disgusts that he had conceived against the Duke of Parma he would be graciously pleased to restore him to his former good grace and embracing him with paternall benevolence condescend to some agreement to their reciprocall satisfaction which courteous expressions being answered by the Pope in words testifying a very reall acceptation Monsieur de Lyonne proceeds to a further discourse importing that it was his Majesty's earnest desire and request to his Holynesse to Restore the Duke of Parma to all his goods and estates since he had so amply satisfied his reputation in the conquest of Castro and now to forget things past as his Majesty himselfe had dealt with the Duke of Lorrain in restoring him to astate of such advantage upon his humble submission only to his Majesty's clemency To this the Pope answered in these precise tearms Castro is already the Apostolicall See's There is nothing to be said of that If you will treat of Parma and Placentia which were now pretended to be forfeited somewhat may be done at the Kings intercession About Castro we will afterwards do justice Monsieur de Lyonne replies that that was not the grace which his Majesty had employed him to seek it being probable that the neighbour Princes would not suffer such disaster to befall the Duke of Parma nor such an acquisition to a mightier confinant as was the State Ecclesiasticall where the Pope apprehending a secret conceipt shadowed that the King of France would aid the Parmesan discovered great alteration saying that the Duke of Parma was a rebell and excommunicated and that whatsoever Princes should assist him were wicked and Impious in which case he would put his trust in God assuring himselfe that he would not abandon him in his most righteous cause That therefore he should not speak any more to him about Castro as a businesse not practicable but only of Parma and Placentia whereat de Lyonne not troubling himselfe replyed That if his Holynesse would do any grace to the King it must be about Castro for of the other he had no commission to treat any thing which more inflaming the Pope's displeasure he tooke his leave in time that he might reserve his further application for another audience which a while after he again obtaining with like successe tooke his course back to Parma to propound new overtures The French having bin before dealing with the Duke of Parma to draw his assistance towards Lombardy were now willing to degage him from any embroilments on the contrary side or otherwise to study how to serve themselves upon occasion The Spaniards though they longed to revenge the injuries of the Barberini were fain to mortify that passion with better councell holding it no good time to break with Rome any more then to joine with Parma The Republick of Venice The Duke of Tuscany The Duke of Modena being both allied in blood to Parma are yet but making long debates about a league in his favour Wherefore De Lyonne thinks best to propound some suspension for the present fearing least Parma should be over-powred which he being a Prince of great Courage and now if he followed not his enterprises likely to sink under great charges which the forces that he had gathered must needs put him to in his own countrey was very unwilling to hearken to so that entring with his forces into the ecclesiasticall state he brought great dammages terror to Rome it selfe till at last he was overperswaded to attend the issue of a treaty at Castel-Georgio wherein the Papalins to divert the present shock consented to deposite Castro in the Duke of Modena's hands for three or four months while affairs in difference should be treated The Ministers of France being all this while instant with the State of Venice first to mediate for and then to assist the Duke of Parma practising also at the same time with other Italian Princes on this subject cannot avoid jealousies on all sides interchangeable The Venetians though moved thereunto by the French Ministers yet are very cautious how they interpose their offices in this affaire least they should seem to deprive that Crown of the Honour of mediation whereupon they impart all their negotiations at Rome with exact diligence to the French Ambassadour passing one concurrence and correspondence in their treaties But for the matter of assistance however they were enclined to the joyning with their Neighbour Potentates to keep Italy still in the same Ballance yet the instances of the French in this regard they accounted no way free from suspicion now especially that the Princes of Savoy were turned to their service and away thereby opened to the heart of Lombardy They hold the old proverb good Have the French for thy Friend but not for thy Neighbour For although they had the Spaniards ambitious and troublesome Confinants which by their monies and intelligence had made them many chargable and unseasonable diversions yet the differences since a whole age had never come to a breach between them besids that they did not count them of so desultory an humour as other Ultramontans On another side the Spaniards seeing the French so busy in their treaties from the one side to the other and knowing how much they were oblieged to respect them both now they saw also the Duke of Parma proceed so prosperously in the state Ecclesiasticall without foot or artillery began to confirme themselves in a former suspicion that some mystery was under those enterprises and that the Pope was indeed of some agreement with the Duke of Parma the King of France and the Princes of the League against the Kingdome of Naples whose Vice-roy was allied to That Duke which apprehension might have bin the more justified by an overture of Monsieur De Lyonne if at least it did not escape the inquisitivenesse of the Spaniards made to the Duke of Parma about the leaving of Castro to Don Tadco and accepting of the Pope and King of France his assistance to invest him in the Kingdome of Naples To which the Duke roundly answered Nay but rather let them restore me my Dutchy and bestow their Kingdome on Don Tadco However this conceipt especially the League being now formed and his Neighbours in armes round about him made the Spaniard keep him on his guard to his great charges and leave those forces on his frontiers of Naples which he needed elswhere being also as before was intimated not a litle troubled at such a league made with his exclusion The Pope and the Barberini are no lesse satisfied of the French Negotiations as too too partiall to the interests of Parma and otherwise suspected to aime only at embroiling all things The other Princes are jealous of the Duke of Parma least he should be brought to cast himselfe onely on the French assistance and to bring a formidable guest to their doores whereupon they are willing rather to assist him themselves that he might enter on no course prejudiciall to their common Interests And
way to his Majestie's anger for the time which some interpreted as the act of a true Friend but others as the Ruse of a Courtier to draw him from the King and so from all hope of accomodation for some make a great question whether the buds of Noyers his disfavour were not cultivated by the two other Ministers of State Mazzarini and Chauvigni because they were the dependants of these two that most incens'd the King against Him and immediatly after his decession his Charge was confer'd by the Cardinall's instance on Monsteur de Tellier then in Piemont â—as Auditor Generall of the Army besides that it was many waies evident that the Cardinall's designes did not meet in Noyers of a fit Instrument and that he had at severall times treated with the King of such matters as de Noyers would have possest him with the Contrary Which things if reall as they have a great shew of truth one would think by de Noyers's proceedings that his desires also were no less reall then pretended to retire to his privacy He goe's to Chauvigny desire 's his opinion as his friend whether he should demand his Licence in person of the King or by another who after many fair offices to perswade with him at last advise's him to serve himselfe of the assistance of the Cardinall to avoid disgusting of the King any further De Noyers meets the Cardinall in the Louvre demand's this grace of him publiquely and with a kind of Pompe that the world might take notice of it as a generous free action of his own and accordingly the Cardinall does the office after some excuses with more shew then reality at his return bringing him that dismission which he desired and received with demonstrations of the cordiallest alacrity This fall of Noyers was onely grievous to the Mareschal de Mesteraye who being much interessed in his preservation addresseth himselfe a new to the Cardinall to have this businesse put upon the file again whom the Cardinall answering that he resented this act of Monsieur dè Nayens as much as any other and had omitted no office to divert him from the course that he had taken The Mareschal suffered himselfe to be so farre transported with his passion as to tell him That he did not understand these finesses of Italie proceeding frankly and in the French fashion The Cardinall notwithstanding continued in his excuses treating him with acts of more respect so that both seemed to part with satisfaction From hence the Mareschal takes his way to dè Noyers then at Pontoise to treat with him and finds him most determined to acquiesce desiring the Mareschall to let his Majestie know that he tooke it for an infinite obligation that his Majestie had been pleased to dispense with his retirement Which carriage of his was accounted more to commend his courage then his courtship considering especially that the King's death was by all tokens near at hand which would have broke up those clouds that then overshadowed him Aprill 17. The King's maladie being intermissive had hitherto observed some uncertain periods allowing him his lucida interâ—â—lla to treat and give orders about affairs but now betraying worser symptomes the physitians advise the Statesmen of their opinion that it was to terminate ere long in death Whereupon the Prince of Condè and Cardinall Mazzarini consult together how to give his Majestie admonition and so present themselves to him in his chamber telling him that although the Physitians did not despaire of his Majestie's recovery yet since he found his health continually declining and running some hazard of a sad event that the glorie of his Majestie the good of the Princes his children and of the whole State seemed to require that as his Majestie had hitherto established his greatnesse and augmented the splendor of his crown so now he should consider of leaving his affairs in such order that no emergent might alter them for the future That the Spaniards had not refused a suspension of arms before so earnestly desired by them on any other ground then a certain misprision which they had conceived of the troubles of France likely to ensue on the failing of his Majesty and therefore that the true way to undeceive them was to make it evident that whatsoever event should happen his Majestie's will should stand for a sure and inviolable Law for the Government of his Kingdome The King accepted not onely of their discourse but affectionately thanked them and then desired to hear the Prince's judgement about the disposall of the Government Who thereupon took occasion to extoll highly the wisdome and goodnesse of the Queene and after set himselfe to excuse the Duke of Orleans ascribing his escapes to the over-rigid treatments of the late Cardinall shewing that these two persons as the chiefe of the kingdome ought by consequence to have the principall part in so important an administration The King having well learned by his own experience how subject France is to alterations in the times of Minority was the more desirous to leave a state well setled wherein neither the Queen nor the Duke of Orleans whom he did not eye so well should invelope the whole authority in their own persons which he devised to distribute among severall Councellours and to give them the Cardinall Mazzarini for their Principall much after the manner of the Government of Sweden with the superintendency of the grand Chancellour Oxenstern which thoughts when he had discovered to the Cardinall he found not such approbation as he desired but rather met with strong arguments perswading him to observe the ancient usances of the Crown But after all deliberations the King at last resolved to forme a Councell according to the tenor of a declaration which he sent forthwith to the Queen by the hand of Monsieur dè Chauvigny the prime secretary of State that shee might see it and signifie her desire about any change in it for her better satisfaction that so being afterward approved by the Parliament it might be to passe as a Salick Law among the people which last words touched to the quick though at that time the Queen dissembled them with discretion and presently passed to the King's chamber to render thanks and to condole with him till both melted into tears with expressions of love and tenderness Next morning the Cardinall Mazzarini comes to Paris to give account of the King's resolutions to the Duke of Orleans with intimation to the Parliament Princes Dukes Peeres and officers of the Crown to present themselves to his Majestie at S. Germans where a fit time being waited till the Kings maladie was somewhat alleviated they were all called into his Chamber where the Queen and her two Sons stayed for them and then his Majesty speaking all the while uncovered made a passionate speech unto them accompanied with such carriages as pressed tears from the by-standers After which the Secretarie de la Urilliere read the declaration of his Majestie's last
nominate him as his pleny-potentiary for the Generall peace which was no lesse then to entrust him with the interests of the Crowne and of its confederates and accordingly Richelieu now treats with him disjoining every spring and parcelling every implement of his breast to discover to him and the quality of this employment might allow time for it for it was not presently to be entered on In the interim this new creature to commend his Services the more dearly to the Crowne undertakes two famous treaties to reduce the Princes of Savoy from the interests of Spain to the contrary of France The first was concluded and signed but the sudden breaking out of the Counts of Soissons and Bouillon hindred the effect and gave the Cardinall leisure as some would have it being now nigh upon the place to gaine also the Prince of Monaco whose accession afterwards was accounted of great consequence The second treaty brought the first to an issue reuniting those Princes at the same time to the side of France and to the head of their house the then Infant-Duke of Savoy an union whereunto the most part of the places conquered in Piemont and Montferrat is ascribed After his returne from these affaires he accompanies the Cardinall of Richelieu in that voyage which brought Cincmars the grand Escuyer and his competitor in the Kings favour his designes to the light and his head to the block but while the Cardinall Duke is urging still his jealousies to greater envie in this businesse this other Cardinall finds himselfe a better worke to perswade the Duke of Bouillon one of the Complices to deliver up his soveraignty of Sedan to the Kings power as a ransome for his treason which accordingly he obtained and the King seized This was the gate by which Mazzarini entered equally into Richelieu's and the King's favour but especially by the douceur and gentlenesse of his proceeding which made the King desire his imployment being inwardly weary of Richelieu's excessive and now more intemperate rule by reason of his malady so that that favorite could not comply better with the King's pleasure in any other suit then this of serving himselfe of Mazzarini in whose person both might find their private ends as well as their publick The Cardinall might raise in him a Protector of his house and kindred against their most incensed emulators and the King find a subject by whom to ballance the Princes of the Blood when he was gone especially the Duke of Orleans against whose sway he devised all means possible to provide The Cardinall of Richelieu had tooke his fortune as it were to farme putting his terme of life into the lease which was therefore to be circumscribed with his Master's for had he outlived him it is a question whether all his admirable expedients could have served to represse a harder fate which being instigated by much envy would faine have stetched a long arme to reach him And the sense of this while the King's health seemed to decay faster then his owne had cast the Cardinall into many pangs of contrivances how to make his estate good when his plea in chiefe was gone Sometimes to reconcile himselfe with his grand enemies especially the Queene whom he had highly disobliged Sometimes to get the King's children to his owne power and wardship sometimes to ruine or at least how to ballance the Duke of Orleans and sometimes to retire for which purpose he had layed up a vast summe of readie gold at Haure de Grace and had purchased in the King's name and licence but with his owne mony A soverainty on the Meuse with Chastean Reynaud and a territory adjacent whereby he doubted not but to render himselfe considerable both to France and the neighbour Princes without any feare of his enemies But all this was in vaine for death tooke him at the best time at the bound of his glory The newes of the taking of Tortona in the state of Milan coming to Paris the same day to bring new Laurells to his hearse But when he was about to die he may seeme to have over-reached his fortune and driven her beyond her intention in leaving her favours to his successors in a way scarce before observed for besides his leaving a creature of his owne to survive in he bequeathed the most important charges of the Kingdome under the King's good pleasure who accordingly allowed of his disposall in all but a few church livings and that only to save the prerogative which the Kings of France claime in such causes to his owne kindred which proved a great disappointment to his enemies for they soone found that they could not pluck up his residue without the danger of the whole Then he recommended to the King the Officers and Ministers of state as he was to leave them particularly the Secretaries de Chauvigny and de Noyers wherein he promised his majesty he might continue to prosper as he had thither to The King accepts well of his advice resolves to use the same instruments that he had before but never to admit the like partager in his royall authority as the Cardinall of Richelieu had been For the Cardinall Mazzarini he forth with makes him president of his councell committing the Secretaries of state to his orders which in effect was to make him his prime Minister My purpose is to digest some memorialls from this period yet I cannot leave that great subject before mentioned till I have brought him to his funerall Not that I intend any long digression to bring in the Ceremonies of his interring but only to note one or two circumstances on this occasion which have respect to some ensuing passages The first was the composing of an ancient difference betweene Cardinalls and the Princes of the blood about precedencie which before was only regulated by the Kings favour Now they agree with mutuall satisfaction that in the Churches and Ecclesiasticall functions the Cardinall should have priority in other places the Princes and in other things should treat one another with equality Whereupon the Prince of Condè and his sonne the Duke of Enguien come to visit the Cardinall Mazzarini The second is this There was a chaire covered with velvet and somewhat raised set for the Cardinall Mazzarini in the church of Nostre-dame in Paris where the obsequies were to be solemnized which occasioned a hot dispute about the manner of being seated betwixt the said Cardinall and the Bishops these pretending that he should stand in the same ranke with them and among these the Arch-Bishop of Rheims and Bishop of Beauvais were most earnest breaking out into high words in saying That with other Cardinalls for dignity birth and merit more regardable then he there never fell the like pretension This offence the Cardinall was faine to digest at that time not without straining a dissimulation but found opportunity afterwards to turne it on the authors to a greater jacture of their reputation Richelieu is now covered the court
Orleans is now overbal lanced but we shall soon find the scale in other hands which afford him more allowance In the meane time let us see another expedient the King takes to comply with his friends and raise his reputation of independency which was to direct letters to his Ministers abroad giving an account of his intentions One of which to his Ambassador at Venice was of this tenor Monsieur des Hameaux Since every one knowes the great and signall services which my Cosin the Cardinall of Richelieu hath done me and with what advantageous successes it hath pleased God to blesse those councells which He suggested to me so no one can doubt but the losse of so faithfull and good a Minister cannot but be neerly sensible to me and so I would have all the world know how great displeasure I have conceived here by and how dear his memory is to me by the testimonies which I shall render on all occasions But the knowledge that I have that the thoughts of well governing of my State and for the good of my affaires ought to prevaile above all others doth oblige me to take care now more then ever and to apply my selfe in such manner that I may be able to maintain the great advantages hitherto obtained 'till it shall please God to grant us a peace the sole and only scope of my enterprises and for the gaining of which I will not spare my own life To this purpose I have taken resolution to retain the same persons in my councill which have served me during the Ministry of my Cosin the Cardinall of Richelieu and to take to me my Cosin the Cardinall Mazzarini who hath given me so great proofs of his affection and fidelity and of his capacity in divers occasions wherein he hath been by me employed rendring to me most considerable services so that I can no lesse assure my selfe of him then if he had been born my subject My principall thought shall ever be to maintain the good union and correspondence which hath been between us and our confederates to use the same vigour and constancy in my affaires which I have hitherto held as far as justice and reason may permit me and to continue the war with the same application and the same forces that I have done since my enemies constrained me to make it till such time as God shall touch their Hearts that I may contribute with all my other confederates somewhat to the establishment and generall peace of Christendom but so established that nothing for the future may disturbe it You shall therefore communicate what is above expressed to the Republick of Venice to the Ministers of the Princes of Italy which are there and to all others that you shall think fit that they may judg that the affairs of this Kingdom hold the same course that they have heretofore and that nothing will be wanting to their good conduct assuredly hoping that they shall ever continue happily Whereupon I pray God to keep you Monsieur des Hameaux in his holy custody Dated at Paris the 6 of December 1642. LOVIS Bouthilier In pursuance of these his resolutions his Majesty forthwith issues a proclamation commanding all officers of war of whatsoever quality to depart from Paris by the beginning of February and render themselves to the actuall exercise of their charges with a purpose to part himselfe in person in the Month of March to begin the next campagne But the preparations for it did not answers the King's desire through the slacknesse of those instruments which being now out of fear of the late Cardinall and finding a more remisse hand as the more remote is wont to be carried over them did regulate their actions to their own commodities So that now the two emulous Monarchies were counterpoised only by a reciprocall kind of fate that one could get no start upon the impediments of the other For about the same time that the Cardinall Duke of RICHELIEU died in France the Count-Duke of OLIVAREZ fell in Spain and that King resolves in like manner to returne his Royall authority on his own person and so for a few moneths kept his businesse in his owne hands imparting them with indifferency to his Ministers and referring their dispatch to severall Councils where they lay a long time sleeping and the King having lived 22 years in repose began now to find more unpliancy in his affaires then he expected and thereupon to discover some change of his resolution by inclining to a new favorite which at last riseth with great expectation in the person of D. Lewis de Haró nephew of the Count of Castriglio the present Vice-roy of Naples who beginning his course almost as soon and without any opposition as his corrivall inreputation may seem to have lost nothing in the setting out In the interim the armes of both nations are not idle and the suite of those councils which had issued from their late Dictators subjects both of them of extraordinary finesses though intercised from their heads yet run out their courses especially in the two Republicks of Venice and Holland which were highly to be courted at this time Of the first of which we have somewhat ready to insert here There had happened lately in Italy a war meerely Italian neither French nor Spanish having any hand in it nor knowing how to intermeddle in it though they sought many waies to inultratetheir practises about the Quarrell A war it was not very violent but full of expedients in the managing in the treating and in composing of it the occasion was the seizing of the Dutchy of Castro a place lying conveniently near to Rome and bordering upon the Duke of Florence his dominions but belonging to the Duke of Parma by the Nephewes of Urban the eight pretending to satisfy the Montists in Rome to whom that Prince was much indebted the Republick of Venice the Duke of Florence and the Duke of Modena as Freinds and Neighbours to the Duke of Parma or as jealous of the Ecclesiasticall State since the accruing of the new estates of Urbino and Ferrara or as no well wishers to the Barberini ligue together to aid and restore the said Duke to his sequestred Dutchy the French and Spaniards hold themselves a while Spectators as if they were to study their interests in this emergent the Spaniards for the hate they bare the Barberini and for the love which they secretly hugged of the Pope's trouble could well have bin contented with the war but that they equally hated the progresse of the league their jealous Neighbours whom they desired to over-awe wherefore when the Pope was very Importunate by his Nuntio Panziroli at Madrid to get that King to Joyne with the Pope and to declare himselfe against the league as also to supply him with the succours of 900 horse and 3000 foot which the King of Spain is bound to furnish the Pope withall when his estates are invaded by vertue of his Fief
of Naples the Spaniard returned but formall answers as expressing his thought to be that the restitution of Castro was but reasonable and this no occasion for him to aid the Pope to the prejudice of the League considering that he was the invader rather than invaded for the Spaniard well knew that by declaring for one side he should but give the French occasion to take the other and so draw the greater prejudice on his own estates giving them the more pretensions to invade him So that all considered he was not unwilling to carry himselfe only as an arbitrator and not permit the French to get the start of him in the management Yet he suffers the Switzers which the Pope had levied for the war to passe through the State of Milan as a counterbalance to the league and not long after he also granted the same liberty to other forces of the Duke of Parma's as a like counterpoise to the Papalins which he thought might well consist with his publick indifferency for otherwise he had a secret grudging against the League also being his neighbour Princes and less potent that had formed an union without his knowledg consent or comprehension it inwardly displeasing him that the Princes of Italy should shew to act independently of his Crown a thought so much the harder to be digested in that it might be thence gathered that such resolutions were taken upon a ground of weaknesse and decay of his greatnesse while in spite of their bad fortune the Spaniards still desired to treat and to be treated as when they were at the highest ascendent of their felicity And if now a war being broken outit should be again composed without his arbitration as umpire of the affairs of Italy or the French out strip him in this negotiation he would be a great deal worse to like it But I will not follow these comments any further The French were yet more busy and more subtle to handle and wind themselves into these treaties so that it is not so easy to penetrate their true designes I will therefore be a little more punctuall and more large on this point as a part of my set purpose for the sake of which I have brought in any thing of the contrary to illustrate it nor do I regard any other art or method then what directly serves the nature of of the things themselves which I am treating Presently after the seizing of Castro the Marquesse of Fontenay is appointed Ambassadour to Rome to accomodate this difference with order to Cardinall Bichitill he should come to apply himselfe earnestly in this matter to the Pope and his Nephews which as a preparative might serve to farther negotiation 'T was about the beginning of November 1641 when Fontenay arrived besides the adjusting of the business of Parma being also encharged to endeavour the reception of the Bishop of Lamego Ambassadour from the new King of Portugall Shich the Pope made many excuses to defer as a point involved with other interests nothing perfunctory with it highly concerned the obliging or disobliging of the two Crowns for the restitution of Castro and other goods to the Duke of Parma the Ambassadour makes great instances with the Pope alleaging him to be under his Majestie's protection with many protestations that he could not abandon him but the Pope still insisted on the obedience and humiliation of Parma to him as his sovereigne in his own person and not by another's interposall to capitulate with him he being a Feudatary of the Holy See whereupon notwithstanding the Barberini which had hitherto greatly countergrained the Spaniards by their partiality to the French thought it now time to manage some complyancwith them if need were to come over to their party in reference whereunto they practise at the Court of Spain by their Nuntio Facchinetti a conjunction with them to oppresse the Duke of Parma as a Partisan of the French and a complotter of designs on the state of Milan not omitting at the same time to treat on other conditions to the same drift at the court of France and according to the variablenesse of their designs with the answerablenesse of either party so they carried towards the Bishop of Lamego but the Spaniards finding when they had once well setled themselves to hold the State of Castro wherein they expected no such opposition as they afterwards met withall that the former treaties soon cooled they sought rather to secure themselves by modelling the intentions of the Duke pressing reiterated promises from him that he would not call the French to his succour nor accept of their aids while the Spaniards would support him but whatsoever point it was that failed the best assistance which the Duke had afterwards was by the men and mony that came from France The Marquesse of Fontenay's reports being come to his Master's court the King of France to second his ambassadour no lesse then to discover whether in the Pope there were any new inclinations towards the Spaniards dispatcheth the Sieur de Lyonne a young gentleman of an exquisite capacity that had also bin bred up by his uncle the secretary de servient in affairs of great consequence who comming as an intercessor might promote in person between the parties those affairs which his Resident Ambassadour could not otherwise treat but by Corriers and so consequently not without jealousies and delayes De Lyonne presents himselfe first to the Duke at Parma while he is busy in Levying of his forces and there delivers his charge to this purpose that his Majesty of France continuing his wonted protection to the person and house of his Highnesse had expressly sent him to the Pope to perswade him to accord praying his Highnesse on his part to facilitate a businesse so proper for him and so desiderable to France and so exhorted him in his King's name to render to the Pope all manner of Humiliations which as done to a common Father would no waies derogate from the Honour of a Soveraign Prince and that his so doing would be very acceptable to his Majesty The Duke offers any submissions not prejudiciall to his interests or admitting of such faults as might be of ill consequence to him and his house hereafter and with that answer De Lyonne hasts to Rome where he presently stop't the publication of the Interdictment intended by the Barberini by assuring them that in such case the Ecclesiastick's were resolved Not observing the censures to hold at their Duke's Devotion or otherwise he to employ their revenues in his war which would have a-amounted to a great sum I will insist a little further here though somewhat below the times which I intended to resume Being afterwards brought to the feet of his Holyness there rendred the accustomed most humble reverence he presents to him the credentiall letter of the King of France written with his own hand wherein with most affectionate and efficacious instances he beseecheth him that qualifying those
Minister that he might advise at Rome of the merits of their procedure the need which they had of security and the necessity which the foresaid Bishop had brought upon himselfe that so their action's might be character'd by their respect and zeale to the Holy See The Collectour answered thanking the Vice-Roy for this office that he should advise his Holinesse punctually about it in the mean while letting him know that notwithstanding the necessity by them supposed they should consider the regard and reuerence due to the Episcopall dignity being subject to no other then the Pope That therefore they should abstain from any umbrage of violence setting before them the dreadfull censures which which they might incurre thereupon The Governour Margarita answered with an oath not to offend his own conscience nor his reputation and so with a great company takes his way to Blanes a Sea towne in the province of Gironne where the Bishop then sojourned At first he shewed his Commissions to the Bishop with a studied discourse bidding him departure in discreet terms yet intimating necessity But when the Bishop made answer smiling and called for a Notary to make a publick act of the violence done him the Governour somewhat altered commands him to depart in rounder terms limiting a few hours to the execution which he stood in a Balcone not farre off to see effected But the Bishop goes immediately to celebrate Mass and after takes his leave of the people with such Eloquence and in term's so compassionable as drew his Auditors to flow in tears after him to the sea shore lamenting his departure and blaming the rigidnesse of the Governour which was also the longer thought on because his brother a Dominican Friar was appointed to receive the revenues of that Church and shortly after made Bishop of it by the King of France The Catalonians in another case shewed not only disgust but suspicion for when the French were treating with them of raising a Fortroyall on a hill which stood too near to prejudice their city of Barcelona perswading them to demolish their imperfect fortifications which being built without art might serve it may be to offend more then to defend them and in pursuance of these councells brought an Engineer to designe the form of it they endeavoured not only to throw Jealousy on this action but openly shewed so resolute a repugnancy as obliged the Kings Ministers to surcease in it And the Magistrates of Barcelona levelled the old works leaving only an ancient tower which served for a Pharos on the Sea-side Meanwhile the Spaniards imploy such forces as they had under the banner of the Marquesse of Inoijosa about five thousand foot and five hundred horse to take up their quarters within the territory of the Castle of Amposta and that with such successe that they were like to recover all that tract lying between the Eber and Arragon From thence he accosteth the a place belonging to the Jurisdiction of Barcellona but a sudden rising of the waters obligeth him to dislodge bringing great damage upon the country whereupon he turns his course to Mirave and enters that town with a thousand horse and an hundred foot planting his batteries against the Castle which he had brought almost to tearms when the Marshall de la Mothe on a sudden passeth the Eber and arrives with a strong brigade to their succour enters the place without dispute and finds means to cast in a recruit of eight hundred men which not at all delaying to sally out on their Assaylers while the Marshall invested them on all sides there ensued an hardy conflict for about three houres but at last the Castilians were fain to leave the field to their enemies with the death of some hundreds and prise of four hundred more But the losse of the French was so considerable that it imbittered the victory The Marquesse of Inoijosa being then at Gandesa solliciting Cannon and provisions not suspecting that La Mothe could passe the river so soone which he had left so high and impetuous between them did not come to aid his men with the rest of his his forces On this successe the French over-runne the country to Tortosa and then leaving Flix and Miravet well provided returne with the rest and their prisoners in a way of triumph to Barcellona where the Vicâ—roy was thought to use a French liberty too much in standing to view them with Donna Eusalia a beautifull Lady and wife of a Catalan Gentleman from a balconie in his house This fate of Inoijosa was sadly resented in Spain fearing lest the residue of their forces should scarce suffice to hinder excursions into Arragon and Valentia so that that King was fain to call two thousand Italians and Germans to these parts which had beene sent to the frontiers of Portugall Nor was this piece of service though in it selfe of no great consequence any lesse applauded at the court of France especially by the Secretary de Noyers to whom the Mareschal was allied so that not omitting such an opportunity he never left recommending La Mothe's services till he got the King to grant him the investiture of the Dutchy of Cardona which is one of the fairest and amplest domains in Catalogne had formerly been denied him as a bounty exceeding his merits and condition he being advanced from a mean estate and of the house of an ordinary Gentleman The Catalans did inwardly ramaricate this largesse to a stranger when so many of their own Nobility were ruined by following of the party yet accommodating themselves to the time shewed outwardly to gratulate that favour done to their Viceroy as intended to themselves The Spaniards in Flanders began now to be sensible of a criticall time ascending over France and of changes likely to be incident whereupon they are the earlier this year in their preventions hovering about the frontiers of Picardy with their squadrons to be ready either to foment or make some Impression as occasion served The Duke of Enguien now Prince of Condè had been appointed Generall for the French in these parts at the issuing of the next Campagne the Mareschal de l' Hospitall being declared his Lieutenant-Generall and the Marquesse of Geures Gassion d' Aumont and la Ferte-seneterre his Mareschal's of Campe but in the mean time the Count of Guicke now Marreschal de Grammont is sent to wait upon their motions where we leave him at the present and take our tour back into Italy A stage of opera's where Fortunes skie Play 's over art natures tapestrie The Scene has oft been changed yet the state Holds equall through varieties of fate All Italy was once in Rome but now Rome in all Italy I know not how But I believe that Empire never was So splendid therein one prodigious masse As minted now in many curious coins Admired in their scale which art conjoins And 't is another Genius doth inspire New Rome but 't is but with Promethean fire The
French having made themselves Master's of Tortona employ their studies how to preserve it and make their way to further acquists In suit whereof they make a Donative of the Tortonese to Prince Thomas of Savoy as a principality and he freely offers it to the Duke of Parma as a place fit for him bordering upon his estates to receive the aids of France upon occasion and shoulder out the Spaniards from re-entring make himselfe amends by some other acquisition according to the orders of his Majesty of France for it was commonly beleived that by private articles between that crown and the house of Savoy it was agreed that the Prince Thomas should possesse in soverainty whatever he should gain in the Milanese by the joint arms of the French and Saovoyrds as a way not only to encourage him but also to remove Jealousies from the Princes of Italy about the designes of that King which how farre it may be veritable we may guesse farther by the negotiations of the French Minister's at Venice and in particular of Monsieur de Lyonne comming to give account of the breach of the treaty at Castel-Georgio and of the little syncerity of the Ecclesiasticks in those proceedings whereupon he tooke occasion to move them farther to unite their forces and councels with those of France for the totall expulsion of the Spaniards from the Dutchy of Milan with protestation that the most Christian Crown to take away all jealousies from the Princes of Italy contenting it selfe with the only glory and advantage to have beaten their enemies in all places would not appropriate to it selfe one foot of land but would either invest some Italian Prince in it to their common satisfaction or divide it among such Princes of the same province as should partake in the travaile of the enterprise That it would be no hard matter for the powerfull arms of France on the one side and those of that Republick on the other to strike into the heart of that Dutchy upon which resolution his Majesty to shew his most disinteressed good will to the Italian Princes his complices herein would freely engage not only to take his garison out of Casale but also to abandon Pignerol not retaining any thing on that side of the mountains And that they might the better secure themselves of his Majesties royall purposes he offered to leave the entire management and direction of this businesse to the Republick and that the King would concurre in such manner as best might comport with the liking of the Princes of Italy whether by a limited number of soldiers or by sea forces or by powerfull diversions or by aids of mony only which agreement howsoever desirable to the King of France if notwithstanding it should not succeed his Majesty was most determined to make this invasion by himselfe that Republick only guarding its professed neutrality and there to repay himselfd for his own travells as well as he could not admitting afterwards of any conjunction on the same terms now profered These overtures of the King of France assayled the minds of the Senators with various agitations They knew how much themselves and all Italy had enjoyed a calme by the indifferency of their councells and although the Spaniard had been somewhat a sullen Neighbour yet they could not set themselves to expell him without bringing a deluge of bloud and confusion over Italy since the house of Austria would hazard all to their patrimoniall States before they would permit so noble an estate to be dismembred from them nor was it forgotten how deceitfull an ambition it proved to this Republick when they joined with Lewis the 12th of France to the extreame hazzard of themselves and of the liberty of Italy which things might well teach them to adhere to their ancient Maxime to beware of hardy councells and hold themselves only to temperate resolutions Besides that the violent and moody designes of the French proved for the most part fatall to the Italians that joined with them whereof the Republick had a fresh example of this very Kings to second whose Impressions after he had taken the passe of Sura and advanced to raise the siege of Casale then distressed by the Spaniards they had entred with an Army into the Cremonese according to agreement and on a sudden found themselves abandoned to make their own conditions with the Spaniards the King leaving Italy in hast to go stifle the last insurrection of the Hugnenots in Languedoc In fine they held it for their best security that the two crowns should be aequiballanced The Venetians being thus resolved give an answer most expressive of their affectionate disposition and wellwilling towards the interests of France of their ancient observance and devotion to that Crown of their common ends and councells and of their own propension to quietnesse with many other fair words which did not exceed the generall terms of obsequious complementing Notwithstanding the Republick was not free of much anxiety about their answer knowing that great Monarchs will not be paid with empty words and that the King being resolute to passe into Italy they might be like to incurre some hazzard of his amity if they held themselves precisely to the terms of their neutrality But alterations being now like to happen in France they resolved to attend the issues which longer time might produce We are to leave our silken furniture here The Trumpet and the Cannon call us to the other side of the Apennines to the tents there pitched in spite of winter about the avenues of Tortona The Count of Sirvela Governour of Milan having much lost his reputation at the Court of Madrid by loosing of Tortona dispatches a Gentleman of quality thither to make his excuses and then applies himselfe with great instances to the Vice-Roy of Naples for recruits of men and monies at the same time pressing the Milanese to do their utmost efforts on such an occasion as this was to shew their Loyalty to his Majesty of Spain Prince Thomas of Savoy the New Generall of the French forces in Italie was no lesse sensible on the other side of the great importance of this Place to signalize his further services if he could but keep it till the next Campagne and therefore sollicites the Court of France with equall fervency to hasten a supply to him of 3000 foot 1000 Horse with which he might not only hold the Town but the Adjacent Country in subjection but affaires there as before was intimated not having yet found a current Channell foreslowed those recruits so long that the Spaniards were ready before him The Governour of Milan provides first to block the towne at large and then drawes with all his forces towards Casale a jealous piece both to French and Savoyard to make them hold their strength there and not to send them to Tortona which done He sends a party to wast Montferrat and all the Country that was to lie in the Frenches way if they
issue it selfe approved it for at this time they themselves were at no good Terms at Rome in being a part of the league against the Barberini though still they continued their Ministers of state there The Spaniards seeing the French Ambassadour gon from his Residence thought it now a time for them to interpose more vigorously to inflame these disgusts and to forme an union of the Princes of Italy to their Crown as the onely way to effect the depositing of Castro in the hands of the League and exclude the French which were now become jealous to them lest they should get that depositing into their own hands from interesting themselves any further in this Mediation the honour whereof they desired to carry from them to this purpose they sought how to bring themselves and the Pope within the League so modelling the designe of it that they might get the chiefe arbitration both of the difference and deposition propounding that Castro might be put into the hands of the Duke of Savelli the Emperours Ambassadour at Rome till the treatie might be brought to an issue but the Pope and the ligued Princes were too sensible to be drawn by any other motives than those of their proper Interests and the suddain recalling to Rome of the Marquesse of Fontenay by the intercessions of the offices of Venice set on foot new practises and put a new lustre on them by the graciousnesse that ensued on a kind of reconcilement between his Holinesse and the most Christian King which was accompanied with the satisfaction of the Father Mazzarino in being made Master of the Sacred Palace a thing that sweetned all imbitterings for it was thought that the cause of this Father was the very motive how ever palliated that made the Ambassadour shew so high resentment to the end that he might thereby ingratiate the Cardinall his Brother a matter which yet proved a scandall to the Cardinall in France that the pretentions of his Brother should hazzard the interests of the State and the amity of the Pope which also gave him displeasure at them both using his utmost prudence to recompose those differences Our story begin's now to prey upon the last wiek the Oyle of the Kings life is ' ee'n exhausted the vanishing Flame having long wavered about the brims But his declining makes the severall Ministers gather as much authority as they could within the folds of their respective Robes whereby they could not misse of some such Rent as put Hortensius to a suit in Law when they encountred one another in passages too strait for them The Parliament is jealous of the Ministers of State and these of the Princes of the Blood since they saw the Queen the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde close together and likely to bear before them the entire management of affaires which in all probability would ruin the Creatures and dependences of the late RICHELIEU that held themselves yet at the height of their Fortune in the King's favour And these apprehensions wrought so intemperately with the Secretary de Noyers that at last it procured his dismission For the King now imploying his best thought 's and advise with his Councellours about the framing of His Will and leaving a sure estate to His Infant-Heir Monsieur de Noyers was in many points of a different opinion from the others pretending to regulate too much with His Conceipts whether by his proper inclination or adhering to the Maximes of the late Cardinall whose great Confident he hâ—d bin especially in the great businesse of excluding the Duke of Orleans from the Government and nominating the Persons of the Councill This rendered his employment the lesse desirable to the other States-Masters which still applyed themselves to clear his Majestie of prejudices conceiv'd against the said Duke and of the ill consequence that was likely to ensue upon any division of the Royall house Nor did it a litle contribute to the laying aside of this Instrument that he was so zealous against the Protestants ever traversing the aids of Germany which the Cardinall Mazzarini procured with great Ardour as a most important interest of the Crown discovering also the like aversnesse to the Huguenots insomuch that it was reported he should one day tell the Mareschal de Chastillon that when he was to signe any thing in favour of his Sect it seem'd to him as if he were to gash his own hand But above all His importunacy with the King was the greatest maturer of his downfall he taking upon him to use as his Master Richelieu had done and in case he found not that Countenance which he desired to demand retirement a thing which the other would do with great art knowing the necessity which the King had of his Services But of Noyers his ill successe in this way we may see at one instance how he came to knock off from his attendance He had the office of Receiver Generall of the rate of Subsistance an Imposition laid at first with exemption of the payers from quartering of Souldiers but since made as the other ordinary Tallies of which he dispos'd at his own discretion making no accompt to any other It came to the King's eare that this Subsistance the year before was ill dispensed and onely to the friends and kindred of the Foresaid Noyers whereupon the King take's occasion to ask him on what he had expended those sums which passed through his hands for the service of the War and of which he used to render no Accompt T is a certain Revenge on our own ill humour to think amisse of Him that we depend on or entertain any Umbrage that he dislikes us or is mistaken in our good intentions for commonly such a passion is apt to fennow and so to mantle in its sowernesse that one cannot afterward restore it to that Object Noyers who had either made or phancied the King's Countenance to be not so good as usually towards Him tooke this word for a signe of diffidence and so answered that he had ready in his Cabinet a Book of all Expences made by him and then let himselfe lavish in expressions that since his hard fortune did now render him suspected after a service of so many years uninteressed 't were better that his Majesty would permit him to render his charge to some other that might be more fortunate since neither could a Prince satisfy himselfe in a Servant whom he distrusted nor such a Servant enjoy any quiet that knew his integrity to be doubted of T was thought that Noyers was the more bold in venting this Passion presuming that his two Confidents as he presumed the Cardinall Mazzarini and the Secretary dè Chauvigny would sufficiently secure Him from having this request easily granted but his Majestie hereupon discover'd such displeasure that Monsieur de Chauvigny first withdrew him handsomely from the King's bed and then from his Chamber perswading him to consider and not to precipitate with himselfe but give
will which was to this effect That although it had pleased God to bestow admirable successes on him through the whole course of his raign yet now in the middle of his prosperities he had also put him in mind of his frailty by a languishing disease whereof howsoever there were good hope of his recovering notwithstanding because the judgments of men most experienced are fallible in these cases he thought himselfe oblieged to provide for the peace of his Kingdome when he was gone That he judged the best way to obtain this end and to disappoint the projects of the enemies of France to be the uniting of all the royall family with one Spirit to maintain the present state of his Crown which would be also a great tie to his confederates to adhere to the interesses of France when they shall find it governed by the same maximes that had hitherto upheld its grandeur To execute which designes he thought no course more expedient then that which the King 's his predecessors had taken on the like occasions who judged that the regency of the Kingdome and education of the minor Kings could not be better placed then on the persons of their Queen Mothers and therfore that he did ordain that in case his death should ensue before the Dauphin should enter on the fourteenth year of his age or in case that the Dauphin should die before the Majority of his second Sonne the Duke of Anjou his dearest spouse and consort the Queen Mother of his foresaid children should be Regent of France and have the education of them during their minority together with the administration of the government of the Kingdome during his nonage that should be King with the advise of her councell in manner hereafter following And in case the said Queen after his death and during her Regency should be in danger of finishing her daies he ordained that she should provide with the advise of her Councell herein specified for the Regency and government for the time And to testifie to his dear and beloved Brother the Duke of Orleans that nothing hath been able to diminish the Love that he hath ever borne him he ordained him Lieutenant Generall of the non-aged King and to exercise the said charge in all the provinces in the Kingdome under the authority of the Queen Regent and of the Councell and this notwithstanding the declaration registred against him in the Court of Parliament onely declaring that if he in any wise shall contravene this establishment he remain ipso facto deprived of this charge That although from the wisdome piety and vertue of the Queen he might well promise himselfe a happy government of his state yet considering the weight of such a charge and the impossibility of her taking cognisance of all affairs necessary that he thought fit to establish a councell of the Regency to assist her by whose judgments and authority the great and weighty affairs of State should be examined and resolved by plurality of Voices to compose which Councell he thought he could not make better election for Ministers of State then of his dear and beloved Cosins the Prince of Condè and the Cardinall Mazzarini of his trustie and well beloved the Lord de Seguier Chancellour of France and keeper of the seals the Lord de Bouttiglier Surintendant of his finances and the Lord de Chauvigni Secretarie of State and of his Commandments He ordained also that the Duke of Orleans and in his absence the Prince of Condè or Cardinall Mazzarini should be chiefe of the Councill and if any place should become void that the Queen should supply it by advise of the Councell and all other important charges of the Kingdome to be so disposed by plurality of votes Only for all Ecclesiasticall preferments which belonged to his nomination he left the providing for their supply to the Queen and the Cardinall Mazzarini of whose worthy discharging this trust he had good reason to rest most assured by the eminent proofs which he had had of the faithfulnesse and great sufficiency of the person In fine he ordained that the Queen and the Duke of Orleans should swear in the presence of him and of the Princes of the Blood with the other Princes Dukes Peers Mareschals of France and Officers of the Crowne to keep and observe the Contents of the present declaration without any manner of Contravention Which was accordingly subscribed and sworne at the same instant by the Queen and Duke of Orleans and sealed before the rest and accordingly next day ratified in the Parliament in presence of the Duke of Orleans the Prince of Condè and the other Princes and Officers Given at S. Germans in the month of April 1643. and of his raign the 33. Which declaration being read the King gave free liberty to all the exiles of the Court or State against whom no Sentence had been given to make their return and commanded corriers to be sent to some more remote that they might have timely notice and his Majesty had content before his death to receive the Duke of Vendosma the Mareschaux de Bassompierre and d' Estree and divers others into his grace If a man might be politique before the proofe of events this act of State might be a subject of strange descantings but if we can content our selves with such conjectures as best please us till the Regency begin to take place we may better guesse at the true interests of the parties concerned by this deed of the true interest of the Crown His majesty having now freed his thoughts of this care tooke pleasure to order a private ceremony in the chappell of S. Germans appointing the baptisme of the Dâ—uphin by the name of Lovis and the Princes of Condè with the Cardinall Mazzarini on whom the King would conferre this honour as he himselfe said to oblige him the more streightly to serve the King and the Crown to present him to the font that so with the powerfull cords of interest he might as much as in him lay twist an artificiall kind of nature making him the Compater or Spirituall Father of that Prince in the forming of whose youth he might now seem to claime a priviledg with the Queen To both which and to all his other officers and nobles having so effectually recommended his State and childrem what more could remain to such a Prince but to die in the arms of that Honour that had ever lived with him and to deserve those characters in which a terser pen then mine ha's designed him And so I leave him in the way to his funerall pomp which a while after followed with great Solemnity 〈◊〉 Errata quod sic corr. Pag. 2. lin. 4. for interestly read interests p. 12. l. 13 for Cardinall r. Cardinals p. 17. l. ult. for conspiracies r conspiracy p. 35. l. 4. for returne r. resume p. 39. l. 16. for league also r. league also p. 41. l. 8. for Bichitill r. Bichi till and l. 19. for shiâ—h r. which and l. 22 for with r. sith p. 43. l. 9. for they r. these viz Barberini p. 45. l. 4. for desiderable r. desirable p. 66. l. 8. blot out the at the end of the line and put in Felix p. 70. l. 9. for Guiâ—k r. Guiche p. 76. l. 9. for Sura r. Suza p. 81. l. 8. for Navarrese r. Novarrese and l. 12 for Gonzago r. Gonzaga and l. 13. for Taracena r. Caracena c.