him leave upon his own credit to raise and arm ten thousand Foot and five hundred Horse for the defense of the City of Metz and the Messine Countrey An offer that the King with high commendationâ— of his worth as freely accepted writing him a very obliging Letter thereupon and the Cardinal in his dispatch dated from St. Iean de Morienne the 25 th of Iuly expressing himself thus As concerning the offer you have made the King to advance money for the Levies you desire to set on foot his Majesty looks upon it with such an eye of acknowledgement as the quality of so generous an offer does justly deserve knowing as he does the zeal you have to the success of his Affairs and the power you have as heretofore to serve him for the time to come The Duke to add effects to this promise departed from Metz about the end of Iuly to return to Paris there to raise money for his Leavies and to provide himself of such men of Command as were willing to take employments upon this occasion but the threats of the Imperialists by little and little vanishing at last to nothing they satisfied themselves with having fortified Moyenvic which was soon after taken and demolish'd by the King's Army and the Duke of Lorain not daring at this time wholly to discover his evil intention staid to expect a fitter season which also was not far off wherein to do it as he afterwards did but with very ill success as will in its due place appear The Duke being thus return'd to Paris deliver'd of those apprehensions he had been possess'd withal concerning Metz and satisfied with his present conditon sate still calmly expecting without any disquiet in his own particular concerns the issue of the great Contests at this time on foot in the Court at Lyons where it was said the Queen Mothers animosity against the Cardinal was increas'd to such a degree that in the greatest height of the King's sickness which at this time was exceeding violent she omitted no opportunity of incensing his Majesty against him as the sole author of his Disease wherein her importunities were so great as at last to obtain a solemn promise from the King that so soon as the War of Italy was at an end he would give her the satisfaction she desir'd by removing this great Minister from the Administration of Affairs Though the peril the Cardinal was now in was very great and that the Duke had continual intelligence of all that pass'd at Court yet did he notwithstanding still continue towards him the same civility and respect he writ to him very often and in truth so long as that great cloud of disgrace hung over his head the Duke would have been really sorry that it should have broke upon him though he had by his dexterity no sooner clear'd the sky of Favour but that the Duke who could not brook his excess of Authority and Power converted all his former complacency into testimonies of hatred that fail'd very little as we shall hereafter see of rebounding back upon himself to his own ruine Which till it shall more plainly appear I shall only say this by the way that the Duke had doubtless a very great esteem for the Cardinal never speaking of him so much as in private but with a Character of Honour and respect so that had he not expected from his friends an over servile and submiss regard I do verily believe the Duke's friendship would have been constant and inviolate to him but a civility that went very far with the haughty humour of the one appearing nothing to the excessive ambition of the other the Cardinal enduring no equal and the Duke hardly admitting of any superior it was impossible so to compose things betwixt two so aspiring spirits but that they would at last break out into an open feud Whilst the Court at Lyons was agitated with this Tempest of Division of which we are now speaking the Duke of Espernon in the greatest calm and serenity of repose enjoy'd at Paris the honour and applause that his well known and long continued vertue had acquir'd to his person and name insomuch that as his Coach pass'd through the streets we had continually the pleasure of seeing the people flock together in crowds from all parts of the City to gaze upon him considering with admiration so vigorous a health in so great an extremity of age pursuing him with acclamations wherever he went and the old hatred that the former Factions had stirr'd up against him being now converted into love and esteem gave us to understand that envy is not always the concomitant of Vertue but that there is a certain pitch to which the one being once arriv'd is got clear out of sight of the other which of a mean and earthy composition cannot shoot its darts so far as to reach the Station where Supreme Vertue is enthron'd In this great and undisturbed leisure that the Duke enjoy'd at Paris he who was himself a great lover of Building could find no better entertainment wherewithal to divert himself than by going abroad to see the Houses in and about the City which were then erecting with the magnificence that we now admire in our proud and stately Structures Amongst others going one day in very good company to the Hostel de Luxembourg that the Queen Mother was then finishing they entred the Gallery where she had caus'd the manner of her escape from Blois as the most remarkable passage of her life to be painted in Story One of the most apparent evidences the Duke could possibly receive that that service of his was no more regarded was that he who had been the sole Authour of the whole Action was no where represented in that painting though so much as the very Footmen that opened the Boots of her Coach had not been omitted He had heard before of this injustice that had been done him but though it had touch'd him very near had never manifested the least discontent neither do I believe he would have said any thing upon this occasion if the company who were with him had not provok'd him to it But every one asking him questions of a thing whereof they knew he was able to give them the best accompt at last some one freer than the rest ask'd him how it came to pass that he was only left out of the story to which the Duke modestly reply'd That he did not know who had done him that wrong but that whoever they were that intended to disoblige him in it had doubtless therein more offended the Queen than him That he was very certain however excluded the story that no one could condemn him for having any ways fail'd in the action or in any thing he had undertaken for the Queen upon that occasion his carriage of that business being too generally known for that neither did he believe they would much magnifie her for having deny'd him so poor
Father such a relation to the History of his Son as will not permit their names to be separated without manifest injury to the one or the other Finding my self then oblig'd to look a little back and to say something of his Father before I come to him I shall tell you with the best Historians of that time that he was rank'd amongst the greatest Captains of this Kingdom and that by the meer consideration of his Prudence and Valour without any advantage of Favour he was made Camp-Master to the Light Horse of France and the Kings Lieutenant General in Guienne a Province abounding in Nobility and Gentry and men of such spirits as would have made a difficulty of their Obedience to any Superiour where there had not been an indisputable concurrence of Merit and Blood But these two qualities happily meeting in the person of Mounsier de la Valette gave him so great an interest if not so absolute a power in that Countrey that notwithstanding it was during the time of his Government unquiet and mutinous in many places and in some even to a contempt of the Kings Royal Power yet his Authority never received in those very places the least affront or contradiction He commanded Armies in chief which were led paid arm'd provided for and kept together by his Conduct and Care and I my self have seen many Acts and Monuments of that time which sufficiently discover the Power and Dignity he preserv'd entire even in the most difficult functions of his charge It was he who in the Battels of Dreux of Iarnac and of Moncountour who in the Skiâ—mishes of Iasennes of Rene le Duc and in all the most signal actions of his time exercising the Office of Comp-Master to the Light Horse by his courage and conduct won to himself a principal share of the Honour due to the successes of the Royal Arms and chiefly in the Battel of Iarnac which he undertook with so much prudence and fought it with so much bravery that they who write the Transactions of that time attribute supereminently to him the reputation of that dayes Victory It was he that made the brave Retreat of Houdan one of the most memorable Exploits of that Age which though it be recorded by other Writers deserves to be recited here and the circumstances which I have several times heard repeated to the Duke his Son will not render a relation suspected that stands justified by our own Historians The Hugonot Army had laid siege to the City of Chartres and that of the King was dispos'd to relieve it but that being a work of greater preparation and leisure than the condition of the besieged could well admit the Royal Party conceiv'd that to disturb the Enemies Camp with frequent Alarums would give the defendants some convenient respite till a sufficient succour might be made ready to come Mounsieur de la Valette was he that would take upon him to execute this design and accordingly keeping himself for the most part on Horseback he gave so good an account of what he had undertaken that few dayes past wherein he obtain'd not some signal advantage over the Enemy Now beating up one quarter now alarming another with such an active and unwearied diligence as put the Enemy to an unintermitted duty and forc'd them continually to stand to their Arms. The Admiral Coligny who commanded at this Leaguer under the Prince of Conde nettled at the inconveniences his Army suffered by these frequent inroads of Mounsieur de la Valette meditatated with himself a revenge and to lay a Trap to catch him to which purpose he stole privately from his Camp with 3500 Horse Mounsieur de la Valette having but 500 in all lay baiting his Horses in a Wood for the execution of his enterprize The Admiral who had observ'd his motion surpriz'd him in this posture set upon him and charg'd him almost before perceiv'd notwithstanding all which he found a brave resistance and Mounsieur de la Valette without being astonish't â—either at the presence of so great a Captain or the inequality of their Armies having given his Souldiers time to mount charg'd him several times with advantage and made good his Retreat for six Leagues together in the open Countrey of Beausse the Admiral never being able during the retreat either to break his order or force him to a general engagement an action of so high a repute that there are few Historians who have not set a particular mark upon it for one of the most memorable of that time If we yet pass from his publick actions of Command to enquire into the private engagements of his single person I can perhaps fit you with as remarkable a story of that kind as you have read Iane Albret Queen of Navarre a great Fautress to those of the Reformed Religion of which she her self also made publick Profession desirous to draw all places within her demean into the same perswasion presented her self before Leitoure to be there receiv'd A Town of so advantageous a situation and therefore so considerable in Guienne that the successive Governours of that Province have ever had a particular regard to the preservation of that place Mounsieur de la Valette who had received private Instructions from King Charles the Ninth to have an eye to the actions of this Princess and to frustrate her designs but with all outward shew of respect the King being unwilling to break openly with her having intelligence that she meant to attempt that place prevented her by his diligence and at her coming refus'd her entrance into that Town The Queen highly incens'd at this affront makes her complaint to the King who to satisfie her seem'd in publick to condemn an action which in his heart he highly approv'd commanding him to go as far as Pau where the Queen then resided and there by all the submissive means imaginable to make his excuse Mounsieur de la Valette having received this command attended only by one Page very well mounted and another inferiour servant takes his journey to the Queen to whom he humbly offer'd all the excuses and submissions that the dignity of the offended party could reasonably exact from a meaner offender and for a higher ofâ—ence But this Princess of a sex and condition not apt to forget an Injury was by no means satisfied with whatever he could say to appease her and whether it were that she discover'd to two Gentlemen of her Court whereof one was called Pinsons and the other Bisquerre that nothing but the death of Mounsieur de la Valette could satisfie her or that they of themselves as Courts ordinarily produce wicked instruments enough to execute the passions of the Great voluntarily meditated his ruine is yet to be discover'd But so it was that these two combin'd together to lie in wait for him by the way he was to return and to dispatch him Mounsieur de la Valette having taken his leave
himself to look into the state of those Provinces newly committed to his charge where by establishing such order as he thought convenient by the dispatch of his Levies and by disposing his men into the most important places he prepar'd himself betimes to encounter such Accidents as the severity of the time was likely to produce Soon after the Duke's departure the King went his Journey into Normandy where the greatest Obstacle being now remov'd the Treaty of Peace went on without any further impediment and was presently after concluded the King who had already determin'd how to dispose of the Duke of Guise making no great difficulty to grant him what he was resolv'd he should not long enjoy The Peace concluded the Edict of Union was publish'd first at Rouen and then in all parts of the Kingdom after which they immediately fell to the raising of Arms for the utter suppression of the King of Navarre and his Party But above all things the King was careful to hasten the necessary Dispatches for the Convocation of the States General at Blois in the beginning of October next ensuing an Assembly equally desir'd by the King and the Duke of Guise but to different ends The Duke hoping there by the joynt suffrages of the several Orders of the Kingdom to see himself plac'd in that degree of height to which his great Spirit and vast Ambition had so long aspir'd and the King resolving there and at that time to quench his restless and inordinate Ambition in a torrent of his own Blood Thus do we often see the purposes of the greatest Politicians deluded who when they think they have brought their Designs by the most infallible Rules and Maxims of Humane Prudence to an almost certain Issue find themselves deceiv'd and usually meet with effects quite contrary to their expectation giving us to understand that we ought not to commit our actions to the blind conduct of our own frail and erroneous foresight but into the hands of Providence that governs all and that brings all things to their determinate end The Edict of Union being sworn the Duke of Eâ—pernon remov'd from Court and the King â—atisfied at least in apparence with the Duke of Guise's and the Parisians excuses the Duke confident in the Queen Mother who was of late become absolutely powerful with the KIng had nothing now to hinder his coming to Court so that upon his Majesties return out of Normandy he immediately repair'd to him and having found him at Chartres he there in person deliver'd the same Apologies he had not long before presented by the Mediation of others All which his Majesty received with a Dissimulation that was not only natural to him but that by a long Practice and by the continual traverses and difficulties of his Reign was grown to such a habit in him that it was no hard matter for him to put on any kind of Language or Behaviour on any occasion wherein he was most likely to be surpriz'd So that in outward shew the King was so well pleas'd with no Company as indeed it was almost all he had as with the Duke's his Relations and Confederates Amongst which the Cardinal of Bourbon who was now also come to Court was entertain'd with extraordinary marks of Favour and Respect neither was there any Commands or Offices Military or Civil granted to any but by their recommendation insomuch that some have thought the Duke of Guise by winning and submissive carriage had made some real impression upon the Kings Inclinations and that his Majesty was dispos'd really to love him as he had formerly done if he could have moderated his Ambition and would have laid aside those designs which rendred him suspected to him In a conjuncture so favourable to their Designs neither the Duke of Guise nor those of his Faction slept in their Business but with all possible industry still more and more labour'd the Duke of Espernon's total Ruine as a thing that imported most of all to the confirmation of that Authority and Trust to which they saw themselves by his removal already advanc'd So that the King being daily afflicted with a thousand Accusations against him and wearied by their importunities was at last so far overcome as to consent that many of his Offices should be taken away being not yet to be prevail'd upon for his absolute Ruine Whilst the Duke was present he continually by his good Services fortified his Masters mind against all impressions of calumny his Enemies could invent to the prejudice of his Fidelity and Honour and had ever triumph'd in his Majesties good Opinion over the Envy and Malice of his Detractors but he was no sooner remov'd out of his Eye than that Confidence began to stagger his detractors representing him for an Enemy to the Crown a Friend to the King of Navarre and one that seducing daily all the Garrisons in his Government to a Revolt was upon the point to Proclaim open War against the King himself In the mean time the Duke had very good Intelligence of all that pass'd at Court he very well knew that his Enemies made use of all imaginable ways to destroy him that the King was by them perpetually socilited against him and that consequently it concern'd him in common discretion to frustrate their Designs and to provide for his own safety in the strength of those places he possess'd Neither was he much surpriz'd at the unexpected news of what the King had consented to against him he was very well acquainted with the constitution of the Court and had very well foreseen what would certainly be attempted against him but he could hardly perswade himself that his Majesty could ever forget his Fidelity and good Services yet did he not for all that neglect his own preservation that he might live to do him one day more and better Service the only revenge this faithful honest Servant meditated for the ingratitude of his Master He fell therefore presently into Consultation with his Friends what course he were best to take a Debate wherein Opinions were very different some there were who advis'd him to return to Court representing that his presence would infallibly disperse all those shadows of mistrust which by his absence his Adversaries had had opportunity to possess the King's mind withal that his tried Fidelity would soon recover its former place in his Majesties Opinion and that then he would soon be in a condition to return the mischiefs had been intended against him upon the heads of the first contrivers Others there were who gave him counsel to put himself into Metz others to make immediately for Provence and some of those there to joyn with the King of Navarre That to that purpose he should first go into Angoumois whither he might suddenly and with great facility convey himself where he had a strong City to retire unto and where he would be in a Country very convenient to favour his Passage into Provence by the way of
Guienne and Languedoc the Friends he had in those two Provinces being enough to make his way through the one and the other should he be put upon a resolution of retiring thither The first propositions being accompanied with great and almost invincible difficulties the Duke wholly adher'd to the last advice and so far follow'd it as to retire to Angoulesme without joyning himself nevertheless though infinitely solicited so to do with the King of Navarre A thing impossible for him to resolve upon had he been so enclin'd for two Reasons First by reason of that Princes Religion and secondly because being a declared Enemy to the King his Master the Duke would rather have perish'd a thousand times than appear to favour much less to engage with such as he knew acted positively against his Majesties Service One of the Duke 's old Servants De Guez by name a man of fourscore and eight years old but notwithstanding so entire in his Judgment as discover'd nothing of the infirmities of Age gave me not long since a full Relation of all these Circumstances He was at this time about the Duke's Person and as one of his principal and most trusty Servants present at this Deliberation when the Duke asking his particular Opinion of all had been propounded to him De Guez told him that he believ'd the resolution he had already taken to be without all dispute the best provided it were put iâ—to speedy execution but that it was to be fear'd that whilst he stood deliberating with his Friends what was best to be done his Enemies who were very powerful and already resolv'd what to do might effect something to the prejudice of his Fortune and that the least moments were to be husbanded in a business of so great consequence as this An advice that being soon consider'd of by the Duke he immediately commanded that every one should make himself ready to depart within two days neither did he longer defer it but accordingly put himself upon his way to Angoulesme and that very seasonably as by the following discourse will suddenly appear But before the Duke left Loches he was presented with a discourse by way of Apology in the behalf of himself and his Brother against the Calumnies contain'd in the forementioned Manifest of the League a piece so eloquently couch'd and set forth with so many powerful and so pertinent Arguments that it is certain the Leaguers could afterwards have wish'd they had never assaulted the Duke by the way of writing that so they might not have drawn upon themselves so tart a Reply I forbear to transcribe it in this place because it would swell this Volume with things that are elsewhere and in better language than I should perhaps express it to be found But Mounsieur de Thou one of the most celebrated Historians of these latter times thought it a Discourse worth inserting at length in his History and having translated it out of the Original into his own elegant Latine has commended it to all the Nations of Europe where his works are read with an universal applause And although the Duke never thought of justifying his actions that way and that he had so little a share in this answer as neither then nor ever since to know his name who undertook his Quarrel and Interest with so friendly a Zeal a thing somewhat hard to believe that a man who would oblige the Duke at so kind a rate should deprive himself of the thanks justly due to so great an obligation he nevertheless took it upon him and publish'd it in his own name that all the world might be satisfied both with his and his Brothers Innocency and certainly it wrought upon all disinterested spirits impressions very disadvantageous to the covert practices of the League Having caus'd this Declaration to be publish'd he departed towards Angoulesme where he safely arriv'd in Iuly and where the several Orders of the City contented with great emulation which should give the greatest testimony of joy for his Arrival Being thither come the Duke would needs take up his Lodging in the Castle which although it was only a rude pile of stone and naked of all defense though by him afterwards fortified and made more conâ—iderable and though there was in the same City a Cittadel much stronger and more commodious commanded by the Sieur de Bordes a particular creature of the Dukes yet to shew the Inhabitants how entire a Confidence he repos'd in them he would rather choose to lie in the other and that with so much civility to the Town as that he permitted not one of the Souldiers he brought along with him so much as to come within the Walls of the City Two days after his Arrival the Sieurs Nesmond Chief Justice and Normond Consul of the City receiv'd dispatches from the King Sign'd by Mounâ—ieur Villeroy wherein his Majesty positively commanded them not to admit any whomsoexer with any Forces into their City without his express Order whatever they might pretend or what Commissions soever they should produce to the contrary And indeed his Majesty had been so importun'd to exclude the Duke from this important place being withal made to believe that he had only left Loches in order to a closing with the King of Navarre that being unwilling to have that Faction strengthened by so powerful and so active a Confederate he had consented to this dispatch but the Duke's diligence having prevented this command so frustrated the execution of it that whereas it had before had these orders come in time been a very easie matter to have kept him out it was now impossible to obey the Kings desire he being got in or to thrust him out again who had already made himself Master of the place The Consul notwithstanding communicated the Orders he had receiv'd to some of his Relations and most intimate Friends where the greater part of those he consulted about this business being enclin'd to the League and it is hardly to be imagin'd how strangely that contagion had diffus'd it self throughout the whole Kingdom no Family almost being without one or more of their Party no City without some notorious Ring-leader of their Faction nor no Province wherein their Interest was not grown to a formidable height it was soon resolv'd upon that since the Kings pleasure could not now be fulfill'd in the precise Form his Letters prescrib'd to propose to his Majesty other ways by which as they conceiv'd they might work as considerable if not a more advantageous effect for his service than they could have done by that it was now too late for them to perform The Consul therefore dispatch'd away to Court one Souchâ—t his Brother-in-Law a notable Leaguer and a bold Factious Fellow to acquaint the King with his Design which was to seize upon the Duke's person and to detain him Prisoner in the City till his Majesties further Order who accordingly arriving at Court and
and that bear the greatest sway in all Humane Designs The end of the Second Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Third Book WHilst the Dukes Enemies exercis'd his Vertue with these continual troubles they were themselves no less afflicted with their own Ambition The Assembly of the Estates was held at Bloâ—s where all things in outward shew were dispos'd in favour of the Duke of Guise but still as he approach'd nearer to his Object the greater the height and the more difficult the access unto the place to which he aspir'd appear'd unto him That one remaining step he was to climb to reach the height of his desires seeming to rise still further from him as oft as he attempted to gain it So that tir'd out with so many present difficulties and apprehending yet more those which were to come 't is said he was often almost resolv'd to leave off his Designs and to rely upon the King's Word that had so often assur'd him the enjoyment of his present greatness wherein also he doubted not without any great difficulty to maintain himself The Duke of Mayenne either jealous as some have thought of his Brothers Greatness or else of a more moderate temper than the rest of his Family had often advis'd him to this Resolution but the Cardinal their Brother and the Archbishop of Lyons were the Incendiaries that rekindled his dying Ambition and that hurried him on to that precipice into which they themselves at last fell with him They represented to him by what infinite labours and industry they had plac'd him in that height to which he was already arriv'd That if he ever had resolv'd there to limit his desires and to content himself with a competent Fortune he ought never to have undertaken those pains nor to have undergone those dangers he had so gloriously and so fortunately overcome That the merit of his Ancestors had left him greatness enough to satisfie an ordinary Ambition but that if he ever had the thought of rising above them as doubtless he had the way was open to him and that he had already overcome the greatest difficulties That the greater part of France stood for him and that almost all Foreign Princes and States were favourable to him That God himself seem'd to take his part by giving him a negligent and voluptuous Prince whose nature being softned and unnerv'd by ease and sloth had laid him open to his Designs That it was an easie matter in the condition himself then was to make him sure That not suddenly to do it it was to be fear'd the King might recover from his Lethargy and looking into himself might re-assume his former vigour and recover his almost lost Authoriâ—y That the very fear the King then liv'd in ought to be highly suspected to him That no Counsels were so violent and dangerous as those that proceeded from apprehension or extream necessity That he infinitely deceiv'd himself if he thought there could be any safety for him what promises soever the King might make in that height to which he had already rais'd himself That the Fortune of a Subject was never more unstable and unsafe than when it rendred him suspected to his Prince That he must boldly therefore step out of the quality of a Subject if he would be out of the danger of a Sovereign They further remonstrated to him what Opinion all Europe who were joyn'd together in his Favour what all good Frenchmen who were passionate in his cause what all posterity to which he ought to have a greater regard than to the present could have of his courage if the Duke of Guise only should think himself unworthy of that Dignity to which all the world besides so passionately wish'd he might arrive That he ought then boldly to end what he had so generously begun and so gloriously pursu'd and that though death it self should follow which was not in the least to be doubted it were notwithstanding more honourable to perish in so brave a Design than to survive the shame of not daring to perform it The Duke of Guise whose ambitious and unquiet Spirit was apt enough to take fire at such Counsels as these haughty and mutinous Prelates were fit to give was soon perswaded to renew his former practice and as if he had only suspended the prosecution of his Designs to take a little breath that he might fall on with greater violence he presently sent new dispatches to Rome and into Spain still more and more to fortifie himself in the Authority of the one and Strength of the other assuring further to himself at the same time either by promises or threats by himself or by his Adherents almost all the suffrages of the several Deputies of the Assembly which the King to whom all these practices were very well known being enform'd of and then seeing the manifest danger he was in of losing both his Authority and his Crown he determined to prevent the Duke by Counsels as severe and bloody as his own were rash and mutinous and to cut him off before he should have time to effect what he had so politickly and so dangerously design'dâ— A resolution which â—eing soon agreed upon with some of the Nobility his Majesty knew most faithful to him had the execution of it without further delay committed to eight of the five and forty These five and forty were all of them Gentlemen of approved Valour and for whose fidelity they who had recommended them to the King stood themselves engag'd so that of this Company to which the number had given the name his Majesty made his most assured Guard the greatest part of his Domesticks being become suspected to him and as it were wholly entrusted the safety of his Person to their Fidelity and care They attended him where-ever he went they nightly kept Guard in his Anti-Chamber and as nothing is so powerful as benefits to win the hearts and affections of men there was not one of them who besides his Salary of an hundred Crowns of Gold a month which was very much in those times had not over and above either receiv'd or had not very good reason to expect great recompenses from his Royal bounty So that these men being absolutely ty'd to all his Majesties Interests it was no hard matter to induce them to make an attempt upon the Person of the Duke of Guise against whom the King had conceiv'd a violent and implacable Hatred I shall here say nothing of the manner and circumstances of the Death of this Duke nor of that of the Cardinal of Guise his Brother who at the same time came to the same violent end most of our Historians being particular in that Relation but I can bear testimony that the Duke of Espernon did neither then nor ever since approve of that execution and that although he had receiv'd very hard measure from the Duke in his life he notwithstanding had his great
excellent Lady in the six and twentieth Year of her Age after having manifested an indifferency for life becoming her masculine Courage and Resignation unto Death worthy her great Piety and Vertue The Sieur du-Masses Lieutenant for the King under the Duke in that Government dispatch'd a Courier to the Duke to acquaint him with his loss as also with the Dutchess her dying request unto him who after having given publick testimonies of his affliction than which nothing could be greater he vow'd to observe what she expected from his fidelity to the last hour of his Life A promise that he as faithfully observ'd though in the space of fifty years that he surviv'd this excellent Lady he was offer'd many and great advantageous matches which he still refus'd ever professing that the respect he bore to his dead Ladies last request did and should with-hold him from embracing a new Wife and fâ—om embarquing in a new Fortune Fortune had hitherto so favour'd the Duke in almost all his Enterprizes that his Affairs had been carried on with great prosperity and success and the Provisions he had drawn from the Province or bought with his own mony had kept his Army in so good Discipline and Obedience that the Provencials had tasted very little of the incommodities of War Yet wanted there not some unquiet Spirits who enemies to the peoples peace as envious of the Duke 's good Fortune endeavour'd by all imaginable ways to debauch from him the respect and good will he had by his noble carriage acquir'd from the greater part of the Country and from the better sort of men perswading them that his severe and hasty humour proceeded from a purpose he had to usurp an absolute Authority over them and rendring his best intentions so suspected to the people as made them at last refuse to pay their accustomed Taxes It was by so much the easier to corrupt these undiscerning spirits by how much a certain emulation has ever been observ'd to be betwixt the Provencials and Gascons as seems to have been hereditary if not natural to those two people So that the Provencials not being able to endure the dominion of those with whom they had ever disputed the prize of Glory and Valour were easily tempted to shake off the yoke that either was or was pretended to be impos'd upon them After therefore as has been said they had denied the Duke those Contributions which until then they had willingly paid most of the Souldiers of the Country who were in his Army retir'd themselves and some of the chief Nobility pretended to favour at Court by accusing him of inordinate Ambition though all his endeavour to make himself considerable in Provence was only in order to his Majesties Service The Duke seeing things in this ill condition would by force have reduc'd them to their former posture but this remedy which was by no means proper for the constitution of that people ripping up the memory of the severe punishments he had in such cases inflicted upon several men in divers places serv'd only to make them desperate in their disobedience and to incenâ—e them to the last degree Thus did all those who had manifested an animosity against the Duke begin to apprehend falling into his power amongst which the Leaguers were in the greatest fear who as their obstinate Rebellion had made their fault much greater than theirs who like Souldiers had defended Montauron so did they fear a worse punishment if worse could be than had been inflicted upon them They saw their City of Aix reduc'd to the last extremity neither would those within stay till they could come to their Relief The Count de Carces a particular Enemy to the Duke besides the hatred that diversity of interest does usually beget above all things dreaded to fall into his hands so that Friends and Enemies those who pretended to be Royallists and Leaguers conspiring together to hinder the Duke's further advancement he saw almost in a moment all Provence in Mutiny and Insurrection The King had already publickly embrac'd the Catholick Religion of which he had made open profession at St. Dennis the five and twentieth day of Iuly this same year whose Conversion having taken away all manner of pretense from such as had declar'd they forsook his Majesties Service upon no other accompt than the Interest of Religion the Inhabitants of Aix conceiv'd they could now no longer continue in their Rebellion without manifesting to all the world that they were sway'd by other considerations than those they had already declar'd to which the Count de Carces making use of this time and occasion adding his perswasions one while representing to them their Duty to their Prince and another the severity they were to expect from the Duke of Espernon animated as he must of necessity be by the hatred they had in this Siege express'd against his Person he at last prevail'd with them to send away speedily to the King to assure his Majesty of their Fidelity and Obedience This was the first thing that discover'd a disunion in the League of which though the Duke of Mayenne highly complain'd to the Count de Carces reproaching him with weakness and charging him with all the miscarriages that should after happen to their Faction yet was he deaf to his reproaches and the fear of falling into the Duke's hands as he was upon the point to do the City of Aix not being able longer to hold out being more prevalent upon him than the respect of his Alliance he resolutely persisted in his first Design But the Count de Carces was not satisfied with hindering the Duke from making himself Master of the City of Aix only the hatred he implacably bore him proceeding yet further and to contrivances of more dangerous consequence against him There was none who did not believe the King had a jealousie of the Duke's Designs amongst whom the Count de Carces who understood it better than the rest easily perswaded himself that his Majesty would not suffer the Duke to encrease his Reputation and Power in Provence by the taking of Aix one of the most important places of that Province And he further knew the Duke would as hardly consent to have his Conquest so near effected forestall'd and the prey snatch'd out of his hands So that in this diversity of pretensions he doubted not but that the King's aversion to the Duke as also his mistrust of him would be infinitely encreas'd which in the end succeeded as he had foreseen and projected The Estates of the Country assembled at Aix appointed Deputies to go make a tender to the King of the obedience of their City provided his Majesty would please to protect them against the Duke of Espernon whose power they said was grown formidable and his insolence not to be endur'd 'T is true he had acted vigorously against them but they would not say That had he proceeded with greater moderation they would ever
he had nothing more to do than to make good his own retreat thought it sufficient by charging and amusing the Enemies Van to win time for those few Foot he had to get the start wherein if the Duke committed an oversight Mounsieur de Guise committed afterwards a greater when after this little skirmish having without opposition march'd over the rest of his Army it had been no hard matter for him had he made any haste to have overtaken the Duke who march'd no faster than a trot whilst following leisurely after without pressing him to fight he gave him leave to make his retreat in great security without the loss of any save some few of his worst mounted men Thus the Duke of Espernon lost at once both the Town of St. Tropés which was a very good one and the Governour who was a Gentleman of great worth and merit the one by the prevailing Arms of his Enemies and the other perhaps by his own fault he was at least condemn'd by his Friends and Servants for entring upon too light grounds into a jealousie of this Gentleman's faith And certainly if ever we should make head against our diffidences and mistrusts it ought chiefly to be when we most labour under affliction and disgrace every thing at those times being suspected to us and our judgments weakned by grief and disaster being then most apt to be impos'd upon by the lightest impressions After the taking in of these places the Duke of Guise l' Esdiguieres the Count de Carces and the other Chiefs of the Enemies Army retir'd themselves to Aix there to deliberate about the Affairs of Provence and of the means by which they were to work the Duke of Espernon's absolute and final ruine He had at this time upon his hands at once the Duke of Savoy the Duke of Guise the League l' Esdiguieres Ornano the Provencials and which was of more dangerous consequence than all these known and declared Enemies his own Friends and Followers were wavering and uncertain to him yet as if all these who were all men of great quality and many of them of great interest and reputation in the Country had been too few to do his business a wretched Fellow bred from the Lees of the common people obscure and of no name till then would likewise put his helping hand to the work who alone and contemptible as he was put the Duke into more manifest danger of his life than so many and so powerful enemies arm'd and confederated to his ruine as yet had ever done His name was Bartholomew Bigne a native of the fore-mentioned Village du Val and a near neighbour to Brignoles whither the Duke having retir'd himself after the loss of the before-mention'd places and having there assembled all his Forces together to make head against whatever new attempts might be preparing against him this cursed Villain who had never received any particular injury from the Duke but meerly prompted on by the malignity of his own nature and a national hatred against him having long deliberated by what way he might infallibly destroy the Duke bethought himself at last of this impious and abominable mischief He shut up in two Chests three Quintals of Powder to purchase which he had laid out all the mony he had or could procure and having observ'd the place where the Duke usually kneeled at Mass in the Church of Brignoles he entreated the Curate thereof to give him leave to bring the two Chests into his Church wherein he pretended he had lock'd up the best of his Goods to preserve them from the hands of the Souldier which the Curate readily promis'd him he should provided he might first search them to see what they contain'd but Bigne finding that to be a condition that by no means suited with his Design left off the Curate and seeing some other way was to be found out to bring his purpose to pass fell to hammering out new projects which were the less hard for him to contrive by how much the same evil spirit who had suggested to him the heart and boldness to meditate so great a wickedness was now also ready to prompt his invention and to instruct him how to execute his execrable purpose by a new way where his first design had fail'd Out of hopes then of effecting his business in the Church he by the means of the Mistriss of the House where the Duke lay and with whom Bigne had been formerly acquainted wriggles himself into the company of the Duke's Baker and in discourse offers him three Sacks of Corn to sell where betwixt them the Bargain was soon strook up and that being done the Traytor losing no time the next day brings his three Sacks to the Duke's Lodgings about the time he was to come from Mass and to go to dinner and sets them in a little place under the Chamber where the Duke us'd to eat Where after he had dispos'd them as he thought most conveniently for the execution they were to do he goes to seek out the Baker to come look upon his Bargain In every one of these Sacks he had put an hundred pound of powder with only a little Corn at the mouth to serve for shew that if by chance the first Sack that was open'd should fail of its effect no discovery might be made of the Treason but that they might go to the next Amongst the powder in every Sack he had convey'd the wheel-lock of a Pistol ready wound up and tyed to the string of the Sack after such a manner that it was impossible to open any one without pulling down the spring that was fastned to the Cord and giving fire to the powder the three Sacks also were set so near to one another that any one of them taking fire the others would also blow up and so the three Quintals of Powder must infallibly play at once Things being thus order'd Bigne waits near to the Duke's Lodging untill he was come in and had the patience to stay till he saw him set down to dinner when having him now in the Trap and that the Duke as he thought could not possibly escape he then went to seek out the Baker to make him at once the Traitor and the betrayed and the innocent instrument of his own and his Master's ruine The poor Baker was not hard to be found at a time of the day when usually all the Duke's domesticks met together so that having presently met him Bigne goes along with him to the Mistriss of the house desiring her to open the door where the Corn stood which she accordingly doing and he seeing things now brought to that pass that the effect was as it were inevitable himself insensibly and unobserv'd slips out of the House and got into the Fields making with all diligence for Aix The Baker in the mean time with two young fellows that belong'd to him in his Office went to visit the Sacks where going
and practices that might discompose the calm of Peace his Kingdom was now settled in but so it was that for one or both these reasons he engag'd the greatest part of his Nobility whom he knew to be monied men in vast designs of this kind amongst whom his Majesty conceiving the Duke of Espernon to be one the most at his ease he was so importunate with him as to cause a plot for Cadillac to be design'd in his own Presence order'd the charge of the whole to be cast up and made one of his own Architects to undertake for an hundred thousand Crowns to begin and perfect the work upon which assurance the Duke as has been said in the year 1598 began the foundation conceiving that such a summe as that he might without inconvenience spare to gratifie his Masters humour though time afterwards gave him to understand how hard a thing it is to contain a man's self within a determinate charge after he has once set his hand to so tempting a work as Building this Pile before it was finish'd having cost him above two millions of Livres 'T is very true and which seldom happens to undertakers of such vast designs that with this infinite expense he brought the greatest and most stately pile of Building the Royal Houses excepted in France very near to perfection the whole body of the Building being perfected before his death and nothing save some few Ornaments left to finish neither had he left those to his Successors had not the disgrace of being withdrawn from his Government which still afflicted him diverted his thoughts from the sole care of that design The Duke as has been said being come into Guienne to take a view of his Building arriv'd at the City of Bourdeaux in the beginning of August where he found the Mareschal d' Ornano but newly there establish'd Lieutenant for the King by the decease of the Mareschal de Matignon who died of an Apoplexy and where their old Animosities though great were nevertheless on both sides so well dissembled as not to hinder a mutual Civility betwixt them no more than these civilities could hinder past jealousies from breaking out upon the first occasion into a new and open rupture This Mareschal though an Alien born had yet by his Valour and Fidelity acquir'd so great a reputation in France as in the Reign of Henry the III. to be a great confident to that Prince to whom the Duke of Espernon having been a principal Favourite it is nothing strange that a man of inferiour credit should envy another in a higher degree of Favour neither if the Mareschal were prepossess'd with this antiquated jealousie was the Duke on his part insensible of the recent traverses he had in Provence receiv'd from him the greatest part of the disgraces he had met with in that Country having been laid in his way by the opposition of l' Esdiguieres and him all which put together it may easily be imagin'd were likely to beget no very good blood between them To this the Mareschal a man of an imperious and haughty temper and who only under a forc'd smoothness conceal'd a natural arrogance could with no patience endure a Superiour an humour that made him with great anxiety look upon the Honours which at the Duke's arrival at Burdeaux he receiv'd from the Parliament with the other Orders of the City and which were also continued to him by the Nobility at Cadillac who from all parts came in to do him Honour But if his impatience were great before it was rais'd up to the height when he knew the Duke who well enform'd of his dissatisfaction to make it yet more had invited all the Nobility and Gentry of the Country to Bordeaux to a publick running at the Ring a solemnity that being there to be kept where he was in Supreme Command the Duke knew would much more nettle and afflict him It is very true that the Duke might have forborn this Bravado to a man whom he knew to be so tender of his Honour as the Mareschal d' Ornano was and perhaps it was not well done to offer that to another he himself would never have endur'd from any man living in a place where he had commanded in Chief but having once engag'd in the business his great spirit whatever might succeed would by no means give him leave to desist especially when he knew the Mareschal was resolv'd by open force to oppose him This was that which made what was before only a private discontent to break out into open quarrel which grew so high that the Mareschal address'd himself to the Parliament where in the presence of them all he complain'd what a commotion the Duke went about to stir up amongst the people to the prejudice as he pretended of his Majesties Affairs acquainting them at the same time with his resolution to make his Garrison stand to their Arms to play his Cannon and in fine to do what in him lay with all the power and authority he had to break that appointment and to drive the Duke from the City This declaration from a man of his furious spirit as it very much troubled the whole Assembly so it gave the first President D' Affis one of the greatest men that Society ever had since its first institution and a particular friend of the Duke's having by him in his times of favour been rais'd to that dignity occasion to make use of his Eloquence in the best Arguments he could contrive to disswade the Mareschal from that determination but all in vain he had already given out his orders and summon'd the Gentry to come in to his assistance though not a man save only one call'd Ruat would appear a thing which though perfectly true appears almost incredible that a Governour of so great Authority and Repute should be able to procure no more than one single man to serve him against the Duke of Espernon in his own Government Neither were the people better dispos'd than the Nobility and Gentry to take Arms against the Duke all men on the contrary of any note both within and without the City so manifestly appearing for him that the Governour was forc'd to arm his Garrison of Corses and to call his Company of Gens-d ' Armes out of their Country Quarters into the Town which were yet apparently too weak to execute the Mareschal's design And this was in effect the main cause that hindred things from proceeding into a greater disorder the Duke satisfied with the advantage every one plainly saw he had over his Enemy being the more easily enclin'd to the Parliaments solicitations who had sent their second President Nesmond to him to entreat he would not persist in his first resolution at whose instance and being loath to disturb the Peace of his Country as also to expose the great number of Gentlemen of Quality who were about him against a Garrison in his own particular quarrel and having a greater
remain'd was content to expect some happy opportunity that might re-establish him in the possession of a place so important to his fortune and whereof he saw himself at present absolutely depriv'd During his Majesties abode at Metz the Provincial of the Fathers Jesuits was by the Duke of Espernon presented to him where the proposition preferr'd by the Provincial for the re-establishment of his fraternity in France was so promoted by the Duke's mediation that it was concluded on to his great satisfaction Neither was this the first good office the Duke had done them nor the sole testimony he had given of his affection and respect to that Society he having ever been one of their most constant and most powerful Protectors in the time of their persecution as he was one of their principal benefactors after their re-establishment Metz that ever till then had made many and almost invincible difficulties of ever admitting them into their Corporation receiv'd them upon the Duke 's single accompt as he also procur'd their admission into Angoulesme before he left that Government Their Colledge of Xaints has no other foundation than what he bestow'd upon it of four thousand Livers a year in two fair Benefices which put all together have rendred him one of the principal Benefactors of that Society by the acknowledgment and testimony of the most ancient and most eminent men of the Order The variety of accidents and business that had befallen the King in these last years were yet too few to take him wholly up he still found leisure enough for his delights and although he himself took a particular accompt of all Affairs and was ever the main director in all things yet his abilities which nothing was too big for rendred him so excellent at dispatch that he still made way for his vacation and pleasure The Peace concluded with all his Neighbours and his domestick troubles extinguish'd either by the punishment of the offenders or by the excess of his own clemency gave him now sufficient leisure to look after the reformation of such abuses as were crept into the state during the licence of War an employment which how becoming soever his Royal care and how profitable soever to the Kingdom took up but a very inconsiderable part of his time the rest being dedicated to the Chace to play and to the diversions of Love entertainments that as the passions and humours of Princes who are the great examples of their people do easily insinuate themselveâ—â—nto their Subjects Affections or at least their imitation were grown so much in fashion at Court that there was scarce any talk of any other thing and if they had during this Voyage to Metz suffer'd a little intermission they were at the return of the Court to Paris more than ever set on foot It has been believ'd that though the King in his hunting and his Mistrisses altogether follow'd the proâ—â—ivity of his own nature yet that for what concern'd play he had in that as much design at least as inclination I have already told you that his Majesty having set down the bringing low the great men of his Kingdom by imperceptible ways to render them more obedient for a Maxime of State had put them upon the humour of Building to drain their purses and doubtless his engaging them in play was in order to the same design amongst whom the Duke of Espernon who already felt the smart of the first and that very well understood his Majesties meaning in the latter refus'd not nevertheless to make one for his Master's satisfaction but if he did it at first meerly out of compliance his ill fortune at last made it become his revenge and enclin'd him so passionately to it that he found himself in the end engag'd in so extraordinary losses as were no little inconvenience to him His Majesty would often do him the honour to play at his house ever inviting him to all his Matches And whether he retir'd to Zamet or to any other place to evade the tumult of Majesty and Greatness the Duke of Espernon was always the first invited so that although he was not in favour he was nevertheless in great esteem of which one of the most signal testimonies he could receive was the honour the King did him in permitting him to enter the Louvre in his Coach a favour till this time reserv'd only for the Princes of the Blood exclusively to all other persons of the Kingdom the Duke being the first that unlock'd this Priviledge for the Dukes and Peers though he enjoy'd it alone during the King's life his Majesty though oâ—ten importun'd by others of the same quality for the same honour never consenting to have it drawn into example 'T is true that after the King's death the Queen Regent to accommodate her self to the time was content to abate much of the Royal State and allow'd the Dukes and Peers and Officers of the Crown the same Priviledge but the respect to the Duke's person was that which first procur'd them that indulgence A famous Gamester call'd Pimentel an Italian came at this time into France whose dexterity in gulling the Court was such that I cannot forbear to mention him in this place 'T is said and it is perfectly true that this Cavalier hearing what an humour of play reign'd at the French Court caus'd great number of false Dice to be made of which he himselâ— only knew the high and the low runners hiring men to carry them into France where after they had bought up and convey'd away all that were in Paris he supply'd all the Shops with his own By which means having subjected the spirit of Play and ty'd the hands of Fortune he arriv'd at last in France where insinuating himself into the Court he was by some of his own Nation who had great interest there soon brought acquainted with the King Some have believ'd his Majesty understood the man well enough and was content to admit him for a Gamester the better to bring about his own design of impoverishing the Lords of his Court whose Riches grew suspected to him The Duke of Espernon was one from whom he drew the most considerable summes who after having got all his ready mony and many of his Jewels he moreover won of him a piece of Ambergris to the value of 20000. Crowns the greatest that ever was seen in Europe and which the Republick of Venice to whom it was after sold preserve to this day in their Treasure for a great rarity The Duke had not long been Master of it a Country fellow that had found it upon the Coast of Medoc having but a little before brought it to him as a thing due to the House of Candale of which the Duke was now the head This Ancient and illustrious Family are possessors of many goodly Mannors in Guienne and principally in the Country of Medoc with as ample priviledges as belong to any of the greatest Territories of the Kingdom
his Service to be altogether necessary at this time took this opportunity to importune the Queen either to cause the Duke of Espernon to satisfie him in this point or to give him leave to retire Whereupon the Queen spoke of it to the Duke whom she found very averse to any such motion he humbly entreating her Majesty to dispose absolutely of all his own concerns but not to command him to neglect his Nieces interests though in the end the Queen who could promise to her self no good issue of that Journey without a good intelligence betwixt these two great persons so far prevail'd upon the Duke that he was content to satisfie the Duke of Guise by which means their friendship upon the point for ever to be dissolv'd upon this little occasion grew greater and more firm than ever As it had been no hard matter to foresee how advantageous the long Sickness of Madam and their Majesties stay at Poictiers would be to the designs of those of the Religion and others who were engag'd in the Princes Quarrel So had the Duke of Espernon omitted nothing that might any way serve to divert the dangerous effects of that untoward accident And herein he had been especially solicitous to put his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois into a posture fit for his Majesties Service upon that the security of that Voyage chiefly depending To this purpose therefore he had sent thither the Duke of Candale his eldest Son already establish'd in the succession of those Governments to keep them in Obedience Nevertheless what he did for so good an end succeeded otherwise than he expected news being brought him that this Son had entertain'd resolutions much contrary to his own and having suffer'd himself to be misled by certain ungovern'd passions was fall'n off from his duty to embrace new Counsels and to follow new Designs Whether it were the sense of this miscarriage in his Son which also occasion'd a new and a wider breach betwixt them or the apprehension of being by this means made incapable of performing his word with the King and Queen that put his mind into that disorder whereinto he soon after fell so it was that he fell sick of so violent a grief as every one expected would carry him to his grave Things nevertheless succeeded in his Government according to what he had undertaken their Majesties after the recovery of Madam having left Poictiers proceeded in great security to Angoulesme neither there nor in any other place throughout the whole Journey meeting with any impediment at all But the Duke wounded to the soul with the violent sorrowâ— of his Sons untoward carriage was now no longer able to bear it out but having convey'd their Majesties to the utmost bounds of his Government that is to say out of all danger they there entring upon Guienne where the way was clear to Bordeaux fell suddenly into so great a weakness that he was carried back for dead to Angoulesme He lay above forty hours a very extraordinary thing without speech pulse or any kind of motion insomuch that not a person about him but concluded him absolutely dead but at last his Spirits which had been so long overcome with grief and his strength weakned by a very long abstinenâ—e being stirr'd up by a glass of Water his ordinary and best Remedy and which he ever made use of in all distempers he began a little to come to himself with so great an astonishment nevertheless that he continued a great while without any kind of knowledge his sighs which were the issue of his grief being the only evidence almost he gave that he was yet alive Yet could he not in this great and total neglect of himself forget the care of his Masters Affairs he being no sooner return'd to a new life but that he dispatch'd away the Marquis de la Valette who had continued about him during his Sickness to attend the King and Queen that the Friends he had engag'd in this Voyage having himself as it were present with them in the person of so dear a part of himself might continue more diligent in their duty The Duke had the honour during this Sickness to be visited by several persons sent purposely by the King and Queen to see him by whom he receiv'd very obliging Letters under their Majesties own hands and when something recover'd others of the same stile and kindness Mounsieur de Villeroy also after their old animosities being become his very great friend writ very often to him wherein he still gave him an accompt of all Affairs conjuring him to make all the haste he could to Court where he said his Presence and Service was never more necessary than at this time Two of which Letters I have seen bearing date the twentieth and four and twentieth of October 1615. Not that the Duke was nevertheless upon so good terms at Court as he had formerly been neither did those Letters imply any such thing it being hardly to be expected he could be in any eminent degree of favour with the Queen Mother upon whom at that time all things depended being out with the Mareschal d' Encre whose Wife had so strange an ascendent over her Majesties inclinations but that his Service could in this juncture by no means be spar'd neither did he how evidently soever he saw his favour decline fail out of that consideration in any part of his Duty being resolute rather to perish than that their Majesties should suffer the least inconvenience So soon therefore as he was able to Travel he went to Bordeaux where he arriv'd the twelfth day of November and a few days after attended the King to Castres a little Village upon the great Road from Bayonne to that City where the King would tâ—e first time see the Queen his Spouse and where the Duke who was very perfect in the Spanish Tongue had the honour to entertain her at the Boot of her Coach whilst his Majesty in a crowd of some young Lords and Gentlemen on Horseback pass'd by incognito to view her The young Queen arriving at Bordeaux the 25th of November found the Court in a very great Alarm at the news of the Princes being advanc'd on this side the River Loire whose Forces being by this time united and moreover reâ—inforc'd with some Forein Troops were likely to make their Majesties return to Paris very difficult and dangerous An occasion wherein the Duke of Espernon's Services were again of very great moment who during his abode at Angoulesme after his recovery had made many Levies which were all ready at Ville-Bois a recruit that consisting of 5000. Foot and 400. Light Horse and joyn'd to the Forces their Majesties already had absolutely secur'd their return through the Countries of Xaintonge and Poictou possess'd by those of the Religion and without any difficulty made good their way to Poictiers and so to Tours notwithstanding whatever the Princes could do to oppose them In
the Queen who had no mind to be kept any longer at a distance from the King her Son endeavour'd with Luines and that with all the insinuation and artifice her haughty and imperious nature would permit to remove those difficulties which as they had been the causes of their former separation were most likely to oppose their concurrence now The next day after her arrival the King with all his Royal houshold came also to Cousieres where at their first enterview there was nothing but mutual manifestations of great affection and tenderness on both sides from whence their Majesties went the same day to Tours where for some days they continued together but in the end after all this dissembled kindness the King returning towards Paris left the Queen more dissatisfied to see her self oblig'd to go to Anger 's after so many assurances that had been given her she should no more depart from Court than she had been before pleas'd with these demonstrations of Honour and Respect wherewith they had endeavour'd to deceive her credulity and to flatter her sincere intention From thenceforward therefore she so far resented Lâ—ines his ill usage as to meditate a revenge and how by a second War to procure what by this first Peace she saw she could not obtain neither was the Bishop of Luçon become now absolute with her sorry to see her so dispos'd He consider'd that whilst his Mistriss remain'd thus excluded from Court her power being so small his could not consequently be very great a consideration that made this aspiring spirit who already had propos'd to himself no less than the Government of the Kingdom suffer if possible with greater impatience than the Queen her self those obstacles that he saw were oppos'd to the level of his haughty Ambition and vast designs Animated therefore with these reflections he began to labour a good intelligence betwixt such as he knew were dissatisfied with the present Government to re-unite them in the Queens Interest as discontented as they Neither was it any hard matter to win many over to her side the happy issue the Duke of Espernon had single and alone procur'd to this Princesses Affairs having got him so great a reputation that the major part of the great ones of the Kingdom made no great difficulty of engaging in a cause they had seen so easily and by so little means to succeed Of this number was the Count de Soissons and the Countess his Mother the Dukes of Longueville and Vandosme the Grand Prior of France the Dukes of Mayenne and Retz with many other Princes and Lords of very eminent condition Had the Duke of Espernon not been concern'd in the first business he could never have been drawn into this so many confederates of almost equal quality giving him to apprehend more from their ill intelligence betwixt one another than he could reasonably hope from their union but the Queen who repos'd her chiefest confidence in him who had already made trial of his Service and found it so successful to her did so ply him with reiterated favours and entreaties that he could not handsomly avoid engaging in her behalf Neither had he so long stood off that he had fewer particular grievances than the rest but having engag'd his Faith to the Duke de Luines it would have been almost impossible to have perswaded him to break his word had not Luines himself given the first example and on that side it was that the Queen assaulted the Duke by representing to him the non-performances of those things had been promis'd and that as it had been principally through his assistance she had obtain'd all that had been granted to her she expected he should see the Articles of the Treaty fulfill'd endeavouring to perswade him that his own honour was no less interested therein than her satisfaction And that he might the better taste her reasons she fail'd not to prepossess him with all sorts of civilities and favour honouring him with some presents whereof one was a very fine Watch set all over with Diamonds and very curiously wrought which she accompanied with a Letter as kind as could possibly be writ upon such an occasion wherein amongst other obliging expressions she told him That the Diamonds wherewith it was embellish'd were not more firm than her affection and that he might assure himself the Services she had receiv'd from his generosity should ofter come into her memory than the hand of that Watch should point out hours every day To which words which were it seems the way of writing at that time and none of my invention I have neither added nor diminish'd But by this complement and several other testimonies of affection and esteem the Queen having awak'd the passion the Duke had to give her always all satisfaction she gave him consecutively a full accompt of her determination of all the persons of quality she had made to her party and of the powerful means she intended to make use of to re-instate her self in that degree of honour which was due to her Person and Dignity Whereupon the Duke considering this second action as dependent upon the first solemnly engag'd himself and made an absolute promise once more to serve her If the Queen was thus diligent to form and redintegrate her party Luines on the other side was no less industrious now than he had been before to break and disunite it He very well knew the Queen to be discontent which she had her self so publickly profess'd that could be no secret He was moreover inform'd that most of the great persons in the Kingdom had engag'd with her and though he doubted not but that the Duke of Espernon from whom she had for the time pass'd receiv'd so many good Offices continued still his ancient fidelity to her yet would he notwithstanding feel his pulse by la Croix de Bleré whom he dispatch'd away to him to that purpose This Gentleman therefore comes to the Duke to Angoulesme in the time of the Carnaval where he found him taken up with entertainments that nothing relish'd of the meditation of an approaching War making merry with the Company of the Town which at this Festival was increas'd with several Families of the neighbouring Gentry La Croix who would by all means make use of his dexterity to sound the Duke's intention met with a person in him that was not easie to be pry'd into so that the Duke after having discours'd with him in general terms of the Queen Mothers Interests and Affairs and having return'd a civil answer to Luines his Complement dismiss'd his Ambassadour perfectly instructed of what he conceal'd from none and of what he did not care Luines himself should know The first Essay having given the Favourite no great satisfaction who already saw that Affairs began to grow hot with the season that the Count de Soissons with the Countess his Mother had left the Court that the Duke of Mayenne
Rucellay's good Offices that he receiv'd them who though they had not parted very kindly as you may have observ'd could not nevertheless forbear upon all occasions to magnifie the Duke's generosity and vertue and to manifest the desire he had to be reconcil'd to his good opinion Rucellay had great interest at Court the Duke de Luines repos'd â— great confidence in him and was the rather enclin'd to credit all the good things he said of the Duke by how much his testimony upon the terms they then stood was no ways to be suspected The Duke anticipated by so many good Offices was as careful to let Rucellay know how exceeding kindly he took them at his hands so that from a violent feud their hot spirits being re-united in a very particular friendship the Duke receiv'd very great assistance from Rucellay in an Affair wherein he was very highly concern'd And that was the re-establishment of those Captains who had forfeited their Commands by putting themselves into Metz with the Marquis de la Valette The Court could not suffer an act of that dangerous example to escape unpunish'd and on the contrary the Duke press'd an oblivion of that Affair with greater fervency than he had ever done any concern of his own wherein I have often heard him acknowledge his obligation to Rucellay by whose solicitation he at last obtain'd his desire Courbon Reals Verdelin Boussonniere and some others of very great merit were restor'd to their Commands though it was but to deprive the Duke the sooner of so many worthy friends who were scarce re-establish'd in their Commands when willing to make amends for the fault they had committed by some notable testimony of their fidelity and valour upon the first occasion should present it self they unfortunately perish'd in that brave design leaving the Duke infinitely afflicted that he could not oblige them but to their ruine From Xaintonge the King pass'd over into Guienne wherein though his Majesty had no resolution of proceeding so far as Bearne yet was it necessary he should advance to Bordeaux to dissolve the powerful Faction was form'd in that Province in favour of the Duke of Mayenne which had sufficiently discover'd it self in the great Leavies and Provisions of War that had there been made In this Voyage the Duke had hopes of seeing his Majesty at his house of Cadillac and indeed the Duke of Luines had promis'd him he should a favour he ought so much the more to covet as it would manifest to all the world his perfect reconciliation with the King his Master So that he whom every one the year before concluded utterly lost in the Queen Mothers Affairs seeing him now restor'd to a greater degree of reputation and favour than perhaps he had ever been could not but admire his Conduct and attribute as much to his Prudence as his Fortune which it should seem had only strew'd those difficulties in his way that they might by him be the more gloriously overcome His Majesty conâ—nuing his way through Guienne took occasion to call at Blaye from whence he remov'd Lussan Vicount de Aubeterre to recompense him with the staff of a Mareschal of France placing Brantes since Duke of Luxembourg in the right of his Wife in his stead Whilst these things were in doing the Duke of Espernon who attended his Majesty in this Voyage took the opportunity to go prepare his house for his reception wherein he order'd all things so admirably well and with such magnificence that his Majesty could hardly have been better entertain'd in any part of the Kingdom The noble Furniture wherewith this house did abound was now all brought out The Kings Apartment hung round with Hangings emboss'd all over with Gold as also ten Chambers more were furnish'd with the same to which the Beds of Cloth of Gold and Embroidery were richly suited neither was the delicacy rarity or plenty of provisions inferiour to this outward Pomp. All the Favourites Ministers and others of the greatest quality at Court were commodiously lodg'd in this stately House and the Provisionary Officers there found what was not elsewhere to be seen in the Kingdom which was a vast series of Offices under ground so large and so well fitted with lights that they were astonish'd at so prodigious an extent of Accommodations which are indeed if not the chiefest ornament at least the greatest convenience of a Building After his Majesty had ftaid two days at Cadillac where his whole Court had been magnificently treated he parted thence to continue his Journey towards Bearne He was made to believe that the Council of this little Countrey would think fit to submit to his Royal pleasure without obliging him to perform that Voyage to quicken which resolution his Majesty had pass'd the River of Garonne which though when on the other side he was advanc'd no more than a League only beyond Cadillac he thought nevertheless he had done a great deal in passing so great a River with an Army and all the equipage of his Court The Ministers who had a great aversion to this ugly journey would have been very glad that Affairs might have been concluded there without going any further but in the end how averse soever they were to it they must undergo the trouble The King went thither where his presence produc'd the same effect it had done in other places he overran all this little Province seizing as he pass'd of Navarrens the strongest place in it as he did also of Ortez and Olleron principal Cities of that Countrey he subverted all their ancient customs restor'd the Bishop and other Ecclesiasticks to their Estates and Dignities took away the administration of the Affairs of the Country from those of the Reform'd Religion and re-establish'd his own Authority but he left the Government of the Province in the hands of the Marquis de la Force since Mareschal of France who impatient to see his Authority cut so short by these alterations could hardly forbear till the King was got back to Paris from reducing things again to the same posture they were in before He was very confident that his Majesty who had already try'd the ill ways of Bearne would never be advis'd by his Ministers to undertake a second Journey into that Countrey for the resettlement of his Affairs He knew that the Hugonot Faction were ready to find his Majesty enough to do nearer home and did not believe that without his immediate presence they could compel him to any thing he had not a mind to in his own Government where his Authority was establish'd not only by a long habitude he had there contracted but much more by a passionate concurrence of the whole Body and of all the Orders of the Province who agreed with him in the same Religion He therefore labour'd all Winter to drive out the Garrisons of Ortez and Olleron so that excepting Navarrens that was kept by the Marquis de Poianne
defeating all the rules of Art pass'd for miraculous One of the Souldiers of the Duke's Guards call'd Faure receiv'd a Cannon-shot in his Belly which pass'd quite through leaving an orifice bigger than a Hat Crown so that the Chirurgeons could not imagine though it were possible the Bowels should remain unoffended that nature could have supply'd so wide a breach which notwithstanding she did and to that perfection that the party found himself as well as before Another of the same condition call'd Rameé and of the same place they being both Natives of St. Iean de Angely receiv'd a Musquet-shot which entring at his mouth came out of the nape of his neck who was also perfectly cur'd which two extravagant wounds being reported to the King his Majesty took them both into his own particular dependence saying those were men that could not die though they afterwards both ended their dayes in his Service This place being reduc'd to the King's obedience there remain'd nothing more in Xaintonge worthy his Majesties Arms so that he was at liberty to advance with all his Forces into Guienne The Prince of Condé had been sent thither before with the Vant-guard of the Army where at his Majesties arrival he found Monravet taken by the Duke d' Elboeuf and Themeins after a long and obstinate resistance surrendred to the same Duke Saint Foy also Clerac le Mont de Marsan with several other considerable places were reduc'd to his obedience by the Marquis de la Force de Lusignan and de Castelnau de Chalosse who had taken them in so that his Majesty finding little to do in Guienne pass'd speedily thence into Languedoc Negrepolisse a little paltry â—own upon his way was so impudent as to stand a Siege but it was soon taken by assault and St. Antonin having after a Siege surrendred to mercy their temerity having put the King upon making some examples the neighbouring places thought it convenient to fly to his Majesties Clemency to evade the trial of his victorious Arms. Whilst the King was taken up with these little exploits the Duke of Espernon had taken opportunity to look into his own Domestick Affairs the better to fit himself to follow and serve his Majesty in his main expedition which he had so dispatch'd as to come before the King to Tholouze who arriving there a few days after the Army mov'd towards the higher Languedoc by the way of Caâ—cassonne Beziers Narbonne and other good Cities and the seven and twentieth of August the whole Court arriv'd at la Verune a little Town in Languedoc where the Duke receiv'd the honour of a Patent for Governour and his Majesties Lieutenant General in Guienne and for the particular Governments of Chasteau Trompette as also of the City and Cittadel of Bergerac with the City and Castle of Nerac in lieu of his Governments of Angoumois Xaintonge Aulins and Limousin From the time of their being together at Tholouze the Prince of Condé having converted the animosities he had conceiv'd against the Duke during the Regency of the Queen Mother into a particular esteem he was the first man that thought of this Command in the Duke's favour and though he had himself been Governour of that Province yet thinking it no prejudice to his Birth and Dignity to be succeeded by a man of his Merit he first propos'd him to the King His Majesty understood as well as any the importance of this Command and having a little before experimented in the person of the Duke of Mayenne what a Governour of Guienne could do when debauch'd from his Duty had been at great debate with himself upon whom to confer the honour of this great Employment At the first mention notwithstanding of the Duke of Espernon he very favourably gave his consent and the constant testimonies he had always receiv'd of the Duke's fidelity seeming to be security for him for the time to come he gave the Prince order to speak to him about it and to let him know he had thoughts of conferring upon him the honour of that command But all we who were of the Duke's Family can witness there was not the same facility in the Duke to receive this favour there had been in his Majesty to confer it Not that he wanted ambition â—or that his spirit did not prompt him with great confidence in himself to aspire to the highest employments but this ambition also was not blind and if on the one side he consider'd how great an honour it would be to succeed the late King Henry the great of happy memory who had maintain'd himself in this Government till he came to the Crown with other first Princes of the Blood and to have his Authority rais'd to that height in his own native Countrey he wisely weigh'd on the other side that amongst so many advantages he should meet with much trouble and many difficulties to balance the lustre of that Dignity with many occurrences that he foresaw would be very cross and untoward His present condition 't was true was not so shining but it was also more calm and his Authority was so establish'd in his own Governments that there was none who was not acquainted with his Justice and who from the Infancy of his Administration had not paid so inviolate a respect to his person that the reverence those Countreys had for him seem'd to be a natural quality in the people committed to his charge The Gentry and Populacy were equally obedient to him and he liv'd amongst them as free from trouble as envy whereas in Guienne where his Government would be shut up betwixt two Parliaments he conceiv'd that in the administration of his charge it would be almost impossible to avoid many disputes with the members of the one or the other Body Whilst he had only had to do with them in the quality of a friend he had found them exceedingly obliging and all the Gentry of the Province had ever paid him a very great respect but he very much doubted whether in such a degree of Authority he could preserve the friendship and affection of so many persons of quality as would be subjected to him These reasons made him long deliberate upon this Affair and he was often tempted to refuse it but he was so importun'd by his friends and particularly by the Duke of Guise who came to wait upon the King in Languedoc that he at last resolv'd to embrace his Majesties gracious offer though I heard him say then and he has often confirm'd it since that he would never have been perswaded to do it had he not been before divested of the Cittadel of Xaintes assuring us that could he have kept that in the condition he had once put it he would not have exchang'd those Governments he was already seiz'd of for any the best in France Having therefore long deliberated before he could resolve he at last went to receive from the King 's own hand his Patent for Governour of
France one of his own natural Sisters being Daughter to Henry the Great by the Marquise de Verneüil and half Sister to Monsieur de Metz. This young Princess exceeding fair and as finely bred as any person of her condition in the Kingdom had been the ambition of most of the great men of the Court but the Duke of Espernon was preferr'd before all The Queens had brought her along with them to Lyons and her inclination as well as her duty having ty'd her particularly to the Queen the excellency of her Wit and Nature the most acceptable the sweetest and most accomplish'd of her time having acquir'd her a very good share in this Princess affection she stood doâ—btless at that time possess'd of the highest place in her Majesties favour So many advantageous conditions and so many admirable qualities having rendred this Lady one of the most considerable matches in France his Majesty would yet make her overweight by giving her himself two hundred thousand Crowns in Dowry assigning her the County of Senlis a Member of his Crown Lands to enter upon for payment of part of the summe to which the Marquise de Verneüil her Mother added a hundred thousand more The Ceremony of this Marriage was perform'd in the Marquis de Saint-Câ—aumont's House the Kings Lieutenant in the Government of Lionnois but the Magnificences at the Duke 's own Lodgings where the Feast was honour'd with the presence of the King both the Queens and all the great persons of the Court. From such an illustrious Marriage what could be expected less than what we now see a Son and a Daughter Inheritors of their Mothers Vertue and good Qualities as imitators of the Fathers and Grandfathers Bravery and Wisdom whose youth is in so great esteem with all the Court that if the Courage and Merit of the Son which have already been â—ignaliz'd in many honourable occasions have got him a reputation throughout all France the Daughter who was nothing inferiour in all the qualities becoming her Sex has obtain'd an equal share of opinion with all that knew her but the world was unworthy to possess her long and the Solitude she made choice of amongst the Carmelites has manifested to us that nothing but God alone could be the object of so elevated a mind and so devout a spirit The end of the Second Part. THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF THE Duke of ESPERNON THE GREAT FAVOURITE OF FRANCE ENGLISHED BY CHARLES COTTON Esq The Third Part. Vivos interdum Fortuna saepe invidia fatigat ubi anima Naturae cessit demptis obtrectationibus ipsa se Virtus magis magisque extollit Salust de Rep. ord Orat. 2. LONDON Printed for Henry Brome MDCLXX THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon THE THIRD PART The Ninth Book WE are now entring upon the third and last part of the life of the Duke of Espernon and if in the preceding two you have met with great Actions you will meet no fewer here though perhaps not altogether so shining as the first He had much to do and no little to suffer his Government of a vast extent and fruitful in Novelty would never suffer him to be long at rest and the hatred of the great Minister Cardinal Richelieu gave him now occasion as amply to manifest his constancy as he had before in more favourable occurrences manifested his other Vertues as you shall see in the pursuit of his History Soon after the accomplishment of the Marriage of his Son the Marquis de la Valette their Majesties took their way towasds Paris when the Duke of Espernon having left the new married couple together with his Son the Cardinal de la Valette to attend the Court took his leave of the King to retire into his own Government In which Journey it was necessary for him to pass through Angoumois to take order for the transportation of his Furniture Arms and Equipage in the Castle of Angoulesme which he had there in so great quantity as requir'd no little time nor no few hands to remove them though he found it a greater trouble to part with the Friends and Servants he had in that Countrey it being hardly possible to see in any particular Family upon the saddest occasion so many real tears as were shed by the people in general at this separation From Angoulesme he went to Coignac and from thence to Xaintes which was yet one of the principal Cities of his Government and where he had too dear a concern not to give her a visit before his departure And this was Marguarite de Foix Abbess of Xaintes a Virgin illustrious for her Sanctity and Vertue and in so great a â—epute amongst the Sisters of her Order thaâ— he â—example serves to this day for a Model to all those who aim at perfection in that way of devout living The Duke before he departed from this place would first return an answer to a Letter he had receiv'd a few days before from Marc Antonie de Gourgues first President of the Parliament of Bordeaux The Father of this man had had several very profitable employments under the Mareschal de Matignon in the time of his being the King's Lieutenant General in Guienne which had enrich'd him so as that he had provided very plentifully for his posterity of which this Marc Antonie being his eldest Son he had by the help of the wealth his Father left him advanc'd himself to some publick employments and being a man of notable wit and understanding his parts together with his fortune recommended him so as to be receiv'd into the Family of Seguieres a Daughter of which he married Sister to the Chancellor of France now being who in those days went by the name of Autry and in the end through the interest of his Wives Relations was preferr'd to the Dignity of first President in his Countrey This Gourgues in the time of his being at Court had made great professions of particular honour and service to the Duke of Espernon who also either out of respect to his Allies or to himself had given him reciprocal testimonies of no ordinary affection So that this kindness having pass'd beforehand betwixt them the Duke expected that at his coming into his Government he should meet with a sincere friend at the head of the most illustrious Body of the Province whose mediation in occurrences that might happen would be able to qualifie many little discontents that the jealousie of Authority usually begets in great Commands but at the sight of this first Letter he was of a contrary opinion from which those divisions sprung betwixt him and the Parliament that hardly ended but with the Duke's death though they were begun even before he was receiv'd into his Administration The Letter of which I am speaking after having treated of some Affairs of little importance that respected the general concern of the Province gave the Duke at last plainly to understand That a
of interesting his Fraternity in the Quarrel to the end that under the protection of the whole Body he might the better defend his own particular interest Neither did he herein fail to use some artifice which he manag'd so that in putting finister interpretations upon the Duke's best intentions he possess'd the whole Company with a jealousie that the Duke labour'd to encroach upon the Authority of their Estate A part wherein all Societies of men are so sensible and tender as that from the least shadows the highest divisions are very frequently observ'd to arise And here though the Duke labour'd to clear their suspicion by laying the truth before them yet the first impressions were so deep and the President knew so well how to manage their mis-apprehension that it was impossible to dis-unite him from his Colleagues The Duke exasperated as he had just cause at the mis-understanding Gourgues somented betwixt the Parliament and him would not give him altogether the advantage of an Aggressor but speedily sought out all occasions to vex him and to assault him both in his Reputation and Fortune He was therefore by his order disputed with about some priviledges he pretended to and usurp'd as was said to the prejudice of the City of Libourne near unto which he had a dwelling house but he gave him a more sensible blow by prohibiting the Post-Master of Bordeaux in his absence any more to carry the Couriers that came through the City to the first Presidents house though for some time it had been their custom so to do pretending that it was without any right at all and that consequently he might by his Authority overthrow that custom as a new thing and that depended absolutely upon his Command It is most certain that had matters rested here the President would have receiv'd a notable affront his most intimate friends having generally blam'd him for applying himself much more to Politick than to Judicial Affairs and for that by doing more than he was concern'd to do in the one he left himself no leisure to perform what he was oblig'd to do in the other The first President being a crafty man as has been said dextrously taking hold of this occasion as suddenly remonstrated to the Company That if in this Affair as in the other of Libourne there had been nothing but what pointed at his own private interest he should not have been concern'd in the least but that it aim'd directly at the honour and dignity of the whole Body of which he was much more tender than of any concern of his own That the dispatch of the Posts did no more respect him in particular than the other Officers of Parliament he having therein only the priviledge of priority without having any power limited to his person That in his absence he who was next in order in the Company had the same right to examine the Couriers to enquire of their newâ— and â—o dismiss them That therefore since the Injury was common to them all and that the Duke made it manifest enough he endeavour'd to destroy the Authority of Parliament it was necessary they should unanimously concur with him in the support of their own Dignity and Power That if they did not vigorously oppose this first attempt upon them they would see themselves insensibly depriv'd of all their Priviledges and that the Sovereign Authority they were invested withal would in the end be less considerable than that of their subalternate Judges That though in this Affair he was meerly animated by the common interest he nevertheless freely offer'd himself alone to stand the shock of the Duke 's utmost Indignation wherein though he should perish and be crush'd under the weight of his Power he should nevertheless be proud of so glorious a Fate as to be sacrific'd for the honour of that Assembly It is not to be imagin'd how strange an impression this Harangue made upon the minds of this Fraternity the whole body almost being thereby betray'd into the Animosity of their head some few only of the eldest and most affectionate to the Duke endeavour'd to qualifie the heat of this dispute but in vain it being impossible for them to stop the violence of the Torrent so that the Duke who thought he had only one enemy to deal withal found above an hundred rais'd up in mutiny against him Nay their impatience was such that they would not defer a moment the passing of an Act at that very sitting in opposition to the command he had given concerning the Couriers it is indeed true that there was after some propositions of Accommodation tendred but after this Thunder-clap from the Parliament the Duke was deaf to all overtures of agreement his invincible spirit that had ever been inflexible in all the undertakings of his life suggesting to him that it would be an eternal blemish to his honour should he in the least moderate his first resentment for all the great number of enemies that were declar'd against him The beginnings of this Feud were so light and trivial in themselves that I should not have been so particular in the relation of them had they not brought on those greater disputes that since hapned betwixt the Duke and this Parliament and this is so unwilling a Record that I could heartily wish all that is further to be said of this Affair might be totally raz'd out of the Duke's life that the memory thereof might for ever be extinct Neither the Parliament nor he got any advantage by it the publick was the greatest loser as it will ever fall out in such dissentions The Duke of Espernon's mind was not so wholly taken up with these divisions but that he had a care of the settlement of his own Domestick Affairs which the Queen Mothers escape from Blois the War that succeeded the several expeditions he afterterwards undertook for the King's Service and his chargeable Journeys whilst he attended the Court had brought into very great disorder He was at this time above seven hundred thousand Livers in debt that he had taken up at Paris upon a Rent-Charge which one of his Domesticks that had been brought up in his Family undertook to acquit him of shew'd him which way it was to be done and perform'd what he had undetaken and this was the foremention'd Constantin Comptroller of his House who as he could by no better way express his Gratitude to his Benefactor than by doing him so important a piece of Service he without any visible diminution of the Duke 's ordinary way of living manag'd the business so that his Master in a few years had the satisfaction of seeing himself disingag'd from that prodigious Debt Which as I have said was effected without any other inconvenience than the retrenchment of some superfluous expenses only which his distance from the Court where he was resolv'd no more to reside rendred altogether unnecessary So great a blessing is an intelligent and faithful Servant But to
and discretly have husbanded these good dispositions he might have improv'd them infinitely much to his own advantage but according to his custom either as if he hd repented the having done too much or as if he had a mind to blot out what any one could lay to his charge for having condescended too low in this visit by retaining a kind of a grum reservednes in the rest of his Actions he overthrew in a moment all the good his friends expected he should reap from this complacency insomuch that I have often heard le Plessis wish he had never advis'd him to it After they were risen from the Table the Duke being withdrawn to a Window in the Room where they had din'd to entertain the Duke of Montpensier in private the Cardinal who had the Archbishop of Bordeaux in very high consideration came to present him to the Duke to reconcile him to him This Prâ—late had apply'd himself particularly to the Cardinal's Service and by a great complacency in all things having adapted himself to his humour and by that means got into a high degree of favour with him had entreated the Cardinal by his Interest to put him upon good terms with the Duke there having since the Archbishop's advancement to that Dignity which fell to him by the death of the Cardinal de Sourdis his Brother some differences hapned betwixt the Duke and him that had begot a little distance betwixt them I was present at this Dinner led thither by my curiosity as some others were and if it may be call'd one consequently at this Reconciliation When the Cardinal who had already prepar'd the Duke for the busienss and thought he had conquer'd his animosity coming to him to the Window where he stood said to him these words My Lord I here present you the Archbishop of Bordeaux who is resolv'd to be your Servant and I therefore intreat you to be his friend upon my accompt to which the Duke scornfully turning that way coldly reply'd My Lord the Archbishop and I know one another very well After which and a salute as cold as his complement he turn'd again without more Ceremony towards the Duke of Montpensier and follow'd on his discourse The Duke of Espernon had no friend nor Servant there that could not heartily have wish'd this action had pass'd after a more obliging fashion but that was all could be got from him It is not to be doubted but that this indifferency highly disoblig'd the Cardinal who found by that he had not yet acquir'd so great an Empire over the Duke 's haughty spirit as by his great civilities he hop'd he had gain'd upon him he nevertheless retir'd into his Chamber without taking any more notice at all and conquering his own passion chose rather to attribute that odd carriage to the Duke 's imperious humour which he had practis'd so long as to be well enough acquainted with it than to lose the earnest he had already given towards the purchase of his friendship He continued therefore to use him with the same respect he had hitherto done and was yet so highly civil to him that the next day when he departed from Montauban to go towards the Court accompanied with the Duke of Montpensier Mareschal Bassompierre and several other persons fo very great quality that follow'd his Litter on Horseback he was so highly respective to the Duke that he would not offer to go into it so long as the Duke staid with him which was nevertheless half a League at least from the City but entertain'd him all the way on Horseback though so soon as he took his leave he went into his Litter without retaining the same respect to any of the rest I cannot before I proced any further omit an observation I made at the Entertainment of which we are now speaking and of which the several misfortunes of the most eminent persons there have often put me in mind There was scarce any body at the Cardinal's Table excepting the Dukes of Montmorency and Espernon the Mareschal Bassompierre and Marillac three of which were the Cardinal 's most intimate friends and he would needs ranck the fourth in that degree from whence if we consider what advantage he amongst them all that was the best us'd in succession of time reap'd from his friendship we shall understand upon how tickle and dangerous a point all Court-favour depends The Duke of Espernon was no sooner resolv'd upon a Journey to Court but that he would in the first place acquaint the Prince of Condé with his purpose and therein consult his advice the respect he bore to this Prince and the confidence he repos'd in his Friendship being such as would not permit him to settle the least resolution without making him privy to his design wherein there was nothing of dissimulation for he was effectually the Princes Servant and to such a degree that it must have been a service of a very foul nature he would not chearfully have undertaken for him He therefore dispatch'd away his Secretary to him to acquaint him with his determination and thereupon to beg his advice The Prince was at this time at Rabastens in Albigeois where after the Secretary had deliver'd what was given him in charge from the Duke his Master the Prince with great civility return'd this answer That he concern'd himself very much in all the Duke's interests That in another time and during the favour of the Luines he might have been capable of giving him such advice as he durst have answer'd would have been serviceable to him they having been men of so candid dispositions as that their intentions might have been perfectly discover'd but that at present he was so totally in the dark as to any understanding in the designs of those who were now at the Helm That he durst not adventure to give the Duke any counsel lest something might happen as prejudicial to his advice as contrary to his desire only he had very good intelligence that the Garde des Sceaux had been very busie and inquisitive in making a collection of what Warrantâ— the Duke had issued out for the subsistence of such Forces as had serv'd in his Government That indeed he could not tell to what end he had done it but he could not imagine it would be to any good intent and that therefore the Duke might if he pleas'd consider of it With which uncertain answer the Secretary was dismiss'd The Duke who was very secure of his own innocency and it is to be wish'd he had been as cautious and moderate to his own good as he was perfectly honest to the King did not for all this caution desist from still earnestly soliciting his leave which in the end after the Cardinal's arrival at Court he obtain'd by a very favourable dispatch from the King himself to that effect The Duke no sooner receiv'd this permission but that he made all the haste he could to Court to
Bordeaux but notwithstanding all the diligence he could use the Animoâ—ity betwixt these two haughty Spirits was so great as had before he could arrive there shuffled matters into so strange a confusion that it was utterly impossible to find out any way to compose them The Duke of Espernon exasperated to the last degree that the little respit he had so modestly desir'd should be denyed him and to find that the Archbishop would not a little bend by his example from that time forward excluded all thoughts of Reconciliation and for the future only meditated how no settle his Conscience in repose by paying the respect and submission that was due to the Church To this end therefore he call'd an Assembly of several Learned Divines in his own House to consult about the Excommunication had been pronounc'd against the Lieutenant of his Guards and implicitely against himself In this Debate there were very few who did not conclude it altogether groundless of particular Opinions therefore they drew up a Publick Act which being subscribed by all the Doctors to the number of more than thirty was publish'd throughout the City to the end they said that all Scandal and Scruple might be taken away which the Archbishops Excommunication might have rais'd and begot in the minds of the people But that which was design'd for so good an end produc'd as we shall see a very different effect Amongst the Doctors the Duke had Assembled there were several Religious and other Ecclesiasticks who were under the Archbishops Jurisdiction this Prelate therefore being strangely incens'd to be abandoned by his own Party in a Cause wherein the Church was so highly concern'd and impatient to have the Lye given him by those very men by whose advice or the greatest part of them at least he had Publish'd his Censures would once more call them together his design therein being either to make them retract from what they had subscribed to in the Duke's favour or to punish them for having submitted themselves to a Secular Power He therefore cited them to appear before him by the publication of an Ordinance bearing date the 10 th day of November 1633. The Doctors surpriz'd at this citation were very much afraid of their Metropolitan's Indignation and some severe Chastisement that would be inflicted on them This apprehension made them fly to the Duke's Protection who to secure them the same day issued out another Ordinance wherein he prohibited all sorts of persons of what quality condition or profession soever to meet in an extraordinary Assembly either in the Archbishops Palace or elsewhere without his especial Licence excepting nevertheless the Religious and Ecclesiasticks immediately belonging to the Archbishop's Congregation and whose Councils he customarily made use of for the better ordering the Discipline of his Diocess The Doctors not yet believing themselves sufficiently secur'd by this Edict entreated the Duke that he would moreover place the Archers of the Watch of the City upon all the Avenues and Gates of the Archbishops Palace to hinder such as would pretend to obey the Bishops Summons A request the Duke as readily granted conceiving himself so far oblig'd in honour to protect them that whatsoever could be represented to him to hinder that determination the consequences whereof were in all probability like to be exceedingly untoward it was notwithstanding impossible to divert him The Archbishop had no sooner notice that the Captain of the Watch with his Archers had planted himself at his Gates but that immediately putting on his Pontifical Robes and causing himself to be follow'd by some Ecclesiasticks together with what people he had about him he went on foot out of the House crying out in the Streets as he pass'd along To me my people there is no more Liberty for the Church In this posture he went to several Religious Houses of the City gathering after him a great number of people who ran from all parts to the Novelty as he went along and in the end return'd back towards his own Palace without effecting any thing more or being able to raise any Commotion in the City Whilst all these things were in doing the Duke was at the Capuchins in one of the remotest parts of the City where having news brought him by two Presidents of the Parliament of what had pass'd and of the danger there was lest the Archbishop should stir up any Mutiny to the prejudice of the common Safety he was at last by them intreated to interpose his Authority and Wisdom for the conservation of the Publick Peace In the heat therefore this sudden intelligence had put him into the Duke speedily mounted his Coach commanding they should drive that way he heard the Archbishop was gone He had in company with him the Count de Maillé and the Commendator de la Iustice both of them men of very eminent Vertue and in whom he had a particular confidence but in this sudden passion their Counsels could by no means prevail The Duke made his Coach-man still drive on and through all till he came near the Archbishops Palace whither he heard he was upon his return and where he overtook him The Bishop thus overtaken still continued on his pace when the Duke having staid him by the Arm and demanded of him by what Authority he stirr'd up this Commotion in his Government he was by the Archbishop interrupted who cry'd out aloud Strike Tyrant thy blows will be to me Flowers and Roses thou art Excommunicated In the heat of this bustle the Duke catching him by the hand lifted it up twice or thrice and set it against his Breast but in the end the Archbishop still provoking him with injurious Language and with his Hat on the Duke with a Cane he had in his hand touch'd the Brim of his Hat and thrust it off his head to the ground telling him at the same time he did not know the respect he ought him but if the Reverence to his Profession did not restrain him he would make him know it Something worse might perhaps have pass'd had not the Count de Maillé and the Commendator de la Iustice interpos'd who stepping in betwixt them put an end to this untoward bustle very much unbecoming both the one and the other After this action had thus pass'd the Duke return'd to his own House and although he very well knew no good issue could attend it manifested notwithstanding no shew of apprehension or repentance discoursing of it with his Friends who were more in suspense than he himself appear'd to be of what would be the event as of a thing of an indifferent nature and a just resentment of an Affair wherein his Honour was concern'd The Archbishop was no sooner disingag'd from the Duke but that he fortwith repair'd to his Church where he pronounc'd his Sentence of Excommunication both against him and all those who had been in company with him prohibiting Divine Service in all the Churches of the
desire he come to us to the end we may be fully inform'd of the truth of what has pass'd purposing in the mean time to send one of our Council to our said City of Bordeaux to enquire into and to bring Us thence a perfect Accompt of the business The rest we refer to the said Sieur de Varennes to communicate to you whom you are in all things to believe praying God Cousin c. At St. Germain en Laye this 18 th of November 1633. Sign'd Lovis And below Philipeaux The Duke of Espernon's Friends at Court being inform'd of the severe contents of this Dispatch were not a little in doubt after what manner he would receive it They fear'd his great Spirit full of those generous Maxims which had for so many years and in so many froward occurrences supported his Reputation and Fortune would with great difficulty submit to Laws so different from what they had been in former times Amongst these the Cardinal de la Valette a man as well read in the Court as any whatever of his time upon this occasion laid aside the complacency of a Son to assume the austerity of a faithful Adviser and writ to him to this effect That he did beseech him to look upon this Affair as one of the greatest Difficulty and Importance he had met withal in the whole course of his life That to avoid any inconveniences might befal him he must immediately submit to the King's Pleasure and Command and refer the business wholly and without reservation to the Cardinal which was the only way to put a good end to this Dispute Monsieur de Seguier Garde des Sceaux the Duke 's intimate friend and a man that appeared more for his Interest than the condition of the time seem'd conveniently to permit did the same writing him word That a prompt and absolute Obedience was the only way whereby a cause his Enemies Favour rendred generally disapprov'd might be brought to a successful issue but that without that it was utterly impossible for his Friends and Servants to do him those Offices were necessary for the bringing of matters to any tolerable conclusion All the Duke 's other Friends having confirm'd the same thing he evidently saw that he must of necessity obey yet was it not withour an incredible violence upon his own Humour and great Spirit He had at other times resisted the greatest powers of the State when arm'd against him with the King's Authority and Forces whereas now he saw himself reduc'd to submit to four lines of Paper they made him indeed to depart out of his Government And though it be true that in these latter Times the Royal Authority was rais'd to a more illustrious height than formerly it had ever been yet I do not know that any one has observ'd a greater example of his Power than upon this occasion All France acknowledg'd the Duke for the eminent qualities he was master of to be a man of the greatest Reputation of his Age he was possess'd of the greatest and most important Governments of the Kingdom powerful in Riches Commands Places Servants and much more in his Children His three Sons had all of them great Offices and great Employments and yet with all these advantages he was not able to resist four words and then it was that he plainly saw a Subject had no way to support himself in his Fortune and Reputation but by Obedience and that the Power of a King manag'd as it ought to be can meet no difficulties nor impediments it cannot easily master and overcome He had seen a time when by making a shew of Resolution or Discontent men had sometimes obtain'd part of what they desir'd or at least defended themselves from what they had not a mind to do Under the Reign of Henry the III the diversity of Factions which then divided the State had so weakened the Authority of the Sovereign that he durst scarce pretend to more than a voluntary Submission from his People And Henry the Great his Successor by an excess of Bounty and good Nature had continued to do what the other had been constrain'd to by inevitable Necessity This Mighty Prince was of so noble a Disposition that he would destroy none so that excepting the Mareschal de Biron who would have no compassion of himself almost all the great men of the Kingdom were either actually Rebels or highly Disobedient without ever feeling either the Sword or so much as the Hand of Justice The Regency of Queen Mary de Medici was equally moderate and gentle and the Tempests that arose in her time being appeas'd with money men did not only offend securely but made moreover a profit of their Crimes The Mareschald ' Encre try'd to change those milder into rougher Maxims but he lost himself in the practice of this premature severity In the Ministry of the Duke de Luines there was no more of violence than in the preceding Reigns the good success notwithstanding the Royal Arms always had in all Enterprizes during the time of his favour made it plain that there was nothing his Majesty could not with great facility effect in his own Kingdom He had with great ease supprest the Queen Mothers Insurrection he had invaded the Party of the Religion with very great success wherein having found their weakness by their disunion amongst themselves he was by that discovery encourag'd to undertake their total ruine and the Cardinal entring into the Ministry in so favourable a juncture of Affairs press'd the declining Faction so home that in a very short time he remov'd all Obstacles which could any ways oppose the Royal Authority or impede the establishment of his own The Party of the Religion was totally suppress'd the House of Austria infinitely weakened all the other Princes who were ill affected to the Crown reduc'd to a necessity of complying with whatsoever was impos'd upon them and those of the Nobility who were so bold as to oppose the King's will had been so roughly handled that not a man durst any more expose himself to the punishment they all knew would inevitably follow the least forfeiture of their Duty It had been but of very late years that this new form of Government had been introduc'd into the Kingdom and the Duke was grown old in the practice of other Maxims It is not then to be doubted but that it must needs be with great repugnancy and unwillingness that he could Accommodate himself to a thing so unusual and severe he did notwithstanding do it and without delaying time or spending any more than was requisite for the making of some few Visits and taking leave of his Friends he departed out of his Government suspended from his Functions Excommunicated from the Church and reduc'd to the conversation of his own Domesticks only Though in a condition so different from what it had formerly been and so contrary to his ordinary way of living he could not but be very much afflicted
acquainted with the humour of this people and knew them to be as timorous and dejected when any danger was near at hand as they were stout and haughty when it was remote and out of the prospect of their fear Not daring therefore to rely upon the valour and Fidelity of such a people in an Affair of so high importance and moreover importun'd by the intelligence he receiv'd from all parts that the Enemy was ready to enter the Country he departed from Bordeaux the 6 th of October arriv'd the tenth at Nerac and the sixteenth aâ— Bayonne with a diligence so much above the strength of a man of his Age that at his arrival there he was surpriz'd with a sharp and a dolorous distemper so violent a Fever accompanying his pain that for some days his Friends and Servants knew not what to hope would be the issue of his Disease Though the Duke had with him no other Forces save only his Company of Gens d' Armes his Guards and an hundred or sixscore Gentlemen Volunteers he notwithstanding stuck not boldly to expose his Person for the security of that Frontier in the preservation whereof consisted the safety of the whole Country He was scarcely there arriv'd when the people came running in crowds with news that the Enemy was upon the point to enter who also on their part follow'd the intelligence so close that there was scarce any interval betwixt the report of their coming and their being come The Duke though exceedingly ill would by no means that in an Affair of this Consequence they should conceal any thing from his knowledge neither did he upon the first intimation fail to take order for all things with as much diligence and care as if he had been in the greatest vigour of health wherein his instructions were also such as had they been duly executed and observ'd the Enemy would have met with greater difficulties than they did and their Entry into this little Country though open on all sides would have cost them both more time and more blood then they laid out upon this occasion But what he had order'd with so much prudence and foresight was very ill obey'd and the people of the Country no sooner saw the Enemy appear than they fled before them none of their Leaders being able to prevail with them to stand or so much as once to face about in any place of what advantage soever The Duke sometime before he advanc'd towards this Frontier foreseeing what work and trouble the invasion of a Forein Army was likely to create him had intreated the King to send the Duke de la Valette his Son who also had the Government of Guienne settled upon him in reversion to his assistance who accordingly came to him to Bayonne the same day the Enemy entred the Country and who having as he pass'd by Bordeaux heard of the Sickness of the Duke his Father was by that ill news oblig'd to take Post and was but newly alighted when intelligence was brought that the Enemy was entring and that thereupon had followed a great confusion amongst our own people The Duke at this news was not a little distracted betwixt two contrary Passions by which he was at one and the same time assaulted either of paying the assistance to which he was in Nature and Duty bound to a good and languishing Father or of pursuing what his Honour and Bravery exacted from him for the Service of his Prince and Master But that debate betwixt his Piety and Honour was soon determin'd by the Father himself and the mutual tenderness they had for one another was soon overcome by the Affection they both had to their common duty It was in the close of the Evening when the Duke de la Valette arriv'd at Bayonne and the night was no sooner pass'd when mounting on Horseback with some persons of on Condition who had there waited in expectation of his coming he went out to discover the Countenance of the Enemy but neither his Presence Exhortations nor Example could work any effect upon the common people whose Spirits had by the first days fright been so strangely subdu'd that it was impossible to raise them the next to any tolerable degree of resolution so that in this general Consternation all he could possibly do was to retreat without disorder which also was not to be done without a very great deal of danger The Duke de la Valette engag'd his Person so far to make good this Retreat and to preserve the little Honour he had to manage in this Encounter that he very often ran a very great hazard of his life and certainly expos'd himself more than he was any way oblig'd to do when being in the end retir'd himself always the last man he commanded la Roche Captain of the Duke his Fathers Guards and also of his own to make good the Bridge which separates the Bourg of Siboure from that of Saint Iean de Luz against the Enemy that follow'd very close in his Rear This Order was not to be executed without infinite danger but the Duke de la Valette well enough knew that he to whom it was given would not bely his former Actions neither did la Roche deceive his expectation who with forty Musketeers only which he had under his Command stop'd the torrent of a Victorious Army and after having kill'd two hundred of their men upon the place amongst whom were eight or ten of their best Officers and having by that means given our Foot time to put themselves into a place of safety after he had sufficiently manifested his own Conduct with the Valour and Dexterity of his Souldiers he drew up the Draw-Bridge that lay over the middle of the River and with very little loss retir'd to the Duke de la Valette's Troop who staid to make good his Retreat After this manner the Spanish Forces possess'd themselves of the Country of Labourt and our men were no sooner retir'd on this side Saint Iean de Luz but that the Enemy seiz'd it and the same day presented themselves before Socoa This Socoa was a little point of Land jetting out into the Sea convenient and proper enough for Fortification but those of the Country would never consent to have it fortified Which notwithstanding the place of it self was of so advantageous a situation that they had ventur'd to put into it two hundred Souldiers who having had leisure to cast up some Works made a countenance before the arrival of the Spanish Army there bravely to defend themselves but their Resolution was of no long continuance the fear of the people soon infected the Souldier and some Gentlemen who upon other occasions had given testimony of their Valour having been appointed to command them were so unhappy as not to preserve the same Reputation here So that to be short contrary to the opinion of the two Dukes the Father and the Son and of all the men of Command
towards the Frontier the Service to which they were design'd writ to St. Torse Aide de Camp who commanded them to draw them out against the Mutineers but that Gentleman more discreet and circumspect than the Duke could have wish'd upon so urgent an occasion chose rather betimes to abandon his Quarters to the Rebels than to do them the honour to dispute them by any the least opposition The Duke after this seeing no means left to suppress this dangerous Faction which every day increas'd to a more formidable height and startled with the news he receiv'd from all parts that some of the best Cities were ready to revolt and only expected the approach of the Rebels to receive them writ in all haste to the Duke de la Valette to come speedily to the Relief of the Province with some of those Forces he had with him upon the Frontier since those in the Lower Gascony were not able to make head against the mischief already grown too great to be withstood The Duke at this Summons without deliberating upon the Duke his Father's Command immediately put himself upon his March but yet so that the Forein Enemy still continued shut up within their Trenches by the Marquis de Poganne Mareschal de Camp with whom during his absence he left the Command of the Army whilst himself came to do the King the Kingdom and particularly the Province one of the most important Services could possibly be desir'd in so dangerous a time Being come to Cadillac where his Father expected him sick for he was at last constrain'd to faint under the Burthen 〈◊〉 Affairs and the affliction wherewith these untoward occurrences had overcome his Spirits and having from him receiv'd such Instructions as he was at that time in a condition to give he early the next morning took Horse to go in all haste to Marmanda The Duke his Father had already there caus'd some Troops to be gather'd together under the Command of the Marquis de Monferrant Mareschal de Camp and Lieutenant of his own Company of Gens-d ' Armes where the Duke was no sooner arriv'd but he understood that at la Sauvetat a little Town about four Leagues off there was a considerable Body of the Rebels who had there fortified themselves and made shew of a resolute Defence an information that made him immediately March his Forces that way to go to assault them All the strength he had with him were no more than two thousand five hundred Foot but the Enemy were very many more which notwithstanding he made no difficulty himself to go view the place At the first sight he apprehended the danger of assaulting them without Cannon fortified as they were on every side either with Walls or strong Barricado's and many of the Officers about him were of opinion he should stay for some Field-Pieces he had order'd to follow after but having consider'd that to dally with these kind of people only were to give them greater encouragement and to augment their Insolence he gave order upon the instant to go on to the Assault I have heard several who were present at and had a share in this Action say that the Assault was as vigorously given and as obstinately sustaind as any they had ever seen though they had been in many very memorable occasions and that they should eternally lament that what was there on both sides perform'd had not been done against the Enemies of the Crown since doubtless whatever they had undertaken must have succeeded to their immortal Glory The Duke's men fir'd no further off than at the Muzzle of the Musket and the other party did the same so that on either side a great many men with some Officers of the Duke's Regiments were slain and the slaughter had questionless been much greater had the besieg'd been furnish'd with Pikes to their Fire Arms but being destitute of that sort of Defence they were constrain'd after they had discharg'd their Muskets to abandon their Barricado's and to retire Madaillan who commanded the Rebels gave the first example of a cowardly and shameful flight whom they pursu'd as far as Quercy to which place he fled for refuge but having escap'd the hands of the pursuers he sav'd himself out of the Kingdom from whence he return'd not but to execute one of the most detestaâ—â—e Villanies against the Duke of Espernon that could ever have entred into the imagination of an accursed Villain The fatal and unhappy circumstances whereof we shall soon present before you wherein this wicked and abominable wretch will appear to be both the instrument and the cause of the Duke's approaching Death and Ruine The forcing of this place was presently follow'd by the Surrender of Bergerac the Mutineers had there made a countenance of defending themselves but the example of their Complices being taken by Assault render'd them more facile to the perswasions of their General who was otherwise averse to War than as he was compell'd to it by the unbridled Fury of some of the more violent Spirits who as they prompted their fellows to greater mischief would also urge him on to the greatest extremes These two places being thus reduc'd to their Obedience secur'd all the other Cities of the Province so that although some few of the people continued still on foot they were rather thought fit to be undertaken by the ordinary Officers of Justice than worth the pains or notice of men of Arms. The report of this Defeat soon spread it self into Angoumois Xaintonge and Poictou whither the Duke de Valette also sent some few Forces of those which were now supernumerary after this success and where the people through fear of punishment remain'd in a posture of Obedience by that means delivering the Court of one of the greatest and most troublesome apprehensions wherewith the minds of the great Ministers could possibly be possess'd This Victory was by the Marquis de Duras judg'd of importance enough to deserve the pains of a Journey to Court to carry news of it to the King who as he had by his own Valour contributed very much to the good success the Duke of Espernon who had him in very great esteem was also very willing that he should give his Majesty an account of the Action Being therefore there arriv'd he omitted nothing that might any ways recommend the merit of the Service but he did not find the Court dispos'd to receive things that came from the Duke 's at so favourable a rate as in themselves they did justly deserve they looking upon all that had been perform'd as good as nothing and imposing upon them the assault of the Forts the Spaniard had erected upon the Frontier upon pain of his Majesties Indignation which was the first recompence of their Service Already the Duke de la Valette had taken the way to his ordinary Post and was arriv'd at his Quarters which he had â—ortified opposite to the Spanish Trenches when the Duke his
employ'd fewer days to take it than the Emperour Charles the Fifth had formerly squander'd away months to go without it who after a six months Leaguer had been constrain'd ingloriously to quit the Siege And all these things were done in the very face of the Cardinal Infanta who having been baffled in two signal Engagements durst no more make trial of our Generals Arms. The Duke of Espernon victorious in two extremities of the Kingdom by the Valour of his three Sons and hoping that the utility of these important Services for the Crown would at least secure the repose of his old Age thought of nothing more than by a gentle hand to compose the Affairs of his own Government and so to order all things by his Moderation and Justice that the people committed to his Charge might enjoy the sweets of Peace even in the greatest tumults of War To this end therefore he with great generosity and constancy rejected the offer that was made to him of the Command of a great Army wherewithal to invade the Enemies Country proposing to himself a greater glory in maintaining that little part of the Kingdom entrusted to his care in security and peace than in all the Pomp that was laid before his eyes to allure him How great a happiness had it been if he could have effected this good design and by that means have spun out the remainder of his exceeding old Age in the calms of Vacancy and repose neither was the fault his that he did not bring this vertuous intention to the desired end but some ambitious and interested Spirits having infatuated the Court with propositions of vain and imaginary Conquests prevail'd so far with the great Minister that it was determinately resolv'd the Scene of the War should be transferr'd into Spain and that by the Siege of Fontarabie it should be begun The Enterprize was of no small difficulty as it has since been prov'd which the Cardinal also was very perfect in as having long before caus'd the place to be consider'd by the Duke de la Valette himself who had then diverted him from that design upon this occasion however he would no more remember the reasons by which he had sometimes suffer'd himself to be over-rul'd but having premeditated to engage both the Father and the Son in an Enterprize wherein he resolved they should both perish he sent them positive word that they must either absolutely undertake this War and advance so much money as was necessary to begin it or that the King would send the Prince of Condé to command his Arms in Guienne The Duke of Espernon accustomed of old to the ill usage of the Court was nothing surpriz'd with these Threats but on the contrary what was laid before him in the nature of a Penalty being conformable to his own desire he gave the Court to understand that he should ever esteem it a great Honour to have this Prince a Judg of his Actions and that he should be very glad the King would please to give him a Command in his Government He wanted not Servants about him to disswade him from sending such a Message and to represent to him the danger of inviting a greater person than himself into a place where his Authority was absolute and where he had no rival to dispute it with him laying before him withal many more examples of such as had repented the having submitted their Power to a Superiour than of such as in so doing had found their expectation answer'd by the event But the Duke was so confident in the Affection the Prince of Condé had manifested to him in these latter times that he could not possibly entertain the least distrust and moreover seeing it was absolutely determin'd that the Province of Guienne should bear the burthen of the War with Spain he had much rather the Expences of the War should be stated by a great Prince who by his Quality was priviledg'd from all Forms than that he by imposing them should be constrain'd to submit to the severity of an Inquisition and be brought by his Enemies to an Account But that which most of all confirm'd him in this Resolution was the advantage that would thereby accrue to the Duke de la Valette his Son who having nothing to do in Military Affairs but to execute the Prince's Orders only would by that means be nothing accountable for any event of the War and as to any thing else he was very well assur'd that what Employment soever should be conferr'd upon him he would ever so behave himself as to deserve no other than the greatest honour and applause Upon these prudent Considerations it was that the Duke resolv'd to write to the Prince of Condé to entreat he would please to accept the Command that was offer'd him in Guienne assuring him as it was very true that nothing could be a greater satisfaction to him than to have the Honour to kiss his Hands in a place where he might have opportunity to give him some testimonies of the passionate affection he had for his Service Neither was he satisfied with sending him this Complement from himself alone he would moreover make the Duke de la Valette do the same so that the Prince who before would never consent to take upon him any Employment in the Duke's Governments made thenceforward no difficulty to accept it However things not succeeding according to the Duke's desire men took hence an occasion to censure his Discretion and to condemn his Conduct as it usually falls out because he prov'd unhappy in the end The End of the Eleventh Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The TWelfth Book THE Prince of Condè had no sooner accepted the Employment but that a very ample Commission was forthwith drawn up for him by virtue whereof he was to Command not only in Guienne but also in Languedoc Navarre Bearne and Foix. His Letters Patents were dispatch'd at St. Germains en Laye the Tenth of March a Copy of which the Prince took care to send to the Duke of Espernon the one and twentieth by the Sieur Bonneau his Secreary together with a Letter that contained these words Monsieur It is with great reluctancy that by his Majesties Order I must go to Command his Forces in your Government knowing as I do that to have his Majesties Service there well perform'd there had been no need of any other person than your self and Monsieur de la Valette your Son notwithstanding such being his Royal Pleasure I must of necessity obey Of my Commission I have here sent you a Copy assuring you withal that in the exercise of it I shall take all occasions to manifest to you my entire affection and that I will be so long as I live Monsieur Your Affectionate Cousin and Humble Servant Henry of Bourbon To this Letter the Duke return'd a very civil Answer but before he receiv'd it had sent to desire leave to retire