in the whole world a Kingdom to be found more glorious more flourishing or more happy than that of France during the Reign of this mighty Prince Yet could not all this reputation abroad secure him from afflictions at home neither could his greatness and bounty exempt him from the power of Death who first exercising his cruelty upon some of his Family discharg'd in the end his whole rage and fury upon his own person The precedent year had ravish'd from him one of the Princes his Children and this depriv'd him of the Duke of Montpâ—nsier his Cousin a Prince for whom his Majesty had as great a kindness as for any whatsoever of his Blood as he made it appear by the true sorrow he manifested for his death but the Duke of Espernon was afflicted beyond all expression I have already given an accompt of the Alliance betwixt these two and of the particular Friendship that Alliance begot I shall now further say they were inseparable in their conversation their Interests went ever hand in hand with one another and it will be hard to find a Friendship so pure and constant betwixt two private persons as they ever preserved entire in the corruptions and revolutions of the Court Neither could the friendship of a Prince of his extraction and vertue be otherwise than of great importance to the Duke whose prosperity and advancement had procur'd him so much envy and consequently so many enemies yet was he constrain'd to submit to the inevitable necessity of death and to bear with patience a loss for which there was no other remedy This accident was yet follow'd by another the ensuing year at which the Duke was almost equally afflicted Pere Ange de Ioyeuse Father-in-law to the Duke of Montpensier had been return'd into the Order of Fathers Capuchins from the year 1599. from which time he had continued in the austerity of his Canon with so great zeal and sanctity that he was become a president of Vertue and Holy Living to all the Religious Men of his Order Yet did he not when returning to the observation of his Vow he threw off all worldly vanities and desires banish from his breast those true affections which Nature and Reason had planted in his heart but on the contrary had ever in his greatest retirement cherish'd the Duke's friendship as if he had been his true Brother in Blood as he was in Alliance and Affection Neither was the Duke on his part less sedulous to improve so vertuous an Interest ever honouring and loving him even in his penitential Sack-cloath at as high a rate as when he liv'd in the greatest Lustre in the most honourable employments and applying himself with greater diligence to the Interests of his House and to the advancement of his Daughter than when he himself liv'd upon the great Theatre of the busie world so that in different capacities of living their friendship continued still one and the same till death came to cut the knot which along had power to dissolve it This Holy man died at Rivoly in Piedmont in his return from Rome in great reputation of Sanctity and Vertue which has since by time been made more manifest to all The following year affords so little considerable to be said of the Duke of Espernon in particular the Court being at this time wrap'd in so great a calm and security that there is nothing of moment to be reported of any save the King himself that it might well enough be pass'd over in silence But having hitherto found out something or other to record in the foregoing years I had rather travel not out of my subject only but also out of the affairs of the Kingdom than to omit the most glorious proof his Majesty could possibly give of his Authority with all the Princes and States of Christendom in the conclusion of the Truce betwixt the Crown of Spain and the States of the United Provinces This great affair had been fruitlesly propos'd almost from the very first bustle of Arms in that Country neither had endeavours been wanting even in the heat of the most bloody executions that the fury of War has perhaps produc'd in any part of Europe for the effecting of so good a work Treaties of Accommodation having every year during those troubles been constantly by some or other set on foot but the animosity of Factions the difference of Religions and the variety of Events that had ever kept Affairs on both sides as it were in-equal balance had so exasperated the minds of men that scarce any proposition of Peace would be endur'd A work it seems reserv'd to be an additional Ray to the King's Glory whose reputation only could cut the knot of all those difficulties Spain had great need of Peace which having often without interessing the King in the Affair sought in vain he was in fine constrain'd to apply himself to him to procure it and wholly to submit all things to his Arbitration A task the King very well satisfied with so high and publick an acknowledgment of his power as readily undertook and to that purpose dispatch'd away President Ianin and the Sieur de Râ—issy to manage the Work by whose prudent conduct fortified by their Masters Reputation they effected that by the weight of Authority which perhaps their dexterity how great soever without great labour and expence of much time could not otherwise have brought to pass So that things were reduc'd to the point the parties concern'd could themselves desire from whence followed an universal Peace amongst all Christian Princes It was into this tranquille condition that the Affairs of Europe were first to be wrought before the King could begin to form it into the new mould he had long design'd for this great Prince born to reconcile Monarchy and Justice being unable to endure the proud Authority with which the Crown of Spain lorded it over all her Neighbours and more impatient that by the expansion of his Empire the Spaniard should reap advantages which he conceiv'd were more justly due to his Birth and Valour he resolv'd to clip the wings of this soaring greatness to make him give back those Territories he usurp'd from his Neighbours to restore the Republicks their ancient liberty and finally to reduce his power to the limits of his primitive possession This in short is all that can be said of the King's designs and all that such as conceiv'd they penetrated deepest into his most private thoughts could possibly divine it being most certain that he discover'd the bottom of his design to none which had it been communicated to any the Duke of Espernon would doubtless in this conjuncture have participated of the trust but as this great Prince would execute all things in his own person so did he here reserve to himself the secret of his resolutions insomuch that though his Army was all ready drawn into the Field that he himself was immediately to
other men usually give for their Follies in such cases will nevertheless serve perhaps to satisfie such as are kindest to me and who will not render themselves over-hard to be satisfied in a thing wherein I presume they would themselves be content to see me justified It was not therefore out of any ambition I had to be again in Print I having suffer'd too much that way already nor to be reputed a good Translator the best whereof sit in the lowest Form of Writers and no one can be proud of the meanest Company neither shall I pretend to be put upon it by my Friends for that would tacitly imply something of opinion they must have of my ability that way and I must be so just to 〈◊〉 my worthy Acquaintance as to decâ—â—re them men of better judgments than to be so deceiv'd besides the greater part of them being better Frenchmen than I pretend to be such as have read the Original could never wish to see it blemish'd by so unskilful a hand neither was I prompted to it by any design of advantage that consideration being ever very much below my thoughts nor to oblige the world that being as much above my expectation but having an incurable humour of scribling upon me I believ'd I could not choose a braver Subject for my Friends diversion and my own Entertainment than this wherein I thought at least I discover'd as much Variety of Revolution and accident as is any where in no larger a Volume to be found besides something of utility here being a general account of the most important Transactions of Europe for above threescore years together and in one continued series of Discourse which are otherwise only to be pick'd up out of several Authors and most of them â—mitted in all but that which gave me the greatest invitation besides the Character of Honour that continues throughout the whole thred of his Life was the great example of uncorrupted Loyalty the Duke of Espernon ever retain'd in all his Exigencies and Disgraces a Vertue which though none of the Nobility of this Kingdom for whom this is chiefly design'd need to be informed in 't is nevertheless a glorious Record and ought to be in History that succeeding times may see after what manner a good Subject â—ow powerful soever ought to behave himself how or how unkindly soever his Prince shall please to dispose of his Person and Fortune This consideration it was that after a first and second reading of this brave life though every year of it contains variety enough to furnish out a History which I must confess to have been the greatest temptation that decoy'd me into this undertaking especially when I reflected upon the times we our selves have too lately seen when Loyalty was not very much in fashion or not to be owned withouâ— manifest ruine And although I know very well we have Examples enow of Vertue Bravery Wisdom Fidelity and Honour in persons of our own Nation as well Kings as Subjects Princes of the Blood Generals Ecclesiasticks and Statesmen both of Former and the present Age and the meanest of those Lives sufficient to create as beautiful a Story yet of those the Dead are many of them already recorded beyond my imitation and to Write in Praise of the Living besides the danger of standing suspected either of Flattery or Design were to offend the modesty natural to all generous minds In the next place I am to acquaint my Reader that the Author of this History Monsieur Girard was Secretary to the Duke of Espernon and a very extraordinary person in himself as you will find in the Texture Disposition and Elegancy of the whole in despight of my ill handling by which advantages he must doubtless be able to give the best and truest account of any wâ—â—ever both of his Masters private Affairs and the general Transactions of that time he being especially in the Duke's later Years continually employ'd by him and the Duke himself being so eternally upon the Scene of Action that we shall seldom find him retir'd and alone in the whole course of his Life And although his dependence upon this great person may render his testimony suspected to some he is however so generally allow'd by the most Intelligent and such as are best read in the Affairs of that Kingdom for a faithful Historian that the truth of the Story ought to Balance any other defect of the work Lastly in the behalf of my Bookseller Mr. Brome to whose Kindness I owe more than I can pay him by this Impression I am to say that although I dare not answer how far this History may suffer by my Oversights or Mistakes or by the Faults escap'd the Press which I know not by what accident are very many and some of them very considerable yet I dare pronounce it one of the best things I have seen in that Language I do not mean for the Excellency or Harmony of the Stile which in the Original it self though the words there be very Significant Elegant and admirably well chosen is notwithstanding none of the smoothest I have read but for the importance of the Subject wherein you will find much of the Policy of that time not only of France it self but moreover of the Courts of England Rome Spain Savoy Germany Sweeden and the States of the United Provinces together with a Narrative of all the most celebrated Battles Skirmishes Rencounters Combats Sieges Assaults and Stratagems for above threescore years together with the Descriptions of the Strengths Situations and distances of Cities Towns Castles Cittadels Forts Rivers Countries Seigneuries Iurisdictions and Provinces and all this collected and deliver'd by a Iudicious and Impartial Hand an exâ—raordinary effect of a French Pen that Nation especially in Records that immediately concern their own Honour having been commonly observ'd to be very civil to themselves So that methinks the Dignity of the Subject and the Ingenuity of the Author consider'd a work how unhappily soever perform'd by me undertaken nevertheless meerly for the common benefit and delight ought not to be discountenanc'd nor very ill receiv'd Yet do I not though in the foregoing Paragraph I have discover'd something of the Charlatan in the behalf of my Bookseller hereby intend to beg any favour for my self or by these large promises to bribe my Reader into milder Censures neither do I think it fit to provoke him by a defiance for that were to be an ill Man as well as an ill Writer I therefore franckly and without condition expose my self to every mans Iudgment of which such as appear civil to me are my Friends and I shall owe them the same respect when it shall be my turn to Iudg as it is now to be censur'd Those who will not be so I shall threaten no further than to put them in mind that if ever they attempt any thing of the same nature they will then lie under the same disadvantage I now do and consequently may
cold in the business after he had reproach'd them with their unseasonable violence which he said had hinder'd him from bringing about by easie and infallible ways the utter extirpation of Heresie a thing he more earnestly desir'd than any of them he told them flatly that since by them this business was first set on foot it was reasonable that they who had been the promoters of it should likewise be at the charge of the War His Majesty thought by grasping thus at their purses to take off their edge of fighting and by representing to them the charge and incommodities of War he should at the same time imprint in them a hatred and aversion to it But what reasons can prevail with a pre-possess'd and exasperated multitude The people displeas'd at the difficulties the King laid before them and sufâ—ering themselves to be seduc'd by the malepert Preachers of the League who by their seditious Sermons had soon perswaded them into commotion impos'd upon the King a necessity of beginning the War and forgetting the respect due to the Majesty of their Prince gave him in plain terms to understand that he should not be safe in his own Louvre if he did not forthwith betake himself to Arms. The condition of the time and the conditions of the Treaty lately concluded with the League equally obliging the King to fall into speedy action and also to serve himself with some of the Heads of that Party in this Expedition his Majesty to comply with his own necessity and likewise to satisfie that Article dispatch'd the Duke of Mayenne into Guienne against the King of Navarre the Duke of Guise himself desiring to remain in his Government of Champagne to guard the Frontiers and that he might have in the other Armies He was also to set on foot such persons as he knew were faithful to him He sent the Mareschal de Biron into Xaintonge against the Prince of Condâ— and the Duke of Ioyeuse into Languedoc reserving for the Duke of Espernon as a Servant in whom he repos'd the greatest trust the Employment of Provence A Government which being a little before left vacant by the Death of the Grand Prior of France Bastard of Valois had been conferr'd upon him and a Province wherein of all other his Majesties Authority had the greatest need of support having formerly been much weakned by the two contrary Factions that divided the State Whereof one was commanded by the Sieur de Lesdiguieres Head of the Hugonot Party and the other by the Sieur de Vins the Kings Lieutenant there but a man very partial to the League His Majesty therefore desiring amidst the confusion that was made by these two Parties to secure the Countrey to himself sent thither the Duke of Espernon with a good Army appointing Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother for his Lieutenant in that Service neither was he deceiv'd in his choice for in less than four months time Province and Dauphiné were wholly settled in his obedience the only part almost of the Kingdom where his Majesty was effectively and truly serv'd and had he had many more such Servants to employ his Affairs had certainly and in a very little time chang'd their face and the Royal Authority been rescued from the Rebellious Insolence that trod it under foot in most Provinces of France The Office of Colonel General having given the Duke absolute Authority over the Infantry there was great contest amongst the old Regiments which should be preferr'd to follow him in this action in which he made shift to satisfie the ambition of the greatest part his Majesty who gave him absolute power in matters of greater difficulty being content that his best Souldiers should serve under his trustiest Captain so that he drew out a good part of the Regiment of Guards of that of Ficardy and Champagne with other Companies out of other Regiments to the number of ten thousand Foot to which was added twelve hundred Horse and twelve piece of Cannon with their Equipage The Duke having about the end of Summer led his Army into Provence put them immediately into vigorous Action Vins was the first he undertook who having before been worsted by Lesdiguieres was in no condition of making any great resisâ—ance and Lesdiguieres though victorious over the League finding yet himself too weak to oppose the King's Army conducted by so experienc'd Commanders by withdrawing into his own strength gave the two Brothers liberty to make themselves Masters of Seynes Breoules Chorges and many other Considerable places as well in Provence as Dauphiné with wonderful expedition so that by these successes the two Factions which had so long afflicted those two good Provinces being equally supprest the Duke had leisure to return to Court where his presence was not a little necessary to countermine such Practices of which Mounsieur de Villeroy says in his Mesmoires the Duke suspected him to be Author as were by his Enemies set on foot against him Neither did the Duke need to make any great difficulty of retiring from Provence considering the good posture he had brought Affairs into and that he left his second self upon the place not only in fidelity and zeal to the King's Service but also in valour and experience namely Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother a man whose Vertues had acquir'd so great a Reputation with all worthy men that he is never to be spoke of without very worthy mention and the highest Characters of Honour But the Duke had no sooner turn'd his back of Provence and taken back part of the Army with him than the contrary Factions encourag'd by this Division of the Army made head anew so that it was necessary to set another Army on foot to oppose them the care of which now wholly rested upon Valette nor did there need a more active and experienc'd Captain His principal Exploits were against the League to whose succour the Duke of Savoy came in person an ambitious Prince and one that watching all opportunities of enlarging his own Dominion had from the Leagues first taking Arms joyn'd himself with the Countess of Saut the Sieur dâ— Vins the Compte de Carses and other persons of Quality of that side neither has he what Treaties of Peace soever have been concluded with the League ever desisted from his first design of keeping that Countrey by force of Arms. But la Valette after having won from him the so celebrated Battel of Vignon did so uncessantly press upon him and in several other encounters obtain'd so many advantages over him that he forc'd him to retire beyond the Alpes and to let Provence alone Neither did Dauphiné escape his diligence for Lesdiguieres finding himself too weak to meet him in the Field gave him opportunity to withdraw Geyssens from the Cittadel of Valence which he held in the name of the League having been plac'd in that command by the Duke of Mayenne and to recover Gap into the King's Obedience
valour and other eminent qualities they were Masters of endeavour'd to eclipse the Majesty of the King who being less enclin'd to oftentation liv'd a more retir'd life than they It was necessary to abate the growing greatness of those powerful and dangerous Subjects to effect which which was the chief and most important Affair of State the King first exhibited a publick and general prohibition to all sorts of people excepting the Queen his Mother and the Queen his Wife not to presume to ask any thing of his Majesty whether Money Offices or Commands reserving wholly to himself the disposition of all such things and that of his own voluntary grace and bounty and upon due consideration of the party's Merit And to the end that the over free access to his person might not give occasion to those he most suspected to exceed the limits of this prohibition he seconded that with another That no person of what quality soever should come into his Cabinet without he were call'd but from this general rule he made a particular exception for his Favourites whom he made free to enter at all hours like enough on purpose to nettle the House of Guise though they were not the only men offended at it almost all the great men about the Court being sensibly concern'd to be depriv'd of a priviledge that was now only reserv'd for five or six of his Majesties Creatures The Lords of the House of Guise being by this means excluded from all hope of encreasing their power by new acquisitions of trust the King began to contrive how he might gently withdraw what they already had out of their hands and carried it so that so often as there was any vacancy by the decease of any of their creatures he immediately conferr'd those places upon some of his own and if at any time any of their Partizans were content to take money for such charges as they were seis'd of the King would stick at nothing that might satisfie them to the end he might dispose places into secure and faithful hands The Duke of Ioyeuse by these two ways that is by the King's gift when a Government fell void or otherwise by Contract had obtain'd the Government of Normandy with Haure de Grace â—aen and other places the Government of Anjou for the Compte de Bouchage his Brother the Lieutenancy of Languedoc for his Father with many other important Governments and Places The Duke of Espernon had also the Government of Metz and the Messin Countrey that of Dauphine Boulogne Calice la Fere Loches the Citadel of Lions and some others As it was necessary for these two great ment to find out assured Friends and faithful Servants into whose hands they might safely commit so many several places of trust as the King's bounty had possest them of so was it the Duke of Espernon's care to provide himself of such persons and supposing he could find none who were likely to be more faithful to him than those of his own Kindred and Relation he to that purpose call'd the greatest part of them about his person His elder Brother had by his recommendation the Government of Dauphine in which employment he behav'd himself so well that he preserved that Province entire in his Majesties obedience during all the commotions of the League neither were his Services confin'd within the bounds of his Government he passed over several times into Provence and secur'd that Countrey against the attempts of the said League when assisted both by Spain and Savoy He also oppos'd the power of the Hugonots which was very considerable in both these Provinces so that France has to him only the obligation that Dauphinâ— is not now in the Savoyard's hands as well as the Marquisate of Saluzzo Montcasin the Dukes Cousin was put into Metz Cajan his Brother had the Regiment of Champagne and soon after the Lieutenancy of Xaintogne Angomois and the Countrey of Aulins And many other places were dispos'd into the hands of several men of trust and quality who depended upon the Duke But he had yet a Kinsman in Gascony to whom next to his Brother he had a particular regard above all others which was Roger afterwards Duke de Bellegarde Son to Mounsieur de Termes the Duke's Uncle by the Mothers side and Heir to the House of Bellegarde This young Gentleman being bred up according to his condition to all the exercises becoming a person of his Birth and Quality was by the Duke brought to Court where he continued the care of his Education in his own House keeping him still to his Exercises till he was grown excellent in them all but the Duke was not content to oblige him only in this he further employ'd his care and good Offices to place him in the Kings esteem wherein he succeeded perhaps beyond his own desire Bellegarde arriving to such a degree of Favour as grew at last suspected to the Duke himself Some years past over in these Court practices neither from the time of the Treaty of Peace with the King of Navarre in the Year 1580. until the beginning of the Year 1584. were there any Affairs of importance save those of the Cabinet The King constant to his first Maxims continually labour'd the ruine of the League and of the Hugonot Party neither was he in his own nature more inclin'd to advance those he had a kindness for than he was bent to weaken and depress those who were suspected to him The Duke of Guise the Cardinal his Brother their Relations and Confederates seeing all things directed to this end and not being able to endure the condition of private persons to which they saw the King endeavour'd to reduce them set on foot great practices both within and without the Kingdom and try'd all imaginable ways they thought might help to fortifie and secure themselves And as they had hitherto been proceeded against without violence so had they carried on their practices without noise but at last finding the King more openly labour'd their ruine which was already almost inevitable they would no longer forbear to unmask themselves nor to publish their long premeditated designs by an open Rupture In the beginning then of the Year 1585. the Duke of Guise retir'd himself to Ioinville and there receiv'd into his House the King of Spain's Deputies together with the Sieur de Meneville Attorney to the Cardinal of Bourbon who did all the business of the League in France Where also the Duke of Mayenne his Brother and divers others of his Partizans repair'd to him At which Assembly it was resolv'd to break out suddenly into open Arms upon such conditions as the Historians of that time have already declar'd and which is nothing to my business The King who was soon advertiz'd of this Conspiracy which was now no longer a secret to hinder it from taking any dangerous effect and in due time to provide for the safety of the Kingdom assembled together
that the King of Navarre who designing to continue the same honour to him intended to have met him a good way out of Town was advised to expect him on foot at the Gates of the City his own Friends and Retinue being too few to make up a number that might hold any proportion with that the Duke brought along with him In these two Conferences the Duke deliver'd what he had in Commission fortifying the propositions he had to make with so many and so powerful Arguments that the King of Navarre clearly satisfied of his own good discover'd at last a great inclination to perform what the King desir'd of him viz. his Conversion to the Roman Catholick Religion He evidently saw the eminent danger whereinto this great conspiracy of the League was likely to precipitate him with the advantages he might have by running the same fortune with the King of defending himself and his Interest by his Majesties Authority and Power Requelaure and many other persons of good quality about him fortifi'd him in this good deliberation but he was disswaded from it by a far greater number of the other opinion who represented to him the hard usage he had receiv'd at Court the hazards he had run in his own person and the persecution those of the Reform'd Religion who were his Servants and Friends had suffer'd from thence They did not stick further absolutely to impute all the hard measure the Hugonot Party had receiv'd to this King although the greatest violencies had been exercised upon them in the Reign of Charles the Ninth expressing as passionate a hatred against him as the League so impudently manifested in their Rebellious Actions And certainly the Misfortune of this Prince is never too much to be lamented nor the unsteddiness of his condition too much to be wondered at having his Kingdom divided by two Factions so directly opposite to one another that he could never serve himself by the one to defend himself from the other and both sides though implacable enemies betwixt themselves concurr'd nevertheless always in this that they both equally desired his Ruine At last after many Conferences the King of Navarre gave the Duke his final Answer at Pau whither he had invited him to come to this effect That he was the Kings most humble Servant that he would justifie himself to be so upon all occasions and that he would never separate himself from his Service and Interests if his Majesty did not constrain him to it by condescending too much to his Enemies Counsels but that he could not for any consideration of Honour Riches or any other advantages that could be propos'd to him depart from the Religion he had embrac'd and was so firmly establish'd in It was in this pleasant Palace of Pau and amongst the magnificences and delights that place then abounded in that the Duke had first the honour to see the Lady Catharine the King of Navarre's only Sister since Dutchess of Bar in whom the Duke's Merit who was then in the flower of his youth and the meridian of his favour made such an impression that she began from that time to honour him with her favour which she continued to him to her death And it is certain that the King her Brother who perhaps did not think himself so near that height of fortune to which he soon after arriv'd and who doubtless would have been glad to have engag'd the Duke absolutely to his Interests made him some propositions of Marriage with this Princess but the condition of the time and intervening accidents permitting that Treaty to pass no further the Duke was forc'd to content himself with the advantage of so glorious a friendship which was ever after dear and precious to him the whole remainder of his life The King of Navarre to multiply still more entertainments and favours upon the Duke would needs have him yet to give him the satisfaction of another visit at Nerac which the Duke could not handsomely deny though the Kings commands were something pressing for his return to Court and as it is likely the King of Navarre spun out the time that he might more maturely deliberate upon an Affair of so great importance so was it the Duke's interest to give him that leisure he desired if possible to make his negotiation succeed according to the King his Masters desire But in the end finding he could not overcome those traverses and difficulties that his Majesties enemies still strew'd in his way he prepar'd himself for his departure and then it was that opening the last and most secret part of his Commission he told the King of Navarre That though he had denied his Majesty the satisfaction he desired of him yet that the King nevertheless considering him as his Kinsman and next Heir to the Crown if God should please to dispose of him without Issue had given him in charge to let him know that he would be well pleas'd he should use his best endeauour to preserve himself in a condition to oppose the League that was confederated to the ruine of the Royal House and Line That since they could not unite their Arms to resist their common Enemies he should at least assure himself of the places already in his possession which his Majesty took to be much safer and much more at his devotion in his hands than those that should hereafter be possest by the League And that although in the present state of Affairs he could not openly favour his designs by reason of their difference in Religion nor avoid being instant for the restitution of those cautionary places that had been granted to him yet that he should nevertheless be very well satisfied with whatever he should do to his own advantage After this Declaration which was receiv'd by the King of Navarre with infinite demonstrations of Obligation and Respect the Duke took post for the Court at Lions where the King impatiently expected his return He was now arriv'd within view of the City and all the Court were mounted to honour his arrival the King himself having much ado to forbear going out to meet him when a strange and unexpected Accident was like to have turn'd all the Honours prepar'd for his welcome into the Funeral Pomp of his Obsequies For one of the Gentlemen who came out to meet him having accidentally intangled the Chape of his Sword in the Duke's Bridle the Horse took such a fright at it that he immediately ran away with his Master nor could the Duke stop him with all the art and force he had from throwing himself and his Rider headlong into a dreadful precipice the place very remarkable by the greatness of the fall and the wonderful escape is to this day call'd Espernons Leap neither was there any man present who did not confidently believe the Duke certainly bruis'd to pieces an opinion so firmly grounded in every one that the report of his Death was immediately carried to Lions which made as
was at the Hostel de Gondy as that which was most capable to receive him and it was in this House of Gondy that whilst this great Prince was forming the designs of restoring his despis'd Authority of chastising the temerity and disobedience of his evil dispos'd Subjects of rendring his name venerable to all his Neighbours and of establishing the Peace of his Kingdom having already almost extinguish'd all the sparks of Division that had enflam'd it that I say an accursed Paâ—ricide in the Meridian of all his Glory and in the Crisis of all his Designs plung'd a murthering Knife into his Entrails Every one has heard who Iaques Clement was and the black story of his Bloody Assassinate but no one could ever yet penetrate so far as to discover by whom he was prompted on to this execrable Act. The King feeling himself wounded drew the Knife immediately from the Wound and strook it up to the haft in the Villains Face at which bustle betwixt them one of the Grooms of the Wardrobe who guarded the Closet Door into which his Majesty was withdrawn to give this wicked wretch a more private audience ran in to them as also did several Gentlemen who waited in the outer Room who all of them drawing their Swords by an imprudence in it self criminal if not excus'd by the violence of their Affections gave the Caitiffe an hundred Wounds whereby in a moment he vomited out a life that ought not to have been dismist till after the horror of a thousand torments The King feeling himself Wounded commanded the Duke of Espernon to be immediately sent for who was then at the Post nearest to the City putting some Troops in order which were to fall into the Suburbs of Paris but at this sad and unexpected news he ran in great confusion to the King's Lodging whom he yet found in the same posture wherein he had receiv'd his hurt with his hand still upon the Wound At which sight the Duke bursting out in tears as fearing a sinister event his Majesty gave him comfort by telling him he hop'd the Wound would not prove Mortal and saying to him further these very words Thou seest here my Friend the effects of my Enemies Treachery and Malice but I hope God will shortly enable me to bring them to condigne punishment To which the Duke returning no other answer than his tears they laid his Majesty upon a bed and search'd his Wound which the Chirurgeons at the first dressing apprehended not to be so dangerous as it was so that all that day was past over in this error but that night and the morning following the dolours of his Wound encreasing and at last growing to be extreme it was then judg'd that his bowels were pierced and that Death must necessarily and in a few hours ensue The King of Navarre had hasted with all diligence at the first bruit of this accident and being come to his bedside his Majesty said to him almost the same things he had said before to the Duke and talk'd of nothing the first day save of the exemplary punishment he would inflict upon his Enemies but his Wound being at last judg'd to be mortal and feeling in himself that he drew near his end all his discourse of Punishment and Revenge was turn'd into that of Pardon and Oblivion and certainly no Prince ever made a more Christian or a more constant end He declar'd upon his death-bed the King of Navarre nearest of his Blood and and consequently right Heir to the Crown provided he were a Catholick exhorting him at the same time to abjure his own Religion and to reconcile himself to the Holy Church commanding likewise the Duke of Espernon whom he held by the hand to serve him upon that condition after which and a Pious Resignation of himself he gave up his last breath in the middle of his victorious Army We are now entring upon a new Reign and one the Duke found very different from that wherein he had hitherto liv'd for he now not only saw himself stript of all kind of Favour but he further saw the envy and hatred of the whole Court directed against him He was now no more call'd to Council nor any longer entrusted with his Princes secrets but on the contrary every one labour'd to diminish that greatness to which his own Vertue and his Masters Royal bounty had already rais'd him But we shall see how he overcame all these difficulties and the Justice of this new Prince at last giving the Merits and Services of this vertuous man their due we shall see him not only support him in his own present Fortune but also encrease it by his daily bounty and so establish it in him as to empower him to settle it in his own Posterity So soon as the King was dead all the Roman Catholicks of quality in the Army assembled themselves together to advise what in this occurrence was to be done for the maintenance of the Catholick Religion in the Service of this new King And here their opinions were split into three several Councils for some there were who thought it fit absolutely to acknowledge the King without condition or reservation but those were very few Others there were who would absolutely abandon his Service and joyn with the League and those were fewer than the first But the third proposition and that which was concluded on by the most principal and prudent Lords of the Army amongst which were the Dukes of Longueville of Nevers of Espernon and of Luxembourg the Mareschals de Biron and d' Aumont the Marquis of Ramboâ—illet and many others was to serve the King and to tye themselves wholly to his Fortune provided his Majesty would please to give them some gracious assurance of his speedy Conversion Which being deliver'd to his Majesty as their determinate Resolution and the condition prescrib'd as it were by the King his Predecessor he wisely chose such a mean as seem'd necessary to him in this occasion for the establishment of the uncertain state of his Affairs and would by all means preserve that moderation and indifferency betwixt both parties as should by an equal hope in them both keep both his Catholick and Hugonot Subjects within the bounds of their duty His Answer therefore was That it would appear to all the world very easie and unhandsome in him to change his Religion only to satisfie his Subjects humour and to receive a Law from them in a thing which in its self of all other ought to be most free That he desir'd to be instructed and satisfied in his Conscience before he proceeded so far as to change his Religion That to this purpose he promis'd within six months to call an Assembly of men of known Piety and Learning and if occasion were a National Synod to whose final Decree he would absolutely submit and that in the mean time he would be careful to protect and maintain the Catholick Religion After divers
their Guard to present their Duty The Duke taking this occasion to â—etire withdrew himself forthwith to his own Quarter but before he would absolutely depart he would first attend the Corps of the King his Master and Benefactor as far as Compeigne whither they were carried with very little Ceremony the disorders of the time not permitting greater and where having paid his last duty he return'd to overtake his Troops which were now marching upon the Road of Loches towards Angoumois The example of the Duke's departure was followed by many others so that in a few days the Army was grown so thin that the King had scarce any save strangers left in his Camp and even they in the end for want of pay disbanded as well as the rest and then it was that the Duke's Enemies with a redoubled malice spoke loudest in his disgrace and did all they possibly could to animate his Majesty in the highest degree against him There had already pass'd as you have heard some secret discontents betwixt the King and the Duke during the life of the late King amongst which the business of Gergeau and that of Estampes had made no little noise but to these many have added and likewise some endeavour'd to possess the King that the Duke ever impatient of a Rival in his Master's Favour and less able to endure his Majesty who was so much above him had in that time done all the ill offices he could invent to beget a mis-understanding betwixt the King and him such as might cause a separation and certainly so effectually had they labour'd with him as to make him believe too much by which they had so incens'd his Majesties mind against him that doubtless he would have bent his whole endeavour to the Duke's Ruine upon the late refusal he had made of his assistance had not the necessity of his own Affairs diverted his designs another way but all these evil dispositions though they still threatned worse consequences could not hinder the Duke from persevering in his resolution to retire As his departure was of infinite importance whether we consider it as to the Fortune of the King and Interest of the State or as to the Duke 's own particular concern and that there are few Historians of that or later times who have not taken occasion to blame the Dukes proceeding herein I think it fit to say something here in his vindication and to discover the reasons upon which he built that resolution which having receiv'd from his own mouth in the same terms that I shall faithfully deliver here every one may afterwards 〈◊〉 what judgment of the Action he shall in his own discretion think most fit He told me that a little before his departure many of his intimate friends had endeavour'd to disswade him from his Design by presenting before him the present juncture of Affairs so favourable as they said to the support of his immediate condition so generally envy'd by all that he could not himself have wish'd a more advantageous conjuncture That as it was principally by his means and assistance the King could build any probable hopes of effecting what he desir'd so were there present no advanâ—ages besides an indempnity and oblivion of all pass'd unkindnesses a thing in it self highly to be consider'd to which he might not reasonably pretend That he might now establish his own greatness in so sure a condition that it would be no hard matter to maintain himself for the future in the same height should the Kings humour chance to come about That all men plainly saw how much upon his departure or stay depended the standing or dissolution of the Royal Army That upon his concurrence with his Majesty depended that of the greatest part of the Catholicks and the Ruine of the League wherein were his most capital Enemies That by his assistance men might yet promise to themselves the reducing of Paris and in that the peace and settlement of the whole Kingdom That having in his hands the disposition of things of so great utility to the publick and so great honour to himself he neither ought to envy his Country those advantages not to deprive himself of the glory of so admirable a success These were considerations that in their own weight and laid home to him by men he knew to be his Friends were not unlikely to prevail and to have overcome his obâ—â—inacy as doubtless they had done had the Duke look'd no further than his own Interest and so he told his Friends who had so freely argu'd with him He told them that he was not so little acquainted with the business of the world that he did not well enough discern all those advantages they had propos'd as relating to himself That he did very well believe his Majesty assisted by his Catholick Subjects might reduce his Enemies to the point he desir'd but that from thence would infallibly ensue the subversion of the Catholick Religion which would likewise bring on the ruine of the State That instead of the Peace they propos'd to themselves after the League were reduc'd to their obedience they would see themselves engag'd in a more violent and obstinate War than before That those of the Reform'd Religion being grown more strong and having a lawful mighty and active King to head them would doubtless establish their own Religion in France and constrain the Catholicks to submit to whatever Law they would impose upon them That it was far better betimes to refuse to countenance the evil which lay concealâ—d under the apparence of a present good than to engage himself in mischiefs of so inevitable consequence and to forbear a while the fruits of a specious and alluring Peace to enjoy it at better leisure more permanent and secure That the King what promises soever he had made and what real dispositions soever he might have to cause himself to be satisfied within six months had nevertheless been prompted by those of his own perswasion to demand that respite for no other end than to keep the Catholick Forces about him that he might make himself Master of Paris That having done that which must necessarily put an end to the War and being wholly possest by creatures passionate for their ill receiv'd and new opinions he would certainly be continued in his Error by their restless practice That there was a necessity of a prompt and sincere Conversion not such an one as was to be hop'd for no man knew when and that then perhaps would be luke-warm and unsound That whensoever that should come to pass they should see him stake his Fortune his Friends and his Life for a Prince whom he did ever acknowledge undoubted Successour to the Crown That in the mean time he made no doubt but his Enemies as they use to do would lay all the disorders that should happen at his door and hourly incense the King against him with all the malice and artifice they could invent but that
remain'd was content to expect some happy opportunity that might re-establish him in the possession of a place so important to his fortune and whereof he saw himself at present absolutely depriv'd During his Majesties abode at Metz the Provincial of the Fathers Jesuits was by the Duke of Espernon presented to him where the proposition preferr'd by the Provincial for the re-establishment of his fraternity in France was so promoted by the Duke's mediation that it was concluded on to his great satisfaction Neither was this the first good office the Duke had done them nor the sole testimony he had given of his affection and respect to that Society he having ever been one of their most constant and most powerful Protectors in the time of their persecution as he was one of their principal benefactors after their re-establishment Metz that ever till then had made many and almost invincible difficulties of ever admitting them into their Corporation receiv'd them upon the Duke 's single accompt as he also procur'd their admission into Angoulesme before he left that Government Their Colledge of Xaints has no other foundation than what he bestow'd upon it of four thousand Livers a year in two fair Benefices which put all together have rendred him one of the principal Benefactors of that Society by the acknowledgment and testimony of the most ancient and most eminent men of the Order The variety of accidents and business that had befallen the King in these last years were yet too few to take him wholly up he still found leisure enough for his delights and although he himself took a particular accompt of all Affairs and was ever the main director in all things yet his abilities which nothing was too big for rendred him so excellent at dispatch that he still made way for his vacation and pleasure The Peace concluded with all his Neighbours and his domestick troubles extinguish'd either by the punishment of the offenders or by the excess of his own clemency gave him now sufficient leisure to look after the reformation of such abuses as were crept into the state during the licence of War an employment which how becoming soever his Royal care and how profitable soever to the Kingdom took up but a very inconsiderable part of his time the rest being dedicated to the Chace to play and to the diversions of Love entertainments that as the passions and humours of Princes who are the great examples of their people do easily insinuate themselveâ—â—nto their Subjects Affections or at least their imitation were grown so much in fashion at Court that there was scarce any talk of any other thing and if they had during this Voyage to Metz suffer'd a little intermission they were at the return of the Court to Paris more than ever set on foot It has been believ'd that though the King in his hunting and his Mistrisses altogether follow'd the proâ—â—ivity of his own nature yet that for what concern'd play he had in that as much design at least as inclination I have already told you that his Majesty having set down the bringing low the great men of his Kingdom by imperceptible ways to render them more obedient for a Maxime of State had put them upon the humour of Building to drain their purses and doubtless his engaging them in play was in order to the same design amongst whom the Duke of Espernon who already felt the smart of the first and that very well understood his Majesties meaning in the latter refus'd not nevertheless to make one for his Master's satisfaction but if he did it at first meerly out of compliance his ill fortune at last made it become his revenge and enclin'd him so passionately to it that he found himself in the end engag'd in so extraordinary losses as were no little inconvenience to him His Majesty would often do him the honour to play at his house ever inviting him to all his Matches And whether he retir'd to Zamet or to any other place to evade the tumult of Majesty and Greatness the Duke of Espernon was always the first invited so that although he was not in favour he was nevertheless in great esteem of which one of the most signal testimonies he could receive was the honour the King did him in permitting him to enter the Louvre in his Coach a favour till this time reserv'd only for the Princes of the Blood exclusively to all other persons of the Kingdom the Duke being the first that unlock'd this Priviledge for the Dukes and Peers though he enjoy'd it alone during the King's life his Majesty though oâ—ten importun'd by others of the same quality for the same honour never consenting to have it drawn into example 'T is true that after the King's death the Queen Regent to accommodate her self to the time was content to abate much of the Royal State and allow'd the Dukes and Peers and Officers of the Crown the same Priviledge but the respect to the Duke's person was that which first procur'd them that indulgence A famous Gamester call'd Pimentel an Italian came at this time into France whose dexterity in gulling the Court was such that I cannot forbear to mention him in this place 'T is said and it is perfectly true that this Cavalier hearing what an humour of play reign'd at the French Court caus'd great number of false Dice to be made of which he himselâ— only knew the high and the low runners hiring men to carry them into France where after they had bought up and convey'd away all that were in Paris he supply'd all the Shops with his own By which means having subjected the spirit of Play and ty'd the hands of Fortune he arriv'd at last in France where insinuating himself into the Court he was by some of his own Nation who had great interest there soon brought acquainted with the King Some have believ'd his Majesty understood the man well enough and was content to admit him for a Gamester the better to bring about his own design of impoverishing the Lords of his Court whose Riches grew suspected to him The Duke of Espernon was one from whom he drew the most considerable summes who after having got all his ready mony and many of his Jewels he moreover won of him a piece of Ambergris to the value of 20000. Crowns the greatest that ever was seen in Europe and which the Republick of Venice to whom it was after sold preserve to this day in their Treasure for a great rarity The Duke had not long been Master of it a Country fellow that had found it upon the Coast of Medoc having but a little before brought it to him as a thing due to the House of Candale of which the Duke was now the head This Ancient and illustrious Family are possessors of many goodly Mannors in Guienne and principally in the Country of Medoc with as ample priviledges as belong to any of the greatest Territories of the Kingdom
security than in any other place of the Kingdom All the Princes and Lords not only those then present at Court and who had engag'd with the Prince in the late commotions but also all the rest of their party astonish'd at so extraordinary a proceeding and believing that after an example like this neither respect of persons nor any security in general was to be expected they suddenly retir'd from Court to whom the rest almost as suddenly re-united themselves for their common safety The Mareschal who thought that by securing the Head of the Faction he had likewise secur'd himself from the danger of the rest was infinitely surpriz'd when he saw them now united in more formidable numbers than before and that the Lords of the House of Guise also absented themselves upon this occasion wherein nevertheless he had this hope that so many persons of equal quality would not long agree together especially if press'd home by the Royal Arms An opinion that made him resolve to set immediately such Forces on foot as should be sufficient to encounter and suppress them in several places at once Neither did he care to reduce any by Treaty save only the Duke of Guise conceiving an Accommodation with him would be more easily effected than with any of the other by how much he had ever observ'd a greater moderation in him and his Brothers towards himself than the rest to which likewise the complacency the Duke had ever manifested for the Queen in other occasions gave him greater assurance of a flexibility in him to her Majesties desires in this and that without much difficulty a good intelligence might be establish'd betwixt them as there afterwards was the Guises having receiv'd caution for their security being content to return to Court This little negotiation being so happily dispatch'd the Mareschal immediately betook himself to Arms and so vigorously that in a very few days three great Armies were set on foot whereof one was sent against the Duke of Mayenne who was retir'd to Soissons another against the Duke of Nevers in Champagne and the third against the Dutchess of Nevers who with a generosity something extraordinary in her delicate Sex was resolute to defend the Dutchy of Nivernois which was the Inheritance of the Duke her Husband In this disorder of Affairs the Duke of Espernon apprehending that the hatred the Mareschal had conceiv'd against him was no less than that he manifested against the rest and that he would infallibly fall upon him so soon as he had dispatch'd with them he had no mind to be surpriz'd nor to suffer himself tamely to be oppress'd considering therefore that alone he should not long be able to resist the power of the King whose name his enemy had usurp'd in all his Affairs he address'd himself to the Duke of Montmorency to engage him in his Quarrel by whose mediation he made no doubt to draw over l' Esdiguieres also The Duke knew those two to be no better satisfied with the present Government than himself who although they were not openly persecuted as he was yet the example of the other persons of the same condition making them reasonably to apprehend for themselves what they already saw others suffer he doubted not but that without much difficulty they would be perswaded to embrace the union neither was he mistaken herein the Duke of Montmorency as also l' Esdiguieres absolutely engaging with him So that these three Confederates having opportunity to concur in the work through the mediation and by the assistance of several powerful friends the Duke had in Guienne nothing could hinder them from uniting in so necessary a defense and so just a Quarrel The Duke notwithstanding he had thus wisely play'd his game and that he was certain to receive very great assistance from his Confederates did nevertheless very well understand that as he was nearest to the approaching danger so it would be very necessary for him to put himself soonest into a posture of defense that the Mareschal might not surprize him His thoughts therefore were fully intent upon the resolution of Arms but he wanted not only a cause but even a pretense to colour his preparation without which only to go about it was to make himself Criminal in the highest degree neither the Court Minion being absolutely his enemy could he reasonably hope either for a Commission from thence for the raising of men in the King's name and at his expense or so much as to be permitted to do it at his own charge In this strait and anxiety what course to take the Rochellers gave him as fair a pretense as he could possibly desire to do that under the vail of Duty and Obligation which he could not otherwise have undertaken without incurring the highest censure They had at this time surpriz'd a little Castle near to their City and situate upon the Sea-coast call'd Rochefort an enterprize condemn'd by all the world for the most sensless and unadvis'd that could possibly have been undertaken to begin a War by an action of so little importance in a time when themselves and their whole party were priviledg'd by so absolute and inviolate a Peace The Duke who had been at so great a loss before and that could not then have wish'd for a more specious pretense it may easily be imagin'd was very ready to lay hold of this occasion now neither did he fail herein to aggravate the misdemeanour to the height but repeating all the Accusations he had formerly preferr'd against the Ambition and Infidelity of those of the Reformed Religion and particularly against those of Rochelle he of them drew up a kind of Manifesto which he caus'd to be publish'd in all parts of the Kingdom In this Declaration he forgot not to reckon up the several insurrections those of that Faction had broke into to make their advantage of every disorder had at any time hapned in the Kingdom notwithstanding all satisfaction had been given them by the inviolate observation of â—everal Edicts granted in their favour That they had been observ'd for many years to call together Assemblies in Rochelle without either his Majesties Order or Royal Assent from which such unjust and unreasonable Propositions and demands were usually sent to the King as made it appear they did not Treat with his Majesty in the quality of Subjects but like free-Free-States that were nothing ally'd to his Sovereign Power That by such a behaviour it was plain enough the City was arriv'd to the utmost degree of Licence and that the Rochellers could never satisfie their Ambition till they had introduc'd a popular Government amongst them That if hitherto his Majesties Council had contrary to his Judgment and Advice wink'd at the progress of so dangerous a design that nevertheless he to whom the Government of their City was entrusted and who therefore was more concern'd than any other to keep such in their obedience as were committed to his care was
the whole design By a supposititious hand one that took upon him to be a Servant to the Duke de Luines he caus'd five hundred crowns to be paid down to Lorme by virtue of which he retriv'd the Packet out of his hands disposing so of Lorme himself that he was never seen or heard of after by which means this great design in the greatest danger imaginable to be discover'd and lost was again restor'd to its former condition The Duke who as yet was totally ignorant of Lorme's treachery and who knew nothing of it of above a month after put himself in the mean time upon his Journey the order whereof at his setting out and which he also continu'd during the whole Voyage I shall here present you Wherein we shall observe so admirable a conduct that we cannot forbear notwithstanding the Duke's modesty who ever gave Fortune too great a share in all his performances to attribute the whole success of this enterprize immediately to his own prudence No body knew of his resolution till the night before his departure when all the Gates of the City being shut which at Metz as at all other Frontier Towns was commonly betimes he commanded every one to make ready for their departure the next morning He had some time before this caus'd eight thousand Pistols his whole stock at that time to be sowed up in Girdles of Leather which were all found in his Truncks at his death in the same condition they were at his departure from Metz such as a man might without much trouble wear about him which he distributed to fifteen Gentlemen of his Family whom he knew to be the most faithful and that were the best mounted to take care of with orders to follow him wherever he went should any cross accident befal him in the way His Jewels also which were lock'd up in a little iron Chest and carried in a Male was committed to a Valet de Chambre of approv'd fidelity who had likewise order not to stir from his person He had fifty Gentlemen only in his company every one arm'd with a Case of Pistols and a Carabine forty Guards with each one a Musket and a case of Pistols fifteen Sumpter Mules the ordinary Officers of his Houshold with several common Servants With this Troop amounting in all not to above an hundred good Horse and that would have been too little had he gone upon the accompt of a private quarrel only the Duke of Espernon adventur'd upon a Journey contrary to the King 's express Order from one extremity of the Kingdom to another and thence to return back again into the very heart of the same Kingdom there to assist the Queen Mother resolv'd contrary to the King's will to make her escape from a place to which she had been by his Majesty in the nature of a Prison confin'd and without certainly knowing by whom he was to be assisted in his design undertook to change the face of a mighty State so quiet and so united within it self as that it seem'd impossible either at home or abroad to be threatned with the least danger or trouble Wherein if the attempt was bold we shall find the execution no less worthy to be admir'd He must alone make an end of what he had alone begun his good Fortune it seems to his Glory ordering it so that not one great man of the Kingdom either envying or astonish'd at so daring a design would be drawn to embark in an action the honour and success whereof could derive to none but the Duke of Espernon So that they were content to let him bustle it out alone whilst themselves sate idle spectators of this haughty and noble Enterprize though it was certainly reported and believ'd that many of them had engag'd themselves to the Queen to serve her upon this occassion The Duke having thus order'd his little Train and not being able to separate himself from the Marquis de la Valette his most beloved Son without taking his leave he call'd him aside where embracing him with the tenderness of an affectionate Father he told him That the greatest testimony he could possibly give him of his Affection and Esteem was as he now did to commit to his Vigilancy and Valour the Custody of Metz it being the principal member of his Fortune and to the conservation of which he ought to be the more awake as it concern'd himself much more than it did him who having but a short time to live could expect but a few years possession That he might assure himself he should with the soonest be beleaguer'd with all the Forces the King could make and that no better was to be expected from the Inhabitants how well affected soever they might pretend to be to oppose both which much prudence and constancy would be requir'd That upon the success of the Action wherein they were now engag'd depended not only their Fortunes but their Reputations also which if it succeeded well they should be loaded with Honour but if otherwise be look'd upon as Criminals and Traytors That therefore they were to put on a Resolution rather to dye than to fall into that disgrace but that it was much better to live and to overcome as his heart assur'd him they should honourably and fortunately do By which few words the Marquis being confirm'd in the generous resolution he before had taken humbly besought the Duke his Father to be confident he would never do any thing unworthy his own Birth or his expectation when his tears having stop'd all further expression he by that tenderness gave a much better testimony of his courage than otherwise and at a greater liberty of speech his own modesty would perhaps have permitted him to do The Duke was no sooner parted from his Son but that he presently went to Horse to begin his Journey it being Monday the two and twentieth of Ianuary as had been before appointed The Gates of the City had not been opened since the evening before and then only that by which the Duke was to sally which was also shut again so soon as he who would himself be the last man was gone out Neither of three days after his departure was any one opened at all the Duke having moreover lest any Tickets might be thrown over the Walls or any persons let down who might carry intelligence of his motion to Court left order with Paul Lieutenant to a Company of Carabines belonging to the Garrison of Metz night and day to scour the Road to Paris and to intercept and stop all that should travel that way a precaution of so good use that the last news the Court receiv'd of the Duke of Espernon's departure came from Metz so well had all the Avenues been guarded on that side The Duke being now out of the City pursu'd his way with great diligence taking as long Journeys as the heaviness of his Sumpter-Mules would permit which though they ty'd him to
without the least opposition an action that nevertheless he undertook with great reluctancy so great an affection and esteem he had for the Governour but his Duty ever carried it with him above all considerations The Chevalier de Valette was therefore establish'd in this Isle and very opportunely for had not the Duke taken this course and that the Rochellers who had a design to seize it had once got footing there great force and vast expense must have been employ'd to remove them but the Duke by this foresight sav'd the King that charge and labour Certainly never was War carried on at greater convenience for the Souldier than in this Countrey which by its situation and vicinity to the Provinces of Poictou Xaintonge and Angoumois lay so exceeding conveniently for the bringing in of all sorts of Provision and other necessaries that they were scarce to be had in greater abundance or at cheaper rates in the best Cities of the Kingdom than they were in the Camp continually to be sold as also the people came in with their commodities with as great confidence and security as to the publick and ordinary Markets and they might do so the least violence to any Higler Sutler or other Provisionary Person being a crime so capital as never escap'd unpunish'd By which we may judge how much the continuation of our civil dissentions has impair'd the flourishing condition the Kingdom was then in and how much the constitution of War by being grown older is alter'd from what it us'd to be in those better times Whilst the Duke thus bravely acquitted himself of his Command before Rochelle his Majesty had also with extraordinary vigour prosecuted his designs in Guienne where he had compell'd most of the places possess'd by those of the Religion in that Province to submit to his Authority and Power Of which he had reduc'd Bergerac Saint Foy Puimirol Tournon Monflanquin with several others besieg'd and taken Clerac and at last laid Siege to Montauban though herein he had not been so successful as in his other enterprizes so that the year ending with this variety of Events his Majesty was constrain'd to return to Paris to let the stormy quarter blow over that he might in a more favourable season recommence the interrupted progress of his Arms. In his Majesties return to Paris a little paltry place situated upon the banks of the River Garonne call'd Monhurt had the impudence to stand out against the Royal Army an insolence which though it receiv'd its due reward prov'd notwithstanding fatal to the Duke de Luines who by a burning Feaver there ended his days by whose decease both the place he possess'd in the King's favour as also the Office of Constable of France became void The Duke of Mayenne had likewise a few days before left a vacancy in the principal Government of the Kingdom which was that of Guienne by a Musquet-shot he receiv'd in his head before Montauban by the fall of which two great Ministers the King as we shall hereafter see had means to recompense the Services of the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschal de l' Esdiguieres two of the eldest and best deserving Servants of his Crown The Winter was no sooner a little abated of its fury but that those of the Religion more elevated with the raising of the Siege of Montaubon than they had been dejected with the loss of so many other places as the King had taken from them took the field to give his Majesty a new and greater provocation than before Of these Soubize was the first that fell in his Majesties way who having fortified himself in the Isle of Reé and some other Islands of Poictou thought the difficulty of their access would protect him from the Royal Power but he soon found that all places are firm Land to Kings when his Majesty overcoming all difficulties that oppos'd his way pass'd over the Marshes and his own Fortifications within them to fall upon him where he gave him so notable a defeat that he could not of a long time after recover that blow nor put himself again into any tolerable posture of War So soon as the Duke of Espernon had intelligence of the King's motion towards those Provinces where he had the honour to command he design'd a Journey to his Majesty to give him an accompt of those discoveries he had made whilst he lay before Rochelle that were of greatest importance to his design a desire he had no sooner acquainted his Majesty withal but that he gave him leave to come to him to Poictiers where he accordingly arriv'd in the beginning of the year 1622. He could not possibly desire a more favourable reception than his Majesty was here pleas'd to give him who openly declar'd himself infinitely satisfied with his Service neither indeed could it by any one have been perform'd with greater fidelity or to better effect so that the King being resolutely bent to punish the Rochellers disobedience had a great desire that the Duke should still pursue the Siege as he had begun But the Count de Soissons a young Prince of great courage and expectation having been prompted by his friends to ask some employment he was not handsomly to be denied any thing almost he could demand every thing he would pretend to seeming justly due to his Birth and merit Amongst all the Commands of the Kingdom that the Duke had before Rochelle was without all dispute the most honourable and the Duke had notice given him a few days after his return to his Camp of the importunate suit the Count de Soissons made to have the Command of the Army under his charge conferr'd upon him an intelligence that perhaps the informer presum'd would have been very unwelcome to him but if the Duke knew how to stand upon his punctilio and to hold his own amongst his equals he also better understood than any man of the Kingdom what deference was due to the Princes of the Blood He was therefore no sooner advertis'd of the Count's desire but that he was himself the first man to second it representing to his Majesty in his dispatches how much it stood him upon to favour the inclinations of this young Prince that he might the sooner be made capable of performing those Services his Majesty was one day to expect from his Valour and Conduct He also renew'd the same instances by word of mouth when his Majesty came a few days after out of Poictou into Xaintonge though when all was done he himself would never be prevail'd upon to serve any more in this Army under this new General Monsieur d' Herbaut Secretary of State his old and particular friend was commanded by the King to speak to him about it who represented to him That his Majesties intention herein was not in the least to diminish his Authority in the Army nor to cut him off in the least from the exercise of his Command That if they took
establish the order which for the future was to be observ'd in reference to this work the Duke was upon the matter oblig'd to make a Journey to Paris to examine the Accompts of his Agents there he therefore sent to the King to entreat his Majesty whilst the peace of the Kingdom and the good condition he had settled his Government in rendred his presence less necessary there to give him leave so to do His request was easily granted and he accordingly departed from Bordeaux in the latter end of November 1623. and came to Paris about the end of December following Some have suppos'd he did not so much desire this Journey for any thing that concern'd his Domestick Affairs as to see if any benefit was to be made of the Queen Mothers good inclinations towards him and to try the grateful return she made him to expect for the signal Services he had done her in the time of her disgrace She was of late years become all in all at Court and many of her Servants that had not so well merited from her as the Duke had done had receiv'd very great rewards but he could not perceive the same dispositions towards him nor discover the gratitude she had promis'd him when she was in the worst condition to express it on the contrary as if with her Fortune she had chang'd her Nature and as if by being become happy and powerful she had been no more the same Princess the Duke had so well serv'd when she was under persecution and had no power at all she no more remembred him she was oblig'd to have recompens'd by all sorts of benefit and favour The Duke came to Paris so well attended that of many years before there had not been seen any person of his condition enter the City with so numerous a Train Many persons of very eminent quality went out as far as Chastre to meet him and his coming was very remarkable by the solitude was observ'd in the Louvre where there scarce remain'd any save the King 's own Domestick Servants A thing his Majesty very well observ'd and was nothing displeas'd at it but on the contrary having that day taken notice of some Gentlemen in the Presence who had dependence upon the Duke he merrily said to them How comes it to pass you are not gone out to meet the Duke of Espernon he 'l talk with you for this when he comes So ready his Majesty was to cause that honour to be paid him that was justly his due He was receiv'd at his coming by the King and the Queens with very great kindness and falling to his business presently after his arrival Mauroy a Councellor of State and one of his Agents a man of great vertue and very good at business gave him up his Accompts exactly just and right but Valliech his old Secretary having employ'd some people under him who had either been not very careful or not very honest fell short above fifty thousand Livers which this good Master franckly forgave him his noble nature it should seem not being able to conâ—ent that even so great a fault as his negligence should ruine the Affairs of his own Family All his Accompts and the other Affairs that most requir'd his presence at Paris were in less than four months dispatch'd so that towards the latter end of April he began to think of his return into Guienne The Court was then at Compiegne whither the Duke went to receive the King's Commands supposing this should be the last leave he was to take and not expecting that his Age which was now very far advanc'd he being at this time near upon threescore and ten years old would permit him to make another Journey eight years after as he did in a marvellous health and vigour Whilst the Duke staid at Compiegne the King who would have been very glad to have the mis-understanding betwixt him and the Parliament compos'd caus'd d' Herbaut Secretary of State to treat with him about it wherein the Duke express'd himself very willing to an Accommodation and so far as to consent to the Act about the Couriers which was in his own presence by the Council determin'd in the Parliaments favour He was moreover satisfied with the Order the King sent to suspend the Election of the Maire of Libourne which was another main thing in dispute till his return into the Province But the first President was not so well dispos'd to peace he conceiv'd this Accommodation would infinitely lessen the Authority he had got amongst his Brethren during these controversies and therefore without any regard either to the King's Command or the Duke's Order precipitated the Election of the Maire whom the Duke found establish'd at his arrival from whence arose a new and higher quarrel than before So that if in truth the Duke was herein to be condemn'd for having in the beginning prosecuted things with too much heat the President cannot in my opinion be excus'd for thus urging them to the last extremes without ever yielding to such a reconciliation as might being timely apply'd have prevented the ensuing mischiefs The Duke having thus settled those of his Domestick Affairs that requir'd his presence at Paris and done his part to provide as well for the future quiet of his Government departed first from Compiegne and soon after from Paris to return into Guienne He would in this Journey take Espernon in his way that he might touch at Chartres in order to some Devotions Whither Cartier whom he had left at Court to solicit his Affairs in the place of Valliech dispatch'd an express Courier to him to let him know that Cardinal Richelieu was since his departure created prime Minister of State I was present when the Duke receiv'd this news at which he was the more surpriz'd forasmuch as he had discover'd nothing of that design in the time of his being at Court though he had been very frequent with the Queen Mother who had also constrain'd her self to dissemble a little forc'd shew of particularity and confidence in him by which he evidently saw he was not upon so good terms with her as they had a mind to make him believe he was he notwithstanding said no more at present but this That the Cardinal was indeed a man of great dexterity but that he would very much change the face of Affairs should he long continue at the Helme Upon the instant he according to his custom sent him a Complement upon his new promotion which doubtless was not very acceptable to the Cardinal there being scarce any space left at the top of the Letter and nothing more than Your very humble Servant subscrib'd at the bottom a style that he continued a great while and perhaps too long for the interest of his Affairs though it was indeed no other than what he ever us'd to all other Cardinals After having dispatch'd this Complement he continued his Journey towards Guienne
himself to his House Plassac of which Request though the pretence was to enter into a course of Physick for the recovery of his Health yet the true reason was that he might be out of the way of having any Disputes with the Prince about the Affairs of his Government which he could not without great grief have seen afflicted with those miseries wherewith it was threatned nor perhaps without expressing such a dislike of that harsh way of proceeding as might have given him Offence A thing which all the Friends and Servants he had at Court having foreseen they had advis'd him to this course his Sons who were best acquainted with his tickle and impatient humour were of this advice but there is great apparence that the first thoughts of retiring were inspir'd by the Prince himself who having in other Employments where the Duke and he had serv'd together had tryal enough of his difficult humour would no more be subject to those contrarieties he had formerly endur'd and had therefore doubtless prompted him with that resolution The Duke's Request therefore being so conformable to the Princes desires and to the sence of the Court it was no hard matter for him to obtain that in the quality of a favour which had doubtless been enjoyn'd him as a punishment had he not by speaking first prevented a Command from the King to the same effect for it had been from that time forward as it has been evident since been resolv'd upon to withdraw him from his Government and to suspend him from all the Functions of his Command Nevertheless having lighted so pat upon the humour of the great Ministers by the advice of his Friends he was very civilly treated in his Majesties Answer which was couch'd in these terms Cousin Having found by your Letter of the eigteenth instant and moreover understood by the mouth of the Sieur de Lavrilliere the Secretary of my Dispatches that in order to your Health by the change of Air and the use of some Remedies have been prescrib'd you by your Physicians you desire for some time to retire your self to your House of Plassac I send you this to let you know that any thing which may either concern your health or satisfaction being very pleasing to me I do willingly grant you the liberty you desire to go to your said House assuring my self that even from thence you will have a vigilant eye to whatsoever may concern the good of my Service within the precincts of your Government In the mean time I shall pray to God Cousin to have you in his Holy Protection From St. Germains en Laye the 28 th day of March 1638. The Duke very well satisfied with this answer began to make himself ready to begin his Journey so soon as the Prince should be arriv'd in Guienne where whilst he waited in expectation of his coming he pass'd away the time with the Duke de Candalé his eldest Son entertaining him with greater familiarity and freedom than till that time he had ever done whose complacency and fine Behaviour made at this time so great an impression upon the Duke his Father that certainly this Son had never been so dear to him as when he was upon the point to lose him in somuch that his present joy was no little disposition to augment the approaching grief soon after occasion'd by his unexpected Death The Duke de la Valette had in the interim of these Dispatches from the King and the Prince of Condé been oblig'd to make a Journey to Court to which he had been engag'd contrary both to his Majesties express Order and also his own resolution He knew very well the ill Offices had been done him to the Cardinal since the business of Corbie glanc'd at in the preceding Discourse he was moreover very well acquainted with the implacable nature of the person who conceiv'd himself so highly offended by him to which his power was no less known to him than his malice considerations that altogether had made him positively determine not to put himself into his hands that he might not add to the number of those who had already tasted the utmost effects of his Indignation choosing rather to live in his Government in safety though in disgrace than to expose himself to the almost inevitable dangers he was to wade through to a faint and dissembled Reconciliation But how determinate soever he had been in that resolution it was impossible for him to keep it for those who had imprudently engag'd his Majesty in a War with Spain as maliciously made the Cardinal some overtures of Accommodation as a thing solicited by the Duke de la Valette himself who desir'd nothing less exposing him by that means to the greatest hazard he perhaps ever ran in the whole time of his Life The Treaty however being thus set on Foot the Duke seeing himself reduc'd to a necessity either of breaking openly with the Cardinal or of going immediately to him chose in truth the most dangerous course but withal that by which he could at that time alone secure the Fortune of his Family and the repose of the Duke his Father which he ever preferr'd before his own particular safety This last consideration therefore prevail'd with him to undertake this Journey so that he went to Court and had some Conference with the Cardinal who because he would make all the use of him he could before he would destroy him thinking fit to spare him at that time with a dissimulation peculiar to himself receiv'd him at the greatest rate of kindness and feeedom could possibly be put on protesting an absolute Oblivion of all former discontents and making the King to give him the same assurance which being done he dismiss'd him much more satisfied that he had escap'd the present danger than any ways secure of his good intention for the time to come At his return from this Voyage he found the Prince of Condé already arriv'd in Guienne The Duke his Father had receiv'd him at Bordeaux with all imaginable Honours wherein though doubtless there was a great deal due to his Quality as being a Prince of the Blood yet it is most certain that in this unusual complacency the Duke had an equal regard to his Person His respect proceeded so far that not content to pay him all the deference and submission he was capable of in his own person he would moreover extend his civility further by employing his Authority and interest with the Parliament of that City for his full satisfaction The Prince would that at their coming to visit him they should Complement him by the title of Monseigneur and the Company insisted upon the contrary as a term at that time not in use but the Duke interposing thereupon the Interest he had in the Deputies of that Assembly prevail'd with them so far that the Ceremony pass'd in the end according to the Princes desire All these Civilities paid by way