifications to those that were allready made or in Encouraging his Captains and his Soldiers But whatever Care he took Colonel Pinvin Abandon'd his Post upon the Request of the Inhabitants of Dergau who sent for him to maintain their Walls The Duke of Luxembourg trusting rather to their Terrour than his own Forces Marching in the mean while towards Bodegrave and Swammerdam Won both at the Point of the Sword and as if his Action had not been sufficiently Glorious by reason of the Little opposition he met with he wou'd render it the more remarkable not only by a Slaughter that was made not only of those that were found in Arms but likewise of all sorts of Persons Ev'n of Women and Children He was often heard amid the pittious Crys that Every one made to move him to Compassion to bid his Soldiers No Quarter Plunder Kill and Ravish He himself did what he said and his Men after his Example having delug'd the streets with Rivers of Blood entred the Houses where they Committed inconceivable Cruelties Several Women were Violated in their Husbands Arms several Maidens in their Fathers and whoever went about to oppose such Criminal Excesses was pittilessly Massacred by those Furies who suffer'd themselves to be no longer Govern'd but by their Disorderly Passion and by their Cruelty They did the same thing at the Post that was to defend Colonel Pinvin but not being yet content with the Mischiefs they had done they set fire to those Places and thus burnt all they could not carry away Heaven to punish an allmost unexampled Barbarousness even among the most Savage Nations sent a Thaw at the same time and the Duke of Luxembourg had much ado to retreat with his Troups that by reason of the bad Weather were forc'd to leave behind a part of their Booty The Inhabitants of the Hague who could not have avoided the like Misfortune were thus preserv'd by a kind of Miracle as well as that Beautious Place for I know not whether I onght to term it a City or Village for if the Beauty of its Houses of its Publique Places of its Walks may Rank it with the most flourishing Cities the want of Walls makes the difference so great that it resembles neither a City nor a Village The Duke of Luxembourg being retired to his Quarters the Hollanders Endeavour'd to repair the Mischief he had done But for an Example to the Officers they caus'd Colonel Pinvin's Process to be drawn up who was Sentenc'd to be Beheaded In the mean while the German Princes seeing the Danger this Common-Wealth was in resolv'd to give it Succours and Allow'd it not only to make Leavyes in their Dominions but did the like themselves for the making some Diversion in its favour On another side the Diet of Ratisbonne after having been along while assembled at the Emperours Requisition who complain'd that His Most Christian Majesty had Committed divers Hostilities in the Empire at length
from becoming Masters of the Town then was it that the Marquis de Louvoy perceiv'd but a little too late the necessity there was of abandoning so many needless places The thing at length having been resolv'd on the Court signify'd it's Resolutions to the Duke of Luxembourg that he might draw-off his Troups But as Parcimony and Griping had the Ascendant at Court as well as o'er that Dukes temper who had in all things ever manifested much self-Interest he oblig'd the Towns to give him Money and having in all this lost much time the Prince of Orange had Ieisure to intercept his way so that if we had not come-in to his Succours either he wou'd have been obligâ—d to fight with unequal Forces and in a disadvantageous Post or wou'd have Perish'd for want of Victuals Of so many places we only retain'd the City of Maestricht and that of Graves both upon the Meuse and of an extreme importance by reason of their scituation and of the Contributions that might be exacted by their means However the Generality murmur'd that this had been so long deferr'd and the Viscount de Turenne more than others who had by this means been oblig'd to retreat The Marquis de Louvoy to appease him promis'd that he should be thenceforward distinguish'd from all others which he had often the hopes given him of without effect for tho' that the King had Created on purpose in his favour the Charge of Mareschal General of his Camps and Armies this was a Dignity which subsisted rather in th' Imagination than in Reality For the Ministers that they might not give any body Discontent had never sent a Mareschal of France with him Thus he had never seen himself in a condition to enjoy the advantages of that Charge Nevertheless the Marquis de Louvoy kept his word with him this time and the Mareschals de Crequi and Humieres having been Commanded to Serve in his Army they repair'd thither but refus'd to obey him which occasion'd their being Exil'd Tho' the Viscount de Turenne had reason to Complain of them and particularly of the Mareschal de Humieres to whose Fortune he had no been ill friend as I have already said he would not however be the Cause of their Disgrace Thus having himself desir'd the King to recall them he shew'd that the goodness of his temper did not allow him to do any body harm The King answer'd him several times that it was not his business but his own for he did not willingly Pardon Disobedience But this not making the Viscount de Turenne desist he persecuted him in such manner that he could not at length refuse him what he demanded of his Majesty In the mean while some hopes there were of Peace by the divers Glimmerings that had appear'd of it The Marquis de Grana being at Cologne the better to Cut-off all hopes of the Peace then there in agitation seiz'd on some Money the King had there and caus'd Prince William of Furstemberg to be kidnapt being a German by Nation but who had abandon'd the Interests of his own Country to espouse the Adverse Party By this means and by that of the Bishop of Strasbourg his Brother had the King attracted the Electour of Cologne to his side and to render the Marquis de Grana's Action odious to all Good People France proclaim'd it as it was true to be contrary to the Right of Nations for Prince William waâ— at Cologne on the behalf of this Electour and ought to be consider'd as a Publique Person Nevertheless whatever noise the King made he was convey'd to Neustald where they talk'd ev'n of making his Process as a man that had betray'd his Countrey But the King taking this Affair to Heart Protested that if any Person of Consideration fell into his hands he should be treated in like manner as the Emperour shou'd use that Prince Thus for fear of Reprisals all his Punishment lay in a harsh Captivity The King did what he cou'd to have him releas'd but the Emperour shewing himself inexorable the Assembly of Cologne was broken insomuch that His Most Christian Majesty press'd the King of Sueden to lay aside the Quality of Mediator to take up another from whence he might derive more Advantage And indeed his Majesty needed Succours in the Present State of things for England having granted a Peace to Holland the Most Christian King was then in great Perplexity For the Hollanders who were much more Potent than he at Sea prepar'd to enter France by the Coasts of Normandy aad Brittany so as that the King was constrain'd to cause the Ban and Arriere-ban to advance The Spaniards pretending to derive great Advantages if this Prosper'd treated with the Chevalier de Rohan who promis'd them to deliver them Quilleboeuf by the means of the Intelligences he had in Normandy and they suffering themselves to be amused by his Promises gave him a great deal of Money as well as to La Treaumont whom he had intrusted with his Secret The Chevalier de Rohan was a Man of Great Quality but of a very mean Credit He had never had any considerable Martial Employment not that he wanted Courage but because his Intellectuals were not over-sound he had spent the better part of his fortune so that not knowing where to put his head no more than La Treaumont who had in like manner Squander'd away all he had they both sought the means of Supplying to their Debaucheries and the Spaniards having been so Credulous as to put Credence in their Promises the Hollanders to whom they had imparted this Intrigue put to Sea to see what might be hop'd for from it But the Chevalier de Rohan having not sufficient Credit to procure so much as one Village to rise they quitted the Coasts of Normandy to try if they could speed better in Brittany where however they had not any Correspondence Being near the Isle of Rhé a Ship Arriv'd from the Indies and was so fortunate to scape them the Enemies being on one side while on the Other it put into the Port of Rochelle In the mean while the King having got the Wind of the Chevalier de Rohan's Treason his Majesty sent Brissac Major of the Gardes du Corps to Rouen to secure La-Treaumont and had the Chevalier de Rohan taken up at Saint-Germain Brissac being come into the Town went to La Treaumont's Lodging whom he found in Bed and having shewn him his Commission he suffer'd him as he was his friend to go into his Closet where La-Treaumont said he went to fetch something But having seiz'd a Pistol he Clapt it to Brissac's Cheek who having bid him fire two Gardes du Corps that were with him thinking that he spoke to them Discharg'd their Pieces and wounded la-Treaumont of which he dy'd on the Morrow-Morning As he had been the Person that had Manag'd all this Intrigue the King was much vex'd at the fault Brissac had Committed in suffering him to go into his
Command of the Count de Soucheâ— The rest passâ—d into the Palatinate under the Orders of the Duke of Lorrain and Count Caprara But as they were to be suddenly follow'd by the Duke of Bournonville the Marquis of Brandenbourg and the Princes of Brunswick the Duke and Count were only to be entrusted with the Command 'till their Arrival For this reason had Montecuculi an Old and Crafty Captain desir'd the Emperour to dispense him from coming that Year upon the Rhin for as he wou'd have been likewise oblig'd to obey he consider'd that the Honour of the Good Success wou'd redound to the Marquis de Brandenbourg to whom the Command was to be giv'n up and that on the Contrary if thing sped ill he wou'd be tax'd as a Person that having more Experience ought to regulate all by his Councels Besides these two Armies that were Numerous the Enemies made still flying Camps on Several sides One of which Rabenhaut Commanding attack'd Graves a Place whence we too much gall'd the Enemies for them to forbear endeavouring to take it from us As it was the most Expos'd we had not fail'd to provide it in due manner thus Rabenhaut not meeting there the facilities he had Expected Chang'd as I may say his Siege into a Bloccade that is he thought much more of saving his Men than of Exposing them for he hop'd that having two Armies of his Party upon their Wings as strong as were those of the Duke of Bournonville and the Prince of Orange they wou'd quickly have so favourable a Success that they wou'd be in a Condition to relieve him As the Viscount de Turenne plainly foresaw all this he wou'd not give the Enemies time still to encrease and as they every Moment expected the Duke of Bournoville without reckoning the Troups of Brunswick and of Brandenbourg he resolv'd to give them Battle before all these Succours were arrriv'd The Duke of Lorrain and Caprara were Men of too much ability to concurr to his Design wherefore they no sooner suspected it but that they contriv'd to elude it by a speedy Retreat And this was indeed the only means to prevent the Purpose But the Viscount de Turenne having made as much way in Six days space as they had done in Twelve oblig'd them to face about at Seintzeim from whence they pretended to reach Wimphem or Hailbron to pass the Nekre They were Surpriz'd at this Diligence so much the more as that they had left some Garrisons on his Passage which they thought must have stop'd him But the Viscount having foreseen that this might make him miss of his Enterprize did not spend his time on them well knowing that they wou'd quickly be oblig'd to surrender if he cou'd but gain the Victory However tho' that Seintzeim where the Enemies Infantry was intrench'd was no more than a Village that is to say tho' it had not any fortifications yet did it nevertheless give them a great Advantage it shelter'd their Horse posted beyond it upon a Mountain of so Difficult Access that there was no coming at it but by Defiles and these too in a very small Number for the way was fac'd with hedges and Vineyards and broaden'd gradually as you grew near so as that when we should have taken the Town they had still the Advantage of a large Front which is considerable for the winning of a Battle The Viscount de Turenne having been long acquainted with the ground was not daunted by these Difficulties but caus'd his Army to file off along the way of Wisloc and not doubting but that the Enemies had lin'd the hedges near the Town with Infantry he sent Dragoons thither that dislodg'd them thence they forthwith retreated with the Rest of the Garrison and with it making fire they for some time kept our Dragoons in Awe But the Viscount de Turenne having caus'd them to be sustain'd by the Infantry the Enemies durst no longer shew their heads and firing thence forward only at Rovers and much higher than was requisite our Men advanc'd to the very foot of the Walls and sought to force some Gate or Other The Cavalier d'Hocquincourt a son of the late Mareschal of that Name whom we have heretofore mention'd that was a Colonel of the Queen's Dragoons having found one where they had not had time to lay Dung as they had done to the Rest had it Cutt and Burst open and seeing that the Enemies throng'd from all sides to drive him back he was afraid of being overwhelm'd with the Multitude and Caus'd his Men to enter the Houses on the Right and Left which he caus'd immediately to be boar'd He from thence not only stopp'd them but gave also time to those that follow'd him to enter the Town so as that the Enemies seeing they cou'd resist no longer retired to their Cavalry The Town being taken in this manner the Viscount de Turenne caus'd on his side some Bridges to be laid over a River which render'd the way impracticable for the Horse nay and for the very foot for it reaches round a kind of Mocrass which even in the greatest heats of Summer renders the ground so soft that those of the Place are oblig'd to seek Paths He caus'd his foot to pass o're these Bridges for he was afraid lest they shou'd break under the Cavalry for which reason it fil'd thro' the Town The Enemies prepar'd to receive us and had put Foot and Dragoons into the Vineyards and Places that were most favourable to them which oblig'd the Viscount de Turenne to Post Infantry upon a Hill that stood a little beyond Seintzeim from whence it fir'd upon that of the Enemies But it suffer'd much from their Canon that was plac'd to advantage and hardly made one useless shot As there was no Advancing the Cavalry without its Succours there was a Necessity of leaving it there and according as our Squadrons drew near the Viscount de Turenne had them follow'd with Balls which serv'd them extremely The Enemies Horse had 'till then contented themselves with beholding all that was done yet by their Countenance manifested they only waited Orders to March In effect being not willing to give ours time to form a larger Front it Charg'd us Vigorously and put us in Disorder Saint Abre a Lieutenant General that was at our Head was Mortally Wounded in this Occasion which still augmented our Disorder so as that without the Infantry which had drove away that of the Enemies out of the Vineyards and fir'd continually it had been impossible for us to rally The Viscount de Turenne who after such fair beginnings was in Despair to see his Cavalry so hardly us'd went nevertheless from rank to rank to exhort them to do better in a Second Charge that was preparing But the Enemies being Arm'd Breast and Back and having besides each a Crescent in his Hat having to do with People that were stark naked put us into so ill a condition that they thought we should
never have rally'd And indeed our Disorder was extraordinary and if the Infantry had not stopp'd the Enemies Cavalry by an almost unexampled Bravery ours were not only ready to betake themselves to flight but we shou'd also have quickly abandon'd Seintzeim Thus the Enemies having not been able to improve the advantage they might in all likelyhood have expected from those two Charges retreated slowly thinking that ours wou'd venture to follow them without the help of the Infantry But the Viscount de Turenne who had found to his great Regret the Difference there was between his Cavalry and theirs wou'd not suffer it to budge a step without it Insomuch that tho' they still sir'd bâ—â—â—dy we durst not mingle on either side What 〈◊〉 be said of this Occasion is that the Enemies 〈◊〉 sav'd their Infantry and that our Infantry 〈◊〉 our Horse After this the Enemies advanc'd 〈◊〉 the Nekre which they pass'd to go meet the Duke of Bournonville who was on the March with the Troups of the Circles The Viscount de Turenne who had try'd their Bravery thought it not fitting to stay the coming up of this Reinforcement beyond the Rhin and as he hop'd the King on his side wou'd send him some Succours he repass'd on this side till such time as this Reervill should be arriv'd The Prince Palatine lying at watch to see what wou'd be the Issue of this Conflict was very much troubled it had pass'd in this manner and as for his Misfortune his Countrey was upon the Frontier of both Parties it was he also that was oblig'd to lay the Cloth and defray the two Armies For from the Moment that the Duke of Lorrain and Caprara had joyn'd the Duke of Bournonville they directed their March on this side the Nekre and while they wasted the Country that lies between that River and the Rhin the Viscount de Turenne was on this side that River where his Army subsisted at the cost of the Lands appertaining to his Electoral Highness This Prince that had more Wit than any one in all the Empire was in Despair to see himself thus the Victim of both Parties and requir'd of the Emperour either to free him from the abode of his Troups by making them enter Alsatia by the way of Strasbourg or by making them undertake the Siege of Philipsbourg which was the Subject of the movement of the two Armies But there was little less difficulty in the one as in the other Straâ—bourg tho' an Imperial City refus'd to give the Enemies Passage and there was little likelyhood as I have already said that they cou'd undertake any thing upon the other Town To get out of this plunge he advis'd those of his Party to fight a new Battle and it seem'd as if the Occasion was going to offer it self very speedily for the Viscount de Turenne after having receiv'd some Succours was allready preparing a Bridge to pass the Rhin and if the Common Rumour might be Credited it was only with Design to go seek them out They held divers Counsels of War thereupon but the Duke of Bournonville and Caprara who had Order from the Emperour to husband his Troups being in no wise to be persuaded in vain was it that the Prince Palatine endeavour'd to bring them to his Opinion tho' he had already gain'd the Duke of Lorrain The Viscount de Turenne was quickly inform'd of the Resolution that had been taken in this Council and hoping to render it abortive if he cou'd once come up to them he pass'd the Rhin with a wonderfull Diligence and follow'd 'em Closely but they had timely provided for their Retreat as they held themselves not in surety beyond the Neker they also pass'd the Mein The Viscount de Turenne seeing the part of the Palatinate that 's Scituated beyond the Rhin at his Discretion extended his Troups thither put the Electour to that fright that he fled from Heydelberg the Capital City of his small Dominions In fifteen days this Country the finest in Europe was utterly ruin'd full five and twenty Great Villages and four or five small Cities were wholly reduc'd to Ashes Impossible is it to represent the Electour Palatine's Affliction as soon as he saw the Conflagration of his Countrey he Swore before all People that he wou'd be Reveng'd and without hearkning to what his Reason might dictate to him he sent a Letter to the Viscount de Turenne the Substance of which being that he wou'd never have believ'd that a Prince making Profession of Christianity wou'd have proceeded in such manner that Burning was only held good among Barbarians and if sometimes us'd among Christians 't was in such Cases as cou'd not be attributed to him that he had not refus'd paying the Contributions nor done any Act so Barbarous as to merit this Reprisal that if he had had some Souldiers Massacred his Subjects were Innocent of the matter and that this had been done by those of the Bishop of Spire that therefore this was a willfull Cruelty against him for which he shou'd be overjoy'd to be reveng'd if he wou'd distance himself from the head of his Army that he needed only to Chose the field of Battle and the Arms he was minded to make use of that he was ready not only to grant him both the one and the Other but also to give him all the Sureties he shou'd require The Viscount de Turenne was amaz'd at the Resentment of this Prince accounted so Wise and who nevertheless had suffer'd himself to be so hurry'd away with the Desire of Revenge that he had presum'd he might fight with him Not to leave him any longer in this Errour he signify'd immemediately to his Electoral Highness that he was under great Affliction for what had happen'd that far from going about to Excuse his Soldiers not one of All those that Occasion'd that Conflagration had Escap'd punishment But that if he durst speak something in their Excuse the Cruelty that had been Exercis'd upon their Companions was so strange that it was not to be wonder'd if they had Avenged 'em upon inanimate things that in their first Motions they had not taken the pains to Examine who had been the Authors of so Cruel a Usage that having seen their Comrades Hang'd upon Trees some having their Hearts torn out of their Bellies Others their Privy Members cut-off Others their feet burnt and in short all so inhumanely us'd as gave Occasion to believe they had pass'd thro' the hands of Executioners he left his Electoral Highness to think with himself whether they were come to consult him about taking their Revenge that if it were so he had reason to blame him but that if it were not so that on the Contrary he had caus'd Justice to be done by Examplary Punishment he did not think it reasonable to be tax'd in such a manner by his Electorel Highness that as for the Combat mention'd in his Letter he shou'd take it for a very
great Honour if the Post he was in would allow him to Embrace it but that his Electoral Highness knew better than any man under what obligations he lay through his Employ that he could not flatter himself that the King would give him the Permission that it wou'd be oâ— too pernitious a Consequence and that for his part he would not expose himself to his Denial These reasons though very pertinent were not capable of easing that Princes Resentment he being dayly more and more Exasperated by the ruine of his Country But what overwhelm'd him with Greif was to see the slowness of his Allies who with such numerous Troups durst not venture upon any enterprize Rabenhaut was just as much advanc'd as at the first day before Grave and the Prince of Orange though he had not yet been joyn'd by the Count de Montorey did nothing but eat up Flanders out of House and Home though his Army was above fifty thousand men The Prince of Condé was ever at the side of him and they had often been within a League of one another without any considerable matter occuring This the Duke of Lorrain found fault with as well as the Prince Palatine and though fortune had left some difference between them since the one still enjoy'd his Dominions and that the other was despoyl'd of his yet as they were Both in tribulation they jump'd allmost altogether in their sentiments However when they mutter'd most against all these Transactions the Prince of Conde engag'd an Occasion wherein he might have acquir'd much Glory if he wou'd have contented himself with the Advantages fortune at the first offer'd his Highness The Prince of Orange march'd towards Le fay a woody Country as is most part of Flanders and the Ground obliging his Highness to leave some Interval between the Van and the Reer or rather the Van being not able to joyn the Rear but by passing several Defiles the Prince of Conde who was prompt to Conceive resolv'd to cut it off For this purpose he caus'd the King's Houshold to march of which the right wing of his Army was compos'd which having totally defeated some Troups nearest at hand so startled those that were most advanc'd that without thinking any longer of joyning the Van they put themselves into the Church of Senef and into other places where they expected most resistance to be made thus they abandoned some Carriages that were forthwith plunder'd but this having not hinder'd our Troups from doing their Duty All those Places were forc'd and a number of Prisoners were taken and many men kill'd This Good Success had not cost us a hundred men whereas the Enemies had lost full three thousand in the Action besides the Equipages I have mention'd This was Sufficient to content another General than the Prince of Conde but his Highness thinking his Victory Imperfect if he did not render it greater caus'd the enemies to be pursu'd who had drawn themselves up in Batalia behind le Fay after having garnish'd all the Avenues with Infantry and Dragoons He pusht there after a Surprizing manner to drive away those Dragoons and that Infantry but the Enemies having the Advantage of the hedges over us they kill'd us so great a number of men that in less than a moment all the field of Battle was Cover'd with the Dead The Prince of Condé began to be in Despair that he had so lightly engag'd in so great a Peril But the Affair being embark'd he wou'd needs see if there was no means to come Happily off He caus'd fresh Troups to Advance but the Enemies having done the same his New Efforts only serv'd to make him try New Disasters he lost an infinite Number of Officers and the end of the Battle was so disâ—dvantageous to his Highness that it defac'd the Honour he had acquir'd in the Beginning In short the two Parties being Paul'd with so many Charges ceas'd firing upon one another and tho' the Night that had overtaken them had not been capable of Separating them Labour and Weariness did what Night had not been able to Effect However the two Armies remain'd in One Anothers view till Eleven a Clock at Night which made it presum'd that at break of Day they wou'd re-ingage The Prince of Condé being quite spent as well as the rest had laid himself down upon a Cloak at the corner of a Hedge where his mind being full of Care and Disquiet he knew not how to repair the loss he had undergone and still less how to reincourage his men who seem'd quite dejected in effect the enemies meaning to retreat spread a Universal fear and terrour among our men by a discharge they made to hinder us from penetrating their Design Insomuch that had they charg'd at the same time instead of be taking themselves to a Retreat all our Army had undoubtedly been put to flight The Prince of Conde was overjoy'd at the Course they had taken and his Troups having had time to recover Courage he observ'd the enemies who had a Design to beseige some Place not one was there but what was afraid some Governours manifested so much weakness as prov'd sufficient to depose them In fine after having made all Flanders tremble they fell upon Oudenarde wherein the Prince of Condé had newly put the Marquis de Rannâ—s Colonel-General of the Dragâ—ons This Prince knowing some Discourses were held to his Prejudice since the Affair of Senef hardly allow'd himself time to stay for some Succours that the Mareschal de Humieres was to bring him to March against the Enemies and breaking up as soon as Ever it was come not a man but imagin d that as his Highness was full of Resentment a great Slaughter was impending The Diligence he us'd did not permit the Enemies to take the Place before his Arrival and the Counts de Souches and Monterey having been of Opinion not to hazard their Troups which the Circumvallation held Sever'd from one Another the Prince of Orange was forc'd to Conform himself thereunto tho' his Opinion lay rather to leave something to Chance than receive this Affront The Siege of Oudenard having been rais'd in this manner the Enemies Troups resolv'd to Separate and the Prince of Orange seeing that Rabenhaut who was still before the Grave wou'd remain there a long while unless he was Succour'd went thither himself with his Forces The other Enemies made also a great Detachment with which they directed their way towards the Meuse where they took the City of Dinan and that of Huy both scituated upon that River Impossible was it for the Prince of Condé to oppose these Enterprises for as much as that a part of his Troups had been drawn out to be sent to the Viscount de Turenne who every Moment saw those Encreas'd that made head against him This had at length oblig'd him to retreat on this side the Rhin and as there was reason to believe that the Enemies could not pass that River
at Strasbourg whose Magistrates had promis'd Exactly to observe the Neutrality he had 〈◊〉 e to the Conservation of Philipsbourg on which after many â—â—resolutions they seem'd to have a desire to fasten That way-wards had they directed their March and were in a posture for any sort of Enterprize for in short their Army was now compos'd not only of the Troups of the Emperour and of the Duke of Lorrain but also those of the Princes of Brunswick of the Arch-Bishop of Cologne and of the Bishop of Munster without reckoning those of the Circles under the Command of the Duke of Bournonville They made up at least fifty thousand men only waited for those of the Marquis of Brandenbourg But as it had been a shame for 'em to hide themselves being already so very numerous they appear'd in the Field and scattered different rumours as concerning their Designs The Viscount de Turenne was none of thâ—se that dwelt upon these sort of things thus minding their Paces more then all the rest he quickly perceiv'd their Aims were not levell'd upon Philipsbourg and that their whole scope was to pass the Rhin This he oppos'd for some time with all the Success he could desire But the Enemies drawing near Mentz they engag'd the Electour notwithstanding his having pass'd his Word to the King to remain Neuter to suffer them to pass tâ—ro ' the Town To Cover his Infidelity he signify'd to the Viscount de Turenne that they had trepann'd him and that having promis'd them passage only for the Sick and for the Equipage they had made use of his easyness to mingle therewith the greatest part of their Cavalry Easy is it to judge how little satisfactory those Reasons were to the Viscount de Turenne But not being in a Condition to exert his Resentment he was oblig'd to dissemble and to run to what was most urging For the Enemies after having thus caus'd their Horse to pass had built a Bridge near the Town which serv'd for their Infantry and they already began to appear in Alsatia where they had ev n seiz'd on sundry Posts The Viscount de Turenne having judg'd by all these movements that their Design was to enter into Lorrain intrench'd himself in their Passage and tho' he had but Twenty Thousand Men he so hamper'd them that they durst not venture to give him Battle The Duke of Lorrain who had Correspondencies in his own Country receiv'd every moment News from thence by which he had signify'd to him that his Highness wou'd no sooner appear but that he wou'd find People in a readyness to follow his Fortune for which reason he propos'd to his Allies that if they wou'd grant him some Horse he wou'd so order Matters as to break through into his own Territories But as they were afraid that the desire of returning thither wou'd make him attempt things beyond his Forces they refus'd him this Succours This so exasperated him against them that he openly shew'd his Vexation nay and Writ concerning it to the Emperour But as he had liv'd in so strange a manner that he was suspected upon the least thing the others easily wash'd their hands of his Accusation and on the contrary made the Emperour believe that he minded much more his own particular Interest than the Common Concern In the Interim so Vast an Army having much ado to subsist in such narrow Quarters the Enemies resolv'd to repass the Rhin to which they moreover saw themselves excited by several Caballs they had in Strasbourg that endeavour'd to engage the Magistrates to Declare in favour of them The Viscount de Turenne being ignorant of these Practices was afraid lest they shou'd return on the other side that River to Besiege Philipsbourg and being willing to oppose it he set his Men to work upon a Bridge about half a League from that Town The Enemies being overjoy'd he had thus follow'd the lure endeavour'd to augment his suspicions to make him pass the Rhin But as he was not a man to lye long under a mistake he quickly discover'd what pass'd and endeavour'd to apply Remedies accordingly For this purpose he sent Machaut the Intendant of the Army into Strasbourg with order to remonstrate to the Magistrates what they expos'd themselves to if they were wanting in their Word That after the Intelligence he had giv'n him as he had reason to harbour some Umbrage he wisht that either they wou'd remit to him the Guarding of their Bridge or wou'd give him other Sureties that it was for them to consider whether they wou'd rather chuse to give Hostages but that he was not resolv'd to trust to their bare Promises This Complement surpriz'd those Magistrates and being spread among the Common People that were gain'd by the Imperialists there happen'd a Sedition So as that they were for falling upon the French This Diorder still augmented very much at the approach of some Troups which the Viscount de Turenne had Detach'd to seize on the Bridge for he had been inform'd that those of the Town were under an engagement to deliver it to the Enemies and he meant to endeavour to prevent them But the Marquis de Vaubrun who led them having not been able to win the Redoubt they had made to shelter it from Insult he found himself so engag'd that had not the Viscount de Turenne come up he and his Men were in great Peril In the mean while Caprara being advanc'd at the Head of a Thousand Dragoons and Three Thousand Horse seiz'd on the Bridge and the Viscount de Turenne having given the Marquis de Vaubrun the Means to retire the whole Army joyn'd and went to seek out an advantageous Post There being then no more obstacles to hinder the Enemies from entring Alsace they had nothing more to mind than to provide for their subsistance in that Province for the Viscount de Turenne caus'd all that cou'd be of use to them to be remov'd into Savern and Haguenaw The King being inform'd of the People of Strasbourg's Infidelity sent speedy Succours to the Viscount de Turenne but this Viscount Countermanded a great part of it which startled many People being generally thought in great Danger But he seeing farther than Others already meditated an extraordinary enterprize and which hardly any man besides himself could have happily manag'd In the mean while the enemies were advanc'd towards Ensâ—im wherein they had deceiv'd this Prince who had expected they wou'd march against him and principally after having seen some Horse appear They made a great Trophy of this Stratagem which had sped them happyly this piquing the Viscount de Turenne he wou'd needs let them see that notwithstanding the inequality of the forces he was still in a Condition to ply 'em with work Sufficient In effect knowing that they kept themselves in their Leaguer as if they had nothing to fear and that they slept out the whole morning in a great Confidence of their forces he left his Camp
and laid siege to Wolgast Insomuch that a Man wou'd have said that Fortune that had formerly caus'd the Great Gustavus to make all these Conquests in a short space wou'd by no means that the Enemies of his Successour should Employ more to take 'em away from him Tho' that these Disorders that Besell a Prince ally'd to the Crown had matter to startle the Court yet as this had nevertheless made an advantageous Diversion the King repair'd into Flanders where he made a shew as if his Aim was upon Charlemont but having pass'd the Meuse he caus'd Limbourg to be attack'd while his Majesty himself made head against the Succours preparing by the Prince of Orange But this Prince being to cross the River of which he found Guarded by a good number of Troups his March proved Abortive being not in a Condition to undertake to force this Pass Thus Limbourg being past all hopes it Surrendred to the Prince of Condé whom the King had sent before it The Marquis of Rochefort took also the City of Huy besides that Dinant had been won at the opening of the Campagne which afforded us still two Passes upon the Meuse and shut up close the Garrison of Namur The Enemies having not been able to hinder this Loss resolv'd to Besiege the City of Trier for the opening to themselves the Passes of Luxembourg The Duke of Lorrain being in Those parts with his â—â—cups and some that appertain'd to the Princes of Brunswic having taken the Enterprize upon him he left Cobâ—nâ—z behind him and having giv'n some Jealousy by his March the King sent the Mareschal de Câ—â—qui to observe him The Duke of Lorrain to Conceal from him his Design made a feint as if he meant to Invade Lorrain and having thus distanc'd the Mareschal from the place he design'd to attacque he of a sudden wheel'd about to Trier which he beleaguer'd The Mareschal de Crequi was very much at a plunge how to releive the place not that he wanted Courage to undertake it but because he had newly giv'n a Detachment of his Army to go into Brittany where the People were Revolted The Inhabitants of Guyenne had done the like and both were brought to this extremity by the number of the Subsidies the King had laid upon them by reason of the pressing necessity he was in to raise Money Yet this did not hinder the Mareschal de Crequi from drawing near Trier but as he was not the strongest he intrench'd himself at Taverne the Mosâ—lle being between him and the Enemies Nevertheless he signify'd his Motions to the Governour whom he excited to a Vigorous Defence by the Promises he made him of Relief for he hop'd to receive some Troups from the Bishopricks to supply the room of those that were gone into Brittany The Duke of Lorrain being an Old Captain fill'd with Experience and unwilling to give him time to augment his Forces sent to scann the Moselle which was found to be fordable in several Places so as that having left before Treves only what was Necessary for the Guarding the Lines he march'd directly to the River with all his forces he cross'd it immediately yet not without the Mareschal de Crequi's being inform'd of his so doing which oblig'd him to draw-up his Army in Battalia but his Horse chanc'd to be gone to Forrage which allmost made him mad for out of fear of what might happen three whole days had he forbidden any to stir out of the Camp but under the Pretext that he had giv'n two hundred Horse leave to go Forrage the Rest went along contrary to his Orders He fell into an Extravagant Passion against the Mareschal of the Cavalry's Lodgments of whom he demanded the Reason of their being gone and this latter having no other answer to make but that he had deliver'd his Orders Exactly as he gave them His Head turn'd in such manner as that he was past knowing what he did Instead of possessing two Hills that were upon his Right tho' he had been minded that it was absolutely necessary so to do he trifled away his time in many things that were of less importance and when he wou'd have done that it was too late The Count de la Mark whom he had Commanded out for that purpose was kill'd in endeavouring to repair this fault as well as several Officers that back'd him This Disaster was follow'd with the like Success in all the Posts the French endeavour'd to defend because that our Infantry having not Horse to make head against that of the Enemies it was surrounded beyond the Possibility of Prevention The Regiment of Guards escap'd into a Marsh the others betook themselves into the Woods and the Disorder was so great that the Mareschal de Crequi fled himself at last He knew not at first whither to Retreat but his Despair inspiring him to go to Trier he fancy'd he shou'd do well in following it's Dictates forasmuch as that he had had tydings the Night before that the Governour was fall'n from off the top of a Bastion whither he wou'd needs go on Horseback by which fall he was Kill'd Stone-dead We know not to what to attribute the faults which the Mareschal de Crequi Committed in this Occasion unless to the loss he had suffer'd the evening before of his Equipage which had been burnt which had put him into so bad a Humour that he was hardly to be known again The Absence of his Cavalry did also thereto much Contribute but more than all this the Will of God who wou'd needs that such Disasters shou'd follow that we had newly undergone and which was much greater for we had newly lost the Viscount de Turenne Be it as it will the Marschal de Crequi being enter'd Trier without any other accident befalling him he comforted the Garrison for the loss it had suffer'd of the Governour and tho' the Place was not much worth of it self he wou'd have shewn that Courage is capable of supplying great Defects if one call'd Boisjourdan a Captain of the Garrison had not Debauch'd his Companions This Captain either being afraid to fall in the Attacques or being excited by some other movement which it is difficult to apprehend insinuated into the other Captains that the Mareschal de Crequi being become a Bankrupt of his Reputation after what had newly befall'n him was very willing to get to be Kill'd on the Breach or to render himself considerable by some desperate Exploit that it was for them to see if they wou'd imitate him they who had no share in his fault that he had ever us'd the Officers as Servants and that it was time for them to shew their Resentment on that score that this was all they cou'd have done for a Turenne but that a Turenne had been too wise to suffer himself to be beaten as this Mareschal had done or to demand of them that they should Court being Kill'd to repair his Honour that for his part he was resolv'd