putting him into a condition to expose that life for the King's Service which he now ow'd to his Mercy The poor young man was so astonish'd to see the strange way I had taken to revenge my self upon him that he was able to say no more than this that he was extremely confounded and that now I had repaid his brutal passion with the greatest generosity I could possibly express he had nothing more to offer in return but his life which should ever be as much mine as his own that he should from thence forward look upon me as a second Father and was resolv'd absolutely to depend upon me and my conduct Whereupon we embrac'd and he went to make himself ready for his Journey into Holland His affair was shortly after debated in a Council of War where he was condemn'd but being got out of the way they lookt no farther after him VI. The King for a good while after put on some coldness to me before company tho in private he was as kind to me as ever I understood the meaning of it well enough and behav'd my self the best I could to second his Majesty's design But I was still wanting for some occasion to procure Monsieur Buisson's return and a whole year escap'd me without ever discovering any hopes of it At last I resolv'd to be bold once again and observe measures less than ever in an affair where I thought my intercession not unlikely to prevail A Lieutenant of the Regiment of Normandy was at that time very sick at Paris the moment I heard of his death I conceiv'd I ought to take this opportunity to serve the man whose being at a distance was a great affliction to me and accordingly I went forthwith to the King I told him at first without laying open my design that I was come humbly to entreat a favour of his Majesty which was the Command of such a Lieutenant just now dead The King as far as I could guess presently suspected for whom I made this suit but not willing to let me know that he penetrated into my thoughts he satisfy'd himself with telling me that he must first know what I would do with it and whom I intended it for I answer'd that it was for a friend of mine whom I would take the liberty to name as soon as his Majesty should have done me the honour to assure me of the place Is it not for Buisson reply'd the King for I know your temper and do almost read it in your heart Ah! Sir said I thus to penetrate into ones thoughts is to be truly a Prophet and doubtless I ought to be careful to have none but good ones since your Majesty hath such piercing eyes 'T is true Sir I am heartily sorry to see this young Gentleman who is capable of doing your Majesty good service so long out of a condition to shew it and I take the confidence to hope your Majesty will compleat the favour you have so generously begun in giving him who holds his life from your goodness an opportunity of employing it all in your service The King mov'd with this pressing importunity in behalf of one who had so highly disoblig'd me was most graciously pleas'd to say that it was not in his power to deny me any thing and that the generosity of this request engag'd him to grant that which regularly ought not to be granted With this promise of the King which filled me with great joy I went home and immediately dispatch'd away an express Messenger into Holland to Monsieur Buisson to bid him presently come away to me about some business of very great consequence Accordingly he was soon at Paris where having told me that he very well understood he was afresh oblig'd to me for the favour of his liberty seeing that I brought him to a place from which his ill behaviour had constrain'd him to fly I made answer that it was the King to whom he was oblig'd for all and now especially for a favour he did not expect which was a Lieutenant's place in the Regiment of Normandy for that his Majesty had conferr'd upon him and upon this account it was that I sent for him To which I added that I would carry him to kiss the King's hand that he might in person pay his acknowledgments for so very exceeding a favour which engag'd him to lay out the rest of his life upon his Majesty's service and that therefore he should be in a readiness to go along with me that Evening to the Louvre This poor Gentleman very well understanding from what hand his Lieutenancy came was so confounded that he had not one word at command to return me thanks in and therefore did it only in dumb shew I carried him at night to the Louvre and having first askt his Majesty's leave to present him I brought him in As soon as he came into his presence he threw himself at the King's feet without speaking otherwise than by his posture and profound humiliation The King then told him he was happy in having such a man as I to deal with who after such an injury had made it my business to obtain the pardon of him who wrong'd me to that degree a thing that he could not have granted to any other and that very few besides me would have dar'd to ask it That therefore he would let him know that he was oblig'd to me both for his Life and his Command which he gave him upon my account that all these things laid together oblig'd him to look upon me for the future as his Benefactor and to repair the wrong and the fault he had been guilty of against the whole body of the Army by a life and behaviour proportionable to the sense he ought to have of so extraordinary a favour Respect Joy and Grief all at once made so strong an impression upon the mind of Monsieur Buisson that he could not return one syllable of answer to the King but as he came into the room without daring to speak so he went out again without being able to do it Which also pleas'd his Majesty more than if he had made a long Complement for he judged better of the sentiments of his heart by this respectful silence than he could have done by any studied harrangue I afterwards sued out his Pardon and procured the Commission for his Command and got him admitted into the Regiment where I am able to say that he acquir'd a great deal of esteem having perfectly made good what was expected from him and passing for one of he bravest men in the Army He also very faithfully obey'd the command his Majesty laid on him always to consider me as his faithful friend For both from an effect of his natural inclination and the deep sense he had of the service I had done him he ever after lived with me as with his Father by which name also he us'd to call me And I shall take notice in the
small hopes of saving the Town VIII The next day about ten in the morning we saw seven and fifty Squadrons of Horse who came up in full expectation to carry the place At the same time Monsieur d' Alais who had withdrawn thither and had a small Squadron of Horse with him sallied out and I followed him with our whole Regiment divided into several Battalions The rest of the Garrison were posted upon the Ramparts and as many Inhabitans as were in a condition to bear arms were ordered to shew themselves there too so that nothing was seen but Souldiers resolv'd to hold it out to the last Several Vollies of Cannon and Musquet shot were given from the Town rather to make the Enemy believe that they wanted no Ammunition than out of any prospect of doing them any hurt The Enemy debated for two hours what course they should take and in the mean while ten or twelve of the Count d' Alais Trumpets sounded several Alarms to signify that if they came on we were ready to receive them At last thinking this might put a stop to their conquests if they attempted a City so well garrison'd they weâ—t off to carry their victorious arms another way IX I staid at Abbeville with Mareschal Brezay's Regiment about a year for we were under continual apprehensions of some attempt upon us because the Enemy had Garrisons in several Towns near us Some days after my coming thither the Officer that would have got my command from me which the King intended me in the Guards came thither too with the Marquis of Brezay's Regiment of which he was Major Monsieur de P. one of the stoutest men of his time followed him close having a quarrel against him upon the account of a Box on the Ear which this Officer was said to have given him All their acquaintance on both sides were concern'd to make up the business Monsieur M. protested he never gave the blow but Monsieur de P. not brooking that the world should think he had received it resolv'd to revenge it whatever came on 't Monsieur M. who pretended great kindness to me notwithstanding the dirty Trick he had play'd me which I then knew nothing of beg'd that I would interpose in the Case and proffer'd to refer himself to the judgment of any persons they would chuse and make any satisfaction they thought â—it for him I was desirous to reconcile the Quarrel by fair means and used my utmost endeavour to persuade Monsieur de P. to it I walked with him several times to this purpose and told him I neither knew the ground of their difference nor desir'd to know it But let the Affront be what it would it could not be so great as not to admit of an honourable Accommodation without coming to the Extremities he aimed at I advis'd to put it to the judgment of Friends and told him all that long Experience had qualify'd me to say upon such an occasion to incline him to terms of Reconciliation and undeceive him of his Notion that no way but fighting could save his Honour He continued deaf to all I said or if he gave me the hearing yet which was as bad he was still inflexible and resolv'd to pursue his design And about ten or twelve days after he did so and fought Monsieur M. without the Town whom he wounded mortally in five places and was wounded in two places himself X. Monsieur M. being thus hurt I had him brought to my Lodging and took all imaginable câ—re of him till his death which happen'd about three Weeks after I spared neither trouble nor charge to do him service and had as tender a regard to his Soul as his Body keeping a Monk constantly in my house all the time of his illness who never stirred from him The most surprizing Circumstance was that Providence should so order the matter that I should ignorantly oblige a Man so highly who had disobliged me extremely and utterly ruined my Fortunes by designing to get the Command designed me by the King out of my hands and being the principal occasion of his Majesty's giving it away to another person This poor Man feeling his Conscience burdeâ—'d with this Fault and the more so in proportion as he receiv'd fresh kindnesses from the person to whom he had done such ill offices resolv'd at lâ—st to be plain with me upon the business Some days before heâ—died I observ'd him all in tears and after a great struggle with himself he spoke to me after this manner Ah! Sir my dear Friend I can no longer conceal my greatest pain from you I must I must at last own to you the Remorse I feel for having injur'd you in a matter of which you could never have the least Jealousie I have sought a thousand opportunities to mention it to you and ask you as many Pardons for it I conjure you therefore dear Sir to forgive a Man who needs nothing else to make him unhappy than having been instrumental in ruining your Fortunes I in perfect amazement at this Discourse and not able to guess what all this meant answer'd him with an innocent sincerity That I believed he loved me too well to be guilty of what he accus'd himself But my Answer adding more to his Sighs and Tears he reply'd Alas that is the very Consideration that cuts me to the heart that I who had so much reason to love you should yet suffer my self to endeavour my own Advancement at your Expence But if you do not forgive me before I tell you the Story I shall run mad since the wrong I have done you is so great that if you do not forgive me now I am going to give an account to God I shall have reason to fear he will not forgive me neither There was little room for deliberation in the sad circumstances and great disorder he theâ— lay so that I told him instantly with great compassion That I assur'd him and solemnly protested I would never resent the thing and that if he had really done me any Injury I forgave it him with all my Soul Upon this assurance which I gave after the best manner I could he discover'd the whole Matter in these words It was I said he dear Sir that obstructed your Preferment It was I that hindred you from being now Captain in the Guards It was I that contrived you should be detained in Holland and by my Vncles means kâ—pt the King's Letter from your hands which orderâ—d you to come to Court and take possession of that Command I must own this astonisht me strangely But my Concern to see him in this condition stisted my Passion and I again assur'd him That I forgave him heartily and instead of loving him less upon this account should love him more for declaring himself so freely to me because this was an Argument he knew me and entertained the opinion of me that I could wish he should And I can say with great truth
d'Alincourt that we might have his Pass we there met with several of the Court one of which remembring my face askt me if he had not seen me in the Guards whom I answered after such a manner that he thought himself mistaken We were however a little watcht but they by whom I had been known being busie about a quarrel thought no more of us and so we got away and went to meet our Souldiers who attended us at the Rendezvous There we found them increased in number having pickt up some others by the way which made our Company fifty men who were receiv'd by the Commissary of Monsieur d'Albigny who was our Camp-master They had some Money distributed amongst them and quarters assign'd to refresh themselves in till they should have Orders sent to march away to the Army But these Orders were so long in coming that the Countrey where we lay had time to be weary of us and sent us word that we should presently retire or that otherwise they would fall upon us so that we saw our selves on a sudden oblig'd either to disband our Company or to stand our ground and stiffly to defend our selves by all the ways we fairly could We resolv'd upon the last as the most honourable and began to make War for our selves till we should be call'd to do it for his Highness of Savoy In this design we judg'd it necessary to have some Cavalry to sustain our Foot and in order to it accommodated our selves with some Horses of a Town the Inhabitants whereof made shew to fall upon us With this small number of Souldiers consisting of forty Musqueteers and twenty Horse or thereabout we kept the field and found we were in a condition to defend our selves against all those that intended to attack us Of which Monsieur De Bois-pardaillan Governour of Bourg in Bresse upon the Confines of France and Savoy was the first who forc'd us to withdraw from his territories to re-enter those of Geneva where we liv'd a good while and got some booties till the news of us being carried to Geneva the Republick sent so many Troops against us that we were compell'd to retire to the Confines of Bresse Monsieur de Saint Chaumont who was Governour of the Country having notice of our march would keep the Pass against us and to that purpose drew together above five hundred Gentlemen with whom he set out to meet us I had intelligence of it and found my self in a great perplexity with so few people as I had having not above fourscore at the most and of them the Cavalry very poorly mounted Seeing my self then in no condition to make head against so great a body I conceiv'd it requisite to think of retreating and that with the soonest There was no Country for us so safe as Savoy by reason that we march'd under his Standard But the difficulty was how to get thither For we were to pass the Rhone which was two long leagues march from us which appear'd to be impossible no Boats being there So that not daring to show our selves in the assurance we had of being charg'd I bethought me of concealing my men in a Wood and in the mean time to send out to seek a Boat upon the River to be brought to the place where I design'd to pass But this requiring a great deal of time I thought it requisite to amuse Monsieur de Saint Chaumont in laying him an Ambuscade with our Horse only to the end that we might in the interim file off our Infantry towards the River and have them all ready to pass and the more to fortifie this Ambuscade I kept the Drums with the Trumpets to make the greater noise The knowledge I had of the Map of the Country made me guess that Monsieur de Saint Chaumont who feard nothing would certainly pass through a little Wood that lay betwixt him and us and accordingly posted my self there with my Horse my two Trumpets and my two Drums I lay still till the Enemies Forlorn should advance About midnight they fail'd not to fall directly into our Ambuscade when we sallying out upon them with a great rattling of Drums and Trumpets when they least expected any such thing put them into so great a fright that they all run away without firing so much as one Pistol and went to carry news to Monsieur de Saint Chaumont that the Enemy was in the Wood and had so many Trumpets and Drums that they must of necessity be much stronger than had been reported to him This news did a little startle him as well as the rest and put them upon a long deliberation of what course they should take where it was at last resolv'd that they should stay till it was day that they might not rashly engage without first discovering the Enemies post and number This was just as much as I expected or desir'd for by this means we had time sufficient to recover the River where we found the Boat coming back from passing over our men in which I shipt our Cavalry that were to pass over first and stay'd my self the return of our Boat into which at last I went with the rest of our people We were scarce got to the middle of the River when we discover'd all Monsieur de Saint Chaumont's Cavalry and himself at the head of them marching a soft trot for fear of engaging himself too far I leave every one to judge of the satisfaction he had to see us in so little number and himself not able to get to us especially after having been stopt by so ordinary a stratagem put upon him by such a company of young fellows as we were and that he was asham'd he had not the judgment to discover So soon as we were landed I saluted him at distance and took my leave being careful to keep the Water-man on our side lest he should carry over his Boat and went to post our selves upon the first little Eminence of the State of the Duke of Savoy From thence I sent to give an account of all these transactions to our Camp-master and to demand his Orders which I expected with great impatience finding my self no longer in a condition of making War at my own expence But was very much astonisht at his answer which was That the Peace being already concluded he stood no longer in need of our Troops For having got all the advantage he pretended to which was by his authority to render himself considerable with the Duke he easily consented to the order the Duke gave him to disband his Regiment and coming after to see me to acknowledge the great obligation he had to me he told me to give me a more particular testimony of his gratitude that if I did not think of returning into France I should oblige him in staying with him and depending upon the same fortune with his own I receiv'd his offer with the respect I ought to do assuring him that I was
party the next morning towards Langues which held out for the King Upon this intelligence I immediately sent in all post haste to tell Monsieur de Franciere who was Governor of Langues to Monsieur de Rhesnel Governor of Chaumont and to Monsieur de Saint Aubin Governor of Montigny which were three places united to Nogent and which had all promised mutual assistance against these Invaders that if they would send me some Troops I did assure them the next morning to take Aurillot Prisoner that it was of moment to the publick quiet since it was he almost that disturbed the whole Country Monsieur de Rhesnel and Monsieur de St. Aubin sent me forthwith some Horse and Monsieur de Franciere would come himself in person but he came a little too late for the very moment that the men from the two others arriv'd having no time to lose I made those men I had which were about 60 Horse and as many Foot ready to march and with them set out about midnight and came to invest the Village of Persigny into which Aurillot was retir'd I plac'd Corps de Guard on all the Avenues and with the rest of my men without any noise went to storm the House yet could I not do it so softly but that those within heard us and did what they could to oppose us but we made our selves Masters of it and having forc'd the doors we struck so great a terror into all those within that they made little or no resistance Aurillot seeing no possible way to escape barricadoâ—d himself in a Chamber and having a Pistol in his hand cry'd out that he would kill the first man that advanc'd and that he would dye before he would surrender himself to me being conscious without doubt that he was guilty enough to know that he was not to have any very good composition from me He enquir'd at the same time whither there was no other Commander to which he was answer'd that Monsieur de Franciere was just arriv'd and that if he had a desire to surrender himself into his hands I was willing to consent to it Aurillot took the course and so became a Prisoner as also were all the rest of his men some few excepted who by the favour of the night escap'd into the neighb'ring Houses and there conceal'd themselves VI. Monsieur de Franciere and I were of opinion that we ought to carry our Prisoners to Langues and being accordingly about to enter the Town we were very much surpriz'd to see all the Citizens come out of the Gates to meet us The joy wherein they were to hear that we were bringing in Aurillot Prisoner would not give them leave to stay till he came within the Walls of their City and one of them more foreseeing and zealous than the rest fearing lest he should compound for his Ransome as he might have done had he not committed that barbarity at Bonnecourt thought it best in good time to prevent it and fir'd a Musquet at him but was so ill a Marks-man that instead of his Head he hit mine the ball cutting my Hat-band in two and graz'd upon my Hat yet without any other harm to me at all This heat did a little surprize us and made me tell Monsieur de Franciere that there was no safety there for Aurillot and that it was better to carry him to Nogent but he made answer that he would go and speak to the people and going immediately up to them he there gave them to understand that if they would permit Justice to have its course against this publick Enemy they should have all satisfaction but if they would make use of violence he should be constrain'd to convey him to some other place This remonstrance stopt their fury and they past their words that they would do him no harm wishing much rather to see him dye upon a Scaffold and so they brought him into the Town and clapt him up in Prison VII This news of taking Aurillot made a mighty noise in the Country all the Gentry mounted to Horse and sent to Monsieur de Franciere that he might be ransom'd as being a Prisoner of War Monsieur de Franciere return'd them answer that it was I who had taken him and that he being my right they were to apply themselves to me but that if he was absolutely at his disposal he could not treat him as a Prisoner of War having been taken not only as an Enemy to the King but as a Destroyer of the Country and a publick Incendiary who had burnt Men and Villages and committed Outrages that were not according to the ordinary Rules of War To which the Nobless return'd answer again that all this could be no other but an occasion of inhancing his ransom that due satisfaction might be made and therefore did humbly beseech him to set his rate and to consent that every Gentleman amongst them might have a particular obligation to him for the favour Monsieur de Franciere found himself in a very great straight being unwilling to fall out with all the Gentlemen of the Country and very well foreseeing all the consequences of this affair told me that he thought he should not be able to detain this Prisoner any longer and that therefore I was to consider whither or no I would take him into my own Custody for that otherwise he should be compell'd to deliver him upon Ransom I for my part who thought I ought not to prefer any consideration to my duty made answer that I would take the charge of him upon me and would keep him safe enough and accordingly two hours before day in the morning I took him and with my Horse convey'd him to Chaumont where I secur'd him in a good strong Prison Monsieur de Franciere at the same time sent to acquaint the Nobless that he had him no longer in his power not having been able to deny him to him by whom he had been taken and to whom he did of right appertain This news troubled them very much not doubting but that I was resolv'd to proceed to the last as I had begun The only remaining comfort they had was that being condemned at Chaumont he might appeal to Paris and that in so long a way they might find some means or other to rescue him They sent nevertheless to demand him of me and upon my refusal said that I should make haste then to bring him to his Trial hoping for the forementioned reason to procure his deliverance so much the sooner They had the satisfaction they desir'd for in a few days he was condemned to have his Head cut off and to make restitution to all those he had undone He appeal'd from this Sentence to Paris demanding to be carried thither and withal gave notice to all his Friends that if they would rescue him now was the time to do it His Relations hereupon drew all their Friends together and mounting to Horse came to place
stopt The man came up and told me The King had sent for me to him I askt what people said of me at which he fell a laughing and answer'd merrily Why they say that you have taken a fright and have led me a fine course But what are you afraid of The King would only speak with you I have had this day the satisfaction of seeing Monsieur Pontis run away from me Then I presently resolv'd to go wait upon the King tho the trouble and agitation both of my mind and my body had been so excessive that I had sweat to that degree that it appear'd on the outside of my Doublet I had no great need of consideration what I should say to the King My retirement had given me but too much leisure for revolving in my mind every thing that might serve to prove my innocency And having always hoped that at one time or other the King would give me liberty to justifie my self before him I had meditated and prepared an exact narration wherein following only common sense I had put together all that a Souldier who had liv'd thirty years about Court and had no other Eloquence than what Nature gave him could say that was plausible to render such an action less odious and to cloath it with all those circumstances that could make the Justice of his Cause appear XVI So soon as I came into the Court of the Kings Lodgings the Duke of St. Simon who was looking out at window made a sign to me to come up the stairs by the Wardrobe and when I was there he told me the King had sent for me to learn the truth of the whole matter from my own mouth The King was laid down by reason of some little physick he had taken Being come to the Bed-side I fell upon my knees and in my countenance plainly discover'd the remorse I had for having offended my Prince who had ever been so gracious to me His Majesty then told me he would have me declare the whole truth without any disguise and that he had sent for me purely for the same purpose There was all that time no body present in the room but the King the Duke of St. Simon and my self so that having an opportunity of speaking freely to him I did it after this manner Sir I can never sufficiently thank your Majesty for the grace and honour you are pleased to do me in permitting me to render you an account of my actions for I have ever hoped from your Majesty's goodness that would you vouchsafe to hear me you would judge me rather unfortunate than faulty I dare boldly say that if my Conscience could reproach me with having failed in my duty or ever disobeying your Majesty's orders I should never have had the boldness to present my self before you and that I should voluntarily have banish'd my self both from your Court and Army and have sought death out of your Kingdom for in it I could not have liv'd after I had lost my Honour So that tho those in the Council of War who are either friends to Monsieur Canaples or have not been rightly informed of the truth of the matter have declared against me yet I hope your Majesty being so equitable as all the world knows you to be will judge things as they are and as I shall lay them before you That it was Monsieur Canaples only who acted contrary to your Majesty's orders to the Rules of War and his own Honour and that whereas he complains of my having done him an injury 't is â—e on the contrary who hath injured me Your Majesty knows I have always told you the truth but I protest afresh that upon this occasion I will not utter one syâ—able not only that is not true but nothing except what your whole Regiment of Guards know to be so as well as I and what Monsieur Canaples himself cannot but acknowledge for such Your Majesty may please to call to mind that having brought you the news of the English Fleet 's arrival you commanded me to go give notice to the Officers to go and receive your Majesty's Orders and afterwards to make choice of a sit place to draw up the Army in Battaâ—lle Thereupon I went immediately to carry this Order to the Officers and acquainted Mansieur Canaples with it among the rest He entreated me to go draw up our Regiment my self because our Major was sick I told him I would first execute your Majesty's Orders and when that was done I would not fail to obey his But it being my turn to command the Forlorn-hope that day having never yet done it since I had the honour to be received into the Regiment I entreated him to remember it telling him the passionate desire I had by some considerable piece of service to acknowledge the singular favour your Majesty had done me in commanding me to be near your person and in preferring me of your own accord to be a Lieutenant in your Guards He promis'd me he would and upon that assurance I left him When I had obeyed your Majesty's Orders first and then his I return'd to give him an account of the whole and at the same time to beg the effect of his promise asking him if he had remembred me But he at first made as if he did not understand what I meant and after I had explained my self to him he shew'd me as plainly that he had forgotten me I beseech your Majesty to consider whether it was possible for a man of honour as Monsieur Canaples is to forget in so short a time the promise he had made me but just before and whether this was not plainly to tell me he had forgot me only because he would forget me I confess Sir I was sensible toucht with this injury and found my self netâ—led to see that Monsieur Canaples had not only used me like a pittiful fellow and a Foot-man in breaking his word with me but besides that he usurp'd a power which no way belong'd to him to take from me the rank your Majesty had given me and meerly out of a design to affront me to change the general and establish'd order of your Army I thought Sir that Monsieur Canaples was not allowed to set himself above your Majesty nor by his own private authority to take from me that right which my Command and my Rank made mine and which I have endeavour'd to deserve This aâ—â—ront Sir wounded me more than all the injurious words he could give me in the heat of passion and I humbly beg your Majesty's pardon if I told him that he toucht me in the tenderest part and made me mad For I saw very well that he used me so in cold blood and that the affront he put upon me was a premeditated one I do also Sir confess for I dare conceal nothing from your Majesty who command me to speak freely that in the heat of my passion I could not forbear giving him
and was Steward to the Duke of Lorrain who was then at Paris I try'd to get him up behind me but not being able because he was a very big fat man and not yet cur'd of his fright I thought it best to alight my self and giving one of the Foot-men my Horse to lead I walk'd with him to his Lodging where he return'd me thanks as well as he could being not yet perfectly come to himself He ask'd one of the Footmen who I was and where I liv'd and came next morning to acknowledge the service I had done him and a few days after invited me to Supper to which I took some Persons of Quality my Friends along with me who were no less surpriz'd than I at the Magnificence of this Entertainment VI. The King designing as I said to march his Army against the Duke of Savoy made them set out in the depth of Winter and he himself follow'd in February 1629. I staid a little after him at Paris to pick up some Souldiers that were left behind and went with about two hundred to overtake the King beyond Fontain-bleau according to the order his Majesty has given me As soon as I was come up I distributed every Souldier into his owu Compauy and then took my own place in the head of mine to march along with the Army to Lyons My Company that is Monsieur St. Preuil's which I almost always commanded consisted at that time of two hundred and fifty men all lusty fellows and well â—lad There were among them about fourscore young Gentlemen most of them of very good families and had very handsom equipage I having the honour to be known by all the persons of the Court and all the principal Officers in the Army for one that had always with great industry apply'd my self to my profession was very exact in my discipline and had a great care of my Souldiers this made a great many people of Quality do me the honour to entrust their Sons with me to learn what the experience and diligence of so many years had taught me And I think I may say without vanity that I was beloved feared and obeyed by my men after a very extraordinary manner But I try'd by a particular address to win upon the affection of the Cadets for I gave them the Command of the Company by turns that while they were learning to be Souldiers they might learn to be Captains and Officers too at the same time The King was much pleas'd to see this Company in so good order and exprest his satisfaction by granting it a priviledge which others had not For seeing my Company so large and full of Gentlemen of Quality I thought it my duty to acquaint his Majesty that being alone as I then was without my Captain and having so many young Gentlemen whom their Parents had committed to my care I should find my self over-burden'd with the charge unless his Majesty made me some grant in favour of all those young Cadets that they might be treated with more respect than the common sort of Souldiers for they not having been inured to hardship would soon grow discontented and complain to their Relations whom I should by that means make my Enemies and so might make most of them at last disband and quit the Army The King very graciously reply'd That I did him a kindness in giving him this notice and I am glad said he that you have askt me what I grant you most willingly Thus I had ever after double Quarters for my Company and by this means had it in my power to make some distinction betwixt the Cadets and the ordinary sort of Souldiers I was also very careful to prevent any disorders in the Quarters not being able to endure that the Souldiers should wrong poor people in the Villages To this purpose when I went out I always drew up my Company and made proclamation that if any Countryman had cause to complain he might come and do it without any fear Before I dislodg'd I saw all things restor'd and never went out of the Town till I had first got a Certificate from the Lord and the Parish Priest being resolv'd always to carry my justification in my Pocket and fearing lest I should be accus'd to the King who was more severe to me than all the rest because he made me the instrument of reforming the discipline among his Guards But I had another reason still which oblig'd me to some exactness in this point and that was that having so many Gentlemen in my Company who were like to be Commanders themselves shortly after I would not use them to pilfering lest when they came to be Officers they should suffer their Souldiers to do the same that they had been formerly allowd in themselves And those mean things were not to be indured in men of birth and quality whose minds ought to be noble and generous above the meaner sort of men VII As soon as our Army was arriv'd within some few leagues of Lyons we being to pass the River in Boats fearing some disorder might happen in the passage I told Monsieur Vientaâ—â— a Captain of the Guards that we must endeavour to pass 〈◊〉 if we would do it safely and without confusion and accordingly we embarkt our Companies and past early without any loss or tumult It afterwards appear'd that our fear had not been groundless for there was such a disorder in getting over the Army that a great deal of Baggage was lost The King staid a while at Lyons and we refresht our selves in the Country round about and I and my Company went to a Village about a league beyond Lyons but it happen'd that this Village which was assign'd for our Quarters belong'd to a Kinsman of mine a Captain of a new-rais'd Regiment who was then in Daâ—phine His Wife frigâ—ted to see so many Souldiers came and conjur'd me to use my best endeavour for exempting her Estate from Quartering This was no easy matter to obtain the Army lying so disperst all over the Country as it did and I had much ado to prevail with my self to go about it but told the orders were given and it would breed a great confusion But at last yield I did to a Woman's and a Relation's request and went back to Lyons to see if I could obtain what this Lady deâ—â—r'd As soon as I came into the King's presence I humbly besought him to remember he was now entring into my Country and that I came to beg one favour which was that he would direct our Quarters to be chang'd because the Village assign'd us belong'd to a Kinswoman of mine They press me hard Sir said I to make use of my credit with your Majesty upon this occasion or at least the credit they imagine I have The King turning to the Lords about him 'T is true said he laughing we do now approach his Country and ought to consider him a little So he gave order presently to
was all his policy too to get loose from all the new intrigues form'd against him as I shall shew in some measure hereafter Mareschal Melleray still unmov'd with all the Cardinal had said sent back word that the place was actually invested and he did not question but to give a good account of it And after several other things said upon this occasion he added at the bottom of his Letter as himself was pleased to tell me that noted sentence of the Poet Audaces fortuna juvat At this Siege God preserved me after such a manner as I can never sufficiently admire by snatching me on the sudden from a Post where I was oblig'd to be and where if I had been my death had been unavoidable One day when my Regiment was to come on upon the Guard in the evening having heard that Monsieur de Rambures my particular friend was indisposed the night before I went to visit him When I came to his Tent they told me he was at the head of the Trenches I went thither to him and found him shivering like a man in an Ague-fit and told him with great tenderness that he plaid the Fool to be there when he scarce could go or stand You said I had more need be in your Bed Are the Trenches a fit place for a sick man If the Enemy should make a sally what can you do in this condition He told me his illness was nothing and for the Enemy they were not likely to make any sallies that they had been very quiet all the night before and did not seem to design any great matters I told him that according to the little experience I had I was of a quite contrary opinion and I thought there was the greater ground to fear them for the very reason why he thought there was none at all That the Enemies being so quiet lookt to me very suspiciously and could portend no good and that skilful Seamen are always jealous of a great calm While I was talking at this rate very seriously the Count de Bussy Lamet interrupted me taking me aside with a whisper which was to tell me that he had a Pasty of Red Deer sent him of a Present and desired my company at the opening of it which was to be that morning to breakfast In the mean while came the Mareschal de Melleray to whom I said with the freedom he allowed me to take Do not you make a conscience Sir of letting a sick man as Monsieur Rambures is that had an Ague all night and hath it still upon him stay here at the head of the Trenches Pray Sir command him to go to bed for he has at present a worse Enemy than the Spaniard to encounter Monsieur Rambures took me up and pretending to slight his distemper when he thought himself concern'd to be upon duty turned what I said into raillery and told us he was very well Monsieur Melleray urged him to withdraw but he would not be prevailed upon to leave his Post and by not taking our advice he became quickly after the cause of his own death Then Monsieur Melleray who had laid his design upon the Town told me I must needs oblige him in one small piece of service which was to go immediately from him to the Lieutenant of the Ordnance and bid him get four thousand Baskets of Earth ready by six in the evening exactly for he had absolute occasion for them I promis'd him to go and as he turned about to speak to some body else Monsieur Bussy Lamet told me again in my Ear that I should stay till the Mareschal was gone and then we might go and breakfast together before I executed my Commission But Monsieur Melleray who would have had me gone instantly seeing me again cryed What are not you gone yet I thought you would have flown for my sake I told him I durst not go before him and only waited his motions Whereupon he answered That since I was not gone we would walk both together as far as the end of the Trench and then take Horse and go both about our business Thus I lost my Breakfast of which I had need enough but by a particular good providence I miss'd an accident too which must undoubtedly have cost me my life as you will see presently As soon as I had parted with Mareschal Melleray who went to overlook the Works I made haste to the Lieutenant of the Ordinance's Quarter By that time I was got six or seven hundred paces I heard a great noise of abundance of Guns I turn'd about and saw all the Trench and the Curtain on fire and fancied it was a great skirmiâ—h and that the Enemy had charged us in our Trenches Just then was I in greater confusion than can be exprest On one side my friendship for Monsieur Rambures call'd me to the Trenches on the other the fear of offending Mareschal Melleray put me upon obeying his orders At last I resolv'd if it were possible to satisfy both obligations Then riding full speed as soon as ever I met with the Lieutenant I told him without more ado that Monsieur Melleray had sent me to order in his name four thousand Baskets of Earth to be ready at half an hour after five in the evening and for fear he should not understand me right I repeated it over again to him He made answer that the Mareschal commanded an impossibility I repeated it a third time without staying to reason the case with him that he must do what he could but my orders were to bespeak four thousand at half an hour past five in the evening and so I left him galloping back again full speed to the Trench But all was over All was broke and in disorder and by the way I met poor Monsieur Rambures with his Thigh broke and carrying back to his Tent. The first words he said were Ah Sir poor Bussy is killed and so are all the rest that you saw with me at the head of the Trenches The Guards let themselves be surprized and that hath lost us all What you told me is come upon me and I had been wiser if I had believed you I was then quite transported with grief seeing one of my friends lost another so dangerously wounded and so terrible a slaughter in so very short a time But this was no time to talk and Monsieur Rambures himself begg'd me to run to the Trench and see if they did not want me and whether it was not necessary to draw down my Regiment to beat back the Enemy I ran immediately to put them into a posture of fighting and Mareschal Mâ—lleray meeting me there said in great concern What Monsieur Pontis have not you been where I sent you I told him the thing was done and I had told the Lieutenant and repeated it thrice over that the Lieutenant thought it could hardly be done but he would endeavour to satisfy him the best he could Then
express and that he commanded him above all things to respect observe and be directed by me When I had read this exceeding civil Letter that the Mareschal did me the honour to send me I burnt it presently loving to oblige the persons who do me the favour to love me but fearing such commendations as rather expose a man to the envy and hatred than recommend him to the esteem and affection of the generality of people Some time after the Mareschal sent back Fortiniere whom I reprimanded severely giving him to understand that he was more to blame than all the rest of the Officers first in that he who was an old Officer was so far from teaching the new ones their duty that he joyned himself in the revolt with them and secondly in that undertaking to carry the complaints of the rest he made all their guilt his own He excused himself as well as he could and would sain have been admitted into favour again and have had a Company But neither Monsieur Vitry nor I would ever give him one For in truth he deserved to be punished much more than to be rewarded VI. Monsieur de Vitry then went as I said before to the Prince and I followed him with all the Regiments and here I cannot forbear taking notice of one thing which I saw in my Journey at Vauderange because it is something unusual This Town lies upon the confines of Lorrain some fifteen leagues from Metz. The people of it are pretty equally mixt of Catholicks and Hugonots The same Church serves them both The Curate of one Congregation and the Minister of the other live together in very good friendship On Sunday the Catholicks go to Mass from eight in the morning till ten And at ten the Catholicks leave the place and make room for the Hugonots and salute one another with great civility as they pass The Minister preaches to the Hugonots in the very same Pulpit which the Curae had preach'd to the Catholicks in before only they have the Body of the Church and no more for their use and the Quire and Altar is used by none but Catholicks And again when the Catholicks have gone to Church at eight a clock one Sunday the next they do not go till ten and so constantly they change their hours of devotion by turns In a word there is so great an equality of behaviour among them that when I had been entertain'd by the Curae the Minister came and invited me to dine with him too and after this sort of vicissitude every thing is done among them VII When we had joyn'd the body of the Army then with the Prince who was to leave the Command of it to the Mareschal of Guebriant the Mareschal entertain'd his Highness and all the principal Officers of the Army at Salbourg a Town some ten or twelve leagues from Longvic He did me the honour to invite me and would needs make me perform the Ceremonies of his house It was one of the most splendid Dinners that ever was made There were two Tables with the same Services in two different Rooms The Prince's Table had about twenty persons at it for only his Highness the Mareschals the Lieutenant Generals and Mareschâ—ls de Camp sat there the other was the Maistres de Camp where Monsieur Vitry sat and I with him being appointed as I said to welcom the Guests and conduct them into the Dining-room For as soon as notice was brought me I immediately left my Napkin and went to meet and introduce them In the Princes Dining-room were several Drums and Trumpets which all sounded when his Highness drank And some six â—nd twenty or thirty more were placed without as were also several Instruments which answered them within and all together made a most delightful Musick When they were at the dessert Monsieur Rantsau Lieutenant General came into the Court I knew the Prince had no kindness for him and therefore as soon as they brought me notice went and whisper'd Mareschal Guebriant in the Ear that Monsieur Rantsau was below He was much perplexed and said Let him alone and make as if you did not see him So I went and sat down again Monsieur Rantsau was much out of humour that no body came to receive him At last he grew weary of waiting and came briskly up into the room whhre his Highness was As soon as Monsieur Guebriant perceived him he and the rest rose and put on some surprize and every one offering him a Glass they told him He was come a little with the latest but there was enough left still to dine on At the same time they set before him Partridge Pheasant and all sorts of Wild Fowl and being one that lov'd to eat well he was taken very good care of VIII After all this great entertainment all the Troops marched and when they were come to the Plain of Benfelt near the Rhine the Army was drawn out and every one took his leave of the Prince who was to go back from thence Several would have attended him back but he would suffer none of the Company to do it My friends however understanding we were to go into Germany writ to me very earnestly to come back telling me I had seen Germany already and to go thither again was but loss of time Monsieur d'Espenan to whom the Prince was very kind and who was indeed his particular Favourite said he would speak to him for me which he did and with great difficulty got me leave But upon second thoughts considering how ill Mareschal Vitry might take it if I deserted his Son at that rate I resolved to continue my Journey and sore against my inclination to pass the Rhine But by endeavouring to keep the Mareschals favour I lost the Prince's who lookt upon himself to be affronted and was very much displeased with me When I came among the rest to take my leave of his Highness and kiss his hand he not knowing my design said in a low voice Do not you go with me I have granted you a dismission I answer'd His Highness had done me a greater honour than I deserv'd in granting a favour to me which had been deny'd to others But in consideration that my return might create great complaints against his Highness and much envy to my self I begg'd his leave to stay behind The Prince offended as if I had not a due sense of so very particular a favour grew downright angry and said You are an ungrateful man I did that for you which I would do for no body besides and now you do not thank me for it and presently turning away from me complain'd to Monsieur Espenan that he had askt a favour for me which I slighted as soon as it was granted And really this prov'd a most unhappy accident to me tho in truth my fault was not want of gratitude so much as excess of generosity For I did not so properly ask my self to be dismist as give way