Germany it made them greater and more incurable The Fortune of Bethlem Gabor Pr. of Transilvania Since Bethlem Gabor must often appear upon the Stage in this History I think it necessary to say something of his Fortune and Elevation He was one of the most dangerous Enemies the House of Austria had in this Age. I will look a pretty way backwards upon things that so the Reader may the better understand the Ancient pretenions of the Emperor upon Transilvania The brave Stephen Battori was the first who was declared Prince of Transilvania under the Protection of the Ottomans After his Elevation to the Crown of Poland by his means Christopher his Brother was Elected to the Principality of Transilvania Sigismond his Son and Successor steered another Course by the persuasion of the Emissaries of the House of Austria which he had about him This Prince who did not want Courage was persuaded that it was more advantageous and more honourable for him to quit the Alliance of the Sultan and unite with the Emperor But to the shame of Christianity Sigismond found that which has happened to a great many more I mean he met with less Justice and Fidelity among those of his own Religion than his Uncle and his Father had found among Infidels That he might be more firmly united with the Emperor Rodolphus he Married a Princess of the House of Austria but this marriage was the cause of the misfortunes of his Life They made him give up his Right to Transilvania for a certain Dutchie which they gave him At length repenting of the bad Market which he had made he retracted the Cession which he had made to the Emperor and gave his Principality to Cardinal Battori his Brother who was chosen by the States of the Country under the Protection of the Grand Seignior The new Prince had a terrible War to maintain against the Emperor and in it lost his Life Botskay his Kinsman Elected afterwards by the Transilvanians Mercure Francois 1606 1607 1608 c. defended himself with a great deal of Courage and Success insomuch that he took a great many Places from the Emperor in upper Hungary The House of Austria was forc'd to make a Peace with him One Article of the Treaty Imported that if Bortskay died withot Male-Issue Transilvania should Devolve upon the Emperor The Sultan Ratified this Treaty in another which he afterwads made with Rodolphus The House of Austria not long before it Demanded Transilvania by Virtue of this Agreement Borskai being poisoned immediately after by his Chancellor The States of the Country did not fail to choose Sigismond Ragotski for their Prince There were then so great Divisions in the House of Austria and such Commotions in Hungary and Bohemia that neither Rodolphus nor Matthias his Brother were in a Condition to press the Execution of the Treaty made with Botskay The New Prince did not long enjoy Transilvania but Generously gave it up to Gabriel Batori Heir of that Family whom the Turks publickly Supported Mercure Francois 1613. He being rendred odious by his Cruelties Bethlehem Gabar a Transilvanian Gentleman of boundless Ambition took care to gain the Favour and Protection of the Ottoman Court This is the Man which formed a powerful Party against Batori and which made War against him The Assistance of the House of Austria was of no use to Batori who was presently Reduc'd to the lowest Despair so that he begged of his own Friends to kill him His Enemies Soldiers did him that kindness which they refused Three days after his death Bethlem was declared Prince of Transilvania by the General of the Turkish Army who invaded Hungary The States of the Country assembled at Claussembourg afterwards chose him upon Condition that he should ask the Authentick Confirmation of the Sultan When Bethlem was in Possession of his New Principality he wrote a Letter to the Palatine of Hungary to desire the Favour of the Emperor But his Imperial Majesty intended to make the best of his Pretensions to Transilvania by Virtue of his Treaty made with Botskai which the Sultan Confirm'd Matthias declared this publickly in the Diet of Ratisbonne and it was principally for this End that he desired Assistance of the States of the Empire With this Prospect the House of Austria kept up the Party of Batori who refused to acknowledge the New Prince Bethlem Protected by the Turks whose Favour he had cunningly gained not only maintained himself in Transilvania but was upon the Point of taking away Hungary from them that would oppose him The Protestant and Catholick Leagues were Formed in Germany upon the occaâ—…ion of the Quarrel that arose about the Succession to the States of Cleves and Juâ—…iers The Division between the Houses of Brandenburg and Newbourg concerning the Government of the States of Cleves and Juliers Interests de Princes per M. de Rohan Part 1. Disc 4. the Princes of Brandenbourg and Newbourg Governed these Dutchies in Common Peaceably for many Years under the Favour of the Protestant League The strong Places were guarded by equal Garrisons The Two Princes Resided in the same Palace and did all by Concert But how difficult is it that a Country should be long governed after this manner without Divisions Princes of a different Family and different Religion have not the same Interest and Designs These began to fall out about Ecclesiastical Affairs Mercure Francoise 1613. Brandenburg would have ordered something without the consent of his Colleague and Newbourg opposed him The King of great Britain and the States of the United Provinces Mediated for a Reconciliation they were afraid their Division would give opportunity to the House of Austria to Seize upon a Contested Succession which would have been so convenient for it to prevent the Increase of their misunderstanding their Friends proposed a Marriage between the Two Families That of Newburg was free to it Prince Volfgang goes to the Elector of Brandenburg and desires his Daughter in Marriage But this step made by the wholesome Advice of those who designed nothing but to Establish a good Correspondence between the Two Houses was the occasion of an inplacable hatred between them and of the Distraction of those fine Dutchies which they might have divided between them I cannâ—…t tell how it came to pass but in the heat of Wine and at a Feast The Prince of Newburg said something at the Table of the Elector which displeased him Brandenburg was so enraged at it that he gave a Box in the Ear to him who desired his Alliance This unhappy accident might have been redrest if the Elector would have made a suitable Satisfaction but he obstinately refused to do it Volfgang being provokt with such an Affront returns to the Country of Cleves being resolved to be Reveng'd on him what ever it cost him From that time Brandenburg and Newburg did nothing by Concert in the Government of the States of Cleves and Juliers they Cavild at every
to their Ambassadors at Rome Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 133 134 137. Vienna and at Paris to Treat zealously with the Pope the Emperor and the Queen of France in Ferdinand's favour The Ministers of the most Christian King and the Republick of Venice represented to Paul V. that his Title of universal Father indispensably obliged him to prevent the ill Consequences of the Enterprize of the Spaniard but the Pope was unconcerned and acted not in this matter being resolv'd peaceably to enjoy all the rest of his days the advantages of the Popedom he would have seen all the Princes of Italy Ruin'd without any Concern so that they let him alone and suffered his Nephews to grow Rich at their ease Breves Ambassador of France affronted at this natural or affected Negligence writ to Mary de Medicis that the Pope was but a lump of Flesh which grew Fat in Laziness a Man without Courage and without Experience who took no other Care but of making his advantage of the highest Place in the Church which Fortune had given him thô he did not see Merit in himself to pretend to it So that there were not hopes that his Holiness would give the least assistance to the House of Mantua All that Paul V. could do was to whisper in the Ear of the Cardinal Duke that he should obstinately refuse to part with his Niece and to Marry Margarite his Sister-in-Law to which the King of Spain perswaded him so much afraid was this timerous Old Man to offend the Court of Madrid Might it not be thus also that the Pope being well informed of the peaceable Temper of Philip III. and of the Weakness of the Spanish Monarchy did rightly Judge that all this Bustle was but an Intrigue of the Catholick King 's Ministers and that when their Master should see himself â—…hreatned with a War with France â—…e would put a stop to the forwardness of his Ministers and hear Reasons As to the Emperor there was less to be hop'd for from him than from the Pope Mary de Medicis perplext about the Affairs of Mantua-Siri Memo. recondite Matthias neither was in a Condition nor in an Humour to send Troops to Italy and besides he was afraid too openly to offend the Court of Madrid His Imperial Majesty confirm'd to the Cardinal Duke the Guardianship of his Neice But he writ immediately to King Philip to excuse himself and tell him that he could not fairly refuse that favour to Ferdinand And to satisfie the Spaniards yet more Matthias advised Ferdinand to deliver up the Princess Mary into the hands of his Catholick Majesty The House of Mantua had no other Refuge but the Protection of France The Kindred and Friends which it had there Solicited for it with all its might The Ambassadors of the Republick of Venice and of some other States did still Treat in its favour Mary aâ—… Medicis was well pleased with the Reasons which they alledged to her to exhort her to take her Nephews under the Protection of her Son Interest of Blood was united together with Reasons of State But the Timerous Regent could not come to a Resolution Being fond of the double Marriage with Spain which she had managed with a great deal of application and which she lookt upon as the strongest support of his Authority her Majesty was afraid least the Affairs of Mantua should produce a Rupture between the two Crowns and all her Projects should be unravel'd She suspected the Importunities of the King of Great-Brittain Ibid. p. 174. the Republick of Venice the States of the United Provinces the Prince of Conde and the great Men of the Party us'd with her to send Troops into Italy Her skill went so far as to discover that all these endeavoured only to Engage France openly to oppose the Designs of the Court of Madrid to declare War against the King of Spain and consequently to break the Treaty of the double Marriage which did not so well suit with their Interests In this perplexity Mary de Medicis did her endeavour at the Court of Madrid that the Affair of Mantua might be soon amicably Concluded But the Spaniards which knew her Temper did amuse her with fine Words whilst they heartily endeavoured to effect their Enterprise not being concern'd about the Negociations against their Master in France and Italy Nani Historia Veneta Lib. 1.1613 the Ministers of Philip declared plainly that he expected that he should have the Princess of Mantua committed to his Care and that the Cardinal Duke should Marry Margarita of Savoy his Sister-in-Law in order to compose the differences of the two Houses That Charles Emanuel and Ferdinand should immediately lay down their Arms and that the other contested Points should be referr'd to the Judgment of the Pope the Emperor and his Catholick Majesty 1615. These Conditions were agreeable to the Demands which Charles Emanuel had made And hence it appeared that the Prince of Piedmont who had at last obtained leave to go to Madrid had not ill managed the Affairs of his Father In the mean time the Duke of Savoy was enraged to find himself always curb'd and over-rul'd But Ferdinand was more agriev'd than he They were not content to take away his Niece but would also force him to Marry against his Will his Sister-in-Law whom he did not Love The hatred which he bore to Charles Emanuel very much Estranged him from the Daughter of a declared Enemy of the House of Gonzague He lik'd better the Sister of Cosmo Great Duke of Tuscany she would be a considerable Fortune The Venetians his particular Friends advis'd him this Match And Cosmo was inclin'd to Conclude it as soon as the Quarrel between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua should be made up It is proposed in the Council of France to send Troops to Italy The Spaniards spoiled their Business by speaking too proudly It was earnestly represented to the Queen Regent that it was a Shame and a Dishonour to suffer the King of Spain to Domineer over Princes Allied to that Crown and that he should endeavour to hinder the King of France from concerning himself about the most important Affairs of Italy Mary de Medicis hard put to it on every Side began to give some signs of Life She declared roundly to the Ambassador of Spain that the King her Son should not see the House of Mantua Opprest Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 141 142. c. and that he should employ his Arms to assist his Kindred and Allies They talkt of nothing in France but a Rupture between the Two Crowns And the Nobles who breath'd nothing but War althô it be the Instrument of their Ruin and by consequence of their Slavery were in readiness to get a Horsback They held a great many Councils at Court about the Affair of Mantua every one advis'd according to their own particular Interest Villeroy and the Ministers who were best pleas'd with
Peace Represented that before they were Engaged in a War which â—…ight be a long and Bloody one it was fit to try if the Quarrel could not â—…e adjusted by way of Negociation The Princes and Great Men who thought that War would tend most to their Adâ—…ancement and Reputation did not utterly reject the Experiment of a Negociation but to make this Negociation â—…ow Effectual that they should have an â—…rmy ready to March in case the Duk of Savoy and King of Spain should refuse reasonable Terms When the latter had learnt by his Ambassador in France that they spoke in earnest of sending Troops into Italy his Majesty and the Duke of Lerma his Favourite who had no mind to go to War The Q. Regent sends the Marquis de Coeuvres into Italy for to negociate an Agreement between the D. of Savoy and Mantua began to speak with more humility They declar'd themselves inclin'd to terminate the Affair of Mantua by way of Negociation Philip coldly desires the Prince of Piedmont to write to Turin that his Majesty would not fall out with France and that he would not give occasion to others to break with Spain for the Duke of Savoy's Fancy's who had every day new Chimaera's in his Head Siri Memo. recondite p 165.172.173.175 Let your Father added the King think of nothing but lying still unless he find himself able to Cope alone with the Two Crowns and all Italy A certain Author relates upon this occasion a Circumstance which if True Hist du Connetable de Lesdiguieres Liv. VIII Ch. 6. proves Charles Emanuel to be the most fantastical Man in the World at least Villeroy told it for certain to the Nuncio Vbaldini The Cardinal Aldobrandin an Enemy to the Borgheses being at Turin perswaded the Duke of Savoy to become a Cardinal It would be very easie for you afterwards said Aldobrandin to be Elected Pope in the first Conclave I will undertake for all my Vncles Creatures In the mean time we will stick to one another and make the Pope and Court of Rome do what we please The Count de Verue a Confident of Savoy approv'd of this Project and thought it one of the finest in the World Let us return now to see what became of the Affair of Mantua His Catholick Majesty sent Orders again to his Ambassador in France to Declare that he would withdraw his Troops from Monferrat provided the Cardinal Duke would grant an Amnesty to his Subjects which had Sided with the Duke of Savoy and desist from demanding reparation of Damages The Marriage of Ferdinand with his Brother's Widow was proposed at the same time And as for the young Princess of Mantua Philip consented that she should be disposed of in a Third hand by the Agreement of the Two Crowns These Offers were tendr'd in the most Civil Language imaginable All this seem'd to give an opportunity to the Cardinal Duke to Extricate himself with Honour The Court of France was intent upon the Method of Negociaton and sent one for that purpose into Italy in Quality of Ambassador Extraordinary The unreasonable Ambition of Conchini now Mareschal of France and of Galigai his Wife The Marquiss de Coeuvres who was fixed upon for this Imploy set out from Paris at the End of this Year took the Road of Turin that he might Confer with the Duke of Savoy in the first place Coeuvres informs us himself that he had secret Orders to Treat with the Cardinal Duke about surrendring his Cap to Galigai the Mareschalless of Anchre's Brother These People set no Bounds to their Ambition Conchini obtained the Staff of Mareschal of France in the room of Fervacques lately dead And now Galigai not being content that her Husband was raised to the Second Military Honour in France Memoires de la Regence de Maria de Medics Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 36.160 proposes to obtain for her Brother the Second Dignity in the Church of Rome This Creature so far forgot her self that she did not observe the Rules of Decency with the Princesses of the Blood A little while before she had spoke in the Queen's Closet to the Princess of Conde in such a Proud and Imperious manner that her Highness was extremely Affronted All the World was offended at the Insolence of Conchini's Wife whofe behaviour did not a little provoke the Princes and Great Men against her Husband whose new Dignity of Mareschall of France did yet more expose him to the jealousie and hatred of the Courtiers Continuation of the Disputes about Questions concerning Grace and Praedestination in the United-Provinces There was not less Confusion in the Vnited Provinces about Questions concerning Grace and Predestination than in Italy about the Interests of the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua James King of Great-Britain interpos'd in the Disputes of the Divines of Holland with as much Heat and Zeal as the Kings of France and Spain did in the Quarrel occasioned by the Pretensions of Charles Emanuel upon Monferrat Winwood the English Ambassador to the States General of the Vnited Provinces was very much in the Interest of the Divines which adhered to Gomarus They did say that it was a Point of great Concern to the Crown of of the King his Master Nevertheless Prèface dee actes du Synode de Dordrecht Brand. Hist de la Rèformation Liv. XX XXI Grotius Apologeticus eorum qui Hollandiae praefuerunt Cap. VI. alibi passim the Question was only to know whether Vorstius should be excluded the Universiâ—…y of Leiden which had Invited him thither â—…r at most to determine whether the Five Articles of Arminians were contrary to the Fundamental Doctrines of the Reformed Churches The Ambassador pubâ—…ickly Declared that Barnevelt Pentionaâ—…y of Holland was Govern'd by Vytenboâ—…ard Minister of the Church of the Hague and that the States of Holland led by Barnavelt did all that he Suggested to them The Gomarists which now began to be call'd Contra-Remonstrants by Reason of the Contra-Remonstrances which they oppos'd to the Requests and Writings of the Arminians their adversaries the Gomarists I say did continually offer new Memorials to their Winwood someâ—…imes against Vorstius sometimes against the States of Holland whom they accus'd as â—…oo favourable to the Remonstrants and Socinians themselves The Ambassador Communicated every thing to the King or to the Archbishop of Canterbury and publickly disallowed Vorstius and the Arminians The Support which the Contra-Remonstrants Received from his Majesty did strangely perplex the States of Holland They tryed all possible ways to stifle these Disputes which might have unhappy Consequences And the Contra-Remonstrants which always reckon'd upon the Protection of King James would not be at Rest After the famous Conference held at the Hague in 1611. the States of Holland Ordered the Divines of each Side to draw up their Thoughts in Writing concerning the Five Articles in Controversie And to give their Opinion concerning the Means which
it was fit that the Five Articles should be Considered in the Synode before they that maintained them should be Tolerated by Law To give leave to any said they in the same Church in the same Pulpit to Preach such contrary Doctrines is to expose the Province to great Destractions The Disputes Replied the others are about Speculative Doctrines which are of no Importance to Salvation What Inconvenience is there in giving every one the Liberty of Speaking their own Thoughts with Modesty The Emperors and Christian Princes have often without the Assistance of the Clergy made Laws to Regulate the Doctrine and Practice of the Church These Reasons did not then Convince the Deputies and Magistrates of several Cities of Holland They a long time denied their Consent to the publication of the Edict These of Amsterdam were more obstinate than the rest They Demanded that their Dissent should be Entred in the Register of the State And hence it came about that the Edict Projected in the Year 1613. was not published till the beginning of the Year 1614. The States of Holland Exhorted the Ministers when they Preachâ—… from those Texts where Predestination destination is mentioned to follow the Precept of St. Paul and to Preach that the Beginning Progress and End of Salvation was owing alone to the Grace of Jesus Christ and not to Works of those that are Called They were forbid to Preach that God made Men to damn them and that he puts them under a necessity of Sinning and that he invites those to Salvation whom he has resolved never to Save Lastly the States Ordered that they should not be molested who in explaining the Doctrine of Predestination suppose that Men are saved by the alone Grace of Jesus Christ in persevering in the Faith unto the End and that all those that believe not in Jesus Christ are damned As for all other Doctrines the States forbid them to Preach any that was not agreeable to the Doctrines commonly received in the Chuches of Holland So far was this Edict which was drawn up with such Care to satisfie all the World from Calming the Tempest which had some time continued that it encreased its Fury some Contra-Remonstrants Ministers wrote Books to persuade the People not to submit to the Edict They openly accus'd the States of favouring Popery and of introducing a bad Doctrine into the Vnited Provinces Vytenbogard wrote in Defence of the Edict of the States There came out every day some Book or other for and against the Edict One for Sibrand and another for Grotius This Division entred the Churches The Contra-Remonstrants being resolved to hold no more Communion with their Adversaries met by themselves in private Houses It was matter of great Dispute between them whether the Edict was approved of in England or no. Grotius received a Letter from Casaubon a Man equally sincere and accomplished with all polite Learning Casaubon assur'd his Friend that the King the Archbishop of Canterbury and several other Prelates of greatest Note had approved of the Edict The Strain in which it is Writ says Casaubon seems to the King and to the Rest equally distant from the Two opposite Extremes Manicheism and Pelagianism The necessity of Grace is there Establisht The Contra-Remonstrants produc'd of their Side Letters from England which Imported that neither his Brittannick Majesty nor the Prelates of the Church of England approv'd the Edict and the Conduct of the States of Holland But upon the whole the Testimonies of Casaubon who in Person spoke to the King and the Bishops seems preferâ—…able to any angry Mans Letters which the Contra-Remonstrants pretended to THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK V. THE Joy which Mary de Medicis had conceived to see her self delivered from a Rupture with Spain occasioned by the Affair of Mantua was of short Continuance The Retreat of the Prince de Conde and several other Discontented Lords who by Consent had left the Court in the beginning of the Year 1614. very much allarmed her Majesty The Mareschal de Bovillon had very cunningly Formed this new Party to serve his own Interests This subtle and ambitious Man taking it ill that he was not intrusted enough in the management of Affairs Memorie du Duc de Rohan Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 222. and that the Regent did not Reward him suitably to the great Services he imagined he had done her Majesty try'd to make himself necessary to the Queen and her Ministers by involving them in Troubles out of which he alone was able to deliver them Hereupon he persuades with all his might the Prince de Conde whom the Queen had disgusted by the denial she had given him of the Chà teau-trompette and by recalling the Old Ministers who he thought were utterly turned of as also by the hasty Rise of Conchini who had been drawn of from his Party publickly to make known his Discontent The Dukes de Nevers de Maìenne de Vendòme de Longueville de Piney-Luxembourg and several others being brought over by the Mareschal de Bovillon enter into New Engagements with the first Prince of the Blood They agree to retire all from Court almost at the same time and to meet in Champagne in order to Demand conjunctly Redress of the Disorders of the Government An Illusion with which the Princes and great Lords have too often blinded the Eyes of the People when they have a mind to make use of them to effect their own private Designs The People would have been Fool'd by them to this very day in France If having been less Covetous of the Preferments of the Court they had had at least the Wit to have kept them from utter Slavery and had not utterly incapacitated them to joyn with them upon occasion But the Princes and great Lords by Sacrificing the Interests of the People to their own avarice and ambition are now themselves undone without Remedy After having opprest those who might have stood by them It was an easie matter to reduce them to a most shameful Slavery The Party which was then form'd under the specious Pretence of the publick Welfare might have done good Service to the whole Kingdom if those who Listed themselves in it had done it with an honester Design and had taken better Measures Nevers Commanded in Champagne Maìenne in the Isle of France Vendòme in Bretagne Longueville in Picardie the Government of which the Comte de St. Pol his Uncle had Surrendred to him But the Mareschal de Bovillon upon whom they most depended by reason of his wisdom and his Sovereignty of Sedan had no mind to Unite a Party which he was not able to dissipate when he should find it for his advantage so to do The Prince of Conde Retired to Chateauroux an Estate which he had in Berri The Duke de Nevers went to Champagne Maìenne to Soissons the Dukes de Longueville and de Vendòme were shortly to follow But the latter
Extremities of the North to defend those of his Religion in Germany overthrows the ambitious Projects of the Courts of Vienna and Madrid The Emperor trembles and fears to lose his Hereditary Countries and France by the help of a League opportunely made with Sweden forces from the House of Austria part of her ancient Patrimony The Success of the Spanish Arms in Picardy strikes a Terrour into Paris it self The King of France comes out of his Capital to repulse the Enemy and cannot refrain from Tears to see the Fire advanced so near the Gates of his own Palaces The Revolutions on the other side the Pyrences change the Face of Affairs Catalonia surrenders to Lewis XIII and Portugal drives out the Spaniards and replaces the Duke of Bâ—…aganza on the Throne of his Ancestors Philip the IV. in a Consternation leaves Madrid to secure the Country of Arragon and reduce the Catalonians But no soonâ—…r does he begin this Expedition but he receives the unwelcome News that France had seized the Town of Perpigan and the County of Rousillon In this Variety of Events there may be â—…und many eminent Instances of Virtue â—…nd Vice Treachery richly rewarded â—…e highest Posts of Honour obtained by â—…e most infamous Crimes some few beâ—…owed on Merit great Preferments reâ—…cted with Contempt from Motives of â—…eligion and Probity Some great Lords â—…eanly ransom their Lives and Estates by coming Slaves to an Ambitious and Revengeful Cardinal Others threatned to be made a Sacrifice to his Passions and Interest with a Noble Haughtiness continue faithful to their Friends and suffer Death with an Heroick Courage This Fragment of the Modern History of France which I design to illustrate is so curious and full of Variety it would soon tempt a Man who would employ his Time in writing something Diverting and Instructive However the boldness of the Attempt has often awed me and perhaps it is above my Abilities If I praise the principal Actors who appear upon the Stage I am in danger of being censured for Flattery and if I speak too freely I am sure to be charged with Detraction Constant Panegyrick disgusts and incenses most Readers They love to have the Vices and secret Passions of Men laid open This Air of Freedom pleases and diverts them But if I should indulge this natural Inclination we have to heaâ—… others condemned will not the World too say I am making a Satyr and not wriâ—…ting a History I shall endeavour then to avoid theâ—… two Extremes with all possible Care have no Inducement to praise or blaâ—â— Persons who were almost all dead befoâ—â— I came into the World What particular Reason can I have to love or hate them The difference of Opinion in Matters Religion and Government shall not hind the from doing Justice to Merit or conmending what is worthy of Praise I am thanks to God in a Country where every one enjoys a Happiness which is so rare in this World to speak their reasonable Thoughts with freedom If I am not in a Capacity to do my Country Service I have the Liberty to deplore its Misfortunes The State of Europe and of France at the end of the Reign of Henry IV. Before I enter upon the Matter I shall promise some few Things of Henry the Fourth and the End of his Life It s necessary to know the Posture of Affairs in Europe and France when this latter lost one of the greatest Monarchs she ever had He employ'd the first Years of his Reign in reducing by force of Arms or gaining by Treaties all who had formed a potent League against him under Colour of Religion and in carrying on a War against Philip II. King of Spain This Ambitious Monarch had supported the League with a mighty Assistance of Men and Money out of a Design to place a Prince of his House on the Throne of France or at least to dismember that Monarchy whose Power was an invincible Obstacle to the vast Projects he had conceived But finding himself worn out with Infirmities of Body and seeing his Country quite exhausted by the Immense Sums he expended and the great number of Soldiers and Ships which he lost in his Wars against the Vnited Provinces of the Low Countries England and France Philip I say after so many Men and so much Treasure consumed in vain was glad to make Peace with Henry on such Conditions as the State of France not less exhausted than Spain could not give them leave to hope for Elizabeth Queen of England and the States of the Vnited Provinces made loud Complaints that the King abandoned his good and faithful Allies in preâ—…sing â—…o cagerly the Conclusion of the Treaty with Philip. Tâ—â—â— say they is a sure way to lose the favourable Opportunity of taking those Advantages against Spain which its low and declining Condition must have put in our Hands Henry excused this Proceeding of his as well as he could alledging the Incapacity of his Kingdom to support a Foreign War after it had been so miserably harass'd by a Domestick one which had lasted so many Years and was not yet well extinguished The Reason was specious But the King seemed impatient to give himself up to his Pleasures and with ease to enjoy so fair a Succession which he had purchased with so much Hazard and Trouble It must be own'd Henry had good Reason to distrust his Strength for the future The Duke of Mercoeur penned up in Britany would not have made his Peace if he had not believ'd that of Spain entirely resolv'd on Besides the Protestants of France who had served a King bred up amongst them with so much Courage and Constancy took Umbrage and Jealousie His changing his Religion and the Favours with which he purchased the friendship of the Great Men who had been Leagued against him began to Alarm them and his New Engagements to the Court of Rome their crael and implacable Enemy had like to have cool'd them Henry prudently confirmed his best Subjects by the Edict of Nantes which was concerted with great Industry and Deliberation Happy had they been if the Successors of this good Prince had left them peaceably to enjoy what he so justly granted them No sooner was Peace setled at home and abroad but Henry strove to win the Hearts of his Subjects by publishing he would labour incessantly to make them live in Ease and Plenty Several Manufactures were set up and some certain Duties taken off It is probable the great Debts he contracted and the engagement of a great part of his Revenue would not give him leave to take away divers others very burthensom and made him give ear to all Projects for bringing Money into his own Coffers But in all this he had the Address to prevent and stifle all Murmurs by making the French Nation since for a long time accustomed to patience believe his greatest desire was to make them happy The King flattered himself he should check the turbulent humour of divers great
take to a contrary Interest possibly underhand countenanced the discontented Party and the Papists in England formed that Horrible Attempt which has since been call'd the Gunpowder Plot. Since that time James ever dreaded the Spaniards And they were so Skillful to improve this weakness of his and Avarice of his Ministers that far from opposing the Enterprizes of the House of Austria you will find he will patiently suffer her to dispossess the Elector Palatine who married a Daughter of England Henry IV. prepares for War In this posture were the Affairs of Europe when Henry Troops and bring them to to raise Troops and bring them to the Frontiers of Champagne John William Duke of Cleves Bergh and Juliers dying without Children lest a contended Succession His four Sisters or their Children had each different Pretenstions some Imperial Constitutions contrary to each other embroil'd the Affair more Some of these determined the Fees of the Contested Countries to be the right of the Heirs Male and others supposed Daughters capable of the Succession Among all the Princes who were pretenders the Right of John Sigismund Elector of Brandenburgh and that of Philip Lewis Palatin of Newburgh were the most plausible The first had married the Daughter of the Eldest Sister of the last Duke and the other was Husband of the second Sister who maintained that the Succession was devolved on her to the prejudice of the Children of her Eldest Sister Deceased before Duke John William These two Princes each took possession of a part of those Estates they pretended did entirely belong to them But it was to be feared a third stronger than both of them would make himself Master of the best places while they made War to drive each other out Therefore the Landgrave of Hess their common Friend made them consent to a Provisional Treaty In this they promised to terminate their Differences Amicably and by Arbitration and to joyn their Forces against any who should Attempt to usurp the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Till this should be decided it was agreed they should govern Individually and in common and without prejudice to the right of the Emperor or the other Princes pretenders The States of the Country Assembled at Dusseldorp took this Affair into their Cognizance at the Intreaty of the King of France who already declared for the two Princes They were both Protestants and the Vnited Provinces supported them as far as they were able This gave Umbrage to the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries whose Estates bordered on one side on those of Juliers A certain Prince of their House in Germany would have been glad to have made his Advantage in this Litigious Title The pretence of Religion is never wanting upon occasion and here it would have been very seasonable The Governour of Juliers then is won over and Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasbourg and Passaw passes secretly into the place He brought with him a Commission from the Emperour who pretended to be the Natural and Soveraign Judge of a Difference arising about the Fiefs of the Empire and in the mean time he gave to his Cousin Leopold the Administration of the contested places This Sequestration seem'd to tend to an Usurpation By the Addition of the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers to its other Hereditary Countries the House of Austria was in a condition to oppress the German Liberties with more ease The Neighbourhood of the low Countries gave the King of Spain an opportunity to send his best Troops to the Assistance of his Kinsmen This Enterprize ought to have alarmed equally all the Princes of Germany but the Jealousie caused by difference of Religion made the Duke of Bavaria the Electours of Mentz Triers and some others fear the Protestant Party would be too strong if the disputed Countries should fall to a Prince of that Religion See then the Catholicks assemble at Wirtsbourg and form there a League of which the Duke of Bavaria was Chief and send a Deputation to Rome and Madrid to demand Aid of Pope Paul the V. and Philip King of Spain On the other hand the Protestants come in great numbers to Hall in Swabia The Electour and Princes of Saxony do not appear there Those of the branch of Weymar and Koburg had their particular Pretensions to the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers and hoped the House of Austria would espouse their right sooner than that of other Princes more jealous of her growing Greatness The Elector of Saxony contented himself to send to Hall in conjunction with the King of Denmark to exhort all the Pretenders to put their Interests into the Emperours hand The Resolutions taken in that Assembly were kept private The Prince of Anhalt whom those of Brandenburgh and Newburg had desired to go on a Negotiation to the Court of France returned to Hall accompanied with Boissise Ambassadour from the King This Minister declared publickly his Master would Assist them with all his Strength and would march himself at the Head of a powerful Army to oppose the Designs of the House of Austria The Vnited Provinces too promised to joyn their Troops with those of Henry The Neighbourhood of the Contested Countries made it unsafe for them to suffer them to fall into the hands of a Kinsman or Friend of Spain The mortal Displeasure the King of France had to see the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries and the King of Spain receive the Prince of Conde with open Arms who had secretly withdrawn himself to Brussels with the Princess his Wife and promise him all sort of Assistance against the Injustice done him by Henry This Accident I say hapning at the same time with the Affair of Cleves and Julieâ—…s urged him more to a War than the Noble desire to assist his Allies Being Resolved to revenge the many Affronts he had received from Philip the II. and his Son and to have the Princess of Conde back what ever it cost him Henry again sent Troops towards the Alps. Lesdiguieres who from a mean Birth and Fortune had raised himself by degrees during the Wars in Dauphiny and Provence and had obtained the staff of Mareschal of France This Man was sent to conduct to the Duke of Savoy the Troops designed against Italy and to Attack the Milanese in Conjunction with him Vast Preparations were made These at first were covered with the ordinary pretence of the Publick Safety the preserving the Râ—…pose of Europe and the maintaining the Kings Allies in their rightful Possession but a Vile and Criminal Passion made them to encrease and march with the greatest Expedition Henry it was said had reason to fear that his ancient Enemies abusing the easiness and resentment of the first Prince of the Blood should excite an Ambition in him and put it into his Head to contest the Validity of the Marriage of the King with Mary de Medicis after a Divorce founded on very frivolous Reasons and the I egitimacy of his Children by this second Wife
to take his Advantage of this when he should be in that Neighbourhood The Duke of Epernon's going to his Governments of Limosin Angoumois and Xaintonge bordering on Guienne gave great Satisfaction The Queen gave him a thousand Caresses and recommended earnestly to him to observe Conde's steps This Precaution was not necessary the good Prince thought no harm he was too well satisfied with his feigned Greatness and acting the part of an Imaginary King on the Stage at Bourdeaux and elsewhere he was charmed to see himself received with so much Ceremony took his Place in the Parliament made his Progress thrô the several Towns and heard with great Gravity the Harangues and Complements of the Magistrates and Gascon Gentlemen The Marquess of Ancre designs to marry his Son to the Princess of Soissons The Count of Soissons was now the only Person who managed the Queen The Marquess of Ancre whose Favour encreased every day shew'd an extreme Devotion to him Soissons Transported with bringing so potent a Favourite into the interests of his House did him all the good Offices he could He Assisted him in obtaining the Government of the Town and Citadel of Amiens in Spight of the Opposition and Discontent which the Count of St. Paul shewed at it This Lord being a younger Brother of the House of Longueville pretended to this Employ But Soissons who had an entire Ascendent over him made him desist Farther he engaged St. Paul to return out of Picardy where he Commanded during the Minority of the Duke of Longueville Memoires de la regence de Marie de Medicis to prevent any Difference that might happen between him and the New Governour of Amiens if they should meet Conchini was now risen to such a height nothing seemed to be above him There was a Discourse of Marrying his Son to one of the Princesses of Soissons You have a mind to flatter me said the Favourite to a Gentleman who made the Offer but I confess this Flattery do's not displease me He did not long continue in this Modesty he affected at that time The Count of Soissons accepts the Proposition The Generosity of the Duke of Epernon Conchini had the boldness to say to the Marquess of Coeuvres a Confident of the Count of Soissons that the Marriage talked of must be concluded that a Prince of the Blood would find great Advantages in it that the Queen had already given her consent Soissons meanly complyed with this shameful Match He was punished for it as he deserved The Ministers laid before the Queen Consequences of a Marriage which would sooner or later draw on it the Indignation of the King the Princes of the Blood and all sensible Men. Vie du Duc d'Epernon L. VI. Thus the Count of Soissons by this Treaty only obtained the Scandal and Reproaches of consenting to prostitute his Daughter to a young Italian whose Father and Mother soon became the Horror of Mankind not so Wise and Generous as the Duke of Epernon inferior in Birth to a Prince of the Blood Conchini caused a Marriage to be proposed for his Daughter with the Marquess de la Valette second Son of the Duke Besides the Great Wealth he would have given with his Daughter he promised to obtain the Sword of Constable of France for Epernon as soon as the King should be a Major Far from hearing his Friends and Servants who advised him to accept this Proposition the Duke rejected it with a Noble Scorn Nay he was Angry with those who pressed him to make an Alliance which if rewarded by the first Dignity of the State would be still the more Scandalous The Cardinal of Joyeuse took for the pretence of his Journey the Obligation he had to go to Rome to perform the Functions of his Dignity of Protector of France a Pompous and Ridiculous Title which the Pride of the Court of Rome has invented and the mean Complaisance of Sovereigns has Authorised These like Monks have each their Cardinal Protector with the Pope A Subject who is Agent for his Prince becomes his Protector at Rome The Regent Diverted her self at that time at Fontainbleau There on the 12th of April she drew up a long Instruction for Joyeuse No one can read these Pieces without complaining of or to speak better contemning Crowned Heads who suffer such a strange Slavery to be imposed on them A King must give the Holy Father an account of what he do's at home Siri Memorie recondite Tom II. pag. 502 503 c. for the good of his Dominions and what Alliances he contracts abroad for their Security Has he done any thing which is not well relished at Rome then see him humbly making his Excuses and taking all ways imaginable to extenuate his Fault He is very Submissive he promises to do great and mighty wonders on some other Occasion for the Holy See What a Pother's here about the Instruction of the Cardinal of Joyeuse The Regent justifies to Paul V. what she had done in favour of the Protestants Mary de Medicis will have him to inform Paul V. exactly of what has been done since the beginning of the Regency without omitting the least Particular To justifie her confirming the Edict of Nantes he must represent to his Holiness this was extorted from her to prevent the Jealousies of the Protestants and disappoint some busie Turbulent Men. The Protestants having Permission granted them to meet for the Regulating other Civil Matters she pretended it was impossible to do otherwise in a Minority Endeavours are used to pacifie the Disquiet which that Assembly gave the Pope promising to allow the Hugonots nothing that could be dispensed with The Regent had given several Employs and bestowed her Favours on some Protestant Lords for fear the Court of Rome should be alarmed at this it was said this was to gain the Heads of the Party over Paul the V. took it ill that the Parlement of Paris had made a Decree for the Suppression of Cardinal Bellarmine's Book against Barclay Her Majesty is a little Embarassed upon this Article she is troubled the Defamatory and Scandalous Books of the Gardinal should give occasion to the Magistrates to concern themselves But the Queen in Recompence has interposed her Authority to hinder the Sorbonne from vigorous Censure which she intended against the Propositions of Bellarmine It was not thought fit to give the Hugonots so great Advantages what Baseness what Trickings are here but this is not all The Renewing the Alliances with the Protestant Princes and States were coloured with the common good of Christendom and the Example of the King of Spain was alledged who made a League with the Vnited Provinces all good Offices were promised with the Electors and Protestant Princes of Germany in favour of Matthias King of Hungary whom the Courts of Rome and Madrid wished to have Elected King of the Romans In the last place the Court would make the Old
their Masters This occasioned a great difference in Religion between the Churchmen and the Magistrates The one and the other formed a different Idea of what they call'd the Reformation or the Reformed Doctrine The Ministers meant by these Words the Opinions in Divinity explained by their great Authors and inserted into the Confessions of Faith which the first Reformers had drawn up These Servants of God meant well But they did not consider that by aiming in their Formularies of Faith and Catechisms to compile a compleat and regular Body of Divinity they inserted their own Speculations as certain and essential Truths The Magistrates and wise Laity of Holland urged that the Reformation being only a purer Worship and more free from vain Superstitions than the Church of Rome with a greater Latitude of Opinions in things not plainly revealed in the Holy Writings it could not be said the Reformation stood on what some Persons thought the most crabbed and difficult Questions of School Divinity The Ministers always warm for their Opinions and Prejudiced often cried the Magistrates wanted Zeal for the true Doctrine And these in their turn complained that the other were stubborn and inflexible and would force all the World to be of their Mind When the Churchmen fir'd with Zeal brought befor the Magistrates those who opposed the Hypothesis of Calvin and Beza about Predestination and Grace as Men who subverted the Foundations of the Reformation the more wise and discerning asked these new Inquisitors if it were impossible to be a true Reformed Christian without embracing the Opinions of St. Austin and his Disciples From the first Reformation in Holland the contrary Sentiments had always prevailed in the City of Tergow The States of Holland too had not solemnly approved the Confession of Faith received in the Belgick Churches Is not this a Proof that those wife Magistrates thought there were Articles put in this Formulary which were not absolutely necessary which ought to be expressed in a more soft manner and less offensive to those of a different Persuasion from the first Reformers This appears very probable since we read in History that the States of Holland in other respects very averse to the Convocation of a General Synod of the Seven United Provinces consented in the Year 1597. to the holding such an Assembly where the Confession of the Faith should be exactly revised and amended in a Spirit of Charity and Peace For my own part when I consider the Disputes which have caused such a fatal Division in Holland I am in pain to comprehend how Men of Sense can be perswaded that the Opinions of St. Austin concerning Predestination and Grace are essential to a Reformation of Christianity How many Holy Men were there in the Times of the greatest Purity of the Church of Rome whose Thoughts were differenâ—… from the Fathers Cannot we renounce the monstrous and ridiculous Dogm oâ—… Transubstantiation the Religious Worship of Saints and Images the Fable oâ—… Purgatory Indulgences the false Traditions of the Church of Rome the Tyranny of the Pope without believing absolute Predestination and irresistiblâ—… Grace Did all those honest Men who convinced of the Absurdity and Falsity oâ—… the Things which I mentioned embraceâ—… the Reformation think of the Hypothesâ—… of the Bishop of Hippo Were they anxious to know if it were true or false 〈◊〉 These abstract and difficult Questions only employed some Doctors who were projecting to make a compleat System of Divinity Among these who took this pains there were some who preferred the moderate Sense of the ancient Greek Fathers Calvin himself was not perswaded thaâ—… his Thoughts of Grace and Predestination were essential to Religion He took the pains to translate the Common Places oâ—… Melancthon into French whose Thoughts of these Matters were quite different from his own In his preface he gives all imaginable Praises to Melancthon Could he in Conscience have done this if he had been perswaded the Opinions of his Author undermined the Foundations of the Reformation Able Divines of the Reformed Churches have publickly maintained that â—…e Opinons of Universal Grace of the â—…ower of resisting its Operation and â—…onditional Predestination are of the numâ—…er of those Articles which every one may â—…elieve without renouncing the Principles â—…f his Religion Several learned Hollanders had highly â—…efended this Doctrine before Arminius â—…ad preach'd it at Amsterdam and taught 〈◊〉 at Leyden before Gomar rose up against â—…im These Books are still extant It is â—…ue certain warm Ministers made a stir 〈◊〉 blast those Works and ruin their Auâ—…ors But the States of Holland always â—…op'd this impetuous Zeal The Professors â—â—d an entire Liberty to teach according to â—…e Sense of Melancthon And when Arâ—…inius was called into that University â—…one were ignorant of his Opinions He â—…ad declared them in the Church of Amâ—…erdam which gave an advantageous â—…estimony of them Gomar himself and â—…vers more of the same Mind with him â—…tring into a Conference with Arminius â—…ade no Scruple to say their Differences â—â—d not concern the Grounds of Reformaâ—â—on It is true Gomar did not long live 〈◊〉 a good Understanding with Arminius his â—…ew Collegue either because his Reputaâ—â—on gave him Umbrage or the Enemies â—…f Arminius kindled his Choler by some â—…sinuation and then he vigorously oppoâ—…d a Man whom he look'd on as Orthoâ—…x but a little before The two Professors had soon their Disciples and Party The Division was so great in the University of Leyden that the Affair was brought before the Synod held at Rotterdam Gomar's Party was the strongest there The Assembly ordered that all the Pastors should subscribe the Confession of Faith and the Catechism Arminius and his Party refused to obey There are some things to be amended in both of them said they They ought to be considered in a National Synod We hope to see one meet in a little time The manner in which Questions should be treated and determined in this Synod caused new Difficulties One side required certain Conditions others rejected all In the meantime the ordinary Synods press'd Arminius and his Party to declare publickly what Exceptions they had against the Confession oâ—… Faith and the Catechism in order to have the Matter duly determined Arminius perswaded his greatest Enemieâ—… would be Judges in such an Assembly declined the Jurisdiction of a Synod as much as possibly he could Vtenbogard a Minister of great Reputation in the Hague his Friend and of the same Opinion with himself did him considerable Service with several of the chief Persons of the Government Never did Synod in its first Steps and perhaps thro' the whole Course of it more follow the Council of Trent than the Synod of Dort except that there were more able Divines at Dort than at Trent This is not in any manner surprizing almost all Councils are alike The same Interests give occasion to them and the same Passions reign in them Arminius presented a Petition to the States of
defended the Cause of his Party but has done it a great Injury too Though he do's not think as Socinus do's of the Trinity the Incarnation the Nature and Operations of God yet he maintains that the Socinian Doctrine is tolerable and not contrary to the Fundamental Articles of Christianity The Arminians of Holland embraced the same Sentiment which makes it to be believed that Arminianism and Socinianism are near a kin Yet these two things are very different It is common in the Church of England to find Learned Divines who think in the same manner as Arminius did on the five Articles and yet vigorously Defend the Decisions of the four first General Councils James King of England opposes the Election of Vorstius I will not speak of this Conference at the Hague This was as Fruitless as the preceding ones Vorstius appeared here He made a Harangue to the States to justifie himself against the Errors imputed to him These Gentlemen were well satisfied They demanded next of the Ministers of both Parties if they had any thing to say against Vorstius The Remonstrants declared they thought him Orthodox But the others alledg'd so much against him and intervened with so great Opposition that he continued still without doing any thing tho' the States were well affected to him Mercure Francois 1611. The Opposition of James I. King of Great Britain made the greatest Noise in Europe Vorstius's Books were brought to the King when he was taking the Diversion of Hunting in the Country King James run over these in less than an Hours time He saw such Shoals of Heresies with one cast of his Eye he immediately sent an Extract to his Ambassador to the States-General with an express Order to declare to them from him that if they suffered such a dangerous Man at Leyden his Majesty would publish a Manifesto to shew the World his Aversion against the Authors of these Heresies and those who allow them to be taught in their Universities The Ambassador punctually executed his Master's Orders The States-General were a little surprized to see the King concern himself in an Affair that was purely Domestick The Zeal which a King shews for the preserving the Purity of the Faith is not to be blamed He do's well to extend it beyond his Kingdom But however there are Measures to be kept towards his Allies and Neighbours His Britannick Majesty's Threat was very high and brisk The States-General gave their Answer some days after to the Ambassador If Vorstius said they with great Discretion and Respect be guilty of the Errors he is accused of we will not suffer him to teach in Holland The High Esteem we have of the King of Great Britain's Goodness and Wisdom gives us grounds to hope that his Majesty will be satisfied with our Conduct when he shall be better informed of this Matter and the Vprightness of our Intentions In the mean time James burnt the Books of Vorstius at London Oxford and Cambridge The Reply of the States-General did not satisfie him He wrote a long Letter exhorting them to Banish Vorstius out of their Provinces Arminius was treated in this as an Enemy of God and for Vorstius his Majesty looked upon him as a downright Atheist He concluded his Letter with threatning the States to separate from the Communion of their Churches if they suffered so abominable a Man as Vorstius amongst them He was at Leyden before this Letter of King James came The English Ambassador made a long Remonstrance when he delivered it to the States-General He gave them the Propositions which his Majesty had extracted out of Vorstius's Books and exhorted them to shew no less Zeal and Courage to preserve the Purity of the Faith against so pernicious an Heretick than they had done in the Defence of their Liberty against the Spaniards The States-General did not know what to think of the Letter nor the Harangue They answered the Ambassador that the Matter in Question only regarded the particular States of Holland who were Sovereigns in their own Province That Vorstius was only at Leyden as a simple Inhabitant in the Town and waited till he should justifie himself in the next Meeting of the States of Holland For the rest said they we humbly thank his Majesty for his Concern for the good of these Provinces and the preserving the Purity of the Gospel in our Churches The States of Holland were not to meet till three or four Months after This made the English Embassador look upon this Delay as a Civil Denial And now there was a New Remonstrance from the King his Master to the States-General This bad a Text after the manner of Sermons The Ambassador began with that place of the Gospel which orders Brotherly Correction and will have those brought before the Church who will not hearken to it He complained of their want of Respect to the King in receiving Vorstius not only in their Country but in a Famous University The States-General were threatned a second time with a Manifesto from his Britannick Majesty These Gentlemen kept their Flegm They answered the King should have Satisfaction in the next Meeting of the States of Holland This was to be in the Month of February the following year In the mean time the King of England saw his Zeal against Vorstius was not so favourably Interpreted The King of England's Apology for his Conduct in the Business of Vorstius as he hoped for Ill-natured Wits Censured him for making Ostentation of his Learning and Divinity Others imputed this to his Ambition and thought it an Usurpation on the Liberty of the Provinces for him to concern himself in Matters which Sovereigns are not obliged to give their Neighbours an Account of The King of Sweden this year sent a Challenge to the King of Denmark to fight a Duel with him A thing not seen since Francis the I and Charles V. James I. like another sort of Fighting better To justifie himself from the Sinister Interpretations put on his Conduct he took his Pen in Hand and printed his Apology In this the King gave an account to the Publick of what had passed between the States-General and him His Majesty farther protested he had no other design than to oppose the Rise of a Heresie to give the States-General a new Mark of his Kindness and to hinder the young Hollanders and the English themselves who should go to Study at Leyden from being infected with the Pernicious Opinions Vorstius should spread there The King's Apology had the same Fate with all Personal Quarrels Every one believed as he pleased The Revolution in Sweden after the Death of Gustavus Ericson Let us conclude this year with the Death of Charles the IX King of Sweden and speak something of his Elevation to the Throne He was the youngest Son of Gustavus Ericson so Famous in History for having delivered his Country from the Oppression of the Danes for having by his Great Services Merited the
death of his Son whose Court having for some time been fuller than his made him Jealous This was clear enough from a word that fell from him What will they bury me alive An expression which the World reflected on when the Prince of Wales came to die a little while after The occasion of so many Diversions and Festival Solemnities in England was the Marriage of the Princes Elizabeth the Kings Daughter with Frederick Count Palatine of the Rhine This Alliance pleased the English extreamly and all the Protestants Mercure Francois 1613. The House of Austria took a great deal of pains to Traverse it And the Queen whom the Court of Madrid had took Care to make their Friend did her best to dissuade the King from it But he concluded it notwithstanding the Intrigues of the Spanish Faction James conferred the Honour of the Order of the Garter upon the Elector before the Solemnity of the Wedding The Illustrious Prince Maurice of Orange was Received into the same Noble and Ancient Society at the same time with his Nephew The Chapter of the Order was Convened at Windsor Castle the 14th of February this Year The Ceremony was performed with all the Solemnity imaginable The Elector Palatine who was himself in England to Negotiate his Marriage Received the Order in Person and Maurice being absent Received it by Count William of Nassau his Proxy Ten days after Frederick was publickly Married to the Princess Elizabeth Before and after their Wedding day the King Entertained the People with Plays and magnificent Spectacles Holland also was well pleased and joyful for a great while Prince Maurice Received in the Presence of the States General of the United Provinces the Garter which the Herald of the Order had brought thither and there was nothing omitted which might contribute to the Glory of the Ceremony The wise Barnavelt Pensionary of the Province of Holland Returned thanks in the Name of the States General to the English Ambassador who had presented the Garter in the Name of the King his Master to Prince Maurice The New Electoress having past from England into Holland in the Month of May following to go to Heydelberg she was Received almost in every City of the Province and particularly at Amsterdam with a Magnificence answerable to their Wealth and the Memory which they retained of the great assistances which their Infant-Republick had received formerly from the Crown of England The Protestants were in hopes that the Marriage of the Elector Palatine with the Princess of Great Britain would be very advantageous to their Religion But there was yet one thing which they wisht for And that was that King James would abondon his Design of Marrying his Heir to a Princess of the Popish Communion A Marriage talkt of between Charles Pr. of Wales Christiana of France But althô his Majesty did not stick publickly to say that the Pope was Antichrist yet he never had a sincere and fervent Zeal for the Establishment of the Reformation As soon as Prince Henry was in his Grave James proposed the Marriage of Charles his Second Son now Prince of Wales with Christina Siri Memoire recondite To. III. p. 44.45 c. Second Daughter of France The Regent frankly received the Memoires which the Ambassador of England delivered touching this Affair to Villeroy Secretary of State She hoped that the Protestants of France and elsewhere allarmed with the double Marriage concluded with Spain would be calmed when they saw that nevertheless the Crown of France was not set at such a distance from an Alliance with Protestants but that it still designed a strict Union with them in giving the younger Sister of the King to the Heir of the most powerful Prince of their Communion Althô the Conduct of Maria de Medicis in this Negociation was full of Artifice and Dissimulation the Court of Rome was Jealous and the Pope used all his Power to dissuade the Regent from listening to the offers of his Brittannick Majesty The Pope plainly told Breves the King 's Ambassador that he took it ill that there should be any design of mingling the Blood Royal oâ—… France with that of an Heretick Princeâ—… Breves took the liberty to represent to the Pope that the welfare of the Kingdom and of Religion it self required that the Proposals of the King of England should not be rejected The Old Man being devoted to Spain did not regard him He insisted to conjure the Regent not to enter into a Negociation so disadvantageous to the Church which is really as much as to say so little conducible to the Interests of the Court of Rome The Nuncio Vbaldini very much bestirred himself in France Ibid. p. 50.51 c. he tired the Queen with his Remonstrances he exhausted himself in finding out the most pressing motives of Piety and Religion at length he heated the Cabals of Devotees which are always numerous and powerful in an ignorant and superstitious Court. Said this Italian Prelate to the Queen Is it possible Madam that your Majesty should be so little sensible of the particular kindness of God to you 'T is to distrust his Providence to have recourse to the Alliance of Hereticks as a thing necessary for the Repose and Conservation of the Dominions of the King your Son Your Ministers think it convenient that you should hear the Proposals of an Heretick Prince Your Majesty agrees with them but that is not sufficient to clear you before God and all those who detest this sort of Politicks You should rather listen to the Voice of your Conscience and the good Advice of the Pope than the vain speculations of a Council that govern themselves by the maxims of the wisdom of the Children of this World rather than by those of Religion This Prelate advanced at that time a Principle of his particular Gospel which deserves to be related He declares that these pretended good People whom he would make the Queen afraid of entertain this piece of corrupted Morality that the Princes of their Communion are not obliged to observe Treaties made with those whom they are pleased to call Hereticks if the Terms appear to them to be never so little contrary to their Religion that is to the Court of Rome This Nuncio said moreover It is true Madam that promises made against the interest of God don't in any wise oblige and that we ought not to keep them But consider that your Majesty will hereafter find it more difficult to break your promise with the King of England than it is now to reject his Proposals Your Affairs are thanks be to God in a better Posture than they have been since the death of the King your Husband The Kingdom is in a peaceful State without the assistance of such an Alliance The time of your Administration will shortly Expire What a comfort will it be to you to deliver up to the King your Son France in a better Condition than you
their Adversaries that Support which they flattered themselves of receiving from King James the I. Winwood his Ambassador at the Hague had prejudic'd him against the Remonstrants and the Archbishop of Canterbury the declared Enemy of the Opinions of Vorstius gave the King a bad Character of them In short this Prelate imagin'd that all the Remonstrants Ministers and the Magistrates their Protectors had an Inclination to Socinianism with which he thought Vorstius was infected Grotius Apologeticus eorum qui Hollandiae praefuerunt Cap. VI. in Epistolis 1613. Vytenbogard and the Rest thought good to oppose to the Archbishop several Doctors and Prelates of the greatest Note and Meritin England and especially the learned Casaubon whom his Majesty had a particular Value for His Majesty owing his Entertainment of the Sentiments of Calvin concerning Predestination more to the prejudices of his Education than Reason or Study Casaubon and others easily perswaded him to listen to what they had to Offer in favour of the Remonstrants in Holland These took the advantage of this favourable Conjuncture They sent to Caron the Dutch Ambassador at London a Memorial in which the Questions in Debate were fairly and clearly Stated This Memorial was read to the King and gave him Satisfaction His Majesty writ a Letter to the States of Holland and to â—…ell them it was his Opinion that they should Tolerate the Remonstrants and that the Magistrates should use their Authority to suppress their Disputes and to forbid them to Preach such difficult and abstruse Doctrines The King's Letter extreamly vext the Contra-Remonstrants but it did quite dicourage them They sent privately into England a Memorial to perswade the King that they had impos'd upon him The Conduct of the States of Holland and those who had the greatest share of the Government was there rail'd at in so outrageous a manner that his Majesty sent a Coppy of it in a Letter which he wrote to the States of Holland Grotius was sent into England about this time to adjust some Affairs for the East-India Company I am apâ—… to think there was something else in the Bottom of this Commission The States of Holland were very glad that so able a Man undertook to undeceive the King of Great-Britain and that he Conferr'd upon the Five Articles with the Bishops and chief Divines of England Grotius found that the Bishop of Ely the Dean of St. Paul's of London Casaubon and several others were very nigh of the same Opinion with the Arminians in the Points of Grace and Predestination They all gave him a favourable hearing except the Archbishop of Canterbury who was always deeply prejujudic'd against the Remonstrants and consequently against Grotius who Strenuously defended them He had many Audiences of the King who frankly told him that the Opinions of Calvin and Beza seemed to him too Rigid and that according to their Nypothesis God would be the Author of Sin But his Majesty persisted always to Condemn the ill Opinions which he had observed in Vorstius's his Writings To gain his Favour it was necessary to Reject whatsoever savour'd of the Impious paradoxes of Socinus concerning the Divivinity and Person of Jesus Christ If you have a mind that I should entertain a better Opinion of Uytenbogard and the Remonstrants said the King to Grotius you must perswade me that these Men don't favour Socinianism Grotius informed Vytenbogard his Friend of his Majesty's Opinion concerning him and the rest of his Party Hereupon Vytenbogard by the advice of Grotius writ a Letter to Casaubon that he might shew it the King He plainly saw that Vytenbogard had too great an Esteem for Vorstius Sibrand Minister of Frizeland publishes a Libel reflecting on the States of Holland Grotius is orderd to answer it The Contra-Remonstrants did all they could to hinder the success of the Negociations of Grotius in England A Professor of the University of Franneker in Frizeland by Name Sybrand wrote against Vorstius whom he accused of maintaining an Hundred Heresies The Book was Dedicated to the Archbishop of Canterbury Under pretence of praising the King of Great-Britain for the Zeal which his Majesty had discovered against Vorstius Sibrand in his Epistle Dedicatory accuses the Curators of the University of Leyden and the States of the Province of a design to introduce Socinianism into Holland He endeavoured to render the Conduct of the States suspected because they would not Consent to the calling a National Synode he pretended that the Civil Power went beyond the bounds of their Authority in taking Cognizance of Religious Controversies which ought not to be Treated of but in an Ecclesiastical Assembly He declaimed against the Revival of the Law made in 1591. in short he maintained that the Magistrates had nothing to do with the calling of Pastors and the Government of the Church The States of Holland were highly affronted at the Sauciness and Insolence of this Frizeland Minister He might have Refuted the Errors of Vorstius and they would have had nothing to say against him Ordinum Hollandiae ac West fri siae pietas Was it pardonable for a private Person to publish such vile Calumnies against the Governors of a Province Allied to his own and to speak Reproachfully of Laws which they had Right to publish Grotius was ordered to make an Apology for the States of Holland He acquitted himself wonderfully well of so Honourable a Charge His Book is Wrote very Elegantly full of lively Strokes against his Adversary and is altogether a learned Composure worthy of its incomparable Author He there fully Justifies the Conduct of the States of Holland in the Affair of Arminianism Grotius there Treats by the by of the Authority and necessity of Councils and Solidly and Frirmly Establishes the Power of Sovereigns in matters of Religion and the Government of the Church Sibrand endeavour'd to answer Grotius But he was not a Match for him It Cost Grotius only Three or Four Sheets to shew that the Professor of Franeker was an unfair Man and that he understood not the things that he pretended to talk of Bâ—…na fides Sibrandi Lubberti Edit des Etats de Hollande pour assoupir le diâ—â—â—râ—…nd sus les Questions de la Prèdestination de la Grace Mercure Francois 1614. Uytenbâ—…gard Historie Rèformation Dordrecht Ecclesiae Part. IV. 1614. Brand Historie de la Livre XXI Preface des Actes du Sinode de Grtotii Epistolae 1614. The States of Holland were very well pleased with the Advice of the King of England that they should Employ their Authority to suppress these Disputes and Command the Divines of both Sides Charitably to bear with one another not to disturb any longer the Peace of the Church with abstruse Questions of no Importance to Salvation Grotius now Pensionary of the City Rotterdam had Orders to prepare an Edict which they should propose to the Assembly of the States of Holland Here occurred great Difficulties One Side said that
Brandenbourg and Vewbourg about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Whilst the Regent was making present Reflections upon the good Success of her Journey into Poitou and Bretagne the Spaniards wifely made their Advantage of the private Agreement which they had made with Mary de Medicis to Assist her to maintain her Authority in France on Condition she would not Support or at least not openly oppose their Designs in Germany and Italy These false Politicks of a Regent who was Ridiculously persuaded that the Support of the Pope and the King of Spain was necessary for the maintaining her Authority has already made her take a great many false Steps contrary to the true Interest of her Son Interests of Princes by Mr. de Rohan part II. Disco V. And we shall take notice of Two more She should never have suffered the Archdukes of the Catholick Low-Countries to send the Marquiss de Spinola with a powerful Army to Execute the Proclamation which the Emperor had Published against Aix Mercure Francois 1614. and under this pretence to seize many Important Towns in the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Since the Marriage of the Prince of Newbourg with Madeleine of Bavaria there was a more open difference than ever between him and the Duke of Brandenbourg They were Employed in strengthening themselves one against the other both abroad and at home Two Passions very blind but extremely active in the heart of a young Prince Ambition and resentment of an Affront offered him in the face of the World had inclined Newbourg to join with the Emperor the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes of the Catholick Low-Countries He hoped that the House of Austria and the Catholick League of Germany of which the Duke of Bavaria was the head would assist him to recover those Countries which were in Dispute as soon as he should Embrace the Communion of the Pope This way of Revenging which the Elector of Brandenburg had given him seemed to Newbourg the most Advantageous and Glorious He declared himself a Roman Catholick the 15th of May at Dusseldorp There is reason to think that the Prince deferred his publick Abjuration of the Confession of Augsbourg in hopes that passing some time longer under the Name of a Protestant he should the more easily effect his Design of making himself sole Master of some of the Principal Towns in Dispute 'T was not without Design that being in Juliers in the Month of March he desired Pitham the Governor of the Castle to give him and his Retinue Entrance The Officer being a greater Friend to the House of Brandenbourg than to that of Newbourg refufed to admit him although he would enter alone Pitham relied upon an Article of the Transaction which passed between the Two Houses that the Governors of Castles and Fortified Places should not give Entrance to one of the Princes in Possession unless the other were present The Governor remaining firm to his Resolution Newbourg went towards Leige He went to make a visit to the Elector of Cologne his New Ally The Prince of Brandenburg attempted a little while after to surprize Dusseldorp but he likewise mist his aim as well as the other The States of the Vnited-Provinces the Electors and Princes of the Empire as they were Friends to both Houses Exhorted them to a Peace but in vain The Jealousie of each other encreast every day especially after Newbourg had chang'd his Religion The States of the Vnited-Provinces Sided at that time with the Prince of Brandenbourg 'T was for their Interest to hinder that the whole Succession of Cleves and Juliers should not fall to a Prince devoted to the House of Austria and Engag'd in the Catholick League of Germany Brandenbourg agreed to them that they should be Possest of the City and Castle of Juliers which they should hold by way of Sequestration This undertaking had its Success by means of Pitham who was gained over He suffered the Soldiers to enter therein with the Officers which the Prince of Orange had sent Newbourg on his Side had the Policy to make himself Master of Dusseldorp where he Fortified himself the best he could These Enterprises of Brandenbourg and Newbourg seem'd to be the Preliminaries of an open War which began quickly after There was talk of an Accommodation at a Conference held at Wesel but the Prince of Newbourg not being willing to dismiss the Troops he had raised unless the City and Castle of Juliers were put into the same Condition they were before the Holland Garrison enter'd they separated without coming to any Conclusion Each one thought of nothing more than maintaining taining his Right by open Violence and the Succours of his Allyes The Affair hapen'd otherwise than the Two Princes imagin'd The Spaniards and the States of the Vnited-Provinces these under the pretence of Relieving the House of Newbourg the other that of Brandenbourg divided betwixt them almost all the Succession which was in Controversie The Emperor Rodolph had put the City of Aix-la-Chapelle under Interdiction of the Empire by reason of the Change the Protestant Party had made in the Magistracy The City of Aix la-Chapelle under Interdiction in the Year 1611. But being dead before that the Archduke Albert his Brother and Ernest of Bavaria then Elector of Cologne dared to execute the Commission his Imperial Majesty had directed to them for the reducing the Inhabitants of Aix the Duke of Deux-Ponts Administrator of the Electorate Palatine and Vicar of the Empire during the Interregnum made all the procedures void and what ever Rodolph Ordained against the City of Aix-la-Chapelle After Matthias his Brother had succeeded him Complaint was made to the Imperial Court of the Duke of Deux-Ponts's Undertaking and the Catholicks press'd forward the Execution of the Ban publisht by the deceas'd Emperour His Majesty easily granted what the Pope and the Spaniards maintain'd in his Council However it appear'd to him That the D. of Deux Ponts had gone beyond his Authority and Enchrocht upon the Emperor by annulling what Rodolph had in his life time Ordered Wherefore the City of Aix-la-Chapelle was again put under the Ban of the Empire the 20th of February in this Year The Arch-Duke Albert and Ferdinand of Bavaria Successor to Ernest in the Electorate of Cologne had Commission to put the new Order in Execution Albert straight after rais'd great Forces in the Low Countries under his Dominions The States of the Vnited Provinces watchful of the Spaniards motions so near to them put themselves on their Side in Arms and posture of Desence Good Policy required no less than that they should stand upon their Guards and oppose what the House of Austria should attempt against the States of Cleves and Juliers which they found to lie conveniently for them 'T was not necessary to raise such great Forces to bring the City of Aix-la-Chapelle into Submission for every one well knew that the Spaniard kept close another Design which was
where there have been some Princes of the House of Austria have thought their Conscience and Religion allowed them to stir up People to defend the Liberty of their Countrey and march at the Head of an Army against their own Brothers As soon as the Emperour found the Designs of the Archduke he convened the States of Bohemia raised Troops writ to the Elector and Princes of the Empire to demand Aid of them There was in Bohemia at that time two powerful Parties of a contrary Religion the Catholicks and the Gospellers Under the name of Gospellers were comprehended the ancient Hussites those of the Confession of Ausburg and the Reformed The States of Bohemia were composed of Persons of both one and the other Party They presented to the Emperour divers Articles for the Regulation of Policy and Justice The Gospellers in particular required That the Clergy should not meddle in Civil Affairs That they should not determine Disputes concerning Marriage That they should not acquire Estates in Land without the consent of the States of the Kingdom That all Persons should be admitted to places of Judicature without distinction of Religion Rodolphus consented to what the States demanded The Concerns of Religion were remitted to the next Assembly which was appointed the end of September following And the States in conclusion swore to employ their Lives and Fortunes in the Emperour's Service Matthias was already at the Gates of Prague with his Army A Treaty of Peace between the two Brothers After some Negotiations the two Brothers agreed to name Deputies on both sides to confer together in a Neighbouring Village The Peace was concluded on certain Conditions I will relate the principal ones That the Emperor should quit the Kingdom of Hungary the States of the Country should chuse no other King than Archduke Matthias that Rodolphus should give him and his Heirs Male the Archdutchy of Austria without reserving to himself any Right That he should succeed to the Kingdom of Bohemia in case the Emperor died without Issue Male That the States of Bohemia should ratifie this Article That the Archduke should promise to maintain their Privileges if the Kingdom came to him That Matthias and his Heirs should have the Administration of Moravia with the Title of Marquess That in the Assemblies of the Countries yielded up by Rodolphus the Archduke should take care to have a certain Annual Contribution paid to the Emperor When the Treaty had been ratified on both sides Matthias goes to take Possession of the Arch-dutchy of Austria The Catholicks swear Fidelity to him but the Protestants refuse to do it and take Arms. By the Perswasion of Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasburg of Mellini Cardinal and Nuncio of the Pope and Forgatsi Bishop of Vienna and Cardinal the new Soveraign published an Edict to forbid all his Subjects of Austria the exercise of the Protestant Religion Matthias is Elected and Crowned King of Hungary From Vienna Matthias passes into Hungary Before they proceeded to Crown the new King the Lords of the Country presented divers Articles to him which they required him to swear to observe viz. That the Protestants should have free exercise of their Religion in all Cities not excepting that in which the King resided That a Palatin should be erected who should in Conjunction with the Senators have the Administration of Affairs in case the King did not reside in Hungary That the Jesuits should not be tolerated and the Licentious Lives of the Clergy be reformed On these Conditions Matthias was proclaimed King and Crowned at Presburgh in the year 1608. The Discontent of the Protestants in Austria abated The Protestants in Austria sent a Deputation to those in Hungary intreating them to interceed with Matthias in favour of their Brethren and desiring their Assistance by virtue of a League Offensive and Defensive still in being between the States of Hungary and Austria in case Matthias persisted to refuse them the free exercise of their Religion He replyed to the Instances the Protestant Lords of Hungary made to him That he would leave all things in the same State they were put in by the Regulation of the Emperor Maximilian his Father The Consideration said he I am obliged to have for the Pope and the Catholick King will not allow me to grant the Protestants the exercise of their Religion in the Towns of Austria Let them lay down their Arms and I will grant it them abroad In the mean time those of both Religions shall be indifferently promoted to places of Judicature The Hungarian Lords thought this reasonable and advised the Protestants to accept the Terms rather than make War It is hard to come to a Resolution on a sudden After some Movements the matter was determined in the year 1609. At the Intreaty of thaâ—… States of Moravia and by the care of the Archduke Maximilian Brother of the Emperor and King of Hungary Matthias consented That the Lords and Protestant Gentlemen of Austria should have the free exercise of their Religion in their Castles Villages and their private Houses for their Family only when they should be in Town That they should have Publick exercise of it in three Cities specified in the Treaty where the Churches should be equally divided between the Catholicks and Protestants That all places should be indifferently given to capable Persons of both Communions The Protestants upon this submitted and took an Oath of Fidelity to the new King Differences about Religion in Bohemia The Emperor had longer and more difficult Contests with the Gospellers in Bohemia The Assembly of the States appointed at the end of September 1608. was put off till January following The Roman Catholicks did all they could to exasperate Rodolphus against the Gospellers and perswaded him that they enjoyed the exercise of their Religion only by a simple Toleration The Oath of Subjects is relative to that of a Prince said the Gospellers with Indignation to Rodolphus hearken to the ill Advice given him by certain Persons If the Emperor will not keep the Oath he has made to us we think our selves discharged from that we have taken to him Rodolphus remitted the hearing of their Complaints to the chief Officers of Bohemia who were all Catholicks These interessed Judges contemning what the Gospellers alledged in their Defence they protested in a full Assembly against all the proceedings of the States and demanded time to give notice to the rest of their Brethren in the Kingdom of what passed and to inform his Imperial Majesty The Gospellers instantly sent a Deputation to the King of Hungary and the Electors and Princes of the Empire intreating them to intercede with Rodolphus The Emperor resolved the States should continue to sit and regulate all Matters of Religion The Term of their Sessions being expired the Emperour dismist them and forbid the Gospellers to meet in the Court of the New Prague or debate of their Affairs there In vain did they Petition his Majesty
to allow them a place of Meeting for the taking Measures to represent to him the Justice of their Pretensions and read the Answer which the King of Hungary and the Electors and Princes of the Empire had sent them Incensed at the unjust refusal of Rodolphus the Gospellers take each other by the hand and mutually swear to lose their Lives in defence of their Liberties and Religion take Arms in the Court of the new Prague broke open the Gates enter and consult what was fit to be done in their Condition They were not more than three Hundred Budovitz their chief lays open to the Assembly the Importance of their Undertaking the danger they are threatned with and the ill Designs of their Enemies Then making an Ardent Prayer to God sings the Hymn of the Holy Ghost in the vulgar Tongue This animates the Assembly with new Zeal and Devotion they continue to sing and shed Tears in abundance A great number of Gospellers come presently into them and all set themselves to sing and weep together Notice is given a great Body of Masqueteers were coming to charge them Instead of being daunted they take Courage come down into the Area seize all the Avenues and prepare for a Vigorous Defence There was about twelve Hundred Horse and three Hundred Harquebusiers The People of their Religion in Prague came on all sides to the Assistance of their Brethren so that there was soon about ten Thousand Men differently Armed There was a Rainbow seen in the South and the Sun appeared encircled with this new Phaenomenon The vulgar naturally addicted to Superstition interpret any thing which seems extraordinary according as their Imagination is more or less heated And now they conceive great hopes thinking God has given this as a visible sign of the particular Assistance they had begg'd of him with great Ardour The chief Persons were desired to return into the Hall of the Assembly and consider what Methods were to be used The People promised in the mean time to guard the Avenues with all possible care Rodolphus informed of what had passed sent the first Burgrave of Prague and the chief Officers of his Court to appease the Tumult His Imperial Majesty says the Burgrave in the Hall cannot imagine for what reason you have taken Arms. He has always loved you as his good Subjects The Emperors Conscience bears him witness he has faithfully kept his Word in every thing he promised to the States of the Kingdom and hopes you will not be less steddy in your Fidelity to him He is disposed to summon a new Meeting to determine all Disputes which may arise on the Head of Religion contrary to the Intention of his Majesty Budovitz replied in the name of the rest that the Gospellers humbly thanked the Emperor for his good Will towards them and intreated him to believe they never design'd an Insurrection against him We only complain says he of certain Persons who under colour of preserving the Catholick Religion give his Majesty Advice which tends to the Subversion of the Government We hope to make this appear in the next Assembly which he shall convene Farther we most humbly intreat his Majesty the Publication of this Meeting may be made within three Days This is the only way to prevent those Accidents we have reason to be afraid off The Suspicion which the Gospellers had of the Catholick Party was the cause of more Commotions Rodolphus appeased these without much Difficulty by publishing a Proclamation In this he own'd those of the Bohemian Confession and the Protestants for his good and faithful Subjects declared that in their Meetings held without his consent they had no other end than the good of the Kingdom and his Majesties Service required all the Deputies to meet in the Castle of Prague the 25th of May 1609. and to bring no Soldiers with them promised on his side to send away all those in his Service that so he might leave the States an entire Liberty to settle all matters of Religion The Gospellers had a solemn Thanksgiving upon the publishing this Proclamation but their Enemies every day finding new Pretences to hinder the Conclusion of the matter the Gospellers began to raise Soldiers and brought them into Prague All preparations were made for a Civil War The Pacification of the Trrubles in Bohemia when at the Intercession of the Elector of Saxony Rodolphus published a Declaration That all his Subjects communicating under one or both kinds should have free exercise of their Religion and their Service in Bohemian or High-dutch forbidding the Archbishop of Prague to disturb the Ministers of the other Party in their Worship That Catholicks and others should equally enjoy the same Privileges That the Gospellers might build Churches and found Colleges This Edict was declared perpetual and irrevocable and those who broke it were to be punished as Disturbers of the publick Peace By Virtue of this Grant the Protestants had the liberty to exercise their Religion in Prague and the 15th of July 1609. their Ministers preached publickly in a Church of the Hussites shut up for a long time before None doubted the Jesuits inspired into the Archbishop of Prague and the other Officers of the Empire the violent Counsels which caused all the preceding Troubles The Catholicks and Gospellers were alike enraged at them Both parties reunited to present jointly an Address to the Emperor In this they represent that the Jesuits being very poor when they came into Bohemia had gained considerable Wealth and did not contribute at all to the Charges of the State for this Reason they did humbly beseech his Majesty to take care the good Fathers should not be exempted more than other Churchmen and for the future they should not receive any thing by Will or Donation without the express consent of his Majesty A Diet at Prâ—…gue in 1610. The Emperor soon repented of the Treaty with Matthias his Brother and demanded the Restitution of Austria and Moravia The Electors and Princes of that Empire summon'dâ—…to meet at Prague in 1610. came thither to endeavour a Reconciliation between the two Brothers Besides this they were to Treat of the Election of a King of the Romans and determine the Difference about the Succession of Cleves and Juliers The Elector of Cologne Ferdinand of Austria Archduke of Gratz and Henry Julius Duke of Brunswick went to Vienna to confer with the King of Hungary After a long Negotiation the two Brothers made a new Treaty Matthias remained in possession of what had been given him and the weak Rodolphus had only some seeming Submissions and a sort of annual Tribute of a certain number of Tuns of Wine and a small sum of Money The Emperor gives the Elector of Saxony the Countries of Cleves and Juliers The Diet did not take any Resolution about the Election of a King of the Romans The Posture of Affairs did not seem very favourable to the House Austria As for the Succession
Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
Religion They abolished the Liturgy and Ceremonies introduced by the late King and reassumed those of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession They elected an Archbishop who was well affected and deprived those of the Clergy who had devoted themselves to serve the late King in his Innovations The Swedes and the Goths only assisted aâ—… this Assembly The other Provinces weâ—â— afraid of displeasing King Sigismond iâ—… they engaged without his Consent Thâ—… Decrees of the Council were confirmed by the Duke of Sudermannia by the Senate the Clergy the Nobility the Ministers of State and the Burgo-Masterâ—… who were present Those who were noâ—… there subscribed after Sigismond and his Uncle Charles observed each other The Nephew's Distrust was encreased by Charles his demanding that before he left Sweden his Majesty would give him a Promise under his Hand that he would confirm the Liberties and Priviledges of the States of the Kingdom and suffer them to enjoy the same Freedom of Religion they had done under the Reign of Gustavus Ericson and in the beginning of the late King 's The Duke of Sudermannia farther represented to the King that the ill Condition of his Country would not admit him to carry much People away with him These Instructions and Demands increased Sigismond's Jealousie He thought his Uncle plainly discovered he had vast Designs Sigismond was resolved not to heed the Duke's Remonstrances And now Charles had greater Hopes than ever to embarass the new King when he saw the Poles gave Sigismond leave to go into his Hereditary Country under Condition to keep his ancient Oath not to abandon Poland as Henry III. King of France had done â—…nd that his Majesty should return when he â—…ad setled his Affairs in Sweden and have â—…is usual Residence amongst them The Swedes were disatisfied the new King had plainly declared the Decrees â—…ade at Vpsal in his Absence and without â—…is Consent to be null However they reâ—…eived him with great Marks of Joy â—…nd Affection Duke Charles withdrew â—â—fter he had made his Compliments to his Majesty He thought it proper to leave â—…im alone with the Council of his Kingâ—…om The Pope's Nuncio who was with â—…igismond much disquieted the Swedes â—…t was visible the new King hearkened to â—…he Councils of the Court of Rome He â—…roke the Regulations made at Vpsal and commanded another Archbishop to be chosen He who was raised to that Digâ—…ity was in his Opinion an Enemy to the late King Afterwards he demanded a Church in every great Town for the Roman Catholicks The States of the Kingdom and the Clergy vigorously opposed his Enterprize being assured of the Protection of the Duke of Sudermannia The time of the Coronation approaching the Senators demanded in the Name of the States of Sweden that the King should first promise under his Hand-writing not to hinder the Exercise of the Protestant Religion Sigismond replied only in general Terms that he would give his Subjects satisfaction after his Coronation All these Difficulties retarded the Ceremony The Quarrel between King Sigismond and Charles Duke of Sudermannia Men cover Liberty and Independence only for themselves Very far from procuring it for others they strive by all ways possible to enslave the rest of the World The Polish Nobility so Jealous of their Privileges and Liberty but accustomed to keep other People in Slavery incessantly cried to their King Sigismond that an Hereditary State is Governed otherwise than an Elective Kingdom That in Poland he was subject to the Laws but in Sweden he was above them These Maxims easily insinuate themselves into the Mind of a Prince Sigismond displeased to see himself dependant on the Senat of Poland was better satisfied with being Absolute in Sweden He Rejected the Petitions presented to him The Duke of Sudermannia stood Neuter in the beginning of the Dispute He advised the King to have regard to the just Requests of his Subjects but he was not very uneasie to find a Difference arise between them by his Denials and Delays The States secure of Charles Assistance abated nothing of their Pretensions The stubbornness of the King strangely incensed them and the Sermons of some zealous Preachers of the Protestant Religion warmed the most cold â—…nd indifferent They talked of offering â—…he Crown to the Duke and giving it to Prince John in case he would not accept â—…t Being persuaded it was not yet time â—…o hear a Proposition of this kind he conâ—…ented himself with going to wait upon â—…he King at Vpsal and strongly backing â—…he Pretensions of the States The Neâ—…hew and the Uncle so heated each other â—…hey were upon the point of Fighting They were parted and as soon reconcil'd â—…o prevent any Confusion and Disorder in â—…he Kingdom These Accidents conâ—…irm'd the States the more in the Resoâ—…ution they took to make the King Exâ—…lain himself before they would proceed â—…o his Coronation The Popes Nuncio and such of the Poâ—…ish Nation as then attended at Sigismond's Court now perceived clearly that in Pruâ—…ence he ought not to stand it out any â—…onger but must yield to the present Exgency of Affairs They told him withal That he was not bound to keep a Promise exâ—…orted from him by Violence Now Sigismond promises 'em any thing they 'd have He reserved only that he might have the â—…ree Exercise of the Popish Religion for himself within the private Walls of the Castle where he should make his Residence But he from that very time took a Resolution of destroying his Uncle The Plot of Murdering him at a Play having miscarried they undertook to drive at him with all the Vigour and open Violence that was possible Immediate Orders were given to the Polish Army to march toward Stockholm This made the States of that Kingdom begin to think of their own Security They Summoned the Inhabitants of the Highlands to come down to their Assistance In the mean time during all this bustle the King took no care of the Government nor of securing the quiet of the Kingdom When any Proposal was made to him by the States he likewise would make a demand of some other thing at their Hands The Polanders were still at him to return home and to come to no Conclusion with the Swedes They flattered themselves that the wider the Breaches and Divisions grew in Swedeland the easier it would be to reduce it So that Sigismond in fine following their Advice took thipping for Dantzick He left Orders how he would have the Kingdom Governed in his Absence but neither the Duke of Sudermannia nor the States would submit to any of them as judging the Persons imploy'd therein to be averse to the Treaty concluded at Vpsal before the King's Coronation The States of Swedeland commits the Government of the Kingdom during the King's Absence to the Duke of Sudermannia Soon after his Departure the States of Swedeland pray'd Charles of Sudermannia to take upon him the Government The Duke desired to be excused yet
of Savoy who with great earnestness challenged that the promise made to him by the late King of giving the Eldest Daughter of France in Marriage to the Prince of Piedmont might be now made good But Spain would also hinder any such strict Alliance and good Correspondency betwixt this Duke Charles Emanuel and the Crown of France So many different Views that Spain had render'd the New Negotiation very difficult The Council of Spain out of a desire to defend the Dukes designs Siri Memorie recondite Tom II paâ—… 359 447 448. choose rather to give the Eldest Daughter to the King of France than that the Prince of Piedmont should go away with the Eldest Daughter of France So that they came to this Agreement about the latter end of 1610. that Lewis and Prince Philip should each of them Marry the Eldest Daughter of the two Houses of France and Spain on condition that the Infant Ann that was design'd for the King of France should renounce all the Pretensions that she or her Children might ever have on any of the Estates belonging to the Monarchy of Spain This was the only Expedient that was found to prevent that the King of France's condition in the case might not be better than those of Philip. Both Kings Authorised the Duke of Tuscany to demand in Marriage the two Princesses in their Names Mary of Medicis had now obtain'd what she had a great while longed for But she knew not how to bring about that this double Marriage might be liked of in France Villeroy did Negotiate this Treaty Being always suspected to be a Pensionary of Spain he used all the Intrigues possible to compass this Business The Duke of Sulli before he was put out of Favour did vigorously oppose the Matter I 'll hinder you well enough said he one day in the presence of the Queen Regent from perswading her Majesty to suffer her self to be led by all the Figaries of the Popes and of the King of Spain The Friendship of the Protestant Potentates is more useful to this State than that of Paul and of Philip The Queen heard all this without saying a word But such bold Expressions and so becoming a true Frenchman did not a little contribute to hasten the Dukes Disgrace It was hoped that this Project of the double Marriage would be carried on very easily when Sully was removed from the Ministry The Mareschal of Bouillon as less stiff was looked upon as a fit Person to get this Undertaking to be liked off by the Protestants both abroad and at home The double Marriage is concluded between the two Kings At the end of the Month of April 1611. all points were agreed upon The Treaty of the double Match was Signed and both Kings promised one to the other Reciprocally in Writing to accomplish it The Pope and Great Duke of Florence were to be the Mediators of it Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag. 524 525 526 c. The Treaty of the particular Match between the King of France and the Infanta was to be drawn up and published at Paris that of the Prince of Spain at Madrid Another Treaty was likewise made of a League Defensive between the two Crowns Lewis and Philip engaged themselves to give mutually each other certain Succors in case either of them should be Attacked from Abroad or any Insurrection was to be supprest within either of their States The Spaniards had demanded an Offensive League to be made but the Queen Regent would not consent to it This was sufficient to convince her that Philip sought after nothing more than to make France lose the Amity and Confidence she had in the Protestant Princes and States Mary content to Stipulate that the two Treaties should remain secret for some time had not the prudence to break off a Negotiation wherein the Enemies of young Lewis his Prosperity might serve themselves with an Opportunity of laying Snares for him on all sides The Approaching Assembly of the Reformed Protestants at Saumur was the cause why the Queen demanded this Delay It was feared that this News would too much alarm them and they should take Measures to oppose a design so Contrary to the Repose and Common Security of all Protestants Intrigues at the French Court as soon as the Treaty about the double Marriage came to be known The Queen and her Confidents employ'd all their Wit and Industry to gain to their side the Princes of the Blood and the Grandees to the end the Affair of the double Match might pass without any Contradiction The Union of the Prince of Conde and Count Soissons was one of the greatest Obstacles to get over Intrigues were laid to Disunite them and when t' was perceived they were too stedfast one to t'other it was endeavour'd to gain them separately by promises of granting them some new Gratifications Memoites de lâ—… Regence de Marie de triâ—…dicis Both these retired from Court discontented that a Treaty had been made with Spain without their Knowledge though express Couriers were dispatcht to give Cardinal de Joyeuse and the Duke of Epernon notice of it The Count of Soissons had a design in his Head to remove from Court the present Ministers of State and chiefly the Chancellor Sileri whom he hated more than the rest Soissons accused this prime Magistrate of shameful and insatiable Covetousness in selling Justice publickly to the dishonour of the Government and damage of particular Persons who had any business to Sollicite with him Though the Count de Soissons was extreamly angry with Conchini since the rupture of a Marriage between the Son of the one and the Daughter of the other yet he kept still some measures with the Marquess of Ancre They agree'd very well together for displacing Ministers of State The new favourite believed he should find some Obstacles to the encrease of his Power as long as they held any Office After some Negotiations both the Princes returned to the Court. The Constable de Montmorency was lured in by a Marriage of his Son Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. pag 599 600 601 609 612. with a Princess of the House of Mantua the Queens Niece The Mareschal Bouillon said sometimes well in Counsel that too strict a League with Spain would be prejudicial to the State But at the bottom he had made his Market Lesdiguieres longed excessively to be Duke and Peer in all Forms The hopes which were given him of making the Letters which he obtain'd to be approv'd in Parlement made him pliable and complaisant to every thing the Court would have The Duke de Guise to whom Mary had recourse in all her perplexities which the Princes of the Blood had given her assured her of the Service of his whole Family and all their Friends I have only one Favour to ask of you Madam said he to the Queen which is that after this Important Service your Majesty will not abandon us
or against the Court of Rome as the Court of France would have it the Abbot Chanvalon I say propos'd in an Assembly of the Faculty of Paris that another Syndic might be chosen in the room of Richer The Dr. modestly opposeth this last Effort of his Enemies The Faculty was divided Duval was at the Head of 43 cowardly Doctors or Ignoramus's who upheld the Abbot's Proposal 25 Doctors of clearer Judgment and no less fearful declared for Richer The Division in the Sorbonne was so great as the Queen and Parlement made a Prohibition that the Faculty might not proceed to the Election of a New Syndic But Perron the Nuncio and other Creatures of the Pope's stickled so mightily as notwithstanding all the just Oppositions of Richer and his Friends the King sent an express Command to the Faculty to choose a new Syndic They must obey Richer protested openly that he would die in the Communion of the Roman Church that he was a good Servant to the King and Queen that he would ever defend without Stubbornness and Ambition the ancient Doctrine of the Schools at Paris that he believ'd he ought to oppose the Pernicious and Detestable Doctrine which was Artificially insinuated viz. That it is lawful to Depose Kings and kill Tyrants Lastly that he submitted his Book to the Censure of the Church and the Faculty of Paris and his strongest Passion was to see it examin'd by equitable and disinteress't Judges What remains to us of Richer proves that he suffer'd with much Moderation and Patience the Injustice done to him Filesac was chosen to Succeed him in the Syndicate Amongst all these Troubles the Queen Regent diverted her self more than Religion or Decency in the second year of her Mourning would allow of she Mourn'd not the Tragical Death of the Deceased King but for meer fashion sake Nothing said Mary de Medicis to the President Jeannin whose Son had been Murder'd Nothing hath so much appeas'd my Sorrows after the Death of the King as the Affairs of the Regency Her Majesty might have said with more Reality if she had said as to see my self Mistress The Dukes de Vendosme and de Cheureuse were with Bassompierre Memoires de Bassompierre to dance a Ball every Sunday sometimes at the Prince of Conti's House sometimes at the Dutchess of Guise's because the Regent dar'd not to hold publick Assemblies in the Louvre The double Marriage being solemnly declar'd the 25th of March by the Chancellor in presence of their Majesties the Prince of Conti the Peers and Officers of the Crown the Spanish Ambassador gave his consent to it from the King his Master From that time he render'd to Madam the Eldest Daughter of France all the same Honours which the Spaniards give their Queens But the French Courtiers whose Demeanours are much different from those of the Spaniards could not forbear Laughter observing the Ceremonies and affected Gravity of the Ambassador Mary de Medicis had order'd a Magnificent Tournament in the Royal Square for joy of the double Marriage The three Champions were the Duke de Guise the Duke de Nevers and Bassompierre The Constable and four Marshals of France were to be Judges This Festival which doth not deserve a place in any serious History cost an infinite Deal of Money Mary spent in shews and indiscreet Liberality the Millions which the Deceased King had spared with too much providence New Broils at the Court of France The Prince of Conde and Count Soissons were not present at the Declaration of Marriage They were retired from Court with a Resolution not to return till after the King's Majority and not to Sign the Contract of Marriage The Queen said they is able to finish all alone what she hath resolv'd upon Siri Memoire recondite Tom. II. p. 640 641 642 c. and Negotiated without our Knowledge God forbid we should do this injury to the late King's Memory as to consenâ—… that the word which he hath given the Duke of Savoy should not be kept whose House hath been so many times ally'd to this of France Such good Sentiments would deserve praises if Princes did not ordinarily use such Pretensions when they are acted only by meer Interest Conde and Soissons did not see that the Regent was forward to grant them the Gratifications which they were made to hope for The Queen being strengthned with the House of Guise and the Duke of Epernon assured of the Constable and the Mareschals of Bouillon and Lesdiguieres who had been brought over Discontented with what the two Princes had said in Council when the double Marriage was propos'd the Queen seem'd not to be any more concern'd for the Princes of the Blood The Constable only endeavour'd to serve them by putting Mary de Medicis in fear He oft-times represented to her that the Civil Wars and Miseries of the precedent Reigns had no other cause than the evil Counsel given to Catharine de Medicis for to despise and lay aside the Princes of the Blood They Madam said he who insinuate into you the same Methods think more of Establishing their Fortunes and Reputation than the good of the State If your Majesty gives ear to them I foresee that Trouble and Confusion will speedily follow The Advice of the Constable allyed to the Princes of the Blood and Enemy to the House of Guise was look'â—… upon as Partial the Regent gavâ—â—â—o Attention to it but at the last push The Guises and the Duke of Epernon Triumph'd while the Prince of Conde and Soissons were absent The House of Guise had taken care to order the Tournament Under pretext of contributing to the Queen's Diversion they became more powerful than ever Some Satyrical Wits said that she lookt upon the Chevalier de Guise with too favourable an Eye He ordinarily waited on her at Table when the Princess de Conti or the Dutchess de Guise regaled her Majesty Mary seem'd very much content to look near the fine Hand of the Chevalier which he himself affected to shew The Marquess d'Ancre who all of this House and the Duke of Epernon hated could not endure the great favour shew'd the Guises and their Ally The Ministers of State were much alarm'd at it They thought to pluck down the pride of these two Ambitious Houses Conchini was so much the more disquieted for that the Queen was angry with him Mary raised him up to this Greatness but in consideration of his Wife and the Marquess did not live kindly with her His anger at home proceeded sometimes so far as he talk't of leaving the Court They quarrelled lately at Table with so much heat as they threw Plates at one another's Head The Regent upheld the Marchioness The Guises and the Ministers of State who lov'd not Conchini took Goligai's part and bemoaned her to Exasperate farther the Queen against her Husband All this set Conchini forward to side with the Princes of the Blood who had a mind to humble the
advis'd of the evil Offices that were constantly done him at Court went to justifie himself After having represented to the Regent that he had behav'd as a good Man in the Assembly at Saumur I confess to you Madam said the Duke that I oppos'd the Designs of Monsieur de Bouillon But this was done but in order to give your Majesty fresh Tokens of my Fidelity and Zeal which I have for your Service I Distrust those Persons who turn Scales and pay their Services on both Sides 'T is seldom known that such Men are upright in their Intentions If Monsieur Bouillon had brought his Designs about in our Assembly at Saumur he might have understood how to have used them and prevailed even against your self When Monsieur Bouillon comes to be the Master amongst us your Authority shall be never the better Established in this Realm The Duke of Rohan upon this occasion prov'd the Truth of a Reflection which he himself made viz. That a Prince who hath a prejudicate Opinion is hard to be perswaded The Regent gave no Attention to these Remonstrances The time now of the Election of the Mayor of St. John of Angeli was near It was a thing of the greatest Importance that could be to the Duke of Rohan that he who was in the place might not be continued The adverse Party to the Governor had got over this Man to their side and if their Project had succeeded the Duke had lost all his Authority in the place Feigning then that his Brother was dangerously sick he took a Journey suddenly from Paris Rohan took Soubize in his way and they both got to St. John d' Angeli The day of Election being come a Letter under the King 's Privy Seal was produc't that the Ancient Major should continue this not being to be any Rule for the future and to be without prejudice to the Privileges of the Inhabitants The Duke de Rohan Remonstrated that her Majesty had been ill inform'd of the State of the City where there was not any thing at all of Division as the Letter under the King 's Privy Seal had suppos'd and that they might proceed to a new Election according to the accustom'd Form I hope said he I shall bring her Majesty to agree to it To this effect I send my Secretary to Court The Mareschal Bouillon flatter'd himself that the Duke of Rohan would infallibly lose himself whatever Party he would take in an Affair that was so ticklish for him to manage If Rohan suffers the former Major to be continued they wou'd strip him of all his Authority and if he oppos'd the Court's Orders this would find it self in a necessity of punishing a Man who neglected to observe the Authority of the King To engage the Queen after such a manner as she should not flinch back for the future the Mareschal perswaded her to send a more express Order for to contitinue the old Major But the Duke of Rohan being perswaded that if he lost the Government he himself was lost without any Redemption believ'd that he ought not to obey the Orders which the Queen had sent as being Surprised unwarily by his Enemies A New Major was chosen that is to say three Persons were Nominated whose Names were sent to the Court to the end her Majesty might pitch upon one whom she judg'd most proper for the place Whilst they were expecting an Answer from the Regent the Keys of the Town were put into the Hands of the Eldest Alderman and thus the Duke of Rohan made himself Master of the Town from whence he caus'd some Subaltern Officers to be put out who were against him This bold Action mightily stir'd up the Queen against the Duke of Rohan Those whom he had sent to Court were committed to the Bastile T' was forbid the Dutchess his Mother his Wife his Sister to stir out of Paris Some Persons proposed to the Counsel that t' was fit to go and Besiege the Duke in St. John d' Angeli as a Rebel Orders were dispatch't for raising Troops and sending the Artillery The Queen publish't abroad that she would go her self in Person to the Army which the Mareschal Bouillon and Lesdiguieres were to command to make the Reformed know that there was no point of Religion here in Question but only a Chastisment of a particular Lord who had Revolted from his Obedience The Duke as soon as he understood this published a Manifesto which he Addres't to the Reform'd Churches he gave them notice that his Zeal for their Preservation brought upon him this Persecution that the loss of St. John d' Angeli drew along with it other places of Retreat and Security and their Enemies wou'd not stop in so fair a way after they had taken from him his Government Mercure Francois 1612. The Manifesto ended with a lively Exhortation The Duke complain'd because his Enemies had made Information of his Conduct and that having found him irreprovable they had inform'd against some Gentlemen who were not at all faulty of any other Crime than his giving him a Visit The Court said he fears that our divided Body will reunite the Reputation Monsieur de Rohan hath acquired by his Quality and Probity which he hath always made profession of gives Vnbrage must they for this cause apply themselves by little and little to weaken our Party and to undoe us by Peacemeals Let us know our selves if we would Live and Subsist Let us revive the good Intelligence which was heretofore amongst us Let us Devote our selves to the Service of our God and our King Let us work for the Good of our Church and the State We were the most judicious and considerable Party before our Divisions at Saumur This great Man who knew better to Fight than to Write not standing upon Manifesto's only prepar'd himself for a courageous Defence Another Manifesto was publish'd on the Queen's side She took great care therein to advertise the World that her Majesty complain'd only of the Duke of Rohan's Undertaking All the French of either Religion were exhorted in it to relieve their Majesties in the just Design they had to punish a Crime of so dangerous Consequence to the Common Good of the State At last the Queen protested to the Reformed that Religion not being concern'd in this Affair the Edicts of Pacification should not be less exactly observ'd Du Plessis Mornai was then in a great Perplexity The Town of Saumur of which he was Governor was in the Queen's way in case she went to St. John d' Angeli and Prudence required that she would assure her self of that important Passage Du Plessis did not know which side to take If I fortifie my self said this Judicious Gentleman if I call for Succours they will attack me under pretence of Rebellion Besides if I don't think at all of being aware beforehand I leave a place of Security which I am entrusted withal to the Discretion of our Enemies Let 's run
France and Ann Infanta of Spain The Duke of Mayenne had received greater Honours in Spain Entry of the Duke of Mayenne into Madrid than the Duke of Pastrana in France whether it was that they had regard to his Quality as Prince of a Sovereign House allied to the House of Austria or that the Spaniards had an Ambition to outgoe the French in Magnificence and Galantry He found in his way the Duke of Lerma's Mansion House French Mercenary 1612. This Favourite gave Orders that Mayenne should be splendidly regaled and to the end the Feast might seem more Galant it appear'd that all was done at the expense of the Inhabitants of Lerma who were Ravish't with Joy to have amongst them a Guess so honourably distinguish't The Duke fail'd not upon this occasion to set out all his Sumptuous Moveables and Tapistry the Borders of which were all Embroider'd with Gold and richly set out with Rubies and Emeraulds The Duke d' Alva de l'Infantado d' Albuquerque the Admirante of Castile and many other Grandees of Spain accompanied with 500 Cavaliers whose Horses were proudly Harnas't went to receive the Duke of Mayenne without Madrid He made a very fine Entrance But the long and close Mourning the Ambassador wore for his Father and the Court of Spain had put on for the Death of the Queen render'd the Ceremony less Glorious The 17th of July the Duke d'Vseda conducted the Ambassador to his Audience of the King The Prince of Spain stood at the left hand of his Majesty and the Duke of Lerma at the right The Father and Son embrac'd the Embassador when he drew near to kiss their Hands This was a Distinction granted to the Quality of the Prince who was of the House of Lorrain After this he was Conducted to the Audience of the Infanta The Duke kiss'd her Hand because her Highness had declar'd she would use the Embassador as the Queen had used one of her Subjects The Articles of Marriage signed between Lewis the 13th and the Infanta of Spain The Signing of the Articles of Marriage was fix't to be upon the 22d of August All the Court left off their Mourning for that day besides the King The Duke of Lerma went to the Ambassador to Conduct him to the Palace Neither his Majesty or the Prince or Infanta of Spain were present at the Ceremony of Sealing Two Acts were prepar'd one in French and another in Spanish The Duke of Mayenne Puisieux Secretary of State and Vaucelas Ambassador in ordinary at Madrid first sign'd the French Act as Proxies for the most Christian King and the Queen his Mother The Duke of Lerma sign'd afterwards in quality of Proxy for the Catholick King 's Father and Guardian of the Infanta It was after another manner compos'd in the Spanish Act Lerma put there his Name first and the French after him The Infanta renounc't for her self and Children all the Rights of Succession to the States of the Crown of Spain Two Cases were only excepted That if the Infanta was a Widow without any Children she should return into Spain or that for reason of State and the publick Weal of the Spanish Monarchy she should Marry again with the consent of the King her Father or the Prince of Spain her Brother she shou'd in this second case re-enter into her Rights of succeeding one and th' other After the signing of the Articles the Duke of Mayenne was Conducted into a Hall where the King was with the Prince and Infanta at each side of him The Ambassador only made a Reverence to the Father He harangu'd chiefly the Daughter in Quality of the Queen of France When the Duke took his leave some days after he entreated her to give him some Orders to the King his Master Assure him said the Infanta that I am very much impatient of seeing him This Answer did not seem grave enough to the Countess d' Altamira her Governess Ah Madam cry'd the Spanish Lady what will the King of France think when the Duke shall report to him you have so great a passion for Marriage You have taught me answer'd the Infants with a great deal of liveliness that one must always speak the Truth She poor young Princess had a heart burning for a Husband who did not make her so happy as she fancied he wou'd Conspiracy against the Duke of Parma We shall see anon the face of Affairs wholly altered in Italy by the Death of Francis Duke of Mantua which happen'd at the end of the year 1611. But before I enter into this particular which I reserve for the following year I think I ought to say somwhat of an Affair which made a great noise in Italy in the Month of March this present year Francis Duke of Mantua had some days agoe succeded Vincent his Father Husband of the Eldest Sister of Mary de Medicis At this same time Ranutius Duke of Parma discover'd a Plot laid against him for above a year since and against all the House of Farnese He thought that he had sufficient Witnesses to believe that the Deceased Duke Vincent of Mantua the Cardinals Sforza and Este the Prince of Modena the Duke of Mirandola and some other Sovereign Princes had had a part in so horrid a design Here 's what is discover'd now of it Many Gentlemen and some Ladies of Quality of the States of the Duke of Parma and the Neighbouring places Conspired together to kill him with all those of his House and to possess themselves of the Towns of Parma and Placentia which they were afterwards to deliver up to some Neighbouring Princes from whom the Conspirators had receiv'd Money There 's this difference betwixt the true Religion and Superstition that the one Abominates the smallest Crimes whereas the other can very well accord with the blackest Actions The Wretches who attempted upon the Life of Henry the IV were confess 't and took the Sacrament afterwards to prepare themselves for their barbarous Design They who Conspir'd a little time after against Ranutius Duke of Parma and against all the House of the Farnese's swore by the Image of the Virgin Mary to keep their Trust and Fidelity one to t'other and not discover their Enterprise Their first Project whereby they might bring their Design about was to lay hold of the Opportunity which the Solemn Baptism of the young Prince of Parma afforded them where the Cardinal Farnese was to be present with the rest of the Family They had resolv'd to slay there Ranutius his Children the Cardinal and all the Persons Devoted to the Farneses The Ceremony of Baptism having been happily put off the Conspirators notwithstanding continued their Meetings and took their Measures for the Execution of their Conspiracy They had already got a great number of Men and some Neighbouring Princes were to furnish them with Soldiers at the appointed time But seeing that the Ceremony of Baptism was put off too long a time and that the
have the liberty to follow her Religion in private and in the most Retir'd Chamber of her Apartment I confess that these are too strait and narrow Conditions but if France speaks sincerely I don't question but that she will be contented with them Henry very well knew his covetous Fathers Humour For this reason he had a touch upon the Article of her Fortune in a somewhat more nice manner If your Majesty continued he regards the greatness of a Dowry I think you will prefer the Princess of Savoy she brings with her Two hundred thousand Crowns more than the Lady of France for at least I can scarce persuade my self that the Regent will give more to the second Daughter than to the Eldest But if your Majesty lays aside Interest to do what shall be more to the mind of the General Body of Protestants abroad it seems to me you will rather encline to France than Savoy Lastly concluded the Prince I fear lest your Majesty should not be content with the indifference I shew for all the Propositions of Marriage which are made me I most humbly beg your pardon for it T' is you Sir who is to take the most advantageous Resolution that may be for the good of the State I have but little experience in politick Affairs and can't speak like a Man smitten with Love upon this Occasion I have with the greater willingness inserted into History this Letter because it might be perhaps the last he ever writ T' was dated the 14th of October 1612. and the Prince died the 16th of November Having drank some small Beer to quench his Thirst after hard Riding he fell dangerously Sick All the skill of the ablest Physicians could do no good against the violence of his Distemper Heaven was deaf to the prayers of all England for the recovery of a young Prince Nineteen years of Age the Hopes and Delight of the Nation Those Persons who at first affected to shew the greatest grief for his Death were not sorry for't heartily At least t' was so believed The Affliction of the common People was more sincere and of deeper impression than that of the Court. They generally said the Applauses which we have so heartily given the Prince of Wales have been Ominous and Fatal to him They who will Reign as absolute Masters don't love to see their Children too popular The Affection which young Henry had for Religion and the Libertie's of his Country had caus'd the course of life to be cut off which had been so happily begun Charles his Brother and Frederick Elector of Palatine who was come to visit the Princess of England design'd in Marriage for him were present at the Funeral in close Mourning The Tears of the People who accompanied him to the Grave in reckoning up his Vertues which shin'd already in his Person and in bewailing the irreparable loss which England had suffer'd were the greatest Ornament of this Ceremony The Prohibition the King his Father made some few days after to appear at Court in Mourning redoubled the suspitions and indignation of the English-men Did not he think as a Roman Emperor did once heretofore that it did not become the Majesty of a Prince to sully his Face with Tears that great Afflictions are for little private Persons and that Kings may die but the State is Immortal This was the reason why King James thought he ought not to Interrupt the Divertisements which were usual at the beginning of a new year T' was said that France was not sorry to hear of the Death of the Prince of Wales who seem'd rather to have the Inclinations of the ancient Kings of England than of the Kings of Scottish Race and one could but very badly Interpret the Sentiments which the Prince shew'd when he heard of the Death of Henry IV. I have lost cry'd he my second Father The common Opinion is that young Henry had resolv'd to steal away from the English Court and go learn the Trade of War under the King of France as soon as he march't at the Head of his Army At the same time the Prince of Wales lamented the Tragical Death of Henry the IV. a Courtier resolv'd to tell him that this Occurrence would give his Highness the means of making the pretension of England's Kings to France more strong and prevalent Get you gone idle Flatterer replyed the Prince in Anger dare you talk to me of making War against an Infant I am ready to defend him against all those who shall venture to attack him The Son of that Person for whom the Prince had so Noble Sentiments hath not had this delicate Generosity though he was much more advanc't in Age. I doubt whether it be needful to carry the Suspitions of young Henry's Death as far as many in England have carried them If it was hasten'd as the report of Physicians made People believe the Viscount of Rochester may have committed so horrible a Crime He and his Wife were accus'd since then as being guilty of Poysoning The Prince had no kindness for his Fathers Favourite he always look't sourly upon him and shew'd a great Repugnance of Spirit to suffer him near his Person Robert Carr a Gentleman of a mean Birth in Scotland having found out a way to be Page to the King his pleasant Countenance fine Stature insinuating Behaviour pleased him extreamly In a little time Car was Knighted and the King disgusted with the Count of Montgomery set all his Affection upon the Scotch Knight He raised him up further to the Dignity of Viscount of Rochester and afterwards to be Duke of Somerset The Fall of this unworthy Favourite was as shameful as his Rise was astonishing He at last fell in Love with the Countess of Essex who sought to engage him and he afterwards married her This is not a fit Place to relate this Lady's Adventures 'T is said that the Prince of Wales was struck with her great Beauty but Rochester was preferr'd before him The Despite which the Prince harbour'd from hence encreased the Aversion he had for his Rival The Countess having let fall her Glove as she was dancing he who had taken it up presented it to the Prince of Wales thinking to please him in giving him an Opportunity of shewing the Lady a Civility whom he seem'd to have a Kindness for But Henry threw the Glove back with Disdain saying Another hath stretched it out As the Two Lovers were expert in the Art of Poysoning so 't is very probable they had a mind to be rid of a Prince and make him away who would have been a great Impediment to their Repose and the Establishment of their Fortune The Count de Soissons dead some Days before the Prince of Wales left behind him vacant Places of great Dignity the Governments of the Dauphiny and of Normandy with the Office of Lord High-Steward of the King's Houshold The Regent gave this Office to the new Count Son of the Deceased with the
might be most proper to compose the Disturbance which their Dispute had occasioned in several of the Vnited Provinces The Remonstrants declar'd that their way of Toleration seem'd the safest and most convenient so that every one should have the Liberty to Teach and Preach his Opinion concerning the Five Articles in Dispute The Contra-Remonstrants propos'd a Convocation of the National Synode which should Examine and Determine which of the Two Opinions was most agreeable to the Word of God and to the Doctrine commonly received in the Reformed Churches When the States of Holland were consulting about this matter in their Assembly they found themselves divided into Two Parties the one approv'd the Advice given by the Remonstrants and the other was for a National Synod The First carried it Without declaring for one or the other the States of Holland publish'd an Edict in which it enjoined both the Remonstrants and Contra-Remonstrants Charitably to bear with one another not to disturb the Peace of the Churches not to say which had got the better of the other to speak with a great deal of Wariness and Consideration concerning the controverted Points in their Sermons to take more care to inculcate upon the People the duties of the Christian Life and the necessity of preserving Peace in the Church and in the Common-wealth then to explain to their Auditory abstracted and difficult Points in Divinity and whereas the Contra-Remonstrants complain'd that their Adversaries entertain'd Opinions contrary to the Doctrine of the Reformed Churches not only concerning Grace and Predestination but also about original Sin the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ and other important Articles of Religion The States of Holland forbid them to Preach in their publick Lectures and their Sermons any thing contrary to what the Reformed Churches had always Professed to be concerning Original Sin the Satisfaction of Jesus Christ and other Articles specified in the Edict of the States This is sufficient to refute the Calumny of certain zealous Contra-Remonstrants who had the Impudence publickly to accuse the States of Holland of a design to introduce into their Province the Impieties of Paulus Samosatenus which Servetus and Socinus had reviv'd in the last Ageâ—… They which compos'd this Illustious Assembly always detested the Enemys oâ—… the Divinity of Jesus Christ If severaâ—… Deputies to the States of Holland did noâ—… think themselves oblig'd to declare againsâ—… Vorstius his being call'd to the University of Leiden the Reason was because Vorstius publickly disavow'd the Opinions oâ—… Socinus The States desired him to Prinâ—â— the Declaration that he had made both in Latin and in Dutch and to send it to the King of England They Commanded him also particularly to answer all thâ—… Accusations which he had been charged with in Print and to stay at Tergow tilâ—… they were better inform'd of his reaâ—… Opinions Grotius so renown'd for his Works was then Fiscal Advocate of Holland he had a great share in what the States did with relation to these disputes This Learned Man did so abhor Socinianism Epistola Grotii 13. ad Walaeum 1611. that he declar'd that the Followers of Socinus did not deserve the Name of Christians and that he saw but little difference between a Socinian and a Mahometan Grotius afterwards did not seem to have quite so bad an Opinion of the Disciples of Socinus but yet he never espoused their Sentiments This might be clearly prov'd by abundance of Passages in his Letters and in his Works Whatsoever â—â—ey might say to stain his Reputation he â—…ill always have the Glory of having â—…etter refuted the deceitful subtilties of â—â—cinus against the Satisfaction of Jesus â—…hrist than any who have writ before â—â—m New Contests in Holland about choosing their Pastors The Wiser and more moderate Diâ—â—nes easily submitted to the Edict â—…ublish'd in 1611. Those of the Walloon Churches signaliz'd themselves upon this â—…ccasion they promis'd in their Synods 〈◊〉 1612 and 1613. to Respect as Breâ—â—ren those which maintain'd the Five â—…rticles in Dispute But the far greater â—…art of the Dutch Ministers were not so â—…ractable They had almost all took â—â—e Side or other in this Quarrel they â—…hich were for the Contra-Remonstrants â—â—claim'd against the Edict they acâ—â—s'd the States of Holland of a base Conâ—…escention to Men whose Doctrine tendâ—â— to re-establish Popery Grotius Oratione habità in Senatu Amstelodamensi Epist 18. ad Uytenbogardum 1613. or at least to â—â—troduce Socinianism into the Reformed â—…hurches In the Year 1612. there aâ—â—se a business which occasion'd a new â—…ontest the Remonstrants complained â—â—at their Adversaries were more numeâ—â—us in their Synods and certain Assemâ—â—ies which are called Classes in the Vniâ—â—d Provinces and which the Reformed 〈◊〉 France call Colloques they complain'd â—â—at it often happen'd that they refused 〈◊〉 admit to the Ministry those which â—…eclar'd for the Doctrine of the Five Articles upon this and some other considerations Barnevelt proposed in the Assembly of the States of Holland the Revival of a Law made in the Year 1591. concerning the manner of choosing the Pastors of the Church It seems that at the beginning of the Reformation in Holland Grotius Apologeticus eorum qui Hollandia praefuerunt Cap. VII William Prince of Orange and the States of Holland had a design to make a Law that the Election of the Ministers should belong to the Magistrates of the Places but the Clergy had Wit enough to baffle this Project A National Synod Convened at the Hague in 1586. Ordered that the Pastors should be chosen by the Consistory that they would do the Magistrates the Honour of giving them notice of the Election and of asking them whether they found any fault with the Manners or the Doctrine of the Person chosen The Decree of the Synod overturn'd the Right of Patronage Established in Holland a long time before the Reformation which the States and Gentlemen of that Country endeavour'd to retain as well as many other Reformed Provinces Far from approving this Order the States of Holland published an Edict the same Year by which they declar'd that their Intention was to reserve to themselves and to the Gentlemen the Right of Patronage upon Condition that they who are Named by the Patrons should not be received into the Ministry but after an exact Information of their good Manners and of their sound Doctrine Neither did the States of Zealand observe this Canon of the National Synod at the Hague In the Year 1591. They Convene'd a particular Synod of their own Province 'T was there Decreed that the Consistory should desire the Magistrates of the respective Places to Name certain Persons from amongst themselves who should proceed Jointly with the Consistory in the Election of their Ministers In Holland there almost every day arose some dispute when there was a Vacant Church to be provided for the Consistory maintain'd that this priviledge belonged solely to them The Magistrates and the Gentlemen endeavour'd to
both Conde would have had them removed from Court if he could have had any advantage against them and the Duke de Guise would have done his endeavour to have remov'd them as soon as he should have been at the head of the King's Army The Duke d'Epernon angry that his advice to oppose the Malecontents with an open force was not followed resolved not to assist at any Treaties which they should afterwards hold with the Prince and the united Lords where the King was to buy of his Subjects a short liv'd Peace at a shameful Rate The Circular Letter of the Regent upon Retreat of the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party When the Duke de Vantadour and Boissise were gone to the Prince de Conde in Berri the Regent wrote a Circular Letters dated the 13th February to all the Parlements of the Kingdom to the Governors of Provinces and other Places to the Provost of the Merchants to the Mayors and Sheriffs of the Cities to exhort them to remain faithful to the King and not suffer themselves to be surpriz'd by the Prince de Conde and his Party If you will believe Mary de Medicis Mercure Francoise 1614. These Gentlemen had no just ground of Complaint neither with relation to their own private Interest nor to the Administration of the publick Affairs Her Majesty had Treated this Prince and those Lords with all the Respect imaginable she had heap'd as many Favours on them as they could reasonably desire and had taken no Step of any consequence without their Advice The Kingdom was in as flourishing and quiet a Condition the Dignity of the Crown of France as well Supported the People as easie and happy as ever To write the History of a Reign from Manifesto's from prefaces of Edicts and Declarations from Letters and other Papers published under the King's Name is to have but very bad Authority for what one writes In the mean time to amuse the People with the hopes of a better Government the Regent declared in a Letter that her Majesty resolv'd to call as they speak in France an Assembly des Notables of all Orders in the Kingdom in which they should consult together for the publick Welfare The Duke de Nevers seizes on the Cittadel de Mezieres in Champagne Ventadour and Boissise had Intelligence upon the Road that the Prince de Conde was gone from Chateauroux and designed â—…o pass the Loir accompanied by 30 or â—…o Horse They sent one of their Comâ—…any to inform him of their Commissiâ—â— and to know where they might meet â—â—m Mercure Francoise 1614. Conde refused to receive the King's â—…eputies and went immediately into â—…hampagne where the Duke de Nevers â—â—ceived him The Prince was immediâ—…ely Conducted to Chalons from thence â—â—vers and he went to Mezieres Descuâ—…es Commanded there in the absence of â—â—e Marquiss de la Vieuville There â—â—ing a good understanding between him and the Duke de Nevers Descuroles made as if he would shut the Gates of the Cittadel and defend it according to the Order which he had received from Vieuville But the Prince and the Duke de Nevers threatning to attack it if he did not shew express Orders from her Majesty to Resist them Descuroles received the Prince and Duke into the Place Nevers wrote afterwards to the Queen to complain of the Marquiss of Vieuville to desire that Justice might be done him for the resistance that had been made him who was the Governor of the Province Was not this to Affront the Queen under pretence of paying I know not what respect to the Majesty of a Sovereign The Prince de Conde wrote to the Regent a Letter in Form of a Mà nifesto Mercure Francois 1614. The Prince de Conde the Dukes de Nevers de Maìenne de Longueville and some others of the chief of the Party being met at Mezieres Conde wrote a long Letter to the Queen in form of a Manifesto He expresseth there an extraordinary Zeal for the publick Good and offers to Restore the Pensions and Gratifications which he had Received from the King to her Majesty's hand when all the States shall be assembled and Act with entire Liberty In a Word he speaks much like the Ancient Greeks and Romans of whose Impartial Justice we read of in History If he had a mind to impose upon the World he should have taken care that his Actions did not contradict his Words In truth the Complaints which the Prince de Conde and those of his Party made concerning the wasting of the Treasury the giving the highest Employments to People unworthy of them the too great Authority of the Ministers the little Respect that was paid to the Princes and Peers of the Realm the Officers of the Crown the Obstacles which the Parlement found in exercising of their Power the Ruine of the Nobles the excessive Price of the Places of Judicature the Oppression of the People neglecting to Assemble the States of the Kingdom the Haste with which they had concluded the Marriage of the King before his Majority all these Complaints I say were well founded In the mean time what ever Protestations the Prince of Conde made that he had no other design but to procure an effectual Remedy for these heavy Grievances yet the World could never firmly believe the integrity of his Intentions nor the sincerity of his Words He added to these Three or Four Demands which were not less Reasonable the Assembling of the States of the Kingdom within Three months at farthest the Suspending the Marriage of the King and his Sister till after the sitting of the States and the placing near her Majesty Persons of known Honesty and Integrity Conde at the same time wrote to the Prince of Conti his Uncle to the Dukes Peers and Officers of the Crown to the Parlements to Cardinals and he sent them a Copy of the Letter he had sent to the Queen In that to the Parlement of Paris he Stiled them the Chief Guardian of the Kingdom He was willing to give them an account of his Actions he desired their Advice and Concurrence in this Laudable undertaking of his to Reform the Government Thus it is that Kings and Princes and great Lords have used to play with a Senate The weakness of the Parlement of Paris on this occasion the Chief Members whereof being Ambitious and Slaves to the Court take no care to maintain its Reputation and Authority When there are hopes that the Parlement of Paris will be of any use to impose upon the People they bestow upon it magnificent Titles and Treat it with the greatest Honour and Respect imaginable but when these Considerations cease they despise and ridicule it The Parlement upon this occasion gave a Proof of its Weakness They would not open the Letter which the Prince de Conde sent them Two of their Members were deputed to carry it to the Queen who sent them to the Chancellor
I should not have found fault with these grave Magistrates for not relying much upon a young Prince whose little Genius and low Conduct gave them no great hopes but what shall we say of People that pretend to be the Guardians of Kings Here we see they dare not open a Letter written by a first Prince of the Blood to complain of the ill Administration of Affairs during a Minority Our Fathers were then Born to Slavery and we have gone on in the Paths they chalkt out to us Reflections upon Cardinal Perron's answer to the Prince of Conde None of the Parlements had the Courage to Answer the Prince several Officers of the Crown sent their Letters to Court unopened some few Printed Answers I find that of Cardinal Perron seems to me to deserve some Reflection This flattering and mercenary Pen did not dare to deny that there was a great many disorders to be regulated in the Government under the Minority of Lewis XIII Mercure Francois 1614. They have been pleased to multiply them since his Minority and during the long Reign of his Son How great a Reformation is necessary now and who at this time dares to Demand it One of the Ancients said the Cardinal hath wisely said that there is no Prince so bad but that he is better than a Civil War And thus we may say of the Government of Kingdoms that there is no Administration let it be what it will but it is better than Civil Discord Whether the Author who laid down this Maxim be a Greek or Latin one it is all one to us if we take it in its utmost Extent it tends only to Establish Tyranny in the World Would it be better to endure all the extravagancies and Bloody cruelties of a Caligula and Nero than to take Arms to Resist such abominable Monsters If any say that these two never had their like I will grant it But they that follow too near the Politicks of Philip II. of Spain and Charles IX of France will find some there like them Is it not lawful to defend one's Life and Liberty against such Tyrants I confess t is often better to bear the inconvenience of a bad Prince to a certain degree than to raise a Civil War A good Prince is a great Rarity The World would never be in Peace if it were lawful to take Arms as soon as a Prince ceases in all Instances perfectly to do his Duty But that a King who loads his Subjects with heavy Taxes to Indulge a boundless Luxury and Ambition who Sacrifices without Remorse the lives of a million of Men to his Vast and Unrighteous designs who Ruins at pleasure the Nobles of his Country who overthrow's the Priviledges of Princes and Great Noble-Men who Orders that his Edicts how contrary soever to the publick Good shall be Registred before there can be any Remonstrances made who shuts up the mouths of Parliaments who Banishes and Imprisons without any legal Process those who testifie their dislike of his Usurpations upon his Subjects and his Neighbours who abolishes without all Reason the most sacred and inviolable Laws who thinks it meritorious to make a million of Men miserable because they won't renounce a Religion which I may say they have had the liberty to be Born and Bred up in who does his utmost to enslave a Nation which has been always Free that such a Prince as I describe is better than a Civil War undertaken and carried on with wisdom and discretion so that one might hope for some redress of those miseries which would be but increased by patiently enduring of them this is the thing the Cardinal du Perron will never persuade Men of Sense to believe with all his Skill and Rhetorick Answer of Mary de Medicis to the Prince of Conde Mercure Francoise 1614. Mary de Medicis returned a large Answer to the Prince de Conde in Form likewise of a Manifesto to clear her self from his Imputations and to shew the irregularity of his Conduct who accus'd her If her Majesty does not make the best Defence with respect to some Articles yet with respect to others she gives good Answers enough The greatest number of those Disorders which the Prince Complains of began before the Regency The Avarice of Conde himself and of the Lords put her under a necessity of wasting the Treasure which had been heap'd up by the late King They increased the number of Malecontents form'd Cabals threatned to Rise So that she was obliged continually to give them Money to appease some to retain others To what purpose did the Prince begin to Complain now in the Fourth Year of a Regence which was now expiring Had he not done much better to have employed that Reputation and Authority which the Quality of first Prince of the Blood gave him in endeavouring to Establish a good Council and to regulate the Administration of Affairs But instead of applying himself to that which was of absolute necessity he spent his time in Intrigues to remove one or prefer another His irresolution and mildness of Temper made him a Cully to all the Factions that were on Foot at Court during the Minority of Lewis the XIII Nevertheless Mary de Medicis fearing lest the Prince should strengthen his Party by reason of the general Discontent of Men of all Ranks through the Kingdom Judged that the surest way to allay the begun Heats and Animosities was to promise in her Answer to the Prince of Conde an Assembly of the States of the Kingdom in order to redress every thing which they Complained of This experiment succeeded well The Faction of the Prince was weakned and her Majesty took Care that the Assembly of the States should not entirely answer their Expecttations But she did not so far rely on the way of Negociation resolv'd on in Council nor upon the assurances of the Mareschal de Bovillon that she had no thoughts of having an Army ready to Fight the Prince of Conde Mary de Medicis raises Six thousand Swisses in case they refused the advantageous accommodation which was proposed to them by the President of Thou whom the Queen sent for that purpose into Champagne This Magistrate whose integrity and ability the Princes and great Lords had a Respect for had a Conference with them at Soisson in which he endeavoured to adjust the matters in dispute between them and the Queen To secure herself against the Fears of the Malecontents it was resolv'd to send away the Colonel Galatis into Switzerland to raise Six thousand Men of his own Nation But the Duke of Rohan who was made Colonel General of the Swisses by the late K. was suspected by the Queen She did not dare to trust him with a Body of Troops in which the chief strength of the King's Army was to consist Mary de Medicis she thought convenient to make another Colonel General of the Swisses in the Room of the Duke of Rohan and to give him
de Coeuvres was informed before his departure from Italy that the Prince of Conde and the Regent were upon the point of Agreement This News unravelled the Designs of the Duke of Savoy He flatterr'd himself he should have time to make good his pretensions to Monferrat in spight of the King of Spain whilst his Catholick Majesty should be busied in Supporting the Authority of Mary de Medicis shaken by a Civil War rais'd by the Prince of Conde in France The Treaty which the Regent was about to Conclude at St. Meneboud in Champagne Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis with the Malecontents was not so Binding but that the Prince de Conde held still a great Correspondence with Savoy Mercure Francois 1614. and there was still great Confusions in France These Considerations gave Charles Emanuel some hopes of being in a Condition to make the Governor of Milan know that his Catholick Majesty was not powerful enough to be absolute Master of all the Affairs in Italy Before we relate this new Quarrel which the Duke of Savoy had with the Marquiss of Inojosa or rather with the Court of Madrid it is necessary to look back on the Course of the Affairs in France and to give an account of the Negociation of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King of France with the Prince of Conde and the Lords of his Party at the Conference of Soissons The latter came thither attended by Six or Seven hundred Horse and Four thousand Foot The Duke de Mayenne Governor of the Isle of France had put a strong Garrison into Soissons for the Security of the Prince and the Lords that came with him The 14th April they assembled in the Castle of Soissons After the Prince of Conde and the Malecontented Lords had protested that they had no other Design but to Serve his Majesty and to secure the Peace of France they desired Three things of the Regent that the States of the Kingdom should be Conven'd as soon as possible that the double Marriage with Spain should be Superseded and that both Sides should lay down their Arms. Hitherto things went very smoothly they pretended to design nothing but the publick Good But they reserv'd a Power to Treat not only concerning the Liberty and Security of the Assembly of the States of the Kingdom but also concerning the particular Interests of each of the Lords The Convocation of the States were granted without any difficulty The Regent had offered that in her Answer to the Prince de Conde's Manifesto There was a dispute about the Second Article They demanded a Suspention of the double Marriage till the End of the Assembly of the States The Commissioners of the Court had only Orders to grant it till the Majority of the King And to save the Authority of the Regent in an Affair which she had Negociated and solemnly Concluded with Spain the Court would not allow that this Article should be inserted in the publick Treaty They offered a particular Letter of the Regent to the Prince in which her Majesty would engage her self to defer the double Marriage till the Majority of the King The thing was accepted of with this modification There was only a formality wanting The day appointed for the opening of the Assembly of the States falling out before the Majority the double Marriage could not be Celebrated before the end thereof The Prince de Conde retires from Soissons and goes into Champagne The proposals which the Prince de Conde and the Lords of his Party made with Relation to their particular Interests raised great disputes in the Council of Mary de Medicis under a pretence of providing for their own Security The Prince and the other Malecontents demanded that they would put some important Place into their Hands and grant them several things for their own convenience 'T was necessary to send Couriers to Court Memoirs de Bassompierre Mercure Francois 1614. and to receive Instructions concerning these Affairs Thus the King's Army gained time to reinforce it self considerably Galati brought Six thousand Swisses which he had Commission to Levy Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Medicis Bassompierre their New Collonel General went to receive them at Troies in Champagne from thence he Conducted them to Vitri where Praslain was gathering together the King's Army These motions made the Prince de Conde Jealous who immediately left Soissons He had written to the Queen before to thank her for the Three Articles which she had consented too and to Advertise her Majesty that the Duke de Maierne and the Mareschal de Bovillon remained at Soissons with full power to Treat of those other Conditions which his Highness and the Lords of the Party had demanded Conde had a mind to seize Vitri with his little Army which he led towards Sedan But the Kings Troops prevented him He made amends for this by assisting the Duke of Nevers to make himself Master of St. Menehoud When the particular Demands of the Prince and the Malecontented Lords were proposed in the Queen's Council their Opinions were divided The Dukes de Guise d' Epernon de Bellegarde The Regents Council divided about the demands which the P. of Conde the Malecontents make with relation to their particular Interests the Cardinal de Joieuse and Villeroi Secretary of State cried out upon them as unworthy Conditions which the Queen could not grant with Honour and without parting with too much of her Authority Guise and Epernon said boldly that if the Regent granted Places of Security to their Enemies they likewise would demand the same and that they would look for Assistance out of the Kingdom This was plainly to threaten Siri Meme recondite Tom. III. p. 238 239 c. that they would join themselves with the Crown of Spain This appeared so much the more a contriv'd Design because the Ministers of Philip declar'd that the King their Master would not send the Infanta his Daughter into France as long as the Enemies of the House of Austria were there the Strongest Mary de Medicis began to be shaken by their Reasons who were of Opinion that she should suppress the Prince of Conde by Force The Parliaments the greater part of the military Officers in a word almost the whole Kingdom were at her Majesties disposal The Hugonots did not Rise only the Duke of Rohan was perhaps tempted to join with the Prince of Conde But Rohan did not eare to embark himself without having a prospect what was like to be the Success However 't was easie to stop him by giving some Satisfaction to the Reformed Churches concerning the Edicts of Pacification and above all in not accepting the assistance which the King of Spain offer'd and of which the Regent had no need Her Majesty did not want Money she had a good Army Conde and the Lords of his Party lying in the extreame parts of
they were sure of a speedy Convention of the States The well-meaning Men would have endeavoured at a Reformation of the Government if they had been better Seconded and the Prince of Conde had had more Wisdom and Sincerity A Treaty concluded at St. Menehoud between the Regent and the Prince of Conde He concluded at last his Treaty with the Regent at St. Menehoud in Champagne the 15th of May. The Duke de Ventadour and his Colleagues were there I will not recite all the Articles The Castle of Amboise was to be put into the Prince's hands until the meeting of the States The Duke de Nevers had St. Menehoud Mercure Francoise 1614. Memoires de Duc de Rohan de la Regence de Marie de Medicis say some Authors thô it is not mentioned in the Treaty These gave him besides a Sum of Money to satisfie him for pulling down his House to make way for the Fortifications of Mezieres which were part of them to be demolished Blavet and the other Places that were Fortified a little before in Bretagne by the Duke de Vendome being Dismantled He was restored to his Government and all his Places This was all that was agreed upon for Vendom He highly complained that the Prince oâ—… Conde had abandoned him in this Negociation As for the Mareschal de Bovillon it was easie to satisfie him The Money which the Regent Ordered to be paid him was thought by him a sufficient Recompence See said the Duke of Rohan who had more Integrity in him than all the rest that made such a noise see saith he how Mens private Interest make them forget the publick welfare of the Kingdom The Prince de Conde the Dukes de Nevers de Longueville de Maienne and the Mareschal de Bovillon who signed the Treaty very readily performed their Conditions Mary de Medicis was not less punctual of her Side The Dukes de Longueville and de Maienne were the first that return'd to Court Conde retired to his House of Vallery where Descures Governor of Amboise went to resign that Place into his hands His Highness came sometime after to pay his Devoirs to their Majesties That Restless Temper that was Natural to him would not suffer him to stay long at Court. Being vext that his late Design had lessened the Respect due to his high Quality instead of increasing it as he had flattered himself it would This Prince was again tempted to raise new Troubles before the meeting of the States But having taken no better Measures than he did before he was forced to let the Regent alone who was endeavouring to reduce the Duke de Vendom who refused to agree to the Treaty of St. Menehoud The Decree of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Suarez the Jesuit Mercure Francoise 1614. It is a great while since we have had occasion to speak of the Jesuits But we shall now see them appear again upon the Stage upon the account of a Book published by Suarez a famous Divine of that Society in Spain The Book is Intituled The Defence of the Catholick and Apostolick Faith against the Errors of the English Hereticks There are always a certain sort of Men at Paris who narrowly observe all the Actions of these Good Fathers and will not forgive-them if they do amiss This new Book of Suarez being come to France Abstracts of it were presently made and brought to the King's Officers in the Parliament of Paris The Sollicitor General look'd upon it as a Book so dangerous that he thought it his Duty to desire the Condemnation of it The Parliament met upon the 26th of June and Condemn'd the Book to be burnt by the Hands of the Common Hangman as containing Seditious Principles tending to the Subversion of Kingdoms and to perswade the Subjects of Kings and Princes to attempt their Sacred Persons They ordered besides That certain former Decrees of the Faculty of Paris which condemn'd the Doctrine of Suarez should be Read every year on the 4th day of June not only in thâ—… Schools of Sorbonne but also in those in the Colledge of Clermont and of the Mendicant Friers The greatest mortification to the Society was this that the Parlement Decreed that the Fathers Armand the Rector of the Society Cotton the late King's Confessor Fronton le Duc and Sirmond two Persons very famous for their Learning should appear the next day before the Parlement When they came thither the first President told them in the Name of the Court that the Book of Suarez their Brother Jesuit was contrary to a Declaration they had made and to a Decree of their General in the Year 1610. They commanded them afterward to write to Rome for a Revival and Publication of that Decree and to get from thence an Order in Six Months to prevent the Members of that Society from writing any more in their Books such damnable and pernicious Doctrine and to Command them to Preach to the People Doctrines contrary to those of Suarez or else the Parlement would proceed against such Offenders as Guilty of High Treason and disturbers of the publick Peace Paul V. complains of the proceedings of the parlement against Suarez his Book The Court of France foresaw very well that the Proceedings of the Parlement of Paris against the Book of Suarez would make a great noise at Rome for indeed the Book was writ by Order of the Pope But the Regent to whom the Parlement had been very Serviceable in the Affair of the Prince of Conde would not oppose their Zeal which they expressed against these pernicious Opinions Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 256 257. 270. Her Majesty had more need than ever to keep fair with the Parlement by reason of the approaching Assembly of the States As soon as Paul V. had notice of the Decree of the Parlement against Suarez his Book he sent the Bishop of Foligni to the Marquiss of Trenel who succeeded Breves in his Embassy at Rome This Prelate had Orders to complain in the Name of the Pope of the proceedings of the Magistrates of Paris by which they Encroached on the Rights of the Holy See His Holiness said he to the Ambassadour is the more surpriz'd because he expected nothing less than a grateful acknowledgement of his kindness to the Queen of France Her Majesty cannot be Ignorant of that Affection that he has always shewed to her and the King her Son All the World is witness of that Zeal which his Holiness has discovered for the prosperity of France T is not long since he offered his good Offices to the Queen to appease the Troubles of the Kingdom And they are no sooner ended but the Parlement of Paris makes a Decree injurious to the Holy See If Suarezs Book contains any Positions contrary to the Sovereignty of the most Christian King her Majesty might have complained to the Pope He would have censur'd the Doctrine of the Author and
imbrace one of the most pernicious Heresies that ever was Upon this Ridiculous Foundation Paul V. would never be satisfied with the Declaration of the King he always demanded with Arrogâ—…nce and Threats that the Decree should be legally Revoked The K. is at length obliged to suspend the Execution of the Decree of Parlement They were forc'd to use humble intreaties that the Execution of the Decree should be suspended Poor Mary de Medicis had in all her Son's consent to give this satisfaction to Paul V. There was no necessity of such a base compliance with the Pope whose Threatnings were but mere Rhodomontadoes What could he have done if the Court had resisted him The general Assembly of the States were Sitting They zealously demanded that the Doctrines of Swarez and such like should be declared heretical and pernicious If the fierce Borghese had thought fit to throw out his thundering Anathemas they would have been as much despis'd in France as they were sometime before in Venice All the Kingdom except a few Monks and Eccle iasticks would have oppos'd him But it is not only now that France makes a great noise against the arrogant pretensions of the Pope and at last basely comply Lewis XIV in the height of his Power hath made a more shameful Submission than his Father did when he but just entred into his Majority He published Declarations to maintain his Sovereign Power The Archbishops spoke more boldly than ever The Ambassadors and Ministers of France insulted the Pope even in the Vatican To what did these appeals to a Council and the other proceedings of the Parlement against the Court of Rome come to To sacrifie to the Pope the honour of the Clergy who did nothing without the express Order of his Majesty Divisions at the Court of France Mary de Medicis had more troublesome affairs to settle than that of Rome occasioned by the Condemnation of Suarez's Book by the Parlement of Paris The Mareschal d'Ancre and the Ministers of State were always Quarrelling with one another There had been endeavours used the Year before to reconcile them The Marquiss de Coeuvres did all he could to effect it One would have thought that the marriage between the Marquiss de Villeroi the Secretary of State 's Grandson and Conchini's Daughter might have produced an Agreement which had been endeavour'd with so much Care But whether it were that he being advanced to one of the first Dignities of the Kingdom imagin'd that an Alliance with Villeroi was not sufficient for him who reacht at all or whether Dole the Marescal's Confident and Villeroi's secret Enemy who accused him of having broken his word in not getting him some preferment which he had promised him did continually create Jealousies between them or in fine whether there were some other secret Cause which we are not acquainted with the Mareschal d' Ancre and Villeroy were greater Enemies than ever And besides the Chancellor de Silleri and the Secretary of State professed an open hatred one to another There seem'd to be a necessity that either the one or the other should leave the Court. Silleri had the advantage of him because he was supported by Conchini All these Divisions were hindrances to the Affairs of the Regent Her Ministers and her Favourites had each their Friends and Enemies at Court and in the Prince of Conde's Party which they would favour or otherwise according as they thought it tended most to the Establishment of their own Fortune The Duke of Vendome refuses to consent to the Treaty of St. Menehoud There was yet another thing which was vexatious to the Regent Caesar Duke of Vendome was very unquiet in his Government of Britagne Taking it ill that the Prince of Conde had too much neglected him in the Treaty of St. Menehoud he refused to stand to their Agreements with relation to himself But Caesar was not strong enough to maintain the War alone in Britagne The principal Towns and the Parlement declared for the Court Not knowing how to render himself more formidable and to obtain better Conditions of the Queen be thought it his best Course to try the Duke of Rohan La Roch-Gifart a Gentleman of Britagne and of the Reformed Religion undertook to go to St. Jean d'Angeli and in Caesar's Name to make the greatest promises imaginable in favour of the Reformed upon Condition he would join with the Duke of Vendome Rohan answered that he was very sorry that Caesar's Interest had been no better provided for in the Treaty of St. Menehoud but that in the present Conjuncture the Duke of Vendome ought not to discover his concern but that 't was his best way to come to a speedy Agreement with the Queen He is not in a Condition to resist added Rohan what will he do if the Court undertakes to reduce him by Force Thus he will be Ruined without Remedy The Duke of Rohan himself had not Interest enough in the Huguenot Party to make them Rise as the Duke of Vendome imagined Rohan had made an Essay to call a general Convocation of those of the Religion at Tonneins in Gascogne where they were to hold at the same time a National Synode I cant tell whether the Duke intended to take any Resolution there in favour of the Prince of Conde and the discontented Lords The wisdom of du Plessis Nornai But du Plessis Mornai who had no mind that the Reformed should engage themselves in an ill contrived Civil War prevented it The Convocation which the Council of the Reformed of the lower Guienne had called at the sollicitation of the Duke of Rohan was judged unlawful and the National Synod by the advice of the Wise and Religious du Plessis refused to have any hand in Politick affairs The King of England always inclined to interest himself in Disputes of Divinity and to neglect his great Duty had writ to this Assembly upon occasion of a difference between du Moulin and Tilenus both Professors at Sedan concerning the Hypostatical Union The Synod judged that 't was the best way to let fall a Controversie between Two Divines that disputed only for want of understanding one another They desired du Plessis to reconcile them He accepted the Commission and succeeded Let one turn over never so much both Ancient and Modern History I question whether one should find his equal Being alike versed in Learning and the Affairs of the World he defends by Religion he discusses the most difficult Points of Divinity supports the Reformed Churches by his Prudence Negociates the most troublesome Affairs gives good Advice to Ministers of State Princes and Kings themselves who heard him with pleasure Marie de Medicis saends the Marquiss de Coeuvres to move him to an accommodation The Regent being resolved to avoid War as much as possible sent into Britagne the Marquiss de Coeuvres lately arrived from his Embassy in Italy to reclaim the Duke de Vendome Coeuvres
would willingly have excused himself but he was forc'd to obey He was afraid that his Enemies procur'd him this troublesome Commission that so he might fall out with the Queen and the Duke Memoires de Mary de Medicis whose near Kinsman he was by the Side of the famous Gabriel d' Etrees The Marquiss at first made no Impression on him only brought some Complaints of the Dukes de Vendome Retz who thought that the Treaty of St. Menehoud was injurious to him Mary de Medicis ordered him to Return and to tell the Duke de Vendome that her Majesty would not Demolish the new Fortifications of Blevet provided he would let the Garrison March out and suffer Swisses to be sent in their Room Mercure Francois 1614. Vendome Subscrib'd this and some other Conditions which were offered him The King and the Queen his Mother advanc'd towards Orleans with a design to pass the Loire and to go into Poìtou and Bretagne The Marquiss de Coeuvres made a Third Journey into Britagne He Garrisoned Blevet with the Swisse And the Duke de Vendome having laid down his Arms was re-established in his Government by Letters Patents from her Majesty dated at O leans the 14th July New Discontents of the Prince of Conde The Prince of Conde was come to take Possession of his new Government of Amboise He there observed that the Court had not granted him any thing considerable and that he should reap no great advantage from that Place of Security which he had Demanded with so much Earnestness Discontent seizes him he seeks for new Occasions for falling out Vie de Mr. du Plessis Liv III. he endeavours to render himself formidable to the Regent Accordingly he goes to find out du Plessis Mornay at Saumur and has a meeting with the Duke of Rohan at Roche des Aubiers in Anjou He thought if he could have at his Devotion those Two Men who had the greatest Reputation in the Reformed Churches in France that all the Huguenot Party would Declare for him upon the first oportunity The Prince affected to discover a great Confidence in du Plessis Mornai He endeavoured to justifie his Retreat from Court and his Enterprise against the Regent he told him his pretended Designs in desiring a Convocation of the States of the Kingdom and how it was the likeliest way to promote the Reformation of Abuses he desired du Plessis Mornai to give him his Advice freely This experinc'd Gentleman knew very well what Conde was able to do He exhorted him only in general Terms to preserve the Peace of the Kingdom to take those measures which were most agreeable to the welfare thereof whose present Condition could not bear violent Remedies to manage Affairs in concert with the Queen lest a misunderstanding between them should hinder that good success of the next Assembly of the States lastly to listen to the Advice of the most wise and understanding Persons with relation to the rectifying such Abuses which the present posture of Affairs would admit of When Conde saw that du Plessis was not so easily to be perswaded he pretended to take in good part the Counsels which he gave him He desired du Plessis to prepare a Memorial of those things which were necessary to be done in the Assembly of the States But his Highness who did not care for such wise Remonstrances and so contrary to his Inclinations went immediately to la Roche des Aubiers where Rohan and Soubize expected him The Prince made great Complaints of the Mareschal de Bovillon 'T is he The Interview of the P. de Conde and D. de Rohan said he who hath drawn off the principal Men from my Party He hath endeavoured to make his advantage of every thing If the â—…est had testified as good an Affection for me as the Duke de Nevers I should not have been forc'd to so suddain an Accommodation with the Court I know very well that you have the same reason to Complain that I would have Engaged you in the Treaty when it was almost Concluded 't was none of my design to be so hasty But how could I help it The Mareschal de Bovillon deceived me Thanks be to God there is yet some Remedy left us I shall have a powerful and numerous Party in the Assembly of the States The great Men of the Kingdom in Conjunction with my self will be able to oblige the Queen to change her Conduct It will be easie to set Bounds to her Authority and to make Considerable Alterations in the Administration of Affairs If the Queen absolutely refuses to grant our desires we shall have a fair pretence to Arms. We are never without Malecontents in France There is a great number of Gentlemen and Soldiers ready to Declare themselves Althô the Duke de Rohan had other Principles than du Plessis Mornai and his displeasure against the Court inclined him to a violent Resolution yet he had the Prudence not to Engage himself with the Prince de Conde He only remonstrated to his Highness that he ought not to depend so much on the States of the Kingdom The Queen will have more Authority there than you added he Those which you reckon upon at present will leave you instead of Supporting you Fear and Hope are the Two great Springs which move the Members of these Assemblies You are not in a Condition to promise them great matters nor to fright them by Menaces The Queen has Preferments and Places to dispose of she can do a great deal of mischief to those that oppose her Will. Who is there that will Declare openly for you against her Majesty Believe it Sir the States General will oppose your Designs Conde seeing that this Interview did not at all incourage his new Projects he was afraid that his Discourses with the Duke of Rohan should raise some Jealousie in the Regent He writ immediately to the President Jeannin to tell him that his Discourse with the Duke of Rohan only tended to hinder him from joining with the Duke de Vendome What meanness what shameful Artifices are these for Men of high Birth Was it necessary that Conde to excuse himself to the Court should render the Duke of Rohan suspected that he held Intelligence with the Duke of Vendome The Prince knew that Rohan had advised Vendome to consent to the Treaty at St. Menehoud Rohan told Conde this who appear'd very well pleas'd that he had given this Advice to a young Man who was like to Ruine himself The Prince of Conde designs to make himself Master of Poitiers The Prince de Conde had yet another Design in his head He thought to make himself Master of Poitiers The Duke de Roannez Governor of the City favoured his Design and the Marquiss de Bonnivet was to assemble the Gentlemen to serve this purpose The time for choosing the Mayor was at hand there were a great many Factions in the Town Roannez and some other
to represent to you further Madam that they put you to needless Expences to gain certain Persons of our Religion We know who those mercenary Souls are They deceive your Majesty who tell you that they can he Serviceable to you I can tell you a far less Chargeable way to have all the Reformed at your Devotion That is to give Orders that all Promises made to us be performed our Griâ—…vances be redressed some ambiguous Expressions in the Edicts be more favourably Interpreted and some things be granted us which may secure the Peace of our Churches and do no great Injury to the Roman Catholicks The ardent and sincere Zeal which I have for your Majesty makes me speak against my self Pursue the Method which I take the liberty to propose you may take away when you please our Offices and Pensions Our Churches living peaceably under his Majesty's Protection will never concern themselves in my favour or for any of the Lords of the Kingdom This Advice was generous and worthy of a truly Christian Gentleman It might have had some good Effect upon such as had no other design but to preserve Peace in the Kingdom by doing Justice and perhaps some small gratification to the Reformed But they were resolved to Ruine them and to effect a design long since contrived and pursued For almost an Age together the Court could not take more convenient Measures than the corrupting of those who had any Credit or Authority in the Reformed Church The ambition and avarice of the Lords and a great number of Hugonot Gentlemen has done more mischief to the Religion than the haâ—…red of the Pope and his Clergy or the Zeal of the blind and superstitious Kings and Queens of France If the Dukes and Peers the Mareschals of France the Lords and Gentlemen of Note had had as much Religion and Probity as du Plessis Mornai I question whether the Son of him whose History I write would ever have ventured to attempt the overthrow of the Reformed Churches of his Kingdom The Posterity of a corrupted Gentry who had no great Concern for their Religion does at this day bewail the fatal Consequences of the Baseness of their Ancestors The Regent received at Tours The K. and Q. his Mother go to Poitiers Letters from the Duke of Maienne He informed her that the Prince de Conde was retired to Chateauroux and that he defired at the present no Reparation of the Injury Mercure Francois 1614. which he had complained had been done him at Poitiers It was wisely done to seem to neglect an Offence for which the Court would never have granted him the Satisfaction which he expected The Bishop was too much favoured by the Queen He went boldly to Tours with Two hundred of the Inhabitants to pray their Majesty 's to come to Poitiers That day when Chataigner made appear that he understood the Office of a Captain better than that of a Bishop was in his Opinion the day of the preservation of Poitiers Their Majesties went thither They were Received with all imaginable Expressions of Joy They Elected a Mayor Mazurier had Orders to remain there as Intendant Rochfort Lieutenant General for the King in that Province a-little after resigned his Office The Count de la Rochefoucaut of the Party of the Guises succeeded him They had a mind to have Poitou in their Power that they might go and Receive the Infanta of Spain when the time should come Memoires de Duc de Rohan The Duke de Rohan being admonished by Velleroi that the Queen was surprized that he did not appear at Court since she was so near to St. Jean d' Angeli came to pay his Respect to their Majesty's They received him kindly and the Regent taking all oportunities to get him near her self made him promise to be present at the meeting of the States of Bretagne which was to be held at Nantes their Majestys being present and to go afterwards to the States General which were already appointed to Meet Mary de Medicis The Q. goes to hold a meeting of the States of Bretagne at Nantes Vie de M. du Plessis Mornai Liv. III. pleas'd that every thing went according to her mind took the Road of Anger 's to go to Nantes Her Majesty had a mind to give a Proof of her Confidence in du Plessis Mornai as she passed through Saumur He went to meet the King being followed by an Hundred Gentlemen As soon as the Young Lewis had enter'd the Castle du Plessis Offer'd to make the Garrison march out But his Majesty would not permit him It is not against our Kings said the Governor that we have strong Places in our Possession they have been willing to grant them us that we may be secured against the hatred of our sworn Enemies If at any time his Majesty does the Honour to be present there Mercure Francoise 1614. we desire no other Security but his Presence The Duke de Vendome seeing their Majesties came in good Earnest towards him submitted himself They gave him New Letters of Re-establishment Memoires de Bassompierre which were Registred in the Parliament of Rennes But he had the Mortification of see that in the meeting of the States of the Province of which he was Governor they made Invectives against him and took Resolutions injurious to his Person and utterly contrary to his Interest So bad a Beginning was no good Omen for the rest of the Life of Coesar de Vendome He could never after recover his Reputation or Respect Henry IV. his Father had Married him to the Heiress of the House of Mercoeur and one of the greatest Fortunes of a Subject in Europe He wasted the great Estate which she brought him The death of the Prince de Conti. Maâ—…y de Mâ—…dicis Returned triumphantly to Paris She found there a Court deprived of a Prince of the Blood The loss was not very great Francis de Bourbon Prince de Conti who died the 13th of August made no great Figure in the World His Widow was soon Comforted after the loss of a weak Husband She was desperately in Love with Bassompierre There had passed between them that which they call Marriage before God Entragues the famous Marchioness de Vernueil's Sister and Daughter to Mary Touchet Charles IX his Mistress had commenced a Suit against Bassompierre upon the account of a Promise of Marriage which he had made her This happy Spark had Two Wives at the same time The First out of a Family more Renowned for the fine Ladies which were Married into the Family or were of it than for any of its Military Exploits the Second being the Daughter of the Duke of Guise and the Widow of a Prince of the Blood might have done Bassompierre great Honour But by an odd Accident Bassompierre would never own the one for his Lawful Wife the other never dared to make her Marraige Publick New Contests between the Princes of
was afterwards Confirmed in all its Articles in the Orders and Acts which were made and lastly in every thing that was since agreed to either in the Interpretation of it or in its Execution which they would as 't was said inviolably keep and observe After having forbid his Subjects to enter into any Leagues contrary to the Well-being of the State with foreign Princes and to receive any secret Pensions from 'em the King confirm'd his Father's Edicts against Duels and the Ordinances of his Predecessors against Swearing and Blasphemy I should not refuse to give so pious and just a Declaration in all appearance its just Praises if the Son of him who made it had not declared Solemnly that neither his Father or his Grandfather had ever any Intention to continue such an Edict which they had promised so many times to maintain as a Perpetual and Irrevocable Law How then Were these Two Kings who had the magnificent Sirnames conferred upon them of Great and Just by the Confession of their Son Men without Conscience and Probity Will Posterity ever believe a thing of this Nature As for my self I shall always preserve a better Opinion of Henry IV. and Lewis XIII I can't be persuaded that they were so bad as Lewis XIV represents them to us The K. takes his Seat of Justice in the Parlement at Paris The next Morning being the Second day of October the King went to take his Seat of Justice in the Parlement at Paris as he was going and in his Seat he was accompanied with all imaginable Pomp and Splendour Mary de Medicis made a short Discourse there Mercure Francois 1614. in which her Majesty declared That she put the Administration of Affairs into her Son's hands who for some days had been in his Majority Lewis greatly thank't his Mother and ended in declaring that he was willing that his Mother should always continue to take Care of him and Govern the State and this is what the good Princess had discreetly brought about with a great deal of diligence She preserved her Authority without making her self Responsible for what should be done hereafter Too happy If the Favourite who began already to insinuate himself into the young King had not banisht her from the Court and the Chief Minister of State whom shâ—… her self had Establisht in the place of the deceased Favourite had not drove her away out of the Kingdom Sileri Chancellour and Verdun Chief President made Speeches upon the Majority of the Kings of France Servin the Advocate General 's Discourse was more remarkable for the prudent and Religious Remonstrances he made to the young King There 's only this one thing I have to find fault with that so grave a Magistrate was himself ensnared with this base flattery which was introduc'd then into the Parlement and is since establisht there so shamefully Servin heap'd up upon Mary de Medicis excessive Praises for her Administration of the Government Amongst the good Counsels he gave Lewis with a Christian and French liberty ought he to have inserted that he should behave himself as his Mother should Advise who rather aimed at the maintaining of her Authority and the Advancement of her Creatures and Favourites than at the Instruction of her Son in Religion and Virtue and the making of his People happy and satisfied in her Administration of the Government The Ceremony ended with reading and registring a Declaration despatcht the day before Searching as carefully as 't was possible for me what regarded the History of Lewis XIII in his Minority I oftentimes wondered to find so little matter touching the young King's Education His Father had made Gilles de Souvrè his Governor But it seems that upon this occasion Henry IV. less thought of choosing a Gentleman who had the Qualities which this important Employment required than of Recompensing the faithfulness of an old Servant I can find out that Souvrè bestirr'd himself to settle his Family and procure his Son the Marquiss of Courtenvaux a considerable Office But I could never learn what he did to give Lewis a Royal Education Souvrè's Family which this Prince hath made Illustrious did not continue long after his death The Heiress carried all the Means away into another Person 's House who was a Minister of State and whose Father of an obscure Birth was advanc'd to the chief Dignity of the long Robe Memoires de la Regence de Maried Medicis Melanges d'Histoire de Litte-rature par Vigneul-Marville Vanquelin des Ivetaux was the King's first Tutour A Person of Quality whose Memoires we have saith that Vanquelin was a Man of great Merit and very capable to Instruct a Prince But the Character which a Modern Author gives us of the exâ—â—vagant and romantick Amours and of the Epicurean Life and Death of this Man is a certain proof that Henry IV. did not well distinguish Men of Worth The Cardinal Perron used many Intrigues to get his Brother into the place of being his Tutour He offered himself to take the care and directions of the Dauphin's Studies Yet Henry IV. of his own Inclination chose Vanquelin He did not long continue in the Employment The envy and jealousie of some caused him to be removed from it in a years time after the death of Henry IV. Nicholas le Fevre succeeded him This was a Person noted for his Knowledge and Piety The late King had sent him to the Prince of Conde who was willing to Recompense le Fevre in being a means to procure Vanquelin's place in which he behaved himself with much approbation Le Fevre died the year after and Fleurance Rivant an able Mathematician as 't is said rose from the Office of being Sub-Tutour to be Tutour in Chief A Youth who passeth through so many different hands doth not usually become a Man of Abilities Bernard Historie de Louis XIII Liv. 1. Lewis XIII learnt very little Latin Falconry and the exercise of Hunting pleased him more than Study he lookt very well after Hawks and became in Hunting the greatest Rider in his Kingdom His Majesty saith an Historian called to his Dogs in Perfection Had it not been much more to the purpose to have taught him how to speak to Men 'T was likewise observed that Lewis was no bad Gunner and that he very well understood Fortification These Qualifications which might be of some use to a younger Brother of the Nobility who is to seek and make out his own Fortune are not in any wise fit for a King if you except from hence understanding and knowledge in Fortifications He may for his diversion Hunt and flie his Hawks but he ought to Employ his time in something that 's better than to be expert in Falcons and Hounds I should have nothing to say against Lewis's having some knowledge in Artillery which is necessary for a King who ought to make himself capable of Commanding his Armies when the publick-good requires it But is not this ridiculous that he is suffer'd to burden his Memory with the names and use of the smallest things in Artillery They ought to have been constantly instilling into his Head Precepts useful and important to one who intends to Govern well In a Pack of Hounds he could call every one of them by their Names But t is a business more worthy of a Prince to learn the knowledge of Men to distinguish from others those who are more capable of Places of greatest Dignitiy in the State and to Reward those who are of good Use and Service to the Publick Lewis XIII had always good Inclinations and Principles in him of Virtue and Equity Courtiers dared not speak any thing of obscenity or Swear in his Presence He feared God loved Justice and was willing to do good to his People If Souvrè and others had been diligent to Instruct and Cultivate what God had given him of Judgement and Integrity they might have done considerable Service to their Prince and Country Lewis then might not have been in the unhappy necessity of leaving all to a Favourite or Minister of State who did not think of any thing but the better Establishment of their Credit and Fortunes in raising to day a Civil War and to morrow a Foreign one The End of the First Tome Books Printed for and Sold by T. 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