delivered out of the Precipice which through her own Neglect she is fallen into instead of doing her utmost to assist Count Harcourt in the Execution of a Design in which she is principally concern'd and to reinforce him with fresh Troops she not only took away those which were maintained at the King's Expence and which she was promised should be drawn off assoon as they had received the King's Money This Negligence affects me so sensibly that I confess I am out of Patience and I cannot tell what Opinion to have of Madam's Intentions after such an extravagant Trick I conjure you to represent to her the Prejudice she does to the general Affairs and to her own in particular by that ill Conduct which is enough either to ruine the Enterprize of Turin or at least to give this Advantage to the Enemy to take another Place without much Resistance while the King's Army shall regain with much Difficulty that which others have lost because they would not keep it Monsieur de Chavigny writes so fully in Cyphers upon the Subject of your Express that nothing remains but to conjure you to solicit Madam to do that which Reason and the Necessity of her Affairs together ought to have made her have already done that if she persevere to neglect her own Advantage the King will take his as Reason and the Publick Good shall require In the mean time be assured that I am c. LETTER CCXXXCVII To the Prince of Orange SIR MOnsieur d'Estrade will acquaint you what past with us in the business of Monsieur Bouillon in which your Highness's Intervention could not make for his Assistance He will tell you also how I acknowledge those advantageous Sentiments you had relating to my Sickness and of the Troubles some turbulent Spirits would have given to his Majesty's Affairs I want Words to express my Gratitude for the Favour you have done me on those Occasions but I desire you to believe that I will omit none to shew you by the Effects that I really am c. LETTER CCXXXVIII To James King of England Concerning the Marriage of the P. of Wales SIR THis is not the first time that I am sensible that great Kings often conceive things according to their great Qualities and not as they are in themselves that they magnifie mean things by the Esteem they have of them and those whom they honour by their Benevolence cannot be inconsiderable The Letter with which your Majesty was pleased to honour me confirms me in this Truth because it lets me see that I have so much Merit in your Esteem as in effect I have Admiration of those great and rare Qualities which are in you They are Sir so shining that if by the knowledge of them I have no Advantage above the rest of the World who may be ignorant of them yet at least I am assured that few admire them so much and none can do it more than I. Respect has always induced me in the Service of the King my Master to answer your Majesty's Expectation in accomplishing the happy Alliance projected betwixt the two Crowns It was no difficult thing for I satisfy'd my Desire and did my Duty at the same time Because that as on one side the King never thought but of proper Conditions to give you an opportunity to oblige the Hearts of your Catholick Subjects with new Chains which you have already gain'd your Majesty on your part hath of your own accord granted that which being desired for their Good was also principally for your Advantage If they receive much Favour from your Majesty you will thereby gain a Glory the more inestimable because it will be eternal It is a thing Sir not to be at all doubted of because that as the first Water of a running Stream is sufficient to let us know that its Channel is not stopt so it is enough to know that your Majesty whose Bounty is inexhaustible hath once engaged to be gracious to your Subjects to be assured that they will receive continual Effects of your Benevolence and consequently your Majesty will more closely unite those Hearts which are already yours Heaven without whose Concurrence nothing can attain to Perfection hearing the Prayers of so many Creatures who depend upon your Majesty will unite those two Monarchies with an indissolvable Knot that as their joint Forces have formerly made the Levant tremble so they will now strike Terrour in all their Enemies and dissipate all the Efforts of those who desire to hinder that Happiness that they may effect in Christendom I beg it of God with all my Heart and that he would bestow upon your Majesty all those Blessings which such singular Qualities which concur in your Person deserve I am eternally c. LETTER CCXXXIX To the Prince of Wales SIR THE Letter which your Highness was pleased to honour me with is a Favour which transcends all the Bounds of my Gratitude and for want of Words be pleased to let me preserve in my Soul a lively Sentiment of this Obligation In the mean time that I may not be ingrateful I every where proclaim those Great and Royal Qualities which shew that the Excellency of your Wit is equal to your illustrious Birth With this Sence my Lord I shall in some sort do my Duty but not according to my Desire which in matters relating to you can have no Bounds If God had given me all those Qualifications which your Highness believes are in me I should esteem myself very happy to employ them in your Service to acquire your good Grace which I will merit by the Obedience I will pay to your Commands I am c. LETTER CCXL To the Queen of England MADAM BEing inform'd by Mr. Montague of the great Desire your Majesty has of a strict Union of those two Crowns I have so much the more endeavoured to add weight to those Proposals which he has made that he may let you particularly know what was done about them and with what Sincerity the King was pleased to receive them and gave them a favourable Answer according to your Desire As for me beside the Zeal which I have for your Majesty's Service the particular Esteem which I have for your Person and the noble Qualities of the King your Husband and the Respect I have for them make me that I never omit any thing which depends on me for your Satisfaction which I am assur'd Mr. Montague will not fail to let you know And as it is a matter of importance that the King your Husband be pleased to send hither an agreeable Embassadour being certain that many things are frequently spoiled or advanced according as the Ministers who manage them are ill or well received by the Princes with whom they are concern'd I presume to beseech your Majesty to weigh those Considerations because they have no other Design but to promote your Service which shall always be so particularly considered by me that you shall be
without us as things are now If it be a Contempt to suffer Prejudice that we may do another a Kindness we despise our Alliances and which is more we are resolv'd to despise 'em in that manner to the end that by that Contempt we may give 'em all the Cause imaginable not of Complaint but of Content and Satisfaction It appears from hence that our Confederates have all the reason in the World to be satisfied with us and now let us see whether we can satisfie those who are discontented at our Expences The good Husbandry of the deceased King's Treasury left us when he was taken from us Five millions in the Basteille and in the hands of the Treasurer of the Exchequer between seven and eight millions more which he had appointed for the payment of the Army which he had rais'd with an intention to have enlarg'd the Bounds of his Fame which could admit of no other than the Limits of the Universe But the Uncertainty wherein that fatal Accident plung'd us requiring that we should secure our affairs by the counterpoise of a considerable strength we were constrain'd to employ one part of those Finances toward the maintaining for some months a great number of Soldiers that had been raised before so that the said Expence the King's Funeral Charges and the Coronation of the Queen in a short time very much lessened the reserve After the death of that great Prince who was the true Pattern of Government it was impossible to prevent Disorders from growing to such a head while several measuring their Merits by their Ambition were not asham'd to demand and importunately to sollicit where they durst not so much as wish for during the King's Life But they made their Advantage of the Necessity of the Times they offer'd their Service they boast their Abilities to serve or otherwise to do mischief and at length clearly show that they will not be brought to their Duties but upon advantageous Conditions behaving themselves in such a manner that they themselves who had assisted the King in hoarding up his mony advise the Queen to comply with the Times by opening her hands and giving largely to every body In pursuance of this Counsel she augments the Pensions and Maintenances of the Princes Lords and old Servants she gives 'em new ones she augments the Garrisons of their Towns as well for the satisfaction of those that kept 'em as for the security of the Kingdom and keeps in Pay more Soldiers than she was accustom'd to do The augmentation of these Pensions one with another amounted to three millions every year The Roll of the Light Horse and Regiments in Pay is now at Three millions and three hundred thousand Livres whereas in the year 1600 they were no more than Fifteen hundred thousand Livres She bestowed a great number of Presents and so by Advice and Counsel without encreasing her Receipt but decreasing it Two millions and Five hundred thousand Livres upon the Salt every year she encreased her Expences to that degree that upon an exact examination of it and considering the Condition to which we are reduced by so many necessary Expences we are rather to be commended than blamed for being at so great a charge Monsieur the Prince in six years received Three millions six hundred and sixty thousand Livres Monsieur and Madam the Princess of Conti above Fourteen hundred thousand Livres Monsieur de Guise near Seventeen hundred thousand Livres Monsieur de Nevers Sixteen hundred thousand Livres M. de Langueville Twelve hundred thousand Livres Messieurs de Mayenne Father and Son Two millions and odd thousand Livres M. de Vendosm near Six hundred thousand Livres M. d'Espernon and his Children near Seventeen hundred thousand Livres and M. de Bouillon near a million of Livres All the Marshals of France whose number is encreased above half in half received four times as much as they had before their Pensions being augmented to 24000 Livres apiece within six years for every one to 144000 Livres and for eight as they were always wont to be one with another to One million one hundred fifty two thousand Livres Six other Dukes or Officers of the Crown received the same Gratification amounting in six Years to Eight hundred sixty four thousand Livres By this it is easie to see how the Treasure of France was exhausted seeing that eleven or twelve Articles in favour of the Grandees of the Kingdom amount to near seventeen millions not including their Salaries and the Fees belonging to their Employments besides the encrease of Pay for their â—roops of Gens d'Arms the Extraordinaries of War for the Garrisons of their Towns nor reckoning in the last place the Troubles occasion'd by some of 'em Troubles which having three times caused us to betake our selves to Arms have put us to the Charges of Twenty millions in extraordinary expences These things being consider'd can their Majesties be accused of wasting their Treasure must it not be clearly acknowledg'd that if France be in Debt 't is by reason of the Expences she has been constrain'd to be at for her own Children If they who are mentioned have received so many Benefits what have others done They were not remiss either in begging or receiving By consequence the publick Exigencies having constrained the giving not only to those that serv'd us but also to be liberal to the greatest part of those that begged of 'em as it appears by this that the encrease of Pensions concerning which we have spoken in general those of the Princes and Lords being deducted amounts for the last six Years since the King's death to seventeen millions those of the Soldiers in pay to above nine millions and the Gifts bestowed to one or other not to speak of those presented to the Grandees above mentioned to Sums almost incredible If the deceased King who was at liberty to be sparing in his expences because of his absolute Authority could not in ten years of uninterrupted Peace hoard up besides the payment of some Debts above thirteen or fourteen millions can it be a Wonder that in six years of continual Trouble wherein the weakness or misfortune of the times obliged us to have our Hands continually open we should be somewhat in Debt No body ever did so much with so little in so much time never did Vessel resist so great a Tempest with so few Wrecks as were observ'd in ours After this exact account of Expences who will not acknowledge the Blindness and Passion of those who impute the miseries and necessities of this Kingdom to the advancement of some Foreigners Who will not acknowledge that such People blame a Government which is not to be found fault with That they complain when there is no occasion that they condemn Expences which they know in their Consciences were made for their sakes 'T is no strange thing that a Foreigner should make his Fortune out of his Country that in this Kingdom such persons may be advanced
the sight of all the World and especially in the promotions of Cardinals in which some things having been wanting in his Predecessor he hopes they will be repair'd and mended by the Prudence and Goodness of his Holiness as indeed it would be might the two Persons heretofore recommend viz. the Bishop of Lusson and the Archbishop of Lyons be included in the same promotion according to the request already made to his Holiness about it in his Majesty's Name by the Cardinal de Sourdis But the said Commandore is no otherwise to insist upon it for fear of Engaging the King's Dignity too far again in case of a refusal which is apparent enough and that he will grant but one to his Majesty in the next Promotion in which case he desires it may be the said Bishop of Lusson to gratify the Queen his Mothers desire who behaves her self so well towards him that he will be glad of any occasions to pleasure and oblige her His Holiness seems to be in Expectation of other Vacancies to favour Princes with if not he must but slightly intreat him to advance the said Promotion in respect to the affection his Majesty bears to the said Queen his Mother The Marquiss de Caeuvres had orders gently to sound the intention of the late Pope on this subject in favour of Monsieur de Mets his Natural Brother but as he took special care not to press it in his Majesty's Name for fear of exposing him to an absolute refusal the said Commandore is to follow the same Method in not making the like propositions for the Future without first giving notice thereof in order to receive his Majesty's further Commands about it Who wishes his Holiness a long Pontificat for the advantage and honour of the Church of God and the Publick Good But whereas his Beatitude is of a pretty weak Constitution and like others subject to the Common Law if any mischance should happen to his Person during the said Commandore's residence at Rome in case he could not have time to receive his Majesty's more precise Orders on this Subject he thinks fit to acquaint him that he has no other desire than to see that supreme Dignity supply'd by a Person knowing in all things the Office and Duty of a common Father without any Affection Interest or Partiality but for the common good of all and general Concord This is to serve as a rule for the said Commandore without prescribing any thing more particularly to him in this case which depends more from the Holy Ghost than from the will or affections of Men. Nevertheless as far as humanly may be done it is his Majesty's desire that it may be a subject born on the Territorys belonging to the Church so that all suspicions being remov'd all Christians Princes and States may make their applications there with more confidence and freedom upon all those occasions which occur so frequently in the World in which their Dignities and Qualifications rever'd by all men have always been of great Weight and have often supply'd the defects of the Parties to bring them to reason Which when it shall happen the said Commandore is to consult with the said Cardinals and other Persons well affected to the service of France and he is to use such care and diligence therein to the utmost of his Power as may shew that his Majesty considers no interest therein but that in which God and the publick is concern'd Nevertheless foreseeing all Accidents as much as in him lies and in those that serve the King he is to project his design at a distance and with secrecy for it would prove prejudicial being divulg'd And whereas tho' it is usual and expedient to mind the present yet it would be imprudent to neglect the other parts since His Majesty has no other End or Interest but the publick Good Therefore as the said Commandore by his Conduct and Behaviour towards the Pope and Cardinal Ludovisio is to give them all the Reason imaginable to commend His Majesty's Intentions and to make use of all Occasions that may occurr so he is likewise as much as Discretion and Interest will permit him to manage the Good Will of Cardinal Borghese and his Faction but with so much Address and Temper that the present Government may take no Umbrage thereat in such a manner nevertheless that both he and his said Faction may have reason to hope His Majesty's Protection and Favour in case of Need. His Majesty's Ambassadors and his Ministers elsewhere have always taken care of what relates to the Interests and Affairs of the Religion of Maltha who has had Recourse to His Majesty's Authority in time of need he having also receiv'd several good Offices and Services from the present Great Master in Matters concerning his Subjects Therefore His Majesty enjoins him to continue his said Assistance and Care for them if needful His Majesty being persuaded that the said Commandore by his Profession of the said Order as well as by his Command will effectually fulfil the same His Majesty is inform'd that a certain League has been propos'd at Rome between the Princes of Italy under pretence of preserving the Catholick Religion and of hindering the Coming in of Hereticks but in effect under this Colour to invade their Liberties it being very evident that the said Overture was only made to obstruct the Deliverance of Vatlelina and of the Grisons from the Oppressions impos'd upon them And therefore the Republick of Venice has rejected the said Propositions perceiving the Drift of those that have made it neither is it like to succeed The said Commandore is to keep an Eye over it that in case the like Occasion shou'd offer it self during his Embassy he may prevent the Effect of it as prejudicial to the Safety of the Princes of Italy and artificially varnish'd to â—ull them asleep insensibly and to surprise them The King is very sorry that the Pensions given to some Cardinals and Prelates at Rome have not been paid better of late which has been occasion'd by the Troubles of the Kingdom and the immence Charge His Hajesty has been at But particular Care will be taken for the future for the Payment thereof which the said Commandore may give them full Assurances of that they may have the better Encouragement and Reason to persevere in the Affection they express for His Majesty's Service in order to make use of it according as Occasions shall offer themselves Cardinal Bentivoglio as the Person in whom His Majesty confides most and who is well acquainted with the Affairs of Rome and the Affection of those that espouse the Interests of France will give the said Commandore a particular Account thereof that he may regulate himself accordingly and be able to distinguish the one from the other He is to express His Majesty's Satisfaction to him for his Services and that he knows he has been cross'd in them by powerful Adversaries to prejudice him but that
he must endeavour to overcome those Obstacles by his good Conduct and by getting as much Credit in the Palace as he can to render his Talent the more profitable to the King and to destroy the malicious Reports that have been spread to his Prejudice Cardinal de Sourdis and he will acquaint him on what Terms the Affair between those of the Congregation of St. Lewis and the Fathers of the Oratory stands in order to apply such Remedies and Moderation as will be requisite in the Case jointly with them for His Majesty's Service and Satisfaction who is very well satisfied that those of Savoy and Lorrain have obstructed the Execution thereof The said Commandore is to take care to have the same remedy'd speedily by His Majesty's Authority And not to enter any further into several trivial Affairs which do not deserve being inserted in an Instruction He shall be inform'd there on what Terms they stand and shall behave himself therein according to the Time and Occasions to the best of his power And for as much as the good Fathers Minimes of the Trinity of the Mount have always been recommended to His Majesty's Ambassadors in order to their being preserv'd in the Purity of Life they have chosen and continued with great Praise and that none but those of the French Nation may be receiv'd in the said Monastery into which some Foreigners have slip'd heretofore who were not rightly qualified for the same the said Commandore is to take a particular Care of them He is often to visit the Cardinals of the sacred Colledge in the usual manner and is to be very careful to give each of them assurances of his Majesty's Favour according to the degree of their affection for the King's affairs which he shall be acquainted with by those of Sourdis and of Bentivoglio in order to confirm the Votaries of France in their Devotion and to endeavour by good Offices and Courtesies according to their Dignity to encrease their Number There has been some disorder of late in the Taxes of Benefices which has somewhat burthen'd his Majesty's Subjects the said Commandore is to conferr with those that are intelligent in those affairs about means to redress the same making use of his Majesty's Name and Credit according as he shall think it convenient As this Embassy has ever been look'd upon as the most honourable and most considerable in respect to his Majesty's Reputation and the wellfare of his Affairs as it is the first in Rank so his Majesty is fully persuaded that the said Commandore's Conduct will produce Effects resulting to the Grandeur of his Royal Name the Publick Good and his Holinesses Satisfaction by his deportment which he is to make as acceptable as can be preserving what is due to his Majesty's Dignity that he may have as much cause to commend the said Commandore's Services as the choice he has made of his Person for the knowledge he has of his past Actions and to reward him for the same to his Satisfaction Done at Paris the 18th of March 1622. Sign'd Lewis and Lower Brulart Cant given to the said Ambassador ROME GARDEN The Pope The Rose Cardinal Ludovisio The Carnation Cardinal Borghese The Pensy Cardinal Aldobrandin The Jasmin Cardinal of Savoy The Lawrel Cardinal Montalto The Cypress Cardinal de Sourdis The Peach Tree Cardinal Vincenzo The Quince Tree Cardinal de la Rochefoucaud The Pear Tree Cardinal de Rets The Plum Tree Cardinal de la Valette The Apple Tree Cardinal Bentivoglio The Abricot Tree Cardinal Bevilaqua The Cherry Tree Cardinal Barberini The Griotier or Sowre Cherry Tree Cardinal Ubaldini The Lote or Nettle Tree Cardinal Bandinis The Dazy Cardinal Medicis The May Blossom Cardinal Mellini The Orange Tree Cardinal St. Susanna The Lemon Tree Cardinal Verrallo The Fig Tree Cardinal Ara-caeli The Thym Plant. Cardinal Ursini The Marjorum Plant. Cardinal Campora The Lettuce Plant. Cardinal Esti The Bugloss Plant. Cardinal Savelli The Borage Plant. The Great Duke The Amaranth The Great Dutchess The Vine The Arch Dutchy The Grape The Bishop of Mantua The Wallnut Tree The Seignory of Venice The Almond Tree The Governor of Milan The White Thorn The Republick of Genoa The Linden Tree The Duke of Savoy The Tulip The Prince of Piedmont The Wind Flower The Duke of Mantua The Sauge Plant. The Emperor The Courser The King of Spain The â—arbe The Arch Duke Leopold The Sorrel Horse The Infanta of Flanders The Pad Count Olwarez The Dapple Gray Horse D. Balthazar de Cuniga The Dun Horse Germany The Stable Spain The Manger Flanders The Rack England The Fork The King of Great Britain The Groom The Prince of Wales The Little Nag The Elector Palatin The Curtall or middle siz'd Horse The Duke of Bavaria The War Horse The Duke of Lorrain The Sumpter Horse The Switzers The Stirrops The Grisons The Spurs Valtelina The Saddle Catholicks The Boots Protestants The Reins The Nuncio of France The Bit. The Nuncio of Switzerland The Bridle The Vice Legat of Avignon The Horse Cloth The Bishop of Lusson The Switch The Arch-Bishop of Lyons The Master of the Horse Monsieur de Villiers The Page Monsieur Marini The Manege The King's Ambassadors in Switzerland The Pillars Le Sieur Eschinard The List Le Sieur Rabi The Ring Secretary le Fevre The Launce Seignior Pol Fiesco The Career Seignior Frangipani The Pike Monsieur Ruccellai The Musket France Building The King Pedestal The Queen The Cornish The Queen Mother The Door The Duke of Orleans The Window Madam the King's Sister The Room The Prince of Conde The Hall Count de Soissons The Garret Monsieur de Guise The Yard The Prince of Joynville The Chimney The Duke of Longueville The Table The Duke of Vendosme The Chair The Duke of Nemours The Bench. The Duke d' Elbeuf The Bed Count St. Paul The Side-board Monsieur d' Angoulesme The Cabinet Monsieur d' Espernon The Carpet Monsieur de Montmorency The Chevron or Rafter Monsieur d'Esdiguieres The Beam Monsieur de Crequy The Boarding Monsieur de Schomberg The Window Frame or Cross Work Monsieur de Bassompierre The Small Pinacle The Marquiss de Couvres The Stair case The Commander de Sillery The Tabernacle Pavillon The Chancelor de Sillery The Chaplain Monsieur de Puysieux The Oratory or Private Chappe Madam de Puysieux The Chappe Monsieur de Marais The Priest Monsieur de Bellievre The Clerk Monsieur de Valencay The Choirist or Querister The Bishop of Chartres The Chanter The Chevalier de Valencay The Novice Monsieur de Berny The Deacon Monsieur de Leon. The Accolite or Boy that Ministers at Mass The Lord Keeper The Fire Lock Monsieur de Gesvre The Murrian or head piece Monsi de la Ville-aux-cleres The Sword Monsieur d'Herbault The Pertizan Monsieur de Beaumarchais The Holbard Monsieur Morant The Pistol Pensions of Rome The Balls The Duke Sforza The Powder The Duke de S. Gemini The Carabine Memoire for the
Precedency of Cardinals in the King's Council collected by Cardinal de Richelieu MDCXXII From M. du Puy 's Study M.S. 478. THERE is no account to be given of the Treatment Cardinals receive in all other Kingdoms where Kings give them the Precedency before all others whatever But France having peculiar Laws to which it is reasonable to submit they pretend to no more there than what they have had for the time past and I am persuaded that the World will commend their Modesty if they consider that they freely suffer some diminution of the first rank they have had out of respect to the Blood of their Majestys In the Year 1467. at the Estates of Tours Cardinal Balue was seated on the King's Right Hand and Rene King of Sicilly Prince of the Blood on the left In 1493. du Tillet Reports That the King sitting in his Parliament the Cardinal of Lyons was seated immediately after the Dukes of Orleans and of Burgundy the King's Brothers and after him the Counts d' Angoulesme and de Montpencier Princes of the Blood The Possession of this Rank has been so clear that du Tillet says in express Terms that the Quality of a Cardinal is such that he preceeds all the Princes of the Blood after the second Person The first contest between the Princes of the Blood and the Cardinals happen'd under Charles the 9th not between a lay Prince of the Blood but between the Cardinal of Bourbon and the Cardinal of Lorrain The Cardinal of Lorrain was the most Ancient and was seated in the Council above the other without any Contestation They became Enemies and it was fear'd that the Princes of the House of Lorrain would become too great in the State Therefore in order to Temper and Humble the said House the precedence was given to the Cardinal of Bourbon after his having declar'd that he only pretended that Rank in the Council upon the account of the interest those of the Blood have in the State above others Since that time there have been disputes sometimes between the Princes of the Blood and the Cardinals in the Council But without the least Contradiction the Cardinals have always preceeded all others And it would be without the least ground or reason should any Constable or Chancelor pretend to dispute the said Rank with a Cardinal since they have ever been preceeded by Persons who do not dispute it with the Cardinals Du Tillet reports pag. 439. in a Sessions of Parliament That the Constable was seated after the Dukes of Guise d' Aumalle and Vaudemont In another Sessions under Henry the 2d after the Duke of Guise In another Sessions under the said Henry after the Dukes of Guise and Aumalle And yet in another after the Dukes of Guâ—se and of Nivernois He also says elsewhere in express words That the Prelates are after the Constables or Chancellors unless they are Princes or Cardinals Under Henry the 2d the Constable Anne de Montmorency was Favourite He did not love the Cardinal of Lorrain and yet he never thought of disputing his Rank Since the Cardinal of Lenoncourt has always been seated in the King's Council above the Lord Keeper officiating the place of Chancelor At the Declaration of the Queen's Regency in the Parliament held in the Monastery of the Augustin Fryars the Constable of Montmorency seated himself after the Cardinals of Joyeuse Sourdis and du Perron And no Constable or Chancellor ever had that thought except Monsieur de Sillery who imparting his Ambition to the Constable induc'd him to aspire to it All the Ancients of the Council remember to have seen Monsieur de Guise seated above Monsieur de Sillery and on the same side with him The Queen remembers to have seen the Cardinal of Joyeuse seated there and formerly the Cardinal of Sourdis She also remembers he complain'd to her one day that the Chancellor endeavudr'd to break up the Council to incroach that place The Expedient propos'd by the said Chancellor was That there should be one Side of the Dignities on which the Children of France the Princes of the Blood and other Princes Dukes and Peers should be seated consecutively And another Side of the Officers on which the Constable Chancellor Mareschals of France and other Officers should be plac'd And foreseeing that this would be look'd upon as a great Absurdity since by this Means he would be seated sometimes above the Children of France Princes of the Blood or Cardinals he propos'd the making a Declaration which setling the two Sides of Dignities and of Offices should at the same time express that the Second Place on the Side of the Dignities should be Nobler than the First Place on the Side of the Officers This Proposition destroys it self evidently seeing that not only Kings but even God himself cannot make the Vale of a Hill to be the Top thereof nor the Feet of a Man to be higher than his Head So that in reality whatever Subtlity was us'd the Chancellor had a mind to precede those who in Reason have always preceded him since the Second Person of the Right Side would not have been so nobly seated as the First on the Left This Design was openly to settle a perpetual Precedency in the King's Council by the Chancellor like unto that of the First President of the Parliament who has a certain fix'd Seat which he does not so much as yield to the Princes of the Blood This would be of very ill Consequence in the Council for several Reasons easily thought on No body can be ignorant of the End of this Pretension if they consider that the Jealousie of keeping this regulated Place has often induced the Chancellor His Majesty being absent from the Council to give the King 's own Place to qualify'd Persons which was never done before rather than quit his own Therefore the King has wisely condemn'd the said Pretension as being very prejudicial and given the First Place of his Council in which the Prince of Conde sits when he is there to the Cardinal de la Roch-foucaulâ— declaring that the said Prince coming the said Cardinal should remove to the other Side which is the Second Place And thus the Chancellor was absolutely depriv'd of the Advantage he expected by this Proposition which is the same that is continu'd at present contrary to the Judgment the King was pleas'd to give at that time Should any thing be alter'd about this Pretension at present it would be as unjust whatever Retrenchments were made as it was in the whole since it is evident by the Examples above-mention'd that the Cardinals have never yielded to any but the Princes of the Blood for the Reasons abovesaid which can only be of force in relation to them and consequently that next to them they ought to possess the first Places and of Course theirs in their Absence That the noblest Places have always been look'd upon to be those that are the first on the two Sides opposite to
each other and thus successively Du Tillet shews us by the following Words The Difficulty is when the Prâ—laâ—es are mix'd and not by themselves viz. to the Left or Right The first Rank due to them must be understood next to the Queen and the Children of France both Princes and Princesses It is most certain that all the Members of the King's Council keep their Rank according to the Dignity by which they possess that Place Since then Cardinals in all places precede those who at this time dispute the Precedence with them in the Council undoubtly their Pretension is unjust The Cardinals have always had a free Entrance into the King's Council with the Rank due to their Dignity And those who are acquainted with History cannot be ignorant that it is not so with Chancellors who have only been admitted there since a certain Time None of the Chancellors before Monsieur de Sillery were ever admitted to the Secret Council or to that of the Direction of the Finances And the Ancients of the Council know and can testifie that Messieurs de Chiverny and de Bellievre were not of the Council of the said Affairs nor of the Finances unless when on some extraordinary Occasions the late King sent for them thither To what End should an Innovation be made in a most Christian Kingdom under a most Just and most Pious King contrary to what has already been adjudg'd An Innovation to the prejudice of the Church of which he is the Eldest Son and that only to satisfie the Passion of one particular Person If the thing in question were to dispute a Point in which neither of the Parties contending had any Right the Cardinals then ought to be preferr'd How then can that be disputed which they are in possession of and they be depriv'd of that which belongs to them to give it to those who have no Title to it but their Pretension If that Overture were receiv'd one might henceforward pretend all to obtain part which would be a thing of very ill Consequence since no Man hereafter could be certain of any thing though lawfully his An ACT concerning the Precedence of one of the Cardinals in the Council above the Constable MDCXXIV THis Day being the 9th of May 1624. the King being at Compiegne after having heard the Duke de l' Esdiguieres Peer and Constable of France in his Remonstrances about the Seats in Council against the Cardinals his Majesty was pleas'd to admit into the same and taken his Reasons into serious Consideration His Majesty was pleas'd to command him to yield that which he did pretend to at the most earnest Entreaty of the Queen his Mother on Condition that it should not serve as a President against him or any of his Successors in the Constableship and that only to one of the said Cardinals Whereof His Majesty the Marquis de la Vieuville Knight of his Order and Superintendent of his Fiances and du Hallier also Knight of his said Order and Captain of his Guards being present and Witnesses to these Presents has order'd this Act to be drawn by us his Counsellors Secretaries of State and of his Commands who were present at the whole Action Sign'd de Lomenie and Potier Instructions for the Sieurs de Chastillon and de Breze Mareschals of France and the King's Lieutenants General THE said Mareschals must know that His Majesty has written to the Prince of Orange that his Army consisting of Five and Twenty Thousand Foot and Five Thousand Horse and a suitable Train of Artillery will repair to Rochefort on the 12th of May. The said Mareschals are to take a particular Care to cause all necessary Preparations to be made for the Passage of the King's Army in order to join that of the States The said Mareschals are to be at Meziers on the 28th of this Instant to put all things in readiness for their March in order to be at the aforesaid place on the 12th of May. His Majesty allows the said Mareschals in case they judge it more convenient and proper for his Service to join the said Prince of Orange by any other Way provided it be by the Consent of the said Prince If the Spanish Forces should oppose the Passage of the said Mareschals so as to hinder their Conjunction with the said Prince of Orange without coming to Action His Majesty permits them to combat the Enemy if they think they can do it with Advantage and great likelihood of Success unless they judge it more proper to encamp before the Enemies and to send the said Prince of Orange notice to advance on his side in order to inclose the Enemies between the two Armies His Majesty's Army being join'd with that of the said States the said Prince of Orange is to give the Word in both by virtue of the Power given unto him by His Majesty All the Resolutions of the two Armies are to be conserted between the said Prince and the said Mareschals only And the said Mareschals are to summons to the particular Councils they shall hold for the Execution of the things resolv'd on with the said Prince all such Persons as use to assist in the same in the King's Armies The two Armies being join'd His Majesty is of Opinion that the first thing to be done is to fight the Enemies which is to be endeavour'd as much as possible In case the Enemies should put themselves in such a posture by Encampment as to secure themselves from being forc'd to sight Endeavours must be us'd to starve and make them perish that way or else to force them in their Trenches if the Maxims of War permit it If any particular Considerations as the Abundance of the Enemies Provisions and the Dissiculties of getting them for the two Armies in Conjunction should prevent such a Design His Majesty's Opinion is That the only Remedy would be to march directly into the Heart of the Country towards Brussels Louvain Malines and such other places as shall be thought fit by common Advice And that for this Reason That besides the attacking the Enemies chief Cities by this Means their Forces being oblig'd to march to their Assistance will hardly be able to avoid a Combat If the Enemies instead of keeping the Field should divide their Forces into their best Garisons it is thought that the best way would be to attack the Place into which the Cardinal-Infant shall retire by reason that if he could be taken the War would be at an end in Flanders And in case he should retire into some Place belonging to his Neighbours and Allies it will be necessary to follow him there and if possible to force the Place into which he shall retire if the thing be feasible and advisable The said Mareschals are also to take notice That if it be needful to divide the 50000 Foot and 10000 Horse which are to be in His Majesty's and the States Armies into several Bodies the said Division must be made in
a manner that the Duke of Weymar may ingage to succor the Landgrave with the Forces the King is to maintain for him in case of need on condition that the said Landgrave shall also assist the King 's said Forces and the Duke of Weymar in the late case One might also give the said Landgrave some part of the Army which the King impowers you to give to the Duke Bernard of Weymar making the said Duke sensible that though he would get somewhat the less by it yet he would derive a far greater advantage by the correspondence he would have with the said Landgrave We are much at a loss how to divide the Honour of the Command between them Yet I fancy that if you could make them agree about the sharing of the Army which the King is to imploy in Germany you might do the same about the Command as followeth That the Duke of Weymar should Command the Forces he is to have as General of the Troops granted to the Confederacy And the Landgrave those that the King should furnish him by virtue of the Command he has from the King I am persuaded that your Address your good Fortune and your Wit will furnish you with expedients against all our Evils in your parts You may treat of the things above mention'd immediately If the War should chance to last and conquests be made the King promises such a share thereof to the said Landgrave as he shall desire At the very instant this Courier is dispatching to you another is going for Flanders to endeavour to dispose the Prince of Orange to permit Two Thousand Horse of the King's Army and Two Thousand Musqueteers mounted on Nags to march from thence to joyn the Forces under your Command I am of Opinion that it will be fit for you at the receipt of this to send some body to the Marshal de Breze to acquaint him with the Places through which it will be most convenient for them to march Sign'd the Cardinal of Richelieu Instructions for the said Cardinal de la Valette THE King reposes so much Confidence in the prudence and affection of the Cardinal de la Valette and His Majesty has receiv'd such real proofs thereof since his having giving him the Command of his Army in Germany that he does not only approve the reasons which have made him take the Resolution of passing the Rhine but moreover gives him full power hereafter to form such other designs and resolutions as he shall find upon the place to be most advantageous for his Majesty's Service and for the Reputation of his Arms being persuaded that he will not Engage them without reason and that he will undertake nothing without hopes of a good Success His Majesty sends this Courier to the said Cardinal to acquaint him that finding by his last dispatch as well as by that of the Sieur de Feuquiere the demand of Four Millions of Livers made by the Duke of Weymar to fix himself to the King's Service unless he had a great deal of confidence in the said Duke's Sincerity he should have reason to believe that he makes this excessive demand either for a pretence to break with him at this very instant if refus'd or at least to have one to quit his Majesty's Interest at some time or other in case the payment of the said Summ should not be perform'd Though by this Means His Majesty instead of receiving any Assistance from the Forces of his Confederates finds himself reduc'd to bear the whole Burthen of them and to maintain them at his own Charges which is very difficult for him to do at this time considering the great number of other Expences he is at in Iâ—aly the Grisons Lorrain Flanders and Picardy yet he thinks it so necessary for the Good of his Service to keep the said Duke stedfast to his Interest and so dangerous to lose him that he is of Opinion that nothing should be omitted in order to fix him in such a manner that there may be no Reason to fear his falling off for the future To this End His Majesty impowers the said Cardinal de la Valette to offer as far as Three Millions Two Hundred Thousand Livres which is about the Payment of Eight Musters for Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot in case he finds that he cannot come off at an easier Rate and that keeping him within the Bounds of a smaller Summ might induce the said Duke to engage in the contrary Party It will suit with the said Cardinal's Prudence to husband His Majesty's Interest in this Occasion which is of great Moment as advantageously as possibly can be and to yield only by degrees representing to the said Duke that it is much at this time to give him double the Summ that was formerly given to the Crown of Sweden which is that as has already been offer'd to him by Monsieur de Feuquieres After that he is to offer him something more if Two Millions of Livres are not capable to content him In fine he may go as far as Three Millions Two Hundred Thousand Livres if as abovesaid he finds the Refusal of the said Duke's entire Pretentions capable to drive him to an extream Resolution contrary to his Honour and Promises The said Summ being sufficient for the Payment of eight entire Musters for Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot which is what is expended in the best paid Armies of Christendom if the said Duke should make a Difficulty of being satisfy'd therewith there would be great Reason to believe that he seeks Pretences to quit His Majesty's Interest and that in that Case whatever Promises were made to him would be vain seeing that in order to effect his Desires he would raise his Pretensions ad infinitum and would never be satisfy'd In such an Extremity evidently known by the said Cardinal which the King nevertheless is unwilling to fear of a Prince who hitherto has acquir'd a great deal of Honour and makes a strict Profession of it the said Cardinal de la Valette is to use his best Endeavours to secure the King's Army and to free it from those Dangers to which it would be expos'd should the said Duke change Sides This is only hinted not to omit any thing that might happen or the proper Remedies to be apply'd in such a Case In case he will be satisfy'd with the said Summ of Three Millions Two Hundred Thousand Livres or can be dispos'd to take less which must be endeavour'd as much as can be the following Conditions must be agreed on at the same time if possible First That he will keep Six Thousand Horse and Twelve Thousand Foot in the Field for His Majesty's Service besides the Garisons that may be left in divers places Secondly That Six or Seven Hundred Thousand Livres shall be given out of the said Summ to the Landtgrave of Hesse for the Maintenance of his Forces Thirdly That the Form of the Command between the
de la Valette And crave that all things may be resolv'd on by a common Advice and Consent As to what relates to their particular Body they desire to be commanded by a Chief of their Nation X. They also crave that the Quarter of May be paid to them in ready Money and that of August which is already due in good Assignments in order to their being speedily paid to put themselves in a Condition to serve The Answer of the Deputies to the Directors I. AS His Majesty's only Intention is to re-establish the Princes and States that are oppress'd in Germany and to promote the Advantage of the common Cause the Army which was commanded by His late Highness being maintain'd and paid by His Majesty he never question'd but that the Officers thereof would freely promise to serve him faithfully and constantly towards and against all and to lead the said Army in all the Plates and Enterprizes he shall desire according as His Highness was oblig'd to do by the Treaty of the 27th of October 1635. For the Performance of which they are to administer an Oath to all the Forces II. And though some hints have been given that it would be more proper to pay the Army with a certain number of Musters the King taking all the other expences upon himself than to agree about a summ for the whole as his Majesty did with his Highness We hope the Officers will do us more justice than to believe that it did proceed from the least apprehension that the distribution of the said summs would not be well and duly perform'd by their order but on the contrary that they will rather consider the reasons which have been alledg'd to them and are most true They will also be pleas'd to consider that the four Musters they desire far exceeding together with the Ammunitions and Provisions and other extraordinary Expences the summ his Majesty did allow to his late Highness as also that which they themselves have desir'd of his Majesty by their Deputies they do reduce us to the impossibility of granting them since our Instructions limit our Power within the bounds of the demands which the said Officers have made to his Majesty Nevertheless in order to shew them what confidence we repose in the particular esteem the King has for them and for the whole Army we are willing to allow them three Musters and a half yearly the said half Muster to be imploy'd for the recruits and re-establishment of the Forces this is all we can do and upwards of a Hundred Thousand Dollers more than what they have desir'd of his Majesty The whole will be paid them in weighty Pistols at the rate of four Rix Dollers a piece or in Equivalent Money III. The Artillery will be paid at the rate of Eight Musters yearly and the Officers shall be oblig'd to follow the Orders of the * Master of the Ordnance Mareschal de la Meilleraye Grand Master of the Artillery of France who will take care to provide all the necesfary Warlike Ammunitions of that Army as well as the Generality of all the extraordinary Expences IV. His Majesty will furnish the German Foot with Bread like the French as well as the Officers of the Artillery as it is practis'd in his other Armies V. His Majesty is more desirous than the Officers themselves to see the Army in good Winter-Quarters and will use his best Endeavours to get them the most advantageous that can be VI. His Majesty being also more concern'd than any body in the Preservation and Augmentation of the Army the Officers may assure themselves that he will give them Means to râ—astablish their Forces in case they should meet with any Disaster of War or other inevitable Accident which God forbid VII This Article seems to be superfluous the King being only engag'd in this War to procure the Restoration of the said Princes and States who can do no less than to hold that directly from His Majesty which his Armies shall have taken of theirs from the common Enemies VIII The King will never make the least distinction between the Forces that are in his Service but according to their Affection and Valour And therefore you need not doubt but that he will take the same Care to procure the Liberty of such among you as shall be taken Prisoners as he does in his other Armies And as to the Exchange you propose to us though we are not inform'd of His Majesty's Will in that particular yet we dare assure you that he has so great a Value for General Dobald and Schafalischy that he will refuse no fair and honourable Means to set them at liberty and among you again IX The King having pitch'd upon His Highness of Longueville to Command his Forces in these Parts and to shew you more and more the Value he has for your Troops haying recall'd him to that End from a Place where his Presence was absolutely necessary His Majesty in so doing was and is still persuaded that you will make no difficulty to acknowledge and receive Orders from a Prince of his Birth and Merit and from whom His Majesty is very well satisfy'd that you will receive a very favourable Treatment as also that he will make use of your good Counsels and Advice for the Resolution of all things without your insisting over and above to have some other Chief over you besides those His Highness has left you by his Will X. As for the Quarter of May and that of August we must first agree when His late Highness's Treaty will cease and when that of the Musters will begin in order to make a just Account with the Officers of His late Highness of what has been furnish'd to them this Year as well for the King's Interest as for that of the whole Army Articles and Demands of the King's Deputies To the Directors of the late Duke of Weymar 's Army THE King will yearly cause to be paid into the hands of the Sieur Haeuff in Paris the Summ of ...... in four Terms and equal Payments of which the first will be due on the First of January next coming to be employ'd for the Maintenance of the Army commanded by His late Highness of Saxony of Weymar for the Payment of the Loans for the German Garisons that are to remain in the Places that are already and are to be conquer'd for the Equipages of the Artillery Provisions Furnishing of Ammunition-Bread and all other Warlike Ammunitions that will be necessary as well as for the Payments of the Works that are to be done in Sieges and other Enterprizes that shall be thought necessary His Majesty will also immediately pay for the Quarter of May due to His late Highness in performance of the Treaties made with him the Summ of 550000 Livres only the 50000 Livres remaining of the 600000 Livres granted for every Quarter not being allow'd according to the said Treaties for the Army but for the particular
Majesty's Deputies As also His Majesty continuing to employ the Officers belonging to the Artillery of the said Army the said Officers shall be oblig'd to take Letters of Approbation from the Master of the Ordnance And to the end that the Auditor-General who is at present in Function in the said Army may administer Justice in His Majesty's Name he shall be oblig'd in order thereunto to take such Commissions and Letters Patent from His Majesty as are necessary seal'd with his Broad Seal as it is practis'd in all other Armies by those who officiate the said Places The present Articles are to be sign'd by the said four Directors Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels of the said Army being present at the Resolution abovesaid and by His Majesty's Deputies to be observ'd and kept by each of them according to the Form and Tenour of the same and deliver them into his Hands to establish Governors there That otherwise we had labour'd long in vain for the composing of all that is abovesaid Upon this Point they desir'd to have our Intentions in Writing which we sent to them in this manner That the conquer'd Places should be deliver'd into His Majesty's Hands for him to settle such Governors there as he should think fit as also to put French and German Garisons there according to His Highness's last Will and Testament Having sent this Article to Major-General Erlach he sent us word that it was necessary to communicate it to the whole Army That Colonel Ohem who was going back to his Quarters would take that Care upon him And that after that he would acquaint us with their Resolutions Five or six Days pass'd without any News during which we did not fail to press the said Erlach and he to make perpetual Complaints of the Delays of the March of the French Forces which he said put a full Stop to the Conclusion of our Business Finally Having receiv'd Orders to make the Army Commanded by Monsieur du Hallier advance and at the same time Letters from the said du Hallier giving an Account of the March of his Forces we gave him an Account thereof Upon which he took Occasion the very next Day to write to the Officers of the Army that it was time to assemble again And we were glad to have the Assembly kept at Colmar to the end that the Duke of Longueville's Presence might advance it During the first Days of our Conference renew'd at Colmar we were oblig'd to begin all almost de Nova again They increas'd their Demands and we drew the inclos'd Articles as if nothing had been spoken of till then In Answer to our Article concerning the Garisons they sent us word at first by two Deputies from among them That all the Garisons should remain in the Power of the Body of the Army and that they would provide such Governors and Garisons for them as they should think fit excepting only Brisac in which the King should be allow'd to put a third part of French-men because His Majesty by a Re-inforcement of Men had contributed towards the Taking of it And the said Deputies added That it was the last Resolution of their Assembly refusing even to hear our Reasons which nevertheless we made them hear at last in a very ample manner without being able any wise to alter their Minds This oblig'd us in order not to break with them to tell them That our Instructions did not authorize us to grant their Demands That it was necessary that they and we should send to the King to know his Intensions That in the mean time to shew them in what good Union we desir'd to live with them the Duke of Longueville was ready to join his Forces with those of His late Highness of Weymar in order to march together towards the County of Burgundy and not to pass the Rhine since we were certain that His Majesty would never resolve to do it without being Master of Brisac This startl'd the Deputies who were in hopes that while the Article of the Garisons was in debate we would help them to take their Winter-Quarters which cannot be good without passing the Rhine Nevertheless being parted thus at Night Count Guebriant met Major-General Erlach who came from the Duke de Longueville with whom having had some Discourse they renewâ—d a Conference for the next Day in which the Proposition of the Garisons was something soften'd he giving us to understand that the Choice of the Governors should be referr'd to the King provided he took them out of the German Body and that they were willing that one half of the Garisons of Brisac and Friburg should be French We told him That this would put too great a Check upon the King's Liberty in obliging him to put none but German Governors into the said Garisons That we were of Opinion that he would sooner chuse them than Frenchmen but that it ought to be without Constraint He withdrew dis-satisfy'd without expressing it and immediately after Dinner took Coach and return'd to Brisac All the other Officers and Colonels return'd in the same manner to their Quarters leaving only the Auditor-General behind to desire us to fix our Resolution With whom after several Debates we drew the Article concerning the said Garisons as it is stated and put it into his hands to confer about it with the Colonels He sent it to Colonel Ohem and came the next Day to Brisac where * Monsieur de Choisy I repair'd also to convoy the Wheat that came from Basil Two Hours after my Arrival the General-Major and the Governor of Rheinfeld came to see me We examin'd all the Articles we send you upon which he alledg'd no Difficulties excepting that relating to the Garisons Finding at the very beginning of the said Article that a Sub-Governor was mention'd he said That he would have none and the Governor of Rheinfeld said the same thing In the next place That he was of Opinion the Army would persist in desiring an Assurance from the King that he would put no Governor into Brisac and Friburg but such as should be drawn out of the German Body and that the Governors would take no other Oath than to keep the said Places for the King 's and Confederate Princes Service and never to deliver them to any body without the King's Leave I told him the Reasons which would hinder the King always from consenting to it in this manner To which I had no other Answer but That it was his Opnion that we should never obtain what we desir'd in this Point And in private he told me the Obstinacy he had found in all the Officers on that Subject That for his part he discharg'd himself of it and could not answer for the Sequel Within half an Hour afterwards he sent me word that he had just receiv'd a Letter from the Crown of Sueden directed to the Directors by which they were desir'd to remember that the Army belong'd to the said Crown This
Declaration of it after the Treaty desiring nothing more than to find the means to secure all the Garisons to the Duke of Savoy in such a manner as no Inconveniencies may arise thereby But that whereas Prince Thomas says he had rather die than make a Treaty by which his Honour might be wounded so likewise the King can no wise consent to have that Article put into the Treaty of the Surrender of Turin since it would look as if the said City were rather yielded to him on that Consideration than by the Force of his Arms. The Declaration the King will make on that Account is a sufficient Security to satisfie the Princes without being oblig'd to have Recourse to the Interposition of the Pope and of the Venetians Nevertheless the King may do an equivalent thing writing to His Holiness and to the Venetians that he engages for the Restauration of the said places on the Conditions above specify'd The King moreover condescends that the Pope and the Venetians should interpose in the said Treaty after its being made if they will engage to take Arms for the King in case the Princes of Savoy or one of them breaking their Word should return to the Spanish side Besides If they should require Nice to be put into the Cardinal's Hands for the space of six Months during which the said Interposition may be manag'd it shall be granted provided as soon as ever the Treaty is made they put Coni into the hands of the Dutchess of Savoy again and that Prince Thomas engages himself into the Party of France and comes actually to serve there upon the Account of the good Treatment that is offer'd to him and of all the Securities in writing he can desire from the King for the Performance thereof In case the said Prince says That before his coming into France he must contrive to get his Wife and Children out of Spain by Cunning it is another Blind to conceal his desire of remaining in the Interest of Spain In a word If the lawful Causes he has to quit the Spaniards cannot oblige him to do it openly one must be blind not to see that he persists in the Resolution to ruin his Nephew and that his Animosities against France because it is the only Power that can maintain him is unspeakable And if it be in his Nature to suffer his Nephew's Reign he has but too much cause to forsake the party of those that seek his ruin for the ill Treatments he has receiv'd from them and more than enough to side with France that will save him for the advantages they offer him This is all that can be said at this time to Count Harcourt Whereupon he is to take his Measures according to his Instruction of the 28th of May and this present Dispatch Giving a speedy Account of all Transactions he will receive an immediate Answer Instruction or Power to the Sieur de Ville May the 12th 1639. SUpposing the Repentance and the Satisfactions Duke Charles is willing to give the King and that he will sincerely join himself to his Interest and to that of France with all the Forces he can get as he has often given His Majesty Assurances that he would do by the said Sieur de Ville as well as by several others with all the freedom imaginable His Majesty through his innate Goodness may be inclin'd to one of the following Propositions Either to be contented with the Country of Barr and the Towns of La Motte and Marsal the County and Town of Clermont of Stenay and Jamets for ever in propriety with the Liberties of the said places and Nancy as a Pledge for Ten Years after the Peace after which time the said City is to be return'd to the said Duke all the Fortifications being first demolish'd Or if the said Duke had rather leave Nancy in propriety to the King for ever His Majesty will give him back the Country of Bar with the remainder of his Territories the Towns and places above-mention'd excepted And whereas notwithstanding the King 's putting the said Duke in possession of his Country again the same Differences they had together before the War and which Monsieur le Bret was employ'd about at that time are still to be decided with France His Majesty promises to adjust them so reasonably within six Months after the Agreement that the said Duke shall have reason to be satisfy'd In the next place Monsieur de Ville is to represent two things to the Duke of Lorrain as being most certain The First is That by a general Agreement the King will never yield to any Conditions so advantageous for the said Duke as those that are contain'd in the present Memorial the which he may the more easily conceive by reason that His Majesty will follow the same Method with all his Allies who are desirous to keep what they have conquer'd The Second That by 〈◊〉 particular Treaty His Majesty will never yield more to the said Duke Charles than what is above specify'd This requires a speedy Answer attended at the same time with Performances Safe-Conduct for the Duke Charles THE King being inform'd by the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes of the great desire the Duke Charles of Lorrain has to put himself into His Majesty's Favour again he is willing to receive him into the same after having adjusted several Points that are to be agreed upon before-hand on that Subject To which end if the said Duke is willing to repair to some place about Langres to confer with such Persons as His Majesty shall think fit to appoint there he promises by the Faith and Word of a King that the said Duke may come thither tarry there and go back again with all manner of Safety whether any thing be concluded there with him or no together with all those he shall bring along with him In order whereunto His Majesty enjoins the Lieutenants-General of his Armies and Provinces Mareschals de Camp Colonels Chiefs and Leaders of his Soldiers whether French or Foreigners to let the said Duke and all those that shall come along with him going towards the said Town of Langres freely pass and repass going back again without the least Trouble Hindrance or Molestation Given at St. Menehoud the 14th of August 1693 Memorial to the Sieur de la Grange-aux-Ormes THE said la Grange having acquainted the King with the fresh Trouble the Duke Charles of Lorrain is in for being out of His Majesty's Favour and his Desire of being restor'd to the same again His Majesty is willing to permit the said Sieur de la Grange to go back to the said Duke Charles of Lorrain to assure him that if he be in the Condition and Disposition he has sent him word he will freely forget his Behaviour for the time past and receive him into his Favour again giving him all manner of Security from this very Moment to confer with the Lord Cardinal of Richelieu near Langres Done at
is sent to him most religiously without making any Alterations because this Prince is captious and that it is certainly known that he has not the Intentions he ought to have It is moreover known that he has given an Account of the Overtures of the Treaty he is about to the Cardinal Infant saying That he is courted to it against his Will and that far greater Offers are made him than the Conditions the King is willing to grant him The said Duke has also communicated this Treaty to all the Princes of Germany and particularly to those of Bavaria and Cologne with the same Suppositions he has sent into Flanders It will be proper to let him know that we are acquainted with all his Artifices and Levities and that such a manner of proceeding does almost break off all manner of Treaty since he has nothing on his side to give the King but his Fidelity which he does not approve Nevertheless in order to give Monsieur du Hallier means to conclude a Treaty if there be any hopes to make a good one the King has been pleas'd once more to answer the three new Demands made by Videl in the Duke Charles's Name and to give the said du Hallier means to satisfie the said Duke if he be capable of acknowledging a Courtesie which he grants him beyond what he could expect in Reason The said Duke demands the Title of Sovereign in the Treaty That a Garison may be given him immediately in Lorrain And that those Garisons the King is to keep in the places that are to remain in his possession may not be paid out of the Revenues of Lorrain It is thought that by the first of these three Demands Duke Charles intends to oblige the King to decide the Salique Law pretended in Lorrain in favour of him which His Majesty cannot do without enquiring farther into the matter especially with a Person who is not as yet reconciled with him But to shew the King's Goodness he is willing that in the Third Article of the Project of the Treaty which Monsieur du Hallier has in his hands instead of these words Thus the Duke shall be restor'd to the Possession of the Dutâ—…y of Lorrain these may be inserted That he shall be restor'd to the Possession of the Soverignty of the Dutchy of Lorrain As to the Garison he desires were the King persuaded that he had a mind to treat sincerely he would condescend to it but it is impossible to resolve on it without that Assurance 'T is the said Duke's part to give us such an one I am of opinion that such an one might be had by incerting a Clause in the Treaty by which the Duke may shew that he is willing to deprive himself of the Means of failing The said Clause ought to be as followeth As to the City of La Motte His Majesty being mov'd by the earnest Intreaty the said Duke has made to him to have the said City deliver'd into his hands in order to his being the better able to execute what he promises by the present Treaty since it will put him in a Condition not to fear those whose Ill Will he will incur by making this Engagement His said Majesty has been pleas'd to grant it the said Duke consenting freely that in case he should make an ill Use of this Advantage by violating the present Treaty which he will be the better able to execute having a safe Retreat His Majesty should make him resent the Effects of his Indignation attacking his Territories anew and preserving to Perpetuity whatever he shall take there by Force of Arms. Though this Clause seems to give some Assurance the Experience of what is past which has shewn that nothing can hinder the said Duke Charles from following his Passions when-ever he is mov'd by them makes us sensible that this Pre-caution is not sufficient to venture to put a strong Place into the hands of a Prince who may chance to do a great deal of Mischief with it during the War Nevertheless If after having seen the said Duke Monsieur du Hallier thinks that there is more Sincerity in his proceeding than before His Majesty will run that hazard to promote a Peace As to the Payment of the Garisons the King restoring the said Duke to the Possession of his Territories out of his extraordinary Goodness His Majesty has no Thoughts of reserving any thing to himself there besides the places mention'd in the said Treaty with the Liberties thereof insomuch that in case the said Duke immediately passes the Treaty coming between this and the Month of January to pay his Respects to the King he shall begin to enjoy his Territories on the very beginning of the next Year It will be Monsieur du Hallier's part to decide the Liberties of the said Towns very advantageously for the King There will be no need of mentioning the Liberties of Clermont since the County is to remain in the King's Hands as well as the Town The King desires the said du Hallier to cause a Map to be made of all the Country round about the said Places in which the Liberties of the same are to be particularly noted according as he shall think they ought to be and so send the same to His Majesty who will acquaint him with his Pleasure therein Thus Monsieur du Hallier may acquaint the Duke of Lorrain That in treating with him he will treat as with a Sovereign and that he does not doubt in case the said Duke behaves himself towards His Majesty as he ought to do that he will pay the Garisons of the Towns that are to remain in his hands In a word That he is persuaded that when he sees him if he knows how to deserve His Majesty's Favour he will be able to give him Satisfaction But that he cannot explain himself farther without having seen the Disposition he is in and known the Security he is willing to give His Majesty of his Fidelity Moreover Whenever the said du Hallier sees the Duke it will suit with his Prudence to behave himself in such a manner that in case the said Duke be not in a Condition to perform his Duty freely towards the King he may not be able to say That he has been willing to restore La Motte to him immediately Monsieur du Hallier is to let him make the Proposition about it saying that he has no Order to grant it and that he does not believe the King will do it but that he will propose it to His Majesty And if he finds all things agreed on excepting that Point he is to promise to give him an Answer in seven or eight Days time and to dispatch a Courier to St. Germain where the King will be Memorial of Cardinal de Richelieu to Monsieur du Hallier From Paris this 20 th of November THE divers Circumstances of Duke Charles's proceeding who sends to Monsieur du Hallier upon a slight Pretence being join'd
have for the Good of Christendom If the Legate makes any other Overtures that may be embrac'd without hurting the Reputation and Interests of his Majesty both he and those that have the Honour to be of his Council will be extremely glad to give all imaginable content to his Holiness and him I am SIR Your most Affectionate Brother RICHELIEU Fountainbleau June 21 1625. LETTER XI To the King upon his Promotion to the Dignity of Cardinal 1622. Out of Monsieur du Puy's Cabinet MS. 569. SIR AS God showers down his Blessings upon his Creatures not to receive any thing from them since of himself he possesses all but only to render them more happy and more capable to accomplish his Will so your Majesty who is a lively Image of the Divinity will not think it strange if in thanking you for the Honour to which your Goodness has rais'd me I can do nothing else but profess an entire and religious Obedience to your Commands and assure you that I wou'd rather choose not to live at all than fail to employ my Life and Dignity which I owe to your Majesty's Bounty as I do every thing I possess perpetually in your Service I beg of Heaven that it will permit me to be so happy in this Design that my Actions may signalize me much more than the Purple with which you have been pleas'd to Honour me Then SIR and not till then the Satisfaction I begin now to receive will become perfect for the only Passion I have in the World is by all imaginable Demonstrations to convince you that I am SIR Your Majesty's most humble most obliged and most obedient Subject and Servant RICHELIEU Lyons Sept. 23 1622. LETTER XII To the King SIR I Am sensible that as a Subject cannot without a Crime become troublesome to his Prince by making importunate Demands so he ought not to refuse the Effects of his Liberality Tho' I have hitherto preserved my self from the first of these Inconveniences yet to my great regret I find my self constrain'd to fall into the latter humbly imploring your Majesty not to be offended that I cannot accept of the two Abbies which you have been pleas'd to bestow upon me If I presum'd to make this Supplication without Cause I confess it wou'd be very criminal but since 't is grounded upon Reason I 'm persuaded you 'll approve of it Your Majesty knows that both these places are become vacant by the Death of the Grand Prior. Now as I was a Member of your Council when the Interests of your State oblig'd you to cause his Person to be apprehended I shou'd act directly contrary to my Conscience if I shou'd raise to my self any Advantage by his Misfortune or share in his Spoils I have already receiv'd several Marks of your Majesty's Bounty and since you have upon this occasion declar'd your Inclinations of conferring others upon me I can assure you that I will never be so ill advis'd as to refuse them if your Service does not oblige me to the contrary as my own Sentiments do in this matter I conjure you SIR to accept of these Considerations and to rest satisfy'd that the only Interests I will cultivate during the whole Course of my Life shall be yours and the Honour that may be acquir'd by serving so great a Prince I am SIR Your Majesty's most humble most oblig'd and most obedient Subject and Servant RICHELIEU Siran Feb. 15 1629. LETTER XIII To the Queen upon the taking of Privas MADAM THat your Majesty might be fully inform'd of all the remarkable Occurrences that happen here I have dispatch'd this Bearer to you with all speed to acquaint you that five or six hundred Men who had retir'd into the Fort of Thoulon having surrender'd themselves at Discretion to his Majesty the King was resolv'd to have part of them hang'd another sent to the Gallies and the least guilty among them to be pardon'd But so it fell out that as the Guards were entring the above-mention'd Fort to prevent any Disorder some Hugonots more desperate than their Fellows and among the rest one Chambelan of Privas who had as long as he was able oppos'd their Surrendring at Discretion by representing to them That such People were generally hang'd for their pains and that it was better to die by Fire than by a Halter I 'll immediately said he having a Match in his Hand set Fire to the Powder And had no sooner said so but was as good as his Word The Fire destroy'd some of them and others in the Fright threw themselves from the Bastion on which they stood clearly out of the Fort which was encompassed with the whole Army for we were forc'd to block up the place before they wou'd surrender But the Soldiers imagining that they had blown up the Guards who it seems were upon a high Platform above this Bastion fell so outrageously upon these poor Men that leapt down that they kill'd above two hundred of them and that with such Fury and Disorder that several of the Army were slain there and some principal Officers had much ado to save themselves Dr. Mullot fancied he shou'd have been dispatch'd thither as a Minister but at present is more vexed at the Quality that has been given him than at the Danger he underwent It looks as if it were a particular Judgment of God upon this City which has been always the Seat of Heresie in these Quarters At first it was not resolv'd to abandon it to Pillage but at Night its Fate was decreed so the Gates were left open for the Soldiers to march in and plunder it All Endeavours were us'd to save it from being burnt but in vain for not one House is left standing in the Town but all bury'd in Ashes Nothing was omitted that might serve to preserve those that were retir'd into the Fort of Toulon from the Fury of the Soldiers but they were constrain'd to expose themselves to it leaping down from their Fortifications and giving the Soldiers an occasion to exercise their Rage upon them with Fire with which some desperate Fellows among them thought to have burnt themselves with the King's People Heaven was so kind to me that I did not behold this cruel Scene for the small Fatigue I had undergone for about seven or eight Days during the Siege constrain'd me to keep my Bed that very Day on which these Wretches were us'd in this manner This involuntary Rigour which befel this City and the Clemency that his Majesty has shew'd towards those places that surrendred freely will convince the rest how much they are oblig'd in Interest to make their Peace in time and not stay till they are constrain'd to return to their Duty And indeed in these Parts four or five small Cities but well fortify'd have already surrendred viz. Bastide Vagnac la Tour de Salvas and Baulines Chabrille is to wait upon the King to Morrow and yield up to him all the small Castles of
of defence We know the reasons that the Governour will alledge in his own Justification but he has utterly forfeited the Expectation which the World had conceiv'd of him As this is but a very small place and of little importance the loss of it is not considerable Therefore let not this Matter give you any Pain at all for I can assure you that the Forces we have in these parts are more than sufficient not only to hinder our Enemies from doing us any mischief but likewise to take our Revenge upon them if a fit Opportunity presents it self The King will not change his Designs of making the Army of the Franche-Comté act in these Quarters but not yours or that of the Duke of Weymar pursuant to the first Resolutions that were taken in these Matters Only perhaps a thousand Horse may be order'd to come from the Army in Burgundy into Picardy as soon as Dole is taken that we may be in a better condition to oppose the Enemy whose greatest Efforts seems to be upon the Frontiers of Picardy I cannot conclude this Letter without testifying to you once more my great regret for Monsieur Hebron I am likewise sorry to hear that Monsieur de Turenne is wounded Pray assure him of the continuance of my Affection and as for your own particular rest satisfy'd that no Man esteems you more or is more really than my self My Lord Your c. Charonne July 20 1636. LETTER LIV. To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Have receiv'd your Letter which you were pleased to write to me upon the occasion of the taking of Saverne and have consider'd the Contents of it We shou'd be willing to put that place into the Hands of the Duke of Weymar to testifie the great Confidence we repose in him But certain it is that the Catholicks wou'd lay hold of such an Opportunity to raise great Clamours against us this place being the Seat of the Bishop of Strasburg whither the Catholicks have retir'd The Nuncio has already inquired very particularly how we design to dispose of it and his Holiness whom the Spaniards perpetually instigate against France as you know well enough wou'd carry himself wholly against us upon this occasion Pray give the Duke of Weymar to understand so much and to convince him how much we relie upon his Integrity and that no other reason in the World shou'd hinder the King from delivering the place up to him his Majesty is content if he desires it that you shou'd restore the Castle of Aubar to him and if he takes any other place in Alsatia or upon the Sarre which he thinks worthy of Consideration the King is well satisfy'd that it shou'd be consign'd over to him This My Lord is all that we have to say upon this Subject his Majesty referring the rest to your Prudence As for the rest when ever the Duke of Weymar thinks fit to make any stay in Alsatia the King is well enough content it shou'd be at Saverne provided he likes the place and will give Orders to those that he puts into the place to receive him with as much Honour and Deference as if the aforesaid place were absolutely in his Hands You must remember to chuse a Governour for it of a different Temper from the Wretch that had it last that if it happens to be attack'd he may follow the Example of those that defended and acquired it with so great Trouble and Expence since poor Colonel Hebron died there It belongs to your Discretion to consider whether you cannot re-inforce the Grand Provost with some Troops in Lorrain to make opposition against the Enemy that is there which is conformable to a Design I have seen in a Letter of the Duke of Weymar by approaching near the Sarre To conclude the King gives you full power to attempt whatever you shall judge worth the while As it is of the last importance that Saverne be fortify'd strongly I am persuaded you will take particular care about it When you were here I often heard you discoursing of how great Consequence it wou'd be if you cou'd get good advanced Quarters this next Winter inconvenient to the Enemy and advantageous for your selves It will concern you in point of Prudence to consider of this in good time As far as we are able to judge of the Designs of Spain particularly by a Dispatch of a fresh Date that was surprized by Monsieur de Grammont their intention is to induce Galasse and the King of Hungary to make an Effort to enter France in August It concerns you and the Duke of Weymar to oppose this Attempt and frustrate the Execution of it If you cou'd possibly disengage your self from putting the Castle of Aubar into the hands of the Hugonots it wou'd be much better for us Besides I don't look upon it to be in the least necessary to the Duke of Weymar since Saverne is already comprehended in Alsatia which the King has quitted to him pursuant to the Articles of the Treaty between them and that in consideration of this his Majesty will command the Person whom you shall establish in it to acknowledge him as much as he can desire You are Master of so much Address that I am confident you can bring over the Duke to any Terms that you judge most advantageous for the King's Service for which reason I shall speak to you no more upon this Head assuring you that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Chaliot July 23 1636. LETTER LV. To the Pope Out of Monsieur du Puy's Cabinet MS. 363. Most Holy Father I Don't address these Lines to you as being Privy-Counseller to the greatest of all those Princes that have the happiness to be under the Conduct of your Holiness but as a Cardinal of the Holy See zealous for the Interests of the Church and for every thing that concerns the Person and House of Beatitude Now what happen'd lately in relation to the Mareschal d'Estreés being of such a nature that it may draw very ill Consequences along with it I shou'd plainly be wanting to my Duty if I did not make my humble Supplications to you to employ your Prudence upon this Occasion As the Mareschal has done nothing but what the King commanded him to do if any of his Actions have been disagreeable to your Holiness you ought to complain of his Majesty and not of him However I persuade my self that your Goodness and Justice will induce you to acknowledge that it never was the intention of that great Prince to displease you in whatever has happen'd but rather to serve you and hinder those who formerly have executed their Designs against the Holy See from putting themselves in such a condition during his Reign as to give the World any just Apprehensions of their playing the same Game over again Your Holiness about two Years ago sent a Nuncio Extraordinary to France upon an occasion as contrary to the Interests
of his Majesty as it was favourable to the Spaniards and recall'd him when that Court gave publick Signs that his Person was disagreeable to them and apprehended that he dealt for a Peace against their Intention Now if it should so fall out that your Holiness shou'd persist to oppose the Employ of the Mareschal d'Estreés in whose Person are to be found abundance of Qualities contrary to what the Enemies of this Crown may desire there is no Person but wou'd believe altho' erroneously that Spain by her Artifices had insensibly carry'd your Holiness to what she most of all desir'd As for my self this Thought never found any room in my Breast but it concerns your Holiness in the highest degree to prevent it from taking any footing in the Minds of other People who perhaps will conclude there is something in it if you shou'd continue to treat the King upon this occasion otherwise than you do other Princes that have Ambassadors at your Court I hope your Holiness will be pleased to make a difference between those that honour you with a cordial and everlasting Reverence and those that only give you a few exteriour Marks of it when their Affairs require such a Conduct The known Piety of the King naturally leads your Holiness to this Procedure his Person demands it of you the present Juncture seems to oblige your Beatitude to it since nothing can prove so directly contrary to a Peace as to show a disrespect to him who of all other Kings most earnestly desires a strict Union with you As it is an easie matter so it will likewise be a glorious one to your Holiness to preserve that absolute Power which you have in the Affection of this great Prince and I dare engage to you that the Mareschal d'Estrées for his part will endeavour nothing more zealously than to serve you and advance the Interests of your whole Family that by doing so he may render himself serviceable to his Master If it happens otherwise I freely consent that your Holiness shou'd lay all the blame upon my self who shou'd take it for a new Obligation if you wou'd condescend to think upon this most humble Supplication of mine and not barely consider it as such but as it concurs with his Majesty's Prayers which have no other End but what may be of most advantage to your Holiness and all your Family This I most humbly conjure your Holiness to believe as likewise that I shall always be Your Holiness's most c. July 25 1636. LETTER LVI To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord YOU will particularly know by the Dispatch of Monsieur de Noyers what condition we are in at present and what the Enemy has been doing ever since they have approach'd towards the Frontier of Picardy The King daily strengthens himself with new Forces as much as he can that he may be in a capacity to beat them back into their own Territory His Majesty makes account so soon as Dole is taken which News we expect every hour with the greatest impatience to order two thousand Horse of Monsieur the Prince's Army to march and joyn that of Picardy where there are not above five thousand leaving the rest of the above-mention'd Army either to tarry still in the Franche-Comté and make Head against the Enemy if they offer to come there or else to march into Lorrain according as he shall find it most expedient for his Affairs As for what relates to your self My Lord the King leaves you wholly at your own liberty to act as you shall judge most advantageous to his Designs and does not prescribe you any Method to follow but trusts intirely to your Prudence and your Conduct to manage your self as the Motion of the Enemy and any emergent Occasions make it proper for you In the mean time I beseech you to believe that I can have no opportunity of serving you presented to me which I shall not embrace with the greatest eagerness that I may convince you every day more and more of the esteem I have for your Person and of the Affection wherewith I am and ever shall be My Lord Your c. Challiot Aug. 4 1636. LETTER LVII To the same My Lord YOU will soon imagine that the War goes but ill on our side in these parts since I have resolv'd at at last to go thither in Person with all the Pains and Illnesses to which you know me so subject The Cowardice of three Raskals that made no defence for the Garrisons they were intrusted with has so perplex'd our Affairs for the present that I am necessitated to make this Journey You never heard of such perfidious Villains soon after away they sled like Traytors as they were We have drawn them asunder between four Horses in Effigie with all the reproachful Marks of Ignominy that con'd possibly be thought of and their Persons will be treated after the same manner where-ever we happen to find them We shall have by the Sixth of the next Month above ten thousand Horse and twenty five thousand Foot With these Forces we shall march streight towards the Enemy On one side we have Monsieur of Lorrain to sear who designs to make a Descent upon us by the way of Burgundy with his own Troops and those that were quarter'd in the Franche-Comté and as I imagine Galasse who might very well have pass'd the Rhine to re-pass it at Brisac and so marched to joyn him This My Lord is the Province which we leave to be manag'd by your self and the Duke of Weymar in conjunction We have left a thousand Horse and three thousand Foot with Monsieur the Prince Besides these he may still raise three thousand Men and five hundred Horse with which he will be able to oppose the Enemy on one side while you will powerfully make Head against him on the other For this effect it will be wholly necessary for you to direct your Course towards Espagnol or Mircourt that you may afterwards take such a way as the marching of the Enemy will oblige you to observe As soon as you draw near to the Prince's Army care shall be taken to prevent all manner of Competition by sending down an Order to him to go to some other place and to leave his Troops with you I know very well that 't is impossible to propose a more mortifying Condition to you than to send you to the place where the obove-mention'd Person has any power But it cannot be avoided the necessity of our Affairs obliging us to follow this Conduct You are the only Man that together with the Duke of Weymar are able to regulate Matters in those Parts Although our Affairs on this side are in a very scurvy condition yet I hope we shall be able to retrieve them so soon as our Troops are got together Although the Spaniards quitted all other Designs to make their utmost Efforts in Picardy yet if they had not met with such treacherous Villains I
believe they wou'd have had no mighty Matters to boast of 'T is my Request to you to march towards Burgundy with all the speed you can that this Consternation may produce no ill Effects on that side which will not happen when they see you have Forces there able to oppose the Designs of the Enemy The Prince has already had the Orders sent to him which his Majesty wou'd have observ'd among the different Armies when they joyn which is that every General shall command his own Troops I am apt to think that the sooner you can advance on this side it will be so much the better for I make no question but Galasse will endeavour to pass the River at Brisac to joyn the Duke of Lorrain and 't is of great importance that you shou'd arrive there before him The Enemies have possess'd themselves of the Village of Verdun upon the Doux which is not fortify'd but 't is a Pass of some consequence Assure your self My Lord that I am and will be so long as I live without the least alteration My Lord Your c. Paris Aug. 23 1636. LETTER LVIII To the same My Lord I Want Words to express my Dissatisfaction at the ill Conduct of the Marquiss de Sourdis He cannot excuse himself upon the want of Directions for he has been written to often enough If we knew any Man at present fit to be put into his place we shou'd take care to have him sent for home immediately As for the Gentlemen of the Parliament of Metz you will assuredly receive all the Satisfaction you can desire But I desire you to have a little patience till the present Tempest be over After the rate things go now one wou'd imagine that a Blessing attended those that rail'd at the Government I hope that within two Months it will not be so and then the Parliament of Metz shall be chang'd as you desire it We do all that we can to re-inforce you with some Foot This very Day we order'd the Regiment of Ronciere to march which in my opinion will make a very fine one Verderonne is by this time got pretty forward and so is Decauts The Regiment that Monsieur Vignier is a raising will be complete in seven or eight Days Vaubecourt has sent us word that he will furnish us with four thousand Men but knowing the Man as you and I do I shou'd be very glad if he brought us but one half of them Let the worst come I take it for granted that he and Monsieur Vignier will bring three thousand effective Men and Verderonne Ronciere and Decauts two thousand five hundred besides the Forces that the Baron de Chapelaine and one Anfonville intend to raise to put into Chaumont As for the Horse we expect them from those places where the Count de Guiche told you 'T is with a great deal of reason you say that we want a German in the place of the late Monsieur Hebron If you cou'd so contrive matters as to manage any one of those whom you propos'd you wou'd very much oblige us In the mean time we will write about it Since I writ this it came into my Head that the Great Provost will be a very proper Man at Nancy Send me word what you think of it and whether you approve of him If 't is so after I have receiv'd your Letter I will act accordingly and let you see upon all occasions that whatever concerns you touches me more sensibly than even my own proper Interests Let me conjure you to believe that I am most sincerely My Lord Your c. Abbey de la Victoire Sept. 13 1636. LETTER LIX To the same My Lord THE Sieur Talon your Secretary has receiv'd Satisfaction as he will inform you himself as to the business of the Fund for Corn. In every thing else that lies in my power you shall find the like care taken to give you all imaginable content The King has given the Scotch Regiment to the Baron Hebron which your Letter did not a little promote The Prince has sent us some Letters which were written very much in your favour I suppose that by this time his Troops and those of Vaubécourt have joyn'd you and that by this means you will be in a condition to oppose the designs of Galasse Upon my word I depend more upon your and the Duke of Weymar's Conduct although you have but indifferent Forces than upon all the great Armies which we have on this side which in truth exceed thirty five thousand Foot and twelve thousand Horse in number The Enemy retires too fast for us We cou'd wish they wou'd be so civil as to stay till we cou'd come up to them Their Army does not in reality consist of above eighteen thousand as well Foot as Horse Monsieur has passed the River at Peronne with twenty five thousand Men and ten thousand Horse The King marches this way towards Corbie with ten thousand Men and two thousand Horse Corbie at this very Moment is reduc'd to great necessity Those that are in the place are forc'd to eat boil'd Corn as they did at the Siege of Paris They have Corn in abundance but their Mills that were lately burnt by the Sieur de Beau-fort failing them they give seven Bushels of Corn for a Bushel and a half of Meal They have in a manner no Wine among them and to compleat their Misery the Plague and Bloody-Flux rage violently in the place I am very glad that you have taken Chevillon You did very well in giving him leave to write You must look after him carefully and treat him gently in order to make good use of him in time and place as occasion shall require There is no good to be hoped from the Master of the aforesaid Chevillon unless meer Necessity constrains him to it and it pleases God to give us some Advantage over our Enemies If the People of the Franche-Comté wou'd come again into the Neutrality the King wou'd do the same very willingly You and the Prince may negotiate this Affair according as you find it convenient if you see any tendency towards it We can return no answer to Monsieur de Frangipane because we cannot listen to any Treaty of a Peace but in conjunction with the rest of our Allies at Colen which is the place appointed for all We have paid two hundred thousand Crowns to the Duke of Weymar They send me word that within three Days there will be nothing due to him You remember what I writ to you concerning the Marquis de Sourdis and the Affair of the Parliament of Metz. Both one and t'other shall most assuredly be done Send me word with all expedition whether you judge the Great Provost to be a proper Man for Nancy In case you do his Commission shall be speedily dispatch'd to him But you must be sure to keep the Affair secret that he may be actually in the place before they mistrust any thing
because it was performed by you I can assure you I will be unmindful of nothing that may in the least contribute towards the gratifying your Expectations and Deserts LETTER CXV To Mareschal Schomberg From the Appartment of the Sieurs Torquefort and Bodin SIR BY some Persons lately come from Leucatte I understand that you have not repair'd the Ruins caus'd by the Siege nor yet begun the New Works which you yourself and Monsieur d' Argencour judg'd necessary to be made and in a word that the Place is in a much worse Condition at present than it was when the Spaniards first set down before it Truly this News has the more surpriz'd me in that I did not believe there remained any thing to be done to secure it from any second Attempt of its Enemies in regard of the long time you have had to work I earnestly entreat you therefore to remedy this Default in such manner that no Inconveniency may result from your Omission and to consider that it is not enough to secure a Place if one does not afterwards endeavour to preserve it by Prudence and Foresight You have so great a Concern in this that I do not doubt but you will do whatever is in your Power and so conclude c. LETTER CXVI To the Same SIR THe desire I have to see the Harbour of Agde finish'd occasions my resuming my Pen to conjure you so to manage Affairs either by your Interest or Authority that at the next Assembly of the States the Provinces may be tax'd with such a Sum as may perfect the Works so well begun I do not recommend to you the Advantage they 'll receive by it in general nor the Benefit and Conveniency that some private Persons have already had because you know both much better than I. But I shall only assure you that such care shall be taken of the Money so designed that the Country shall have no reason to grudge the Charge The Bishop of Agde will communicate an Order to you that I have sent him upon this Occasion I desire you to see all well executed and that you will believe me c. LETTER CXVII To the Same SIR I Cannot help acquainting you that the King has been very much surpriz'd to hear that the Cannons the Spaniards lost at Leucatte are still in the Ditches or without the Walls and that you have not taken care to send 'em to Narbonne according to his pleasure made known to you long time since His Majesty therefore hereby expresly commands you to lose no more time but to see it speedily done and to assign for Convoy the Regiments of Languedoc St. Andre St. Aunays your own Guards and other Troops that shall be in the Province at that time that they may meet with no Inconveniences by the Way For my part I earnestly conjure you to omit nothing that may satisfie His Majesty in this Particular for he is inexpressibly impatient till he hears of their safe arrival at Narbonne Believe that I am heartily c. LETTER CXVIII To the Same SIR ALthough Monsieur Noyers may have already made known to you how important it would be to the King's Service that the Army in Italy under your Command should speedily repass the Mountains to the end that they might oppose the progress of their Enemies who have been a long time in the Field and are at present engaged in the Siege of Bresme yet I have thought it not amiss to represent to you the same thing earnestly conjuring you moreover with all the Affection imaginable that you would not be unmindful of any thing that depends either upon your Authority your Care or your Diligence not only that the said Troops may speedily repass but also that they may want for nothing that may render 'em able and compleat You may be assured nothing can be more profitable and pleasing to His Majesty and which I will endeavour to improve so as it may be serviceable to a Person that I have always honour'd and esteem'd c. LETTER CXIX To Mareschal Chatillon SIR I Am overjoy'd at the good condition Monsieur Noyers has acquainted the King he left you and the Officers of your Army in His Majesty has so great confidence in your Sincerity that he is assured you will speedily make known to his Enemies how much is in the Power of a Mareschal Chatillon He expects you would march Sunday next without excuse that you might be at the River of Somme the twelfth and at Dolaus the fifteenth I desire you would not fail by any means because we have sent the Prince of Orange word that you would be in the Enemies Coutry precisely the fifteenth His Majesty approv'd the March Monsieur Noyers reported you design'd to make I wish your Journey prosperous with all my Heart and I desire you to believe that I am c. LETTER CXX To the Same SIR THe King has been much troubled on account of the Delays to transport his Army into the Enemies Country when he had given his word to the Prince of Orange that they should be on their March the tenth of this Month. He has sent the Bishop of Auxerre to make you sensible how much it is for his Interest that you should repair this Omission with extraordinary Diligence and not quit it till you are arriv'd where you are commanded In God's Name lose no more time for several Reasons of great Consequence But be assur'd that I am and will be always your Security c. LETTER CXXI To the Same SIR HAving understood that Messieurs de Saint Preuil and de la Ferte have had a Quarrel I conjure you by this Letter to endeavour to appease 'em all you can or otherways to interpose your Authority that they may become good Friends I have writ to both of 'em to invite 'em to it for I should be very sorry being my intimate Acquaintance to have 'em push it on to any Extremity I am well assur'd your Prudence will prevent any farther Miscarriage and I desire you once more to believe that I am sincerely c. LETTER CXXII To the Same SIR I Have been extreamly glad to learn from the Letter you sent me by the Gentleman of the Bed-chamber that you were happily arriv'd before St. Omers and the rather because you had so fair hopes of accomplishing your Design which I wish as good Success to as you possibly can yourself and for its furtherance will contribute from hence whatever is in my Power I cannot sufficiently commend and thank you for the good Orders you have establish'd in your March for preserving the Country and preventing the plundering of Churches and Monasteries I desire you to continue the same Care for the future that your Troops may avoid the ill Reputation of Burning and Theft We shall not be wanting to Reinforce you according to your desire You have never yet ask'd more than Fourteen Thousand Foot but I am well assur'd before the receipt
a Copy of it to Messieurs Chavigny and Emery and have acquainted them that the Count of St. Maurice is to send another Memoir to her Highness's Ministers and to herself if it can be thought to pass secure The principal Point is to provide betimes for the security of those Places that are pitch'd upon fearing that the French may not be admitted till they can keep 'em no longer themselves and consequently then not be able to do 'em any Service when on the contrary if they be diligently taken care of as is judiciously observ'd in the Memoir I have seen I verily believe we might easily relieve Turin or at least secure Piemont and take it again afterwards It remains therefore that the Embassadour take care to influence those that Treat for Her Highness at Pignerol omit nothing to put the said Council in Execution as his Majesty's Ministers will do the like LETTER CL. To Monsieur Chavigny SIR WE have received a Memoir drawn by the Count de Saint Maurice which is very good The Contents are chiefly to provide plentifully and to lose no time I am assur'd you 'll do for your part whatever is in your Power and that the Dutchess's Ministers abroad will not be asleep at this Juncture Furthermore I earnestly intreat you to seek all means if the Circumvallation of Turin be not yet made to furnish 'em with more Powder Perhaps the Count de Guiche with her Highness's Cavalry and those he shall have from France both which I know will amount to above 2000 Horse may effect it by this Contrivance This Valet de Chambre of the Dutchess's assures me that he can guide 'em in unknown ways which may mightily facilitate such an Attempt I protest to you the Affairs in Piemont almost kill me Monsieur Longueville goes hence to morrow Post Monsieur de la Motte is commanded to march with all the hast imaginable with 4000 Foot and 1500 Horse Monsieur Emery is provided of the Money he defired particularly upon his last Terms At the same time that the Troops design'd for Italy are marching do you and Monsieur Emery presently go upon raising more Recruits that may be ready the latest at the end of the Summer Monsieur Emery is well acquainted how this has been used to have been done Pray take extraordinary Care of the Ambassador of Savoy's Memoir who has also promis'd to send one to the Dutchess's Ministers at Pignerol You must also be wary not to give 'em Suspicion that we secure their Towns with any other End but their Dutchess's Service I suppose they will easily be satisfy'd that if we have 'em not they must of necessity fall into the Hands of the Spaniards LETTER CLI To the Same SIR I Have writ you cursorily by Gordon your Commissary There 's nothing left to do but to tell you that I think it would be very proper to get the Nuncio out of Turin and to encourage the Count Philippi that he may have no occasion to encline the Dutchess to a dishonourable Treaty with her Brothers which would certainly be both Hers and His Ruine I conjure you to do whatever is in your Power to get more Powder into the City La Valleé says he can be a safe Guide LETTER CLII. To the Cardinal de la Valette My LORD THis little is only to assure you That we do whatever is in our Power to second your Generosity and relieve Her Highness which I hope will not be long before it will be accomplished as the Marquess of St. Chaumont will acquaint you further His Majesty has already dispatched away Monsieur Longueville who commands the Army in Italy over and above yours which is also forwarded with all imaginable Diligence If I were capable of serving Her Highness in Person I 'll assure you I would quickly be with you to the purpose I am and will be always my Lord your most Humble and most Affectionate Servant Richelieu LETTER CLIII To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Have received the Dispatch you sent me to prevent the ill Offices might be done you by the Prince and I can assure you he has as yet made no Complaint against you But to tell you the truth having communicated your Letters to the King his Majesty was of Opinion that the Caution you made use of towards the Prince sending him word you should not be ready to enter the Enemies Countrey till the 15th of June might have been of very ill Consequence for by these means you might have retarded the Performance of the whole Army fool'd away this Campagne and utterly ruin'd his Majesty's Affairs I don't know who was the Author of this Counsel but sure I am it was very ill advis'd As to the Change of Rendezvouz which you desire Monsieur Noyers has writ you what is fit to be granted But altho' you had no Money at the beginning of your Campagne yet that would not interupt the King's Service it being unadvisable to pay Soldiers just at their coming out of their Winter-Quarters when they are supposed to be full of Money His Majesty does not intend to pay his Armies on this side before the first of July altho' it is above twenty days that under Monsieur Melleraye has been in the Enemies Country Also the Prince is order'd not to pay his but after the same manner On God's Name Sir make no Difficulties of this kind But be sure to remember that the end of the Campagne the King will be oblig'd to distinguish between those that have done well and those that have serv'd with small Zeal and Affection I know very well you 'll be of that Number who have signaliz'd both their Courage and Fidelity So you may assure yourself that I will do whatever is in my Power to improve your Services and to convince you that I am c. LETTER CLIV. To Mareschal Chatillon SIR WIthout doubt you have heard of the Misfortune hapned to Monsieur Feuquieres thro' the Cowardice of his Cavalry and the rash Resolution of Picolomini who attach'd him with not above 12000 Men Horse and Foot But nevertheless Monsieur Feuquieres gain'd a great deal of Honour in his own Person We have not lost above 3000 Men. The Enemies had almost all their Infantry cut off and by the last Courrier we understand positively that they had 5000 kill'd upon the place The Duke of Lorraine who was not in the Fight has since joyn'd Picolomini's Horse with 3 or 4000 Foot of Luxemberg wherewith they are march'd streight to Verdan The King desires that from Mezieres where he supposes this Express will meet you you would immediately march towards the Enemy to prevent their taking any place by Surprize I am well assured you will lose no time diligence being so necessary upon these occasions and whence principally depends the fafety of Towns where they have been wrought into a Pannick Fear You may encrease your Army with Swiss as you march and moreover the scatter'd Troops of
will prove sufficient Motives to incline you not to lose a Minute's time But my Business at present only is to remember you how much it will be for the Reputation of his Majejesty's Arms and the good of his Affairs in general I hope you won't be less fortunate than you were at Leucatte and that if the Spaniards have but the courage to stay for the King's Army you will make known to 'em how much you are able to do I wish it with all my heart and furthermore desire you to pay the Prince all that deference is due to his Quality and Charge to the end that his Majesty's Affairs may proceed vigorously and I have a fairer occasion to recommend your deserts who am unfeignedly c. P. S. I beg of you to pass by some rash Humours in the Prince and which are only the Effects of his Natural Constitution and his Extraordinary Zeal for the King's Service You know what I have always been to you and what I still am In God's Name Do whatever you can to shame the Spaniards in their Vndertaking and assure yourself I will never suffer your Actions to be obscur'd but take all imaginable Care to set 'em in their due light LETTER CLXII To Mareschal de Chatillon SIR THese few Lines are to acquaint you That the King would be glad if before you put your Army into Garison you would demolish the small Castles about Metz which are in your Instructions with Sancy Nevertheless he refers it to your Judgment assuring himself that as you would not be wanting in what was for his Advantage so you would not undertake what would be any ways prejudicial I pray God assist you in your Endeavours and I conjure you to believe that I am c. LETTER CLXIII To the Same SIR I Think fitting to add nothing to what you are order'd by Monsieur Noyers not doubting but you will do whatever is in your power to comply with the King's Pleasure I shall only acquaint you I should be very glad you would effect something before you put your Men into Garison and this as well for the King's Satisfaction as to advance your own Interest in his Favour You may be always assured of my constant Esteem and that I am c. LETTER CLXIV To Mareschal Schomberg SIR MOnsieur Tagenac returning to you I thought fit to send you this Letter to testifie a-new the Satisfaction I have in his Business and of the Assurances he has given me on your part of your Resolutions to relieve Salces if practicable The Confidence I repose in your Courage your Sincerity and your Carefulness makes me look upon this Design as good as finished and to be almost assur'd that God will bless the Justice of the King's Arms under your Conduct I pray for this with all my Heart and desire you Sir to believe that I will recommend your Services upon this occasion in such manner that you shall have no reason to believe any body values and esteems you more than he that is truly and sincerely c. Instructions sent by the Lord Cardinal Richelieu to Monsieur Chavigny how to proceed in acquainting the Bishops at Paris with the King's Declaration forbidding them to confer with the Nuncio Scoti SIR I Here send you the Order that Monsieur de la Barde and his Colleague are to shew to the Bishops now at Paris and if there be any amongst 'em that desire a Copy as I do not doubt some will for their Satisfaction as others to communicate to the said Nuncio this is what I think proper to be made publick I should be very glad if you would shew it first to the Chancellor and the Messieurs Bullion and Bowthillien to the end that if they think any thing necessary to be added or alter'd it may be done before it be communicated to the said Prelates You would oblige me also shew it to the Proctor-General acquainting him that I were willing he should see it before it were publick I suppose by this Order we shall sufficiently acquaint the World with what has pass'd at Rome and at Paris relating to the Nuncio and give occasion for those that have a mind to know the Truth to enquire further into the matter and I hope prevent such as are willing to conceive an ill Opinion of the King's Proceedings You must also Order the Captain of the Watch to be more Diligent than usual at the Nuncio's Door arresting all such as shall come out thence at an unseasonable Hour that is after the Night once shut in If by chance they should meet with some that you know of we should be glad to hear it the next Morning after they had lodged all Night in the Watch-house If there be an Opportunity of taking any of these it must not be perform'd near the Nuncio's Lodging but in the turning of Harp or James-Street for fear it come to his Excellency's Ears LETTER CLXV To Cardinal Bagni concerning the Affairs of Monsieur Scoti My LORD THE Friendship I have always had for you has made me hitherto decline what I thought might trouble you But at length give me leave to acquaint you with the unadvised and rash Behaviour of Monsieur Scoti some Months ago perpetrated and since condemned by all the World Nay at present his Proceedings are so very extravagant that I shall forbear Particulars for the same Reason I am willing to believe however that this good Prelate has a great deal of Zeal but certainly he is so unacquainted with France and deviates so much from the good Instructions you have given him that it will be rather prejudicial than advantageous to him in the end if he does not moderate his Heat I refer you for a further Account to the Relation I have order'd Monsieur Chavigny to send you Sir I take no notice of what he may say in my Prejudice because on the one side I am willing to forgive all upon God's Account and on the other I think my self sufficiently known in the World not to fear any Aspersion that I would wrong thro' a private Interest the very meanest of Persons I wish to God your Eminence may be capable of working upon this turbulent Spirit that he may deserve a better Character than he has already with most People and that you would be pleased to make use of all occasions to experience the sincere Professions that I am and will be always my Lord c. LETTER CLXVI To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Send from Mance directly to your Quarters to know what is to be farther done at Leucatte It seems strange to me that although there have been 80000 Livres remitted thither for the Works yet there is nothing much advanced although the Place be so very important both to the King and the Country as the first Town that it is likely the Enemies will pitch upon I promise my self however that you will speedily contribute for the future what is in your Power that it
Xaintonge by Sea which is the Reason that without great Incommodities and wasting the Scason they cannot be otherwise had But as the Armies lie this way will be the most convenient Also providing the Armies were at Marquion the Convoys could not come by Dourlans because of the Promise to the Merchants therefore there would be much greater Difficulty for the Carriages to come so near Bapaume than there is at present And tho' they could be secur'd from time to time by sufficient Convoys yet the Sutlers coming to and fro being very necessary for the Armies better Subsistence would be absolutely interrupted These Reasons conclude That tho' there be some small Inconveniences to be sufferâ—d even where the Army of Monsieur Chatillon is at present yet it is much better than to tempt unavoidable Hazards in going by Marquion Whereupon Mareâ—chal Chatillon is desir'd to make use of such Prudence Industry and Authority as Matters may proceed more conformable to good Conduct and the earnest Wishes of his most Affectionate Servant c. LETTER CXCVI. To the Same SIR I Have received with a great deal of Satisfaction the News that Monsieur Mont-bas brought me on your Account I hope it will always be to good Effect and that God will be pleased to continue the King's Success under your Command I wish it with a great deal of Sincerity and intreat you to believe that I will always endeavour to make your Merits sufficiently known I say nothing of your continuing in the Quarters where you are or thereabouts because I writ largely of it yesterday and that Monsieur Noyers has writ you of it at present I shall conjure you only to consider well of it and to be secure of the Continuance of my Friendship and Service and that I am assuredly c. LETTER CXCVII To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Have seen your Letter importing That the Spaniards had a Design to besiege Narbonne now they had agreed with the Catalonians Whereupon I shall only say that such Advice ought not to be altogether rejected tho for my part I cannot believe they will undertake such an Enterprize so late in the Year and in a Country where there is neither Forage nor Wood to be had Nevertheless 't is good to be on our Guard that we may not be surprized There can be nothing more done for the Town 's Security than what you acquaint me has been already if it were to be attacked and I assure myself you will not be less careful and well-affected to prepare and assemble your Forces to drive out the Enemies if they should enter your Province Nothing shall be wanting from hence to assist you as Monsieur Noyers has writ you more at large to whom I refer you for further Instructions assuring you that I am affectionately yours c. LETTER CXCVIII. To Mareschal de Chatillon SIR YOU will know by Monsieur Heudicourt what I think farther requisite to be done for the rest of your Campagne I earnestly desire you to recruit your Horse well that being put into Garison they may be ready upon all occasions to resist the Enemy if they should be Fools enough to molest us at Arras I wish with all my Heart you may conclude your Campagne by beating up some of their Quarters if they shall give you an Opportunity to do it with good Success As I honour you extreamly I should be overjoy'd of having a fresh occasion of recommending your Deserts who am cordially c. LETTER CXCIX To Mareschal Schomberg SIR I Have often discoursed Monsieur Alby about matters relating to you His Letters I hope will sufficiently acquaint you with the Continuance of my Affection and Friendship All that I could desire for your greater Advantage is more Briskness The Prince is return'd towards your Government but which I hope will cause you no Uneasiness assuring you there is nothing in the Power of any Man that can prejudice you or hinder your Friends serving you to their Power He has assur'd me he has no ill Designs towards you there 〈…〉 have 〈◊〉 fresh occasions to believe the contrary I desire you to think him your Friend Monsieur Noyers has writ you amply his Majesty's Mind as to the present Affairs I conjure you to be hearty and careful and to be assur'd that I am and will be always c. LETTER CC. To Monsieur Chatillon SIR THE great Desire I have to see the Canal of Loire in the Seine finish'd as soon as possible obliges me to conjure you anew as I have done often before to further the Work to your Power according to the Letters Pattents sent you The Offer the Undertakers make you to indemnifie you seems to me so reasonable that I don't doubt but you will be satisfy'd with it and therefore will not fail to encourage the said Undertakers speedily about it that it may be finished in October as they have promised me if they be not interrupted Doing this you will oblige me in particular to testifie upon all occasions how much I am c. LETTER CCI. To Mareschal Schomberg SIR IT having come to the King's Ears that you have not behav'd yourself to Monsieur Epinan as you ought I thought fitting as your Friend to acquaint you with it and to give you my Opinion that he being employ'd on so important an Account you ought not to have entertain'd him with such Coldness and Indifference but on the contrary to have assisted him to your Power that his Majesty's Business might be the likelier to succeed His Majesty promises himself this from your Affection and your Zeal 〈…〉 on account of your own Interest assuring you I shall always endeavour to be serviceable and acquainting you I have no greater Pleasure in the World than to hear my Friends live in Amity together I believe you will do what is to be desired on your part as I earnestly conjure you as also to believe that I am truly c. LETTER CCII. To the Same SIR THE King having granted the Clergy a general Convocation the better to facilitate their assisting his Majesty with the Supplies desired I write you this Letter to desire you to employ your Interest jointly with the Prince that the Bishop of Nismes may be chosen for the Province of Narbonne and de Pamiers the Nephew or de Lombez for Toulouze Perhaps they may object that some of these were of the last Assembly But notwithstanding those who mean best think 'em the fittest to serve both Church and State Upon this occasion I am to inform you that the Regulations for deputing Bishops do not require observing either Place or Order I also desire you to take care that the Persons chosen for these Provinces of the second Order may be affable and easie to manage But you must be sure to conceal from all of 'em what I have writ to you hereupon Only you may let 'em know that I would be glad to have his Majesty satisfy'd herein In all which I
Guastallo to Mantua The Fourth Upon restoring several Places belonging to the Garrisons with-held by the Emperour as also what His Majesty enjoys in the Territories of his Higness of Savoy The Fifth About repairing several Infringements of the Treaty of Monzon agreed between the Two Crowns of France and Spain concerning the Differences of the Garrisons with those of Valtelina All these Points have been debated several times between the Parties together with the Mediation of the Legate and his Holiness's Nuncio There have been several Contests about the Investiture of the Duke of Mantua The French immediately demanded to have it perform'd pursuant to a Treaty and that with Reason for the Duke of Mantua having claim'd it so long since by his Son sent Envoy methinks the Emperour should not think of deferring it longer the previous Ceremonies being once past On the contrary the Imperialists and Spaniards offered to perform it in three Weeks after the Treaty because they would have time sufficient for him to demand it a new Now although this Formality seem'd to be only for gaining more time yet France has agreed to it As to the Second Point The Spaniards insisted That the French should so absolutely quit Cazal that the Duke of Mantua might never admit any of 'em into it again To which was Answer'd by those that acted for the King That their Proposition was not reasonable because the Duke of Savoy had always equally entertain'd French and Spaniards when he pleas'd that all Soveraign Princes have ever had this Liberty and that if his Highness of Mantua was to be depriv'd of admitting Strangers because he was an Italian Prince in the like manner the Spaniards ought to be excluded Milan Naples and Scicily being no Natives there Also That France did not require the French should remain in Cazal but only that the Duke of Mantua should not be deny'd a Right to make use of what Garrison he pleas'd and which might extend as well to Germany and Spain as to France The Marquess of Spinola would by no means consent to this Article Affirming That tho' he should lose four Battles he would not do it For says he I can never look upon my Master's Territories to be safe as long as the French have any Footing in Italy To obviate the ill Apprehension he had upon this Article It was offer'd That the Number of the French admitted into Montferrat in case the Duke of Mantua would please to accept 'em should be limited to 12 or 1500 Men which might not be capable of giving any reasonable cause of Suspition but nevertheless the Marquess persisted in his Refusal At length the Mediators interpos'd to this Effect That altho' it were said that all the French should go out of the Duke of Mantua's Territories and they should Quit 'em accordingly yet the Duke of Savoy might easily suffer 2 or 300 to pass in small Numbers through his Country without being thought to know that they went to serve his Highness of Mantua To this Overture was Answered That over and above that it was Infamous in itself the Spaniards that should suffer it would pretend we had infring'd the Treaty that was to be made and thereupon tax His Majesty with Breach of Faith the Consideration of both which would be enough to withhold us from any such Practice As to the Third Point Two Difficulties arose First That the Duke of Savoy would have his Division in such Place as he lik'd best in Montferrat altho' that Choice belong'd only to those that Pay The Second He always insisted on the Payment of 15000 Crowns per Annum which were promis'd him the year before with Trinâ— out of the same Revenues which the Duke of Montferrat had when the Right he claims to the said Dominions fell to him Whereby he would have excluded most of the Prerogatives the Duke of Mantua now enjoys altho' they were altogether Hereditary By which means instead of 15000 Crowns a year he would have had above 50000. To this the Duke of Mantua reply'd That those 15000 Crowns were to be paid out of the Revenues he enjoy'd when he promis'd to pay ' em Nevertheless the Duke of Savoy would never quit any of his Claims and did positively aver That if it was given any other way the Duke of Mantua must never expect to live in Amity or Peace with him As to the Fourth Point The Imperialists and Spaniards have demanded That Susa Pignerol and whatever else the King holds in Italy might be restored on the same day they should give up the Passes of the Grisons It has been Answered in favour of France That all that could be expected was That the Restitution of Susa should Ballance the Passes of the Grisons because Susa was taken to get the said Passes in order to march against Spain who then Attack'd the Duke of Mantua and that it was not the same with Pignerol which was taken to avoid an irreconcileable War with Spain However Cardinal Richelieu who Acted for the King when he gave his Consent to the Restitution of Susa at the same time with the Passes did still insist That as he could not consent to the Restoring of Pignerol as having no Orders from the King who at that time knew nothing of its being taken did assure 'em that the greatest Difficulty would not be in the Restitution but the manner of its being Restor'd He said moreover to the Legate That being so far off from the King and in such an Employ as he was he ought neither to advise him to restore or not to restore Pignerol but on the contrary would wait His Majesty's Orders But nevertheless if all other Matters concurr'd to accomplish it he doubted not but that Her Highness the Dutchess might easily obtain the said Restitution by means of the Queen her Mother and that thereupon he should have Permission to acquaint His Holiness from His Majesty of the same The said Sieur Cardinal has divers times represented to those that were to Treat That his Master desir'd Pignerol only to secure the Treaty that was to be made so that the only way to incline him to surrender were to satisfie him about the same For this purpose he has always desir'd on the King's account the Princes of Italy to enter into a League for the defence of the Duke of Mantua in case he should be attack'd again Which has been all along refus'd unless that at last they seem'd a little inclin'd to hear him He has likewise requir'd the Mediation of the Pope and College of Cardinals which was also deny'd unless that in conclusion the Legate told him That if he had insisted only upon that the Peace of Italy had not been so long deferr'd Then Father Valerien a Capuchin Fryer who came from Germany on purpose to facilitate the Peace propos'd That the Emperor would oblige the Catholick League and the Colledge of Electors to the Defence of the D. of Mantua if he should be attack'd But
not venture his life and blood to defend so good a Cause and will do it generously provided he be assured that you take those Resolutions which are necessary for your safety which I in particular do passionately desire as being c. LETTER CCXXXIII To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM I Have received those Letters which it pleased your Highness to honour me with which imparted both the joy you testifie for the happy Success of Cazal and the Accomodations of matters with your Brothers-in-law Whereupon I say that tho' I have explain'd my self sufficiently to your Ambassadour who I am certain has not omitted to send to you what I told him yet I cannot forbear to add That Prince Thomas's Conduct towards your Highness both by the rigour which he used toward those which he suspected to be well affected to your Service and by what he contributed toward the loss of Cazal and by the Artifices which he always used in the Negotiation which he manages with your Highness ought to make you break off entirely and prevent the Advantages which he hopes will accrue thereby and to make use of those which the Victory of Cazal gives you I cannot conceive how they who have the honour to be nigh your Highness if they are well affected to your Service can suggest any other counsel seeing if you listen to such a Negotiation you afford a notable opportunity to your Enemies to prejudice your Affairs If they will perswade you that by this Accommodation you secure the Tuition of your Son and that you will receive some advantage by the change which the Princes agree to make of the Governors of the Places which they hold I am amaz'd that common sence doth not dictate that in dividing your Authority with your Brothers-in-law it will by so much the more be diminish'd as the fear which the Subjects and Magistrates shall have of them will induce them rather to be on their side than yours As to what they declare to you that this Agreement may put an end to the Civil War in Piedmont one must be void of judgment not to foresee that your Highness being allied to France and the Princess to Spain the cause of the Division and consequently the War still remains Further it would be very prejudicial to the King 's and your Highness's Service if His Majesty should attack Turin while you are agreed with your Brothers-in-law Because in this case every one would say That it was not your Son's interest which put you upon this design but his Majesty's to possess himself of this place And since he writes particularly to his Ambassadour upon this subject to let you know his mind I shall not say any thing about it in this Letter But yet I will add before I conclude That those who advise you to continue the Negotiation with those Princes and to conclude it without an Union at the same time with France for your Interest testify too publickly that the fear of them prevails more than the affection which they owe to your Highness upon which account give me leave to add That it would Madam have been very serviceable to you that after so much contempt which Prince Thomas has shewn of your Highness if you had neither admitted him into your Presence nor given Audience to his Envoy and the rather because he has raised some difficulties about some matters relating to your Son 's and your Interest for if you had done thus you had oblig'd him to have recourse to more humble measures to regain your Highness's Friendship seeing that the happy success of his Majesty's Arms at Cazel may in time reduce him to great extremities To conclude I beseech your Highness to consider that all your Welfare next to God depends upon the King's Protection and to follow the advice he gives you who have no other end but to defend you from your Enemies and to re-establish your Son and yourself in such a Condition as he desires which as to my particular I wish with all the Zeal imaginable both for the Glory of his Majesty and your Son's and Highness's Welfare c. P. S. The Affair of Querasque let 's you see that beside the Premises Prince Thomas has no other Design but to reduce your States by amusing you with fine Words LETTER CCXXXV To the Dutchess of Savoy MADAM I Cannot tell who it is that advises you at present to go into Piedmont while your Affairs are in those circumstances since such a Journey may be so far from making them better that it may be dangerous to your Person When Turin is taken you may go into Piedmont with reputation and deporting yourself with discretion which you generally do your Presence will be useful to your Son's and your own interest If something must be denied Prince Thomas it is better that your Ministers should do it than your Highness And it is more convenient that you be at some distance from Turin than nigh it till it is taken As to the Composition of Turin which you are pleased to mention the King will give the Count de Harcourt Orders what he shall do both for your Advantage and his Service As his Majesty is always disposed to receive Prince Thomas when he has a mind to unite himself to France it is convenient to use to your advantage the present opportunity which God is pleased to give you and so to behave yourself as not not to lose the Fruit by too much precipitation The Letters which were taken in the Baggage of the Marquess de Leganez give you such a manifest proof of the Infidelity with which Prince Thomas seemed to treat with your Highness that you must either be blind or your own Enemy if you do not believe that all his Treaties with you will be of the same nature unless he come over for the King and wholly deceive the Spaniards The best and the only thing that you can do for the advancement of your Affairs is to send all the Troops you can to the Count Harcourt without losing a moment and use all diligence to promote that business He on his part labours with so much Care and Expence that he deserves to be seconded by your Highness in such an important Juncture As for me Madam nothing shall be wanting on my part to testifie that I am c. I am glad that your Highness has given Orders for the Security of Montmeillian in expelling Monod he was a very dangerous Man in a place of that consequence LETTER CCXXXVI To Monsieur de la Cour. SIR I Am very glad to learn by your Express the Passages of the Place where you are and Madam's present Inclination to unite herself intirely to the King's Interest and to follow the Advice which his Majesty and his Servants shall give her for her Welfare But she has hitherto been so insensible that I fear it is only a seeming Change in her Mind and that she has no mind to be
Comprotection of France in the Person of Cardinal Anthony because he only desired he should Exercise that Office to let the World know the particular Affection he has to the Pope's Family and to have more Ways to keep the two Brothers united when their Interests shall more require it They shall also particularly make known to Cardinal Anthony the Satisfaction the King has in him and shall give him Assurance of his Protection and Assistance in all things They shall communicate to Cardinal Bentivoglio the Resolution the King takes to put an end to the Preconisation of the Consistorial Benefices till the Pope putting an end to the Prohibition which he has given Cardinal Anthony repair the Injury which by that means they would do France And shall let him know That it is not that his Majesty dislikes that he should continue to Execute the Office of Comprotector but only that he might not give this Advantage to the Spaniards to think that France yields to their Desires In the mean time if his Holiness coming to himself will give his Majesty that Satisfaction which Justice and Reason require permitting Cardinal Anthony to Exercise the Functions of the Office of Comprotector for whom it doth not seem that the Pope has lost his Cause and the King has gained his yet his Majesty thinks it good that the Embassadours consent to this following Expedient which is That it be a Month before Cardinal Anthony execute the Functions of his Office in the Consistory upon condition that from that moment his Holiness pass his Word to the said Embassadours That from that time he shall agree That he Execute his Office without having a new Licence from his Holiness This Overture has not been made to Cardinal Bichi that the Embassadours may be able to manage it so much the better because they only are acquainted with it If the Pope is not satisfied things shall be left in the forementioned condition without any Preconisation of the French Affairs in the Consistory yet Mareschal Crequi shall return by the way of Venice giving his Holiness a Testimony That the Respect his Majesty has for the Church is such That notwithstanding former Passages the King has not failed to give him order to Negotiate the Pope's Affairs at Venice as tho' his Majesty had not been disobliged In taking leave of his Holiness the said Mareschal as well on the King 's as his own part shall make him all the Compliments imaginable assuring him withal That his Majesty will never change his Resolution concerning the Comprotection being by no means able to endure that any other beside Cardinal Anthony exercise that Office LETTER CCXLVII. To the POPE Most Holy FATHER AMong other Displeasures with which the Piety of the King is afflicted as he beholds the Miseries the Church suffers by the Division and Discord of Christian Princes his Majesty has been sensibly dissatisfied with the evil Proceedings of some of the Spanish Ministers toward your Holiness and with the little Respect which was paid you by one of those who are the most obliged to honour you I cannot enough admire that he has so far forgot himself as to have used nothing but Complaints and some less decent Terms instead of Praises and most humble Thanks which are due to the singular Goodness and Wisdom of your Government Your Holiness has always appeared so manifestly to desire the Peace of Christendom and to appease the Differences which might trouble it that there is no body if he be not prejudiced with Passion but must acknowledge that you have omitted nothing that you thought convenient to promote so good a Design If amongst all those who are compell'd to behold this Truth some do profess the contrary any Man may plainly see that it is Interest alone which makes them shut their Eyes at Justice and open their Mouths to speak against the Sentiments of their own Conscience It seems that God has permitted things of this nature which are lately pass'd that your Holiness may receive new Testimonies of the Zeal of the most pious and the greatest-Prince of Christendom who will always think it a singular Glory to promote your Interest and to partake of the Cares and the good Resolutions your Holiliness has always had for the Advancement of Religion and the Establishment of the Publick Tranquility to which he thinks it will not a little contribute to let the World know the Deference which is due to the Holy Chair and to the Person of a Pope of such rare and singular Vertues as your Holiness As for me most holy Father I should think my self altogether unworthy of the Honour I have in the Church and the Favours I receive from so vertuous a Prince as he is to whose Service I am devoted with all manner of respects if I did not earnestly desire that Peace which your Holiness and his Majesty so passionately wish for Christendom which has hitherto been disturbed by those who desire to appear contrary to one another I hope that God will make this Truth more manifest to the World and that your Holiness will have reason to confess that as the King gladly makes use of all his Power to the Glory of God the Good of the Church and the Publick Tranquility he will lose no opportunity to give you Proofs of his sincere Affection for the interest of your Family which according to his Intentions and your Holiness's Merits I will always endeavour to promote as it is my Duty who am c. LETTER CCXLVIII To the Same Most Holy Father THo' the Choice which it has pleased your Holiness to make of the Person of Monsieur Mazarin to employ him in the Negotiation of the Affairs of Italy makes every one conceive how capable you judged him for it I think myself obliged to give this Testimony of him That he has behaved himself so well that beside the Love of all the Princes with whom he has treated which he has gained the King also was very much satisfy'd with him He will assure your Beatitude of the sincere Affections his Majesty has for you and to what degree he honours you not only by reason of your Dignity but also because of the great Merits of your Person As to my particular I most humbly beseech you to believe that I perceive myself so inseparably united to this Duty that all my Actions shall be so many Proofs of this Truth and of the Zeal and inviolable Constancy with which I am and ever will be c. LETTER CCXLIX To the Same Most Holy Father I Have this great while struggled in my self if I ought to represent to your Holiness the great Mischiefs which France suffers by reason of the Delays which for some time have been made use of in the Court of Rome in the Expedition of the Bulls of the Bishops nominated to your Holiness by his Majesty but at last the Salvation of Souls the Reputation of your Holiness and the Fear of my being
to believe that I ever will be c. LETTER CCLXXX To the Same MADAM I Do not doubt but your Highness in what concerns me has taken that part which you were pleased to testifie both by the Letters with which you have honoured me and by your Embassadour for which Reason I give you all the Thanks which your Goodness requires I do not send to you for what Reasons the King secured the Person of Monsieur Bouillon because you will particularly have them some other way I will only tell you that it being confidently reported to us that he thought to prevail with your Highness to favour his mischievous Designs I should think myself extreamly obliged to you if you would do me the Favour to impart the Discourse he had with you upon that Subject and how far you could penetrate into his Intentions While I expect News from your Highness I will tell you that tho' there is much Fault to be found with the Treaty of Accommodation made with your Brothers-in-law yet the Desire the King has always had to procure the Tranquility of your Son's States by teaching those Princes their Duty is the Reason that his Majesty in my Opinion will pass by that Consideration to testifie more and more that there is nothing that he will not do for your Sake As to my particular Madam I beseech your Highness to believe that I will always contribute to your Advantage all that you can expect from a Man that honours you and is with the greatest Passion c. LETTER CCLXXXI To Monsieur d' Hemery SIR I Was so surpriz'd and afflicted with the Duke of Savoy's sickness that I cannot declare it to you both by reason of the exigency of Affairs and for her Highness's sake whom I love and honour much I hope God will preserve him for Madam and the greatest evil that will happen to us upon her account will be the apprehension of bad Success If this misfortune should happen nothing is to be done but what you propose to wit to make Madam Guardian of her Children to make those who are in place trusty and faithful to her and absolutely to hinder the Cardinal of Savoy from returning to have a care of his and Prince Thomas's Cabals and to take care that Madam have a good wise and couragious Council well affected to her Interest and consequently to France from whence all her Peace must be deriv'd here you have in a few words the Plan according to which you must act I take you to be so wise and discreet that I do not doubt but that if you have judged that the Duke of Savoy's sickness will not end well you have already made some Application that way as far as in prudence you might that his Highness in his Will may appoint Madam Guardian of her Children and give an express Commandment to his Officers and Servants to acknowledge her in that Quality LETTER CCLXXXII To Monsieur d' Hemery upon the death of the Duke of Savoy SIR I Am so afflicted at the Duke of Savoy's death that it is impossible for me to express it This accident has so much the more affected me because it has surpris'd us when we thought least of it I have nothing to add to that which I wrote two days ago upon the subject of his Highness's sickness only that as I believe that Madam ought to make it her principal Aim to hinder her Brothers-in-law from entring into her States I think also she ought to relux that great and just Rigour which the Duke of Savoy had in depriving them of their Possessions Upon this ground I think she may let the Cardinal of Savoy know that she will suffer him to enjoy what belongs to him and mildly dispose him to live at Rome without pretending to return into Piedmont It is thought that Madam may restore him Masserati whom the Duke of Savoy has put in Prison and that this Man carrying him this news to Rome may dispose him of his own accord to do what Madam desires Whether it be by this way or any other it is altogether necessary to stand upon these Terms We find ourselves much troubled to nominate the Persons Madam ought to make use of you know Father Monod it is hard to pass him by in the conditions he is in it is also difficult to have any confidence in him The Marquess of St. Morice is a very good Man he is altogether joyn'd to Father Monod he was as you know Master of the Horse to Prince Thomas I fear that Father Monod endeavours to make Count Philippes perswade Madam that it signifies nothing to her whether or no the Cardinal of Savoy return into her States I do not tell you this without reason having seen some Men who have already perceiv'd that the Sentiments of some of that State tend that way and the desire of such Men can be no other but to strengthen and fortifie themselves against Madam upon all occasions when she doth not Act according to their desires and by this means to weaken her Authority You must above all things have a care of such Council by which neither Madam's nor her Childrens life will be secure Whatever Council her Highness is pleas'd to take it is reasonable she should impart it to the King and so that those who are chosen may know it was by his Majesty's Approbation We will send you by the first after what manner Henry the Second govern'd himself upon the like Occasion upon the death of the Duke of Savoy's Grand-father LETTER CCLXXXIII To Monsieur d' Hemery SIR THE Duke of Savoy having shewn the strength of his Judgment even to his death in making Madam Guardian of his Children she is oblig'd by Honour and Conscience to do her utmost to demonstrate to her State and all Christendom That she knows how to make use of that Power which his deceased Highness has bequeath'd her When she has taken the Oath of Fidelity from all the Chief Officers of her State and has well considered that there is no suspicious Person in place she can think of nothing more useful and necessary than to choose a good Council whose Reputation may add Credit to her Government And in order thereunto I think that she ought to make it her principal aim to hinder her Brothers-in-law from returning into her State or cabaling in her absence I think that in their Correction she must use Mildness and relax that just Rigour the Duke of Savoy used for their Good Upon this ground she may let them know her Resolution to suffer them to enjoy their Possessions and let them be desired at the same time not to pretend to enjoy them in any place but where they are It is thought that if Madam set at liberty the Cardinal of Savoy's Domestic which his late Highness had Imprisoned and send him to carry this News it will be a double Obligation to make him comply with Madam's desires It is a
to serve him and that you will declare the same thing to the Officers of the Army LETTER III. To the same Person I Have desir'd my Lords the Secretaries of State to acquaint you from time to time with what passes on this side well knowing by Experience that it is no small trouble to those who are far remote from the Court as you are when they want Intelligence and are not duly inform'd of the State of Affairs and how the World goes They have promis'd me not to omit any opportunity LETTER IV. To the Prince of Orange after the Raising of the Siege of Louvaine THere are not any Great Affairs that are not attended with great Difficulties nor had this at the beginning those progresses which we could have desir'd since it is the end that crowns the work Monsieur Charnacè has represented to the King the Obstacles which you met with in your Enterprize and your Endeavours to surmount ' em His Majesty is very well convinc'd of the care you took for the subsistance of his Army in the midst of those necessities which surrounded it He returns you Thanks and promises himself that you will make so good a use of the remainder of the Summer that the time which has been lost shall be repair'd with Advantage in the Judgment of all Men. I passionately desire it for the Interest of his Majesty and of my Lords the States and for your own which shall be always dear to me Conjuring you to believe that whatever the issue may be it shall never cancel the Esteem which I have for your Person nor the Affection which I bear you Assure your self Sir that his Majesty will leave nothing omitted that lies in his power to favour the Enterprize which was only undertaken between him and my Lords the States for the Good and Repose of Christendom and that no ill success shall discourage him For my part knowing that perseverance is that which crowns affaires with a prosperous Issue I shall omit nothing that is requir'd for me to do for the advancement of those Affairs the Success of which depends upon your Conduct in which the King reposes a great Confidence Of this you may be assur'd Sir as also that I am c. LETTER V. From the King to the States of Holland upon Occasion of the Title of Highness given to the Prince of Orange MOst Dear Great Friends Allies and Confederates the particular Esteem which We have and always had for our most dear and well beloved Cousin the Prince of Orange not only by reason of his Birth and Family the Grandeur of which is sufficiently known but also for his Great and conspicuous Qualities and his Noble performances in the Conduct and Command of Armies whereby he has acquir'd so high a Reputation that there are no Marks of Honour which may not be justly attributed to him have engag'd us to give him new proofs of it by Honouring him with one more Title then hitherto has been Address'd to him concerning which we have sent express Orders to the Sieur Charnacè Our Ambassador LETTER VI. From Cardinal Richlieu to the Prince of Orange THe King's Letter which will be deliver'd to your hands by M. de Charnacè and what he has in charge to say to yee in his Majesty's Name will give you so particularly to understand the Affection which he has for your Person and the singular Esteem which he pays to your Vertue and your Merit that it would be superfluous to repeat it in these Lines And therefore I shall only testifie to yee my own particular and extraordinary Joy for the new Title wherewith his Majesty has been pleas'd to honour your whole Family now then that I may conform my self to his Will and follow my own Inclination be pleas'd that I may begin the change and that I may assure your Highness that honouring yee as I do it will be a greater favour then I can possibly express to serve your Highness and all yours upon all occasions and to let you know by the Effects that there is no person in the World that can be with a greater Passion or more Sincerity then my self c. LETTER VII To the Princess of Orange I Have not Written these Lines to let you understand the particular Affection which the King has for the Person of Monsieur the Prince of Orange and for yours and the singular esteem which he has for both by reason the Testimonies which his Majesty has given you in the Letter which his Majesty has Written to yee and what M. Charnacè has to say to yee in his Majesty's Name are such in my Opinion as will not permit you to doubt of it but only to acquaint you with my extraordinary Joy for the honour which it has pleas'd his Majesty to confer upon your whole Family by the new Title wherewith it is his pleasure that you shall be treated from this time forward I beseech yee to believe that no Content or Felicity that befalls his Highness can be so great but that I still wish him more and that there is no person who Honours his Vertue and his Merit so highly as I do or who is more sincerely then I am c. LETTER VIII To the Princess of Orange with a present of Diamond Pendants in the King's Name THe King's Command engages me to take Pen in Hand to entreat you in his Name to accept a Present no otherwise worthy of you then as it receives its value from the person that sends it The common Enemies of this Kingdom and the United Provinces not being able to do us any mischief but through the Ears his Majesty made choice of this Present such as it is on purpose not only to signifie to yee that he will never hearken to any thing that shall be to the Prejudice of the Common Good but also to let you know that he assures himself that your Highness and Monsieur the Prince of Orange will do the same on your parts For my part Madam I shall account my self extreamly happy if I can but meet with ways and means equal to the Passion I have to let you know by the effects that I am sincerely c. LETTER IX Cardinal Richlieu to the Queen upon the Birth of Monseigneur the Dauphin EXcessive Joys are generally mute This is the reason that I cannot express to your Majesty my Joy for your happy Delivery and the Birth of the Dauphin I desire and am willing to belive that God has bestow'd him upon Christendom to appease the Troubles that disorder it and to restore to it the Blessing of Peace This has been my Prayer to Heaven since his Birth which I make with the same passionate Zeal as I have always had for the King and your Majesty to whom I am and Eternally shall be c. LETTER X. To the Queen who had sent the Dauphin 's Portraiture to his Eminency I Cannot render those Returns of thanks which are due
Whatever happens I shall do my duty in Serving as I have done in Obeying And I hope God will bless my Zeal in seeking all occasions to render to the King and the advantage of his Realm whatever he can expect from a true Subject and to the augmentation of the Glory of his Person what a most obliged Creature owes him If with this design I have any opportunity to serve you as I desire I shall think my self a great gainer in letting you see by that means that among several mean Qualities which are in me I have one at least more eminent then all the rest which is to esteem Persons of your Merit which you will underdand by my Actions and which will testify more then my Words that I am c. LETTER XLVII To Monsieur de Balzac I Have receiv'd the Letter which you Wrote me and the beginning of the Treatise that you sent me I thought to have detain'd your Lacqueys till I had read it But the variety of Business which takes me up and my desire to view it at leisure and several times made me alter my design I send it you therefore back to testify how sensible I am of your Affection and to let you know what I judge of the Lyon by his Paw I have always lookt upon whatever came from you with great Contentment and all those who are capable of relishing good things could never receive 'em otherwise But I must confess to yee that this last piece has so far satisfy'd my Intellect that I must needs tell yee you have out-done your self In loring your Stile you have rais'd it and in writing more after the vulgar strain you are so separated from your self that though many fain would imitate yee few in my Opinion can do it When I have read the remainder of your Piece I will write more particularly to yee now I shall only testify thus much that if my Affection for yee be capable of encreasing it encreases with your Merits which causes me to desire all Opportunities to let you see that I am really c. LETTER XLVIII To Monsieur de Nogent-Bautru THIS day I leave this City where with a more then ordinary joy the people as loudly resounded the King's Name as he is exaalted above all the King 's of the Earth and where they shew'd as much Obedience and Submission to His Majesty's Arms as they had signaliz'd themselves till then in Disobedience and Obstinacy I shall not tell yee what Testimonies of Honour I then receiv'd because it was to the Authority which it has pleas'd His Majesty to entrust me with to whom they are due and not to me who am c. LETTER XLIX To Monsieur d' Argencourt I will not conceal it from yee that I was not a little surpriz'd at first when I understood you were Marry'd not believing yee to have been of a Humor to submit your self to such a troublesome Yoak as many times that of Marriage is But I was so far from finding any thing to object against the Resolution you had taken that on the other side I believe you have done very well and I commend yee for having made so good a Choice as that of Mademoiselle de Berricheres for whose Conversion I am infinitely glad I beseech yee to assure her of my Affection and for your own part to be confident that I am c. LETTER L. To Monsieur Bowart I Write yee these Lines to conjure yee to tell the King frankly when you think it proper for him to take Physick and not to conceal from him what you think requisite for his Health He is a Prince so Gracious and so Judicious that though your proceeding displease him at first he will be glad of the effects of it 'T is better in this particular to displease him a little for his good then to comply with him to his prejudice If thou think the alledging my thoughts will encline His Majesty to believe you and to make use of those Remedies you shall prescribe him you may produce my Letters and shew 'em to him it being certain that he will readily pardon the Counsel which I give you to press him for his own Health of which I shall always have a more singular care then of my own life In the mean time you will do me an unspeakable Kindness to send me continually the state of his Body and to believe that I am really c. LETTER LI. To the same Person THE Letter I received from you would have been a great Affliction to me to find therein the King's indisposition if at the same time you had not assured me that it is only an Ebullition of the Blood I must confess that in regard His Majesty's Health is so necessary for France and so dear to his Servants the least attack of Sickness upon it disturbs me beyond Expression I send this Gentleman to bring me back an account of the King's Condition which I passionately wish may be such as he himself could desire I make no doubt but you will contribute what lies in your Power toward his perfect Recovery that so his Health may restore to his Servants that Joy which his Indisposition has depriv'd 'em of To this end I send up all my Prayers to Heaven and in hopes that the News I shall receive from you will bring a Confirmation of the contentment I receiv'd by your first Letters I beseech yee to believe that I am assuredly c. LETTER LII To Monsieur dâ— Auriac THE King being inform'd at my Return after what manner you have continu'd to serve him in his Army in Italy has been pleas'd of his own motion to make you sensible of his acknowledgment of your Services as you will find by the Letter which his Majesty has Written to you as also by the Patent which he has commanded me to send you You need not put your self to any trouble in soliciting the payment of it for that I shall take care my self that every thing shall be done to your full Satisfaction desiring to let you see not only upon this Occasion but upon all others wherein your interest is concern'd the value which I have for yee and how affectionately I am c. LETTER LIII To the King THE Sentiments which Your Majesty had of my Distemper and your gracious manner of writing to me are of greater value then all the Services I ever did or ever shall do Your Majesty I feel my self so extraordinary touched and oblig'd that it is impossible for me to represent it to your Majesty The Series of my Actions shall return Your Majesty perpetual Thanks seeing Your Goodness is so extraordinary in my behalf my Passion for your Service never was nor ever shall be equall'd by any man what ever that serv'd so great a Prince 'T is about ten days ago that my Ague left me but still it makes me many times sensible of the visit it gave me However these Inconveniences
Letter which your Son M. Bouthillier deliver'd me from your self that the Pope speaks so well of the King that His Holiness approves His Majesty's Actions and all that has been done for some Months since at his Court The Queen at Compeigne So that you may assure your self that as there is no Prince in Christendom who more sincerely honours and respects His Holiness then His Majesty so there is not any one who more passionately desires the continuance of his Favours then he does For my part 't is impossible for me to express to yee in Words my real Acknowledgment of the Testimonies which His Beatitude vouchsafes to give of my Conduct I beseech yee when Occasion offers to let him know and assure him that as I am infinitely beholding to him so there is no Person living more affectionate to him then I am who will omit nothing that lies in my power to give him certain Proofs of this Truth upon all Opportunities that present themselves And be assur'd also that I will never lose any one to let you see that I am c. LETTER LXXXIX The Draught of the King's Letter to the Provinces upon M. Schomberg 's Entring Savoy with his Army MY Cousin the Cardinal of Richlieu coming to attend me at Grenoble according to my Order has given a particular Account of what fell out in his Journey for Piedmont where he has omitted nothing that I could expect from his Fidelity Courage and Prudence as well in the Conduct of my Arms as in the Negotiations of a Peace upon several Proposals made by His Holiness by my Cousin the Cardinal Antonio his Legate and the Nuncio's employ'd to that End as also by other Persons who have propounded several Conditions so remote from Reason and with so little Security for my Cousin the Duke of Mantua's Territories or those of the rest of the Italian Princes that I could not give my Consent to 'em without greatly prejudicing my Dignity and Reputation They would prescribe the Duke of Mantua Laws altogether new and deprive him of the Liberty of making use of such Persons or Nations as he shall judge convenient for the ordinary Guard of his Strong Holds and yet they will not so much as assure him neither of the Investiture of his Dutchies but only as a thing which he may hope for after he has sent to demand it of the Emperor which he has done formerly several times by his Son which would be to expose the Success of an unjust thing to the Inconveniencies of delay'd Resolutions which are frequently subject to remarkable Changes They would also oblige me to deliver up Suza and Pignerol and other Places which I hold in Piedmont only restoring the Passes of the Grisons and yet not oblige 'em to surrender the Valtolinâ— according to the Treaties and Agreements formerly made between us the Performance of which we reserv'd to our selves with Power to cause the Breaches thereof to be made good by the Parties Besides which Conditions the Duke of Savoy demands that the Annual Rent of Fifteen Thousand Crowns in Gold which I caus'd the Duke of Mantua to grant him the Payment of for his Pretensions in Montferrat should be paid him in old Rents and Duties which he made to amount to three time more then I promis'd him to the end he might swallow up the best part of Montferrat by his excessive Dâ—mands Therefore seeing things so far remote from Reason and Peace on the part of the Authors of this War who affect Scruples and Niceties to justifie themselves in their unjust Usurpations and Enterprizes 〈◊〉 the Answers which my Cousin of Richlieu return'd 'em 〈…〉 Command having sufficiently made known to 'em 〈…〉 of my Intentions and my Desire of the publick Peace and Tranquility and that the Duke of 〈◊〉 who by a â—reaty made between him and me the last Year was oblig'd to join his Arms with mine and allow 'em a safe and free Passage through his Dominions and furnish 'em with necessary Ammunition and Provisions in their March into 〈◊〉 for the Defence of the said Duke of Mâ—nâ—un never minded the Performance of the said Obligation as he was several times requested by my said Cousin I have therefore been constrain'd to make use of the Means that God has put into my hands and to enter by Force of Arms into the Countries and Territories of Savoy in order to open a Passage into Italy for the Succour of the Duke of Mantua and to maintain the rest of the Princes my Confederates in their ancient Liberty And in regard my principal Aim is to procure 'em an assured Peace and Repose and not to usurp upon my Neighbours I shall not neglect any Means to obtain it whether by Force of Arms or by a Treaty of Peace provided it may de made as I desire upon sure and reasonable Conditions for the Repose and Liberty of Italy correspondent to the Dignity of my Crown and the Authority of my Mediation c. LETTER XC From Cardinal Richlieu to M. d'Avaux JUdging it to be altogether requisite that the Republick of Venice should satisfie the Pope in reference to his Nomination of Cardinal Cornaro to be Bishop of Padua as well for the Respect they owe His Holiness as in Consideration of the present Conjuncture of Affairs I write you these Lines to desire yee that you would contribute all your good Offices with the Lords of the Senate and to let 'em understand that the King 's pressing Importunity proceeds from his Affection for 'em and his Consideration of their Advantage I promise my self that you will leave nothing omitted that may be expected from you to surmount the Difficulties you may meet with in this Affair and accomplish it to the Satisfaction of His Holiness and His Majesty considering how great a Shater he is in what concerns His Holiness For which Reason I shall forbear to urge you any farther but conclude with affuring yee that I am c. LETTER XCI To M. de Brassac I Write you these Lines to acquaint you that it has pleas'd the King to nominate Monsieur the President Coigneux to the Dignity of a Cardinal as a Person whom he deems worthy of that Honour and to conjure yee that you will contribute what lies in you towards the Accomplishment of this Affair as well in Consideration that it is His Majesty's Desire as for the Satisfaction it will be to Monsieur provided it may be effected as soon as possble And although I know that these are Motives so prevalent in your Mind that all other Persuasives would be needless I cannot but recommend this Affair to your Sedulity with much more Affection then if it were for my self who shall be ready to testifie my Acknowledgment upon all Opportunities that shall present themselves to let you see that I am c. LETTER XCII To the same Person THough I have already written to yee in behalf of Monsieur the President Coigneilx concerning the
the Counsells of Cardinal Antonio because he had no great kindness for M. de Novailies He is gone with Orders to comport himself with all respect to the Pope and to serve the whole Family of the Barberini particularly your Patron It would shew a great peice of Levity and make it appear to themselves whom we are desirous to favour in sending him that we are as little capable of Constancy as we are esteemed Vain and Fickle by all the World Both our Friends and Enemies would never believe we could withstand any vigorous Resolution that should be taken against our designs I must confess I do not believe 't was either for yours or our benefit to change in such a manner from White to Black it being certain that whatever favour you might obtain by his being recall'd it could never be so much to your Advantage as the Discovery which people would thereby make that it being in your power to remove him you must have also the same share in his being sent which it behoves yee always to deny would be to your prejudice 'T is your Business to govern your self in such a manner that Cardinal Barberini may not think that you have ever undertaken any thing contrary to his Desires Marshal d' Estrees will demean himself with so much Modesty that the Pope and his Nephews shall have no other cause but to speak well of him assuring my self that they will not take any occasion to complain of him for being zealous in maintaining the Interests of France To this purpose 't is impossible for me but I must tell yee that his Holinesses Usage of Monsieur of Parma is unsufferable and that it is altogether contrary to the ends of a good Peace Had the Pope thunder'd out his Excommunications against the Spaniards that are in Arms within his Territories as he has done against the Duke of Parmaâ— in case he does not lay down his Armes within such a time he had taken from us in the judgment of men who are not partial to either side all occasion of complaint but to pour the Extremity of his Rigour upon Monsieur of Parma and to say nothing to the Spaniards to speak freely and ingeniously is to encourage the Spaniards to invade his Country and give the World an occasion to believe that his Holiness is agreed with 'em to share the Spoils of that poor Prince which will render the Intercession of a Legate altogether suspected at the Treaty of Peace to all those who are not favourers of the House of Austria This affair so nearly concerns his Majesty that if the Pope does not take such Resolutions as may hinder the Spaniards from ruining that Prince under pretence of his Allowance many will believe that France having no more to hope from his Holiness has as little to fear on that side I defire yee to take some pains in this Affair as being of great importance to his Holinesses Reputation and all his Family and the advancement of the Peace I must confess that only the Italians and particularly the Giulii know how to do business as they should do In time of Peace they scatter about their sweet Powders and throw about their Thunders in time of War All that I can say more upon this subject is that I shall always make use of the latter against the Enemies of the Church and his Holiness when there shall be any occasion for it LETTER CXCII To the same Monsieur the Count of Fiesque being sent by the Duke of Parma tells us that he is extreamly alarum'd at two things The one is That His Holiness after he had been sick was no sooner recover'd but he decreed an Excommunication against the said Duke The Second is That the said Duke has receiv'd a Dispatch from the King which gives him three sorts of Advice which are very harsh and ruinous He says That the Purport of the Dispatch is that he should humble himself to the Pope which he is willing to do That he should not make any Scruple of going to Rome which he believes to be very pernicious to his Person And That he should not be afraid of laying down his Arms which he holds to be the Ruin of his Territories I told him that the King had advis'd him plainly and uprightly to humble himself to His Holiness That he had also sent him word that the Agreement being made he was not to make any Scruple either of going to Rome or of laying down Arms before the Pope when His Holiness should have engag'd his Word to His Majesty and other Princes of Christendom for the Performance of his Promise The said Count told me that the Dispatch speaks nothing of these Circumstances which render the King's Counsels very reasonable but only that it speaks cursorily However I know that the Siâ—ur de Lionne's Dispatch which was not arriv'd till the said Count was gone sets down all the Circumstances at large calling to mind that we did it both together But to tell yee the Truth I never saw the rest The said Duke's Affairs are in a bad Condition as far as I can understand by the Count and I see he is greatly afraid of being strip'd of his Territories I must confess 't is a very strange thing that they are so harsh at Rome to a Prince who is guilty of no more then a piece of inconsiderate Conduct which it were to be wish'd had never happen'd For my own part I see to my Sorrow the Spiritual Power of the Church employ'd to render the Temporal Power of the Popes more potent and more effectual to decide certain Differences to their Advantage which are much more prejudiciaâ— then advantageous to the Safety of Souls I am apt to believe that the Sieur de Lionne's â—ourney will take effect both at Parma from whence Mareschal d'Estrees is not yet departed and at Rome where His Holiness will better consider the King 's importunate Desires when he shall find himself press'd by a new Envoy Monsieur of Parma has Fifteen Hunder'd Horse and between Four and Five Thousand Foot Things are now reduc'd to that Point that he will not separate from an Alliance with the Barberini which I would have continue between you and I. LETTER CXCIII To the King of Poland I Assure my self that when Your Majesty knows the particular Circumstances upon which Prince Casimir was seiz'd in France you will not think it strange seeing he was going about to League himself with Spain between which Kingdom and France there has been open Wars for some Years as Your Majesty knows and that instead of going by Sea as he might have safely done he would needs go by Land on purpose to take a View of the Fortresses and Ports upon the Coast of Provence upon which Spain has already divers times had several Designs Now in regard that the Security of Kingdoms does not permit that upon such Occasions any Respect should be shewn to the Quality of Persons it
was impossible for those who were in the Province to do other wise then they did without particular Orders At this time therefore Prudence will not allow his Releasment but under such infallible Assurances that he shall not act either directly or indirectly against France as are no way to be evaded He is and shall be treated with all the Respect that is due to a Person of his Quality and who is in that Station that he is And I shall deem it a great Honour to see him in a better Condition that I might be able to manifest to Your Majesty by my Respect to his Person the Reverence I shall always have for Your Name as being c. LETTER CXCIV To the Duke of Neubourg IF I thought you were capable of believing what you write to me I would make it my Business to convince yee of that Opinion nor would my Trouble be very great But I take you for too penetrating a Prince to believe that France is the Cause of all the Miseries which you foresee will be fall Italy or that I have refus'd any just Conditions of an Accommodation Monsiour the Legate knows that I made the Way as easie to it as it was possible for me to do But to consent to such a Peace as had only the Name of a Peace and which in three Months would inforce us to buckle on our Arms again I must confess I am not capable of being persuaded to it I have a greater Longing for a sound Peace in Christendom the Repose of Italy and the Satisfaction of the Holy See then they who most pretend to desire ' em I serve a Master whose Aim it is not to enlarge his Dominions with the Spoils of his Neighbours and who never display'd his Banners in Foreign Countries but to deliver from Oppression such Princes and States as are unjustly assail'd So soon as they shall really and not in Words alone surcease from doing Mischief on that side they shall find the King inclin'd to whatever can be expected from a most just Prince and though of a Warlike Disposition yet most desirous of Peace As to the Miseries wherewith you threaten France His Majesty's Arms are so long that though he has one stretch'd out into Italy he will with the other sufficiently defend his remotest Frontiers and if they think to force him to a Defensive War on that side they will force him to act contrary to what he designs and to what he thinks of least of all I am c. LETTER CXCV. From Father Joseph to Father Valerian a Confident of Marquis Spindola 's during the Siege of Pignerol Reverend Father I Have receiv'd the Writing sent me by a Trumpeter from the Duke of Savoy It would be needless to answer many things which your Reverence I am confident well knows to be a little too tart and which I am therefore willing to believe are not conformable to your Sentiments In the mean time I must tell yee that they who blame Artifice and Wily Craft upon such Occasions as these have great Reason for what they say since nothing has hinder'd the past Treaties about the Affairs now in dispute but those Tricks and Shifts which have been put in practise contrary to our Desire and Expectation 'T is easie to know the Designs of those who have always talk'd as loudly as they have acted openly on this side but impossible to make 'em talk things that are not in their power The Prudence of those who have meddl'd in this Affair is too much esteem'd for having design'd to delay the Preparations which they are desirous to make for the War If they are thought of on this side the Proverb Sivis pacem para beâ—…m is the Cause of it In a Word Neither the Thoughts nor Designs on this side are such as the Writing which you have sent me represents ' em Peace is sincerely desir'd but a safe and honourable Peace And when we shall see in reality the Securities which your Reverence has propos'd the Declaration of the Treaty of Monson which you speak of and the effectual Reparation of the Breaches of the said Treaty as your Writing declares that the Marquis Spinola is willing to do then we shall believe those Gentlemen have some Inclination to Peace and it will be clearly seen whether they have Reason to say that France has no mind to it You say that on our part we want Effects and that on your part you propound nothing but your Thoughts upon which you know there is no Foundation to be laid Mon Seignicur the Cardinal has always talk'd distinctly according to the Power wherewith he is intrusted in an Affair upon which he could not as yet have time to know the King's Pleasure He has no other End no other Aim then the Welfare and Repose of Christendom And when he understands His Majesty's Intentions he will speak 'em as freely as he has hitherto done his own particular Sentiments I pray to God to bring all things to a good Conclusion which I know we both of us ought and do desire LETTER CXCVI. From the King to the Duke of Lorrain I Am much troubl'd that the Sieur de Ville has brought me no Satisfaction on your part to my just Complaints of your Demeanour I beseech yee to consider well whether it can be a thing to your advantage to do quite contrary to what all your Predecessors have done in contemning that Union which they have always religiously observ'd with this Crown and persisting in the Breach of those Treaties which you have made with me I expect a speedy Answer and such Deeds as I may reasonably desire upon this Subject if you desire that I should afford yee those Marks of my Good Will which I shall be al ways ready to conferr upon yee if you do not force me to the contrary LETTER CXCVII From Cardinal Richlieu to the same YOU are too clear-sighted in your Affairs to have need of Counsel and living with the King as you do you ought to be too jealous of me to take my Advice But for all that I most earnestly beseech yee to consider well whether it be for your Advantage to lie under His Majesty's Displeasure And in case you do not think it for your Good a thing which in my Opinion Your Highness can never believe I as earnestly intreat yee to seek out all the Ways which you shall deem most proper to satisfie him for what has pass'd since the Treaty of Peace I beseech yee so much the more willingly because it is for the Good of your Service for which I shall always have a sincere Affection when you shall give the King what he ought to expect in pursuance of your Promises and Treaties Be pleas'd to believe what I say and moreover that I am c. LETTER CXCVIII. To the Duke of Parma YOU will understand from Monsieur the Count of Scoti how that the Succour which the King promis'd
what Natural Civility Dexterity and Wit inspires into those that are to make use of their Parts Only you must observe That for avoiding all manner of Jealousie there needs no other Order in the Visits that are to be made to Princes and Imperial Cities then what your Journey shall prescribe And that one of the most important things to persuade 'em is that we put a high Value upon their Alliance and that we have an unexpressible Care to preserve 'em and that upon all Occasions they shall receive our Assistance This is that which will slide into their Minds greatly to our Benefit if dexterously insinuated into the Compliments that shall be made 'em if in order to make 'em believe what we promise 'em for the future you artificially lay before 'em what we have formerly done for 'em and how that Henry II. carried his Arms into Germany in Defence of Princes prosecuted to the utmost Extremity How that Henry the Great always protected and favour'd em was strictly united with 'em by the Treaty of Hall and a little before his Death set a powerful Army on foot upon the Supplications of some of the Princes As to the Particular Means they are various according to the various Interests of Princes who have any thing of Quarrel with us The Memoirs presented by their Agents will inform yee of their Pretensions and our Answers annex'd to 'em will let yee know how far we can now go in order to treat 'em civilly upon their Demands After the execrable Parricide committed upon Henry the Great of immortal Memory upon the 14th of May 1610. the Queen being declar'd Regent by the King her Son sitting in Parliament upon his Seat of Justice and being as soon acknowledg'd by the common Consent of the Princes and Lords the Sovereign Courts of the Kingdom and in a Word by all France the first thing she set before her Eyes was the maintaining of Peace and keeping the King's Subjects fix'd to his Person by the Ties of Favours and Benefits To attain this End she renew'd the Edict of Nantes and by that means removes all manner of Jealousie out of the Minds of her Subjects She re-calls Monsieur the Prince of Conde and retrieves him out of the Arms of the King of Spain into which he had thrown himself enlarges his Pensions upon his Arrival makes him great Presents and heaps her Favours upon him opens her Hand of Bounty to all the rest of the Princes and Lords and engages 'em by great Sums of Money Considering that the â—trength of a Prince lies as much in his Counsel as in his Arms and being desirous in all things as much as possibly might be to follow the Steps of the deceased King his Lord and Father she makes use of those whom she finds to have been employ'd by him in the Management of Affairs Things being thus settl'd as she thought to have enjoy'd the Repose which France enjoy'd a Repose so entire that we may truly say she had no other Trouble but that of her Sorrow and her Tears her next Business was to take care of Foreign Affairs The Death of the Duke of Cleves and Juliers being attended with a great Dispute about the Succession the Competitors had Recourse to Arms upon which she takes the same Resolution which the deceased King had taken to interpose her Authority She sends Forces thither to render the Reasons for her composing that Difference more prevalent and powerful Having accomplish'd her Design to the great Reputation of this Crown she preserves the glorious Title which that great Monarch had acquir'd of Arbitratrix of Christendom This Foreign Tempest was no sooner calm'd but a Storm threatens France However she immediately procur'd fair Weather by dissipating the evil Designs of several factious Spirits who to take the Advantage of our Misfortunes would fain in the Assembly of Saumur have engag'd the Kingdom in a War Having warded off this Blow she maintains all things in Peace till the Troubles began at Mavieres in the fourth Year of her Regency Troubles which she stifl'd in the Birth by the Treaty of Monehould Following her Inclination which persuaded her to Clemency she pardons all the King her Son's Enemies and despoils him of some of his Towns to deliver 'em into their Hands opens his Treasure imitating in so doing that same ancient Prince who thought it behoov'd him to give away for the Good of the People what had been hoarded up to that End She endeavours to hold fast those turbulent Spirits with Chains of Gold But her Hands were no sooner empty'd of the Treasure which she had given away to purchase Peace but the Clouds began to thicken again presaging a new â—torm And now the Tempest pouring down she is not daunted but because she did not think fitting to avoid the Tempest by giving way to the Waves she resolves to resist the Weather and make head against the Whirl-wind And indeed her Resolution was attended with such good Success that marching against her Enemies she reduc'd 'em by Force to what she could not bring 'em by Reason Poictou and Bretagne being swept clean she returns in Glory with her Son to Paris The Peace of France being more firmly settl'd by this Progress a War broke out in Italy Thither she sends to quench it and she prov'd so successful that she accomplish'd what she undertook At the same time she declares her Son to be of Age causes the Edicts of Pacification to be re-publish'd and having a little before summon'd together the States of the Kingdom to regulate the Disorders of the Realm and remedy the Oppressions of the Subjects she most industriously labours to render the Fruit of that Assembly conformable to her Designs and being disturb'd in her Design by Branglings Factions and a Thousand Artifices she disappointed 'em all as much as possibly she could That Assembly applauded and thank'd His Majesty for that after he came of Age he had unloaded the Burthen of his Affairs upon her Vigilancy Presently to preserve the King's Dignity she re-demands the City and Castle of Amboise which had been granted to Monsieur the Prince and has 'em surrender'd She importunes the King to consummate tâ—… Marriage projected by the deceased King his Father and decreed by the Queen-Mother and all the Princes and Lords of the Council The King consents to her Request and resolves to accomplish it All those that wish'd him ill oppos'd it and to attain their Ends make use of all manner of Artifices The King departs that he might not perform what he had resolv'd upon with the Consent of the whole Kingdom Monsieur the Prince betakes himself to Arms and some Hugâ—nâ—… and some Catholicks forgetful of their Duty join with him Foreigners are also introduc'd into the Kingdom and nothing but Acts of Hostility firing of Houses Rapes and other Cruelties and Inhumanities are discours'd of The King's Journey is cross'd by the Sickness of Madam his Sister which gave
his Enemies Leisure to multiply in such a manner that they had the Boldness upon His Majesty's Return to dispute his Passage Nevertheless he attains his Ends his Marriage is accomplish'd He passes in view of his Enemies who stood their Ground because that full of Clemency he would not fall upon 'em to the end he might give 'em Time to repent He stops at Poictiers he fights 'em at St. Maixant pursues his Enemies who to avoid the Rigour of his Arms betake themselves for Security to Flight and the Protection of the Night Being quell'd and reduc'd to Extremity he admits 'em to a Treaty with him he buys their Allegiance and besides six Millions which he gave 'em to return to their Duty he gave to the Prince of Conde the City and Castle of Chinon the City and Tower of Bourges the Government of Berry and several Places in that Government and the greatest part of the Demesnes by way of Engagement And thus he puts an End to the War concludes a Peace and restores Rest and Quiet to the People harass'd beyond Measure and eaten to the Bone The good Intentions of these Reformers appear'd in this That instead of discharging the People which serv'd 'em for the pretence of their Discontents their insatiable Appetites oblig'd us to lay heavier Burthens upon 'em that instead of releasing their Pensions which they offer'd to do for the Benefit of the King's Affairs they demanded an Augmentation of 'em and exacted above six Millions more clear Money out of his Coffers The King returns to Paris the Queen advises him to recall Monsieur the Prince to be near his Personâ— and so he in like manner gave Liberty to all that had alâ—…ted themselves to attend His Majesty Monsieur the Prince being arriv'd she shares with him that Authority which she exercis'd with the Permission of the King her Son Nay she does more she despoils her self of it altogether to invest him in it absenting her self from the Councils and leaving to him the entire Administration of the Finances a thing as extraordinary as unheard of But this Obligation was no sooner laid upon Monsieur the Prince but it was forgotten Hardly was a Month expir'd before it was perceiv'd that he was possess'd by those Evil Spirits who always instigated him to the Ruin of France 'T was perceiv'd that he render'd Evil for Good desiring the Government and sowing a Thousand Reports among the People to the Disadvantage of the Queen He goes farther He throws himself into the first Factions cabals all the Societies and endeavours to make sure to himself all the Corporations of Paris To these Ends several Assemblies were held in the Night-time Darkness being proper to cover the Shame which Conspiracies imprint in the Foreheads of their Contrivers The Curates and Preachers were tamper'd with and Publick Faith was violated Peronne was taken by the Arms of the Sieur de Longueville but by the Counsels of Monsieur the Prince and his Adherents This open'd the Eyes of all the World the Aposteme breaks and the Matter appears several discharge their Consciences accuse themselves and testifie their Acknowledgment one Prince deposes a Princess talks two Dukes intervene a Prelate declares what he knows several discover what came to their Knowledge and all unanimously agree to reveal a pernicious Plot against the King his Kingdom and his Government 'T is confirm'd that they assure themselves of Soldiers Lastly Monsieur the Prince speaks believing his Plot discover'd he confesses it to the Queen palliating his Offence as much as he can tells her that the King and she are beholding to him for their Lives and promises never to procure any Meetings and to desist from his factious Beginnings The Queen pardons him resolves to forget all that is past but understanding by undeniable Proofs that the Prince's Acknowledgments were all counterfeited that he had new Meetings that he was resolv'd as before to make himself Master of the King her Son's Person and hers Nature could not permit her to suffer more She shew'd her self to be a Mother she shew'd her self to be a Queen by securing those that sought her Ruin For this Reason she arrested Monsieur the Prince and without doing any Injury to his Person procures the Good of the whole Kingdom by that Means disappointing his pernicious Designs After this Arrest some other Princes and Lords adviâ—…d by their own Fears or by their Consciences withdrew from the Court made a Bustle and a great Noise The Queen without losing her Courage advis'd the King to put himself into a Condition to reduce 'em by Force then to stretch forth his Arms of Mercy and admit 'em to acknowledge their Faults or that if innocent they might justifie themselves if guilty that they might have Recourse to his Compassion To this Effect the King goes to his Parliament and gives 'em an Account of all that had pass'd and imparts to all the World what he need not have done the Reasons which forc'd him to that Resolution promises a strict Performance of the Treaty of Laudâ—n offers Pardon to all those who having render'd themselves guilty by their Actions should deserve it by a quick Return Several Persons interpose complain of these Proceedings find fault with the Arrest though commended by all good Men approv'd by Foreigners as also by Monsieur the Prince though the Person most interested who touch'd in Conscience confesses ingenuously that by securing his Person they secur'd the Person of the King They are offer'd all the Security they could desire they accept of it the King forgets their withdrawing themselves and all that was past Their Majesties receive 'em into their Favour as if they had never given any Cause of Offence All things being now quiet People were astonish'd that M. de Nevers who was never known to have tamper'd with these Factions displeas'd at something that had happen'd between the Governor and him gives himself the Liberty to speak disrespectfully of the Queen and to the disaduantage of His Majesty People wonder'd that he should permit himself to run out into Actions which exceeded the Bounds which no true Subject can transgress in a Sovereign State or ought to exceed in reference to his Prince He provides Arms lists Soldiers takes the Field with some re-inforces his Garisons and fortifies his Towns Intelligence comes from all Parts that they gave out salfe Reports among the People Upon this our Eyes are open'd again the King resolves by the Advioe of all his Council to send Forces to the Places where those Disorders were committed not so much to do any Harm to any Body as to prevent Mischiefs He sends Commissioners into his Mutinous Provinces to inform themselves of such as deviated from their Duties and after an exact Cognizance thereof to apply requisite Remedies This is an exact Recital and as it were a Picture in short of the Government of this Kingdom for these six Years They who have nothing before their Eyes that may hinder
them from discerning Things such as they are nor a Will that carries 'em contrary to their Knowledge find very little to urge against all this but only to what the Misfortune of Times customary to the Weakness of Minorities introduces for which there is no Remedy to be apply'd But some disaffected Persons like those envenom'd Stomachs that convert into Poison the best of Nourishments observe in the Government many Things which being rightly consider'd deserve rather to be applauded then sound fault with The first Action which they censure is the Marriage with Spain which they put in the first place as a Hidra with several Heads since as they reckon from thence proceeds the Division of France the Rupture of ancient Amities and the Scorn of Foreign Alliances with England Italy and Germany The Second is the Waste of the Treasury The Third is the Fortune of some Foreigners The Fourth and Last is the Seizing of the Prince of Conde so clearly justify'd by what we have said that it would be superfluouâ— to say any more of it here By these Heads artificially disguiz'd and publish'd they decry the Government which however being duly consider'd will appear as worthy as they would render it infamous after we have cut off all the Heads of this monstrous Hydra To make 'em approve the Alliance between France and Spain I shall not insist much upon it that 't is an ordinary thing for those two Kingdoms to unite themselves by Marriages History containing a great Number of Examples Of the most remarkable were the Marriage of Charlemaine with Galiena the Daughter of the King of Toledo Of Lâ—wis VII with Constance the Daughter of Alphonso King of Spain and Galicia Of Lewis VIII with Blanch the Daughter of the King of Castille to which Marriage we are beholding to the Birth of St. Lewis and all the Happiness we enjoy by the Regency of his Mother Of Philip the Bald with Isabel the Daughter of the King of Arragon Of Francis I. with Elenor Sister to the Emperor Charles V. Of Charles IX with Elizabeth of Austria Daughter of the Emperor Maximilian and Grand-daughter to Ferdinand King of Spain I will not urge that because the Enmities between great Personages are frequently pacify'd by Marriages that therefore this Match was useful to establish a Peace between the two Crowns I will not insist that there was nothing remaining for this Monarchy to do being assur'd of all her Neighbours but to secure her self by an Alliance with this Crown to the end that being in no danger from without she might be the more at liberty to reduce those that endeavour'd to trouble the Kingdom within I will not set forth that we have already gain'd this Advantage by Marriages that they have at least depriv'd those who have gone about to trouble the Repose of France the way to make a Benefit of Spain which was formerly wont to foment our Divisions and sow 'em also among us 'T is sufficient to stop the Mouths of those that condemn 'em to justifie 'em and cause 'em to be approv'd by all the World to declare that they were design'd and desir'd by the deceased King that they were agreed to by the Princes Lords and Officers of the Crown transacted by the Duke of Maine commended and desir'd by the Three Orders of the Kingdom imparted to the King of England by the Duke of Bouillon and to other Princes Republicks and Confederates of this Crown by the Ambassadors residing near their Persons and lastly happily accomplish'd And that instead of a bloody War of which as it was given out they were to be the Fore-runners they have been attended with a general Peace over all France which Their Majesties being desirous always to preserve among their People as they have sufficiently made it appear there is no Occasion to fear that contrary to their Words and the Edicts of the deceased Henry the Great they will attempt any thing that may infringe it 'T is to no purpose to urge the daring Humour of the Spaniard seeing that without diving into their Intentions and Designs we should do our selves an Injury to believe that we cannot keep our own and preserve our selves from those who justly ought to fear us Then again 't is an idle Terrour to fear that the Alliance of the two Crowns should occasion the Division of France For no Man will readily believe that a Man will burn his own House to do his Neighbour a Kindness Or that a Man will hate and ruin himself for the Love of another Different Beliefs do not render us different Kingdoms We are all united under one in whose Service no Catholick is so blind as to think a Spaniard better then a French Huguenot There will be found a real Division not in this World but in the other not occasion'd by the Matches between France and Spain but by the Diversity of our Religions If this Match contain'd any Article contrary to the Edicts of Pacification there might be some Reason to fear But there being no such thing quite the contrary seeing the Articles are sign'd and decreed since it is done and consummated seeing the Edicts have been renew'd no less then four times upon the Death of the late King upon the King's Majority at Bourdeaux and at Laudun though those of the Religion had greatly offendeâ— the King in joining with the Rebels what Reason is there to fear that he will give any Interruption to what the deceased King Henry the Great has establish'd for the Union and Tranquility of his Subjects What Reason have they of the pretended Reformed Religion to complain seeing their Edicts have been renew'd under this Reign and confirm'd several times their Pensions augmented and paid notwithstanding all the Exigencies of State Themselves also assisted against the most zealous and furious Catholicks as the Difference between the Rochellers and M. d' Espernon can justifie and lastly favour'd to that degree that we may say that many Enterprizes have been unpunish'd for their sakes You must not forget to insinuate how that we sent back the Spaniards that waited upon the Queen which clearly justifies our Design to make our selves Spaniards in France Moreover You must take an Occasion to signifie to 'em to our Advantage that we desire not the Advancement of Spain We offer 'em tho' discreetly to assist 'em against the Attempts of the King of Spain to set the Crowns of Hungary Bohemia the King of the Romans and the Empire upon the Head of a Child of Spain And to give 'em Proofs of our Affection and to let 'em see that we have no Designs but the Good of the Empire 't were well that you should let 'em know that we pretend to no other thing but only to concurr with 'em to set the said Crowns upon the Head of that Person whom they shall deem most acceptable to His Imperial Majesty and most useful to Christendom Seeing then this Match can create no Jealousie by
any Condition inserted in those Articles 't is past all Doubt that if they have any Cause to except against it 't is by reason that the Alliance with Spain is of it self odious and prejudicial to Christendom In which Case England deserves more justly to be blam'd then we since she has so passionately sought the same Alliance that we have accepted This Match ought also to give as little Jealousie to the Foreign Protestants as to the French since the Interests of State that bind Princes are different from the Interests of the Salvation of Souls which obliging us to live and die in the Church wherein we were born bind us only in respect of others to desire 'em by fair Means not to hall 'em by Force and Constraint Several Christians have been so united with Mis-believers that their Arms have never been separated in Conquests of this World though in those which they pretend to Heaven they have been divided Since Errour insinuated it self into Europe into England and among our selves these Crowns have been united together by the same Bonds Philip King of Spain having married Elizabeth the Daughter of Henry II. these two Kings being greatly puissant Henry naturally Warlike and an Enemy to the Huguenots the Crown of England enjoy'd by a Woman the Catholicks potent in her Country Scotland was Leagu'd to France by the Marriage of Francis the Dauphin to Mary Steuart The Huguenots were every where weak they had not any Province in Flanders not one in France Liberty of Conscience was forbid nevertheless these two Crowns were so far from making any Advantage of their Union against the Queen of England and other neighbouring Countries that on the other side the Huguenots in France rebell'd against their King in Flanders against their Prince and in Scotland against their Queen All that we desire is to preserve our selves in such a manner that they may make no Attempts upon us In that Case we shall shew that no People surpass us in desiring to maintain our ancient Alliances for which we have a high Value Does not our desire to renew our Union with England appear by the Tye which binds us to Spain It appears by the Conditions which we have coveted to that end that we wholly desire that Alliance and by the proceeding of the English who have relax'd in their pursuit of it in prosecution of new Alliances with Spain that there is Cunning if not Malice in what they do to render us odious in order to make themselves acceptable Can it be call'd a Contempt of our ancient Alliances with Spain that we keep in Pay four thousand Foot for the preservation of the Protestants in that Kingdom whereas we were not bound by the Treaty to pay 'em above two years Is it not sufficient for us that we know it was one of the last marks of the deceased King's Good-will to bestow upon 'em Seventeen millions all at once Is it a Contempt of our ancient Alliances to take care of the continuance of the Treaties between them and the Arch-Duke of Austria To give the Republic of Genâ—a a Pension of 24000 Crowns which was paid in the midst of our Necessities and for the maintenance of the Garrison necessary for their defence Is it a Contempt of our ancient Alliances with Germany to set an Army on foot in order to compose the Differences that happened about the affair of Cleves and Juliers Does the Treaty of Kempen at the Instance and by the Authority of France does that I say testifie our Scorn of ' em If it be not perform'd where lies the fault but among those who possessing the thing in Contest as it were in deposito will not let go their hold for the turning of their Titular Possession into succession of Time Have they not themselves forg'd Difficulties to bring about their ends Has not France offer'd to become Guarantee of the Treaty with England Has she not often renew'd her importunity as now she does Is it a Contempt of our ancient Alliances in Italy to take Arms to hinder the Duke of Savoy from oppressing the Duke of Mantua and afterwards to interpose on purpose to prevent Spain who comes in for her Stakes from ruining the Duke of Savoy The Conclusion of the Treaty of Ast does it not shew our great Care of our Neighbors If the Treaty have not taken effect are the mediators the cause of it If the Parties are not so free to perform as to promise the Conditious shall they who have taken their Words be accountedâ— guilty If afterwards they slip in some obscure Article into their Treaties to the end that by putting their own Interpretation upon them they may take from thence a plausible Pretence to disclaim em when they please as it has fallen out in that particular where lies the Fault The Spaniard obliges himself to remove from the Duke of Savoy the Jealousie of his Arms the Duke interprets this Article to be an absolute laying down of Arms The Spaniard averrs That his meaning was never to oblige himself to stand to that Condition are we to be responsible for these Shifts and Artifices Is it not sufficient that His Majesty interposes afresh to reconcile this Dispute Does he not satisfie by so doing what he may be thought to owe the Duke of Savoy out of Civility by permitting his Subjects freely to assist him That his whole Army consists of Twenty thousand men Is this a feeble Succour to a Prince What have we done that it might not be thought we have broken the Laws of our alliance with that Prince We permitted a passage to the Duke of Nemours but how With such assurance that he should have no Benefit by the Permission when the Embassadors of Savoy agreed to it judging before us that in so doing we should oblige Spain without opening her Purse since his Master could receive no Prejudice People are too apt to observe what with most probability be said against us but not what really justifies us They raise Causes of Complaint but pass over in silence that for which they ought in Justice to thank us Then again where is there any Englishman German Hollander or Reiter to be found in the Duke of Savoy's Army Yet these are the Nations who tacitely find fault with us doing in this like him who standing upon the brink of a River assists in words his drowning Friend but blames another who to save him from the danger ventures the drowning himself Is it a Contempt of our ancient Alliances with Spain to grant the Venetians a passage through the Grisons which they cannot have without us and without which the Arch-Duke de Grets would have had great Advantages over ' em Is it a dealing unkindly with that Republic not only to grant 'em a free passage but also to permit 'em to allye themselves with the Grisons to the end that afterwards without our intermediating they might enjoy that passage which they could not have
to Honours and Employments History produces so many Examples of it that instead of being troubled to find 'em out a man may make his choice of such as he pleases to make use of That which is so much discoursed of is far from the Degree of Preferment to which others have attain'd he is only a Foreigner born but so much a French Foreigner that he shows his Fortune to none but French How many of the best Families of this Kingdom have been advanced by his procurement Where is that man whom we loaded with his Master's Favours who is not obliged to their Majesties for ' em In England all the Scotch are advanced and no Englishman in France but one Stranger only all the rest French What cause for Complaint in this If there be any 't is they that make it are to be blamed and not they who are complained against Since it may be truly said to conclude all in three words the Government was such that if we consider it without Passion there can be nothing found in answer to this Article nor to any thing else here set down but that there may be seen to have been in it too much Clemency without Rigor too many Favours without Punishment Signed RICHELIEV The Instruction sent to M. Miron going into Switzerland in 1617 signed also DE RICHLIEU was all the same only that it began with these words After the most execrable Parricide committed upon the Person c. And that some lines were left out about the middle after these words You must not forget to insinuate how we send c. to these words exclusively This Marriage not being able to give any Jealousie c. Instructions for Monsieur de Marquemont Archbishop of Lyons for Rome 1617. From Mr. du Puy 's Study M.S. 504. THE King sent his Commands to the Marquess de Tersnel by his Secretary to go back to Rome in case he met him in any part of Italy to continue to serve his Majesty there in the Quality of his Ambassadour in ordinary judging it necessary in the present Conjunture of Affairs to give his Holiness a constant and perfect Knowledge thereof But the said Secretary found him so forward on his way that the Marquess could not easily comply with the said Order and therefore proceeded towards the Court where at his Arrival he has confirmed his Majesty's Resolution about the sending of some Mâ—n of Quality and Merit whose Person might be acceptable to the Pope and Sacred College until another be sent thither to reside there with the Title of his Ambassador in Ordinary in the usual manner There is indeed at Rome Cardinal Vicenzo late Vice Protector whose Fidelity and Affection the King is fully satisfied with and Cardinal Vrsini lately honoured with the Comprotectorship who both take Care of his said Majesty's Affairs in his Ambassador's Absence But whereas there seems to be a certain Emulation between them concerning the Mannagement and Direction of the said Affairs and that it is highly important to represent the true State and Constitution thereof to his Holiness together with the Causes and Motives of the Counsels and Resolutions that have been taken by his Majesty which can never be performed so well as by Persons sent on purpose with fresh Informations of whatsoever has been transacted there his Majesty has been induced by the aforesaid Considerations to send the Archbishop of Lyons expresly to Rome being perswaded that he could chuse no person more fit for the executing of that Office by reason of the Experience the late King of glorious Memory had of him there when he served the Holy See and his late Majesty in the Quality of Auditor in the Rota and the Reputation he has left there of his Virtue and Probity which will give him the more Credit with his Holiness and the sacred College whenever any Occasion shall happen to treat with them for his Majesty's Service There are Two Affairs depending at this Time which require this Ministry the one general relating to the Publick Tranquility of Italy and indeed of Christendom the other particular respecting the Welfare of this Kingdom and both of them the Honour and Satisfaction of his Majesty The said Archbishop is to begin the performing of his Office by kissing the Feet of his Beatitude in the King's Name by presenting the Letters his Majesty has written to him with his own Hand by assuring him of the Perseverance of his Devotion and Filial Observance of his Zeal and Desire for the Increase and Propagation of the Holy Name of God and of the Catholick Apostolick Roman Religion according to the Example of the Kings his Predecessors and of his Affection and Care to promote and settle the general Repose of Christendom as also to maintain Union and Concord among all the Princes his good Friends Allies and Neighbours to make them Sharers of that Peace with which it has pleased God to bless his Kingdom by the Death of the Marshal d'Ancre who was the sole Incendiary and real Cause of the Troubles that have been raised of late Years and the Spring of those Divisions that have perplexed all the parts of the State and the Minds of the Grandees thereof making use of both to advance himself to increase his Credit and Authority under the King's Minority the Weakness of a Regency and a confused Government That having attained such a degree of Power and Insolence by means as unjust as base and after having received more Favours and Honours than ever he could deserve or at first durst hope for he had reduced the Power of his Sovereign to the necessity of serving his unruly Passions and made it the Instrument of his insatiable Avarice and unbounded Ambition insomuch that after he had caused most of the Princes and ancient Officers of the Crown to be removed from his Majesty's Person in order to mannage and dispose all things with greater Liberty and to imbezle and order the King's Revenue at his Pleasure under Pretence of doing him Service in respect to the principal Affairs of State he brought the Kingdom into Confusion that he might govern alone according to his own Fancy to the Disgrace and Prejudice of the Dignity and Authority Royal and took the Advantage at the Expence of his Majesty's innocent afflicted Subjects of the Calamities and Miseries of the War of which he was the principal Author and Contriver to secure the Fortune he had built upon such illegal Foundations which his Majesty after having born too long has been forced to destroy in order to restore Peace to his People and deliver the Kingdom from the Persecution of a Man that was so Ingrateful and Wicked the Consequence whereof has immediately convinced every one how pernicious and destructive his Life was to the State which has recovered its Vigor and former Peace by his Death The Princes and Lords who had taken up Arms presently returned to their Duty and assured the King of their entire
Holiness will receive thereby it will be difficult to avoid its proving fatal to the Church and Carholick Religion by the multitude of Strangers of divers Nations and Religions who are preparing to run to the Duke of Savoy's assistance as to a common Cause both out of Dread and Jealousie of the encreasing Power of Spain and for the Justice of the Cause itself as well as by the example of others The assistance of the States of the Vnited Provinces has already been implor'd who will be the readier to grant it because it is against the King of Spain their ancient Adversary whom they will be pleas'd to see imploy'd and weaken'd in his Territories in Italy The Protestant Princes of Germany seem inclined to favour the same Cause out of the same Considerations and will do it yet more powerfully when they find the War begun in earnest A vast number of Captains and Soldiers this Kingdom swarms with at present upon the disbanding of the Army will freely repair thither for Imployment besides the Forces both of Foot and Horse the King is sending towards the Frontiers to assist the said Duke from thence if it be necessary under Marshal de Lesdiguieres Command a Person whose Name and Reputation is sufficiently known a resolution His Majesty can never desist from without a blemish to his Faith and Honor which are both engag'd to protect and defend the Duke when attack'd he not refusing to submit to reasonable Conditions besides that it is the Interest of his whole Kingdom not to suffer the King of Spain to extend his Dominions so near his Frontiers all which he may prevent with ease at present without fear or danger at home where all his Subjects express their Fidelity and the Nobility invites him to it by their Obedience Nevertheless the World may easily imagin with what Trouble and Grief His Majesty finds himself reduc'd to take this resolution living as he hath hitherto done and is still desirous to live with theâ— his Father-in-law having on both sides such dear Pledges of their mutual and fraternal Affection But the consideration of the Interest of his state joyn'd with the publick and private reasons heretofore alledged oblige his Majesty to prefer them to those Tyes of Friendship not violated by his Majesty but by those who force him to take measures so contrary to his Inclination tho lawful in themselves and worthy of a most Christian King zealous of the publick Peace as well as of the Safety of his real Friends Moreover his Majesty looks upon this means as the most effectual to promote a good understanding between the Parties and to prevent their proceeding any further For his Arms shall never be imployed to disturb the Peace of Christendom but on the contrary to settle it to oppose those that would interrupt it and to maintain every one in his Right protesting before GOD and Man that this is his real Intention and that he only takes Arms by force and constraint and for his Honor to preserve the said peace and to protect his Friends as it appears by the good Offices and Endeavours heretofore used by him and still continued with Vigor in Spain and elsewhere and will be farther evinced by real Effects in this and all other occasions This the Archbishop is to represent to his Holiness and to Cardinal Borghese to make them sensible of the Consequences of such a Resolution and Breach his Majesties sincere Intention in this affair the Endeavours he has used and still continues to prevent it together with the powerful motives and reasons inducing him thereunto to the end that being mov'd by their Affection and usual Prudence in affairs of such weight and consequence either by persons sent on purpose or by other means suitable to the urgency of the danger they may endeavour to prevail with the said King to encline to a Peace which will be more honourable more useful to his affairs and without any comparison far more advantageous for the Public Good than a War the events of which are uncertain long and liable to produce Effects contrary to our expectation and projects That in case the said Duke of Savoy should refuse to submit to Reason and to what shall be thought just by their common Friends his Majesty as he has already declared will not only be against him but will joyn his Arms with the said Rings to compel the said Duke to it by force espousing no Party on this occasion but that of Justice His Majesty being of opinion that the most effectual way to compass the end he proposes was to obtain a suspension of Arms on both sides during which means might be thought on for a reconciliation he propos'd the same to the Spanish Ambassador who answer'd That he had no Power to do it but that he would write to the King his Master about it to whom his Majesty has likewise made the same Proposition by his Ambassador in ordinary residing at his Court and his Holiness would do well to second the said Suspension by his entreaty and recommendation in order to its being the sooner granted by the said King lest matters being once exasperated and one side getting some considerable advantage over the other this Remedy as all others tending to a Negotiation should prove the more difficult and the evil encrease to the prejudice of all and particularly of those who despise the means of an accommodation But it will be needless to compose the Quarrel between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy unless that between the Republic of Venice and the Archduke Ferdinand be made up at the same time for whereas they are link'd by the Interest and Affection of the Parties the Public would profit but little by the one without the other And therefore his Majesty designs to put an end to both at once to remove all the Evils Italy is threatned with and it behoves his Holiness to be the more active and vigilant therein because some men presume to taâ—k at random about his Holiness's Inclination in this particular as if he were pleased with this occasion to resent some things that have pass'd of late years between his Beatitude and the said Venetians a thing we know to be very opposite to his Holiness's Wisdom and Piety and which nevertheless it imports him to provide against out of his Paternal Care to repel and dissipate such Impostures and Calumnies The said Archbishop is to manage those reasons dexterously to induce him the more to the desir'd effect and not to animate him by too rough a relation of the said reports The said Archbishop is to represent the same thing to the great Duke in his passage through Florence after having saluted and assur'd him of his Majesty's Good will knowing his affection for the Welfare and Friendship of those two Crowns as a person who had a great share in their conjunction in order to his using such means as he shall think most
convenient for the importance of that affair He is likewise to give him the same relation about the death of the Marshal d'Ancre and what concerns the honourable Treatment the Queen-mother receives from his Majesty which he will ever continue in the same manner as much out of Affection as Duty as if she were still with his Majesty and had continued to take care of his affairs His Majesty being inform'd that the said Great Duke has sent the Archbishop of Pisa to him only to recommend the Queen his Mother's Person to his Majesty has taken it in very good part as a thing proceeding from his Highness's good Nature and his respect for the King's Honor and the said Queens Satisfaction yet looks upon this good Office as a thing superfluous towards him there being no Person in the World his said Majesty honours and cherishes more nor to whom he thinks himself oblig'd to make a more express demonstration thereof as he will ever make it evident by all manner of effects of Gratitude and Affection towards the said Queen his mother on all occasions The said Archbishop is likewise to communicate the affairs he shall be intrusted with to the Cardinals Delfini Vrsini and Bonzi as much as he shall think necessary and proper not to give them cause to suspect that the King doubts their devotion to his Service Nevertheless he is to make direct applications himself to his Holiness about such Commands as he shall receive from his Majesty during his abode there He is to take a particular care not to impart them to the Abbot d'Aumale whose Behaviour the King has no reason to be satisfied with he is to observe it strictly and without taking the least notice thereof to acquaint his Majesty therewith He is also to assure the Kings Servants and Pensioners that they will be paid better for the future than they have been hitherto upon the account of the disorder of his Majesty's Finances caused by the Revolutions and Troubles of the Kingdom which his Majesty takes pains to settle again insomuch that they may expect Satisfaction hereafter and to share the Fruits of the Peace and good Order his Majesty designs to restore in all things He is to take care to acquaint his Majesty with all Occurrences by the usual way and his Majesty will send his Commands to the said Archbishop in the same manner not doubting but he will acquit himself thereof to his satisfaction until he relieve him by an Ambassador in ordinary and this he expects according to the Tryal he has had of his Piety Capacity and Fidelity Done at Fontainbleau the 14th of June 1617. Sign'd LEWIS c. A Relation of the Queen Mother 's Removal from Blois Out of the Study of the R. F. Talon of the Orat. M.DC.XIX by M.L. C.D. L.V. AT the King's Return from the Progress he made in Guyenne about his Marriage his Majesty being at Tours Monsieur d'Espernon left the Court being dissatisfied with the Treatment he had received there for seeing that Monsieur de Bullion and the Commandore de Sillery were banish'd from thence and that the Chancellor de Sillery and M. de Puisieux daily did expect the same fate he thought it no longer safe to tarry with his Majesty Soon after this the Conference at London was concluded to the Prince of Conde's Satisfaction and the old Ministers being banished from Court and others put in their Room the Prince returned to Paris I do not positively know what pass'd between him and the Grandees that were with the King at that time about the Marshal d'Ancre's Ruine but it is certain that Monsieur de Guise sent a Gentleman to Monsieur d' Espernon at Bourdeaux to acquaint him That the Prince of Conde and he were rennited that they were in Hopes of ruining the Marshal d' Ancre and that he desired him to enter into the Union which was made between most of the Grandees of the Kingdom Tho' Monsieur d'Espernon was not resolv'd to joyn with them yet he did not absolntely reject their Proposition Within some Days after this being at Bourdeaux he was inform'd that the Marshal d' Ancre had left this Court abruptly and almost at the same time that the Prince of Conde was secur'd This put him upon the resolution of going to his Government of Xaintonge and of sending the Archbishop of Tholouse his Son to their Majesties to assure them of his Service â—…fore the said Archbishop's departure Monsieur de Guise sent a Gentleman to him to give him an account of the Reasons he had to leave the Court upon the Prince of Conde's imprisonment and to desire his advice and assistance in case he could not agree with the King Monsieur d'Espernon's Answer was That the shortest Follies were the best and That as he was not concern'd in what he had done so he had no Counsel to give him That for his part he was sending one of his Children to the King and the Queen-mother to assure them of his Fidelity and Service Soon after this the Archbishop of Tholouse arriving at Court found Monsieur de Guise's Peace concluded and saw him return but in such dread of being secur'd that he was ready to fly again the night the Prince of Conde was remov'd from the Louvre to the Bastille upon some Informations he receiv'd that the Guards were doubled During these Transactions at Court Monsieur d'Espernon was in his Government when having receiv'd a Letter from the Mayor of Rochel which he thought was not very respectful he made a very rough Answer to it and resolved to go into the Country of Aunix to take possession of his Government I cannot tell whether he was induc'd to this by his hatred to the Huguenots and particularly to the Rochelois who refus'd to own him as Governor of the Province or whether he sought a Pretence to take Arms during the Troubles which he fancied yet greater than they were at Court and to seize the King's Receipts However upon this Pretence he gave out Commissions to raise men assembled the Gentry of the Country to accompany him in his Journey to Surgeres and took the Mony he found in the King's Costers I do not positively remember whether it was before or after this Journey the said Mony was seized The Transactions of this Journey into Anjou gave great disturbances to the Rochelois who did not remember the having seen any Souldiers in their neighbourhood and the fear the Court was in lost this might create a War with the Huguenots oblig'd their Majesties to send Monsieur de Boisisse to Monsieur d'Espernon to put a stop to those Broils Boisisse being come to Surgeres found no Difficulties in this affair but such as proceeded from the said Duke's Humor so that after some Pains and Contestations he did perswade him to obey and to return to Xaintonge It was at that time Carbonnier brought him a Brief of Duke and Peer for Mons de la Valette and
Blois in the Night through one of the Windows of the Castle by a Ladder which Count de Breyne or la Mazure had prepared for her She took but one of her Women along with her whose Name was Catherine Count de Breyne and four of her Guards stood waiting at the foot of the Ladder with du Plesses who was to order all things She was constrained to crawl along the Ditch and to walk on foot to the other end of the Bridge of Blois where her Coach waited for her She stept into it with one of her Women her Jewels and a Lantern because she could not tarry in her Coach without a light and came in this Equipage to Montrichard where she shifted her Coach and Horses and was met by Ruccellai and the Archbishop of Thoulouse From thence she went with speed to Loches where Monsieur d'Espernon arrived the night before and went out a league to meet her She tarried there but one day for her Attendance and her Women and the next Chanteloube came to her Instructions for the Commandore de Sillery going Ambassador to Rome to his Holiness in the Year 1622. From M. du Puy 's Study MS. 687. THe King who together with the general Good of Christendom respects the Advantage and Reputation of his Affairs abroad as he is industrious to settle them at home with his Authority by all possible means of Vigilance and Care where-ever it is required has thought fit to fill up the Vacancy of the Roman Embassy by a Person fitly qualified to serve him and to please our holy Father the Pope to watch and observe all publick Occurrences and to promote the Honour and Service of his Majesty in all things To this end he has chosen the Bailiff de Sillery Councellor in his Council of State a Person very well known to his Majesty by several Imployments and Commissions he has discharged to his satisfaction and commands him forthwith to repair with all speed towards Rome about several affairs relating as much to the Peace of Christendom equally respected by his Holiness and by his Majesty the Tranquility and Liberty of Italy as to the Welfare and Safety of the Friends and Allies of France and has ordered this memorial to be drawn to be the Rule and Guide of his Conduct saving such Orders and Commands as shall be sent to him by his Majesty in a more precise manner by the usual way according as the new Accidents that may arise shall require it It is his Majesty's Pleasure he should go through Turin tho it were only besides that it is in his way to visit his Majesty's Sister in his Name his Highness of Savoy and the Princes and Princesses his Children as also to acquaint the said Duke in particular with his Majesty's Sentiments upon the present Occurrences and to assure him of his said Majesty's sincere Friendship which he is very desirous to make him sensible of by Effects to his advantage and satisfaction His Majesty knows the Esteem the late King his most honour'd Lord and Father ever had for his Person and has made his late Majesty's maxim his rule in the conduct of the General as he was a wise Prince endued with a long experience in Publick Affairs He designs to live with the said Duke in that strict bond of Affection for their Common Interest lately strengthen'd by the dear Pledge his Majesty has given the Prince of Piedmont of his dear-beloved Sister declaring again that as it has pleased God to let him take the management of his Affairs into his own hands and to direct them with a Will full of Equity and Honour so the said Duke and his being so nearly related to him shall freely share that Happiness from which his Majesty expects to see effects arise one day useful to the Publick favourable to his Friends and acceptable to his Holiness His Majesty is sensible that the said Duke is desirous as well as himself that every one should be maintained in his Right to oppose all Usurpations and that Neighbors and Confederates living in a friendly manner may keep so good a Correspondence that such as would attempt any thing to the prejudice of so just a Resolution may feel the effects of their ambition and rashness if so daring as to attempt it or be kept within bounds out of fear of the Force and Councils of the said Associates for the common Cause The present state of affairs in Valtelina requires this to be urged to the said Duke who is likewise concerned for the Safety of Italy The King has already acquainted him with the perpetual Endeavours used about it from the very beginning that his Majesty prevents the Inconveniences of such a precipitated Usurpation to remonstrate the Consequences thereof and to promote its restitution at Rome in Spain and elsewhere being desirous at first by mild means to endeavour the obtaining of an amicable Treaty before he would proceed to those of Rigor meerly out of respect to the Publick Peace so justly valued and desired as also because the Infringers thereof are so nearly united to his Majesty by Alliances that he had reason to expect from their very Promises that they would at last yield to his just Remonstrances to execute the Agreement made at Madrid for the restitution of the said Countries as soon as might be according to the Articles thereof This has been prest without intermission thereby discovers his entire Affection for the Welfare of his Affairs so he may assure himself that he shall have a good Share in the Success thereof which he hopes to promote and to settle by Power only He also thinks it very necessary once more to advise the said Duke to facilitate as much as in him lies the reconciliation between himself and the Duke of Mantua diverted hitherto by those who envied his Majesty the satisfaction of being the Promoter thereof and would improve their dissention to their own advantage But both of them would do wisely considering the ends of their Neighbours to yield something in respect to the Publick Good and their Interest rather than to hearken to the artificial Suggestions of those who have and do still endeavour to keep up their Division The said Commandore is to enquire of the Sieur Marini who is in those parts and will assist him in all things on what Terms the said Duke stands in that respect and if his Majesty's Name and Authority can be any wise serviceable therein he is freely to employ himself in it in his passage as he likewise is to do at Rome where this Affair was formerly refer'd when any occasion shall offer it self He is to do the same Office towards the Duke of Mantua without going thither himself by sending one of his Gentlemen to assure him of his Majesty's Good-will of his being order'd to favour his Interest at Rome and to use his utmost endeavours to facilitate their reconciliation to which he shall be desired to show himself the
of his Majesty's Affectionate and Filial Observance for the Service and Honour of the Holy See by the Example of the Kings his Predecessors to the satisfaction of his Beatitude and the advantage of his house and designs He is also to make him sensible of the Confolation his Majesty receiv'd at his assumption to the Pontificate his Prayers having been granted on this subject Since it has pleas'd God to give a Person of his Piety and Virtue to Christendom who has the intentions and is indued with all the Qualifications requir'd in a common Father that it is his earnest desire he may injoy it long for the Publick Good which he will again confirm to him at the sending him the usual Devoirs and Obedience That his Majesty is persuaded that his Holiness puts a greater confidence in this Royal Freedom and in the real and solid Effects his Majesty daily discovers to the advantage of the Church and of Christendom in General than to impute his not having been able hitherto to perform that duty to the least want of Inclination or Devotion towards his Beatitude but to the Troubles and Divisions of his Kingdom which he has begun to disintangle so happily and so much to the advantage of the Catholick Religion and of his Authority that his Majesty is persuaded that he will prefer such salutory Effects to a Ceremonious Duty since his Majesty yields to none besides his Title of first Son of the Church in Duty or Devotion towards the Holy See and his Holiness as he will ever make it appear both at Home and Abroad and that he hopes that God will bless him so much again this Year either by Agreement or Force of Arms as to extend the Catholick Religion and the Honour of the Name of God in his Kingdom so far as to deserve the Continuation of the good Will and Paternal Counsels His Holiness has sent him upon that Subject which his Nuncio can assure him have been receiv'd by him with Sentiments suitable to his Zeal and to the Respect he bears to whatever proceeds from the wise Counsels of His Beatitude The said Commandore is to remain within these Bounds at his first private Audience only giving His Holiness Assurances of His Majesty's Devotion according to the usual Custom For as to other Affairs they are referr'd to that which is to be solemn and publick as well as others which will be given him from time to time according as Occurrences shall offer themselves He is to wait on Cardinal Ludovisio His Holiness's Nephew the same Night whom he is to acquaint with His Majesty's Good Will towards him the Confidence he reposes in and Knowledge he has of his Affection for the Welfare of his Affairs in which he shall be desir'd to persevere and to make his Uncle favourable in such Occasions as shall occurr during his Residence in Rome Which His Majesty will be ready to acknowledge to his Advantage and Satisfaction on all Occasions by profitable and honourable Effects The greatest and most important Affair in debate at this time is that above-mention'd about Valtelina which his Holiness is very well acquainted with together with the Endeavours hitherto us'd by his Majesty to stifle the Misfortunes he is sensible must arise from that Contention in their very birth He is again to lay the dangerous Consequences thereof before his Holiness in relation to the publick Good of Italy and even of the Roman Religion it self and that unless the Spaniards will speedily submit to his Counsels and paternal Exhortations to hasten the Restitution thereof the King will be oblig'd to espouse the Cause and Interest of his Allies that his Holiness is not only oblig'd as a common Father to prevent Troubles but as a Temporal Prince of Italy to obviate and oppose all manner of Usurpations His Majesty in this point only requires the Observation and Execution of the Articles of Madrid made with the approbation of his Holiness's Ministers the accomplishing of which the Spaniards under a specious pretence of Religion towards him and of deference towards several Princes and States concern'd have delay'd and put off insomuch that the Distemper is now grown to such a head by the artifice and desire of the Governor of Millan to preserve what he has Usurp'd against all Right and Reason to the prejudice of his Majesty's Alliance and of the safety of the Princes of Italy that his Majesty has freely declar'd and lately again acquainted his Holiness his Nuncio and the Spanish Ambassâ—dor that unless the aforesaid Agreement were effectually perform'd he could no longer resist the desires and general Interest of his Confederates who made earnest Sollicitations to him to assist and strengthen them with his generous Resolutions in their pressing need and that on their sides they would co-operate to the utmost of their Power and Interest That in compliance thereunto his Majesty has sent Orders in all parts to keep all things in readiness and that being resolv'd to repair to Lyons his Orders were also dispatch'd to the Marshal d' Esdigureres to be ready at the first Command That it is most certain that the Princes concern'd and several others who will not stir until they see the Game begun will freely enter the Lists for their preservation others for Interest and that then his Holiness though perhaps too late will find whether the Reasons alledg'd by Spain for Religion are as important and considerable as the Evils and Accidents which will arise to his grief even to the very detriment of the Catholick Religion For undoubtedly several Protestant Princes will make this Cause theirs being jealous with reason of the growing greatness of Spain and divers Nations and Religions will enter and fill Italy And all this is occasion'd by the immoderate Covetousness and Ambition of the Ministers of Spain the prejudice and blame whereof will fall upon the Authors and his Majesty will be sufficiently discharg'd towards God and Men by the Endeavours he has us'd to prevent these Misfortunes for considering the time when the Enterprize was first began and the Treaty concluded upon that Subject but not executed by Spain a longer patience would be imputed to want of Courage and Resentment Therefore his Majesty again intreats his Holiness seriously to renew the Efforts of his paternal Admonition to prevent such Calamities His Majesty is very sensible that the said Spaniards the better to colour and justify their Attempts and to make him the more favourable to their Design have all along laid the Case of Religion before his Eyes to blind him and consequently prevent his joining with the rest of the Allies or at least to make him connive at their Enterprize But whereas the Mask is now thrown off and that it is evident by other Occurrences in Christendom that they are induc'd thereunto more out of Ambition than Religion his Holiness must be intreated no longer to suffer himself to be impos'd on both for his own Honour and
for the good and peace of Italy as well as for the sake of the Catholick Religion the advantage of which he may assure himself his Majesty will ever be one of the first to promote with all his power But there is some danger as it has often been represented in being too obstinate for one of losing both together For it is most certain that the said Leagues of the Grisons are not oblig'd by the Articles of the Treaty to maintain the Catholick Religion alone in Valtelina and consequently the Spaniards cannot insist on this without a Breach of the Treaty and without wounding his Majesty's Royal Intermission But moreover to remove this borrow'd Veil and to go beyond them by a Zeal not apparent but truly sincere of Religion though this be not included in the said Agreement he will imploy his Credit and lively Remonstrances towards the said Grisons by his Ambassadors and use all other reasonable means to prevail with them for the preservation of the said Religion in Valtelina though not in the nature of a Condition as abovesaid it not being mention'd in the Treaty and they being oblig'd notwithstanding a refusal to accomplish the said Agreement and to perform the said full and intire Restitution That in case his Majesty can succeed in this design it will be a great comfort to his Holiness whose Nuncio in Switzerland must be order'd to facilitate with his Majesty's Ministers all honest and sure means to hasten the said Râ—stitution His Majesty presses this Affair being justly press'd by the thing it self and by the Persons concern'd therein which should invite his Holiness to double his vigilance and serious Instances in Spain otherwise he will find by real Effects that his Majesty's foresight has been good and his care in so many places very praise worthy But in order the better to convince his Holiness of the truth of the premisses here is a very certain and most visible Argument thereof The Spaniards who boast and seem very desirous of promoting the good and advancement of the Catholick Religion in Germany where they had promis'd to Invest the Duke of Bavaria with both the Palatinates are now out of Reasons of State more reserv'd in the matter out of fear of displeasing the King of Great Britain and lest the Duke of Bavaria should grow too powerful in Germany Causes altogether Temporal which hinder them from advancing the Glory and Holy Name of God in so fair an occasion while his Majesty shows himself more inclinable and favourable to it for though the Elector Palatin is Ally'd to him he knows in his Soul what he has done on that subject where it was necessary to show his good intention His Holiness's Officers and his Nuncio here have discover'd it themselves and that it was only a Blind u'sd by them to abuse the most simple but not capable of obscuring the prudence and clear sight of his Holiness who will be prais'd and bless'd by God and Men for endeavouring to prevent Usurpations and to maintain the publick Peace which are the only Ends his Majesty proposes But the said Commandore is chiefly to insist on the Mischiefs that may insue for the Publick these Crowns proceeding to a Breach which his Majesty will prevent to the utmost of his power by the advantages the Turk will easily gain by the division of the Christian Princes Whereas being united as it is his Holiness's Office to keep them and to which his Piety and other good Considerations should incline him above all things considering the present state of the Turks great progresses might be made against them But our Sins and Discords making us unworthy of that happiness we must implore the goodness of God and his Holiness by Prayers and Exhortations must use his utmost Endeavours to reconcile the hearts of Christian Princes to an Enterprize so holy so important and so seasible at this time according to the knowledge the King has of the now State of the Grand Seignor's Affairs and Provinces This business of Valtelina being adjusted before which nothing can be resolved on if his Holiness finds a good Disposition in other Princes His Majesty will ever be ready to second his good Intentions and to promote them to the utmost of his power It is His Majesty's Desire that the Honour of a Design so pious and so full of Glory should be reserv'd to the Happiness of this Pontificate and that in order thereunto His Holiness would be pleas'd to continue his best Endeavours for the Pacification of the Troubles of Italy as well as those that are kindling in Germany that the chief Princes of Christendom having no other Quarrels to decide may be the better able to unite their Wills and â—orces for this holy Enterprize His Majesty is very sensible that none are so busie on the Stage of the World as the Spaniards in order to extend their Empire more and more which will not only be the Occasion of neglecting the Opportunities of this Christian Project but also of uniting the Protestant Princes more strictly to oppose the Projects of the House of Austria And while this Game lasts the Turk will have many fair Occasions to improve it to their Cost and Shame and the Christâ—anâ— themselves will pay the Faults of their Ambition and Imprudence The Emperor having re-gain'd Bohemia which had been taken from him seems to have more Cause to let his Arms rest in order to provide against this common Enemy than to satisfie the Passion of another who leads him under his Authority to a Design which keeps him in Servitude himself and makes him share the publick Loss For here is Work cut out for a long time unless the Parties will put an end to it themselves since there is Reason to believe that the King of Great Britain with his Confederates will not let his Son-in-Law perish and that the States-General of the United Provinces will neither be so weak nor so destitute of Friends and of Assistance as to fall so soon by the Efforts of the Arms of Spain And in the mean time the great Occasions of doing good as to the general slip away Princes weaken each other by vexatious bloody Exercises thereby giving great Advantages to a potent Enemy who is only with-held by his Ignorance of our Condition or by the Hand of God who in his Mercy has not yet given us over to his Wrath. But we have reason to fear that the Continuance of this Misfortune will draw it upon us as being too unworthy of his Favours in not having made use of the fair Opportunities he had given us of making great Progresses against this Enemy in these last Ages The said Commandore is also to enquire of the Cardinals de Sourdis and Bentivoglio on what Terms the Marriage propos'd between Spain and England stands at present not to raise the least Obstacle against it His Majesty having had several Occasions so to do since he first was inform'd of it had he
Articles CHarles by the Grace of God Duke of Lorrain Marquis Duke of Calabria Bar Gueldres c. To all whom these Presents shall see Greeting Finding Our Self at present in Our Territories which His Majesty has been pleas'd to restore unto Us according to a Treaty made and concluded at Paris on the 29th of March last past agreed on between His Majesty by the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu having a full Power from him and Us We declare That having all the Reason imaginable to praise His Majesty's Goodness and Generosity towards Us who in the midst of the Prosperity of his Arms and of the good Successes it has pleas'd God to bless him with on all sides has been pleas'd to use Us favourably Our Intention is to make him all the Returns of Gratitude and Acknowledgment We are capable of and in the mean time as soon as We have found Our Self in Our said Territories among Our good Servants and Subjects We have thought fit to Ratisie as by these Presents We do Ratifie Agree unto and Approve the aforesaid Treaty together with the Secret Articles Concluded and Agreed on the same Day between the Cardinal Duke of Richelieu in His Majesty's Name and Us according as We have sign'd and sworn the whole Promising moreover on the Word and Faith of a Prince as We did solemnly do on the 2d of April last to execute keep and inviolably maintain the said Treaty and Secret Articles according to their Form and Tenour without deviating or suffering the same to be deviated from on Our part in any manner whatever In Witness whereof We have sign'd these Presents with Our Hand and have caus'd Our Great Seal to be affix'd to the same at Bar the 21th of April 1641. Thus Sign'd CHARLES And upon the Fold By His Highness's Command John le Molleur And Seal'd with the Great Seal of the said Duke of Red Wax upon a double Label The Act or Form of the Oath taken by the Duke Charles of Lorrain in the City of Bar for the Observation of the Treaty above-written and of the Secret Articles WE Charles by the Grace of God Duke of Lorrain Marquis Duke of Calabria Bar Gueldres c. do Swear and Promise on the Faith and Word of a Prince upon the Holy Evangelisis and Canons of the Church by Us Touch'd in order thereunto that We will Observe and Perform cause to be Observ'd and Perform'd fully really and Bona fide all and singular the Points and Articles granted and set down in the Treaty concluded and agreed on at Paris the 29th of March last past together with the Secret Articles also concluded and agreed on the same Day between the Cardinal of Richelieu Peer of France in the Name of the most High most Excellent and most Puissant Prince Lewis by the Grace of God King of France and of Navarre and Us without ever deviating from the same directly or indirectly or suffering the same to be deviated from on Our part in any manner whatever So help Us God In Witness whereof We have sign'd these Presents with Our own Hand and have caus'd Our Seal to be affix'd to the same in the Chapel and Royal House of St. Germain en Laye the 2d of April 1641 The which We have since Ratify'd by these Presents in Our City of Bar the 29th Day of the said Month and Year Sign'd CHARLES of Lorrain And upon the Fold By His Highness's Command John le Molleur And Seal'd with the said Duke's Great Seal of Red Wâ—x upon a double Label Memorial sent in August M. DC XL. to Count Harcourt IT is difficult to give just Measures about the Propositions of Prince Thomas because it is most certain that unless he be reduc'd to the utmost Extremity he will propose nothing but in order to deceive and that in case he be reduc'd so to do he can make none equal to the Advantages that may be deriv'd by taking him Prisoner Prince Thomas cannot be desirous of staying in Turin with the Dutchess of Savoy with any Design but to deceive her and to take under pretence of an Accommodation to the prejudice of his Nephew the same Advantages in his Territories which he did pretend to by force Therefore whatever Treaty supposes the staying of Prince Thomas in the same place with the Dutchess of Savoy is not only to be look'd on as suspicious but is to be absolutely rejected It behoves those who are upon the Spot to keep their Eyes and ears equally open to penetrate as much as can be into the Miseries of the City of Turin and to hearken to the Propositions that the Prince will make to them which as soon as we are acquainted with they will know the King's pleasure If Prince Thomas has a good Intention the Extremity to which he is reduc'd and the Incapacity the Spaniards have been in to assist him discharge him sufficiently both before God and Men without his being oblig'd to use any other pretence to quit their Party His Father and his Brother's Prudence has made them do the same out of reason with less cause And when he seems to require nothing but an apparent reason to retire he only endeavours to conceal his Ill Will which is the more evident in that he is unwilling to believe he has a lawful cause to withdraw from the Spaniards unless he settles his affairs on the ruins of the Dutchess and of her Son as he would do for his own advantage The Spaniards not having been able to succour him he may honourably take the party of France and of his own Nephew the King declaring that he only keeps the Garisons he is in possession of for his said Nephew and for himself in case the Succession thereof should lawfully devolve to him and that he will most certainly deliver them into his said Nephew's hands whenever he shall be of Age and in a condition to preserve them or to the Cardinal his Brother or to himself in case that young Prince should chance to die he has all the reason in the world to be satisfy'd In case His Majesty should likewise think sit to restore his Pensions to him to give one to his Son and one to the Princess of Carignan and to intreat the Dutchess of Savoy to add to the Portion of the said Prince if moreover he should be willing to employ him in some of his Armies things that may be done and that may be promised to him he will not only find with the King all the means that are necessary to quit the Engagement he is in with Honour but also all the useful ones he can reasonably desire In case he should also require an immediate Proposition to be made by the King to the Spaniards for the restitution of all the places they are in possession of in Piedmont since the late War on condition that His Majesty will do the same Answer must be made That the King agrees to this Article and will make his