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
of Austria they thought it high time to look about them so there came Commissioners extraordinary from Holland to Paris and a Ligue defensive and offensive was struck between them to make a social conjunctive war in the Netherlands against the King of Spain the most materiall Articles of which Ligue for we are loth to stuff this History with formalities were these 1. The King of France shall have an Army of 25000 foot and 5000. horse upon the frontiers of France towards the Netherlands in the convenientest place And the States of the united Provinces shall have 20000. foot and 8000. horse 2. Of these two Armies one shall send the other 10000. foot and 2000. horse as Auxiliaries in case the enemy shall succour any place which either of them shall besiege and if occasion require both Armies shall joyn in one body 3. It is accorded that a Declaration be sent to all the Towns under the King of Spain in the Netherlands to assure them that there shall be no Innovation introducd which may prejudice their priviledges and that the exercise of Religion be left free 4. That all other Princes and States who shall desire the protection of France and the united Provinces may enter into this Ligue provided they take up armes against the Spaniard 5. That if any Towns yeeld themselfs of their own accord it shall be lawfull for them to mould themselfs into the body of a particular State 6. That there may be no difference in parting what shall be taken it is agreed that France shall have all Flanders from the frontiers of France as far as Blanquemberg neer the Sluce And the States shall have all the Maritim places beyond toward France as far as the River of Swyn That Artois and Henault as far as Navar inclusively shall be the Kings of France And the States shall have Hulst Malines and Brabant as far as Brussells 7. That no places which shall be taken be troubled for matter of Religion but that it be continued in the same state 't is found 8. That no Treaty for Truce or Peace be set a foot with the Spaniard without the reciprocall consent of both parties 9. That for a more regular way in proceeding this Order shall be followed to attempt first two places allotted for the share of France and then two of the shares of the States which order shall be successively observed 10. That if the King invade Flanders the States with a diverting Army shall enter Brabant and if the States are engag'd in Brabant the King shall have a diverting Army in Artois or Hanault 11. That the King of Great Britain may enter into this Confederacy to which effect there shall be Ambassadors employed unto him from both parties to know of him whether he will continue upon termes of Neutrality 12. It is accorded further that both parties shall have fifteen men of War at Sea a peece of so many Tonns and if any English ships desire to joyne with the said Fleet they shall have the precedence of them of the States 13. If any Treaty be agreed unto for Peace or Treaty it shall be kept in the Hague and no where els 14. In regard of this Treaty the obligation shall cease to furnish the States yeerly with two millions of Franks which was us'd to be sent them from France c. These Articles being interchangeably sign'd and ratified in Paris there issued a large public Declaration from the King to denounce war with Spain to this effect Lewis by the grace of God King of France and Navar to all who shall see these present Letters health The great and sensible offences this Monarchy hath receiv'd divers times from that of Spain are so well known to all the world that it is needles to renue their memory We have a long time dissembled the hatred and naturall jealousie the Spaniards have against France whereby they have alwayes stopp'd the course of Our prosperity by secret practises oppressed the Princes allied to this Crown and sought to dismember the Kingdome Therefore with those forces which God hath given Us We have resolv'd to prevent their further desseins upon Us and rather to carry Our Armes within their Countrey then expect theirs in Ours c. Then He goes on to enumerat the obligations that Spain had to France for making the last truce with the Hollander which Spain had so much need of at that time the good Offices he had done the Emperour upon the beginning of the troubles in Germany so he taxes him that the first recompence which France receiv'd was the occupation of the Valtolin from the Grisons the ancient Allies of France he complains further that the Treaty at Mouson was not executed as it was intended He speaks of sundry enterprises upon the Duke of Savoy while he was Confederat of France of the violent oppression which the Duke of Mantova suffer'd How the Duke of Lorain arm'd five times against France by the suscitation of the King of Spain How the said King Treated with the chief of them of the Religion to form a perpetuall body of Rebellion in the bowels of France at that time when he promis'd assistance against them How his Ambassadors continually practised to sow division between them of the Royall Family How he assisted with men and money those that made rents and factions in France How to bring about his far fetch'd designes for the Westerne Monarchy he made Flanders his Arcenal for Arms not only to subdue them whom he had acknowledg'd free and soverain but to keep France in perpetuall jealousie of surprisals by a veteran Army therefore he thought it more honorable to attain unto a sound secure Peace by the generous strength of an open war then let his subjects drop away by small numbers and languish under a doubtfull and incertain Peace which must be conserv'd with 150000. men Then he comes to speak of the outrage that was done to the Archbishop of Triers and the jeering illusory answer which was return'd about his liberty Then he speaks of his most deer great friends Allies and Confederats the States of the united Provinces with whom he had made a Ligue defensive and offensive but with this Proviso that what Towns or places whatsoever were taken the Catholique Religion should not be damnified but conserv'd still in the same condition Then he makes his addresse to the Flemins that if within two moneths they cause the Spaniards to retire from their Towns and Provinces they shall be joyn'd and united into a body of one free and independent State with all rights of soveraignty So he concluds with an Injunction to all his subjects to make war by sea and land night and day against the King of Spain a declar'd Enemy to his Person and state protesting before God and men that as he was reduc'd to the utmost extremity to take up arms for his own defence and for his Allies and friends so his main end
his majoritie and raigne and so our storie shall grow up with him in dimensions and yeares Of his Nativitie and Dauphinage LEwis the thirteenth second French King of the Bourbon line had for his father Henry the great and the great Duke of Toscanies daughter for his mother The first we know was sent out of the world by Ravaillac the second by Richelieu as some out of excesse of passion doe suggest For this great Queene having conceived a deep displeasure and animositie against him and not liking his counsels and course of policy to put quarrels and kindle a war betwixt her children in a high discontentment she abandon'd France and so drew a banishment upon her selfe which expos'd her to divers encumbrances removes and residences abroad and this some thinke accelerated her end For great spirits have this of fastnesse and constancie in them that where their indignation is once fixed for having their counsels cross'd their authoritie lessen'd and the motions of their soules resisted they come ofttimes to breake rather then bow As we see the huge Cedars who scorning to comply with the windes and stormes fall more frequently then the Willow and poore plying Osier who yeeld and crouch to every puffe But to our chiefe taske When the sixteenth Christian centurie went out Lewis the thir teenth came into the world and he began the seventeenth being borne in the yeere sixteene hundred and one about the Antumnall Equinoctiall which was held to be a good presage that he would prove a good Iusticer The Queene had a hard delivery her body having beene distemper'd by eating of fruit too freely so that when the Midwife brought him forth to the King and to the Princes of the blood in the next roome who according to the custome of France use to be present for preventing of foule play for an Heire apparant of the Crown his tender body was become black and blue with roughnesse of handling and the Midwife thinking to have spouted some wine out of her mouth into his the King tooke the bottle himselfe and put it to the Dauphins lips which reviv'd his spirits His publique Baptisme was not celebrated till five yeers after at Fontainebleau because the plague was in Paris and the solemnitie was greater in preparation and expectance then it was in performance The King would have had him nam'd Charles but the Mother over-rul'd and gave the law in that point and would have him called Lewis Paul the fifth was his godfather notwithstanding that the Spanish faction did predominate in the Conclave at his election which happen'd about the time the Dauphin was borne And the French Ambassadour then at Rome meeting with the Spanish at Saint Angelo and telling him Ilmio Rè há fatto un maschio my King hath made a sonne The Spanish Ambassadour answer'd il mio Rè há fatto un Papa and my King hath made a Pope It seemes that Mercury the father of eloquution and who hath the powerfullest influence ore the tongue was oppressed by a disadvantagious conjunction with a more praedominate planet at his Birth which appear'd by that naturall slownesse he had in his speech as Lewis the sixt his predecessor and last Emperour of the six French Kings had But a rare thing it was and not to be paralleld in any age that two of the greatest Kings of Europe I meane the Dauphin we now write of and His Majesty of England now regnant should come both into the world within lesse then ten moneths compasse the one in November the other in September next following I say a most rare thing it was that it should so fall out that as they were contemporaries in yeares and raigne the same kinde of utterance should be coincident and connaturall to them both though the haesitation be lesse in Him of November Besides it seemes he is richly requited with the advantage of an incomparable imperious pen wherein nature joyning hand with Art hath made him so rich a compensation that he may well claime the palme of all his progenitors But now againe to our Infant Dauphin which the English with other call Dolphin commonly but very corruptly for 't is not from a fish but a faire Province that he derives this appellation the very instant he comes into the world the ground whereof was this Humbert last Dauphin of Viennois having lost his eldest sonne in that famous battaile of Crecy against the English and his tother sonne having died of a fall from betwixt the Fathers armes as he was dallying with him The said Humbert being oppressed by the Duke of Savoy and others transmitted and bequeathed as free gift the brave Province of Dauphinè unto Philip of Valois then King of France with this proviso that his eldest sonne and so of all successive Kings should beare the title of Dauphin to perpetuity during their fathers lifes holding it as he did and his progenitors had done in fee of the Empire This was the sixteenth Dauphin since the first who was Charles the wise in the yeare 1349. whereby I observe that the precedent title of the presomptif Heire of the Crowne of France is not so ancient by halfe a hundred of yeares as the title of Prince of Wales to the Heire apparant of England which begun in Edward the firsts time who conferred that honour upon his sonne Edward of Caernarvon 1301. But this title of Dauphin seemes to have a greater analogie with the Dukedome of Cornwall which title was confer'd first upon the black Prince because this as that of Dauphin needes no creation for ipsissimo instante the very moment that any of the King of Englands sons come to be Heire apparant of the Crowne he is to have liverie and seisin given him of the Dutchy of Cornwall with all the honours and lands annexed for his present support Touching those publike passages of State that happened during the Dauphinage of Lewis the thirteenth while Henry the fourth lived we will nor meddle with them because we would not confound the actions of the father with those of the sonne He was educated with that speciall care and circumspection wherewith the Dauphins of France are wont to be bred as also with that freedome from overmuch awe and apprehensions of feare which is observed in the French breeding generally because the spirits may not be suppressed and cowd while they are ductible and young and apt to take any impression He was not much taken with his booke nor any sedentary exercise but with pastimes abroad as shooting at flyes and small hedge birds to which end his Father put to him Luynes who had many complacentious devices to fit his humour that way for which petty volatill sports he soard at last to the highest pitch of honour that a French subject could flie unto for of a gentleman in decimo sexto he was made Duke Peer and Lord high Constable of all France But he had the advantage to have the managing of his masters affection
by armed hand seizd upon the town and castle of Iuillers The opposit Princes having besieg'd him there sent to France for help Hereupon Marshall de la Chastre march'd with those 12000. Auxiliaries and his conjunction with the other Princes was so fortunat that Iuillers was rendred up upon composition to the Duke of Newburg and Marquis of Brandenburgh but with this proviso that the Roman Religion should still have free exercise there This relief of Iuillers was the first forren act that happen'd in the raign of Lewis the thirtteenth and the expedition was intended before by his father Although in successif hereditary Kingdomes as France and England where the law sayeth the King never dieth the act of Coronation be not so absolutly necessary as to appertain to the essence of the thing yet hath it bin used as a ceremony not superfluous for the satisfaction of the people Hereupon there were great preparations made for the crowning and the anointing of the young King with the holy oyle which is kept alwayes in the town of Rheims in a little vial and the French faith is That it is part of the same oyle wherewith Clovis who was the first Christian King of France converted by his wife above 1000. yeers since was anointed and that a Dove brought down in her beak the said vial into the Church and so vanish'd which oyl they say continues fresh and sweet and without diminution to this day The said vial was once caried away by the English but it was recovered by the inhabitants of Povilleux for which they enjoy divers priviledges to this day This ceremony of Coronation in France is a very solemn thing and continues above eight houres long without intermission The twelve Peers are the chiefest Actors in it whereof there are six Spiritual and six Temporal the last six have now no being in France but only in name For they ought to be the Dukes of Burgundy Normandy and Aquitain the Earls of Tholouse Flanders and Champagny all which are represented by Deputies in this act One of the first circumstances in this ceremony is that two Bishops come and knock in the morning at the Kings Bed-chamber dore the Great Chamberlain asks them what they would have they answer Lewis the thirteenth son to Henry the Great The Lord Chamberlain replies He sleeps The Bishops a while after knock gently again and demand Lewis the thirteenth whom God had given them for their King So the dore opens and he is caried in solemn procession to the great Church At the communion he takes the bread and the wine to shew that his dignitie is Presbyterial as well as Regal The Parisians are bound to provide certain birds which are let loose that day up and down the Church whereof one was observ'd to sit and sing a great while upon the canopy that was caried over the Kings head which was held to be an auspicious augury Grace before and after diner is sung before him and the sword is held naked all the while with a multitude of other ceremonies The King seeming to be tyred having bin so many hours in the Church and born the crown on his head with divers other heavy vests upon his body was ask'd what he would take to take the like pains again he answer'd for another Crown I would take double the pains The King and Queen Regent being return'd to Paris the scene where the last act of this pomp should be perform'd before the triumph was ended there was a dash of water thrown into their wine by news that was brought of an insurrection that was in Berry by Florrimond de Pay Lord of Vatan who undertook to protect certain Salt Merchants by arms which he had leavied but he was quickly suppress'd and his head chop'd off divers of his complices hang'd and strangled This was the first flash of domestic fire that happen'd in the raign of Lewis the thirteenth which was the more dangerous because the said Lord of Vatan was of the Religion and 't was fear'd the whole body of them would have abetted him There arise a little after two ill-favour'd contentions twixt Church-men which kept a great noise for the present One was of the Iesuits who presented a remonstrance to the Court of Parliament that by vertu of an Edict of Henry the Great 1611. they might be permitted to open their Colledg of Clermont for the instruction of youth and to erect Classes for the public Lecture of the Sciences in a scholary way The Rector of the Universitie seconded by the Sindic of Sorbon with the whole body of Academiks oppos'd it mainly The first thing the Court ordred was that the Jesuits should subscribe to a submission and conformitie to the Doctrin of the Sorbon Schoole in these foure points 1. That the Pope hath no power over the temporalls of Kings and that he cannot excommunicat them or deprive them of their Kingdoms 2. That the Counsell is above the Pope 3. That the Ecclesrastiques are subject to the Secular and Politic Magistrat 4. That auricular Confessions ought to be reveal'd which concern the State and lifes of Kings and Soverain Princes All which Propositions tended to the maintenance of royal authoritie the conservation of the sacred persons of Kings and the liberties of the Gallie Church The Jesuit shrunk in their shoulders at this motion so one in the name of the rest answer'd that amongst their Statuts there was one which oblig'd them to follow the rules and laws of those places where they were therefore they could not promise their General would subscribe to the foresaid propositions but their Provincial in France should do it with the whole Colledg of Clermont which was done accordingly yet the Parliament could never be induc'd to passe a Decree whereby they might be authorized to open their Colledg in Paris for the education of youth though afterwards the King and Queen Regent by sole advise of the Counsell of State notwithstanding the opposition of Parliament and Universitie pass'd an Edict in their favour And this was done out of pure reason of State for the world knows what dangerous instruments Jesuits are if offended The other scuffle amongst Church-men was of a greater consequence which was thus The Iacobins who are the chiefest order of preaching Friers have a generall Chapter every three yeers in Paris This convention happen'd this yeer and divers Tenets were propounded there One amongst the rest was That in no case the Counsell is above the Pope There sate in this Assembly many eminent persons as the Cardinal of Perron the Popes Nuncio with divers other great Prelats There were also some Presidents of Courts there and Counsellors and the Provost of Paris Amongst others Hacquevill President in the great Chamber of Parliament at the debatement of the said thesis stood up and averr'd that it was heretical whereat the Nuncio was offended and after some heat of argument pro and con Cardinal Perron took the word
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
acces that notwithstanding he seems to cast the fault upon certain Counsellors yet all bounds upon her by reflection she declares that long before the reception of his Letter she had resolv'd and to that end there were public dispatches abroad to summon the Convocation of the States Generall she takes exception that he should call them Estats seurs libres States sure and free which made her conceive a violent jealousie of some artifice on his side to sow seeds of difficulties in the said great Assembly she alledgeth that from the beginning she imparted both to him and the Co of Soissons the mariage with Spain that they approved of them and subscribed the Articles That the late King declared his inclination unto it when Don Pedro de Toledo pass'd through France And so she concluds with exhortation that he wold appear in the Assembly of the three Estates and bring with him all his Confederats to contribut the great zeal they professe to the common good of the Kingdom The Queens Letter was large and in it there was a curious mixture of meekness and Majestie The Duke of Vendosme sent her also two Letters but he could get no answer to either Thus a fearfull black clowd hung over poor France which the Queen Mother essayed by all means possible to dissipat before it shold break out into a tempest of intestine War therefore the King and she descended to send again the Duc of Vantadour accompanied with the Presidents of Thou and Ieanin with others to draw Conde to a treaty of accord which at last was agreed upon and the prime Capitulations were these 1. That the States Generall shold assemble in the Town of Sens within such a time wherin the Deputies of the three Orders may safely and freely make such Remonstrances and Propositions that they shall hold in their consciences to be profitable for the common good for the redresse of disorders and conservation of public tranquillity 2. His Majesty being willing to gratify the Prince of Conde hath upon his prayer and instance and upon assurance of his future affection and fidelity accorded to put into his hands the Castle of Amboise as a gage till the States Generall dissolve and 100. men for garrison in the said Castle 3. That 100. men shall be entertain'd in Mezieres 200. in Soissons whereof the Duc of Main is Governor till the States Generall have risen 4. That Letters shall be sent from his Majesty verified by the Court of Parliament wherin his Majesty shall declare unto the world that there was no ill intention against his service by the said Prince and his Associats therfore that they shold be never prejudic'd for the future in their estates or persons 5. That in consideration of the expences the said Prince might be at in this business his Majesty accords to give him 450000. Franks to dispose of as he shall think fit 6. That the eldest sonne of the Duke of Nevers shall succeed his father in the Government of Champany These with divers other Articles of this kind the King was induc'd I will not say inforc'd to condescend unto for preventing of greater evils and it was call'd the Treaty of Saint-Menehou And one would have thought that a gentle calme should have follow'd and that the meeting of the States General would have perpetuated it But behold two ill-favor'd accidents like two impetuous puffs put things again in disorder The one was that the Duke of Vendosin would not put Blavet into the hands of the Marquis of Caeuures according to the Kings command but stood still upon his gard in Britany The second was an affront which Conde alledg'd to have receiv'd from the Bishop of Poitiers who would not suffer him to enter the Town as he pass'd to his government of Dauphine and secur'd the Castle of Amboise being sought unto by the Governor the Duc of Roanez to establish his authoritie there The Bishop arm'd first and the town after his example Conde writes a Letter to the Queen Regent which did not please her well for he subscribes himself only her thrice-humble servant and neveu whereas he was us'd to write your thrice humble and thrice obedient servant and subject The Marquis of Bonnivet a creature of Condes had not yet dismissd all his troupes therefore under his authoritie he harasseth and plunders all the Countrey about Poitiers sacks the Bishops House and commits many sacrilegious and execrable outrages The young King hearing this gets presently a Horsback and sends the Duke of Main before to stop the ravages of Bonnivet so he followeth after and passing by Orleans Blois Tours and Chastel le heraud a cautionary town of them of the Religion who notwithstanding presented the Keys to his Majesty as he pass'd he came to Poitiers where he reconcil'd the Prince of Conde and the Bishop caus'd Bonnivet to disband his forces compos'd of Picaroons and vagabonds Thence he went to Nants where also he rang'd the Duke of Vandosme to obedience dismantled the Fort at Blavet and so having in a short compasse of time compos'd and quash'd all things he returns triumphantly to Paris where an Ambassadour was attending him from Zuric who desir'd to enter into an alliance with him as the rest of the Cantons had This was the first exploit that Lewis the thirteenth did in his own person which like the rising Sun dispell'd those frog vapors that hover'd in Poictou and Britany and it was held a good augury for the future The presence of a King is oft-times very advantageous for Rebellion durst never stare long in the face of Majesty which useth to lance out such penetrating refulgent rayes that dazzle the eyes of Traytors and put them at last quite out of countenance With this achievment we will conclude his Minority and his Mothers Regency And as this first expedition of his prov'd lucky so was his whole life attended with a series of good successes as if Fortune her self had rid with him all the while upon the same horse And now must we put a period to the first lustre of Lewis the thirteenths raign and with it to his minoritie or bassage We proceed to his second lustre wherewith his majoritie begins being arriv'd to the yeer fourteen The second Lustre of the Life of Lewis the 13th raigne and of his Majoritie ANd now our Story must mount up to his Majority and follow him to his full age wherein he entred at fourteen yeers and the broken number of the Lords yeer was coincident being sixteen hundred and fourteen But I have read an old Author who writes that without any consideration had of yeers the French Kings arrive to maturitie and are capable to sway the Scepter when they come to be as high as a sword let their age be what it will In the former Chapter we told you that by vertue of the Treatie of St. Menehou the Queen Regent had promis'd and was oblig'd to the Princes by
capitulation to summon the States Generall and suspecting there might be some desseins against her authoritie she endevour'd to prevent it divers wayes First in the Mandats sent to the Governors of Provinces and Towns for the elections of Deputies there were speciall cautions inserted to choose no factious persons The second means was to defer the convocation of the States Generall till the Kings majority was declar'd that so his authoritie might be the more compleat and absolut whereby he might have a greater power to take into his hands her interests and oppose such resolutions that might prejudice them Lastly whereas the said convocation was appointed first to be at Rheims then at Sens she sent summons abroad that it should be held at Paris where the King was strongest by the residence of his servants the affections of all orders of people and the assistance of the ordinary Court of Parliament which is still there sitting though it was us'd to be ambulatory with the Kings Court. Now the difference which is in France between an Assembly of the three Estates and their Parliaments is that the former hath an analogie both in point of institution power and summons with our Soverain high Court of Parliament in England compos'd of Lords and Commons wherein the King sits as head and it is He alone who opens and shuts it with his breath This being the greatest of all Assemblies treats of matters touching the universall good of the State and the making correcting or repealing of laws and it is the highest Sphere which gives motion to all the rest The Parliaments of France whereof there are eight have not the same latitude of power yet are they Supreme Courts or Sessions of Justice where mens causes and differences are publikly determined in last ressort without any further appeale and any Peer of France by right of inheritance hath a capacitie to sit there The day being assign'd for publishing the Kings Majority the Queen Regent and He with his now sole brother the Duke of Anjou for his brother the Duke of Orleans was lately dead went in a stately solemn maner to the Court of Parliament accompagnied with the prime Prelats and Peers of the Kingdom and amongst them there were fower Cardinalls A contestation happen'd 'twixt the Cardinalls and Peers for precedency because the twelve Peers of France before an Ordinance made by Henry the third preceded any Prince of the bloud at the Coronation and Sacring of the King and the declaration of his Majority was an Act reflecting on that Yet the King inordred the priority for that time to the Cardinalls because they were Princes of the Church universal which made the Peers retire from the Court lest it might serve for a precedent to future Ages The Court being sat and all silenc'd the Queen Regent riss up and said That she prais'd and thank'd God to have afforded her grace to bring up her son to the yeers of his Majority and to maintain his Kingdom in peace the best she could That now he being come to age she transmitted the Government to him exhorting the company there present and all other his subjects to render him that service obedience and fidelity which is due unto him as to their King The Chancelor hereupon pronounced the Arrest of the Court importing a verification of the declaration of his Majesties Majority which was done in a solemn studied Oration This great solemnity did not end so but it was accompagnied with four wholsom Edicts as the first fruits or hansels of his raign 1. The first aym'd at a general concord 'twixt his subjects by strict injunction of observing the Edict of Nantes concerning them of the Religion 2. The second aym'd at a generall obedience prohibiting all ligues confederacy and intelligence with any strange Prince or State under pain of lifs 3. The third against Duells 4. The fourth against Blasphemy and Swearing Thus ended the Regency of Maria de Medici in form though not in effect for she swayed a good while after as Queen Mother in all Counsels the King reposing still his chief confidence in her during her Regency she did many public things which discover'd a pious and Princely soul Amongst others she provided divers Hospitalls in the suburbs of Saint German for the relief of the poor the aged and sick and to set young people at work which will continue there as long as the walls of Paris for monuments of her honour and charity The King having notice that the Deputies of the three States were com he sent the B p. of Paris to warn them in his name to fit themselfs for receiving the grace of God that so a blessing might fall upon their consultations to which purpose three daies fast was enjoyn'd them to prepare them the better for the holy Communion which was also inordred them So according to ancient custom a generall Procession was made wherein divers ranks of Fryars and Hopitalers went before then followed the Deputies of the third Estate who took place according to the rank of the 12. Governments of France and made in number 192. The Nobles followed them in number 132. They of the Clergie went last who made 140. so that in all they came to 464. which number I observe is inferior to that of the English Parliament where the Members of the House of Commons alone which corresponds the Third Estate in France come to neer upon 500. After these the King himself followed on foot accompagnied with the Queen and the Princes and Peeres The next day after all met in Bourbon House hall where the young King told them That having not long since declar'd his Majority he thought fitting to convoque the States Generall of his Kingdom to begin his raign by their good advice and Counsell to receive their complaints and provide for redres accordingly as it should be more amply told them by his Chancelor who took the word therupon This generall overture and Ceremony being ended the States Generall spent some daies to visit one another and to choosing of their three Praesidents or Prolocutors which they presented to the King with protestation of all fidelity and obedience The next day they took the Communion all in one Church going six at a time viz. two of every Order to the holy Table The Munday following they reassembled intending to fall close to work but their proceedings were retarded by some differences which interven'd touching the rank of the 12. Provinces or Governments and this clash kept a great noise till the King interpos'd therin his Authority and by the advice of his Privy Counsel which they submitted unto made this decision marshalling the 12. Governments thus 1. the Isle of France whereon Paris stands 2. Burgundy 3. Normandy 4. Guyen 5. Britany 6. Champany 7. Languedoc 8. Picardy 9. Dauphine 10. Provence 11. Lionnois 12. Orleans This being regulated by the King they fell to the main work and three Propositions were made the first by
the Clergy wherewith the Nobles joyn'd 1. That the Counsell of Trent should be publish'd through France 2. That the venality and selling of Offices should be suppressed 3. That the King should acknowledge in this Assembly to have no other superiour power on earth in his Temporalls and that he held the Crown immediatly of God alone This last Proposition was put on by the third Estate against the intention and without the concurrence of Clergy and Nobles of purpose to hinder the concession of the other two because divers of the third Estate were favourers of them of the Religion and Financiers The first Proposition was couch'd in these termes That the Oecumenical Counsel of Trent be receiv'd and publish'd in your Realms and the Constitutions thereof kept and observ'd but without prejudice to your Majesties rights the liberties of the Gallic Church the priviledges and exepmtions of Chapters Monasteries and Cominalties which his Holinesse shall be prayed may be reserv'd and to remain in their entire strength so that the publication of the said Counsell may not prejudice them any way The Third Estate protested against this alledging these reasons That in the said Counsell there were divers Decrees whereby the Spirituall invaded the Temporall rights That it would be a thing not only prejudiciall but dishonourable for France to approve of a Counsell wherein the most Christian King had received a palpable injury in the persons of his Ambassadors who were postpos'd to them of Spain which caus'd them to retire and quit the said Counsell in sense of that indignity offer'd to them who personated the first son of the Church in so public a Convention They excepted also against that clause that the Pope should be prayed the liberties of the Gallic Church might be preserv'd for that was to submit them to a forren power to the Papall authoritie whereas the said liberties are independent and originally inhaerent in the Gallican Church and contemporary with Christianity it self The difference 'twixt Liberties and Priviledges being this that the latter presuppose the concession and grant of some superior Power but liberties are originall and immemorial possessions and equall to inheritances Touching the second Proposition of the Clergy and Nobles against the venality and merchandising of Offices it was wav'd because divers of the Third Estate were either Financiers or Officers of Justice which places they had bought and so had power to sell them again for money Touching the third Proposition that concern'd the independency of the French Crown which was presented by the Commons in opposition to the first Proposition made by the Clergy and Nobles for the publication of the Counsell of Trent the one being made out of a zeale to the State Civil the other to the State Spiritual there were hot bandings on both sides The third Estate or Commons would have it declared for a fundamentall law that the King being supreme and absolute in his own Dominions there is no power on earth either Spirituall or Temporall that hath any right to deprive him of his Crown or to dispense and absolve his subjects from their allegiance unto him This was done to extinguish that dangerous Doctrin broached by som how it was lawfull to kill Tyrants and if the Roman Bishop had power to declare Kings Tyrants their lifes would be expos'd to the passion of every Pope and so to perpetuall apprehensions of danger The Clergy and Nobles finding how pertinacious and resolute the Commons were in this point for securing the lifes of their Kings and fearing it might breed a schisme 'twixt the Apostolicall See and the Monarchy of France Cardinal Perron a man of high merit and moderation was sent to make a Remonstrance unto them which he reduced to three heads 1. That it is not permitted upon any cause whatsoever to kill a King 2. That the Kings of France are Soverains in all degrees of Temporal soverainty within their Realm 3. That there is no case wherby subjects may be absolved from their oth of fidelity to their Prince Concerning the first two he pronounc'd them as absolut and categoricall but touching the last the Cardinal said that in regard it might usher in a Schisme he left it as problematicall not positif The President or Speaker of the Commons answer'd that the third Proposition being politicall he conceiv'd it concern'd not the Doctrin of Faith and consequently could not introduce any schisme much bussling there was about this point the Commons being very eager in it having the Parliament of Paris siding with them who pass'd an Arrest in favour of them accordingly but the King evok'd the difference to himself commanding that nothing should be determin'd theron in regard that he being assured of his own right and possession it appertain'd not either to the States or to the Court of Parliament or any other arbiter whatsoever to take cognisance thereof and remarkable it was that the King did not evoke and call that matter to Himself and to his Counsell according to the ordinary form but absolutly to himself and his own Person But although the King commanded the said Decree of the Court of Parliament to be suspended the Attorney Generall made such diligences because he was a friend to the businesse that divers Copies were sent abroad The great Assembly drawing now towards a closure they brought their Cayers or papers of grievances to the King at Bourbon House hall The Bishop of Luson after Cardinall of Richelieu was Prolocutor for the Clergy the King presently delivered the said Cayers to his Chancelor promising them an answer with all convenient expedition Thereupon a little after he sent for them to the Louure his royal Palace and told them that in regard of sundry affairs of great importance he could not answer their Cayers so soon as he desired but he would give speedy order to do it in the interim they might carry along with them to the Countrey an assurance of the satisfaction they expected touching the chiefest Articles for he was resolv'd to suppres the selling of offices to ease his people of tallies and subsidies to cause a research to be made into the misdemeanures of his Receivers and Financiers and lastly to retrench the multiplicitie of Offices and Pensions which were encreas'd from about two millions of franks which was the stint in the former Kings raign to four millions which make four hundred thousand pounds sterling Observ'd it was that the Marshall of Ancre while this busines of retrenching Officers and Pensions was in hottest agitation amongst the States got three new Tresurers of Pensions to be created from whom he drew neer upon one hundred thousand pound sterling as you will find hereafter when it will be thrown into his dish This was the first and last Assembly of the three Estates or Parliament general that was held in the raign of Lewis the thirteenth which it seems found his grave then for there hath bin none ever since and there is
litte hopes of its resurrection while the Clergy and Nobles continue so potent who finding that the third Estate began to tamper with the Popes jurisdiction and Church matters have wrought means to hinder their meeting any time these 30. yeers and upwards This yeer died Queen Margaret the last Branch of the Valois being come of the loyns of thirteen successif Monarks of that line a Lady of a rare attracting exterior bewty she had a high harmonious soul much addicted to music and the sweets of love and oftentimes in a Platonic way She would have this Motto often in her mouth Voulez vous cesser d'aymer possedez la chose aymée Will you cease to love possesse the thing you love She had lodg'd Henry Duke of Guyse who was kill'd at Blois so far in her heart that being afterwards married against her will to Henry the fourth and divorc'd by mutuall consent she profess'd she could never affect him she had strains of humors and transcendencies beyond the vulgar and delighted to be call'd Venus Urania She would have Philosophers and Divines in her House and took pleasure to hear them dispute and clash one with the other she entertain'd fortie Priests English Scots and Irish she would often visit hospitals and did divers acts of charitie to satisfie for the lubricities of her youth There was an accident happen'd this yeer in Paris that made a mighty noise for the time Two of the Kings gards having fought and the one being kill'd the other fled into Sanctuary to the Abbey of St. Germain The Duke of Espernon fetch'd him thence by force Complaint being made to the King he put him over to the Court of Parliament to receive his doom for infringing the Priviledges of the Church and commanded him to deliver the Prisoner again to the Sanctuary or he would fetch him away himself The old Duke did so and coming to the Palace to appear before the Parliament a ruffling company of Souldiers and Cadets follow'd him who did some acts of insolency against the Lawyers by kicking them with their spurs in the Hall where none should come spurr'd this aggravated the busines but the Duke made a long submissive speech to the Parliament wherein he acknowledg'd his error concluding with an apology that they would excuse him if his discourse did not content their learned eares for having bin all his life time a Captain of foot he had learnt to do better then speak The prime President then rise up and said That since the King in imitation of his Progenitors intends to be more inclin'd to sweetnes and clemency then rigor The Court by his expresse command and in consideration of your long services beleeving the good rather then the bad doth graciously interpret the actions of an ancient Officer of the Crown and Peer of France and so receives your excuses hoping that this will occasion you and your children to render the King and the State such services as you are oblig'd to do and for the futur that you will contain your self within the bounds of that respect and honor which you owe to this Court There was mention made a little before how the Assembly of the States Generall was dissolv'd and that having deliver'd their Cayers of complaints to the King they were dismiss'd but with large parol promises only We related also how the Arrest made in the Parliament of Paris in Confirmation of the opinion of the Third Estate touching the independency of the Crown of France was commanded by the King to be suspended and that nothing should be determin'd therein This gather'd ill bloud which bred ill humors and so brake out into divers distempers afterwards as will appear For as in the naturall body if upon taking of Physic the superstuities be onely stirr'd and not purg'd it doth more hurt then good and makes the drug to remain in the stomach undigested So in civil Corporations if abuses be only moved and not remedied it makes the body Politic worse then it was The Parliament of Paris was sensible how the Arrest wherein they concurr'd with the Third Estate was slighted and countermanded therefore they publish'd an Order that under the good pleasure of the King all Princes Dukes Peers and Officers of the Crown which are capable of sitting and have deliberative votes in that Court should repair thither by such a time to consult of matters tending to his Majesties service c. When this Order pass'd the Prince of Condé was promis'd to be there but he was counter-commanded by the King nor did any of the rest appear yet the Parliament went on and fram'd a Remonstrance of abuses in Government which by their Deputies they sent to the King and being come to the Louure they danc'd attendance there a good while and afterwards they were brought up by a back odd way to the Kings presence where the Queen Mother was also present and divers Princes The prime President made an oylie complemental speech full of protestations of loyalty to his Majesty and afterwards delivered the Cayer of Remonstrances which was read aloud by one of the Secretaries of State wherein the Parliament instanced in divers grievances and that they resented nothing more but that in the face of the whole State the royal power was rendred and left problematical and doubtfull The young King was not well pleas'd with this Remonstrance and the Queen Mother much lesse Who told them that the King had just cause to be offended with the Parliament because against his command they had meddled with matters of State and that she was not so short sighted but that she could perceive how these things reflected upon her Regency which they had formerly highly approv'd of and the Assembly of States General had also thank'd her for Then the Chancelor took the word telling them that they had bin misinform'd in many things which they took upon trust and that they were much out of their account in that they alledg'd that the expences were greater and the receipts lesse under this King then his Father who reserv'd but eight thousand liures every yeer not two millions as they pretended So the prime President and the rest of the Parliaments delegats were dismiss'd with little or no countenance at all The Counsell of State spoak high language averring that the passing of the foresaid public Order to invite the Princes and Peers to meet in Parliament upon extraordinary occasions without his Majesties leave was an open and insupportable attempt upon his authoritie now that he is declar'd Major as also upon the authoritie of that Counsell therefore an Arrest issued out That the Parliaments Remonstrances were false calumnious and full of malice and disobedience and that therefore they should be drawn off the Register of the said Parliament and suppress'd for ever with an inhibition that the said Court should not meddle with matters of State but by the Kings command Before this Arrest was publish'd the
Parliament mainly endevour'd to give some contentment to their Majesties therefore they employ'd again the prime President with others To declare the great displeasure the Court had that their Remonstrance was not agreeable to their Majesties wils protesting that it was never the intention of the Court to touch upon their actions or the Queens Regency whom they acknowledg'd to have oblig'd all France by her wise conduct and care she had both of the Kings Person and the State that as they could not so they would never attempt any thing upon royal authority what they had don was to testifie the zeal which they owe and will shew eternally to their Majesties Persons That they most humbly desir'd them to remember that the very next day after the death of Henry the Great their Majesties were pleas'd to honor that Court with their presence desiring them to contribut their good Counsels for the conduct of the public affairs which oblig'd them to present the foresaid Remonstrances c. So they concluded with all possible submission and a desire that the said Arrest of his Counsel of State should not be publish'd This took away somthing of the inflamation for the time but it cur'd not the wound which began to fester more and more and so gangrend that the whole body politic was like to perish For what the Court of Parliament sought by supplication the Prince of Conde not long after sought by the sword who having divers of the greatest Princes and them of the Religion ligu'd with him brought their Petition upon the Pikes point Conde flew to that height that he proceeded not by way of Remonstrance but as if he had bin a Prince absolut by way of Manifesto He was then in Picardy whither the King had sent divers Letters by persons of good quality to invite him to come to Court and to accompany him in his voyage to Guyen to fetch the Infanta but all would not do for old Bovillon had infus'd other Counsels into his head and so he publish'd a Manifesto that the cause of his retirement from the Court was the insolent deportment of the Marshall of Ancre the dissipation of Henry the Greats treasure the introduction of strangers of Iewes Sorcerers and Magicians by the said Marshall and so he concluded King-like parlant en sire Wherefore we pray and warn all the the Princes Peers and Officers of the Crown and all such as call themselfs French to succour and assist us in so good an occasion And we require and adjure all forren Princes and strangers all the Allies and Confederats of this State to give us ayd and assistance c. These were the specious pretences that caus'd this Manifesto which divers forren Princes took in foul scorn that he should require them being but a vassal himself The truth is there was but one generall grievance and that was the Marshall of Ancre a Confident of the Queen Mothers whom she had brought with her from Italy his wife having bin her foster sister He had the greatest vogue at Court which being a stranger made him repin'd at The King and the Queen Mother were then resolv'd upon a journey to Burdeaux to receive the Infanta and to deliver the Daughter of France for the King of Spain Conde disswades the King from the voyage by Letters which were not well taken So while the one prepares for his journey the other arms for a war and gets on his party Longueville Bulloin and Mayn who had concluded the match with Spain yet refus'd to attend in the jour ney Thus a fearfull clowd hung over France yet nothing could deter the King from going to fetch his wife and the Queen Mother said That all the power of earth should not hinder him Besides he was straitned for money for so long and costly a voyage nor would the Chamber of Accounts verify in Letters to take any out of the Bastile whereupon the King went himself in Person accompagnied by the Queen his Mother his Chancelor Secretaries of State and others in whose presence the Coffers were open'd and two millions and a halfe of Liures which make 250000. pounds sterling were taken out and deliver'd to the Treasurer of the Privy Purse The King being to begin his journey the first thing he did was to secure Paris so he left Mounsier de Liencour Governour thereof and to authorise him the more he admitted him to the Court of Parliament by Letters Patents which the said Court did verifie notwithstanding the harsh answer they had had to their late Remonstrance at the Louure The Marshal of Ancre was sent to Amiens with a considerable Army And another Army was left under the command of the Marshal de Bois Daufin consisting of 16000. foot 1500. horse and 2000. Carrabins to make head against the Mutiners So the King and his Mother accompagnied with the Dukes of Guyse Elbaeuf and Espernon with a good number of Gentlemen with 1200. light horse his Guard of Suisses and others making in all 400. foot parted from Paris towards Bourdeaux and being come to Poictiers Madame his sister which was to be sent to Spain fell sick of the small Pox which detaind the Court there five weeks and so much retarded the journey In the intrim the Princes forces encrease and prosper exceedingly having had the best in three rencounters Old Bovillon had got 600. Reiters from the Marquis of Brandenburg who joyn'd with them they got over the Loire maugre the Royall Army under Bois Dauphin The Duke of Vandom was then with the King and he gave him Commission extraordinary to make levies of horse and foot and having by virtu thereof rais'd an Army of 10000. Combatants he declar'd himself afterward for the Princes and employ'd them against the King He who did thrive best amongst the Royalists was the Marshal of Ancre who in the interim had taken Corbes and Clermont The King caus'd a Declaration to be publish'd wherein Conde and all his Adhaerents were Proclaim'd Traytors and sent it to Paris to be verified by the Parliament which was never more puzzled in any busines those that were averse to the Match with Spain and favour'd the Mutineers endevour'd to elude the Registring of the royal Declaration alledging that the Princes of the bloud being the prime Peers could not be censur'd there without their Peers and that the presence of the King himself was requisit without which his bloud could not be judg'd After tough altercations the voices of the Court were reduc'd to two Opinions one was of 73. voices who order'd that the Declaration should be registred but the Person of the Prince excepted for a moneth during which time he should be warn'd to submit himself to his Majesty and all others should lay down their arms The other Opinion was caried by 78. voices which was that the Court order'd that the reasons for which they could not and ought not to proceed to verifie the said Declaration should be
sent to the King Condé to make his quarrel more colourable and being heightned by the said Arrest of the Parliament of Paris added divers Articles more to his Manifesto viz. 1. That further research be made for the assassinat of Henry the Great 2. That a reformation be made of the Kings Counsell 3. That the grievances of the three Estates be answer'd with divers other They of the Religion were yet Neutrals and thinking to fish in these troubled waters propos'd these high demands 1. That the independence of the French Crown be declar'd 2. That the Counsell of Trent be never publish'd in this Kingdom 3. That his Majesty shall be desir'd to declare that upon his Coronation oath for extirpation of heresies he understood not or comprehended his subjects of the Religion 4. That in all public Acts it shall be inserted no more the pretended reform'd Religion but only Religion 5. That their Ministers shall be payed by the King c. These with divers other Propositions were first made at Grenoble where the King permitted them to Assemble but Lesdigueres could not endure them there therefore they remov'd to Nismes and thence to Rochell notwithstanding that the King commanded the contrary The Prince of Condé had an Agent in the Assembly who much press'd them to enter into the ligue with him which they did at last and writ a Letter to the King of the cause of their conjunction with Condé And as the King was importun'd by them of the Religion one way so was he sollicited by the Roman Catholiques of Bearn on the other side that his Majesty would please to restablish them in the possession of their goods whereof they were depriv'd by Iane d'Albret his paternal granmother Amongst these counter-distractions there came news unto the King that the 6000. Suisses which he had from the Protestant Cantons had quitted his pay and party and return'd to their own Countrey by the perswasion and practises of them of the Religion Madame the Kings sister being recover'd He went to Bourdeaux where the Spanish Ambassadour came to demand her for the Prince of Castile The Duke of Guise had a Procuration to marry her the next day which he did the Cardinal of Sourdis officiating and the pietie of the King much appear'd in the ceremony because he commanded the Cardinals Chaire should be put on a higher ground then his The same day the Duke of Lerma married the Infanta of Spain in Burgos for the King of France These nuptial ceremonies being perform'd Madame now Princesse of Castile departed from Bourdeaux conducted by the Duke of Guyse and in regard a rumor ran that they of the Religion as also the Count of Grammont with others who were said to have ligu'd with Condé had way-laid the young Bride the King commanded all the Regiment of his gard to attend her putting himself in the interim in the hands of them of Bourdeaux The exchange of the two Princesses was made upon a river call'd Bidasso hard by St. Iohn de Luz which separats those two mightie Kingdoms there were two stately Barges to waft them the Spaniards on their side had a huge vast globe representing the world rais'd upon a pavilion very high which made an ostentous shew The Duke of Guise took exception at it and protested he would never bring o're the Princesse till it was taken down which was done accordingly The next day the young Queen came to Bayon where Luynes then favorit to the King attended her with a Letter all written by the King himself in these words Madame since I cannot according to my desire find my self neer you at your entrance into my Kingdom to put you in possession of the power I have as also of my entire affection to love and serve you I send towards you Luynes one of my confident'st servants to salute you in my name and tell you that you are expected by Me with much impatience to offer unto you my Self I pray therefore receive him favorably and to beleeve what he shall tell you Madame from your most deer friend and servant Lewis Luynes deliver'd her also from the King two rich Standards of Diamonds which she receiv'd and kiss'd and from her table at Supper She sent a dish of meat unto him In the morning She return'd this Answer to the King Sir I much rejoyc'd at the good news Luynes brought Me of your Majesties health I come therewith being most desirous to arrive where I may serve my Mother and so I am making hast to that purpose and to kisse your Majesties hand whom God preserve as I desire Anne Being come afterwards to Bourdeaux they both receiv'd the nuptial benediction in magnificence according to the qualitie of the act and the persons and medals were made and thrown up and down with this Motto aeternae foedera Pacis pledges of eternal peace but the Poet that made that peece of verse for a Motto was no good Prophet for the eternal peace he spoake of lasted not many yeers between the two nations who notwithstanding that nature hath conjoyn'd them neer enough in point of local distance there being but a small river whereon the two Princesses were exchang'd that severs them yet there is no two people on earth are further asunder and more differing in disposition affections and interests being herein right Antipodes one to the other By this alliance is verified the saying of the Italian that Kings may wed but kingdoms never It appears also hereby what a hard destiny and sorry condition attends the daughters of Soverain Princes who are commonly made sacrifices of State and oblations for Politicall respects being also to be maried to aliens and oft-times to husbands of a different Religion they are wood by Proxy they must choose by picture fancy upon trust and tied in a knot indissoluble to one they never saw but in effigie perchance and afterwards they must be contented to be unpatriated disterr'd and as it were banish'd for ever from their own sweet native soyle and the ayr they first breath'd yet as the Civilian saith although they are the end of the House whence they come they are the beginning of that wherein they enter While the King was celebrating his nuptials in his town of Bourdeaux by divers inventions and exercises of pastime and pleasure as masks tilting playes bals and dances Condé with his Confederats leads another kind of dance up and down France but while he danc'd and revell'd thus the poore Countrey sung lachrymae being pitifully oppress'd torn and harass'd in most parts there being six or seven armies in motion on both sides he encreas'd mightily by concourse of partisans by conjunction of them of the Religion and by divers successfull rencounters The King on the other side was at a very low ebb having exhausted that two millions and a half of liures he had taken himself in person out of the Bastile and being put to hard shifts to get money to
defray his ordinary expences the town of Bourdeaux to her eternal glory shew'd herself carefull of his honor and supplied him Add hereunto that two whole armies fell from him that of the Suisse consisting of 6000. and that under the Duke of Vendosm being the greater of the two the one only left him the other turn'd against him and the whole body of them of the Religion declar'd it self against him and actually help'd the other side Moreover his Parliament at Paris would not verifie his Edicts Yet in the midst of all these straits He marcheth resolutly from Bourdeaux with his new Queen to joyn his army with Bois Dauphin with a purpose either to present battaile to the adverse party or to draw them to a treaty Espernon met him in the way with 4000. foot and 500. horse The Duke of Nevers did very much labour and made journeys to and fro for an accommodation and his endevors took so good effect that a Conference was agreed on at Lodun where Commissioners were appointed and did meet on both sides in the interim the Duke of Guyse perform'd a notable exploit with 2000. of the Kings prime horses wherwith he set upon three Regiments of Condés at Nantueil which he slew took and put to flight carrying all their colours to the King for a present Hereupon a suspension of arms was accorded through all the Kingdom except in Anjou Perch and the frontiers of Britany where Vendosm continued all acts of hostility notwithstanding that he had his Deputy at the Conference The King was then advanc'd to Chastel le Heraud where Villeroy deliver'd him the Articles of the Truce sign'd by the Princes and where a Legat came from the Pope to deliver him the Imperial Sword and to the Queen the Rosetree of flowers and leaves of gold Thence the King went to Blois where after a long debate an Edict of Pacification was publish'd upon the Treaty of Lodun which consisted of 54. Articles wherein all the Princes with their adhaerents as also They of the Religion found satisfaction and divers persons of base condition were nominated therein which the world cryed shame upon By this Edict the King approv'd of all actions pass'd as having bin done for his Service and by consequence tacitly disadvow'd what He and his Counsell had ordain'd to the contrary The former Arrests of the Court of Parliament of Paris which the King had suspended were reestablish'd and they of the Counsell of State annull'd and many high demands were accorded to them of the Religion The Chancelor Sillery and divers others who were the Kings Favorits before were outed of their offices Besides the said Edict there were also secret Articles condescended unto containing rewards and honors to some particular men in lieu of punishment and they were presented in a privat close way to the Parliament to be verified with the gran Edict The Court wav'd them a while but afterwards by expresse commandment of the Kings and by a Declaration he made that those secret Articles contain'd no more then what was granted in the secret Articles of the Edict of Nants already verified by the same Court the businesse pass'd though with much reluctancy for if those of Nants were verified what need these being the same have a second verification This as it were enforc'd Verification was accompagnied with Letters Patents from the King in special favor to the Prince of Condé and others Letters in favor of them of the Religion by which his Majesty declar'd not to have understood his subjects of the Reform'd pretended Religion in the Oath and Protestation he had made at his Coronation to employ his sword and power for the extirpation of heresies which put the world in an astonishment because it made the meaning of the Taker of that Oath and of the Prelat who administred it to differ This turn'd afterwards rather to the disadvantage then the benefit of the Demanders for those hard and high termes which reflected so much upon the conscience of a yong King stuck deep in his breast nor could he ever digest them as will appear in the ensuing Story Nor was his honor thought much to suffer hereby being newly come out of his nonage little vers'd in the art of Government and having not attain'd that courage and yeers which use to strike awe into Subjects This shrew'd tempest being pass'd the weather broak up and clear'd And the King brought his new Queen to Paris having surmounted such a world of difficulties and waded through a sea of troubles he had bin absent thence neer upon a twelvemoneth therefore you may well imagin with what joy and triumph the Parisians receiv'd him Observable it is that in this voyage the King notwithstanding that he had condescended to hard capitulations yet he attain'd his main ends which was to perfect the Alliance with Spain and to fetch home his wife in safety which he did maugre the great Martiall oppositions that were made by most of the Princes of France who malign'd the match In this yeer there happen'd some ill-favor'd jarrs in Italy twixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantova about Monferrat The King employed thither the Marquis of Coeuures to compose the difference but he return'd without doing any good notwithstanding that the Ambassador of his Majesty of Great Britain joyn'd with him He sent afterwards the Marquis of Rambovillet who caried himself with more addresse for he tamper'd with the affections of the French and Suisses which made the better part of the Duke of Savoys army with such dexterity that the Duke entring into a diffidence of them hearkned to a Treaty Don Pedro de Toledo then Governor of Milan was arm'd for the Mantovan and by this Treaty both Parties were to disband in the interim if the Spaniard attempted any thing upon Monferrat France should assist his Highnes of Savoy But the Spaniard though he attempted nothing yet he reinforc'd his Troupes which struck an apprehension of fear into the Venetians who of all Nations are most eagle-ey'd to foresee dangers because there was a small difference twixt them and the Archduke of Grats about the Uscochi which made them confederat and co-arme with the Savoyard there were great Forces on both sides and Don Pedro took Verselli Damian but his Majesty of France employ'd thither Mons. de Bethune who procur'd a Treaty in Pavia to that end which took effect but the Spaniard afterwards delaying to give up Vercelli Modene Luynes kinsman was sent thither who did the work The difference also twixt the Republic and the Archduke of Grats was accommoded by French intercession so that in lesse then a twelve moneths four Ambassadors went from France to Italy About this time the Lord Hayes afterwards Earl of Carlile came in a very splendid equippage to Paris to congratulate in his Majestie of Great Britain's name 1. The alliance with Spain 2. The arrivall of the new Queen 3. The Kings return to Paris 4. The end
acknowledge him Governor of the Countrey of Aunis and of their Town which he pretended to derive by Patent from the raign of Henry the third He had also a grudge unto them that they had debauch'd the conscience of the Count of Candalle his son by inducing him to abjure his Religion and to professe theirs Espernon was commanded to wave that quarrel and to come to assist against the Princes divers others were wrought upon to abandon their party amongst the rest the Duke of Nevers was much sought and he refusing he was accus'd to have said That he was descended of a better House then the Queen Mother which he utterly disavowed and offer'd to combat the raiser of that report in Duel The obloquy and hatred of Ancre encreased daily and the executing of Colonel Stuard and Hurtevant with erecting of new gibets in divers places about Paris and one upon the new Bridge hard by the Louure in terrorem all which was imputed to the Marshall of Ancre exasperated the humors of the Parisians against him more and more in so much that it was an easie thing to be a Prophet what would become of him Luynes with others at Court infusd daily new thoughts of diffidence of him into the young King who had taken exception at some personall comportment of his by putting on his Hat when he play'd with him at Biliards so in a close Cabinet consultation twixt the King Luynes and Vitry who was Captain of his Guard the King gave him command to seize upon the said Marshall of Ancre and in case of resistance to kill him The businesse was carried wonderfull close and two dayes after the Marshall entring the Louure Vitry was prepar'd with his guard about him and while the Marshall was reading of a Letter Vitry comes and grapples him by the shoulder and told him he was commanded by the King to arrest him Me said Ancre yes you by the death of God mort Dieu repli'd Vitry hereupon Ancre laying his hand upon his sword to deliver it as most thought Vitry with a loud voyce cri'd out Kill him thereupon he received three Pistols shots into his body and was presently dispatch'd Vitry with naked sword in his hand cri'd out that none should stir For he had executed but the Kings commands Hereupon those hundred gentlemen which had attended the Marshall that morning to the Queens Court where he was us'd to go the back way slunk away and not one drawn sword appear'd amongst them The King being above in a gallery and hearing a noise below ask'd what the matter was one answerd that the Marshall of Ancre was kill'd and being told the manner he said I will make good what Vitry hath done and giving a caper he said I am now King of France I have no competitor Vitry presently after broke into Leonora's chamber Ancres wife seiz'd upon her person upon all her Trunks and Cabinets where in gold and jewels there was the value of above an hundred thousand pounds sterling Her Chamber was next the Queen Mothers who sending in for Vitry ask'd him without any shew of dismay whether he had kill'd the Marshall Yes Madame said he and why because the King had commanded me Ancres body was buried in a little Church hard by the Louure and stones laid and flatted upon the grave but the next morning the laquays of the Court and rabble of the City came and digg'd up his coffin toare his winding sheet and dragg'd his body through the gutters and hang'd it upon the new gibet which he had commanded to be set up upon the new bridge where they cut off his nose eares and genitories which they sent for a Present to the Duke of Mayne at Soissons and nayl'd his eares to the gates of Paris the rest of his body was burn'd and part of the ashes hurl'd into the river and part into the ayer His wife was then imprison'd search'd and raz'd for a Witch though little or no proofs God wot were produc'd against her only that she employ'd some Jews as also that she had bewitch'd a Spanish Ginet the Duke of Mayn had at Soissons which he should have mounted one morning but Mounsier Maurice his son who was Keeper of one of the chiefest Academies of Paris riding him before and the Horse having pranc'd and curvetted a good while under him he suddenly fell gave a grone and so breath'd his last and the Rider was taken up for dead and continued in a sleepy trance 48. houres together So she was also executed afterwards and the difference twixt her husband and her was this that she had the favor to dye after Sentence was given and he before for his indictment was made after his death and then his sentence pass'd when he was in tother world Thus Conchino Conchini a Florentin born Marquis of Ancre and Marshall of France was demolish'd or rather extinguish'd in a most disastrous manner and his wife Leonora Galligay beheaded who shew'd a notable Roman resolution at the block their estate which was not above four thousand pound sterling per an was given to Luynes most part of it They left one only male child who being young was sent to Italy where he lives to this day in a Noble equippage by the title of Earl of Pena though pronounced ignoble in France by an arrest of the Court of Parliament A stout man this Marquis of Ancre was a good Soldier and a compleat Courtier he was endowed with divers good parts only he wanted moderation and therein he did degenerat from an Italian There were divers censures abroad of this act of the young Kings and indeed it was the worst thing he did in all his life being an act fitter for the Seraglio then his Castle of the Louure for the wisest sort of men wonder'd that he should stain the walls of his Court with a Christians bloud in that manner without any legall proceeding against the party He sent Letters to the severall Princes that were in arms to content them as also to satisfie the world and all of them of this tenor following My Cousin I doubt not but in the cours of affairs which have pass'd since the death of the late King my Lord and Father whom God absolve you have observ'd how the Marshall of Ancre and his wife abusing my minority and the power which they acquir'd upon the spirit of the Queen my Mother have projected to usurp all authority to dispose absolutly of all matters of State and to deprive me of the means to take cognisance of mine own affairs a dessein which they have push'd on so far that hitherto there hath remain'd unto me but the sole name of a King and that it was a kind of capital crime for my Officers and subjects to have acces unto me and to entertain me with any serious discours which it pleasing God to make me perceive and to point out the danger which my Person and State
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
she came he still mistrusted if she return'd to Court she would project some way of revenge c. The King came the next day in Coach with the young Queen his two Sisters and the two Princes of Savoy to the House where the Queen was and there was a compleat glorious Court the mutual demonstrations and postures of tendernes which Mother and Son shew'd at their first enterview melted the hearts of all the Spectators A few daies after all parted the King and his Queen towards Paris the Queen Mother to Anger 's and the Princes of Piemont put themselfs in their journey to crosse the Alps. A little after the Prince of Condé was enlarg'd and the King sent him this Letter by his Favorit My Cosen I will not tell you how much I love you you see it I send my Cosen the Duke of Luynes unto you who knows all the secrets of my heart and will open them unto you Come away as soon as you can for I expect you with impatience in the interim I will pray God to preserve you in his holy grace Lovis Luynes having taken his oath as Duke and Peer of France in the Court of Parliament he moved the King to perfect the number of the Cavaliers of his Order the Order of the Holy Ghost who being an hundred by the primitive institution were now diminished to twenty eight so there were divers more created to the number of fifty nine whereof Luynes two brothers Cadenet and Brande were two Luynes plot was to ingratiat himself hereby into the Nobility but it prov'd otherwise for the Competitors that were excluded grew to be more bitterly his foes then they who were instal'd Knights became his friends Much murmuring also was at his two brothers this Order being the next degree to bring one to be Duke and Peer of France As the Ceremonies of these new Knights were a performing the two Princes of the bloud Condé and Soissons being at Court as the King was ready to sit down at diner the Steward of the Houshold deliver'd the towell to Soissons to give the King Condé perceiving it would have had it from him but he would not part with it so they fell to high words one saying it was his right as he was prime Prince of the bloud the other as he was gran Master of France as they were debating the point in hot termes the King sent for his brother to whom the Count of Soissons deliver'd it so with much ado the King made them both friends upon the place and the next day many hundreds of Gentlemen appearing on horseback and offring their service on both sides there came out a strict Order from the King there should be no more stirring in the businesse It fortun'd about this time that the young Queen fell sick and there were extraordinary Offices of devotion performed for her recovery and a generall Procession Ordred where the whole Court of Parliament assisted in their red robes The Queen being recover'd she employed the fifteen thousand Crowns which the King had given her for a ball to works of Piety and Charity The Kings Exchequer was at a very low ebbe at this time whereupon there came out an Edict call'd the Bursall Edict which tended to raise money and the King mistrusting the verification of it by the Court of Parliament went thither himself in great state where the Lord Keeper made a speech a bout it The Prime President answer'd him boldly That the Court receiv'd violence to verifie such Edicts without any precedent deliberation that being well assur'd of the goodnes and justice of his Majesty the Court imputed this disorder to ill counsell and therefore desired the names of them who gave him this damnable counsell should be given up and registred in Parliament to be proceeded against accordingly Servin the Kings Advocat was more hardy saying That his Majesty did wrong himself to come to Parliament to authorise by his presence that which could not be done with reason and justice Yet the Edict pass'd and that afternoon the Court of Parliament was commanded to wait at the Louure where his Majestie told them That he was ill edified by their Remonstrances which he found very insolent The Lord Keeper told them That to some ill purpose they thought to separat the King from his Counsell by blaming the one and exempting the other for being inseparable the offence must bring the blow upon both together a thing not to be endured by a Soverain Prince who is to exspect punctuall obedience from his subjects so the prime President making a large apologie at last they were dismiss'd with recovery of the Kings grace The prodigious and violent promotions of Luynes in dignity power wealth and command made him the object of envy to some of hatred to others of amazement to all nor was he contented to hoise himself so but he must pully up his two brothers along with him so there was a kind of generall discontentment fomented in the hearts of the people which was aggravated by the late shift the King had made to get money and the clash he had with the Parliament of Paris so mens minds were susceptible and ready to receive any impressions of mislike against the present Government The Duke of Mayn had a particular discontentment that Cadenet afterwards Duke of Chaune which was erected into a Pairrie a Peership of France had maried the Heiresse of Peguigny whom he had sought for wife so he with divers other Princes started out and put themselfs in armes the Count of Soissons Vendosm and the Gran Prior of France his brother both naturall sons to the last King went to the Queen Mother at Anger 's who quickly entred into the league They of the Religion offer'd her conjunctive forces which she wav'd but the Duke of Mayn presently accepted of them which made his army swell to 12000. and upwards Hereupon the King sent the Duke of Montbazon to invite the Queen Mother to Court and to assist in Counsell but she excus'd herself by indisposition of body though it was only of mind He sent again the Archbishop of Sens unto Her with a second invitation to Court and he would meet her in the way as far as Orleans but she continued still distrustfull and jealous of some plot upon her thinking that Fistula dulce canit volucrem dum decipit Auceps She inveighs bitterly against the present Favorits how they exhausted the Kings Tresure offended most of the Princes and dispos'd of all offices and honors making men of mean extraction lately Knights of the Holy Spirit and excluding ancient Gentlemen of merit these complaints she couch'd and enlarg'd in two Letters one to the King himself the other to the Parliament of Paris which the Court would not open but sent them to the King The discontented Princes grew daily more and more powerfull so it was high time for the King to get a Horsback which
to detain still the possessions of the Church 2. Others thought it was fit to give the King some contentment but in appearance only and to verifie the Edict assuring themselfs that it could never be put in execution it would meet with so many difficulties 3. Others thought it best to delay the verification to another time The King understanding that they were thus chopping of Logic and that the Synod also which was there then sitting did mainly resist the verification of his Edict He resolves to go thither himself though many disswaded him from the journey by reason of the uncouth wayes the sory lodgings the waters in some places poyson'd by Sorcerers and the scarcity of provision in the Lands of Bourdeaux But none of these reasons could deter the King therefore he prepares for his voyage and in the interim he sent a person of quality to the Rochellers to acquaint them with the Elusory answers which the Bearnois made to his commands and therefore he advis'd and requir'd them to have nothing to do in this busines They of Rochell little regarding what the King said but undertook the protection of the Bearnois The King being advanced in his journey neer Pau the Inhabitants sent to know how he would be receiv'd the King asked if there were ever a Church in the Town if there were he would enter as their Soverain if not he would receive no honor in a place where God Almighty had no House to be honor'd in so he entred without any Ceremony They of the Religion making three parts of the people forbore to send Commodities to Pau Market during the Kings sojourn there to constrain him to go away the sooner so that his train made hard shift to subsist all the while He goes thence to Navarrenz seven leagues neerer the hills a strong tenable place having 45. peeces of Ordnance and 40. Culverins the old Governor Bertrand de Sales sent the keys of the Town to the King where he peaceably entred contrary to all expectation he put in a new Garrison of French there and plac'd another Governor giving for recompence to the old 60000. Franks He also caus'd Masse to be sung there which had not bin done fifty yeers before so having settled all things at Navarrenx he return'd to Pau where the great Church which they of the Religion had turn'd to a Temple was restor'd to the Priests and two thousand crowns given for satisfaction In fine having cast the Church into its old mould and the Military with the Civill Government into a new and leaving a competent strength with La Force to preserve both he took post and came safely and triumphantly to Paris in a few dayes The Bearnois made their addresses to the French Churches and exhibited their complaints unto them and for their justification they alledg'd two reasons One was a possession of fifty yeers continued without interruption of those revenues the King had ravish'd them of The second was an Ordinance of the States Generall of Bearn confirm'd by a Declaration of Henry the Great to that effect The Roman Catholiks answer'd That for the possession they speak of it was violent and accompagnied with rebellion and felony Touching the Assembly of the States Generall which they urg'd it was altogether illegal because the first and most noble part which was the Clergy was excluded by a cruel persecution and for Henry the Great he was then himself a persecutor of the Catholiks The French Reformed Churches which are neer upon eight hundred did much resent the usage of the Bearnois thereupon there was a great Assembly held at Loudun without the Kings permission wherein they resolv'd to assist their brethren of Bearn They drew up Cayers or papers to present unto the King containing sundry demands 1. The first that his Majesty would please to revoke his arrest given in favor of the Ecclesiastiks of Bearn 2. A continuation of their Cautionary Towns foure yeers longer the time being now expir'd 3. They demanded leave to change two Governors which were turn'd Catholiks When these Papers were presented to the King he sent their Deputies word by Condé and Luynes that his will was that first of all they should separat the Assembly and six moneths after their separation they should be favourably answer'd They prai'd this promise might be digested in writing to an Act they were answer'd That it was an indecent and derogatory thing for a Monark to treat in that manner with his subjects as if his word were not sufficient The Deputies receiv'd little satisfaction in this so they returnd to Loudun wher the Assembly continued still notwithstanding two Declarations publish'd by the King wherein they were commanded to separat upon pain of being proclaim'd Traytors They little valu'd the Kings Declarations but dissolving their Assembly at Loudun they sent summons up and down to meet at Rochell where in a greater eagernes and zeal to the Cause then before they solemnly conven'd notwithstanding another new Prohibition of the Kings verifi'd by the Court of Parliament in Paris Hereupon the busines was put into deep deliberation at the Counsell of State whether the King should declare war against the whole body of the Religion or particularly against those that had met at Rochell and the latter opinion took place for these reasons 1. First it could not stand with justice to force consciences to quit that beleef which had bin so long tolerated 2. Secondly that declaring a war against the whole body of them of the Religion might bring in forren ayd 3. Thirdly that if a war were pronounc'd in generall many of the Kings best servants would be involv'd therein and provok'd as the Duks of Trimoville Bovillon Lesdigueres Suilly Chastillon Brassai Montgomery Blamville with divers other of his best sort of subjects The King in regard his Treasury was much drain'd was loth to plunge himself in a serious war again the Rochelers therefore to comply with them he accorded a continuation of their cautionary Towns for five yeers longer notwithstanding that they demanded but foure He also gave them leave to change the Governor of Lectour Castle and to choose a new Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris two things they insisted much upon but they prevail'd little with them unlesse the late Edict of Bearn were revok'd Hereupon the Gran Assembly at Rochell reinforc'd it self and went on more roundly then ever there were also up and down the Countrey divers other meetings as Synods Colloquies Circles and demy-circles which conven'd and consulted They of Rochell went higher and higher they had a new public sealemade they establish'd a new Court of Admiralty and stamp'd new Coines They made 47. Ordinances which were printed and commanded to be strictly observed through all the Reformed Churches They nominated Governors of Provinces and impos'd taxes at pleasure The King was much incens'd at these traverses yet nothing could move him to declare war against the whole body of them
any one Faction in France He left two living Monuments of his greatnes behind him which were his two brothers one whereof was Marshall but both of them Dukes and Peers of France The repulse before Montauban and the death of Luynes gave some matter of resentment to the King for the present but he quickly pass'd it over And having settled matters to his best advantage in Guyen he return'd to Bourdeaux and so came to keep his Christmas at Paris The Spring following he gets a horseback again and it was high time for him in regard there was a generall insurrection of them of the Religion both in Dauphiné Languedoc Guyen and Poitou In the last Soubize had got a considerable army of 7000. foot and 600. horse and 9. Pieces of Ordnance The King parts from Paris upon Palm-Sunday which was cryed up to be a good augury that he would return with the Palm the Emblem of victory so marching to Poitou he found out Soubize entrench'd in certain little Islands call'd Rie Perier upon the Kings approach Soubize abandons the place and with a few Horse got along the sands to Rochell the whole Army being thus left headlesse in a fearfull consternation all began to flie and some thought to save themselfs through the Marasse where many hundreds miserably perished those that stayed behind the King were pardon'd only 13. were hang'd for example and they were some of those that had taken an oath at Saint Iohn d' Angely never to bear arms against the King there were kill'd and drown'd in all above two thousand Reformists in this rencounter After this Royan was rendred after a pertinacious siege and a great slaughter on both sides The King thence marcheth to Guyen where the Duke of Elbaeuf had done divers exploits Insomuch that in a short time all the towns of Guyen were reduc'd to the King except Montauban amongst others there were three towns call'd Tonnenx knotted one in another which were utterly extinguish'd with prohibition for any ever to build there again Being in Carcassona upon his March to Montpellier there were two signall things done Soubize was proclaim'd Traitor for flying to England to sollicit for forrein ayd And old Lesdeguiers was made Constable of France Chastillon also a little after came to be Marshall for giving up Aiguemortes the first had that high Office provided he would go to Masso which he did but the last persisted still in his Religion The King appear'd now in Person before Montpellier and a great deal of earth was thrown up by his Pioners before he came the trenches being almost finish'd there were divers furious Sallies from within and Assaults from without happen'd in this Siege and many gallant Gentlemen lost amongst others the young Duke of Fronsack unic son to the Count of Saint Paul was condol'd with much regret And the King was like to have had the same fortune there which he had before Montauban had not the Duke of Vendosme come with a timely supply of five thousand fresh combatants The Duke of Rohan and Constable Lesdiguieres old in yeers and new in Office had privat meetings the former going into the Town carried the busines with that power and wrought so far upon the affections of the Inhabitants of Montpellier that he made them inclinable to let in the King provided that their fortifications might continue entire and that they might be exempt from Cittadel Governor or Garrison upon such termes they with the whole body of the Religion would conform themselfs to a generall Peace which was a little after proclaim'd before Montpellier in form of an Edict to this effect That the Edict of Nants with the secret Articles thereunto annexed should be inviolably kept as under the raign of Henry the Great That the exercise of the Catholic Roman Religion should be reestablish'd where it hath bin interrupted and the Ecclesiasticks restor'd to all their goods That likewise they of the Reformed Religion should exercise it freely in all those places where it was practis'd before these commotions That all new fortifications should be demolish'd specially in the Islands of Re Oleron and the old wals only stand That all Assemblies particular and generall be prohibited to them of the p Reformed Religion for the futur unlesse it be upon affairs purely Ecclesiastic under pain of the crime of Treason That an abolition be granted of every thing pass'd except of those execrable cases reserv'd by the Article 86. of the Edict of Nants That Catholicks as well as Reformists be chosen promiscuously in civill Offices c. This being done the Deputies of the Reformed Churches coming to attend the King they were made to stoop at the entrance of the Kings lodging and afterward having first desir'd pardon they presented the Keys of the Town unto him So the next day he entred the Town and having settled all things thereabouts the King went to Provence and so to Avignon the Popes Town where the old Duke of Savoy came to visit him Thence he returns to Lyon where he found the two Queens The Prince and Princesse of Savoy came also thither to attend him Geneva likewise sent thither her Deputies who made an Oration to the King upon their knees all the while From Lyon He came triumphantly to Paris to begin the new yeer 1623. in Peace after such a long Martial progres While the King was himself in person up and down Poitou and Guyen to represse them of the Religion the Duke of Guyse by Sea who had an Auxiliary Fleet of eight of the King of Englands Ships joyn'd with him for which the Duke of Buckingham was afterwards questioned in Parliament and the Count of Soissons by Land did pinch the Rochellers Soissons rais'd up a strong tenable bulwark which he call'd Lewis-fort that commanded the Chanell Sea-ward and gave the law by Land The generall Pacification published at Montpellier was but a peece slightly plaister'd over it was far from searching the bottom from cleansing and curing the wound for many discontents raign'd still amongst them of the Religion they complain'd that Lewis-fort before Rochell was not demolish'd being a new fortification and they spoak of other grievances the King on the other side complain'd they had not reestablish'd the Ecclesiasticks in their Primitive possessions nor chosen Catholicks in Civill Offices This being profoundly debated in the Counsell of State some as the Church-men and Nobles gave their opinion that rather then to be in such continuall trances and alarms his Majesty should with his main entire strength apply himself to extinguish both the Rebellion and the Heresie as they term'd it totally together as the effect with the cause because his Majesty was not in case to do any thing abroad while they were left so strong at home for as one of the Counsellors said He that hath theeves to his neighbours dares not goe far from home Others were of a contrary opinion that it was very requisit there
should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
was a business of the greatest consequence that possibly could import him for a wife is the best or worst fortune that can befall a man in the whole cours of his life There were some that whisper'd him in the eare to disswade him from the said Match 'mongst others the Marshall of Ornano his Governor who told him That if he maried in France all his Means Credit and Fortune would be bounded there whereas if he maried some forren Princesse he might have some support and a place to retire unto abroad upon hard usage at home which would make him better esteem'd This being brought to the Kings eare Ornano with divers other were taken out of their beds in the dead of night and clap'd in the Bastile hereupon Monsieur went to the Chancelor d' Haligre and reproach'd him to have counsell'd the King to have his Governor pluck'd away from him so the Chancelor excus'd himself and denied that he had given such counsell The King having notice of this poor answer of his Chancelor sent the next day for the Seales willing him to retire to his Countrey house The Duke of Vendosm and his brother the gran Prior were thought also to do ill Offices in this busines which made them fall into some dislike and so they were committed prisoners to the Castle of Ambois amongst other things wherewith Vendosm was charg'd one was that he should say he would never see the King againe but in picture so he was put out of the government of Britany which was conferr'd upon Marshall Themines Cardinall Richelieu having drawn a great deal of hatred upon himself about this match he had a guard allow'd him which was afterwards recented according as the measure of envie and danger accrued The King being at Nants in Britany to settle that Government told his brother that he much desired he were married to Madamoiselle Monpensier for the good of his state assuring him that he should find his own advantages in it Monsieur answer'd That if his Majesty judg'd that it would be for the good of his state he entirely conform'd himself to his pleasure thereupon he sent a long complement to Madamoiselle Monpensier concluding that he would prove a better Husband to her then he was a servant So the Articles of Mariage were drawn and Monsieur was to have for his appannage the Duchy of Orleans with other places to the sum of one hundred thousand franks annuall rent all charges defrayed so much more in pension and by speciall warrant five hundred and sixty thousand franks yeerly upon the receipts of Orleans which comes in all to about seventy thousand pounds sterlin per annum so the Cardinall of Richelieu betroth'd and married them the next day at Nants with as much solemnity as the place could afford At this time there were whispers up and down France of divers plots that were to be put in execution some gave out the King intended to repudiat the Queen Others that there was a design to clap up the King in a monasterie and that Monsieur should raign of this plot there was a whisper the mother was because she alwaies seem'd to love the younger better then the elder But I beleeve this was a groundlesse surmise There were divers in prison that would have perswaded Monsieur to a forrein match and endeavour'd to crosse this Amongst others the Count of Chalais was one who was beheaded at Nants and there being no headsman in the town a prisoner that was in for a capitall crime undertooke the office provided he might have his pardon but he manag'd the instrument so ill that he gave the Count thirtie foure stroakes before he could separat the head from the body Sanctarellus the Jesuit obtruded to the world dangerous tenets about this time viz. That the Pope hath power to depose the Emperour to admonish and punish with temporall pains other Princes and absolve their subjects from their Oath of fidelitie in case of heresie The book was burnt in Paris Father Cotton Provinciall of the French Jesuits brought a public instrument from the chief of the Colledge of Clermont wherein their Society did disadvow and detest the said opinion of Sanctarellus which instrument was commanded to be put upon Record It was an ancient custom in France before the erection of Sedentary Parliaments whereof there are eight to assemble once or twice every yeer the States General which Assembly was first call'd Parlement wherein they treated of the highest Affairs of State of making levies of money for the Kings extraordinary occasions for punishing corrupt Magistrats and questioning any Officers whatsoever upon the relations which were made by the Deputies or Members of the said Assembly which were call'd in old times Missi Dominici viz. Those who were sent by the Lord or King This as I said before in the second Lustre is equivalent to the High Court of Parlement in England though in number it be inferior to it in regard that this Generall Assembly of France consists but of foure hundred and odd members that in England of neer upon seven hundred Since the settling of the said Sedentary Parlements this Great Parlement hath bin seldom convok'd in France unlesse during the minority of the King for which the Countrey hath suffer'd much in regard this universall convention was us'd to keep good correspondence 'twixt the Prince and his people and the pecuniary levies which pass'd by their Suffrages were given with more cheerfulnesse and besides there was no need of so many Collectors and Receivors as are employed in the Kings ordinary Revenu which are so numerous that the fourth part is drunk up among Officers in fees and wages so that there hardly comes into the Kings Coffers cleer a Quardecu in every Crowne This Assembly of the three Estates in France grew to be very rare and in a manner obsolete since the Kings had power given them to impose public assessments the ground whereof was this When the English had taken such firme footing in France that they had advanc'd as far as the Loire and besieg'd Orleans the Assembly of the three States in these pressures being not able to meet after the ordinary maner by reason of the interposition of the enemy up and down that power which was formerly inhaerent in the three States of making Laws and assessing the subject with subsidiary taxes was transmitted to the King himself during the war which continuing long that intrusted power grew in tract of time so habitual that it could never be re-assum'd or the Kings disvested of it And that which made the busines more feasable for the Kings was that the burden fell most upon the Comminalty the Nobility and Clergy not feeling the weight neer so much And it happen'd in so favourable conjuncture of time that the Clergy and Nobles were contented to have the Peasans pull'd down a little because not many yeers before in that notable rebellion call'd la Iaquerie de Beauvoisin
which was suppress'd by Charles the Wise they boldly put themselfs in armes against the Nobility and Gentry to lessen their greatnes Add hereunto as an advantage to the work that this power being first transferr'd to Charles the Seventh there succeeded him a notable cunning King Lewis the Eleventh who knew well how to play his game for amongst all the rest he was said to be the first who put the French Kings horce de Page out of their minority or from being Pages any more though thereby he brought the Peasans to be worse then Laquais Out of some distast the King took at the last Convention of the three Estates which was upon his entrance to his Majority he resolv'd to summon them no more yet because he might be in good intelligence with his people a way was projected to call an Assembly of Notables which should be equivalent to the States Generall though fewer far in number and some out of every one of the Provinciall Sedentary Courts of Parlement were chosen to joyn with them such an Assembly as this was held in Roven as we mentioned before which did little good therefore the King was advis'd to convoque such another at Paris this yeer which was done accordingly They met in the great Hall of the Twilleries where the King spoak to them thus We protest before the living God that We have no other ayme or intention but his honour and the good and ease of Our subjects therefore in his Name We conjure and pray you whom we have here convoqued and by that lawfull power which is given Us over you We command and expresly enjoyn you that without any other respect or cōsideration whatsoever without regard of pleasing or displeasing any person you would afford Us with all freedom and sinceritie those counsels which you shall judge in your consciences to be most wholesome and convenient to the advancement of the publique good The Cardinal de Richelieu also made a long rhetoricall Oration which you shall find in the legend of his life hereunto annexed but there was no great advantage accrued to the public by this Assembly of Notables though it lasted from the second of December to the twenty fourth of February following This yeer a passage happend in the Court of England whence ensued ill-favord consequences and no lesse then a war afterward 'twixt the two Nations which was this The train of French servants which the Queen of Great Britain had brought with her at her first arrivall was suddenly dismiss'd to the number of one hundred and twenty In regard of no good offices they did twixt the King and Queen and for some petulant bold misdemeanurs of theirs by imposing also certain odd superstitious penances upon the Queen in prejudice of her health Besides his Majesty of Great Britain having settled a Royall joynture upon her of neer upon one hundred thousand crowns a yeer out of the choicest Demeans Royalties and Houses he had in England the Bishop of Mende sought to be Surintendent and steward of her lands and others of her French servants expected to have Offices in that kind which the King would not hearken unto in regard the said French were unfit for those extern employments having not the Language or knowledge of the Laws and Customs of the Countrey therefore he desir'd them to rest contented with the domestic Offices they had about the Person of the Queen they made a shew to be satisfied herewith though palpable discontentments appear'd in their countenances and carriage afterward more and more So they were suddenly discharg'd and summon'd to quit the Kingdom and there should be order taken for all conveniences for their journey by Land and Sea and the arrears of their wages and pensions were punctually paid them The Queen for the present took much to heart the renvoy of her servants and the King her brother resented it also when notice was sent him though it was nothing to be wondred at for he himself had discharg'd the Spanish servants his Queen had brought with her not long after she came in the same manner The King of England dispatch'd a Messenger of honor to the Court of France to give a true information of matters which affoorded but little satisfaction Thereupon Marshall Bassompierre was sent Ambassador extraordinary to England expresly about this busines but matters were thrust so far off the hinges that they could not be set right again so soon The French began the first act of hostilitie and that before any public Declaration was publish'd by seizing a great number of English and Scottish ships at Blay as they were returning from the vintage with cargazons of wines from Bourdeaux but the Scots were releas'd the English still stayed A little after an Edict issued out in the Kings name to interdict all commerce and traffic with England that no kind of grain wines or pulse should be transported thither nor from thence to France any cloth serges woolls lead tinn stuffs silk stockings with an enumeration of divers other commodities by this one may observe the advantage that England hath of France in varietie and substance of Marchandizes The French Chroniclers obtrude to the world divers wrong informations of this travers twixt England and France 1. They relate that the French were casheer'd of the Queens service with little or nothing at all of their wages which is false for they were payed to a peny and many of them parted with gifts and much wealth 2. They report that the Queen out of her necessities had borrow'd much money of them which was also a calumny for there was never Princesse liv'd in greater plentie 3. They make the world beleeve that the first depraedations at Sea and acts of Piracy were committed by the English which is another falshood for besides the seisure of the Marchants at Blay where they came to reimbarque their Ordnance divers other praedatory acts were done by the French 4. They publish also another imposture that while the Earls of Carlile and Holland were in the heat of the Treaty of a Match with England the same time they did machinat the ruine of France the first time that England was ever taxed of double dealing 5. That his Majesty of Great Britain had no hand in the Pacifications which were made twixt the King and them of the Religion whereas his Ambassadors and Agents did alwayes follow the Kings Army to their excessive expences and did perpetually negotiat in their behalf and became caution to them for performances on the Kings side Thus a black cloud hung between England and France which broak out into a shrew'd though short tempest of war The King of Great Britain riggs up his galeons and in a very short time puts to Sea a huge royall fleet in perfect equippage of 150. Sayles with an Army of 10000. combatants which by the advise and directions of Monsieur Subize and Blancart who had fled to England some moneths before were
550000. Franks found in money He caus'd a Declaration also to be publish'd wherein he and all his Adherents were proclaym'd Rebells Monsieur and Monmorency were grown so strong that the King in Person with an Army of twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse went to suppresse them Some of the Kings Army was about Castel nau-d ' Arry under the command of Schomberg where Monmorency in a martiall heat but more in a desperat then valiant resolution accompagnied with the Earls of Rieux and Fevillade and only eight horse more fac'd and set upon the Royalists broak the ranks of some of them kill'd divers and hurt many but after he was hurt himself in the face and in sundry places about his body so that he fell off his horse and cried out for a Confessor so one of his men taking him upon his back he was taken prisoner and carried upon a ladder to Castel nau d' Arry In the said conflict was kill'd one of Henry the Great 's base sons the Count of Moret with the fore-mentioned Earls of Rieux and Fevillade and the whole Army was routed Notwithstanding all these provocations the King sent a gracious Message to Monsieur inviting him to come unto him and the same day Monsieur had sent to the King Chaudebonne with these Propositions 1. That the Duke of Monmorency should be releas'd and reestablish'd in his estate and government together with the Dukes of Elbaeuf and Bellegarde 2. That his Majesty would render to the Duke of Lorain all the places he detain'd from him 3. That an Act of abolition should passe 4. That a million of Franks which he had borrow'd should be pay'd Whereunto the King made this Answer My Brother the Propositions which Chaudebonne hath made me in your behalf are so little sortable to my dignity to the public and your own proper good that I cannot return any other answer then what I sent you formerly by Monsieur Aiguebonne to testifie my affection unto you I pray dispose of your self to receive the effects of them assuring you that in so doing I shall forget what 's pass'd and shall make it appear unto you more and more that I am your most affectionat Brother Lewis This Letter was seconded a little after with Articles to this effect 1. That Monsieur should acknowledge his fault by writing and desire the King to forget and pardon 2. That he give the best assurance he can not to fall into a relaps 3. To have no intelligence with Spain Lorain or any other strange Prince nor with the Queen his Mother as long as she continues in the case she stands and to sojourn in what place the King shall appoint him 4. That he mingle not his interests with those that were his Complices and ill counsellors which must be proceeded against according to law yet amongst them his domesticks shall be exempted 5. That Puy Laurens who suggested these ill Counsels into him sincerely confesse what further practises were intended against the State and that he acknowledge himself culpable before he receive grace To all these Monsieur subscrib'd in this forme We Gaston son of France unic Brother to the King Duc of Orleans Chartres and Valois Earl of Blois do consent to what is propounded by his Majesty and upon the word and faith of a Prince we promise a religious performance of all the Articles We promise besides to conspire with all our power to all the good desseins of the King for the grandeur and safety of his Kingdoms and to love them that love his Majesty and specially our Cosen the Cardinall of Richelieu whom we hold to be necessary to the Person and States of the King for his fidelity After this a Declaration was publish'd for all strangers that came in with Monsieur to quit the Kingdom within 8. dayes some of the chiefest instruments of this sollevation were cut off by the sword of Justice and amongst other the foure Bishops spoken of before were legally proceeded against by a speciall Brief from Rome wherein there were foure Archbishops nominated as Deligats to judge them whereof the Archbishop and Prince of Arles was chief though the ancient form of proceeding against Prelats for crimes was us'd to be by a Synod of the Gallic Bishops Not one of the foresaid Delinquent Bishops was condem'd to die only the Bishop of Albi was depriv'd of his Bishoprick and confin'd to a Monastery to eat the bread of sorrow There fell this yeer upon the Kings return from Narbon through Languedoc in a sudden showr of rain such huge cataracts of water from the Airie Region that two hundred persons were drownd upon the highwayes four Coches of the Queens and fifty Carts were swallowed up in the deluge The Duke of Monmorency being taken prisoner was carried to Tholouse where he was to receive his tryall not by his Peers but by the ordinary way of Justice he was legally convicted and condemn'd there were all means possible us'd for his pardon but the King was inflexible so with exemplary patience and piety he pai'd Nature her last tribut he put off his doublet himself and cut off his hair and mustachos before he came to the Block Thus fell Henry of Monmorency Duke Peer and Marshall and of the ancientest extractions of France in so much that Henry the Great was us'd to say that he was a better Gentleman then himself the Motto in his Scutcheon was Dieu aide le premier Chevalier Chrestien God preserve the first Christian Cavalier he left no son nor male Heir behind so this Illustrious Family went out like a snuffe such an ill-savor'd sent Rebellion leaves behind it Monsieur for not obtaining Monmorencys pardon though he had prevayl'd for the Dukes of Elbaeuf and Bellegarde grew again discontented and forsakes France The Cardinall of Richelieu had at this time a dangerous fit of sicknes so that a great while the infirmities of his body would not give him leave to exercise the functions of his soule A little after his convalescence there was a chapter of the Knights of the Royall Order the Holy Spirit kept wherein there were forty nine more created and the honor was conferr'd chiefly upon them that had serv'd against them of the Religion The Duke of Lorain appearing more for the House of Austria then the Sweds in the German war the King to quarrell with him demanded homage for the Duchy of Bar the Duke wav'd the performance of this ceremony alledging that those homages which were pretended to be done by his Progenitors were but visits and complements not any reall dutyes there being no act upon record for them There happend another occasion of displeasure against the Duke in that the Princess Margaret was maried to Monsieur not only without the Kings consent but expresly against his command It being observ'd that Matches with that Family have bin fatall and that Lorain milk have engendred but ill bloud in France So he arms mainly against the Duke
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
Duke of Savoy touching the Treaty of Monson though the Duke was not there in Person yet his businesse was dispatch'd with as much advantage to him as if he had bin there present by the French Ambassadors nor had he as much cause of grievance as he had of many high obligations of gratitude to have his Countrey and Towns restor'd unto him which had bin so often overrun by the French armes Concerning his colleguing with Protestants Spain may be upbraided as well for Charles the Fifth employed Lutherans whom he call'd his black bands against France and Rome her self and that by the advice of his Theologues This present King Philip had privat intelligence with the Duke of Rohan who pay'd him and his brother a yeerly Pension to keep France in action by Civill Wars and had entred into a Treaty with him accordingly consisting of divers capitulations Moreover the Catholic Kings have had and have to this day friendship and confederacie with divers Pagan Princes and amongst others with the King of Calecut who adores the Devil for a little Pepper or such like Commodities Nor are there wanting examples how in the time of the Moores the King of Aragon made use of Moriscos against another Christian King Another makes an odd Apologie for this King why he confederated with Protestants and employ'd them so much in his wars which is that he made use of them against the greatnes of the House of Austria only whom they suspect and perfectly hate And touching his subjects of the Religion in France it was never out of any affection unto them or out of any conceit of fidelity he had of them that from time to time he gave them Honor and offices in his Armies but out of a politic end to diminish and destroy them by degrees for a greater number of them then of Papists perish'd in his wars For breaking with his Brother in law the King of Spain and the House of Austria he did it meerly out of political interests and pure reason of State which is now grown to the highest point of subtilty and swayes the world more then ever It is well known that France as all Europe besides hath bin for many yeers emulous of Spaine and suspectfull of her greatnes for she hath bin still growing and gathering more strength any time these hundred yeers In so much that considering her huge large limbs she was become a Giant in comparison of all her neighbours France was fearfull of this unproportionable hugenes of hers more then any and therefore being somewhat distrustfull of his own strength to cope with her single he enters into confederation with others as the Hollander and Swed So that this war of France with Spain is meerly preventive Nor is preventive war a new thing but we have warrant for it from Antiquitie I am sure it is as old as that of Peleponnesus the ground whereof was to keep the power of Athens within its wonted channel which went daily swelling ore the old banks this gave the first alarum to the Lacedemonian to stand upon his Guard and to put himself in Armes whence afterwards issued that long liv'd war which History renders so famous to posterity Alphonso K. of Castile made war against the Moors and the rest of the Spanish Kings for there were divers then in Spain finding him encrease in power collegu'd against him and the reason the Historian gives is Nunquam satis fida principum potentia finitimis est occasionem proferendi Imperii avidè arripiente natura mortalium The Decree of the College of Sorbon is That the exorbitant greatnes of a neighbouring Prince may be a just ground for a war 'T is well known how watchfull those three Geryons of their times Charles the Fifth Henry the Eight of England and Francis the First of France were to keep their power in aequilibrio they had alwayes an eye upon the Scale to see which way it panch'd and out-pois'd And it hath bin us'd to be the old policy power of England though now crosse winds have long blown upon her to question any of her neighbours touching their encrease of strength in shipping There be examples without number how it hath bin alwaies the practise of the sagest Princes as being a rule that 's warrantable in the schoole of prudence and honor to prevent that their adjoyning neighbours oregrow them not by accesse of new power either by weakning their Allies by Monopolizing of Trade encrease of Territory by mastering of passages or by too neer approaches The last makes me think that it is high time for the Hollander to look about him considering the late acquests of the French in the Netherlands and to be warnd by the old Proverb Aye le François pour ton Amy non pas pour ton voisin Have the French for thy friend not for thy neighbour The Austrian Eagle had display'd his wings wider then formerly by addition of the Palatinat Triers and other places in Germany France took Armes to make him mew these new feathers and she had those three things which one said were requisit to make her eternall favourable unto her viz. Rome the Sea and Counsel Pope Vrban the Eight had his breeding there twenty yeers together and so was a friend to her she had a competent number of Ships and for Counsell she had Richelieu for her Pilot He was not like your Countrey Wasters that Demosthenes writes of who were us'd to grow skilful in defending those parts of the body where they had bin hurt but he could foresee and fence away the blow before it was given And for others he carried matters so that some of them found their hands sezi'd upon when they were ready to strike This caus'd him to make his King the first aggressor of the war against Spain wherein he had wonderfull successe and done such feats as hath appear'd already in the body of the story that as they have struck an amazement in the present age so they vvill breed an incredulity in the future Touching the last complaint against him that he peel'd and poll'd the Peasan 't is true he did so but he who is vers'd in the humour of that people vvhat boyling brains and perpetuall inclinations they have to noveltie and to break out into motion if they be pamper'd with peace and riches will conclude that there is a necessitie to keep them short in point of wealth vvhose ordinary effects are pride and insurrections Yet I beleeve there may be other more laudable vvayes of policy us'd for prevention of this then poverty It being a true maxime in the Academy of Honor that it is more glorious for a Prince to be King of an opulent free people then of a slavish and beggerly And the greatest reproach that Forreners cast upon the French Government is that the vvealth of the Countrey should be so unequally dispenc'd the King Clergy Nobles and Officers svvallovving up all vvhile the common people have scarce
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
those who daily meditat the abasing if not the ruine thereof or there must be means found to secure it The Kings intentions are to rule it so that his government may equall if not surpasse any time pass'd and serve for an example for the future The marvailous assistance which it hath pleased God to afford him hitherto when his affairs were in the most deplor'd case gives us hope that he will still persevere Being seconded with the sage counsels of the Queen his Mother with the concurrence of Monsieur his Brother who I may truly say is so fastned to his Majesties will and the interest of the State that nothing can separat him I see no reason at all to doubt of it since none but God Almighty can produce things of nothing therefore to come to so good ends of pure necessity either the ordinary expences of the Court must be diminish'd or the public receits augmented or perchance both must be done It is not fitting you 'l say to meddle with the necessary expences for the conservation of the State the very thought thereof were a crime yet his Majesty preferring the public before the privat is willing out of his own motion to retrench his House in things that touch his own Person leaving you to judge how the rest will be employ'd One might think that such retrenchments were not seasonable at this time because they use to alienat sometimes the affections of hearts But as the businesse will be carried great and small shall find their account and therein their satisfaction the most austere rules seem sweet unto the most tumultuous spirits when they have not in appearance only but in reall effect the public good and incolumity of the State for their sole aime Sir the Queen your Mother prayes that you would think it good to let her do that which your piety towards her would not permit you as much as to think of your self which is that she be reduc'd to a lower revenue then she had in the late Kings time it being true that she had not better'd her condition then when during your Majesties minority she rais'd the fortunes of others for the advantage of your Majesties service Different times require different and sometimes contrary courses that which is proper at one time may be impertinent at another In great tempests one must share his goods with the Sea to lighten the Vessell and avoid shipwrack prudence requires it that the whole perish not for casting away part the interest of particulars obligeth no lesse then that of the public there being nothing more true then what an ancient Prelat of this Kingdome said That 't is impossible the riches of private persons can subsist when the State it self is poore and necessitous By such husbandry the ordinary expences may be lessen'd by three millions It rests then to augment the receits not by such impositions that the people are not able to beare but by innocent means which gives place to the King to continue what he hath practis'd this yeer in easing his subjects by diminution of tallies To this effect we must come to the redemption of lands to Notaries and Registers and other morgag'd rights which amount to twenty millions a thing not onely profitable but just and necessary If this dessein take effect the people who contribut more of their bloud then of their sweat to the expences of the State shall be eas'd If there be need to resist a forren Invasion or some intestine Insurrection if God for our sins permit any more or to execute a dessein that 's profitable and glorious for the State want of money will be no losse of time there will be no need to have recours to extraordinary wayes to Court partisans and put hands in their purses who have them oft times full of the Kings moneys One shall not see the Soverain Courts busied to verifie new Edicts Kings shall appear no more upon their beds of justice unlesse it be to undo what they had done some other time In fine all things shall be at such a passe that hath bin long since desir'd by all good men and may continue so whole Ages One will say and perchance I may think so my self that 't is easie to propose good desseins and as pleasing a thing to speak of them but the execution is difficult Yet neverthelesse I dare speak it in the presence of the King having well thought of it there may be expedients found whereby within the compas of six yeers one may see the end and perfection of this work The King my Lords and Gentlemen hath Assembled you expresly to search and find them out to examine things and concur with him in resolution his Majesty assuring you that he will readily and religiously execute what shall be determin'd for the restauration of this State The sick sometimes die by too many remedies as well as none at all I am bound to tell you this by the by that to restablish this State in its first splendor ther 's no need of many Ordinances but real executions by this means this Assembly may close more speedily though she may be perpetuall for the fruit she shall produce few words and many deeds will testifie both the good intentions and judgements of them whereof she is compos'd The King doubts not but you will do what concerns your duty in this occurrence You shall know by the event that his Majesty will surpasse himself to procure the good of his Kingdome the glory of reviving it is reserv'd to the vertu of so great a Prince you are much bound to his goodnes that he hath vonchsaf'd to make you partakers thereof and for my particular I should be much bound to God if he presently took me out of the world upon the accomplishment of so high so glorious and holy a work As thus in things premeditated so in ordinary extemporall discours he had a pressing way of eloquence and exaggeration of speech which came from him in such a grave serious accent that it mov'd all along In so much that by his garb he seem'd to be rather an Italian then French seldom or never would reason thrust be out of her throne by any impetuous irregular motions seldome would his passions make any furious sallies the greatest fit of distemper that ever was discover'd in him was at the news of Wallesteyns death with whom he had held intelligence for betraying the Imperial Army so to pave a way for France to ascend the Empire He would easily break out into tears and tendernesse of spirit The prime perfection in him was his forecast he was quick-sighted and Eagle-ey'd in every corner of christendom He had Ecchoes in every Court which sounded unto him all the affairs of State in so much that he knew as well what was done in the Junta's of Spain in the Consistory at Rome in the Cabinet Counsels of England and Germany as if he had bin President of all
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
the States Generall which is next the Clergie and for delivering of Opinions the King inordred that in matters concerning the Church the Clergie should vote first in matters of War the Nobles in matters of Law the Officers of Justice in matters of the Revenue of the Crown the Exchequer men and Financiers In this Assembly were agitated and concluded many wholsome things First 1. That the Secret affairs of State be communicated to few and those of known probity and prudence for fear of discovery 2. That the expence of the Kings House and the salary of Military men be regulated 3. That Pensions be retrench'd 4. That a course be taken to regulat gifts and rewards which are to be made in silver 5. That it be illegal to sell any Offices in the Kings House in War or Government 6. That reversion of Offices and Benefices be restrain'd because it gives occasion to attempt upon the life 's of the living Incumbents and takes away the Kings Liberty to advance persons of merit taking also from the persons themselfs the encouragement of doing better by hope of advancement 7. That the Annuel right be suppress'd 8. That the venality of Offices be prohibited 9. That small wrangling Courts and the number of Pettifoggers be retrench'd and that all causes be brought to the Soverain Courts These in grosse were the Results of this Assembly which proceeded with a great deal of harmony the King himself was present most of the time and in his absence Monsieur presided There pass'd also a Law to permit the Jesuits to open their Colledg of Clermont in Paris and to endoctrinat young youth in the Sciences But the Universitie of Paris to make this Edict illusory made two Decrees by the first it was ordred that none should be admitted to the course of Theologie unlesse he have studied three yeers under the public Professors of the Faculty of Theologie in Sorbon and that he be put to his oath not to have studied in any other Colledg The second was A prohibition to all Principals of Colledges for admitting any but those that go to the Lectures of the Professors of the said Universitie and that none shall enjoy the Priviledges of Scholarity if he studieth not under those Professors An indifferent moderat man said that there was no way to end this quarrell but that the Jesuits might be united to the body of the Universitie and so submit themselfs entirely to their Laws and Ordinances We will conclude this lustre with a horrible fire that hapned in the Citie of Paris in the chief Palace of Iustice it rag'd most in the great Hall where the Lawyers and Counsellors use to meet where also the Statues of the Kings of France are set up and are rank'd according to the times of their raign in excellent Sculpture all which were utterly reduc'd to cendres with the Table of Marble about which the Judges were us'd to sit The cause of this fire is to this day unknown but it might be very well interpreted to be a visible judgment from heaven upon that place and Palace for the hard measure of Justice the Marshall of Ancre and his Lady had received a little before Which makes me call to mind a Latin verse I have read upon a Stat-House in Delph in Holland which had bin burnt in like maner and reedified not one other house about it receiving any hurt Cive quid invito proh sola redarguit usta Haec Domus illaesis aliis Discite Iustitiam moniti non temnere Divos An end of the second Lustre The third Lustre of the Raign of Lewis the thirteenth VVE ended the last Lustre with the end of the old Palace of Justice in Paris by an unknown furious fire which made the disaster more horrid We will begin this with bone-fires of joy for the Mariage of the Lady Christina second daughter of Henry the Great to the Prince of Piedmont who came in Person to Paris to do his own busines he comported himself with that addresse that politenes that bravery of spirit accompagnied with such gentlenes that he gain'd much upon the French Nation The busines was not long a finishing for Henry the Great was well pleas'd with an ouverture that had bin made formerly by the said Prince for the Eldest daughter who was maried to Spain She had for her Dower 1200. thousand French liures which comes to one hundred and twenty thousand pound sterling besides the rich jewels she caried with her The Queen Mother was all this while at Blois and som ombrages of distrust hung 'twixt the King and her for the Bishop of Lucon being by command removed from her Mounsieur Roissy was sent expresly by the King to attend her whom the Queen took to be no other then a kind of Spy to watch over her actions nor was she invited to the marriage of her daughter which was solemniz'd at Paris and with this mariage it seems the King did consummat his own by bedding with the Queen his wife which he had not done since he had maried her at Burdeaux almost four yeers before where he lay with her only two hours and though this was done for fear it should hinder his growth and enervat his strength yet there were some whispers that it was done with an intent to be divorc'd from her and Luynes was blamed for it Hereupon he finding the King one night inclinable took him out of his bed in his armes and casting his night-gown over him he carried him to the Queens bed The Nuncio and Spanish Ambassador were so joy'd at this that they presently dispatch'd expresses to carry the news and bonefiers were made thereupon both in Rome and Madrid for there were some surmises abroad that so long a separation from bed would turn in time to an aversion which might draw after it a repudiation and so a divorce While the King was thus confirming his own and celebrating his sisters Nuptialls in Paris there were tydings brought that his Mother got out of Blois Castle and was convey'd away secretly in the night through a window which was towards the moate where she glided down a good height upon a counter scarp and so made an escape The King had sent Father Arnoul the director of his conscience a little before under colour of complement to visit her but the design was to draw from her a solemn oath that she would not come to the Kings Court without his preadvertisement and approbation which oath she took upon the Evangelists He sent her also word that he and the Prince of Piemont now her son in law would come to visit her but she knew well enough how matters were carried at Court and so she gave little credit to those endearments fearing there was too strong a drug under the pill Her escape was trac'd by Espernon the little Gascon Duke who had bin from the beginning a great servant of Ladies there had bin divers clashings and counterbuffs
that competency which beasts use to have to satisfie the necessities of Nature for there is not upon earth a more plentiful Countrey and a poorer people generally then the Pesantry of France There vvas another reach of State vvhy the common people vvere kept so poore and indigent vvhich vvas that he might be supplied with soldiers to furnish his Infantry for the vvars vvhereunto necessity vvill drive any one At the sound of his Drum they came alvvaies in multitudes to serve him because he had alvvayes store of treasure to pay them He had at one time above 120000. of them in severall Armies nor vvere there ever such services perform'd by French foot vvho formerly had but small repute in the vvorld vvith these and his cavalry he perform'd such exploits that as I said before posterity must have a strong faith to beleeve them such exploits that Mars himself the ascendent of France might have bin invited to partake of his triumphs vel et ipse vocari Iupiter ad praedam posset With these he drew the overwhelmings of Spain into a narrower channel and put her to cast her policy into a new mould for whereas before she was for many yeers upon the conquering and offensive part she is now content to stand upon her guard and put her self upon the conserving and defensive part By these performances of France against the Monarchy of Spain it visibly appears what advantage a little body that hath his joynts well knit and compacted and hath also his radicall moisture and radicall heat the two gran columns of life dispers'd in equall proportion throughout all parts to actuate the whole and make it vigorous for such is France may have over a huge unweldy bulk whose members by vast uneven distances are so loosly kept together as the Spanish Monarchy is known to be which were she as closely knit as France or the Ottoman Empire either which extends two and thirty hundred miles and but the Hellespont between in one continued peece from Buda in Hungary to Bagdad or Babylon in Asia I say if the modern Monarchy of Spain were so closely united she might compare with the greatest that hath bin yet upon Earth And now will we put an absolut period to the history of the life of Lewis the Thirteenth Which we have illustrated in the best manner we could as also to this Corollary and short transcurrence of his raign which lasted thirty three yeers and his whole life hardly reach'd to forty three a time which as was said before in a well dispos'd body is accounted but the Meridian of manhood whether nature posted away and hastned thus her course in him and made him old before his time by her own weaknes or by accident as some mutter we will not determin but rather give faith to the first cause and to divers dangerous sicknesses whereof he had pass'd the brunt formerly as also to exces of care and intentivenes of mind and personall pains in the war He had a long time to study the art of dying his disease being a Consumption which afforded him space enough to set his House in order He spoak oft times of the troubles of Great Britain in his sicknes and once he was overheard to say that it was a just judgement because his Brother of England would have assisted his subjects once against him So this great King died in the highest glory of his actions for his sayles swell'd with prosperous winds till he came to his last port He had settled all things so exactly that when he came to die he had nothing els to do but to die which he did so gently that it was rather a soft dissolution then death By his high exemplary vertues and strangenes to vice he was a Saint amongst Kings on earth and now may be a King among Saints in heaven whither he went on Ascension day For his acts of prowesse he deserves to have the Alps for his tomb the Pyrenean Mountains for his monument for he made them both to stoop unto him He left his Queen a yeer and some moneths younger then himself Regent as it was her due by Saint Lewis law which she might have clam'd by merit as well as by right for she had bin marvailously complying carefull and indulgent of him A Lady of admirable sweetnes moderation and prudence for she never tamper'd with the Government in his time nor would she meddle with the Election of any Officer or Minister of State nor interpose in any thing but in matters of mercy and pardon and then she would be sure to have an inkling how the King was inclin'd which made her receive few denials so that being much importun'd for Monmorency's pardon whose first crime was the last action of his life she would by no means attempt it The young King was foure yeers and eight moneths old when his father died so that the Queen is to rule in chief till he be fourteen whereby France in statu quo nunc may be said to have fallen under the government of Strangers the Queen Regent being a Spaniard and Mazarini the Prime Minister of State an Italian THE LIFE OF ARMAND IOHN DE PLESSIS Cardinal of RICHELIEU HAving done with the Master we will now descend to his Minister the Cardinal of Richelieu a man so cryed up that every corner of Christendom rang of his report for twenty yeers together nay the walls of the Seraglio ecchoed with his fame and fear of the mighty doings of France which made the Turks to think oftner upon that famous Prophecy they have amongst them that the Ottomans should at last get Kenzal almai the Red Apple which they interpret to be Rome but not long after their Empire should be destroy'd by a Flower by which they think are meant the Freinks He was a Gentleman of very ancient descent for in the Tree of his genealogie I find that by the House of Dreux his Ancestors were allied to Lewis the gros one of the Kings of France and by a direct uninterrupted line he came for thirteene degrees from Father to Son from William of Plessis who was a Gentleman of high account in Philip Augustus time 1179. When his father Francis De Plessis died he was but five yeers old and so remain'd under the tutele of his Mother Susanna de Porta who gave him all the advantagious breeding that could be in Paris where he was born both in an Academy for riding and handling of armes and in the University for learning he made choice of the Colledge of Sorbon to finish the course of his studies where he took the profession of a Theologue and so became a Sorbonist Doctor He had two brothers Francis the eldest was kill'd by the Marquis of Themines in duel Alphonso the second being elected Bishop of Lusson forsook the pomp of the world and betook himself to the austere life of a Carthusian whose rule is never to eat flesh and so resign'd the Bishoprick
their Counsels He had his beagles abroad every where which were excellent to find the sent of things and amongst others one de Lope a Jew was his chiefest Spy A little before the revolt of Catalonia and Portugall he was overheard to say That shortly he would give the Spaniard such a bone to gnaw that should shake all the teeth in his head And touching the troubles of Scotland and England he was us'd to say 't was easie for one with half an eye to have foreseen them He had an excellent invention to devise wayes to get money in so much that when the Cow slack'd he had a way to presse her nipples so that all the time of his sway the King never wanted Treasure he us'd France like Prospero Colunnas Goose pluck the old feathers and the new ones will grow the faster He gave her likewise all sorts of Physick sometimes he would give her a purge sometimes a vomit then would he often Phlebotomize her and by sweating and fluxing do away the peccant humors He held that Principle a vain thing which calls the peoples hearts the Kings best Exchequer He verified the saying that La France est un beau pré qu'on ton-doit trois fois l'année France is a medow which if you do mow thrice every yeer the grasse will better grow Or France's like your beard which the more oft you shave still the more thick and plusher hair you 'l have He thought often upon that Maxim that populus aut humiliter servit aut superbè dominatur The common people serve slavishly or rule proudly they are like fire and water Good servants but ill Masters therefore he kept them under by impositions and poverty It was long before the King took him into his bosome though he had always a great conceit of his abilities A good while when he saw him come to Court he was us'd to say sometimes Voycy venir le Fourbe Here coms the cunning Companion but afterwards he so fastned upon his affections that whereas to others Kings favours are but as Tenacies at wil the Kings favor to him might be call'd a stable possession 't was not as brittle glasse but as firm as Diamond Thus for twenty yeers together he sayl'd securely upon the Ocean of Royall favour which useth to be full of rocks shelfs and Quicksands but he knew the use of the Compasse so well that he avoyded them all He was marvailously constant to his ends assiduous and sagacious whereby he took off from the Frenchman that reprochfull saying which defines him to be an animal sine praeterito et futuro He fitted his projects so aptly to the means and the means to the ends that he seldome fayl'd of his expectation He stird all the Caecodaemons of hell against the House of Austria and a little before he died he threatned to pull the King of Spain out of his Escuriall such was his forren Intelligence that he did the Enemy more mischief by discovering of his Counsels then by discomfiting his Armes He had such a nimble apprehension that he oft times would find out truth at first search the prime motions of his thoughts being so conclusive that what discours he form'd upon them afterward was but an approbation of the first Idaea which needed no addition He was no great zelot in his own Religion but as he made her subservient to his politicall ends nor would he ever employ Jesuit he had a moderate opinion of the Reformists which made him to be call'd the Huguenot Cardinal And he would have often in his mouth this saying Maneat moralis benevolentia inter discordes sententia Yet he writ a book against them which is extant He did them more mischief by complementing with them then by combating He was overheard to say that he had taken Rochell in despight of three Kings meaning his own for one for it was a great while before the King could be induc'd to that expedition Saint Martin was beholding to him for his cloake els the English had taken it away from him at the Isle of Ré with which cloake 't was said Saint Martin cover'd him afterwards in many Battailes He was a great cherisher and promoter of vertuous men and would find them out wheresoever they were in so much that he gave every yeer in pensions little lesse then an hundred thousand Franks He erected two Universities one in Paris call'd L'Academie de beaux Esprits where the prime wits of the Kingdom met every Munday and another at Richelieu where the Mathematiques and other Sciences were read in the French Language the difficulty of the Latin deterring many from the study of them in other places He did so oblige all the wits of the Kingdom that they strove who should magnifie him most and there were never such hyperbolicall expressions of any man and not without some mixture of profanenes which shews that there is no Inquisition in France Some said That God Almighty might put the government of the world into his hands That France in God and the Cardinals hands were too strong that What the soule was to the body the same he was to France Si foret hic nullus Gallia nulla foret Some appropriat the reduction of the Rochellers soly to him therefore to sooth him one French Chronicler writes that in the taking of that Town Neither the King nor God Almighty himself had a share in the action but the Cardinal himself Thereupon another made this Distich Richelii adventu portae patuere Rupellae Christo infernales ut patuere fores The gates of Rochell op'd to Richelieu As those of Hell to Christ asunder flew Then another Cedite Richelio mortales cedite Divi Ille homines vincit vincit et ille Deos. Vayle mortalls vayle ye gods to Richelieu He mortals can He can the gods subdue Another thus O Princeps delicte Deo cui militat aequor Et tempestates omnia laeta ferunt Magne pater patriae quae saecla ingrata recusent Indigites inter te numerare Deos And in the French Language there are a world of such Hyperboles we will instance only in two Et si nous faisons des ghirlandes C'est pour en couronner un Dieu Qui soubs le nom de Richelieu Recoit nos Vaeux nos offrandes Another Heros a qui la France erige des Autels Qui prevois qui fais le bonheur des Mortels Qui scais mieux l'advenir que les choses passeés Penetre dans mon Ame c. Another Si quelq'un dans ces vers parle de Richelieu Qui sous l'habit d'un homme il nous descrive un Dieu Vous n'estes point suiet a l'humaine impuissance c. He that 's cryed up for the Cicero of France speaking of his book against them of Charenton saith that that book might be the death of all other books except the Bible Another though a Royal Chronologer attributs more to him then to his Master the King
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