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prince_n duke_n king_n savoy_n 4,461 5 11.5012 5 true
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A47710 Memorable accidents, and unheard of transactions containing an accout of several strange events: as the deposing of tyrants, lamentable shipwrecks, dismal misfortunes, stratagems of war, perilous adventures, happy deliverances, with other remarkable occurrences, and select historical events, which have happened in several countries in this last age. Translated from the French, printed at Brussels in 1691. and dedicated to his present Majesty William King of England, &c. Published in English by B.B. B. B.; LĂ©onard, T. 1693 (1693) Wing L1100A; ESTC R217274 108,650 193

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could never come unlook'd for to a Man well resolved nor strange to him that doth foresee it nor shameful to a Generous Mind He continued some time after his Imprisonment without eating or sleeping and the violent motions of his Heart cast him into a Fever yet would take no Physick but what his Physicians tasted first for fear he should be Poysoned yet the fire of his Courage was not smothered with his Distemper what did he say or what did he not say Fury and Choler made him utter senceless Speeches If they will put me to Death says he Why do they not dispatch me that they may not boast they have made me afraid of Death And then let them drink themselves Drunk with the Blood which remains of five and thirty Wounds that I have received in the Service of France To pacifie his furious discontent the Archbishop of Bourges was sent to him to rectifie his conscience and to remove some Atheistical Opinions that he had imbraced and to assure him that if he did heartily repent and confess his Crimes he might yet expect forgiveness both from God and the King As soon as he was a Prisoner every one said he was a Dead man and seeing himself so strictly Guarded he said They did not put Birds of his kind into a Cage to suffer them to escape for when once a Man of Courage and Faction comes to be Imprisoned it is more dangerous to absolve than to condemn him The King sent to the Parliament of Paris to proceed against him and Commissioners were appointed who took Informations in the Bastile The Prisoner at first was a little ceremonious in his answers but being entred into discourse he gave the Commissioners matter enough to work upon confessing in a manner all he was accused of so that from his own Mouth they might have justly condemned him to lose as many Lives as he had Years He had so ill governed his Judgment in Prosperity that it was prejudicial to him in his Adversity yielding sometimes to Grief then to Rage and always to Indiscretion speaking as much to Ruine as Discharge himself he was confronted with the Witnesses face to face but when he saw La Fin he fell into an extream trembling The President asked him if he would except against La Fin he replied That he judged him a Gentleman of Honour and his Friend and Kinsman But when he had heard his Deposition he cried out against him as the most execrable Villain in the World appealing to all the Powers of Heaven and Earth to justifie his Innocency La Fin being disturbed to hear himself thus accused told him That he was sorry they were in a place where one was allowed to speak all and the other to hear all he justified all he had said against the Duke and made a more full discovery of the conspiracy than before The Prisoner said That if Renaze were there he would aver the contrary This was another of the Conspirators who was instantly brought before him at which he was extreamly surprized believing that he had been dead in Savoy long before He then alledged that the Duke of Savoy had set him at Liberty to Ruine him and seemed confounded to find all things conspire to his destruction for Renaze was made a Prisoner in Piedmont to prevent him from discovering this Treason but making his escape he came just now by an admirable Providence to fortify the Testimony of his Master La Fin who else had been but a single Witness He had many friends but the King represented his crime to be so detestable and odious to the Princes and Nobility that none of them had the courage to intercede for him his Process being finished he is called to make his defence He is Charged to have Treated with the Duke of Savoy about the Betraying of Bourg and other places and advising him to attempt against the Kings Army and his own Person discovering to him many things of Importance and offering him his Service and Assistance against all Men in hope of Marrying his Daughter That he would have perswaded the King to appear before St. Katherines Fort on purpose that he might be Slain and had writ to the Governor how he should distinguish His Majesty from others These and several Articles more were alledged against him but the Duke denied all and renounced the Confession he had made at his first Examination alledging That La Fin had bewitched him that he bit him by the Ear and made him drink Inchanted Waters calling him his King his Prince his Lord that he shewed him an Image of Wax which spake these Words Thou shalt dye Witched King and if he had such power over a senseless Image what might he not do upon him whom he had wholly bewitched to do what he pleased He made a bold and resolute Defence and concluded it in these words My fault is great but it was only in thought and conception and not Executed in desire but not in effect great Offences must have great Pardons I am he alone in France who feel the Rigor of Justice and cannot hope for the Merit of Mercy whatever happens I rely more upon you Gentlemen then on the King who having formerly regarded me with an Eye of Love looks no more on me now but with Indignation and holds it a Virtue to be cruel to me and a Vice to shew any act of Clemency towards me it had been better for me if he had not pardoned me at first then to give me Life and now to make me lose it with Shame and Dishonour His discourse was so long that the Judges had not time to give their Opinions so he was remanded to the Bastile full of hopes of being discharged boasting to the Captains of the Guard that he had defended himself so bravely and discreetly as doubtless he had fully satisfied them all adding That if he were Dead no Man was able to supply his place and saying Is it possible that the King should be so vain as to think to frighten me with the apprehension of Death or that he is able to terrify me with it Three days after the Judges met and upon Consultation concluded him to be Guilty of High Treason and the Chancellor with the first President of Parliament with some others went into the Bastile to acquaint him with the Sentence of the Court The Duke looking out of a Window at that time he heard a Womans cries and lamentations which he instantly apprehended were made upon his account and somewhat disturbed him but espying the Chancellor coming towards him cross the Court he cried out that he was Dead You come said he to pronounce my Sentence I am unjustly Condemned tell my Relations that I dye innocent and coming near he said O my Lord Chancellor is there no Pardon Is there no Mercy The Chancellor Saluted him and put on his Hat the Duke continued bare and having abandoned all the Powers of his Soul to
and that he himself had the greatest cause to complain that his Loyalty should be suspected who had given so many and so great proofs thereof The Count of Soissons finding all his endeavours were fruitless against his obstinate temper left him and the next morning early the King sent for him into the little Garden and discours'd with him a long time he making still great protestations of his Innocency beating his Breast and casting up his Eyes to Heaven in confirmation thereof At their parting there appeared Anger in the Kings Countenance and by the Dukes carriage there seemed Fire in his Words From thence the Duke went to Dinner and had a Letter delivered him with Advice to retire himself but he laugh'd at all warnings and despised any Advertisement of his fall The King had an account of his Bravado's but took little notice of them at length upon consultation with some of the Lords of the Council it was resolved that he should be apprehended and likewise the Count of Auvergne the King would not have them taken in the Court but in their own Lodgings which the Duke of Biron was somewhat apprehensive of and therefore thought he need fear nothing in the Presence-Chamber but that his danger would be most in going forth to prevent which he had provided a short Sword wherewith to make his way by the Death of any Opposer The King was informed that if he were not seized in the Presence-Chamber it would occasion Blood-shed to prevent which it was convenient to pass by some unnecessary respects the King sent for Vitry and Pralin Captains of his Guards and ordered them in what manner to execute his commands The Duke of Biron sup'd at Montignys Lodgings where he discours'd more proudly and vainly than ever of his own Merits and his many Friends in Switzerland and proceeded highly to commend the Piety Justice and Liberality of the late King of Spain Montigny sudenly interrupted him saying The greatest commendation due to that Princes memory was That he put his own Son to Death for attempting to promote troubles and disturbances in the State This put an end to the Dukes Harangue who by his Eyes seemed to hear this sharp reply with much amazement and surprize After Supper the Duke of Biron and the Count of Auvergne waited on the King in the Garden with a greater Train of Guards than they expected The King invited the Duke to play in the Queens Lodgings they plaid at Chess and the King being perplex'd went often to and again to his Closet As they entred the Door of the Chamber the Count of Auvergne whispered the Duke in the Ear We are undone The King was much unresolved but at length he pray'd God to assist him with his Holy Spirit and to infuse such Resolutions into him as might be for his Glory and the good of his people over whom he Ruled only by his Grace His Prayer ended his doubts were satisfied and he concluded absolutely to deliver the Duke into the hands of Justice The Count of Auvergne was retir'd the King sent for him and walked about the Room while the Duke minded nothing but his Game Varennes Lieutenant of his Company pretending to take up his Cloak told him in his Ear He was undone This last word astonished him so that he neglected his Game which the Queen observing told him That he had misreckon'd himself to his own loss The King answered That they had plaid enough commanding every man to retire He took the Duke of Biron into his Cabinet and charged him once for all freely to declare what Transactions he had managed with the Duke of Savoy and the Count of Fuentes Governour for the King of Spain assuring him that his Clemency should surmount his Crimes The Duke though he was conscious to himself that he deserved Death yet had not the humility to desire his Life nor a Tongue to beg pardon but answered the King more resolutely than ever That they had contrived the overthrow of an honest Man and that he had no other design than what he had already discovered I wish to God it were so said the King but I find you will not acquaint me with it Adieu Good Night As the Duke was going out of the Cabinet and had passed the Chamber-Door he met Vitry who laid his Hand upon Birons Sword and demands the delivery of it by the Kings Order From me said the Duke What to take away my Sword who have so faithfully served the King My Sword Who have ended the War and have settled Peace in France That my Sword which my Enemies could never wrest from me should be now taken away by my Friends He intreated the Duke of Montbazon to beseech the King to give him leave to deliver it into his own hands the King ordered Vitry to do as he had commanded him The Duke was forced to suffer it to be taken from him and in delivering in cast his Eyes about to seize upon another but they prevented him When he saw all the Guard placed in the Gallery he thought they would have killed him and desired to have something in his Hand that he might have the Honour to dye in defending himself and some little time to pray to God They answered That no Man should hurt him they having Order from the King only to conduct him to his Lodgings You see said he in passing by how good Catholicks are Treated He was carried to the Closet of Arms but neither slept nor lay down Praliu was sent to the Count Auvergne to demand his Sword in the Kings Name I take it said the Count it hath never killed any but Wild Boars if thou hadst informed me of this I had been a Bed and asleep two hours ago These two Noble-men were like Torches in a Field of Corn able to inflame the Kingdom The Duke of Biron grew extreamly impatient scarce speaking a Word but it was either against God or the King and discovered all the rage and fury of a Mad-man but suddenly recollecting himself Well said he I find this is but Folly for all my passion and raving will do me no Service The King returned from Fountainbleau where the Conspiracy was discovered to Paris and was received with the Shouts and Acclamations of the people for his safe return and their Deliverance from Slavery The Prisoners were led to the Bastile the Duke of Biron was melancholly and dejected the Count of Auvergne merry and pleasant the first entred the Bastile as into his Grave the second as into a Palace imagining that no place could be a Prison to him They had the liberty of the House but fearing the Dukes desperation might make him destroy himself they suffered none that came near him to wear Arms and seeing himself served with a Knife without a point he said That this was to the Greve which is a place in Paris where great persons are Executed and speaking of Death with disdain said That it