nominate him as his pleny-potentiary for the Generall peace which was no lesse then to entrust him with the interests of the Crowne and of its confederates and accordingly Richelieu now treats with him disjoining every spring and parcelling every implement of his breast to discover to him and the quality of this employment might allow time for it for it was not presently to be entered on In the interim this new creature to commend his Services the more dearly to the Crowne undertakes two famous treaties to reduce the Princes of Savoy from the interests of Spain to the contrary of France The first was concluded and signed but the sudden breaking out of the Counts of Soissons and Bouillon hindred the effect and gave the Cardinall leisure as some would have it being now nigh upon the place to gaine also the Prince of Monaco whose accession afterwards was accounted of great consequence The second treaty brought the first to an issue reuniting those Princes at the same time to the side of France and to the head of their house the then Infant-Duke of Savoy an union whereunto the most part of the places conquered in Piemont and Montferrat is ascribed After his returne from these affaires he accompanies the Cardinall of Richelieu in that voyage which brought Cincmars the grand Escuyer and his competitor in the Kings favour his designes to the light and his head to the block but while the Cardinall Duke is urging still his jealousies to greater envie in this businesse this other Cardinall finds himselfe a better worke to perswade the Duke of Bouillon one of the Complices to deliver up his soveraignty of Sedan to the Kings power as a ransome for his treason which accordingly he obtained and the King seized This was the gate by which Mazzarini entered equally into Richelieu's and the King's favour but especially by the douceur and gentlenesse of his proceeding which made the King desire his imployment being inwardly weary of Richelieu's excessive and now more intemperate rule by reason of his malady so that that favorite could not comply better with the King's pleasure in any other suit then this of serving himselfe of Mazzarini in whose person both might find their private ends as well as their publick The Cardinall might raise in him a Protector of his house and kindred against their most incensed emulators and the King find a subject by whom to ballance the Princes of the Blood when he was gone especially the Duke of Orleans against whose sway he devised all means possible to provide The Cardinall of Richelieu had tooke his fortune as it were to farme putting his terme of life into the lease which was therefore to be circumscribed with his Master's for had he outlived him it is a question whether all his admirable expedients could have served to represse a harder fate which being instigated by much envy would faine have stetched a long arme to reach him And the sense of this while the King's health seemed to decay faster then his owne had cast the Cardinall into many pangs of contrivances how to make his estate good when his plea in chiefe was gone Sometimes to reconcile himselfe with his grand enemies especially the Queene whom he had highly disobliged Sometimes to get the King's children to his owne power and wardship sometimes to ruine or at least how to ballance the Duke of Orleans and sometimes to retire for which purpose he had layed up a vast summe of readie gold at Haure de Grace and had purchased in the King's name and licence but with his owne mony A soverainty on the Meuse with Chastean Reynaud and a territory adjacent whereby he doubted not but to render himselfe considerable both to France and the neighbour Princes without any feare of his enemies But all this was in vaine for death tooke him at the best time at the bound of his glory The newes of the taking of Tortona in the state of Milan coming to Paris the same day to bring new Laurells to his hearse But when he was about to die he may seeme to have over-reached his fortune and driven her beyond her intention in leaving her favours to his successors in a way scarce before observed for besides his leaving a creature of his owne to survive in he bequeathed the most important charges of the Kingdome under the King's good pleasure who accordingly allowed of his disposall in all but a few church livings and that only to save the prerogative which the Kings of France claime in such causes to his owne kindred which proved a great disappointment to his enemies for they soone found that they could not pluck up his residue without the danger of the whole Then he recommended to the King the Officers and Ministers of state as he was to leave them particularly the Secretaries de Chauvigny and de Noyers wherein he promised his majesty he might continue to prosper as he had thither to The King accepts well of his advice resolves to use the same instruments that he had before but never to admit the like partager in his royall authority as the Cardinall of Richelieu had been For the Cardinall Mazzarini he forth with makes him president of his councell committing the Secretaries of state to his orders which in effect was to make him his prime Minister My purpose is to digest some memorialls from this period yet I cannot leave that great subject before mentioned till I have brought him to his funerall Not that I intend any long digression to bring in the Ceremonies of his interring but only to note one or two circumstances on this occasion which have respect to some ensuing passages The first was the composing of an ancient difference betweene Cardinalls and the Princes of the blood about precedencie which before was only regulated by the Kings favour Now they agree with mutuall satisfaction that in the Churches and Ecclesiasticall functions the Cardinall should have priority in other places the Princes and in other things should treat one another with equality Whereupon the Prince of Condè and his sonne the Duke of Enguien come to visit the Cardinall Mazzarini The second is this There was a chaire covered with velvet and somewhat raised set for the Cardinall Mazzarini in the church of Nostre-dame in Paris where the obsequies were to be solemnized which occasioned a hot dispute about the manner of being seated betwixt the said Cardinall and the Bishops these pretending that he should stand in the same ranke with them and among these the Arch-Bishop of Rheims and Bishop of Beauvais were most earnest breaking out into high words in saying That with other Cardinalls for dignity birth and merit more regardable then he there never fell the like pretension This offence the Cardinall was faine to digest at that time not without straining a dissimulation but found opportunity afterwards to turne it on the authors to a greater jacture of their reputation Richelieu is now covered the court
way to his Majestie's anger for the time which some interpreted as the act of a true Friend but others as the Ruse of a Courtier to draw him from the King and so from all hope of accomodation for some make a great question whether the buds of Noyers his disfavour were not cultivated by the two other Ministers of State Mazzarini and Chauvigni because they were the dependants of these two that most incens'd the King against Him and immediatly after his decession his Charge was confer'd by the Cardinall's instance on Monsteur de Tellier then in Piemont â—as Auditor Generall of the Army besides that it was many waies evident that the Cardinall's designes did not meet in Noyers of a fit Instrument and that he had at severall times treated with the King of such matters as de Noyers would have possest him with the Contrary Which things if reall as they have a great shew of truth one would think by de Noyers's proceedings that his desires also were no less reall then pretended to retire to his privacy He goe's to Chauvigny desire 's his opinion as his friend whether he should demand his Licence in person of the King or by another who after many fair offices to perswade with him at last advise's him to serve himselfe of the assistance of the Cardinall to avoid disgusting of the King any further De Noyers meets the Cardinall in the Louvre demand's this grace of him publiquely and with a kind of Pompe that the world might take notice of it as a generous free action of his own and accordingly the Cardinall does the office after some excuses with more shew then reality at his return bringing him that dismission which he desired and received with demonstrations of the cordiallest alacrity This fall of Noyers was onely grievous to the Mareschal de Mesteraye who being much interessed in his preservation addresseth himselfe a new to the Cardinall to have this businesse put upon the file again whom the Cardinall answering that he resented this act of Monsieur dè Nayens as much as any other and had omitted no office to divert him from the course that he had taken The Mareschal suffered himselfe to be so farre transported with his passion as to tell him That he did not understand these finesses of Italie proceeding frankly and in the French fashion The Cardinall notwithstanding continued in his excuses treating him with acts of more respect so that both seemed to part with satisfaction From hence the Mareschal takes his way to dè Noyers then at Pontoise to treat with him and finds him most determined to acquiesce desiring the Mareschall to let his Majestie know that he tooke it for an infinite obligation that his Majestie had been pleased to dispense with his retirement Which carriage of his was accounted more to commend his courage then his courtship considering especially that the King's death was by all tokens near at hand which would have broke up those clouds that then overshadowed him Aprill 17. The King's maladie being intermissive had hitherto observed some uncertain periods allowing him his lucida interâ—â—lla to treat and give orders about affairs but now betraying worser symptomes the physitians advise the Statesmen of their opinion that it was to terminate ere long in death Whereupon the Prince of Condè and Cardinall Mazzarini consult together how to give his Majestie admonition and so present themselves to him in his chamber telling him that although the Physitians did not despaire of his Majestie's recovery yet since he found his health continually declining and running some hazard of a sad event that the glorie of his Majestie the good of the Princes his children and of the whole State seemed to require that as his Majestie had hitherto established his greatnesse and augmented the splendor of his crown so now he should consider of leaving his affairs in such order that no emergent might alter them for the future That the Spaniards had not refused a suspension of arms before so earnestly desired by them on any other ground then a certain misprision which they had conceived of the troubles of France likely to ensue on the failing of his Majesty and therefore that the true way to undeceive them was to make it evident that whatsoever event should happen his Majestie's will should stand for a sure and inviolable Law for the Government of his Kingdome The King accepted not onely of their discourse but affectionately thanked them and then desired to hear the Prince's judgement about the disposall of the Government Who thereupon took occasion to extoll highly the wisdome and goodnesse of the Queene and after set himselfe to excuse the Duke of Orleans ascribing his escapes to the over-rigid treatments of the late Cardinall shewing that these two persons as the chiefe of the kingdome ought by consequence to have the principall part in so important an administration The King having well learned by his own experience how subject France is to alterations in the times of Minority was the more desirous to leave a state well setled wherein neither the Queen nor the Duke of Orleans whom he did not eye so well should invelope the whole authority in their own persons which he devised to distribute among severall Councellours and to give them the Cardinall Mazzarini for their Principall much after the manner of the Government of Sweden with the superintendency of the grand Chancellour Oxenstern which thoughts when he had discovered to the Cardinall he found not such approbation as he desired but rather met with strong arguments perswading him to observe the ancient usances of the Crown But after all deliberations the King at last resolved to forme a Councell according to the tenor of a declaration which he sent forthwith to the Queen by the hand of Monsieur dè Chauvigny the prime secretary of State that shee might see it and signifie her desire about any change in it for her better satisfaction that so being afterward approved by the Parliament it might be to passe as a Salick Law among the people which last words touched to the quick though at that time the Queen dissembled them with discretion and presently passed to the King's chamber to render thanks and to condole with him till both melted into tears with expressions of love and tenderness Next morning the Cardinall Mazzarini comes to Paris to give account of the King's resolutions to the Duke of Orleans with intimation to the Parliament Princes Dukes Peeres and officers of the Crown to present themselves to his Majestie at S. Germans where a fit time being waited till the Kings maladie was somewhat alleviated they were all called into his Chamber where the Queen and her two Sons stayed for them and then his Majesty speaking all the while uncovered made a passionate speech unto them accompanied with such carriages as pressed tears from the by-standers After which the Secretarie de la Urilliere read the declaration of his Majestie's last
THE ENTRANCE OF MAZZARINI OR Some MEMORIALS of the STATE of FRANCE BETWEEN the death of the CARDINALL of RICHELIEU AND the beginning of the late REGENCY Collected and digested â—ut of Forraign Writers By an indifferent hand OXFORD Printed by H. H. Printer to the University for Thom. Robinson 1657. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE PHILIP VICOUNT LISLE c. One of the Lords of the COUNCIL My LORD IF the subject which I have chosen were habited in such apparell as belongs to it the world that knowes so well your Lordship's accomplishments would lesse blame me of presumption in demanding your eye and countenance But I know not what inclination to your person having been the more elevated by some particular favour makes me promise to my selfe I know not what acceptation above merit a thing wherein I should as much flatter my self from the glorious name of Sr PHILIP SIDNEY were he now living to be my Patron But you my LORD or no other being heir of his perfections as you are of a higher QUALITY to adorne them I humbly present this simple dresse of truth and reallity so far as I could attain to it to be credited by your Lordships name which is a great authority to any intelligence of this nature especially FRANCE within the sphear and cloaked with your Lordships favour which however bounteous makes no largesse unadvisedly that so it may not fail to be recommended to such spirits as are more curious in a mode of readier entertainment Wherein you shall oblige infinitely My LORD Your LORDSHIP'S most humble and most affectionate humble Servant THO: TANNER TO THE INGENUOUS READER IT needs not to usher in ashort story with a long preface yet I count it a part of civilitie that I am bound to observe since I bring a small present to the Publick to say somewhat in delivering of it about my selfe and my intention which happily may serve for a just apology to the undertaking of one that yet hath scarce seen the world beyond five lustres I have had the happinesse to passe some time at my own pleasure in acquanting my selfe with the principall parts of EUROPE and having had no greater satisfaction in any other either exercise or diversion then to gain a true intelligence of the present age wherein I live to be compared with what I hear and read I have added some study to my observation that so descending a little lower I might the better know the Causes and Connexion of things that are now upon the stage And when I had well furnished my selfe with those perquisites that belonged to this end I found my notes growing too tedious to be almost ready for the fire Only first I desired to draw out some of the choicer remarques and then leave the rest to the sentence But setting my selfe to this businesse I knew not how to forme any one designe till at last finding my references to this subject that I now exhibit to the common light more exquisite then the rest as touching a criticall part of History and more difficult to be collected then such as run in the ordinary periods of Kings lives I took up my books again being now moved with an emulation of deserving if I might possibly the publick thanks Wherein if I find not my selfe disappointed there may be a second part added to compleat this argument by pursuing it to the end of the first years REGENCY which might suffice with the benefit of some Memoires lately published in our own language to extend a clear Horizon of intelligence to the present time and place of prospect The ENTRANCE of MAZZARINI IT may be thought admirable â—o such as being forrainers to the French have not beene somewhat curious to knit their ends of intelligence how the present high engine of that Monarchy being himselfe a forrainer and borne a subject of their Grand enemy the King of Spaine should arrive at that place where he now governs especially considering that these two emulous Nations howsoever continually intrigued to out-bid one another for the amity of their neighbours are yet alike propellers of them from their politicall interests They both court equally every Italian and he againe is as great a courtier of them both but it is to get the rule over them and not to be ruled by them wherein they reciprocally understand one another and vie it out in policy so that all parties serving their owne turne keeps the ballance even The Italians upon occasion lend their interest the opposite parties lend their strength which is the cause why the first can never want at their pleasure to have honorable commands in either armies but for intrinsecating in their civill government if I may so speak this Mazzarini is the first example and that also at such a time and state of affaires which happened by dissention of the Princes when there was no other to advise with him or command his actions besides the daughter of SPAIN and sister of the present PHILIP with whom the warre was commenced I shall therefore take some pleasure to goe a litle forth with my Reader to meete this Cardinall and so follow him with his train from his first scene of Italy to his second of France where we intend to consider him in his first act of fortune for he has beene as great a subject of strange concurrences of events in his owne person as any other Nor is it any disparagement to his personall sufficiency since whom it pleaseth God to advance above others he commonly endoweth more The Card. Mazzarini was a soldier a courtier put into the prelacy and made a Nuntio by one and twenty and in these severally knew his game so well that it might be soone seene he was not to throw for small matters Savoy was the tennis-court which first admired his dexterity where he saved Casale and therein the whole French interest at that time towards Lombardy before his play being very serious was discovered and then hitting also Pignerol into their hazzard by his incomparable addresse in treating that Duke he went off with the great regret of the Spaniards and applause of his Frenchmen The former in recompence of his services sought to ruine his interests at Rome as a traitor to both the Pope and the Catholick King And it seemed the Pope had beene much injured in his quality of Umpire by the partiality of his Nuncio who therefore found it most convenient to accept of the Savoyards courtesy for a time till his interests might be adjusted But the Card. of RICHELIEU had a greater passion to receive and remerce him at the Court of France where he so entertained him that he made his pretensions good to the hat the usuall reward of those Nuncio's that returne with a re benè gestâ by the continuall applications of the French Ministers at Rome but would never let him go thither to receive it And now being qualified with the title of Cardinall he procures the King to
is soone filled with such as had fled or retired The new Ministers are as diligent to make new friends sueing for some that were proscribed the court among whome Monsieur de Baradas and the Duke of St Simon who had beene both favourites and afterwards disgraced were graciously received by his Majesty For others that were Tower'd in the Bastille among whom were the Mareschaux de Vitry de Bassompierre with the Duke of Cramail which last are set at libertie but to retire and keepe themselves confined at their owne places The Queene her selfe also by the Bishop of Lisieux sends intimation to the Duke of Beaufort then fled into England to avoid answering upon suspicion about the late conspiracy of the Grand Escuyer to returne into France and with his Father the Duke of Vendosme a while after to the court and the like to the Madam of Guise and her sonnes at Florence the occasion of whose persecutions is not here to be recounted Lewis XIII From the beginning of December 1642. The first act of state wherein the King would be seene by himselfe was the sending for the Parliament to expresse his mind thus to them I would have you verifie the arrest which my Attorney Generall shall reade to you against my brother for that being so often relapsed into the same errors after I have so often pardoned Him I can no longer beare it having reason to doubt least He hatch some designe pernicious to my state Wherefore I am resolved to take the meanes from Him and for the future to render Him unable to wrong my Queene and Children after my death by excluding Him for ever from the GOVERNMENT My CHANCELLOUR will declare the rest of my intentions to you After which the first president offers some remonstrances in behalfe of Monsieur in regard of his Quality which might well passe as a complement but when the matter came to be reported notwithstanding the great instances of Mademoiselle it was accordingly verified shortely after The declaration is in my judgment not only pertinent to illustrate and be compared with other ensuing passages but as one of the foresaid great designes of the late Minister worthy to be at large inserted LOVIS by the grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom the present letters shall come greeting When we consider in what manner our most deare and beloved only Brother the Duke of Orleans hath behaved himselfe towards us we cannot without wonder reflect on all the enterprises which he hath undertaken against our Service We may say in truth that never was any son of France charged with so great favours by the King his brother and who hath lesse acknowledged them Our love hath alwaies beene so great towards his Person that his ingratitude hath not beene able to make us change the purpose that we have had to ingratiate him insomuch that at the same time when he has set himselfe against our service we have continually sought to reduce him not omitting any meanes to oblige him thereunto But all these good offices which should have beene as so many cords to bind him to us the more streightly have not proved strong enough to hinder him from joyning with our feircest enemies and advancing their designes The Conspiracies of Chales wrought under his name and with his consent in the yeare 1626 gave us the first experiment of his ill will He incited our Cosin the Duke of Espernon against our service to seize himselfe of the City and Citadell of Metz wherein we used such bounty that we were willing to forget that failing contenting our selves to punish only the delinquency of Chales When we were obliged to go into Piemont to the succour of our confederats where the onely appearing of our armes secured their peace we were no sooner returning from this expedition but he severed himselfe from us retiring in the yeare 1629 without occasion to the Duke Charles of Lorraine Although this action so extravagant in a time when all France and our allies expressed their resentments for the happy successe of our journey gave us great occasion of disgust towards him yet covering his failings we did not cease to make him way to returne to us changing the chastisements which he deserved into so manie favours which we did him augmenting his appanages and giving him the government of Orleans and Amboyse However so favourable entertainement might have obliged him to reunite inseparably to our interests neverthelesse a while after he departs from Paris returning to Orleans and in suite to Lorrain in the yeare 1631 where wounding the fundamentall Lawes of our state he married himselfe against our will to the sister of Duke Charles which marriage being accomplished he flies to Brussells in the yeare 1632 putting himselfe in the power of our enemies who induced him to enter hostilely armed into our Kingdome to joyne himselfe in Languedoc to the forces of a faction which he had formed with the Duke of Monmorency which faction being then dispersed and broken by our armes we received him the third time into our grace We thought that our aforesaid Brother being affected with so many tokens of our good will would at last apply himselfe to the resolution of holding to his duty but we had scarce abandoned Languedoc to returne to Paris ere he went the third time out of our State and ligued himselfe anew with the King of Spain taking his part against us In which appeared his ill will by so much the greater in that he had not sought or received our grace at Besieâ—es but to be able to abuse it the more easily by removing those obstacles that without this would have beene inevitable to him in the passage by him premeditated and resolved into Flanders This bad carriage did not hinder in the least but that when he withdrew himselfe from the ill treatment of the Spaniards resolving to set himselfe at liberty by returning to our person with intention to acknowledg his fault we should againe freely pardon him the fourth time A litle while after having notice given us in France that his actions were not such as we might desire and that he followed the pernicious counsells of the Duke of Puy-Laurens wee became necessitated to prevent a greater evill to cause the aforesaid Duke to be arrested to obliege the more our said Brother to unite himselfe the more strictly with us and to render us the honour and the service which is due to us We did him in this respect all the good offices which he could expect from our affection even to honour him with the command of the most flourishing and numerous armie which of a long time hath beene seene in our Kingdome Instead of conducting our forces so vigorously as he might have done against the armies of our enemies which had surprised a fortresse on our frontier of Picardy the suggestion of the Count of Soissons and of the Duke of Valette had so much power
of Naples the Spaniard returned but formall answers as expressing his thought to be that the restitution of Castro was but reasonable and this no occasion for him to aid the Pope to the prejudice of the League considering that he was the invader rather than invaded for the Spaniard well knew that by declaring for one side he should but give the French occasion to take the other and so draw the greater prejudice on his own estates giving them the more pretensions to invade him So that all considered he was not unwilling to carry himselfe only as an arbitrator and not permit the French to get the start of him in the management Yet he suffers the Switzers which the Pope had levied for the war to passe through the State of Milan as a counterbalance to the league and not long after he also granted the same liberty to other forces of the Duke of Parma's as a like counterpoise to the Papalins which he thought might well consist with his publick indifferency for otherwise he had a secret grudging against the League also being his neighbour Princes and less potent that had formed an union without his knowledg consent or comprehension it inwardly displeasing him that the Princes of Italy should shew to act independently of his Crown a thought so much the harder to be digested in that it might be thence gathered that such resolutions were taken upon a ground of weaknesse and decay of his greatnesse while in spite of their bad fortune the Spaniards still desired to treat and to be treated as when they were at the highest ascendent of their felicity And if now a war being broken outit should be again composed without his arbitration as umpire of the affairs of Italy or the French out strip him in this negotiation he would be a great deal worse to like it But I will not follow these comments any further The French were yet more busy and more subtle to handle and wind themselves into these treaties so that it is not so easy to penetrate their true designes I will therefore be a little more punctuall and more large on this point as a part of my set purpose for the sake of which I have brought in any thing of the contrary to illustrate it nor do I regard any other art or method then what directly serves the nature of of the things themselves which I am treating Presently after the seizing of Castro the Marquesse of Fontenay is appointed Ambassadour to Rome to accomodate this difference with order to Cardinall Bichitill he should come to apply himselfe earnestly in this matter to the Pope and his Nephews which as a preparative might serve to farther negotiation 'T was about the beginning of November 1641 when Fontenay arrived besides the adjusting of the business of Parma being also encharged to endeavour the reception of the Bishop of Lamego Ambassadour from the new King of Portugall Shich the Pope made many excuses to defer as a point involved with other interests nothing perfunctory with it highly concerned the obliging or disobliging of the two Crowns for the restitution of Castro and other goods to the Duke of Parma the Ambassadour makes great instances with the Pope alleaging him to be under his Majestie's protection with many protestations that he could not abandon him but the Pope still insisted on the obedience and humiliation of Parma to him as his sovereigne in his own person and not by another's interposall to capitulate with him he being a Feudatary of the Holy See whereupon notwithstanding the Barberini which had hitherto greatly countergrained the Spaniards by their partiality to the French thought it now time to manage some complyancwith them if need were to come over to their party in reference whereunto they practise at the Court of Spain by their Nuntio Facchinetti a conjunction with them to oppresse the Duke of Parma as a Partisan of the French and a complotter of designs on the state of Milan not omitting at the same time to treat on other conditions to the same drift at the court of France and according to the variablenesse of their designs with the answerablenesse of either party so they carried towards the Bishop of Lamego but the Spaniards finding when they had once well setled themselves to hold the State of Castro wherein they expected no such opposition as they afterwards met withall that the former treaties soon cooled they sought rather to secure themselves by modelling the intentions of the Duke pressing reiterated promises from him that he would not call the French to his succour nor accept of their aids while the Spaniards would support him but whatsoever point it was that failed the best assistance which the Duke had afterwards was by the men and mony that came from France The Marquesse of Fontenay's reports being come to his Master's court the King of France to second his ambassadour no lesse then to discover whether in the Pope there were any new inclinations towards the Spaniards dispatcheth the Sieur de Lyonne a young gentleman of an exquisite capacity that had also bin bred up by his uncle the secretary de servient in affairs of great consequence who comming as an intercessor might promote in person between the parties those affairs which his Resident Ambassadour could not otherwise treat but by Corriers and so consequently not without jealousies and delayes De Lyonne presents himselfe first to the Duke at Parma while he is busy in Levying of his forces and there delivers his charge to this purpose that his Majesty of France continuing his wonted protection to the person and house of his Highnesse had expressly sent him to the Pope to perswade him to accord praying his Highnesse on his part to facilitate a businesse so proper for him and so desiderable to France and so exhorted him in his King's name to render to the Pope all manner of Humiliations which as done to a common Father would no waies derogate from the Honour of a Soveraign Prince and that his so doing would be very acceptable to his Majesty The Duke offers any submissions not prejudiciall to his interests or admitting of such faults as might be of ill consequence to him and his house hereafter and with that answer De Lyonne hasts to Rome where he presently stop't the publication of the Interdictment intended by the Barberini by assuring them that in such case the Ecclesiastick's were resolved Not observing the censures to hold at their Duke's Devotion or otherwise he to employ their revenues in his war which would have a-amounted to a great sum I will insist a little further here though somewhat below the times which I intended to resume Being afterwards brought to the feet of his Holyness there rendred the accustomed most humble reverence he presents to him the credentiall letter of the King of France written with his own hand wherein with most affectionate and efficacious instances he beseecheth him that qualifying those
disgusts that he had conceived against the Duke of Parma he would be graciously pleased to restore him to his former good grace and embracing him with paternall benevolence condescend to some agreement to their reciprocall satisfaction which courteous expressions being answered by the Pope in words testifying a very reall acceptation Monsieur de Lyonne proceeds to a further discourse importing that it was his Majesty's earnest desire and request to his Holynesse to Restore the Duke of Parma to all his goods and estates since he had so amply satisfied his reputation in the conquest of Castro and now to forget things past as his Majesty himselfe had dealt with the Duke of Lorrain in restoring him to astate of such advantage upon his humble submission only to his Majesty's clemency To this the Pope answered in these precise tearms Castro is already the Apostolicall See's There is nothing to be said of that If you will treat of Parma and Placentia which were now pretended to be forfeited somewhat may be done at the Kings intercession About Castro we will afterwards do justice Monsieur de Lyonne replies that that was not the grace which his Majesty had employed him to seek it being probable that the neighbour Princes would not suffer such disaster to befall the Duke of Parma nor such an acquisition to a mightier confinant as was the State Ecclesiasticall where the Pope apprehending a secret conceipt shadowed that the King of France would aid the Parmesan discovered great alteration saying that the Duke of Parma was a rebell and excommunicated and that whatsoever Princes should assist him were wicked and Impious in which case he would put his trust in God assuring himselfe that he would not abandon him in his most righteous cause That therefore he should not speak any more to him about Castro as a businesse not practicable but only of Parma and Placentia whereat de Lyonne not troubling himselfe replyed That if his Holynesse would do any grace to the King it must be about Castro for of the other he had no commission to treat any thing which more inflaming the Pope's displeasure he tooke his leave in time that he might reserve his further application for another audience which a while after he again obtaining with like successe tooke his course back to Parma to propound new overtures The French having bin before dealing with the Duke of Parma to draw his assistance towards Lombardy were now willing to degage him from any embroilments on the contrary side or otherwise to study how to serve themselves upon occasion The Spaniards though they longed to revenge the injuries of the Barberini were fain to mortify that passion with better councell holding it no good time to break with Rome any more then to joine with Parma The Republick of Venice The Duke of Tuscany The Duke of Modena being both allied in blood to Parma are yet but making long debates about a league in his favour Wherefore De Lyonne thinks best to propound some suspension for the present fearing least Parma should be over-powred which he being a Prince of great Courage and now if he followed not his enterprises likely to sink under great charges which the forces that he had gathered must needs put him to in his own countrey was very unwilling to hearken to so that entring with his forces into the ecclesiasticall state he brought great dammages terror to Rome it selfe till at last he was overperswaded to attend the issue of a treaty at Castel-Georgio wherein the Papalins to divert the present shock consented to deposite Castro in the Duke of Modena's hands for three or four months while affairs in difference should be treated The Ministers of France being all this while instant with the State of Venice first to mediate for and then to assist the Duke of Parma practising also at the same time with other Italian Princes on this subject cannot avoid jealousies on all sides interchangeable The Venetians though moved thereunto by the French Ministers yet are very cautious how they interpose their offices in this affaire least they should seem to deprive that Crown of the Honour of mediation whereupon they impart all their negotiations at Rome with exact diligence to the French Ambassadour passing one concurrence and correspondence in their treaties But for the matter of assistance however they were enclined to the joyning with their Neighbour Potentates to keep Italy still in the same Ballance yet the instances of the French in this regard they accounted no way free from suspicion now especially that the Princes of Savoy were turned to their service and away thereby opened to the heart of Lombardy They hold the old proverb good Have the French for thy Friend but not for thy Neighbour For although they had the Spaniards ambitious and troublesome Confinants which by their monies and intelligence had made them many chargable and unseasonable diversions yet the differences since a whole age had never come to a breach between them besids that they did not count them of so desultory an humour as other Ultramontans On another side the Spaniards seeing the French so busy in their treaties from the one side to the other and knowing how much they were oblieged to respect them both now they saw also the Duke of Parma proceed so prosperously in the state Ecclesiasticall without foot or artillery began to confirme themselves in a former suspicion that some mystery was under those enterprises and that the Pope was indeed of some agreement with the Duke of Parma the King of France and the Princes of the League against the Kingdome of Naples whose Vice-roy was allied to That Duke which apprehension might have bin the more justified by an overture of Monsieur De Lyonne if at least it did not escape the inquisitivenesse of the Spaniards made to the Duke of Parma about the leaving of Castro to Don Tadco and accepting of the Pope and King of France his assistance to invest him in the Kingdome of Naples To which the Duke roundly answered Nay but rather let them restore me my Dutchy and bestow their Kingdome on Don Tadco However this conceipt especially the League being now formed and his Neighbours in armes round about him made the Spaniard keep him on his guard to his great charges and leave those forces on his frontiers of Naples which he needed elswhere being also as before was intimated not a litle troubled at such a league made with his exclusion The Pope and the Barberini are no lesse satisfied of the French Negotiations as too too partiall to the interests of Parma and otherwise suspected to aime only at embroiling all things The other Princes are jealous of the Duke of Parma least he should be brought to cast himselfe onely on the French assistance and to bring a formidable guest to their doores whereupon they are willing rather to assist him themselves that he might enter on no course prejudiciall to their common Interests And
issue it selfe approved it for at this time they themselves were at no good Terms at Rome in being a part of the league against the Barberini though still they continued their Ministers of state there The Spaniards seeing the French Ambassadour gon from his Residence thought it now a time for them to interpose more vigorously to inflame these disgusts and to forme an union of the Princes of Italy to their Crown as the onely way to effect the depositing of Castro in the hands of the League and exclude the French which were now become jealous to them lest they should get that depositing into their own hands from interesting themselves any further in this Mediation the honour whereof they desired to carry from them to this purpose they sought how to bring themselves and the Pope within the League so modelling the designe of it that they might get the chiefe arbitration both of the difference and deposition propounding that Castro might be put into the hands of the Duke of Savelli the Emperours Ambassadour at Rome till the treatie might be brought to an issue but the Pope and the ligued Princes were too sensible to be drawn by any other motives than those of their proper Interests and the suddain recalling to Rome of the Marquesse of Fontenay by the intercessions of the offices of Venice set on foot new practises and put a new lustre on them by the graciousnesse that ensued on a kind of reconcilement between his Holinesse and the most Christian King which was accompanied with the satisfaction of the Father Mazzarino in being made Master of the Sacred Palace a thing that sweetned all imbitterings for it was thought that the cause of this Father was the very motive how ever palliated that made the Ambassadour shew so high resentment to the end that he might thereby ingratiate the Cardinall his Brother a matter which yet proved a scandall to the Cardinall in France that the pretentions of his Brother should hazzard the interests of the State and the amity of the Pope which also gave him displeasure at them both using his utmost prudence to recompose those differences Our story begin's now to prey upon the last wiek the Oyle of the Kings life is ' ee'n exhausted the vanishing Flame having long wavered about the brims But his declining makes the severall Ministers gather as much authority as they could within the folds of their respective Robes whereby they could not misse of some such Rent as put Hortensius to a suit in Law when they encountred one another in passages too strait for them The Parliament is jealous of the Ministers of State and these of the Princes of the Blood since they saw the Queen the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde close together and likely to bear before them the entire management of affaires which in all probability would ruin the Creatures and dependences of the late RICHELIEU that held themselves yet at the height of their Fortune in the King's favour And these apprehensions wrought so intemperately with the Secretary de Noyers that at last it procured his dismission For the King now imploying his best thought 's and advise with his Councellours about the framing of His Will and leaving a sure estate to His Infant-Heir Monsieur de Noyers was in many points of a different opinion from the others pretending to regulate too much with His Conceipts whether by his proper inclination or adhering to the Maximes of the late Cardinall whose great Confident he hâ—d bin especially in the great businesse of excluding the Duke of Orleans from the Government and nominating the Persons of the Councill This rendered his employment the lesse desirable to the other States-Masters which still applyed themselves to clear his Majestie of prejudices conceiv'd against the said Duke and of the ill consequence that was likely to ensue upon any division of the Royall house Nor did it a litle contribute to the laying aside of this Instrument that he was so zealous against the Protestants ever traversing the aids of Germany which the Cardinall Mazzarini procured with great Ardour as a most important interest of the Crown discovering also the like aversnesse to the Huguenots insomuch that it was reported he should one day tell the Mareschal de Chastillon that when he was to signe any thing in favour of his Sect it seem'd to him as if he were to gash his own hand But above all His importunacy with the King was the greatest maturer of his downfall he taking upon him to use as his Master Richelieu had done and in case he found not that Countenance which he desired to demand retirement a thing which the other would do with great art knowing the necessity which the King had of his Services But of Noyers his ill successe in this way we may see at one instance how he came to knock off from his attendance He had the office of Receiver Generall of the rate of Subsistance an Imposition laid at first with exemption of the payers from quartering of Souldiers but since made as the other ordinary Tallies of which he dispos'd at his own discretion making no accompt to any other It came to the King's eare that this Subsistance the year before was ill dispensed and onely to the friends and kindred of the Foresaid Noyers whereupon the King take's occasion to ask him on what he had expended those sums which passed through his hands for the service of the War and of which he used to render no Accompt T is a certain Revenge on our own ill humour to think amisse of Him that we depend on or entertain any Umbrage that he dislikes us or is mistaken in our good intentions for commonly such a passion is apt to fennow and so to mantle in its sowernesse that one cannot afterward restore it to that Object Noyers who had either made or phancied the King's Countenance to be not so good as usually towards Him tooke this word for a signe of diffidence and so answered that he had ready in his Cabinet a Book of all Expences made by him and then let himselfe lavish in expressions that since his hard fortune did now render him suspected after a service of so many years uninteressed 't were better that his Majesty would permit him to render his charge to some other that might be more fortunate since neither could a Prince satisfy himselfe in a Servant whom he distrusted nor such a Servant enjoy any quiet that knew his integrity to be doubted of T was thought that Noyers was the more bold in venting this Passion presuming that his two Confidents as he presumed the Cardinall Mazzarini and the Secretary dè Chauvigny would sufficiently secure Him from having this request easily granted but his Majestie hereupon discover'd such displeasure that Monsieur de Chauvigny first withdrew him handsomely from the King's bed and then from his Chamber perswading him to consider and not to precipitate with himselfe but give
will which was to this effect That although it had pleased God to bestow admirable successes on him through the whole course of his raign yet now in the middle of his prosperities he had also put him in mind of his frailty by a languishing disease whereof howsoever there were good hope of his recovering notwithstanding because the judgments of men most experienced are fallible in these cases he thought himselfe oblieged to provide for the peace of his Kingdome when he was gone That he judged the best way to obtain this end and to disappoint the projects of the enemies of France to be the uniting of all the royall family with one Spirit to maintain the present state of his Crown which would be also a great tie to his confederates to adhere to the interesses of France when they shall find it governed by the same maximes that had hitherto upheld its grandeur To execute which designes he thought no course more expedient then that which the King 's his predecessors had taken on the like occasions who judged that the regency of the Kingdome and education of the minor Kings could not be better placed then on the persons of their Queen Mothers and therfore that he did ordain that in case his death should ensue before the Dauphin should enter on the fourteenth year of his age or in case that the Dauphin should die before the Majority of his second Sonne the Duke of Anjou his dearest spouse and consort the Queen Mother of his foresaid children should be Regent of France and have the education of them during their minority together with the administration of the government of the Kingdome during his nonage that should be King with the advise of her councell in manner hereafter following And in case the said Queen after his death and during her Regency should be in danger of finishing her daies he ordained that she should provide with the advise of her Councell herein specified for the Regency and government for the time And to testifie to his dear and beloved Brother the Duke of Orleans that nothing hath been able to diminish the Love that he hath ever borne him he ordained him Lieutenant Generall of the non-aged King and to exercise the said charge in all the provinces in the Kingdome under the authority of the Queen Regent and of the Councell and this notwithstanding the declaration registred against him in the Court of Parliament onely declaring that if he in any wise shall contravene this establishment he remain ipso facto deprived of this charge That although from the wisdome piety and vertue of the Queen he might well promise himselfe a happy government of his state yet considering the weight of such a charge and the impossibility of her taking cognisance of all affairs necessary that he thought fit to establish a councell of the Regency to assist her by whose judgments and authority the great and weighty affairs of State should be examined and resolved by plurality of Voices to compose which Councell he thought he could not make better election for Ministers of State then of his dear and beloved Cosins the Prince of Condè and the Cardinall Mazzarini of his trustie and well beloved the Lord de Seguier Chancellour of France and keeper of the seals the Lord de Bouttiglier Surintendant of his finances and the Lord de Chauvigni Secretarie of State and of his Commandments He ordained also that the Duke of Orleans and in his absence the Prince of Condè or Cardinall Mazzarini should be chiefe of the Councill and if any place should become void that the Queen should supply it by advise of the Councell and all other important charges of the Kingdome to be so disposed by plurality of votes Only for all Ecclesiasticall preferments which belonged to his nomination he left the providing for their supply to the Queen and the Cardinall Mazzarini of whose worthy discharging this trust he had good reason to rest most assured by the eminent proofs which he had had of the faithfulnesse and great sufficiency of the person In fine he ordained that the Queen and the Duke of Orleans should swear in the presence of him and of the Princes of the Blood with the other Princes Dukes Peers Mareschals of France and Officers of the Crowne to keep and observe the Contents of the present declaration without any manner of Contravention Which was accordingly subscribed and sworne at the same instant by the Queen and Duke of Orleans and sealed before the rest and accordingly next day ratified in the Parliament in presence of the Duke of Orleans the Prince of Condè and the other Princes and Officers Given at S. Germans in the month of April 1643. and of his raign the 33. Which declaration being read the King gave free liberty to all the exiles of the Court or State against whom no Sentence had been given to make their return and commanded corriers to be sent to some more remote that they might have timely notice and his Majesty had content before his death to receive the Duke of Vendosma the Mareschaux de Bassompierre and d' Estree and divers others into his grace If a man might be politique before the proofe of events this act of State might be a subject of strange descantings but if we can content our selves with such conjectures as best please us till the Regency begin to take place we may better guesse at the true interests of the parties concerned by this deed of the true interest of the Crown His majesty having now freed his thoughts of this care tooke pleasure to order a private ceremony in the chappell of S. Germans appointing the baptisme of the Dâ—uphin by the name of Lovis and the Princes of Condè with the Cardinall Mazzarini on whom the King would conferre this honour as he himselfe said to oblige him the more streightly to serve the King and the Crown to present him to the font that so with the powerfull cords of interest he might as much as in him lay twist an artificiall kind of nature making him the Compater or Spirituall Father of that Prince in the forming of whose youth he might now seem to claime a priviledg with the Queen To both which and to all his other officers and nobles having so effectually recommended his State and childrem what more could remain to such a Prince but to die in the arms of that Honour that had ever lived with him and to deserve those characters in which a terser pen then mine ha's designed him And so I leave him in the way to his funerall pomp which a while after followed with great Solemnity 〈◊〉 Errata quod sic corr. Pag. 2. lin. 4. for interestly read interests p. 12. l. 13 for Cardinall r. Cardinals p. 17. l. ult. for conspiracies r conspiracy p. 35. l. 4. for returne r. resume p. 39. l. 16. for league also r. league also p. 41. l. 8. for Bichitill r. Bichi till and l. 19. for shiâ—h r. which and l. 22 for with r. sith p. 43. l. 9. for they r. these viz Barberini p. 45. l. 4. for desiderable r. desirable p. 66. l. 8. blot out the at the end of the line and put in Felix p. 70. l. 9. for Guiâ—k r. Guiche p. 76. l. 9. for Sura r. Suza p. 81. l. 8. for Navarrese r. Novarrese and l. 12 for Gonzago r. Gonzaga and l. 13. for Taracena r. Caracena c.