out for the Duke of Anjou the French quickly hearkens unto them so there was a Treaty at Narbona whither they sent twelve persons of quality for hostages and an Order issued out that he should be branded with a hot iron who spake of any accommodation with Castile It was agreed upon that upon putting themselfs under the Royall protection of the most Christian King he should furnish them with an Army of six thousand foot and two thousand horse to be maintain'd by the Catalans Whereupon three Commissioners were sent to Paris one for the Clergy another for the Nobility and a third for the Gentry and Cominalty They who were most busy herein and indeed the chiefest bellowes that blew this terrible fire were the Preaching Fryers and Monks who in lieu of obedience and conformity to Government and compliance with the necessities of the King having so many irons in the fire did teach and obtrude to the people nothing more then common priviledge and resumption of liberty whereby the affection of the vassall was imbitter'd and at last quite poyson'd against his Prince whence this Aphorisme may be collected That the best Instruments misapplied do greatest mischief and prove most dangerous to any State And as of the sweetest wines is made the sharpest Vineger so Churchmen who by their holy function and white robes of innocence should be the sweetest of all professions who should breath nothing but peace unity allegeance and love if they misapply their talent and abandon themselfs to the spirit of faction they become the bitterest enemies the most corroding cankers and worst vipers in any Common-wealth and most pernicious to the Prince In regard that they having the sway ore the conscience which is the Rudder that steers the actions words and thoughts of the rationall creature they transport and snatch it away whither they will making the Beast with many heads conceive according to the colour of those rods they use to cast before them The French having thus undertaken the protection of the revolted Catalan and cut the Spaniard work enough that way he did miracles against him about this time in the Netherlands for he made the Rat to eat the Cat and a Cow to spin out a bundle of Flax by rendring himself Master of Arras the chiefest Town of the Province of Artois after a strong stubborn siege which place the Flemins held to be inpregnable and as impossible to take as it was for the Rat and the Cow to do what was above said His Generall also in Italy the Count of Harcour did do strange exploits who having entred Piemont was besieg'd by the Spaniard in Chieri but he got through routs the enemy and succours Casal This he did with 1500. horse and a few foot who were nothing equall in number to the Spaniards who were thrice as many This ventrous achievement which some interpreted rashnes rather then true valor got him a mighty reputation Then he marcheth to Turin and besiegeth it but the gates were open'd to him within a short time so he made a glorious entrance into the Town and returns triumphantly ore the Hills to France having setled the King his Master in the protection of the Infant Duke of Savoy his Nephew which protection or tutele the Emperour seconded by the Spaniard alledg'd did belong to him by Imperial right during his minority There came a Messenger of State to Paris who brought notice of the Great Turks death in the flower of his youth though of a robust huge constitution He died by excesse of drinking some sorts of wine wherewith he was us'd to be oft distemper'd notwithstanding the strict law of Mahomet who us'd to preach this Doctrine That there was a Devill in every berry of the grape and therefore absolutly interdicted the use of wine in his Alchoran But such is the power of sensuall appetit in man that the spirit oftentimes is too weake to resist the motion of sense though the conscience should dictat that Hell it self stands gaping for him in the very fruition of the pleasure The genius of this great Potentat is very remarkable for when he came first to sit upon the throne of that mighty Empire he was of a mild gentle and peacefull nature but the Janizaries who may in time prove the bane of that Tyranicall Monarchy having violently cut off many of his great Officers and committed other acts of high insolencies whereat he had conniv'd and looked on as a sufferer a great while at last patience so often abus'd and stretch'd as it were upon the Tenter turn'd to fury in him and that in so high a degree that it came to alter and quite change his disposition and the very instinct of nature in him for of a soft easie and candid humour he became afterwards having bin so often provok'd by such bloudy spectacles as cruell and sanguinary as any that ever sway'd the Ottoman Empire And he order'd matters so that he found an opportunity to be reveng'd of all those that had affronted him before and bereft him of his Favourits and Officers He commonly carried with him a Ghelad an Executioner who at his sudden beck and in his sight took off many heads to offer up as Victimes for the life 's of his slain servants He grew to be so flesh'd in bloud that he was scarce capable of any compassion or appre hension of fear notwithstanding that his predecessor had been hacked to peeces not long before by one of his meanest soldiers for attempting to remove his Court from Constantinople t'other side the Hellespont to Damasco to be reveng'd of his cowardly Janizaries who would not fight the yeer before against the Pole as also of the Constantinopolitans for refusing to furnish him with moneys for that war Hence may be drawn this Caution That Princes natures are ticklish things to be tamper'd withall that it is dangerous to trench too far upon the softnesse of their dispositions as appears in this Monark who by often irritations fell from one extreme to another The horrid flames we spake of before which were kindled amongst those fiery Mountains the Pyreneys in Catalonia the chiefest part of Hispania Tarraconensis according to the old division did rage with such fury that the sparkles of them by a strong East-wind were caried into Portugall of old Hispania Lusitanica And as one torch lights another or any other thing whose matter is combustible and apt to take so this other Revolt was kindled by the first and Portugall was very well prepar'd to receive it as well for the aversnes and strong disaffection her Inhabitants have to the Castillan for I have heard them complain often that the greatest misery which could befall them was to lose their King Don Sebastian and to fall under the yoak of the Castillan as also for divers other causes First she complain'd that the King neglected to protect her against the Hollander in Brasil where he had taken Fernanbuck her chief
of Indexes untill it be corrected and the correction approv'd according to the rules of the Index In the said Decree the word respectively some imagined to be inserted of purpose as an evasion to shew that the Jesuits do not absolutely condemn the doctrin of Becanus but only as it invades the Prerogatives of the French Crown They of the Religion as I told you before suspected some ill consequences of the crosse Match with Spain and feared it would prove crosse to them in time Moreover the Princes of the bloud and others repin'd at the power of D' Ancre whereupon the Duke of Bovillon prime Marshall of France and prime Machinator of this tumult came to visite the Prince of Conde and made a solemn studied speech unto him as followeth My Lord it would be impudence in me to represent unto you the deplorable estate of France whereof you have more knowledge then I or to touch the arrogance of Conchiny which you must needs daily resent or to make his power suspected which is the next dore to tyranny or to exhort you to oppose his pernicious desseins The consideration of your own safety with that of France is enough to rouze up your generous thoughts and to administer Counsell to you who are the most judicious Prince of Europe Moreover in such a manifest and urgent affair as this ther 's no need of Remonstrance consultation or exhortation but to apply some sudden and actuall remedy Therefore I addresse my self now to your Excellence not onely to offer you my means but my person as also 100000. men who would esteem themselves happy to serve you and will hold it a glory to employ their bloud to the last drop under your conduct for the good of the State and your just defence against this Faquin Florentin this Florentine porter who plots the ruin of all those Princes and Peers of the Kingdom who would oreshadow his advancement and hinder to establish his tyranny The difference of Religion which we professe ought not to empeach a strong and solid union between us in the conjuncture of so common a danger considering that while we endeavour our own safety we secure the State generall and incolumity of our Countrey which are conditions inseparable from the Kings service whose Sacred Person is not safe enough under the irregular ambition of a stranger which his Majesty himself begins now to perceive and seeing his liberty engag'd fears the ambition of this tyrant and will find himself oblig'd to those that can rid him of him My Lord you are well assur'd that the greatest part of the Princes finding themselfs involv'd in the same interest with you are touch'd with the same resentments and dispos'd to joyn with your Excellence in a project as glorious as necessary For doubtles the Gentry of France in whom consist the sinews of our armies being naturally averse to the commandements of a stranger will run unto you from all parts to assist you with their armes Touching the Towns you need not doubt but a good part of them which are under the Government of the Princes will declare themselfs for you And I give you certain assurance that They of the Religion which are the strongest and best provided with soldiers artillery ammunition and victualls of any other will declare themselfs for your party as soon as you shall publish your laudable intentions by some Manifesto It concerns your Excellence therefore my Lord to take hold of Time by the foretop for the restauration and safetie of the State in generall and your own in particular and of all the Princes and Gentry of the Kingdom But if you let Occasion escape you know that she is bald behind and you shall never be able to catch her again Besides the Armies which you might justly raise now during the Kings minority and by reason the government is usurped by an Alien who hath not so much as the quality of a Gentleman wold be hereafter felony and treason under the majority and liberty of our lawfull Monark The Prince was a subject fit to be wrought upon and ready to receive any print for he could not brook the exorbitant power of D' Ancre therefore having assurance that the Dukes of Nevers Main Longueville Luxemburg and the said Bovillon would follow him he retires to Mezieres upon the frontire of Champany he made choice of that place because it was his Patrimony and that he might have a sure Rendevous of Sedan if need required The Duke of Vendosme thinking to retire to Britany was arrested in the Louure but he got loose by a trick and the Chevalier his brother was sent to Malta The foresaid male-contented Princes recruted dayly in Champany But had the young King got a horsback and pursued them presently though with a petty Army the Countrey wold have riss with him and so he had prevented their encrease and driven them in all probabilitie to Sedan where he might have kept them in exile with a small Army on the frontires And his Counsell was much tax'd for not advising him so But in lieu of arms he sent Ambassadors and Epistles after them to perswade their return or if they refused to amuse them till he might raise forces sufficient to encounter them to which end he sent to Swisserland for 6000. men but Bovillon by his artifice hinder'd that design from taking its full effect Thus a fearfull storme was like to fall on France for the male-contents dispers'd themselfs to divers strong holds Longuevill went to Picardy Main to Soissons Bovillon to Sedan and Vendosme was as busie as any other to raise the Countrey in Britain Conde continued still at Mezieres nor could any Letter from King or Queen Regent sent by the Duke of Ventadour reduce him He writ to the Queen That the ill government which he imputed not to Her but to ill Counsellors were the cause of his retirement who because they might have the sole direction of things hindred the convocation of the States generall which were used to assemble always in the Kings minority he complain'd that the mariages with Spain were precipitated that the authority of the Parliament was diminished the Church-men trampled upon the Nobles undervalued the people laden with gabells and tallies divisions sowed in Sorbon and the University with divers other soloecismes in the present Government In his conclusion he insists much upon the convocation of the States generall of the Kingdom sure free a suspension of the mariage with Spain and so concluds with much complement These were specious pretences but they were as so many imaginary lines drawing to one reall Center which was the Marq of Ancre who indeed was the sole grievance and not He neither but his power and privacy with the Queen Regent which they thought to demolish by Arms. The Queen Regent in her answer to Conde reprocheth him that he had not imparted these things privatly to her to whom he had perpetual
were like to incur by such an exorbitant ambition being compell'd by some considerations and inspir'd by Counsel from above I resolv'd to secure the person of the said Marshall and therefore I commanded the Captain of my Guard to arrest him within my Castle the Louure which he attempting to do the said Marshall being well accompagnied offerd to oppose my said command and certain blows being given the said Marquis fell down dead c. So he tells him that he intends for the future to take the reins of Government into his own hands Wherefore he exhorts him to returne neer his Person and take his due rank in Court and Counsell And concludes that if he renders proofs answerable to the esteem he makes of his affection towards him he will be ready to acknowledge it Many Letters went abroad from the King of this tenor and they took such effect that all arms were thrown down every where and the Princes repair'd to Court Now and not before it may be said that the King began to raign by this change France chang'd her countenance old Officers were restor'd to their places Sillery was made Chancelor again Du Vair and Villeroy were restor'd with divers others and the Bishop of Lucon left the Secretariship of State and retir'd though he was offer'd to be still of the Privy Counsell if he would stay The Queen Mother shew'd her self a true Queen of her passions herein for though her favourit and foster sister were torn away from her thus yet such was her temper that she discover'd no extraordinary resentment that which she said she took ill was that the King did not impart unto her his intentions for she would willingly have concurr'd to do all things to his contentment The King appointed her the Castle of Blois to reside in and coming to take his leave of her he thanked her for the pains she had taken in Government but he resolv'd to sit now at the helme himself and if she would be a good Mother to him she should find him a good Son The Marchiones of Ancre was not executed till the Queen was gone from Paris at her arraignment she shew'd an Amazonian courage and the subtilty of her spirit put all men in admiration she denied with much disdain all kind of witchcraft and sorcery and indeed the proofs were little or none at all against her She confess'd that she had convey'd some moneys out of the Kingdom but it was either for the Kings service or for her own utility for the first it deserv'd rather a reward for the second there was no law against any stranger to do the like she acknowledg'd to have receiv'd divers favors of the Queen her Mistresse in whose service she had employ'd her whole life and to receive favors from great Princes was never held a crime till now she often dehorted her husband from some violent courses he took which made her make a separation of her estate from his fearing that some funestous accident might befall him but it being granted that she had conceal'd the defauts of her husband there was never any law that could punish much lesse condemn a wife for that In conclusion she defended herself with that caution and courage that many of the Judges were of opinion that banishment was enough for her but the quality of the times and state of things transported the Judges to extraordinary rigor Upon the Scaffold she carried herself with such a scorn of death and with that exemplary piety and patience that she mollified the hearts of all the spectators and sent hundreds away with wet eyes amongst whom were divers of those who had embrued their hands so barbarously in her husbands bloud Vitry had the Truncheon to be Marshall of France hereupon and out of the ruins of Ancre Luynes rais'd his fortunes which may be said to be three stories higher for he suddenly hois'd not only himself but his two brethren Cadenet Brand to an incredible height which made one fix upon the Louure gate this pasquil Aux trois Rois at the the three Kings some cryed out that the tyranny was not chang'd but only the tyrant That the same Tavern stood still only it had a new bush Luynes had given him the Marquisat of Ancre and all the Stable possessions of the Marshal but Du Vair a good while would not let it passe the Great Seal in regard that by an Arrest of the Court of Parliament all their Stable goods were confiscated and reunited to the Crown and he stood stiffe in this untill the King had given him the Bishoprick of Lysieux and having then fixed the Seal the French Pasquin began to tell him Et Homo factus sum a little after the King married his Favorit Luynes to the Duke of Montbazons daughter He gave the Duke twenty thousand pound sterling and made him Governor of the Isle of France the Duke of Main being translated to Guyen The King desiring to be in good intelligence with all his Subjects fell upon a new reach of Policy by the advice of his Counsell which was that in regard he had found that the Assembly of the States General brought with it more trouble then utility in regard of the discrepant humors and interests which such a number of men of various conditions Professions and Religions carried with them instead of the States General he convokes an Assembly of notables as he term'd it compos'd of some selected Persons out of every Order whereunto should be added some Counsellor out of every Court of Parliament Which being fewer in number would not breed such a confusion And this Assembly should be equipollent to that of the States General and their acts so obligatory To this end the Kings Writs were issued out the day and place appointed which was the Citie of Roven All solemnly met there in the Archbishops Hall where after the King the Chancelor made a grave Oration that his Majesties pious intentions to call them thither was to regulat and police the State and to ease the Subject The first four daies were spent in settling the ranks of the Deputies and a great clash fell twixt the Nobles and the Deputies of Parliaments whom the Nobles said they had reason to precede in regard they took them to be but Members of the third Estate but they disadvow'd that qualitie and stood to their Soverain Jurisdiction which extended over the Nobles as well as other persons nor could they be call'd the third Estate because they never us'd to meet in the Assembly of the States Generall The Nobles alledg'd the lustre of their birth the excellence of the Profession of Armes above the gown strengthning their cause with divers other arguments but the difference being left undecided the King resolv'd that the Nobles should be plac'd about the Person of the King but with this proviso that it should not prejudice the second rank they have by Fundamentall right In the convention of
Cantons of France and that he had intelligence from good hands how there was a Civill War fomenting in France by some mistrusts and divisions which were put between his Majesty his Mother and Monsieur therefore lest his Highnes might be tamper'd withall to favor the projects of the Spaniard to rid him of all scruples in this point he desir'd that Susa Avigliana or Pignerol Perousa might be put into his hands to put French Garrisons in them till these dangers were pass'd Servient the French Ambassador joyn'd with Toiras manag'd this busines so dextrously that the Duke accorded what was demanded for six moneths Hereupon the Town and Castle of Pignerol with Perousa was put into the hands of the Suiss which the French had put formerly in Susa And by the same Treaty his Majesty oblig'd himself to defend the person and states of his Highnes if need requir'd with an Army of twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse provided his Highnes should proportionably have in readines ten thousand foot and fifteen hundred horse The Duke of Feria fell into a fury when he heard of this accord and call'd heaven and earth to witnes that it was an evident infraction of the Treaty at Querasque by which the French were not to hold any place or passage into Italy within the states of the Duke of Savoy So the Duke being lowdly reproach'd thereof by the Spaniard the answer he gave was That he might dispose of his own as he pleas'd c. The six months being expir'd of holding Pignerol a motion was made to the Duke that for his own safety the security of Mantova and the French-Confederat Grisons as also for freeing his Majesty of all surmises and the better enabling him to occur all desseins and dangers his Highnes would make an absolut sale and transport unto him of the Town and Castle of Pignerol and Perousa for a valuable pecuniary consideration Toiras and Servient carried themselfs with such dextrous addresses that they induc'd the Duke to hearken to this Proposition and afterwards they drew from him an absolut consent so a Legal Instrument was made whereby an irrevocable transport and vent was made of the propriety possession and soveraignty of the Town and Castle of Pignerol Riva Bodenasco the higher Biacasco Castagrande and that which was within the confines of the said Pignerol the Village and Abbey of Valdelemia as also the Village and Fort of Perousa Pinacle Villars Les porte the great and small Diblon and their confines and other lands which are within the valley of Perousa excepting those which depend on the same valley on the left hand going from Pignerol to Pragelas beyond the River Chuson all other places shall be perpetually united to the Crown of France upon the payment of four hundred ninety four thousand crowns in good money This pourchase of Pignerol brought with it another strong engagement 'twixt the King and the Duke viz. a Ligue defensive and offensive by vertu whereof the one was to furnish twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse as formerly but the Duke was scrued up to a greater number then before being to furnish twelve thousand foot and two thousand horse upon necessitie of conjunction Our story hath sojourn'd a good while in Italy we must now crosse again the Hills to France where we find the Queen Mother and the Cardinall irreconcilable notwithstanding that the King himself labour'd much in the busines her passion went so high that she resolv'd never to sit in Counsell while the Cardinall was there This aversnes to the Cardinal was also infus'd into Monsieur who abetted his Mother and espoused her quarrell So without the Kings conge he retires to Orleans and thence to Lorain the Duke of Bellegarde then Governor of Champany attended him all the way through that Province notwithstanding that he had an intimation to the contrary from the King himself who followed Monsieur as far as Dijon but he was too swift for him and so could not be overtaken Hereupon a Declaration issued out wherein the Count of Moret Monsieurs base brother the Dukes of Elbeuf of Bellegarde and of Roanez Puylaurens President Coigneux and Monsigot and father Chanteloube were proclaym'd Traytors for infusing ill counsels into Monsieur and for accompagnying him out of the Kingdom without his Majesties consent this Declaration was sent to be verifi'd by the Court of Parlement at Paris the Court paus'd upon 't and excepting against the style and form of it delayed the verification putting the busines in deliberation yet they all blam'd and unanimously condemn'd the ill counsels and proceedings of Monsieur The King taking an indignation at this delay sent for the whole body of the Parlement to attend him at the Louure where by the mouth of the Lord Keeper they receiv'd a severe rebuke and the Clerk of the Court bringing with him the Register of the Act of deliberation upon the former Declaration was commanded to draw it off the file and in the place thereof to put the Arrest of the Privy Counsell whereby the said Act was annull'd with expresse inhibition to the said Court of Parlement to put in deliberation for the future any Declarations of that nature concerning affairs of State but to proceed instantly to the verification and registring of them The Queen Mother was now retir'd to Campeigne where the Marshall of Estree had a Garrison which she interpreted to be no other then a guard upon her thereupon the King dismiss'd the said Garrison So she privatly got away thence in Madame Frenoys Coach accompagnied only with the said Lady and one of her Chamber-women to Avenes which lies within the Territories of the King of Spain in the 17. Provinces and thence to Bruxels the Archduchesse having come to meet her on the way as far as Mons in Henault Monsieur from Lorain and the Queen Mother from Bruxells writ to the King and complain'd bitterly against the Cardinal how he would have removed her to Moulins and Anger 's where the contagion raignd and so have thrust her into the jawes of death she conjur'd him to think on the relation of Mother and Son and that she was the person most interessed in his preservation yet the Cardinal had pernicious intentions to make her die between fower walls this was the cause she left France and to journey thirty leagues without eating or drinking she goes on in declaring how conformable she was to his will in all things and how she respected his Authority in the hands of her enemies and so concluds that not being suffer'd to live in France in the calm of her own innocency the most sensible misery that could befall her was to be bereft of his presence c. Besides this Letter she sent another to the Parlement at Paris with a Remonstrance against the present Government The King returns her a harsh Answer and cleers his Cardinal in all things and publish'd a Declaration wherein he
disadvowes that she was ever prisoner but that she had liberty to choose any place throughout the whole Kingdome to live in except Champany and for more respect she should have the Government of the place and Province he declares further that her departure with his Brothers was plotted by those that are not only envious but enemies of the felicity of France therefore he prohibits and utterly forbids all his subjects of what quality or condition soever to have intelligence or correspondence with his said Mother and Brother or with any of their domestic servants or with those that are partakers of their Counsels under what pretence whatsoever Gustavus King of Sweden having by the intercession of the Ambassadors of his Majesty of Great Britain and France made his peace with the Pole strikes into Germany and like an impetuous torrent carries all before him for a time He enters into an Alliance with France and in few dayes the Treaty was concluded whereof the Articles were these that follow 1. The present Alliance which is made betwixt their Majesties is principally for the defence of all their oppressed friends and for the safety of commerce by Sea to reestablish all the Princes and Estates of the Empire in the same condition they were before the beginning of the German war and to cause all Forts and intrenchments upon the Baltic Sea to be demolish'd 2. To this effect his Majesty of Sweden doth promise to entertain and conduct upon his own charge an Army of thirty thousand foot and ten thousand horse into Germany and the King of France promiseth to contribut every yeer for the maintenance of the said Army one million of Franks two shillings sterling a peece one moity in May the other in November next following in Paris or Amsterdam and that this Alliance shall last to the first of March in the yeer 1636. 3. That if it please God to favour the armes of the King of Sweden he shall not alter or change the Catholic Apostolic Roman Religion in those places that he shall conquer but he shall permit the Inhabitants to have free exercise of their Religion according to the Treaty at Passaw and the constitutions of the Empire 4. That he shall keep himself in good friendship and neighbourhood with the Elector so he call'd him of Bavaria and with the Catholic ligue or at least in a neutrality provided they do the like 5. That no Peace or Treaty be accorded by one without the consent of the other 6. That in regard this Treaty was begun the last yeer and in the interim his Majesty of Sweden hath bin at great expence in consideration hereof his Majesty of France shall deliver the summe of three hundred thousand Franks in good Letters of exchange which ought not to be deducted out of those summes that were specified before for five yeers to come These Articles being agreed upon the King of France sent them to the Bavarian to approve of and subscribe them but the old Duke suspended his resolution many moneths and then the Swed having gain'd the great Battail of Leipsic against the Imperialists and the Catholic Ligue the affaires of Germany chang'd face Charnassé the French Ambassador came from the Swedish Army not without some complaints to Paris yet he was sent back with the Marquis of Brezé Ambassadour extraordinary to the King of Sweden to solicit still for a neutrality 'twixt his Army and that of the Catholic Ligue which was agreed upon provided that the chief of the said Ligue would separat their Forces and retire into their own Territories This declaration of neutrality being brought to the Bavarian he was willing to sign it provided that the Swed would restore what he had taken from the said Catholic Ligue since the Battail of Leipsic for after that Battail he had made a monstrous progres and penetrated the heart of Germany having now cross'd the Rhine which he had promis'd not to do without the French Kings consent and seiz'd upon the City of Metz where he now kept a Court Emperour-like The French Ambassadors proposing unto him a restitution of what he had taken from the Catholic Ligue he refus'd it whereupon there were high words pass'd twixt him and the Ambassadors so the neutrality ceas'd and turn'd to hostility afterwards and the Swed commanded all Roman Catholicks to void the Town of Mentz for fear they had intelligence with some Spanish Troups that were at Spire but that order was revok'd by the mediation of the French Ambassadors so the alliance lasted still twixt the two Kings The King of France a little after this being march'd as far as Metz with an Army for the defence of his Allies was visited there by some German Princes and the Duke of Lorain came thither in Person of purpose to see him and to scatter some clowds of diffidence and jealousies that were 'twixt the King and him so a new Treaty was agreed on wherein there were some Articles very disadvantagious to the Lorrener As first That the said Duke should depart from that time forward from all Intelligences Ligues Associations or Practices which he had or might have with any Prince or State whatsoever to the prejudice of his Majesty his Estates and Countreys under his obedience and protection as also in prejudice of the Alliance and Confederation 'twixt him and the King of Sweden and 'twixt him and the Duke of Bavaria for the conservation of the liberty of Germany and the Catholic Ligue and defence of the Princes that are allied and friends to France Secondly That the said Duke shall not treat or make any Alliance with any Prince or State whatsoever without the knowledge and consent of the said King Thirdly That he cause to retire out of his Countrey all such that are enemies to the King and that he shall give neither passe nor safe conduct to any of his subjects that have gone out of France against his pleasure Fourthly That no Military leavies be made in his Countrey against his Majesties service nor that any of his subjects serve or assist his enemies Fifthly That he shall give liberty and power to them who shall be sent from the King to seiz upon and arrest any rebellious subjects being accus'd and convinc'd of Treason These with other Articles were agreed upon in this Treaty which the King would not cōmence unles he had first deliver'd up Marsal a strong tenable place In such a posture as we told you before that Nature had plac'd the Duke of Savoy in the self same posture the quality of the soyles excepted may the Duke of Lorain be said to be being situated 'twixt mightier Potentats then himself who as once the Lion did increpat the innocent Lamb for troubling the waters may make him the subject of their displeasure and advantage at any time to devoure him But the Lorrener of the two is in a worse condition then the Savoyard being homageable to the Emperour and the King
to his youngest brother Armand whose life we write But afterwards by his meanes the Carthusian Fryer was brought to accept of the Archbishoprick of Aix in Provence then of Lions and so ascended to be Cardinal He had also two sisters Frances maried to the Baron of Pont de Curlay who had of her the Duchesse of Esguillon And Nicola his second sister was maried to the Marquis of Brezé Marshall of France and first French-Viceroy of Catalonia in Spain upon the late revolt who hath a son and a daughter by her Iohn Armand the son was Generall of the French Army in the West and employ'd Ambassador extraordinary to congratulat the new King of Portugall Clara Clemente the daughter was maried lately to the Duke of Anguiern eldest son to the Prince of Condé When his brother Alphonso had transmitted unto him the Bishoprick of Lusson he went to Rome for a Consecration and Paul the Fifth dispenc'd w th his incapacity of age for he was but 21 yeers old Some report that the Pope observing the height and activity of his spirit was overheard to say That that young Prelat would overturn the world being return'd to France from Rome and brought to kisse Henry the Fourths hands he was somewhat taken with him telling him that he was come from that place whence one day should descend upon him the greatest honor that Rome could affoord a Frenchman and afterwards he was us'd to call him his Bishop For divers yeers he applied himself altogether to the function of his Ministery and us'd to preach often in the Kings Chappell In the Assembly of the three States he was chosen Orator for the Ecclesiastiques where his pregnancy of wit first appeer'd publicly in matters of State Where upon he got footing afterward at Court and was made great Almoner Then his abilities discovering themselfs more and more he was nominated Ambassador extraordinary for Spain to accommode the differences then a foot 'twixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantova when the Princes started out in discontent and put themselfs in armes to demolish the Marshall of Ancre some Privy Counsellors were outed of their Offices at Court amongst others Monsieur Villeray had his Writ of ease for being any more Secretary of State and the Bishop of Lusson was thought the fittest man to succeed him and to receive the Seales which he did and this diverted him from his forren employment to Spain When the Marquis of Ancre was Pistol'd and his wife beheaded there was a new face of things at Court another generation of Officers grew out of the corruption of the old among others Villeroy steps in to be Secretary of State again in the room of the Bishop of Lusson yet was the King willing he should sit still at the Counsell Table and Monsieur de Vignobles brought him an intimation of the Kings pleasure to that purpose But the Queen Mother retyring from Paris to Blois he chose rather to go with his old Mistresse then stay with a young Master as the pulse of the Court did beat then By some ill offices that were done 'twixt the King and his Mother by factious spirits many jealousies were dayly fomented between them Hereupon the Bishop of Lusson had order to withdraw himself from her Court so he retir'd to his Priory of Caussay but that distance being thought not sufficient he betook himself to his Bishoprick at Lusson and that place also being suspected to be too neer he was sent to Avignon the Popes Town which might be call'd a banishment for it was out of the Dominion of France Discontents growing higher twixt the King and his Mother till at last they broak out into a War and there being Armies on both sides in motion Luynes writ a Letter to the Bishop to repaire to Angoulesme to which Letter there was a Postscript annex'd all of the Kings own hand to the same effect The Queen Mother was fled thither from the Castle of Blois and by means of the Duke of Espernon with others had considerable forces a foot Here was a brave opportunity offer'd for the Bishop to shew his head-peece in atoning matters 'twixt the Mother and the Son for which end he was inordred to repaire thither He negotiated the busines so succesfully by his dextrous addresses and flexaminous strains of eloquence that he took away the inflamation of the wound and so made it easily curable A Treaty was agreed upon and the Capitulations being drawn he brought them to the King who receiv'd him with much shew of grace and so all matters were accommoded But this accommodation did not heale quite and consolidat the wound for it had not search'd it to the bottome therefore it began to fester and more putrified matter broak out of it then formerly The Mother and the Son take up armes again and the Bishop of Lusson was one of the prime Instruments to re-compose the busines which was done at last very effectually The merit of these high services got him a Red Hat and the dignity of Cardinal though some difficulties and many delayes interven'd before the finall dispatch came from Rome Then was he chosen Provisor of the ancient Colledge of Sorbon where he procur'd of the King that a new Chair of Controversie should be erected He also repair'd and much beautified that Colledge Then upon the instance and by the advice of the Queen Mother he was elected Prime Minister of State and Director in chief under the King of all matters concerning the public Government of the Kingdome so he came to be call'd the Argos of France The first great action that was performed by his guidance when he was clim'd to this Plenipotentiary power was the Mariage with England the Marquis of Vieu ville had been employ'd in this great busines but the Cardinal got some of the Capitulations better'd and more to the advantage of France alledging that it was not fit his Master being the Eldest Son of the Church should have conditions inferiour to those of Spain With this Match with England there was an alliance also made about the same time with Holland for a summe of Money These were the two first Coups d' estat stroaks of State that he made and it was done with this forecast that France might be the better enabled to suppres them of the Religion which the Cardinal found to be the greatest weaknes of that Kingdom Some of them being Pensioners to other Princes to embroyle France upon all occasions He found then that the House of Austria had got some advantage and encrease of power by certain holds it had seiz'd upon in the Valtolin He adviseth his King to ligue with the Venetian and the Savoyard which he did and so spoil'd the design of the Spaniard that way The King being told that upon the beheading of the Count of Chalais and the imprisonment of the Marquis of Ornano about Monsieurs Mariage his Cardinal had thereby got divers enemies he appointed him a band
for them yet they deserve to have Laurels upon their heads and Palmes of victory in their hands to all posterity Crescet occulto velut Arbor aevo Nomen Armandi Ludovicus ingens Stella fulgebit velut inter Ignes Luna minores FINIS An Alphabeticall Table of such matters that are the principall Ingredients of this Story A ANne of Austria affianc'd to Lewis the Thirteenth of France 13 Her dowry 13 Her joynture 14 Her Letter to the King of France 31 Made Regent of France 135 Anagrams on Henry the Great 5 Analogy 'twixt the Dauphin of France and the Duke of Cornwall 2 Advantage of a little well compacted body over a great 151 M. of Ancre's entrance into favour 16 He is slain by Vitry 37 Sentenc'd after death 38 His body untomb'd dragg'd up and down hang'd hack'd to peeces and burnt 38 A censure of him 38 Antipathy 'twixt the Spaniard and French 32 Five French Ambassadors in Italy in one yeer 34 Assembly of the three Estates meet at the Kings majority 23 Assembly of Notables first convok'd 40 All the Alliances that have pass'd 'twixt England and France 67 The D. of Angoulesme before Rochell and his stratagem to deceive the English 8 Marq Ambrosio Spinola's exploits in Italy a clash 'twixt him and Olivares 92 Governor of Milan and besiegeth Casal 93 His Epitaph 95 Archduchesse Isabella dieth at Brussels 106 Articles upon the mariage 'twixt England and France 64 Articles 'twixt the Swed and the French 99 Articles t'wixt the French and the Hollander upon the breach with Spain 109 Clandestine articles twixt the Duke of Rohan and the Spaniard 87 Articles 'twixt the French King and Charles Duke of Lorain 101 Articles 'twixt the King of France and Monsieur his brother 104 Articles 'twixt the French and Catalans 128 The Authours caution to the Reader 6 Armes how ill they become Church-men in the Proem B Bassompierre Ambassador in England 76 Battaile of Norlinghen 108 Bernard Weymar takes Rhinfeild 118 Brisac 125 His Epitaph 126 Becanus book De potestate Regis et Papae condemn'd at Rome 16 Birth and baptisme of Lewis the Thirteenth 1 Birth of the now Duke of Anjou 133 Blasphemous praises of the Cardinal of Richelieu in the Proem Duke of Bovillon invites the Pr of Condé to arme by a notable speech 17 M. de Bois Dauphin General for the King 29 Breda repris'd by the Hollander 116 Breme taken by the Spaniard 119 Duke of Buckingham sent to France to demand and conduct her now Majesty to England 67 The Duke of Buckinghams Manifesto after he had invaded France 77 The causes of the breach 80 The manner of his landing 82 His Letter to Toiras and the answer he receivd 83 His infortunat retreat prisoners taken and releas'd for her Majesties sake 84 The Duke of Buckinghams omissions in the Isle of Ré the causer of them 84 C Cardinals made Generalls 183 Catalonia falls from the Spaniard and the causes why 128 Pr Casimir taken prisoner in France 128 Character of Henry the Great 5 The Chamber of Accounts refuse to verifie the Kings Letter 29 Cadenet Ambassadour in England 56 The Chymericall Ambassadors 169 Christina the second daughter of Henry the Great maried to the Prince of Piemont her portion 42 The D. of Cheureux marieth the Lady Henrietta Maria to the King of England 66 Clergy men most dangerous if misapplied 128 A Clash 'twixt the Duke and the Parlement of Paris 27 A Clash 'twixt the Counsel of State and the Parlement with the Parlements submission 28 Condé and his Adhaerents proclaym'd Traytors 29 His clandestine consults in Paris apprehended in the Louure 35 Prince of Condé distasts the match with Spain 14 Puts himself in Arms to hinder the Queens entrance 28 A great Contention 'twixt the Church men in Paris 11 Contentions in the Generall Assembly of the three Estates 23 The Close and funerall of it 26 Cotton the Iesuit vindicats his Society 9 Count of Auvergne eleven yeers prisoner in the Bastile 37 Count of Chalais beheaded 74 D. of Crequies splendid Ambassage to Rome 106 Kil'd before Breme 119 His Epitaph 120 D Dauphin whence deriv'd 2 The Dauphin now king born 124 Decree of the Colledge of Sorbon against Francis Cupif 117 A Declaration sent to Rochell wherein the English are branded 79 Difference 'twixt the Germans and French at Brisac 127 Difference 'twixt Conde and Soissons about the Napkin 46 Difference 'twixt forren Princes and the Kings base sons 91 Disadvantagious to live 'twixt two potent neighbours exemplified in the Dukes of Savoy and Lorain 93. 101 Dismission of the French from the Queen of Englands service 75 The reasons why 76 Divers odd desseins fear'd in France 73 Distinction 'twixt liberty and priviledge 24 Dionysius his flatterers in the Proem A Discourse upon judiciary Astrology 15 Prince Doria taken prisoner by the French 94 Duke of Mains stately Ambassy to Spain about an alliance 13 Duke of Pastrana in France 14 E How Edward the Confessor us'd an Astrologer 15 Ecclesiasticus a scandalous book writ by Schioppius 16 Divers Errours of the French Chroniclers reflecting upon England 76 Duke of Espernon questions the Rochellers 38 He clasheth with the Court of Parlement 26 A pleasant passage 'twixt him and the Archbishop of Bourdeaux 123 He traceth the Queen Mothers escape out of Blois 43 He is outed of his Government and dieth a little after 123 Emanuel Duke of Savoy his exploits in Italy 71 He highly complains of the King of France whence arise some traverses 'twixt him and Monsieur Bullion the French Ambassador 72 His death prophecied 94 Epitaph upon Marshall Crequy 120 Epitaph upon Marq. Spinola 95 Epitaph upon Saxen Weymar 126 Epitaphs upon Cardinal de Richelieu 178 An Ethiopian Prince Zaga Christos arriv'd in Paris 120 Edicts against duels blasphemy 22 F Master Fairfax put to the torture before Montauban 58 The Falshood of some French Annalists in divers things and their stupidity in relating names 76 The Duke of Fereaincens'd against the Duke of Savoy 97 A fearfull unknown Fire in the Palace of Paris 42 Another when the two bridges were burnt 57 Ferrier a reformed Minister turnd Roman Catholic 14 Five French armies in motion in one sommer 111 Florimond de Puy a Reformed Gentleman beheaded for treason 11 Fontarabia besieg'd by the French 122 Don Fernando the King of Spains youngest brother dieth at Brussells 131 A strange libell touching him and his brother Don Carlos 132. The French soon weary of peace 3 French beaten before Theonville 126 G Master George Digby cutts Scioppius on the face for defaming King James 16 Don Gonsalez de Cordova refuseth the King of France his present 103 Gasper Galilei Galileo racants his opinion in Rome for holding the Sun to rest and the earth to move 107 His punishment ibid. Galigay the Marchiones of Ancre's death and Roman stoutnesse 20 Grievances discover'd and not redres'd do the body politic harm 27 D. of Guyse marieth the
of the late wars The French Chroniclers relate that his chiefest arrand was to propound a Match between the Prince of Wales now King of England and the Lady Christina second daughter to Henry the Great but they are much mistaken for the said Ambassador might happily have instructions to look upon and view the said Lady but for any overture of mariage much lesse any proposition there was none the intents of England ayming then more southward and there was matter enough for an Ambassador extraordinary besides at that time The King the two Queens and the whole Court being now settled at Paris the discontented Princes repair'd also thither but Conde being newly recovered of a dangerous sicknes which some took as a judgement upon him lagg'd behind and excus'd his coming till all the Articles of the late Treaty were perform'd whereunto the King may be said to be no lesse then compell'd being among other ties forc'd to revoke part of the solemn Oth he took at his Coronation that therby they of the Religion might rest contented At last Conde came and was entred into a perfect redintegration of grace and favor at Court with the rest of his Confederats So after such turbid times there was an intervall of faire weather but the Ayer was suddenly ore ' cast again with clowds and the chief Meteor whence they sprung was the power and privacy of the Marshall of Ancre at Court The Queen Mother had advice of certain clandestine meetings and secret consultations held to alter the Government and to demolish Ancre hereupon Themines who receiv'd the Truncheon to be Marshall the same day apprehended the Prince of Conde in the Louure and carried him thence to prison the report hereof startled divers others and old Bovillon being then at a Sermon in Charenton durst not come back to look upon the Bastile so he with the Dukes of Mayn Nevers Guyse and divers other retir'd and arm'd under pretence of reforming of abuses in the State and for the public good Poore France how often hath privat interest of some aspiring spirits bin term'd in thee by the specious name of Public good How often have thy discontented Grandees ground the faces of thy innocent peasants How often hast thou turn'd the sword into thine own bowels and swomm in the blood of thine own children How often have thy Towns bin turn'd to Hospitals thy fields to desarts under the gilded pretext of Reformation The arrest of Conde alarm'd all France and a politic rumour was spread in Paris that the Marshall of Ancre had murther'd him in the Louure though he was then at Amiens 100. miles off This made the Beast with many heads run furiously to his House in the suburbs of Saint German which they sack'd and plunder'd most pitifully they unplank'd his roomes grub'd up his trees and committed divers barbarismes besides The King caus'd a Declaration to be publish'd full of vigorous expressions tending to this purpose Lewis by the grace of God King of France and Navarr to all who shall see these present Letters greeting It is with incredible regret which pierceth Our very heart that We must so often employ Our Authority to represse the mischievous desseins of them who seek the raising of their fortunes in the ruines of Our Estates and in the prodigious cruelty of civill wars take an unbridled libertie to doe what law and reason forbids And We are the more sensible hereof because the remedies We must use for the safety of our Person and the welfare of this Kingdom must diffame our own blood and render it culpable of impiety both against Us who are in place of a Father to our subjects as also against their own Countrey which is reverenc'd as a Mother by all people though never so barbarous So he goes on to relate the Treaty at Lodun and the last Pacification which had cost him twenty millions of Liures and what grace he had done to Conde and his Complices Yet the exces of Our grace and favor hath not bin able to represse the disordinat wills of them who find no rest but in trouble and ground their hopes upon Our destruction for before and after the return of Our Cousin the Prince of Conde to Paris there have bin Nocturnall Assemblies held in Saint Martin and other places with consultations to debauch and abuse the people and undermine those who have Martiall Offices under us and to excite them to commotion Curats and Preachers have bin tampered withall to vent scandalous Doctrin and meanes were consulted on to seize upon Our Royall Person and our most honored Mother and to Cantonize France under the specious vayle of reforming the State All which hath bin told us by some of the best of Our subjects who were present at some of their consultations and close meetings And We were also advis'd by forren Ambassadors to have a care of our self c. This was the substance of the Kings Declaration but all would not do to contain the Princes within the bounds of obedience many of them had retir'd to Picardy and seiz'd upon divers places which they fortified apace A little after the Prince of Conde was clap'd up the Duke of Vendosm was seiz'd on but he scap'd by a wile The Chancelor and Secretaries of State with other Officers were chang'd And in this hurly burly the young Bishop of Lucon afterwards Cardinal of Richelieu having bin design'd for Ambassador to Spain was made principall Secretary of State The Marshal of Ancre notwithstanding that he had understood how he was hated in Paris and that his House was so plunder'd in a popular furie yet was he nothing daunted but comes boldly to Court and presently three Armies were rais'd and appointed to represse the Mutiners One under the Duke of Guyse who was charm'd to come in by the Queen Mother The second under Marshall Montigny and the third under the Count of Auvergne who was freed from his 11. yeers close imprisonment in the Bastile for that purpose and had already besieg'd the Duke of Mayne at Soissons and much straitned him While this huge storme was dropping pitifully upon poor France there were secret consultations held by some in the Louure how to hurle Him into the Sea who was the cause of the tempest which was cryed up to be the foresaid Ancre He knew too well how he was malign'd in Court and Countrey and the young Kings affection towards him began now to brandle and all this was by the suggestions of Luynes who was one of the greatest Confidentst the King had having bin his servant from his childhood and was vers'd in his genius more then any Ancre had practis'd to remove him from the Kings Person with some others whom he suspected to do him ill offices Besides this fewd 'twixt the King and Princes there was another petty war then a foot betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Rochellers the ground whereof was that they would not
in his Palace at Theobalds A little before he broak out into a very passionate Speech to his Lords of the Counsel of the King of France saying My Lords the King of France hath writ unto me that he is so far my friend that if ever I have need of him he will render me Offices in Person whensoever I shall desire him Truly he hath gain'd upon me more then any of his Predecessors and he may beleeve me that in any thing that shall concern him I will employ not only my peoples lifes but mine own and whosoever of his subjects shall rise against him either Catholiks or others shall find me a party for him 'T is true if he be provok'd to infringe his Edicts I shall impart as much as in me lies by counsell and advice to prevent the inconveniences Then falling upon the perfections of Madame Henriette Marie he said pleasantly When she is come over I will denounce war against her because she would not read my Letter nor my sons as I understand before she had first receiv'd command from the Queen her Mother yet I have cause to thank her because that after she had perus'd them she put mine in her cushionet and the other in her bosome intimating thereby that she would rely upon me for counsell and lodg my son in her heart King Iame's death retarded a while the proceedings of the Match for things were at a stand till his Exequies were pass'd which were perform'd with a Magnificence sutable to so great a King This Ceremony being ended a procuration was sent the Duke of Cheureuse from his Majesty of Great Britain to be contracted unto the Lady Henriette and then to marry her in his name which was done with extraordinary celebrity the one in the Louure the last in the great Church of Paris by the ministery of the Cardinall Rochefaucaud a little before there was a clash twixt him and the Bishop of Paris who urg'd it was his right to officiat in his own Church but the Cardinal being a Prince of the Church Universall being also gran Almoner which makes him chief Clark of the Court and Cardinal Richelieu who had now the greatest stroak in the State favoring his own habit and the Hat more then the Mitre the Cardinal carried the day This solemnity was perform'd to the very height of greatnes and splendor and such was the bravery of the English Ambassadors the Earls of Carlile and Holland that they seem'd to outshine the French that day in their own Sphere One half of the dowry had bin delivered before upon the Contract which was in all as was said before eight hundred thousand crowns and it was more then the eldest Sister had by two hundred thousand crowns and double as much as the second had the one having but six hundred thousand the other but foure hundred thousand crowns to their portions The Contract and Mariage being thus finish'd the Duke of Buckingham came a fortnight after with admired gallantry to demand the Queen of Great Britain for the King his Master and to attend and conduct her over to England The Queen Mother accompagnied her as far as Amiens Monsieur her Brother to Bullen whence a Fleet of twenty Galeons Royall transported her to Dover This was the eighth Nuptiall conjunction of the Rose and Flowerdeluce that hath happend 'twixt England and France The first was in the yeer 900. 'twixt Charles the First of France and the Lady Ogine daughter to Edward the old King of England 120. yeers before the Norman conquest The second twixt Henry the Third of England and Margaret daughter to Lewis the Seventh of France The third was between Edward the First of England and the Lady Margaret daughter to Philip the Hardy of France The fourth 'twixt Edward the Second of England and Isabel daughter to Philip the Faire The fifth was 'twixt Richard the Second of England and Elizabeth daughter to Charles the Sixth The sixth 'twixt Henry the Fifth of England and Catherin daughter also to Charles the Sixth of France The seventh was 'twixt Lewis the twelfth of France and Mary daughter to Henry the Seventh of England The eighth was this 'twixt Charles Stuard Prince of Wales and Henriette Marie of Bourbon youngest daughter to Henry the Great so in these eight Matches England hath had six daughters of France and France two of Englands As soon as this great Nuptiall pompe was pass'd there came tydings that Soubize upon a new discontent of them of the Religion had a great Fleet of ships at Sea and surpriz'd the Port of Blauet in Britany which is a faire and large Haven deposited to the Spaniard in time of the Ligue and restored to Henry the Great at the peace at Vervins Soubize enterd the Haven with eleven Sayle of men of War and took and carried away six great ships whereof some belong'd to the Duke of Nevers This rendred them of the Religion powerfull at Sea and because their Ships might have choise of harbors they seiz'd upon the Islands of Re and Oleron where they began to fortifie Soubize sayles up the Garond towards Bourdeaux with a Fleet of seventy sayles of all sort which made him Master of the Sea and landing a considerable number of land forces at the land of Medoc they of Bourdeaux joyning with Toiras sent him a shipboard again with losse and so he return'd to Rochell A little after he sets out to Sea again and takes divers prises extremely interrupting all traffic on those Coasts Hereupon the King sent to the Hollander to hyre twenty Sayle of men of War according to the late Treaty which were accordingly sent him under Admirall Hauthain These joyning with another Fleet of the Duke of Monmorency made a considerable naval power Monmorency was very eagar to set upon Soubize and the Rochell Fleet but he found the Hollanders bacward and cold being charm'd by Letters and a Remonstance annexed unto it sent to Hauthain by two French Ministers and two Dutch Merchants from Rochell wherein they made piteous complaint that the King had performed little or nothing at all of the Treaty before Montpellier and that the utter ruine of the whole body of the Religion which was the same with that of Holland was intended therefore they did efflagitat and conjure the said Admiral Hauthain to lay his hand on his heart and conscience and not to contribute to so damnable a dessein This Remonstrance wrought much upon Hauthain and Dorp his Vice-Admiral in so much that he publiquely declar'd unto the Duke of Monmorency that he had Commission in expresse termes from his Masters the States to reduce Monsieur Soubize to his duty either by reason or force that he understood how he was ready to conforme himself to the first and to that effect he and his Brother the Duke of Rohan with other Towns of their party had Deputies employed to the King to desire Peace which was in a good forwardnes
of France holding Lorain in fee of the one and the Duchy of Bar of the other While the Treaty at Vic 'twixt the King and the Duke of Lorain was in agitation the Marshall de la Force and Schomberg took Moyenvic whence they marchd before the Town of Tryers the protection of whose Archbishop the King had undertaken he being amongst the seven Electors Lord High Chancelor of France as he of Collen is of Italy and he of Mentz of Germany Tryers in a short time fell to parley and so rendred herself upon honorable termes In this yeer there came an Ambassador from the Emperour of Morocco to the Court of France who afterwards went to his Majesty of Great Britain taking France first in his way as she stood he brought a Letter in Arabic to this effect God is Our confidence These Letters of the most mighty Emperour who being assisted by Divine grace and favor is alwayes happy swelling with victory whose most illustrious Court is full of grandeurs and prosperity are sent to the most Noble the most High and most excellent Dignity whose Realm within the bounds of Christendom hath the most illustrious name and ranke To the Dignity I say of the most eminent the most noble the most happy and the most renowned Emperour the King of France and Navar the Emperour Lewis son to mighty magnificent famous and magnanimous Emperours Having wish'd glory to God the soverain Master of all Glory and Majesty whose Empire hath no need of any Counsellor or the assistance of any Prince whose prayses cannot be expressed by any tongue though never so eloquent Having rendred the honours which are due to our Lord Mahomet most eminent in dignity most rich in treasure preserver of men in the tempestuous day of judgement we desire of God that the people made famous by this Prophet be acceptable unto him that he please to maintain them ever in his particular protection and that all they who love him persist to the end in the exercise of good and laudable actions And we make particular prayers for the prosperitie of his most high imperial prophetic and most eminent throne assisted always by God and wherein by the meanes of his invincible force the elect people and all his subjects are exalted his memory and steps remaining to eternity This Letter of our high Majesty hath bin written from the throne of our Empire of Maroc which God by his grace and goodnes and by the benediction of his Apostle conserve who doth not subsist but by the continuall assistance of God whose providence never ceasing to assist him serves incomparably more to his defence then any other of all the Armies of the world for which we render infinit thanks to his Divine Majesty to whom is the sole power strength and might c. The Superscription was To the most renowned and magnificent dwelling within all the bounds of Christendom the most eminent Palace The Palace of the most Honorable the most Noble the most Mighty Emperour the King of France and Navar the Emperour Lewis This Mahumetan Ambassador came from Muley King of Morocco in Barbary for the redemption of certain slaves that were in Marseilles Gallies which he obtain'd and in exchange all the French that were Captifs in Saly and other places belonging to Morocco were releas'd besides it was agreed that the King of France might nominat Consuls in those Towns of commerce which were under his Dominion who should have power to determin any controversie that might intervene between the subjects of France there traffiquing Such a bombardicall Letter he brought also accompagnied with presents to the King of Great Britain who sent an English Fleet in his favor against the Pyrats and Rebell Saint of Saly who did him much service for reducing the Town to his obedience Don Gonzales de Cordova passing through France to Flanders came to kisse the Kings hands who sent him a rich sword valued at four thousand crowns inlay'd with Diamonds which he refus'd and Monsieur Guron conducted him to Cambray he refus'd also the present that Gonzales would have given him saying That he disdain'd any present from him who refus'd the bounty of his King The Duke of Lorain receives Monsieur again into his Countrey notwithstanding the former Treaty and leavies forces for him to enter France the King being extremely incens'd thereat marcheth suddenly towards Lorain and employes the forces that was design'd for Germany that way with whom he joyn'd in person and took divers places in Lorain The Duke finding himself unable to resist and being in despair of any forces from Flanders the Spaniard being then busie at Mastric he had recourse to a Treaty which the King yeelded unto The Treaty was to be held at Liverdun where the Cardinal met the Deputies of the Duke Most of the Articles of the Treaty at Vic were confirm'd and the Duke was oblig'd besides to deliver unto him Iamets and Stenay for hostage and to make an absolut sale unto him of the County of Clermont for a pecuniary sum thus the busines was quickly concluded and the Cardinal of Lorain was to remain for pledge till the Capitulations were perform'd The Duke of Lorain being thus surpriz'd was made unable to assist Monsieur as he expected nor could he have any supplies from Flanders because of the siege at Maestrict yet he enters France with eighteen hundred horse most of them strangers as Liegeois and Crabats He publish'd a Manifesto to justifie his taking of Arms Charging Richelieu with the usurpation and dissipation of France and that he had no other intent but to let his Majesty know how much he was deceived and so exhorted all good Frenchmen to assist him in his laudable desseins The King caus'd a counter-Manifesto to be proclaimed declaring them Traytors in the highest degree that should adhere to Monsieur yet if he would lay down his Arms and submit himself within the compas of forty dayes after the publication of the said Manifesto he would forget all faults pass'd and Monsieur should find such welcome that he should have cause to extoll the Kings goodnes and detest the pernicious counsels that had bin given him The King doubting that words would little prevail without the sword dispatch'd Marshall de la Force with ten thousand foot and twelve hundred horse to Languedoc because he understood that Monsieur would draw in Monmorency to joyn him which he did with foure Bishops more the Duke of Monmorency then Governor of Languedoc summons the States together wherein he declar'd himself for Monsieur and never to separat from his interests till the Government was reform'd The King hearing of Monmorencies revolt was extreamly incens'd and the more because he had sent him extraordinary Commission and money besides to raise Troups for his service wherewith he was now ready to bandy against him therupon he commanded his House in Paris to be seiz'd on and all his goods inventoriz'd amongst which there were
himself He calls him the gran Director and most puissant Genius of France the perfectest of men which doth penetrat things to come and is ignorant of nothing great and incomparable Cardinal the most eminent among mortals to whom the crabbedst and most mysterious affairs of State are but pastimes Visible God and tutelar Angel of the Univers a spirit that moves the Heavens and the stars the blisse of the world the supreme intelligence the Phoenix of the earth who never had nor ever shall have his parallell These strange evaporations and high strains of profanenes shew plainly as I said before that the Office of the Inquisition hath no stroak in France as in Italy Spain and elswhere it hath to curb the extravagancies of mens brains As there were a number of such Sycophants amongst the Wits of France that Idoliz'd him in that maner so there wanted not others that threw dirt in his face by Pasquils and Libells one drop'd this Satyre in Rome which flew thence to the streets of Paris Papa noster in Urbanus Réxque parum Christianus Cardinalis Infernalis Capucinus coaequalis Replent mundum tot is malis Urban our Pope not much urbane The King not too much Christian With the Infernal Cardinall And Capuchin his Coaequall The world do fill With thousand ills Another comes little short of this by calling the Capuchin the Cardinal and the Devil the three degrees of comparison In the yeer 1640. there were extraordinary Revellings and Triumphs in Paris and there were divers Masques and Balls in the Carninals Palace And one morning there was found nayl'd upon the gate this libell Tandis qu'en dance au Palais Cardinal La mere de trois Rois vá a l' hospital While people dance 'i th Palace Cardinal The mother of three Kings goes to the Hospital Amongst other peeces of Invention which were publish'd of him there was one call'd the Chymerical Ambassador which in regard 't is a new way of fancy compos'd by a Person of quality and very facetious I will insert here The Author makes him to employ Ambassadors extraordinary not onely to Christian Princes but other Pagan Potentates to enter into a Confederacy with them as followeth Master Iohn Sirmond shall take the qualitie of the Duke of Sabin and of the Marquis of Cleonville he shall clap a sword at his side and take for his train five or six of the Gazetic Academy which we have made hardy lyers Above all things they shall be instructed in the prayses of my Lord the Cardinal Duke and to that effect they shall cun by heart all the Poems Epigrams Acrostiques Anagrams Sonnets and other peeces made by the Latin and French Poets of the Times which they shall disperse up and down gratis as they passe but for fear that this Merchandize be not forestall'd and this false money cryed down we command the said Ambassador to depart as soon as possibly he can because our affairs do presse us we may chance take our measures short in regard Duke Charles terming himself Duke of Lorain is nimble because of the nourture he hath had in France and the Germans being now tyr'd with the troubles we have brought in amongst them may end the war the Spaniard also resents our injuries more then ever and those Devils the Crabats advance towards our Frontiers The Ambassador shall speak neither good nor ill of the King because his Majesty knowing nothing of this Ambassy may chance disadvow it He shall accommode himself to the beleef of all Princes Republiques and people and shall make semblance to be of the Religion or Sect of them with whom he is to treat He shall extoll the prayses of the most eminent among mortals he shall call him a visible God the tutelar Angel of the Univers the Spirit that moves the heavens and stars the happines of the world the supreme intelligence the Phoenix of the earth who never had nor is like to have his equall c. If he find that it be taken ill that we have injur'd all the Princes of Christendom he shall study some reasons to make them digest all If he find perhaps that any books have been printed in Flanders against my Lord the Cardinal he shall avouch that they are abominable and to be burnt by the hangman if he speak with any that detest Magic he shall assure them that these books are full of such stuff If he find that Champagnie trembles and that there is a dessein to shake off the yoak in Lorain and Alsatia he shall swear and all his followers besides that my Lord the Cardinal hath rais'd 150000. foot 20000. horse 10000. pioners and so many cariage horses 300. Canons with a proportionable number of bullets 100. millions in gold to give the law to all Europe That besides landforces he hath 500. Galeons of war at Sea laden with 50000. men more and that there is bisket beverage fresh water which cannot corrupt to nourish them for ten yeers That there are engins which will reduce instantly to ashes any Town that resists that there be Vessels that can sayle between two waters and that can go under other ships to blow them up into the Air or sink them That he hath found out Archimedes his griping irons whose vertue is to grapple a ship a thousand paces off In fine my Lord the Ambassador shall omit nothing that may give security to Champagnie and strike a terror into Lorain and he shall cary the busines so that the same arguments may serve to raise fear and hopes He shall passe as speedily as he can by Strasburg Frankfort Nuremberg and other Imperiall Towns which have not so much knowledge of the artifice of my Lord the Cardinal Duke and if he thinks fitting he shall conceale his quality and disadvow his Countrey he may say he is an Englishman to which effect he shall make use of his Latin and counterfeit as well as he can the English accent If he is bound to enter into the states of the Duke of Saxe and of the Marquis of Brandenburg he shall passe as speedily as possibly he can because those wretches have half spoild our mystery in making their own peace then when we thought to have made them perish with us and since they would not do so they have rendred themselfs unworthy of the good grace of the most eminent amongst mortals and let them be assured that the Spirit which moves the stars will cast ill influences upon them Then shall he passe to Poland to find the King whom he shall salute in the name of the most eminent among mortals he shall assure him of his friendship and swear unto him that he will hold good correspondence with him provided that he enter in person with his forces into Hungary and Germany to make war against his Uncle It is here that my Lord Ambassador shall display all his eloquence to shew that to gain further security and further encrease of power
to be nail'd to the Turks Ambassadours heads which drive their Embassie out of their braines He shall tell the gran Cham that the most eminent among mortals is desirous to keep good quarter and correspondence with him and so shall present unto him his Credentiall Letters and that 't is fitting his great Tartarian greatnes should do some gallant thing the Field being now open for him in regard of the Cowardise of the Transylvanian and the affairs of Poland with the Swed and of the troubles 'twixt the Emperour and some of his Vassals in so much that 't is easie to invade the estates of these three Princes as also to restrain the Turk whom we have a long time engag'd in armes against the Christians If the gran Cham who is a Christian though of the Greek Church doth imagin that by this last article we are enemies to Iesus Christ the Duke of Sabin must endevour to perswade him that Religion is but the Republiques servant and 't will be expedient to translate for him a book entituled the Catholic of State compos'd by Monsieur Ferrier if he beleeve it not then the Ambassadour shall labour to gain by promise of vast sums the Governors of the twelve Provinces who are the principall Counsellors and represent unto them that they are within a Countrey too subject to thunder snows and sudden changes in so much that oft times one shall feel the foure seasons of the yeer in one only day whereas in Hungary and Austria there is for the most part a pleasant temperature and that excellent Wines grow there In regard that the most eminent among mortals hath a curious spirit and that he desires all the rarities of the world to embellish his House Gardens and courts the Ambassador shall procure from some Garden in Tartary the Plant Boraneth which is like a sheep and eates round about him all the hearbs and grasse so that there may be no need of a Gardner to make clean the circle of his Courts And that would serve for an excellent Emblem to shew what his Eminence hath done to all his neighbours in Richelieu Paris and other places He is also desirous to find out all the strange Birds and animals that can be had being resolv'd to make a faire lower court in the Horse Market which he hath clos'd within Paris together with the Suburbs of Saint Honoré which hath cost the public at least a million of gold The Ambassador shall also cause a good number of those Tartarian Hens to be bought which in lieu of feathers are cover'd with black skins and lay certain egges which are purgatif whereof his Eminence hath much need to mitigate his heat and clense the ordures of his blood When the Lord Ambassadour shall have taken order for all these rarities he shall embarque himself for Cambalu to go for China he shall stay a while to observe the stupendous wall that is twixt Her and Tartary he shall take all the dimensions of the wall very exactly and send a survey thereof to his Eminence that if need be he may raise such another in his Kingdom of Austrasia and that having already in his hands all the Ports and Havens of France he may also erect such a wall from Calais to Bayon and because he may want no workmen he hath a purpose to employ all those that shall be found to speak ill of him to finish the work Then the Lord Ambassadour shall embark himself upon the great Chanel that goes to Peguin the chief City of China and so shall send notice of his arrivall to the Emperour In his audience he shall entitle him Son to Apollo a Lion crown'd in the throne of the world and King of thirty two Realmes He shall say that of that people whom they call Caffres or Spaniards attempting to ravish him of these faire Titles and having the Lion in his Scutcheon the most eminent among mortals not enduring that this wrong should be done his Majesty sends to offer him his power and to propose him a way how to be reveng'd upon the Caffres in the East and West Indies specially to take from them their Mines of gold and sylver Having visited all the Kings of the East my Lord Ambassadour shall return by the road which Alexander the Great took to enter into the Indies And in regard the most eminent among mortals is very curious in moveables and other exquisit things for the adornment of his Houses my Lord Ambassadour shall procure what may be possibly had for that service He must try whether in the ancient Town of Tazila there be left any old peeces of Porus made by Zeuxis Apelles Polignot or Euphranor He shall endevour also to bring some of those savage Asses that are neer the River Hyphasis which have a horn in the forehead that his Eminence may make his entry upon one of them into his Kingdom of Austrasia and then put her to breed in his stables at Mirebalais He shall also endevour to enchant by Scarlet colour and letters of gold certain Dragons which are in that Countrey and to that effect he shall cary that robe of red Sattin embroder'd with gold which the Cardinal of Lion wore then when he beleeved himself to be God the Father If we had a dozen of those Dragons we might draw a great advantage for the security of his Eminencies Person because they say that in their heads there be certain stones found like that which made Gyges invisible The Lord Ambassadour shall inform himself also at Paruca if the Inhabitants do yet understand the Language of Beasts which would be advantagious to his Eminence because he daily hears multitudes whom he hath transform'd to simple animals My Lord Ambassadour shall be carefull to informe himself of the Indian Brachmans and know whether they are such great Magicians as they are reported to be If they are so he shall confer with them and learn of them which way to turn those strong places his Eminence holds into inchanted Castles if he be constrain'd to retire to any of them To this purpose he shall learn what were the enchantments of those Philosophers who overcame the Egipeans when they assaulted them and made them leave behind them up and down the Rocks the pourtrait of their ill-favour'd faces ugly beards and double nayles If the Lord Ambassadour finds that he cannot do our busines with these kind of Philosophers because they are too austere peaceful he shall find out another Sect call'd the Oxidraques who are Philosophers which use to discompose the humours of men and make them rush out every where into war such are most fit for our purpose If my Lord Ambassadour cannot dive into their mysteries he must deboush one of them and promise to make him compagnon of the Reverend Father Ioseph who is already vers'd in some of the Maximes of this goodly Society and useth to sow war every moneth that he may gather something all the yeer
of Soldiers for his guard After this he was made Super-Intendent Generall of the Marine a new Office and such that there was never any of the like latitud of power erected in France for thereby he had authority to supervise not onely all the Sea Ports and shipping of in both the Seas but to do any thing that might cōduce to the regulating and advance of Trade so he fell presently to work and fortified Haure de grace Brouage the Isle of Ré Oleron Verdun with divers other Afterwards happen'd the Siege of Rochell where in the Kings absence he was made General a while and that famous Sea Dike was ascrib'd to his invention in chief after fifteen moneths siege the town was reduc'd having bin driven to the utmost extremities of want as to eat nefandous meats the leather of Coches which serv'd before for Instuments of pride did now preserve them from starving at last they petition'd the Cardinal to be their Intercessor to his Majestie for them who got them more favourable conditions then was expected The King went thence to Italy with the same Army for the most part and having cross'd the Alps he took the passe of Susa and rais'd the siege of Casal only with the fame of his Person and Armes and so reliev'd the Duke of Mantova having had besides some dispute with the Duke of Savoy about his passage he left the Cardinal behind to see all things settled Who returning afterwards to France found the King in Languedock having debell'd almost the whole body of them of the Religion but the Plague being hot in that Province he went to Paris and left his Cardinal to perfect the work which he did at Mountauban which was the last Town that was surrendred and so may be said to have bin the key of the whole work Being return'd to Paris there came news that the Duke of Savoy abetted by Imperial and Catholic armes poursued still his interests against the Duke of Mantova In prejudice as was pretended of the late Articles 'twixt him and France The Cardinal was appointed Generalissimo of two Armies wherewith he travers'd the Alps again took the Town and Castle of Pignerol and returning to Lion to give account of his service he found the King sick and powerfull enemies at Court but especially he found the Queen Mother averse to him He perceiv'd the faction so strong against him that he fell on his knees before the King desiring that he would please to dispense with his attendance any more at Court and that he might be permitted to retire to his devotions and the functions of his Ministery the King being now indifferently wel recover'd went to visit him the next day and absolutly denied him leave to depart the Court saying There was no reason he should forsake them who loved him to humor the caprichios of those that did not love him The Kings Army which he had left in Italy under Schomberg was at this time at an extreme low ebb and upon point of mutining if not disbanding for want of pay and there was scarce one thousand pound then in the Kings Coffers yet notwithstanding the branling hazardous stand he was at by reason of the Kings sicknes and the potent combination which was a foot and banded so eagerly against him he of his own store sent two hundred thousand Franks to keep life in the Army and this was before the Kings recovery or assurance of the continuation of his favor He was afterwards made General of the Order of the Abbots of Premonstré and he had also the attribut of Eminence given him which was solemnly confirmed by Rome to distinguish and peculiarize him from other Cardinals and Princes of the Church nor would he receive any Letters or speak with any Ambassadors unlesse they would give him that Title The Queen Mother utterly misliking his aimes of policy which tended to put the Princes her children together by the eares forsook France and Monsieur followed her He return'd with a considerable strength of horse and Monmorency the popular'st man of France joyn'd with him to reform the State and to ruine the Cardinal who was us'd to call the said Monmorency his son but they miss'd of their ayme Afterwards the Count of Soissons joyn'd with the Duke of Bovillon attempted the like and had Soissons liv'd it was probable they might have done something for they had utterly routed the Kings Army but Soissons being kill'd it quail'd the whole plot The last attempt to destroy him was by Monsieur le Grand who had intelligence with the Spaniard but it was detected and so crush'd in the shell and he with Monsieur de Thou beheaded There were also divers privat attempts upon him Alfeston would have pistoll'd him Chavagnac and Barnard would have poison'd him Gargan and Bouchard who were reputed Magitians would have bewitch'd him but they had all ropes for their rewards so nature ran out her course in him without violence for he died in his bed and at his house in Paris about the dead of Winter in the beginning of December a little after the King had visited him and bad him his last adieu having not reach'd 58. yeers His right arme began to mortifie many moneths before and his whole body was grown so lanke and thin as it look'd like an Anatomy He principally recommended to the King Cardinal Iulio Mazarini to whom he had open'd all the boxes of his breast together with Monsieur Chauvigny Noyer advising his Majesty to steer his cours by their Counsell and he should still prosper and triumph He bequeath'd his body to the Colledge of Sorbon And touching his estate which was valued at neer upon sixty millions of Franks he divided it to sundry Legacies he gave the Marquis of Pont de Courlay the Duchy of Richelieu together with the government of Brouage To the Marquis of Brezé the Duchy of Fronsac estimated at an hundred thousand Franks yeerly rent together with the government of Haure de grace He bequeath'd to the Duchesse of Eguillon his House at Ruel with fifty thousand Franks rent He gave Monsieur du Plessis Chinee twenty thousand crowns a yeer His Cardinal Palace in Paris where he expir'd he bequeath'd to the King with all the Plate and Housholdstuffe thereunto belonging and a Jewel valued at two hundred thousand crowns To the young Dauphin he gave his Library rated at fifty thousand crownes To every one of his Praetorian soldiers he bequeath'd two hundred crowns apeece and preferr'd them all for a guard to the Dauphin By this vast estate it appears that though he was so active in his Masters busines yet he did not neglect his own so that the Kings service was not the sole Center of his endeavours as he was usd to say often Such was the emigration out of this world of Armand Iohn du Plessis Cardinal of Richelieu Duke and Peer of France Knight of the holy Spirit and Super-Intendent Generall of the navigation and commerce of
France Principall Minister and Director in chief of all affairs both of State and Warre c. having bin thrice General and once Generalissimo of three Royall Armies Questionlesse he was a man had a rare talent and rich intellectualls of a notable vivacity of spirit and constancy of resolution of a prompt yet profound imagination of a subtill discours yet solid judgement things which seldome meet in one subject under that Clime of pressing and powerfull reason and a tenacious memory in so much that all the faculties of his soule being summond to consult seriously upon any businesse they were enough to make a compleat Senat of themselfs Add hereunto that he had an admirable gift of elocution attended with state and gravity and very swaying as it went along Many examples could be produc'd hereof but we will instance in three only In a Complement in a Letter and in an Oration of his which may serve to make a judgement of the rest For the first when he had receiv'd the Cardinals Hat from Rome he attended the Queen Mother and told her as if he had been surpriz'd with a kind of amazement Madam I want words to expresse the thankfulnes of my heart to your Majesty all that I can say is that I will spend my best bloud and all my spirits in your service and this Scarlet which I weare by your goodnes shall make me always remember this vow For the second when the Queen mother was retir'd to the Netherlands out of a high displeasure against him he writ to her this ensuing Letter Madame I know my enemies or rather the enemies of this State not contented to have discredited me unto your Maiesty do endeavour also to make my attendance neere the King to be suspected as if my neernes to his Person tended to remove him from you and to separat what God and nature hath so closely conjoyn'd I hope by the goodnes of God that their malice will be discoverd that my cariage will be shortly justified and that my innocence shall triumph over calumny Neverthelesse Madame I shall account my self still infortunat in that I am made to cease from pleasing your Majesty and life it self is irksome unto me in the state I am in finding my self depriv'd of the honor of your favor and of that esteem which I valued more then all the greatnes of the earth and as those which I possesse proceed from your liberall hand so I cast and prostrat them all at your Royall feet Excuse Madame your own work and creature whatsoever shall proceed from your Majesties pleasure shall be receiv'd by me without murmuring and accepted with a thousand thanks But Madame out of that piety which is inhaerent in you be pleased to spare the purple of the Church wherewith you have adorn'd me which will lose its esteeme and lustre if your Majesty cast upon it such black spots How can it be that the most oblig'd of men should prove the most ingratefull And that my conscience my first inclination and interest binding me to your service I should now separat my self from it and thereby draw upon my self the name of Traitor to the best and greatest Queen upon Earth This Madame well consider'd should absolve me from all crime and free me from all suspition before your Majesties tribunal where I am almost condemn'd without being heard I appeal not from it in regard of the perfect obedience I beare to your will I only blame my misfortune but will not dispute with my Soverain Mistresse nor ask reason of her for what is pass'd nor do I intend to make use of the Kings favour or any ministers of his or of the remembrance of my former services against the bent of your indignation the very thoughts hereof would be a crime and opposit to my hopes which are to find glory in fidelity and safety in innocence I desire lesse to dragg my fortune in France or to cary it to Rome to see more lamentable ruines then mine own Wheresoever your Majesty shall be if I be not permitted accesse it will be death unto me and wheresoever I go it shall be to go out of the world yet I desire for my reputes sake and for the rank I hold in the House of God that it might be after the vindication of my innocence and if it be not too great a boldnesse after the recovery of your Majesties favor If fortune afford me this I shall little resent my going out of the Court nor out of the world because I die a thousand times a day since your Majesty gives out that I am not the same I was which is Madame Your Majesties most humble most faithfull and most obedient servant Armand Card. of Richelieu Concerning the third which discovers more then any thing the abilities of a Minister this Oration shall serve which he pronounc'd in the great Convention of Notables a new Court generated of the discontinuance of the old Assembly of the three Estates the King himself sitting there in Majesty Sir 'T is needles in my judgemetnt to represent unto this Illustrious Assembly the great Actions your Majesty hath perform'd within this yeer as well in regard the Lord Keeper hath acquitted himself very worthily of that task as also because they speak cleerly enough of themselfs And there is no man but sees that God hath been pleas'd to make use of that piety prudence and courage which he hath infus'd into your Majesty to work those advantages to France in so small a time which some held impossible to be done in an age Nor is there any need to let them know the vast expence these high actions have caried with them because every one knows that in matters of State great atchievements cannot be done with little charge and the numerous troupes of Combatants which your Majesty hath bin enforc'd to entertain at one time in sundry places as well within as without your Kingdom afford understanding men occasion to magnifie your power as well as to admire your vast expence There is not any amongst you my Lords who knows not with what purenesse this treasure hath bin issued and what necessity there was of it the probity of those who manag'd the finances justifieth the first point and the oppression of the Allies of this Crown and the rebellion of them who are Traytors to God in this Kingdom do sufficiently assert the truth of the second the desseins of some having bin no sooner projected then form'd to interrupt his Majesty in reducing France to her first splendor In so much that this State considering the utility she receives thereby together with her Allies have more cause to approve then complain of these charges Matters thanks be to God are now at a good point but one cannot promise that they will continue so alwaies and it were to want judgement to think that they must not be push'd on further Of necessity this Kingdom must be left expos'd to the attempts of