Breze to go thither to command in quality of Viceroy and to swear at Bâ—â—celâ—na in his Majesty's name to preserve the priviledges of the Catalonians He was already arriv'd at â—ousillon when he received orders to block up Peâ—â—â—â—â— â—o hinder any relief or Ammunition from coming into it because the King proposed to attack this place the following Campaign He seized upon alâ—â—â—â— passes and made retrenchments where he saw convenient however he could not hinder the Spaniardâ— â—â—om forcing the passage of the mountains the 2 â—iâ— of December so that he was reduced to defend himself against the insults of the Spaniards by posting his menâ—â— Angeles What most of all favour'd the French on this side was the happy success that attended the insurrection of the Porâ—â—â—â—â—ses who not only bear the Castiliaâ—â— out of their own Country but made frequent excursions in the neighbourhood with mighty advantage Castilâ— not â—eing prepared to oppose them and several Grandees as the Duke de Medina Sedonia being discoâ—â—enred at the Government and favouring the Porâ—â—gueses under-hand Their King Don John was own'd by France and all the Enemies of Spâ—ia who encoutaged him to keep the Crown on his head which he had sâ— lately gain'd The particulars of this Revolution having no relation to the life of our Câ—â—â—â—â—â— I shall therefore omit them In Gâ—â—many sâ—â—deer the Swedish General and the Count de Gâ—â—brian performed no considerable enterprize and as the * On the to oâ— â—â—aâ— â—e Pusenderâ— lib. 13. former happened to dye Leonard Toâ—â—erson took his place The Princes of Italy had new for a long â—â—ne been only spectators of what passed in Piedâ—â—ont and might have continued stâ—ll in the same tranquillity if the Barberini had not made an atâ—cropt upon the Dutchy of Castro and some other 〈◊〉 beâ—â—nging to the Duke of Parma near Rome * See Siri Merc. T. 1. lib. 3. at the beginning â—â—â—der a pretence of I know not what Rights which 't is not necessary here to set down the Papal Army entered this Dutchy in September and in October forced Castro to capitulate and on the 13th of that Month took possession of it The Duke of Parma complained of this hard usage to all the Princes of Italy but especially to the Republic of Venice and to the great Duke of Tuscany who promised to act in his behalf but had done much better if they had hindered the Barberini from stripping him of part of his territory by sending sufficient forces to this Prince when he first demanded them since 't is infinitely easier to prevent a mischief of this nature than to apply Remedies to it when 't is once done The best support which the Duke of Savoy found upon this occasion was the Mareschal d' Estrees a great Enemy to the Barberini who being recalled from his embassy at Rome stopt at Parma and offered his service to the Duke as we shall â—ind in the series of this History And this he did not engage in without the consent of the Cardinal-Duke who was no better affected to the House of Vrban VIII than the Mareschal The Marquis de Fonteny succeeded the latter in this embassy at Rome and as he had as much Plegm in his constitution as the Mareschal had Fire it was hoped that he might be able to act with more success in a Court where their negotiations are very long and require a world of patience After the Duke of Parma had received this hard Treatment the Pope fulminated an Admonition against him by which he ordered him to appear at Rome under pain of Excommunication The King of France and all Italy interceded for the Duke but the Barberini were not men to be wrought upon by perswasions so when any foreign Prince came to interpose in this affair they only paid him with fair promises In the mean time Don Thaddeo Barberini whom the Pope who doated upon his Nephews thought to be a mighty Captain made great levies of men which he sent into Lombardy and caused Forts to be built in several places of Polozin for the preservation of his new Conquests The Duke of Parma raised forces on his side to oppose one power by another and at the same time published a * See this Affair in Siri Merc T. 1. lib. 3. p. 379. â—â—re Manifesto wherein he shewed the injustice the Barberini had done him and the latter were not backward to return an answer to it To return now to the Affairs of the Cardinal The Queen Mother who had resided for some time at London was obliged to depart out of England at the private instances he made to King Charles the First This Prince being unluckily embroil'd with his own people was not in a condition to refuse any thing to Lewis XIII lest he should foment these disorders more than he had already done so that he gave his Mother-in-law to understand that she would extremely oblige him if she would leave England She desir'd to return into the Low Countries but whatever sollicitations his Majesty of Great Britain could make in her behalf the Spaniards who were dissatisfied with her former conduct would not so much as give her leave to pass through their Country Nor durst the States of the Vnited Provinces fuller her to tarry in theirs for fear of offending the Cardinal So that she was forced to go to Colon where she lived in extreme indigence till her death The Cardinal who was pleased at these mortifications which this unhappy Princess received was not sorry to see her intirely abandon'd by her Daughters and her Sons-in law Towards the end of this year he had the pleasure to understand that the Pope had made a * The 6 of December promotion of a dozen Cardinals among whom was his dear Friend and Confident Julius Mazarine for whom France had demanded a Cap. In the course of this very year wherein so many things as we have already seen contributed to strengthen and support the fortune of this Minister the new Conspiracy of the Count de Soissons against him which at first seemed powerful enough to overturn it ended as advantageously for him as he could have wished since he was delivered from one of the most formidable enemies he had 'T is what I am now going to relate in order to conclude with it the History of the Occurrences of the Year 1641. I have elsewhere observ'd that the Cardinal would have * See Siri Merc T. 1. l. 2. p 34â— c. married his Neice de Combalet to the Count de Soissons and that this Prince refused an Alliance so much below him The Minister did not drop his pretensions for all that but flatter'd himself that by ill using and disregarding the Count he should at last break his haughty Spirit As he believed that the King would never have any Children he imagined that the Heirs of the Count and his Neice might one day sit upon the Throne And he thought that by pretending
complain of the †Siri Ibid. P. 582. Succours which the Infanta and the Ministers of the Catholick King had given Monsieur and at the same time to justifie those which France gave the King of Sweden against the House of Austria Soon after the News arrived of the death of Gustavus Adolphus who was slain on the 6th of November in the Battel of Lutzen where his Army got the Victory after he was kill'd From that time it was concluded in France That if they did not more vigorously Assist the Swedes in Germany the House of Austria would soon Triumph over their Party so several Persons were dispatched thither to support it and to engage the Protestants to favour it more than ever year 1633 On the first day of the year 1633 the King held a Council upon the Affairs of Germany where the Cardinal represented to them That the first thing they were to do was to raise a good Sum of Money at what price soever and to manage matters so that the War might continue in Germany and the Low-Countries and yet not declare formally against the House of Austria upon condition that those whom they furnished with Money shou'd neither make a Peace or Truce without the Consent of France That however in case they found they were not able to carry on the War then they must come to such an Accommodation as they cou'd obtain That they ought to consider whether the King was not obliged in point of Interest rather to break openly with the House of Austria and to joyn himself with the Protestants of Germany and the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces than to run the hazard of seeing a Truce concluded which wou'd put a stop to the War in which he was not Included That if a Peace were made in Germany and a Truce in the Low-Countries or one of these onely then France wou'd be left alone by it self to support a Defensive War which might be carried into the Bowels of it and in which the Party of Monsieur and of the Queen-Mother wou'd become as powerful as they were now contemptible That on the other side if they began the War all the World wou'd believe they did it voluntarily and of their own motion although they were really drawn into it by mere necessity That the zealous who are generally very indiscreet wou'd cry out That this War was design'd for the Destruction of the Catholick Religion that His Majesty therefore ought maturely to deliberate what Measures He was to take in this juncture before he engaged Himself too far The Cardinal continued his Discourse and observed That if they design'd to Unite with the Protestants of Germany and to declare for them they cou'd not do it but upon the following Conditions That they should maintain the Catholick Religion in those places where it was already setled that they should deliver up to the King all that they held on this side the Rhine the Principal Towns of the Palatinate with what they possessed in Alsatia and in the Bishoprick of Strasburg that they should help him to take Philipsburg and Brisac and that they should be obliged to enter into no Peace or Truce without the King's Consent that they must obtain a Promise of the States-General of the Vnited Provinces to preserve the Catholick Religion in those Conquests they shou'd happen to make that they must likewise in conjunction attack the Maritime Towns upon condition that whatever they took shou'd belong to the King that the Protestants shou'd demand nothing more of France than onely to break with the House of Austria either in Germany or Flanders or in Italy and to keep an Army in Alsatia ready to assist them in time of need that this being supposed the Advantages that wou'd arise from this War wou'd be very considerable and the danger but small since the King might extend the limits of His Dominions as far as the Rhine without drawing his Sword that having such considerable Pledges in his hands he wou'd be the Arbitrator of War and Peace neither of which cou'd be concluded without him that this Surrendry wou'd give him an open entrance into the Territories of Strasburg the Franche Comte the Dutchy of Luxemburg and that it wou'd bridle the Duke of Lorrain so effectually that he cou'd attempt nothing of any consequence that they shou'd run no manner of hazard since as they made War in Conjunction with the Germans and the Hollanders it wou'd be impossible for the House of Austria to carry it into France that they needed but a few more Troops to effect all this and that the Queen-Mother's Dowry and the Appanage of the Duke of Orleans wou'd bear the Expence that otherwise France wou'd find it self alone to deal with the House of Austria that in all probability a Peace might be concluded in Germany and a Truce in Holland by the Intervention of His Majesty which wou'd contribute mightily to the setling of a General Peace which perhaps wou'd be the effect onely of the Union between France and the Protestant-Princes of Germany After he had reason'd a long while upon these Heads the Cardinal concluded and the Council after him to set all Wheels a-going to continue the War in Germany and the Low-Countries against the House of Austria although the King was not to declare Himself openly and for this end it was resolved to send at the same time Ambassadours Extraordinary to the Emperour to all the Electors Catholick and Protestant and to the States of the Vnited Provinces to exhort the one to continue the War with vigour and to Promise them Assistance against their enemies while they assured the latter that they wou'd live in Peace with them This Resolution was accordingly put in execution and all endeavours were used to oblige the Generals Baudissen and Horn to deliver up into the hands of France all the Places which they possessed in the Electorates of Colen and Mentz and in Alsatia Above all they desired to have Mentz that they might more easily make themselves Masters of Strasburg and all the Country which lies on this side the Rhine By that means the King wou'd be in a capacity either to enlarge the Frontiers of his State or else wou'd have enough in his hands to make an Advantageous Treaty or lastly if he must sit down content with the bare Honour of the thing he might dispossess the Protestants of those Places which they had taken from the Catholicks and pretend that he had never any other Design and that this was the end of that Alliance which he had made with the late King of Sweden The Cardinal being arrived at Paris * Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 7. p. 588. sent one day for †The 23d of Jan. Gondi the Resident of Florence and after he had entertain'd him about several other matters began at last to discourse about the Queen-Mother's Affairs He enquired of Gondi what he thought of the Queen-Mother's Design for so it was
behind them but their Sick The French did not pursue them whether because they were not soon enough aware of their Retreat or because they contented themselves with having obliged them to quit Lorrain They drew off in their Turn on this side the Moselle while the Duke of Lorrain took his Winter Quarters in the Franche-Comte and Galas repass'd the Rhine after he had plunder'd Alsatia To come now to the Affairs of Flanders ever since the beginning of the Year the Cardinal was sensible that the Maxim which he had observ'd till then of not breaking openly with Spain wou'd be for the future disadvantageous to France since she was not at a much less expence to support her Allies than if she had been in an open War and yet made no advances against the Spaniards On the Contrary she had given them an Opportunity by this means to joyn their Forces with those of the Emperour in 1634 which made them gain the Battle of Norlingue and had like to have entirely ruin'd the affairs of the Swedes in Germany several Cities and Princes that furnished the Sweedes with considerable Supplies had thought of nothing ever since but of making their Peace with the Emperour least they should be in a short time irreparably overthrown if they continued to oppose him with so much disadvantage The States General of the United Provinces weary of the War with Spain which had lasted so many years and fearing to be abandon'd by France that wou'd never be brought to declare it self express'd a great inclination to reassume the Negotiation of a Truce which had been broken off out of an Apprehension that the Emperour after he had given Peace to Germany wou'd do the Spaniards the same kindness they had done him that is to say come with a formidable Army into the Low-Countries to help them to re-conquer the Seven Provinces which had with-drawn themselves from their Obedience If it so happen'd that a Peace was concluded in Germany and a Truce in the Low-Countries or that the United Provinces were subdu'd then France which was not in an open Rupture either with the Emperour or the King of Spain might see these Treaties concluded without being comprehended in them because the House of Austria would be in so advantageous a posture at that time what she thought fit to command must not be disputed and Matters being so France which had so long assisted the Enemies of the House of Austria had no reason to doubt that all her Forces wou'd pour down upon her The Ministers of the Emperour and of the King of Spain said aloud in all Places that the French vainly flattered themselves that they should continue in the possession of what they had taken since the Treaties of Querasque and Ratisbone and that they shou'd be forced at last to surrender all For these Reasons the Cardinal thought it the best way to prevent the House of Austria in declaring openly against Spain to hinder her from assisting the Emperour and to give new Life and Vigour to the Hollanders and Swedes To this end he took great pains to form a League against Spain both in Flanders and Italy in order to give her so much Business at home that she shou'd not have leisuro to look abroad and interpose in the Affairs of Germany * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 2â—4 To begin with the League Offensive and Defensive which the King concluded with the States General it was Signed at Paris the 8th of February They obliged themselves to enter upon the Spanish Provinces on two Sides with Twenty Five Thousand Foot and Five Thousand Horse each next May. However the French had inserted this Condition into the Treaty If the Spaniards don't agree to reasonable Terms of Accommodation but it was not doubted but what they christened by the Name of reasonable in France wou'd pass for very unreasonable in Spain so that this Condition was impertinent enough The Conquests were to be parted between them so that the King was to have the Country of Luxemburgh Namur Hainault Artois and Flanders and the Estates the Marquisate of the sacred Empire where Antwerp is the Lordship of Malines the Dutchy of Brabant Hulst and the Country of Dam. To perswade the Inhabitants of the Low Countries to an insurrection it was resolv'd to invite them to joyn with the Confederates in turning out the Spaniards with a promise to restore them to their Liberty which being performed within the three first Months the Spanish Provinces were to remain united in one Body as a free State with all the Rights of Sovereignty It was agreed that they shou'd act conjointly and that Frederick Henry Prince of Orange shou'd command the two Armies United in quality of Generalissimo and shou'd give the Word unless the Duke of Orleans or the Cardinal should be there in Person So the King sent Orders to the Mareschal de Chatillon and de Brezé who had the command of the Army that was designed for the Low-Countries to meet at Mesieres the 28th of April to go and joyn the Dutch Army near Maestricht the 12th of May. Charnace had long Conferences with the Prince of Orange upon what measures they were to take The French were desirous to find out the Enemy and fight him fearing to lose too much time in besieging of places and the Hollanders chose rather to undertake the Siege of some Town without hazarding a Battel At this time the Dutch understood the manner of besieging of Places better than the French and the French were fitter to give Battle After a long debate they only came to this Conclusion to enter the Low-Countries to Luxemburg and for the rest to leave it to the discretion of the Generals to regulate what was fit to be undertaken so soon as the Armies were joyn'd This Treaty was to be kept secret till the very time of execution when France shou'd declare War against Spain upon occasion of the several infractions which the Spaniards had made of the peace of Vervins although the French had done no less on their Side In the Interim the Spaniards happen'd to surprise Triers and carried away the Arch-bishop Prisoner as has been already observed The Cardinal thought he cou'd never find a more plausible Pretence to declare War against the Spaniards than the forcible detaining of a Prince who had put himself under the protection of France He therefore ordered d' Amontot * The 21st of April Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8 p. 230. the Resident at Brussels to demand the liberty of the Elector of Triers of the Cardinal Infanta who was come thither the last year from Germany and of the Marquiss d' Aylone They both answered they could do nothing in this Matter till they knew what was the Emperour's Pleasure about it They took this answer in France for a down right Shift because they had had time enough to send to the Court of Vienna and receive an Answer since the taking of the
that were in Yvrce to march that way but afterwards Prince Thomas would not let them come in again The Cardinal of Savoy likewise turn'd Tuttavilla who commanded the Spanish Troops out of Nice making him embark by himself without suffering him to speak to any one in a Brigandine under pretence that they had received advice that he design'd to surprize the Castle of Villa Franca After this it was no difficult matter to turn out the Troops that were destitute of their Leader so that the Cardinal found himself in a condition to conclude with France and his Sister-in-Law without running any hazard He afterwards married his own Neice daughter to the Dutchess of Savoy altho there was a great disparity between their ages The Duke of Longueville was ordered to command the Army in Italy and Prince Thomas concerted measures with him to regain the places which the Spaniards still held in Piedmont and to attack the Milanese This they began to perform with great success while Italy was embroil'd in the War of the Barberines against the Duke of Parma as I shall hereafter observe The States General of the * Ib. 310. Vnited Provinces having resolved to act only upon the defensive this year the Spaniards had no occasion to oppose them with a considerable Body of men So they turned the whole forces of the Low Countries against France and attackt Lens on the 17th of April with an Army of twenty five thousand men commanded by D. Francisco de Mello Governor of the Low Countries D' Anisy who was Governor of the place acquitted himself so ill in his duty that the Enemy took part of the Out-works without any resistance and enter'd into it by composition on the 19th The Count d' Harcourt who commanded ten thousand men in Picardy being inform'd of his Cowardice condemn'd him by a Council of War to have his Head struck off if he could be taken or to be executed in Essigies in the Market-place at Peronne in case they could not apprehend him Upon the news of Lens being besieg'd * Antoine de Grammont who was made Mareschal of France the 22 of Sep. 1641. the Mareschal de Guiche with a small Army which he had to cover Champagne marcht to the relief of the place but when he heard it was surrender'd he went to Peronne which was the rendezvous of the Count d' Harcourt's Army whom he was to joyn A few days after the taking of Lens D. Francisco de Mello went to lay Siege to Bassee a small place well fortified by the French since it was in their hands The Spanish General needed not many Pioneers to work on the Circumvallation because it was cover'd by the River Lis and several Canals into which the Country is cut except on one side for the compass of a league where he made his Retrenchments so strong that it was impossible to force them The French sent fifteen thousand men to observe them but durst not attack them and altho the Siege went on slowly by reason of the brave resistance of the Garrison nevertheless the Spaniards carried the Outworks by little and little so that Bourdonne Governor of the place having no hopes to be relieved surrendred it on the 13th of May upon very honourable conditions The Garrison which had been at the beginning three thousand strong had not then above two thousand four hundred several of which were sick or wounded The Spanish Army stay'd within their Lines till the 24th of May after which they separated in two bodies to oblige the French who were weaker than they to do the same The Count d' Harcourt went to encamp near Hedin at the Abbey of Cercamp and the Mareschal de Guiche near Catelet at that of Honnecourt The latter had intrench'd himself slightly enough near a Wood which he thought to be impenetrable by an Army and therefore had not made any Retrenchments on that side Whether D. Francisco de Mello was inform'd of it or no he march'd directly to him with the greatest part of his Forces * The 26 of May. While they attackt the Retrenchments on one side on the other they entred the Wood by dislodging some of the French that were there and put themselves in Battel between the Wood and the Camp Altho the French fought with a great deal of Bravery and return'd several times to the Charge yet being much inferiour in number they were at last obliged to give way and fly They lost fifteen hundred men and left above two thousand Prisoners in the hands of the Spaniards who likewise gain'd the greatest part of the Colours and an hundred thousand Crowns in Money which was design'd for the payment of the Army They on their side lost but very few men and might almost have taken the whole French Army Prisoners if they had pursued them with more vigour The Mareschal grown desperate to see himself defeated stay'd a long time in the Abbey on purpose to be made a Prisoner and it was not without a great deal of difficulty that he was perswaded to leave it After the loss of this Battel Picardy which was destitute of forces sufficient to defend it expected to be pillaged in a few days because the King was then in Rousillon as I shall observe anon and could not put things in order there But the Spanish General instead of making the best advantage of his Victory stay'd a long time to deliberate whether he should march into Germany to fall upon the * The King made him Mareschal a Naibon as well as la Mo he Hauâ—ancourt Mareschal de Guebriant or else enter France to oblige the Armies which attackt Rousillon and Catalonia to come and defend their own Kingdom It was believed that D. Francisco de Mello would not fail to do the latter at least after he had reposed himself a few days but he did not resolve what measures to take pretending that he had receiv'd Orders from Madrid not to engage the Army in any considerable enterprize because cause the Court of Spain had thoughts to employ them upon another occasion which I shall mention anon but was already past and the Governor of the Low Countries knew nothing of it The Cardinal was at Frontignan when he receiv'd the news of the Mareschal's defeat who had married one of his Relations and how much he took it to heart So he writ him this Letter which I thought it not amiss to set down Men may do all that prudence and the present occasions suggest to them but the event is in the hand of God The best Captain in the world may lose a Battel and when such a misfortune befalls him he ought to comfort himself if he did all that he could and ought to do Take heart therefore my poor Count and omit nothing that lies in your power to hinder this accident which has happen'd to you from being attended with any ill consequences If I had a strong Arm I would offer
Cardinal b. 309 310 311 Richlieu See Plessis la Richerie apprehended accuses several Persons b. 310 Riviere Abbot of an unfaithful Servant of Monsieur a. 184. Imprisoned and set at liberty b. 178 Rochelle Forts built about that City a. 68. Makes War against the King a. 101. Burns some French and Dutch Ships ib. 143. Their Fleet is beaten ib. 147. They obtain a Peace a. 158. The English promise to relieve them ib. 165 c. Treat afresh with the King ib. 168. Of what importance this Place is to England ib. 210. Block'd up by a Royal Army a. 219. Demands Assistance of England ib. 210 220 c. A Digue that shut up the Harbour ib. 227. Continuation of its Siege a. 230 c. Extreme scarcity in that City a. 232. Endeavours in vain to shut out the unprofitable Mouths a 232 236. The English endeavour in vain to relieve it a. 234 238 c. The City parlies a. 241. Capitulates and surrenders a. 248 Rohan Henry Duke of Chief of the Hugonots a. 57. Throws Relief into Montauban a. 59. Causes Montpellier to surrender a. 67. He begins the War afresh ib. 141. Rises a third time ib. 214 293. Treats with the King 314 Rohan Henry Duke of goes to the Grisons b. 64. His Progress and Victories in the Valteline b. 156. Tries in vain to join the Duke of Savoy b. 164. Oblig'd to abandon the Valteline b. 189 191. Goes to the Duke of Weymar b. 207. Dies ibid. Rome the manner of treating with that Court a. 106 Rossiglione a Defeat of the Genoueses near that Place a. 115 Roussillon a Design to conquer it b. 329 Roye taken by the Spaniards b. 170. Retaken by the French b. 173 S. Salces taken by the Prince of Condé b. 241. Retaken by the Marquis of Spinola b. 242 c. Surrenders to the French b. 256 Sardinia a Descent made by the French Fleet upon that Island b. 185 Savoy conquer'd by Lewis XIII a. 342 Savoy the Broils of the House of Savoy after the death of Victor Amadeo b. 193 c. 224 c. 228 236 288 Savoy Cardinal of his Designs upon Piedmont b. 326 c. Siezes upon Nice and Villa Franca b. 232. Adjusts his Differences with France and with his Sister-in-Law b. 325. Turns the Spanish Garrisons out of Nice and Villa Franca ibid. Schenck a Fort taken by the Spaniards b. 151 Schomberg Count of loses his Office of Superintendant of the Finances a. 69. Made a Mareschal of France a. 139. Relieves the Isle of Rhée ib. 218. Commands a Body of Men by himself in Italy a. 348. Goes to relieve Casal 351 Scoti the Nuncio his Conference with Chavigny b. 236. Ill us'd by the Court of France ib. 238 Seguier Peter made Chancellor of France b. 157. Goes to interrogate the Queen b. 216 217 Senecey Marchioness of remov'd from Court b. 250 Serbellon John trick'd by the Duke of Rethel a. 226. Beaten by the Duke of Rohan b. 156. Besieges Leucate and raises the Siege b. 186 187 Serignan enters into Catalonia b. 297 Serravalle an Overthrow of the Spaniards near that Place a. 115 Sillery Commandeur of recall'd from his Embassie at Rome a. 74 Sillery Chancellor depriv'd of the Seals a. 72 Silvio Emanuel de Savoy defends Yvrée b. 289 S. Simon a Favourite of the King a 195 Sirvela Count of Governour of Milan his Incapacity in War b. 290. Displeases Prince Thomas of Savoy b. 324 Socoa taken by the Spaniards b. 167. Abandon'd b. 296 Soissons Count of retires into Italy a. 193. Complains of the Cardinal ib. 223. Received by the Count de Bethune in spight of the Cardinal ib. 224 Soissons Count of a discourse of marrying him to Combalet b. 13 26. Mortified by the Cardinal ib. 132 144. Commands the Army in Picardy b. 170. Is Lieutenant-General of the Army of Picardy b. 171. Joins with Monsieur against the Cardinal b. 174. Flies away and retires to Sedan b. 176. Negotiations on foot to bring him back b. 177. His Reconciliation b. 179 183. His new Quarrels with the Cardinal b. 308 c. 312. His Manifesto against the Cardinal b. 317. Declar'd guilty of High-Treason by the Parliament b. 321. Is kill'd in the Battel of Sedan 322 c. Sondrio taken by the Marquis de Coeuvres a. 98 Soubise beaten out of the Isle of Rhée a. 64. Takes Six of the King's Vessels at Blavet ib. 102. He makes a Descent in several places ib. 141. Goes into England a. 146. How he was receiv'd there a. 164 Sourdis Cardinal of his Opinion in the Assembly of the Notables at Fontainbleau a. 155 Spada the Nuncio his Negotiations in the Court of France a. 81 84. concerning the Valteline a. 95 136. Offends the Cardinal ib. 153 Spain the Weakness of that Crown in 1642. b. 335 354 Spain over-sighted in the Conduct of the Spaniards a. 128 Spaniards complain in the Year 1633. of the French b. 64. The Answer of the latter b. 64 65. Spaniards a great Errour they committed in assisting the King to take Rochelle a. 217 228 Spaniards A Pretence of Religion that they cunningly made use of a. 148 Spinola Ambrose his Advice upon the Siege of Rochelle a. 228. Condemns the Conduct of the Spaniards ib. Besieges Casal a. 343. Falls out with the Emperor's Generals and with the Duke of Savoy a. 347. Falls sick ib. and dies a. 348 Spinola D. Philip takes Pontesture a. 343 States of the Kingdom assembled under Lewis XIII a. 7 The States abolish'd in France a. 202 States-General of the United Provinces assist the King against the Rochellers a. 143. Their Treaty with the King in 1627 a. 217. Another Treaty with the King in 1633 b. 61. Weary of the War with Spain b. 145. Nevertheless make a League with France b. 146. Make some Offers to the Cardinal which he does not accept b. 168. Make a new Treaty with France b. 172 Strigio Count firmly espouses the Interest of the Duke of Nevers a. 225 227 Spire attack'd and taken by the French b. 135 Sweden their League with France renew'd b. 61 Swisses their ill Politicks a. 121 Sully Duke of banish'd the Court a. 5 Susa the Pass of that City forc'd a. 309 Surrenders to the French ibid. T. Targon Pompey Engenier endeavours in vain to shut up the Harbour of Rochelle a. 227 Tarragon block'd up by the French b. 302 c. Tellieres Count of Ambassador in England a. 80. Call'd home ib. 90. Themines Marquis of made a Mareschal of France a. 13. Has the Government of Bretaigne ib. 194. Thoiras John de S. Bonet of makes a Descent upon the Isle of Rhée a. 145. Fortifies himself there ibid. 210. Goes to Casal a. 311. Takes some Places by force a. 327. Press'd hard in Casal a. 342 346. Made a Mareschal of France a. 354 Thoiras Mareschal of Commands the Army of the Duke of Savoy in Quality of his Lieutenant b. 161. Is kill'd b. 163 Thomas of Savoy Prince enters into the
and so desired her to go to Moulins which she refused to do and that she onely offered to go to Nevers while Monsieur was at Orleans to be nearer to his Person but had refused to do it when she heard that he was gone from thence That after her departure from Compeigne she had sent a Request to the Parliament of Paris full of false and injurious Invectives against Cardinal Richlieu and Written a Letter to His Majesty containing several Studied Pretences to Colour her withdrawing and many Complaints against the Cardinal which had no other foundation but those Calumnies and Falshoods which were suggested by the Ill-Counsellours of Monsieur That both the one and the other aimed by the same means to endeavour the Subversion of the Royal Authority and of the Kingdom That not being yet satisfied with the first Calumnies she had Written to His Majesty she was * See these Letters in the Collection of Aubery's Memoirs T. 1. P. 374. besides wrought upon to Write to the Parliament and to the Provost of the Merchants of Paris to perswade them to Revolt and to give an Ill Example to others That as he Confirmed all the preceding Declarations so he declared all those to be guilty of High-Treason and Disturbers of the Publick Peace who should be found to have any share in such Pernicious and Damnable Designs as to withdraw the Queen-Mother and the Duke of Orleans from their Allegiance and to induce them to go out of the Kingdom and likewise all those who had followed them and were with them That his Royal Pleasure and Will was that they should be proceeded against and that he strictly prohibited all Persons to keep any Correspondence either with the Queen-Mother or the Duke upon any pretence whatsoever and if any of their Letters should fall into the hands of his Subjects they should send them immediately to the Royal Judges of the Provinces or to the Keeper of the Seals That all the Mannors which they held of the Crown should be seized upon and re-united to the King 's Demesne themselves deprived of their Dignities and Offices and all their Estates forfeited to the King This last Article involved the Queen-Mother and Monsieur as well as those that followed them the Queen's Dowry and all the Revenues of the Duke being stopt and seized While the King dishonoured both his Mother and Brother with so rigorous a procedure and took from them all manner of Subsistance because they had been so daring as to desire that the Cardinal of Richlieu might be turned out he heaped new Honours and Favours upon this happy Minister His †By Letters given at Monceaux in the Month of August Land of Richlieu was erected into a Dukedom and Peerdom and there was afterwards a Contention amongst the Courts of Parliament which of them should receive this Prelate in the Quality of a Duke and Peer But at last it was agreed That the Great Chamber that of the Edict and that of the Tournelle being Assembled together should receive him †The 4th of September and he went to take the usual Oath and to sit in the Parliament attended by the Prince of Conde by the Dukes of Montmorency of Chevreuse of Montbazon of Rets of Ventadour and of Crequi by the Mareschals Vitry Etrees and Effiat and by many other Persons of Quality From that time he was call'd The Cardinal-Duke as Olivarez Chief Minister to the King of Spain was stiled the Count-Duke The King gave him besides the Government of Britany lately vacant by the death of the Mareschal de Themines This Government could not fall to any one more advantageously than to the Cardinal who being Superintendant both of Navigation and Trade could scarce exercise his Office without being Master of the Ports of Britany This was at the same time an assured Refuge in case the King should ever change his Affection towards him Thus what was a Capital Crime in the Huguenots who made a considerable part of the State and what would have driven out of the Kingdom the most considerable Persons next to the King unless they had chosen rather to be confined to a Prison was esteemed a just recompence for the great Services of Cardinal Richlieu The Prince of Conde who was sent from one Province to another to pacifie the Spirits of those who might be surprised at the excessive greatness of a Minister who caused him formerly to be put in Prison went basely publishing his Praises all over the Kingdom and yet was not able to get into the Favour of this Man who could bear with nothing that gave him any Jealousie * See Aubery Lib. 11. Cap. 17. He had made already in the Year 1628 a Panegyrick upon this Minister before the States of Languedoc with Expressions onely fit to come from a wretch that wanted Bread and had no other ways to subsist but this was nothing in comparison of what he said in the Assembly of the States of Britany I shall relate his very words that thereby the Reader may judge both of the mean Condescensions of the Prince or of the Minister's great Authority †See Aubery Ibid. Lib. ◠Cap. 19. Amongst those infinite Obligations you have to the King saith he either for having preserved your Privileges or for the great Advantages favourably granted to your Province of Britany even almost to an impossibility in regard of the other Provinces of his Realm you have contracted a new one which is the greatest of all for His Majesty has given to you Monsieur the Cardinal of Richlieu for your Governour whose Learning and Piety preferr'd him in his younger years to a Bishoprick his Deserts to a Cardinal's Cap his Services and Capacity to the Ministry of State Affairs his Valour to the Generalship of several Armies his Fidelity and Love for the King's Person to the Cordial Affection of His Majesty and as a Token thereof and of his Trust to the High Places and Governments which he possesseth and holds from him All which things though very considerable and great yet we may say nevertheless of them that they onely make up the least part of those recompences which he justly deserves for having in his first Dignity confounded Heresie in the second maintained the Church in his Employments strengthened the State by his Counsels by his Valour pull'd down and defeated Rebellion and extended the Limits of France into Italy Lorraine and Germany and by his Fidelity with a continual care watched for the King's Preservation under whose Command he hath always acted as a second Cause in those great Affairs which His Majesty had and hath yet to restore the Kingdom to its first Splendour The Prince had better have said As a first cause since the King did nothing else but blindly follow the Motions of his Minister and then he had said at least one true thing in his Speech which was worthy of none but some Poor Hungry Priest and not of
Treaty Signed the 5th of May 1632. To return to the Duke of Orleans * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 7. Pag. 551. Ambery Lib. 4. cap. 27. who was the most dangerous Enemy the Cardinal had as soon as it was known that he intended to enter into France with some Troops that he had gathered frâ—â— several parts the Cardinal signifi'd to the Spaniards That if they gave Assistance to Monsieur in any thing it would be taken for an Infraction of the Peace of Vervins Nevertheless least they should take this business in hand not caring to break openly the Cardinal Promised to the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces what they Ask'd of him upon condition that they should make neither Peace nor Truce with Spain to keep them employ'd on that side Monsieur †The 8th of June Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 7. p. 551 Aubery Lib. 4. cap. 27. entred into France by the way of Bassigny with two Thousand or Fifteen hundred Horse and fell upon Burgundy He Published at the same time a Declaration wherein he call'd the Cardinal a Tyrant an Usurper an Enemy to the King and to the Royal Family saying He had taken up Arms for no other intent but to open the eyes of His Majesty and to shew him plainly how his Minister deceiv'd him Monsieur took upon himself the Title of Lieutenant-General for the King to Redress the Abuses and to Repress the Violences of the Cardinal He pass'd with his Troops hard by Dijon which Place having refused to Furnish his Army with Provisions saw for this Reason one of their Suburbs reduc'd into Ashes From thence he pass'd to Auvergne where he Raised Three thousand Foot not making there any Devastation because Noailles Lieutenant for the King in that Province was there in Person In the mean while the King thought it convenient to go to Paris in order to be Present at the Parliament and make them Confirm his Declaration against the Male-contents * The 11th of August He went thither with the Cardinal and the Keeper of the Seals made an Apology for this Minister which he concluded with saying That Seditious Men never ceased to Discredit those Persons that were concerned in the Government Afterwards a Declaration †See it in Aubery Vbi supra of the King was Registred wherein His Majesty gave a Compendious Account of what the Duke of Orleans had done tending to the Destruction of the State Although by his Libel of the 13th of June as 't was said in the Declaration he Declares That what he did was for the safety and wellfare of France which he represented in a Deplorable Condition in Terms extreamly prejudicial to the honour of his Majesty laying the fault of all upon the Cardinal Richlicu though it might be justly said that the Kingdom was never so powerful nor in so great reputation before and that the Cardinal's Fidelity and Zeal and the Merits of his Services were so well known to all the World that none but those who were envious both of the Glory of his Majesty and of his Prosperity would offer to say any thing to the contrary Lastly the King declared afresh those who should joyn with Monsieur or abert him in any manner whatsoever Rebels and guilty of High Treason and commanded they should be proceeded against with all the Severity of the Laws As for the Duke of Orleans himself he gave him six Weeks time to return to his Allegiance In the mean while an Army was sent against Monsieur in two Bodies one of which was commanded by the Mareschal de la Force and the other by Mareschal Schomberg They advanced two different ways to endeavour to get between them the Troops of Monsieur who were not in a condition to make any great resistance * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 7. Pag. 553. Though they had obeyed the King yet it was with very much reluctance that they accepted the Command upon this Occasion and especially the Mareschal de la Force did what lay in his power to be excused It seemed to him that it was too great a Boldness in a Subject to go and attack the King 's only Brother and presumptive Heir to the Crown his Majesty being not present It might happen that in the heat of Battel the Duke of Orleans might be kill'd and the Fault then would be laid on the Mareschal which would be enough to ruin him under another Administration And therefore that he might act with greater Safety he desired that the King would give him precise Orders what he was to do and the King declared that as to his Brother's Person he would not have him come by any harm and that they ought to treat him with respect Upon this the Mareschal observed that in a Fight it would not be possible perhaps to distinguish him and since this Inconvenience could not well be avoided and would cause the Armies to act but weakly against Monsieur in the King's Absence his Majesty resolved at last to go personally with them Monsieur found none of the Provinces in his March disposed to declare for him because the Governour who knew his Temper knew likewise that he had neither Conduct nor Experience nor Constancy enough to protect those that should declare for him Only the Duke of Montmorency promised to favour him to revenge the Wrong which he thought the Cardinal had done him He had formerly surrender'd his Office of Admiral at his Sollicitation who instead of suppressing it as he had pretended before appropriated it to himself under another Title 'T was said that he gave the Duke of Montmorency great hope of having the Office of High Constable which was more considerable and had been possessed by his Father and Grandfather but he caused both the Title and the Donations of that great Post to be abolish'd so that the Duke having ask'd for the Office of Mareschal General of the King's Armies which was the same Thing under another Name he met with an absolute Denial Yet notwithstanding these and other Occasions of Dissatisfaction he still remained in the Interests of the Cardinal till the time of the King's Sickness at Lions But whether he grew weary to live under the Authority of a Minister who would not have Friends but Slaves or that Marie Felice des Vrsins his Lady who was related to the Queen-Mother had drawn him to the Party of this Princess he engaged his Word to Monsieur since this Prince's Departure from Court Ar first he looked for some Pretence or other to make Levies without giving suspicion to the Court but at last having * Pontis Mem. T. 2. P. 34. declared himself he brought things to that pass that the States of Languedoc by their Deliberation on the 22d of July called in the Duke of Orleans to protect them promising him Money for his Troops and protesting they would stand by him with their Lives and Fortunes †Siri Mem. Rec. T. 7. P. 552. The Duke of Montmorency was
remove them immediately of His own accord That the King being not ignorant how those bad Counsels which Monsieur had followed were suggested to him by Puilaurens this latter should sincerely give notice of all secret transactions that might be prejudicial to the State to the King's Interest and of those who had the honour to serve him faithfully and should declare that he would be held as guilty as he was before he received the King's most Gracious Pardon if he acted contrary to his Promise In a particular Article the Duke promised to cherish all those who served His Majesty and particularly Cardinal Richelieu whom he ever had esteemed as was said in this Act for his fidelity to His Person and to the Interest both of King and State The King on his side granted His Pardon to Monsieur and to his Domesticks and moreover to the Duke of Elbeuf whom he restored to his Estate and permitted to reside in one of his Houses that should be appointed by His Majesty Monsieur signed this Agreement at Besiers on the 29th of September and the King ratifi'd it by Letters Patents dated at Montpellier on the first of October After this Monsieur's Troops retir'd into Rousillon and he * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 7. p. 519. Wrote a Letter to the King and another to the Cardinal full of Complements wherein he disapproved the Declaration publish'd at his coming into the Kingdom against this Prelate as having been publish'd without his knowledge and having never seen it Lastly he desired the Cardinal to forget what was past and promis'd him his Friendship Puilaurens sent also an Act to the King written with his own hand in which he promis'd to perform whatever was desired of him * On the 4th of Octob. After this Monsieur and his Domesticks took their way to Tours where the King thought fit he should retire He wrote another Letter to the King wherein he earnestly desired him to forgive the Duke of Montmorency but to no purpose As soon as he was taken it was debated in a secret Council what to do with him and 't is confidently reported that care was taken already to incense the King against him by telling him That they had found about his Arm a Locket of Gold to which was tied the Picture of a certain Lady in Miniature for whom His Majesty had a great Kindness Pompone de Bilievre Intendant in Mareschal Schomberg's Army took it dexterously from him at his Examination and took the Picture from it but as this was done in presence of several persons notice was given to the Cardinal of it to exasperate the King against him So when the question was put If the King should use the Duke of Montmorency severely or forgive him it was no hard matter to incline him to a rigorous usage Nevertheless the Cardinal being willing to affect an appearance at least of Equity towards a Man to whom he was very much oblig'd he begun to deliver his Opinion * Siri Mem. Ree Tom. 7. p. 561. by saying That His Majesty might be moved for several Reasons to Pardon the Duke of Montmorency That Monsieur had offered to leave off all Correspondences that were displeasing to His Majesty and to return to his Duty upon condition that this Noble Lord should receive his Pardon otherwise the Duke of Orleans could never with Honour renew His Obedience to His Majesty for all his Domesticks advised him to hazard all things to save the Duke of Montmorency That if Monsieur retired into Spain he would induce the Spaniards to be very mischievous to France That if Monsieur was brought into Despair those who serv'd the King would not be in safety because those of the contrary Party would not think themselves safe till they had brought them to ruine That if Monsieur came once to leave off all Cabals and Practises contrary to the good of the State any thing might be afterwards undertaken against the Spaniards whereas while he was discontented they could not make use of any occasion though never so favourable After he had thus produc'd his Reasons in favour of the Duke of Montmorency the Cardinal turned the Tables and said That on the other side if they consider'd that the King was without Children and Monsieur look'd upon as Presumptive Heir to the Crown they would find that if those who followed his Party were not rigorously punish'd the first time the King fell Sick how inconsiderable soever his Sickness should be so many People would declare for the Duke of Orleans that the King would not be able to Master them That on the contrary if the Duke of Montmorency was brought to Deserved Punishment no body would dare to engage in such Attempts any more That not a sew Kings whom he named had maintained themselves in the declension of their Age only by Severity he cited some Examples and continued saying That if the Nobility and Commons should once know that the consideration which the King had for Monsieur was capable to hinder Seditious Persons from being punished with Death there would be still great Numbers of Persons who thinking their Lives in safety would venture their Estates and Fortunes for him in hopes of being gainers at the Expence of the Kingdom That turning Men out of their Offices in such an occasion signified nothing without taking their Lives away because Monsieur being consider'd as next Heir to the Crown those who should lose their Offices for taking up Arms for him would hope to recover them with usury as soon as this Prince ascended the Throne That Montmorency's Crime was not a Simple Rebellion in which Monsieur had engaged him but that he had Incited the Duke of Orleans to enter into France with Arms and raised up the Province by Summoning an Assembly of the States a thing that was never practised before That it would be very difficult and dangerous to keep him in Prison That in stead of extinguishing that Party it would be revived and gather more strength than before That Monsieur submitted himself to the King out of Necessity and not out of Inclination That the Spaniards would prove always the same and the Queen-Mother would still persist in her Anger That Puilaurens would have no less credit with Monsieur than before and that his Ambition and Intreaguing with the Lorrainers would always continue So that the danger being over the Duke of Orleans would hearken to bad Counsels again That if they thought fit to forsake the Hollanders and the Swedes the Rage of the Spaniards might perhaps cease and if they would Sacrifice to the Queen-Mother all those whom she hated and put the King in a total Dependance upon her her Animosity might likewise be at an end but if none of these things cou'd be done as really the King could do neither of them without undoing himself 't was certain that the more Monsieur 's Party subsisted in the Heads of it the greater the danger wou'd be by reason of their
reported of going into Italy and when Gondi had assured him That he never heard the least word that the Queen had any inclinations to quit the Low-Countries the Cardinal continuing the Discourse told him That the Imprudence and fury of Father Chanteloube having oblig'd the King to demand him of the Infanta this Man was in so great a Consternation that he had perswaded the Queen to leave the Low-Countries where he did not think himself safe enough that upon this suggestion the Queen-Mother had sent to the King of England to know if he wou'd be pleased to receive her but that he had refused to do it at the instance of the King her Son that afterwards she had desired the above-mention'd King that he wou'd give her leave to come to Plimouth and lend her some Ships to Transport her to Spain That this Prince who believed that if ever she set foot in England she wou'd never be brought to leave it had made Answer That he wou'd willingly provide her with Ships if he was assured of her Reception in Spain and that France wou'd not take it ill That Spain had declar'd she was ready to receive her but that the King cou'd not tell what to resolve upon by reason of the great compassion he had for her and that England wou'd not receive her but upon condition that she wou'd not make any long stay there That this poor Woman for so the Cardinal thought fit to call her had drawn these Misfortunes upon her self by following the Ill Advice of other People and by her own obstinacy which was so incurable that she still protested That she did not now and never wou'd repent of what she had done At last after he had pretended to have a mighty Commiseration for her he added That England perhaps might be induced to furnish her with Ships in case she wou'd retire to some place where His Majesties Clemency and Filial Amity might grant her some acts of Favour without prejudicing the welfare of the State and where the Cardinal might be able to procure them for her as he passionately desired That he cou'd scarce believe she design'd to tarry in Spain and since she was deny'd Admission into England he cou'd not tell but that she might have some thoughts to pass into Florence in case the Grand-Duke wou'd give her a Kind Reception Upon this he Asked Gondi Whether he cou'd give him any Light as to this Affair And the Resident Answer'd That he was wholly ignorant what the Queen's Intentions were but that he durst venture to Assure him that the Grand-Duke was wholly unacquainted with them and that as there was not the least reason to doubt but that the King Lov'd His Mother no body had any occasion to be in any pain about her The Cardinal Reply'd That if the Queen was minded to return to her Native Country for a short time till she had fully reconcil'd her Self to the King it wou'd not be taken amiss of the Grand-Duke to receive her and that the Queen's Conduct wou'd not be disapproved since she wou'd be in a place where she then cou'd not abuse the kindnesses His Majesty show'd Her The Cardinal added That nevertheless if the Queen once set foot in England she wou'd not easily leave it He wou'd not explain himself any farther thinking it sufficient that he had made an Overture which the Grand-Duke might make the best use of in time of necessity He was resolved to come to no manner of Accommodation with her till he had effectually humbled her and constrain'd her to do what he pleas'd At present the onely trial of Skill was to oblige her to depart out of the Dominions of Spain and to endeavour to make her go to Florence that so she might not prove an obstacle to any Treaty that they might make with Spain according as an occasion should present it self While she and Monsieur were in their Territories it wou'd be impossible to make a Treaty without comprehending them in it and the Cardinal pretended that they should leave all to His Majesty's good pleasure and give their consent for him to Punish those that had followed them Thus all endeavours were used to make them quit the Spanish Territories In the mean time the Prince of Conde was come back from Bruges and the King sent him into Burgundy to oblige the Parliament of Dijon to hasten the Trials of the Duke of Elbeuf Puilaurens Coudray Montpensier and the other Domesticks of the Duke They were Condemned to Die as Rebels they were Executed in Effigie and their Goods were Confiscated Not long after †The 25th of Febr. Siri Mâ—m Rec. T. 7. p. 594. the King being at St. Germans took away the Seals from Chateauneuf who nevertheless had been a faithful drudge to the Cardinal and had exercised several Arbitrary Acts of Violence to please him As the causes of his Disgrace were not positively known people fell upon several things which might contribute to ruine him Some said That he was in Love with the Dutchess of Chevreuse and that he was Loved by her that this made the Cardinal jealous who was exceedingly offended at Chateauneuf when he saw some Letters of his to that Dutchess wherein * Lâ— Mordevano says Siri di cuto fraâ—ido à causa delle sue malattie hemorrhoidale he Ridicul'd the Cardinal in very outrageous terms They add farther That the Cardinal came to know that he had Danced in a Ball at Bourdeaux when he lay so dangerously ill there 'T is also pretended that this Prelate being told That he flatter'd himself with the hopes of arriving to be Chief Minister in a short time and that he had formed certain Cabals for that end he wou'd never pardon him this Ambition †Aubery's Life of the Cardinal lib. 4. c. 36. However it was the Seals were given to Peter Seguier President of the Parliament with a certain Promise to be made Chancellour so soon as d' Aligre was dead Chateauneuf was sent to the Castle of Angouleme being accused of a Design to raise Disorders at Court At the same * Siri Ibid. p. 595. time they sent some of his Friends to the Bastile and among others the Chevalier du Jars who as it was alledged against him perswaded Monsieur and the Queen-Mother to retire into England As they had no Proof of it the Cardinal bethought himself of an extraordinary stratagem to discover whether he was concern'd in this Affair or no. He not onely caused him to be put into Prison but he engaged the Judges to manage his Trial and Sentence him to have his head cut off by giving them his word that this Sentence shou'd not be put in Execution but that the King shou'd Pardon him in case there were no Positive Proofs brought against him at his Trial. In pursuance of this he was Condemned his Sentence was Read to him and being upon the Scaffold after he had said his Prayers without making
the Party of the Princess Margaret whom they received as the Wife of the Duke of Orleans and for whom they had been at a great expence as well as for him But the Infanta happening to die at this * Tâ—e 1st of â—â—cem time obliged them to think of other things However it was perceived plainly enough that Monsieur was weary of Flanders and the Queen-Mother and Madam were afraid that this inconstant Prince wou'd abandon them at the first opportunity The Cardinal who was fully inform'd of all †Siri Mem. 〈◊〉 T. 7. 〈◊〉 7â—0 〈◊〉 1â—th of Dâ—câ—m Summon'd a Council before the King to Advise what Measures were to be taken in this conjuncture and whether the King ought to be reconcil'd to the Queen his Mother or to the Duke of Orleans This Minister according to his custom made a long Harangue to perswade His Majesty That it was his Interest to grant no satisfaction either to one or the other He told him That the Queen-Mother had appeared long ago ill-affected to the State That before she left France the King had offer'd her very reasonable Terms of Reconciliation as Places Governments and so forth by which she might easily perceive that he had no intention to use her with any Rigour That nevertheless she had fled to the declared Enemies of the Crown which she had never done but out of a Principle of Revenge and because she never design'd to come to any sort of Accommodation That she cou'd not be ignorant that her joyning with the Duke of Orleans wou'd displease the King and that all good Frenchmen must blame her for having recourse to the Spaniards That since she had broke through all these considerations it was a sure Indication that she had an implacable hatred to France That her Actions notoriously contradicted her words in which she protested that she had no design against the State but that she was full of Dissimulation as visibly appear'd in the whole Conduct of her Life That it wou'd be no advantage to the King to be Reconciled with her and call her home but that on the contrary several great Inconveniences might happen upon it because it wou'd be then a harder matter to perswade Monsieur to return That her falling out with him and his Domesticks was the most forcible Reason that induced Puilaurens to advise his Master to avoid those places where he might find the ill effects of the Mortal hatred of that Princess and therefore if she came into France Puilaurens wou'd have the less inclination to carry the Duke of Orleans thither That supposing Monsieur wou'd not upon this be unwilling to return yet they were likely to gain nothing by his coming home since it might easily so happen that the Queen and he wou'd joyn afresh together for the better execution of their wicked designs That the King wou'd find it a harder matter to Marry Monsieur again to whom he pleas'd and principally to the Princess Mary of Conzaga for whom the Queen-Mother had an invincible aversion That the Tranquillity of the Kingdom wou'd be more endanger'd since those that had harbour'd any ill designs wou'd certainly go and communicate them to the Queen-Mother whom they knew to be of a resolute and revengeful temper whereas they durst not repose any confidence in the Duke of Orleans who was known to be inconstant That the King wou'd not have the same Peace of Mind nor be in the same security as to his Person That he wou'd not be obey'd so punctually since the ill-affected wou'd hope to be supported by the Queen-Mother That the Lives of His Majesty's Servants wou'd be in greater danger because it wou'd be an easier matter to destroy them near at hand than afar off That though the Queen-Mother and Monsieur were both of them to morrow in France perfectly satisfy'd by the King as to both their particulars and a Misunderstanding still continu'd between them it was certain that in three Months time they would be discontented and wou'd as certainly reunite in their discontents whereas if Monsieur was in the Kingdom and the Queen out of it it wou'd be difficult for them to maintain any great correspondence together In this Advice we find the Cardinal's Interest confounded with that of the King and Kingdom but we must do him the Justice to allow his Reasonings to be solid enough if we set down the word Cardinal all â—long where he makes mention of France or of the King The design of it manifestly tended to keep the Queen-Mother at least out of the Kingdom but as it wou'd have been too odious to publish to all the World that her Son wou'd never be reconciled to her The Council in appearance concluded the contrary but at the bottom 't was the same thing because they knew well enough that this Princess wou'd not stoop so low as to do what they resolved to demand of her It was therefore pretended That if the Queen-Mother wou'd convince all People that she had no hand in the Assassinates which some of her Servants had projected by delivering the Authors of these Pernicious Counsels to Justice the King wou'd give her leave to return into France put her in full possession of her Jointure and permit her to live in any of her Houses that were at a distance from the Court. As for what related to Monsieur the Cardinal observ'd That this Prince's Absence was at present Advantageous to His Majesty but that the longer he tarried among the Spaniards with whom he daily contracted a greater Friendship the more it was to be feared that he wou'd one day destroy in a moment what had been doing for several years with no little difficulty for the welfare of the State That however these ills were at a distance whereas the Mischief which he might occasion if he lived in France and was ill-affected to it as he certainly was wou'd be felt presently That if Monsieur came back into France upon those Conditions the King had offer'd him which as they were honourable to himself so they were not prejudicial to France his return wou'd be advantageous to the Kingdom but that there was a great deal to fear and but little to hope if he came back upon those Terms which Puilaurens had insisted upon the last Summer viz. the Government of Auvergne and Macon to be the Residence of Monsieur and his Houshold because that then this Prince wou'd be in a condition to give the Spaniards an entrance at any time into the Kingdom who wou'd be glad of such an opportunity That if matters were so they must lay aside all thoughts of attacking any of their Neighbours either to enlarge the Kingdom or to assist the Confederates of the Crown because it was always to be fear'd that the Spaniards wou'd make some Irruption on that side and that though they did not break in upon them yet they wou'd cause so many alarms there that their hands wou'd be effectually
wou'd see the Effects of the sincere Inclinations of one of her Creatures who in this Juncture cou'd not dissent from the King's Intentions without offending him sensibly Before de Laleu return'd to Brussels he received fresh Letters for the King and Cardinal in which the Queen-Mother confirm'd the same things in terms still more humble and condescending particularly in regard to the Cardinal She likewise demanded a Passport for Father Suffren her Confessor whom she desired to send to Court But Answer was made that they wou'd hearken to no one unless he brought them word from the Queen that she was ready to deliver into his Majesty's hands the three Persons he demanded of her De Laleu return'd to the Low-Countries with this sad Message which made the Queen lose all hopes of ever seeing the King her Son again While these Negotiations were managed by the Queen-Mother Monsieur consulted the University of Louvain about his Marriage which they judged to be valid and he got it to be solemnly confirmed by the Archbishop of Malines in the presence of seven Witnesses The Queen-Mother was desired to be present at this Ceremony but refused it whether she had resolved to concern her self no more with the Affairs of Monsieur as she had told him or was not willing to disoblige the King at a time when she endeavour'd to appease him However when she received the abovementioned News she was so far from complying with those dishonourable Submissions they expected from her that she bestowed upon the Abbot of St. Germain the Place of her chief Almoner which happen'd then to be vacant At the same time the Court employ'd the Mareschal de Crequi at Rome to engage the Pope to declare the Marriage of Monsieur null by representing to him all the Reasons they could think of But as these Reasons only served to cover their Desire to hinder Monsieur from Marrying the Pope who was not prejudiced that way formed great Difficulties upon all the Proposals they made him The surest Expedient was to get the Duke of Orleans into France because there they cou'd make him do whatever they had a mind to for which reason they laboured in private to effect it although this Prince pretended to be as far from entring into any Reconciliation as ever he had been At this time * See Aubety's Life of the Card. Lib. 4. Cap. 49. Puilaurens was extreamly out with the Duke of Elbeuf and the latter complained of him because in the Treaty which was secretly making with the Cardinal he had demanded nothing in favour of him save only that he should not be excluded out of the Amnesty While these Quarrels were on foot †The 3d of May Aub. Ibid. Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 8. p. 73. it happen'd that some unknown Bravo's attempted to murder Puilaurens and discharged a Carabine loaden with several Bullets at him as he was going up the Stairs at the Palace of Brussels He was only wounded slightly in the Cheek and the Assassines made their Escape so speedily that no News cou'd be heard of them whatever search was made Monsieur made a mighty Noise about this barbarous Attempt and laid it to the charge of the Duke of Elbeuf or some of the Queen-Mother's Servants which served to compleat the Breach between them and afterwards occasion'd several Differences the Particulars of which 't is needless to relate here Whoever it was that design'd to kill him 't is certain it did a great Injury to the Queen-Mother who was now suspected of designing to assassinate the Favourites of her two Sons that so she might manage them as she saw convenient However others were of opinion that the Spaniards being informed that Puilaurens was negotiating the Return of Monsieur were resolved to break off this Negotiation by causing him that was the chief Promoter of it to be taken off But as this Blow happened to miscarry it only retarded Monsieur's Return for a short time and made Puilaurens desire it more than ever who did not think himself any longer safe at Brussels But as it was highly necessary to conceal this Design from the Spaniards for fear they might stop Monsieur and his Servants besides that the Treaty with the Cardinal was not yet concluded this Prince enter'd into a new Treaty with the Spaniards * The 12th of May Aub. Mem. T. 1. p. 425. a few days after the Assassination that so they might not suspect he designed to accommodate himself with the King his Brother The principal Articles of this Treaty are as follow by which it will appear that Gaston who signed them did not trouble himself much to keep his Word That he engaged himself to enter into no sort of Agreement with the King his Brother whatever Advantages were offer'd him and whatever Alterations might happen in France upon the Cardinal's ruine for the space of two years and a half without the Consent of his Catholick Majesty That nevertheless if he came to treat before that time was expired tho' it were by the Consent of his Catholick Majesty he should be obliged to break it when it pleased his Catholick Majesty That in case any Rupture happen'd between the two Crowns his Highness promis'd to take the part of the House of Austria and to support its Interests till a General Peace was concluded That if the Arms of the Duke happen'd to make any progress in France by the Taking of any Places his Highness shou'd deliver up some of them to his Catholick Majesty partly to re-imburse him for the great Expences he had already been at and partly for an Assurance that he would be grateful to them one day if his Highness came to the Crown in which case his Highness engaged fully to recompense them for all their Charges That upon this Supposition his Catholick Majesty wou'd furnish his Highness with 12000 Foot and 3000 Horse one half of which were to be French and the other Spaniards That these Troops shou'd be ready to act towards the End of next September and that then his Catholick Majesty if the state of his Affairs wou'd permit him shou'd draw his Troops towards the Frontiers of France to alarm the King's Forces on that side while his Highness enter'd the Kingdom at another That his Catholick Majesty wou'd give 70000 Crowns towards the raising of the French Troops and 45000 each Month for their Subsistence which however was to lessen according as the Army advanced so that when they were once in France his Catholick Majesty should not be obliged to be at any Charge for their Maintenance since they might live upon Contributions from the Country as 't is the way in Germany That his Catholick Majesty shou'd allow 15000 Crowns a Month for the Support of his Highness and Madam as soon as Monsieur shou'd leave Brussels to march towards France but that when he was arrived there he and his Army were to live at the Expence of the Country where he resided This Treaty
obliged to bestow that Post upon Monsieur which he desired for himself Although they were now in a condition to beat the Enemies out of Picardy so soon as they pleased yet the Danger they had been in and the Affairs of Italy and Burgundy threw the King into so deep a Melancholy that he was displeased at every thing He was concerned that his Brother had the Command of the Army and that he lived in a good Understanding with the Count de Soissons He express'd a great Coldness towards the Cardinal for daring to censure his ill Humour and his want of Resolution He wou'd scarce be brought to see him and he contradicted him whenever he spake of any thing so that the Cardinal lost in a manner all his Courage and neglected to give the necessary Orders It was observed that contrary to his custom he shew'd a great deal of Civility to those people whom he had formerly slighted One day he publickly asked * Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. â— p. 441. St. Yval whom he hated extreamly because he was deeply engaged in the Party of the Count de Soissons what his Opinion was about an Affair of great consequence He invited him besides to sup with him and St. Yval was ravished with joy to see this haughty Spirit so humbled by his fear that the progress of the Enemy wou'd be the cause of his ruine †Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 8. p. 439. At last he found himself so weakned in Body and Mind that if Father Joseph to whom he discovered his most secret Infirmities had not encouraged him he was ready to throw up the Ministry and by that means to hasten his own Destruction which his Enemies had so long desired But this Capuchin having inspired him with fresh Resolution by his Discourses he determined to apply himself more than ever to Publick Affairs The first Thing he advised His Majesty in this Conjuncture was to perswade the States-General to make some Attempts upon the Territories of Spain The Prince of Orange was willing enough but those that promoted the Treaty hinder'd him from acting with necessary vigour However he gain'd his point of them at last and forbad the State 's Agent at Vienna to talk any more of a Truce He took the field with a considerable Army and was ready to make a Diversion in the Spanish Netherlands in case the Count de Feria approached the Frontiers of France 'T was at this time that Frederick-Henry received the Title of Highness which the Cardinal gave him instead of that of Excellence which he had till then enjoy'd The King concluded a new Treaty with the States by which he promised them a Million and half of Livers to be paid at Three several Payments in a year upon condition that all this Money should be employed in carrying on the War against Spain To encourage the Army by his Presence the King arrived there as I have already said at the beginning of September and having advanced as far as Senlis from whence he beheld one night the Flame of some Villages which the Croatians had set on fire before they left them he fell a Weeping at the Losses and Calamities of his People But the Spanish Army being utterly unable to oppose the progress of the Royal Forces thought of nothing now but retiring into the Low-Countries because they had not time enough to secure their Conquests Thus the Army of France came before Roye and after this Place had been Batter'd for a few days by Twelve Pieces of Canon they surrendred to Monsieur by Composition Afterwards it Marched to Block up Corbie for there was no hopes of taking it by force To effect this they undertook to environ it with Forts and Retrenchments for fear least the Spaniards should Relieve it but they were informed soon after that the Besieged wanted Corn and other Provisions This made the Cardinal resolve to propose the Attacking of the place hoping that the Garrison weakned by want and scarcity would be obliged to Capitulate The Mareschal de Chatillon was the first that proposed it in a Council and this Advice supported by the Authority of the Cardinal carried it from that of the Count de Soissons who believed it would be impossible to reduce this place by force at that time of the year They made Three Attacks and the Garrison finding themselves destitute of Victuals and no hopes of a Relief Capitulated on the 19th of November This good success made the Cardinal as courageous as ever and retrieved his Reputation which had suffer'd mightily by the progress the Spaniards made in Picardy However * Siri Mem. Râ—c T. 8. P. 442. People censured his Conduct for uniting the Duke of Orleans and the Count de Soissons in the Command of the same Army because as they were both his sworn Enemies so they might lay their heads together to destroy him The Minister was of opinion that the Count de Soissons who was of an imperious haughty temper would fall out with Monsieur and that their Domesticks whose Interests were different would take care to incense them one against another But it fell out quite contrary for these two Princes who had been Enemies of a long standing to his Eminence re-united more than ever to ruine him They were made to believe that if they still continued in their designs against the Minister they would draw to their party the Houses of Guise of Vendome of Bouillon of Espernon and of Rets whom he had scurvily used and who appeared to be very much dissatisfy'd with him So Monsieur and the Count being at Peronne they advised together about the properest ways to destroy the Cardinal Some were of opinion That His Majesty should be made acquainted with the Ill-conduct of this Minister who was the cause of all the Calamities the Nation groaned under and that he had engaged him in a War which he vainly imagined he was able to manage of himself though he was much fitter to raise a Cruel War in the State than to repel Foreigners Others advised to dispatch him out of the way for that would soon put an end to all these disorders This last expedient seemed the best and the two Princes being resolved to put it in execution trusted the Secret with four persons one of whom was a Domestick of Monsieur and the other three belonged to the Count de Soissons During the Siege of Corbie the King Lodged in a Castle near Amiens and never came to the City where the Cardinal lay but when he held a Council there after which he returned to this Castle So Monsieur and the Count resolved one day when they came to Council to carry a great number of the Officers of the Army along with them and that so soon as the King was returned to his Quarters to find some pretence or other to stop the Cardinal and cause him to be Murder'd by the Four Men who knew of the Affair With this design they
apprehend him when he came to Orleans The King †Aubery ' s Mem. T. 2. p. 19. writ to him to invite him to come and see him there and gave him his Royal Word that he wou'd be so far from using him in that manner That if after he had been with him he still persisted in his Inclinations to leave the Kingdom he wou'd give him free leave to do it with all the security he cou'd desire The Cardinal joyn'd a Billet to it where he assured him That he wou'd engage his life and his honour for the performance of what the King was pleas'd to write to him The Duke on his side sign'd a new Oath of Fidelity at Blois wherein he begged a Pardon for the Count de Soissons and promised to renounce all manner of Friendship with him if he behaved himself unworthy of the great favour his Majesty had shewn him in giving him leave to enjoy his Estate his Pensions and his Offices if he continued to act like an obedient Subject Upon this the King made a sort of a Declaration wherein he promised to leave the Duke and the Count in the possession of the above-mention'd Things upon condition they did nothing prejudicial to his Service After this the Duke ‡ The 8th of February Siri Mem. Rec. T. ◠p. 474. came to Orleans accompanied by the Cardinal de la Valette supp'd with the King visited the Cardinal-Duke and was received extreamly well altho' all the World despised him for his Weakness Even the Cardinal-Duke cou'd not forbear to rally him though he made him abundance of Compliments This Prince sent to acquaint the Count de Soissons with what had passed between the King and him and to let him know that if he had a mind to be comprehended in this Treaty he had a Months time allow'd him to consider of it and that in case he accepted it he might either stay in his Government of Champagne with all safety or come back to Court The same day that the Duke of Orleans saw the King His * See the Collection of the Mem. of Aub. T. 2. p. 18. Majesty sent Orders to the Countess of Soissons who was at Paris to retire to Creil a small Town in the Isle of France for fear lest she shou'd form any Cabals at Paris in favour of her son In the mean time this Prince received the Advice which Monsieur sent him and after he had complain'd of his Inconstancy he †Aubety ' s Mem. T. 2. p. 20. answered that he was very glad that the Duke of Orleans had given content to the King but as for himself who had left the Court for no other Reasons but for the Interests of the Duke and his own proper Security all that he desired was to live in quiet at Sedan as his Majesty had promised he might do That if it were lawful for him to complain he might complain that in the Declaration which was published in favour of Monsieur the King pardons him a fault which he had never committed since the King had not disapproved his retiring to Sedan that he might add to this the ill Treatment they had shewn the Countess his Mother and that they pretended to take away from him his Estate his Pensions and his Governments Although this Answer shew'd much more Resolution than the Duke of Orleans had expressed yet the Count de Soissons was not the worse used for that On the other hand the Cardinal fearing lest if the Enemy happen'd to make such a Campaign this Year as they did the Year before and cou'd bring the Count over to their Party they wou'd occasion infinite Disorders in the State prevailed with the King to send the Count de Brion to Sedan to hinder the Prince from bending his Thoughts that way The King and the Cardinal writ to him some time after * The 27th of March. in very obliging terms and in his Answers the Count exprest a great deal of †The 6th of April Mem. d' Aub. T. 2. c. 21. Submission to the King and Civility to the Minister but wou'd not own that he had committed any fault In the mean time the Cardinal came to be informed that this Prince who was mightily beloved by the Soldiers had sent several †Aubery 's Life of the Card. Lib. 5. Cap. 49. Emissaries to the King's Armies to endeavour to debauch several Officers there and bring them over to his own Party Besides this it was * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 474. discovered by the means of Father Hilarion a Capuchin whom the Court sent to him to induce him to reconcile himself with the King or to know his last Resolution that he was upon the point of concluding a Treaty with the Emperour and the Cardinal-Infanta by the Intervention of the Queen-Mother The Cardinal-Infanta offer'd to furnish him with Money to raise a new Body of an Army and the Emperour granted him the Title of General to command the Troops of Piccolomini to which the Duke of Bouillon was to joyn some others The Cardinal had notice of this and fearing the fatal consequences of this Treaty sent la Croisette a Gentleman of the Duke of Longueville to Sedan as in the name of the Countess of Soissons not believing that the King cou'd in honour send any one in his own name after he knew how far the Court had advanced La Croisette knew so well how to manage the Count that he delay'd to sign the Treaty which St. Yval brought him out of the Low-Countries and gave his Word that he wou'd not engage himself till he knew whether his Majesty wou'd grant what he demanded of him La Croisette returning with all speed to the Court obtain'd in a manner all that the Count pretended to and went immediately to * The 14th of July carry him this News to Sedan The King gave him leave to †See the Mem. of Aub. T. 2. p. 21. reside at Sedan or any other City he shou'd pitch upon in his Government of Champagne in case he wou'd not come to Court or in any Foreign City that was not suspected for four Years unless his Majesty sent for him to serve him in any important Affairs that then he shou'd be obliged to come and that till then they wou'd not interpret his Absence to be a Crime against the State or a Disobedience The same Articles specified That during the space of four Years the King shou'd furnish him with 25000 Crowns a year to be employ'd in the Payment of the Garrison of Sedan That the Duke of Bouillon should be paid all that was due to him and that the King shou'd testifie to him that he was well pleased with him for assisting the Count and that he should augment his Revenue with 15000 Crowns by reason of his Alliance That the Count shou'd enjoy his Estates Functions Offices Benefice and Emoluments That the King shou'd publish a Declaration
place reduced to the last extremity were resolved to attempt the Relief of it * The 7th of Sâ—pt Sirâ— Mem. Rec. T. 8 p. 636. Accordingly they Marched by broad-day-light to Attack the Lines of the French The advanced-Guards were beaten back at the first Onset and as they retired within the nearest Redoubts by leaping over the Ditch the Spanish Troop follow'd them the same way The Quarter belonging to the Marquiss de la Force which they attack'd the first was immediately carried and the Spaniards that first entred it turning the Canon against the French who fled in so great a disorder that the Marquiss was not able by all the Arguments he could use to make them rally In the mean time the Officers who still kept their ground sent for the Prince's Order to know whether they should retire or Charge the Enemy but he beholding the Confusion despaired of being able to retrieve it so he Embarked in a good time in a Vessel which carried him to St. John de Luz They sent to find the Duke de la Valette in his Quarter but before this happen'd he had resign'd his Post to the Arch-bishop by the Prince's Order and was a League from thence As for the Archbishop of Bourdeaux he Shipt his Men and likewise retired In the mean time the Duke de la Valette being informed by some Fugitives That the Enemy had forced the Lines and that all was in disorder ran to his Quarter to endeavour to rally as many of his Men as he was able or at least to give them Orders to make their Retreat in the most advantageous manner they could But the General having disappear'd as well as the Naval Forces the rest retired in confusion leaving all their Baggage Artillery and Ammunition behind them The Spaniards chiefly employ'd in Pillaging the Camp did not pursue them so that the French lost but very few Men in the retreat Thus the Prince of Conde who in these matters could neither give nor follow good Advice was defeated by an Army which was in all Respects inferiour to his own To excuse himself he laid the fault upon the Duke de la Valette as if he had been the occasion why this Place was not taken in the space of Two months which before another General could not have held out Fifteen days considering the condition it was in The Cardinal who durst not fall out with the Prince but was incens'd to the utmost degree to see a design of his own projecting mis-carry like those of the Count-Duke against France resolved to ruine the Duke de la Valette notwithstanding the great Friendship that was between him and the Cardinal his Brother who durst not undertake to desend him unless he was found innocent As for the Accusation of Cowardice which some laid to his charge he boldly maintain'd that it was false but he durst not wholly excuse him from jealousie In the mean time the D. de la Valette retired into England altho' he was sent for to Court The Cardinal his Brother had a meanness of Soul so directly opposite to the Matchless bravery of the D. of Espernon their Father that this Gallant Old Man was us'd to call him not the Cardinal de la Valette but the Valet of a Cardinal But the Cardinal-Duke would entertain none for his Friends but such as were blindly devoted to all his Passions A little before this Miscarriage * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 660. the Cardinal-Duke receiv'd advice That Fifteen Spanish Gallies Commanded by Don Rodrigo de Velasco were beaten by the Marquiss de Pont-Courlas General of the French Gallies who had with him the same number After an obstinate dispute which lasted some hours in the sight of Genoua the Spaniards lost Six Gallies and the French Three and then they retired in sufficient disorder on both sides At the Spring of this year Queen Ann of Austria perceived that she was big with Child after she had been now Married Two and twenty years which occasioned extraordinary Rejoycing at Court In the mean time the Cardinal having discover'd that this Princess maintain'd a Correspondence by way of Letters with the Cardinal-Infanta her Brother treated her after a manner that was enough to doe her a great deal of Mischief so little did he regard what the World said of him This correspondence was onely concerning a Peace which the Queen had reason to consider as a Work extreaâ—ly pleasing to God and very advantageous to the People who were drained and oppressed on all sides Great Provinces were wholly depopulated without any considerable advantages obtained either on this or t'other part merely to satisfie the ambitious pretensions of the Swedes or of the Cardinal against the House of Austria The manner of their keeping this private Commerce was as follows The Cardinal Infanta's Letters were delivered to a certain Nun of Val de Grace who hid them in the Closet of an Oratory which the Queen had in that Convent and whither she frequently went The Queen likewise left her own in the same place and this Nun took care to fetch and give them to one la Porte who sent them to Brussels The Cardinal who had more persons to spy even the least Actions of the King and Queen than those were to watch his own came to be acquainted with it and as he looked upon a Peace as a thing that would prove fatal to his Grandeur he resolved to break off this Correspondence whatever it cost him He had effectually possessed the King with deep prejudices against the Queen ever since she engaged her Self in Cabals opposite to his Authority as I have elsewhere observed So it was no difficult matter for him to make His Majesty believe how dangerous it was to suffer the Queen to Write to a Declared Enemy of the State Having therefore order'd la Porte to be apprehended he was minded to Interrogate him himself to effect which he repair'd to Chavigny's Apartment and threw himself upon his Bed after he had order'd the Curtains to be drawn that so he might discourse him without being seen Then la Porte was order'd to come into the Room and the Cardinal began to question him in a Counterfeit-Voice But this new manner of examining a Prisoner did not succeed as he imagin'd for la Porte knew his Voice immediately and stood upon his Guard Upon this he order'd the Chancellor to go to Val de Grace to the Queen's Oratory and there to seize the Letters of Her Majesty and the Cardinal-Infanta The Chancellor however he was intirely devoted to him yet apprehensive of what might hereafter happen to him from the Queen's part was for finding out a way to obey the Cardinal without offending the Queen too much and therefore gave her private Intimation of the Command he had received This Princess having no body about her to Consult in this strange Conjuncture sent the Marchioness de Sennecey to the Marquiss de Puysieux who ever
into some composition and seem'd to repent that he had provok'd so many people to despair who were really in a better case to make themselves be fear'd than he at first imagin'd Thus when the Ambassador of the States General spoke to the Cardinal of the Mediation of his Masters to accommodate this affair by reason of the interest which the Prince of Orange had in the Duke of Bouillon's preservation he was at first listned to by the Minister with great attention Another thing happen'd at this time which gave him a great deal of disturbance He learnt of the King that Bullion the Superintendant of the Finances had told him that all the Money for the Marine and the Artillery was spent The Cardinal was Intendant of the Marine and his Cousin the Mareschal de la Meilleraye Grand Master of the Artillery That the Cardinal was the Author of this War and only kept it up for his private ends That he knew not where to find any more Money to support it but that if he would be pleased to grant a few years Peace to his Kingdom he would take care to lay up such considerable summs that they should be sufficient to carry on any design whatever in which his Majesty had a mind to engage himself At last Bullion begg'd of his Majesty not to speak a syllable of this to his Eminence because if he came to know of it he would never suffer him to dye in his Bed The King gave him his promise and believing what he told him was true kept his word with him and said nothing of it to the Cardinal till the Superintendant was dead The haughty Minister answer'd the King That he was sorry his Majesty cited a dead Witness and the King replyed That he had forborn to speak of it while Bullion was alive because the latter told him that if the Cardinal knew of it he should certainly be destroy'd The Negotiation of the Ambassador of the States came to nothing not from the Cardinal 's being inflexible but because the Duke of Bouillon rejected the propositions which the Ambassador made Whether he was of opinion that it was to no purpose to reconcile himself to a man whose hatred was never extinguish'd but only in appearance or whether his vanity kept him from making any submissions to his Enemy as it was proposed to him he resolved to see whether he might not gain some advantage by force of arms before he made an Accommodation * See an Abridgm of the Gampagne of 1641. in Aubery's Mem. T 2. p. 135. The Mareschal de Chatillon went to put himself at the head of the Army of Champagne in May and the King advanced as far as Abbeville to be nearer Artois where he design'd to besiege Aire as we have already taken notice Here the King published a Declaration bearing date on the 8th of June * See it in the Mem. of Montresor p. 365. wherein after he had observ'd that the Princes who were at Sedan had committed several hostilities and joyned themselves to Spain he order'd all his Subjects to take them for declared Enemies if they did not within a month acknowledge their fault and submit themselves to his Majesty's Clemency In answer to this Declaration the Princes made a long Manifesto dated the 2d of July but it did not appear in public till after the Battel of Sedan which put an end to this Affair However as it was purposely contriv'd to serve as a Foundation for a longer War I will give the Reader an Abridgment of it before I proceed to the relation of that Battel It was entituled * Ib. 373. a Manifesto for the satisfaction of the Princes of the Peace tho the Count of Soissons only speaks After he had said that his Conscience obliged him to publish the ill designs of the Cardinal which he had so long forborn to do that his Majesty might have the entire Glory of chastising this imperious Minister who had assumed upon him the Royal authority he continues That it was four years since he had been obliged to retire to Sedan to live there in security and that he had refused to go any where else that he might not give the Cardinal an opportunity to accuse him of being an Enemy to France That nevertheless the Cardinal had sought all imaginable means to destroy him and to make himself master of Sedan altho the D. of Bouillon had not done any thing which ought to deprive him of his Majesty's protection That no ways had been left unattempted to acquaint the King with the ill conduct of his Minister but that this had produced no other effect but the imprisonment and ruin of those persons who had done it That consequently there was a necessity to employ the noise of arms that equity and reason might be heard That after several deliberations in concert with the Dukes of Guise and of Bouillon and several other Princes and Officers of the Crown he declared the Cardinal to be the greatest and most dangerous Enemy of the King and State That he had made himself master of the strongest places of the Kingdom and seized the Mouths of the principal Rivers Ports and Islands in the Ocean and in general all the securities of France That to maintain himself in this Usurpation he ruin'd the rest of the Kingdom by War to put the people out of a condition to recover what he had usurped That he designed to deliver the King into the hands of those to whom he was allied he means the Duke of Enguien who had lately married one of his Nieces and that he endeavour'd to approach the Crown altho it was the interest of France to keep him at a distance from it That if he could not accomplish this design he was in a condition to give his Relations the Keys of the Realm to open and shut the gates of Traffick and starve the great Cities when they pleased That the King and Monsieur perceived it well enough but durst not speak of it and that the Count of Soissons affirmed it in the name of the whole Royal Family That this design of his evidently appear'd in that he had made the best years of the Duke and Dutchess of Orleans barren That there was reason to fear that he design'd to secure himself from the power of his Majesty's Justice that so he might not give an account of his unjust misapplication of the Finances and the suppression of so many innocent people That he had rashly engaged the reputation of the King dissipated his Treasures prodigally thrown away the Blood of the Nobility and Souldiers and reduced the people to the last misery to satisfy his passions and carry on his own particular quarrels That the only reason why he had declar'd the War was to support his own authority which he thought he should never be able to preserve but in times of trouble That he had rendred all those whom he design'd to destroy
suspected of High Treason in order to turn them out of their places which he either took into his own hands or conferr'd upon those that promised to maintain him in his Tyranny That he had ruin'd the best Families in the Kingdom to raise his own and had reduced several good Houses to misery to inrich persons of no merit birth and fortune That he drained France of its Money to send it in specie to foreign Countries and fill'd the Kingdom with Money of a base allay That he had bought at too excessive rates both of the Swedes and others places which he was not able to keep as Philipsburg or must when a Peace comes surrender without reimbursement as Brisac and others That he had indiscreetly squander'd away the Finances in Italy to acquire himself friends whom he afterwards ruin'd and thus render'd the protection which his Majesty had given to the Dukes of Mantua Parma and Savoy contemptible and of no effect That he had made some attempts in Spain which only tended to the dishonour of France and gain'd some Conquests in the Low Countries which were a charge to the State and only proper to render the War everlasting That he had burthen'd the Kingdom with an infinite number of Officers and dryed up the ordinary sources of the Finances by selling or engaging the Demeans and Aids to so high a price that a man could not make up his Money again without committing a great deal of injustice That he had forced several Orders to elect him for their General as the Cistercians the Clarevallenses and the Praemonstratenses by imprisoning abundance of the Religious who would not give him their Votes That as for the other Orders he had engag'd them by a thousand artifices to elect Vicar Generals in France that they might have no more communication with Rome and that he might make himself Head of the Gallican Church for Spirituals as well as Temporals That the King had no Allies that could assist him as being all a charge to his Majesty and only able to make feeble diversions at the expence of France That those whom the Cardinal thought capable to oppose his arbritary proceeding had been delivered into the hands of the Executioner after they had been condemned by wicked corrupt Commissioners of his own nomination or rotted in Prison or were banish'd the Court That he with inhuman ingratitude had turn'd out the Queen Mother and treated all the Princes and Noblemen of the Kingdom in a most arrogant manner That he had violated or annihilated all the Laws and all the Ordinances of the Kingdom under the specious pretence of the absolute will and authority of the King That he had robbed the Provinces and communities of their ancient Franchises and vacated the contracts they had made with former Kings That he had grosly abused the Princes Dukes Peers Mareschals of France and other Officers of the Crown That he had caused several innocent Noblemen to be Condemned by Commissioners dependant upon himself and imprison'd them without any form of process That some Bishops had been judg'd contrary to the known Laws of the Land other Ecclesiasties depriv'd of their Benefices and all of them obliged besides the ordinary tenths to pay prodigious sums and more than one third of their revenue to maintain a company of Pyrates at Sea that were commanded by an Archbishop and by Land an Army of sacrilegious Ruffians that pillag'd Churches and were set on by a Cardinal That he had treated in a most extreme ill manner the two Archbishops Presidents of the last Assembly of the Clergy for representing to him the miserable condition of the Ecclesiastics of France who had given five millions and a half above the ordinary Tenths That several Noblemen had been severely fined forced to the Arriere-ban and deprived of their employments meerly because they were not of his Faction That the Presidents and Counsellors of the Soveraign Courts had been suspended turn'd out and imprison'd when they spoke for the real advantage of the King and People or opposed his innovations which tended to the disgrace and ruin of the Kingdom That several Officers of Justice and the Finances had been undone by researches and new regulations That the City of Paris after all the extraordinary Aids they had given his Majesty had been severely taxed like other Towns and that its Burghers had been taxed at discretion under the pretty name of Benevolences That all the rest that had been exempt from such burthens were to pay so long as Cardinal Richlieu continued in the Ministry That great imposts were laid upon merchandise and that they levied the twentieth penny upon the most necessary things belonging to humane life That the Country was desolated by Soldiers and the keepers of Salt which reduced the poor Peasants to the â—â—od and hard lâ—dgings of Bâ—asts or forced them to dye of Famine or to take Arms or to â—â—g that agriculture was stopt which infinitely incommoded in Ecclesiastics the Nobility and the Burghers These were the complaints brought against Cardinal Richlieu the greatest part of which were without question very wâ—ll grounded The mischief was that the world believâ—d that if thâ—se who â—â—â—surâ—d his conduct with so much reâ—son had been to take his place they would have 〈◊〉 the same violâ—â—ces and yet had 〈…〉 capable to carry it oft with a quarter of that â—â—od management which the â—â—â—dinal discoverâ—d Lest these discountâ—â—â—d Princes and Loâ—ds should be branded for being 〈◊〉 to thâ—e 〈◊〉 they said that they had 〈…〉 that the Emperour and King of Spain should lay down their Arms along with them so soon as they could coâ—oâ—ntly obâ—â—ing sure and honour 〈…〉 they believed 〈…〉 had power to break it as he had 〈…〉 of Ratisbone and 〈…〉 every one 〈…〉 joy what of right 〈…〉 to him 〈…〉 up Arms with no other 〈…〉 peace which the Cardinal 〈…〉 to deâ—iâ—e but did not so in 〈…〉 natural they should defend themselves 〈…〉 as they were able against the violent and 〈…〉 proceedings of the Minisâ—â—â— In 〈…〉 the three Eâ—tates of the Kingdom to 〈…〉 satisfaction for 〈…〉 had done them 〈…〉 such as 〈…〉 The Paâ—◠〈…〉 the Mareschal de Chatillon enter'd into the Principality of Sedan before the Enemies were in a condition to take the Field without doing any thing remarkable there But Lamboi having joyn'd these Princes at the beginning of July they marched together on the 5th of that month with eight thousand Foot and two thousand Horse to fight the Mareschal who had a thousand Horse and a thousand Foot more than they had * Siri Mer. T. 1. l. 2. p. 418. The Relation of the Battel of Sedan in the Mem. of Montresor p. 398. The Mareschal had positive Orders not to hazard a Battel and he only propos'd to himself to hinder them from passing the Meuse and entering the Kingdom according to the instructions he had received But the Enemies having passed the River within a quarter of a
quick and lively and at the same time piercing and vast and capable of all affairs of State His Judgment was profound and solid in these sorts of things He could not bear an injury and nothing was more agreeable and pleasing to him than Revenge He was proud and choleric yet at the same time affable and full of sweetness and civility He discoursed easily and with eloquence enough a talent which he had acquired and cultivated by study as well as by practice He was not destitute of Learning which he had carried to a much higher pitch if he had continued his studies with the same warmth and industry as he began them He was courageous and undaunted in time of danger where the State was concerned and â—un great hazards altho he is accused of fearfulness in his own private affairs When they did not succeed he was cast down and dejected but when Fortunâ— smil'd upon him and he had compass'd what he â—esired nothing could be more haughty more imperious and insulting He loved Flattery in a most excessive manner and complements never pleased him heartily but when they were gigantick and extremely Hyperbolical Besides a world of Political Maxims observed by this Minister which may easily be found out in the perusal of this History and consequently need not to be repeated in this place * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 670. 't is said he had three beloved ones which are worthy of observation and were principally learnt from himself I. He said that in matters of great importance he had frequently experimented it that persons of the least wisdom oftentimes gave the best expedients For this reason he concluded that a man ought always to take advice II. He said that those resolutions which he had taken up in a heat and passion had always succeeded ill with him and that he had heartily repented of them III. He has been heard to say that men of Quality ought to take great care that the Servants they keep in their Chamber or about their persons be not too penetrating because it may so happen that by the least word nay even by the least sign they may in spite of themselves discover their most secret sentiments and their most hidden designs Those who were Favourites of the King after the * Siri Merc. T. 2. l. 8. Constable de Luines as for example Baradas and S. Simon were content to enjoy his Majesty's favour without concerning themselves with State affairs but the Cardinal was no sooner taken into favour but he undertook the administration of every thing He was arbitrator of all the deliberations in respect of Peace and of War Master of the Finances and dispenser of all the King's favours He disposed of the strongest places belonging to the State and of all Offices that depended upon the Court so that the greatest persons strove for his favour with no less zeal and application than even the meanest The King had an extraordinary affection for him at first but this friendship was mightily lessen'd in his latter years through the too assuming behaviour of the Cardinal who often treated him as his equal Nevertheless the natural fearfulness of Lewis XIII and the great services of this Minister hindered him from finding any ill effects of this coldness The King had more than once shown himself somewhat inclined to discard him from all publick business especially when he sent him word by the Duke of Angouleme as some report that he thought it proper for him to dismiss his Guards which had been granted him for his security To which the Cardinal made answer that he was ready to obey his Majesty in that and every thing besides but that while the King made use of his person he would pretend to live in safety and to preserve himself from those Conspiracies which some factious persons might form against him For fear of being overwhelmed under the weight of public affairs which the weakness of his constitution would not suffer him to attend perpetually he assigned certain hours for recreation where he would not hear the least mention made of any thing that demanded too much application For this reason he kept Boisrobert about him who diverted him with a thousand agreeable stories and told him all the news of the Court and City proper to make him laugh Among his other amusements we may reckon the great pleasure he took to speak of the French Language and Poetry The Author of the History of the Academy has related several considerable stories to this purpose which I shall not set down here because I have proposed to my self to write the History of the Cardinal's Ministry and not of his private diversions The Reader may consult the above-mentioned Author as for what he says of our Minister upon the occasion of his establishing the French Academy Nay he gave orders that no difficult affairs should be proposed to him but one after another and he employ'd both for his own in particular and for those of the State de Noyers Bouthillier and Chavigni altho there were some which he only communicated to the King After he had taken such measures as he judged necessary for the preservation of his own person he thought of nothing with more application than how to maintain himself in this eminent post which it was no easie matter for him to do by reason of the great numbers of envious and disaffected people whom he had made Daily endeavours were used to possess the King with suspicions to the disadvantage of our Minister and 't is certain that this inconstant distrustful Prince whose dark Genius was so hard to be found out gave him no small trouble And therefore to hinder his Majesty from being prejudic'd against him before he could be able to justifie himself he took care to remove all those persons from about him whom he in the least suspected and only left such near him as depended absolutely upon himself As he saw that the King was scrupulous and that the fear of doing something against his Conscience held him sometimes in a long deliberation prejudicial to the affairs of the State he would be the director of his Conscience and ease him of those scruples which embarass'd him He pretended that the Kings Confessor ought to follow his Maxims and got Father Gaussin the Jesuit to be dismissed because he would not be obedient to him The greatest ambition of this Minister was to reign and make a noise in the world to which end it behoved him to preserve himself in his post and to render himself absolutely necessary to the King This he effected by engaging him everlastingly in some new enterprize or other because it was an infallible Maxim with this Prince never to part with any Minister till he had concluded the affairs which he had begun and besides he did not look upon himself to be able to govern the State of himself He saw that the King on one side was but indifferently affected
to have six thousand Men and a Supply of Money from Spain but the Sum which he received from them did not amount to above fifty thousand Crowns and it was late enough before it was remitted to him As for their Succours of Men they came not at all So that when Monsieur entred into Languedoc he was not in a condition to oppose the King's Forces Nevertheless there was a necessity to receive him and he entred into Lunel on the 13th of July after having secured some few Places to himself He had a considerable sum of Money at his Palace in Paris which he expected to receive in a short time but the Court having had notice of his Designs stopped it so that Monsieur 's Party was in a manner destitute of every thing and when the King begun his March to go and joyn Mareschal Schomberg who followed the Duke of Orleans he was not in a condition to make a long resistance if the Royal Armies had been once joyned together Monsieur had then Two thousand Foot and Three thousand Horse with abundance of Voluntiers and Three Pieces of Canon And Mareschal Schomberg had not yet above a Thousand Foot and Twelve hundred Horse without Artillery The Mareschal being advanced near to Castelnaudarry drew up his Troops in Battel on the First of September the Enemy being not far from him Whether the Duke of Montmorency was desirous to open the Campagne with some Action that might give reputation to his Party or whether he judged it expedient to fight the Royal Army while they were inferiour to him in number he took upon himself the Command of the Van of the Army and Monsieur that of the Main Body * Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 7. p. 555. Aubery Lib. 4. c. 31. Pontis Memcirs p. 2. p. 26. Having put himself at the head of the Counts of Moret of Rieux and of Feuillade he resolved to go and support the first Files who were ordered to possess themselves of an Advantageous Post The Count de Moret was the first who fell upon the King's Horse and put them into disorder and Montmorency perceiving it pour'd in full speed with very few Men and forgetting to discharge the part of a General he exposed himself to all the dangers of a Private Souldier and fought with extraordinary bravery Upon this some Foot who were laid in an Ambush in the Ditches suddenly got up and made their Discharge so fortunately that the Counts of Moret of Rieux of Feuillade and several Officers were killed and the Duke of Montmorency wounded in several parts of his Body He might have withdrawn himself if at the same time his Horse being wounded had not dropt down under him so that a little while after he was made Prisoner and carried to Lectoure The rest of Monsieur's Army seeing themselves deprived of a considerable number of the Principal Officers in stead of being animated to a revenge of their death or going to free them from the hands of their Enemies retired without fighting Not long after the Foot were wholly dispersed and Monsieur retired with his Horse to Beziers while some Towns that had declared for him returned to their former Allegiance and Duty The Duke of Orleans now begun to give great marks of Repentance for having engaged himself so far in an affair out of which he could not disengage himself with Honour and Bullion who after some Negotiations to no purpose went to see him from the King obliged him in a few days to Sign an Accommodation against the Mind of the greatest part of his Domesticks The chiefest difficulty which lay in the way was concerning the Duke of Montmorency whom Monsieur would absolutely have restored to the enjoyment of his Liberty Honours and Estate * Seâ— Gaston's Letter to the King dated from Montereau the 13th of Nov. 1632. in the Hist of Lewis XIII by Ch. Bernard Lib. 16. Bullion told this Prince That the best and onely way he had to obtain what he requested was to submit himself wholly to the King's Will that to desire an assurance of it would be a Provocation to him and an offence to that Trust he ought to have in his Clemency That this being a Pardon which was wholly to redound to the King's Glory he wrong'd the Duke of Montmonency in not leaving it at His Majesty's Disposition that the blind obedience he show'd the King upon this occasion ought to put him out of fear and give him hopes as certain as he could desire These Discourses of Bullion perswaded the Duke That he had Orders from the King to speak to him in this manner and hindred Gaston from drawing any positive word for the liberty of the Duke of Montmorency Whether Puilaurens and the rest whose Advice Monsieur required in every thing were not sorry to see the Duke of Montmorency sacrificed or whether they did not perceive the Artifice of Bullion certain it is that they committed in this occasion a prodigious fault which discredited their Party for good and all Thus did it appear evidently by Monsieur's Conduct that those who Govern'd him were not able to deceive any body but himself They could easily bring him to shew his Dissatisfaction against the Court but knew not to re-establish his Affairs upon a solid foundation nor to put themselves into a condition to improve to their advantage that exceeding power they had over his Inclinations The Treaty of Accommodation * Hist of Lewis XIII by Ch. Bernard Lib. 16. was to this effect That Monsieur should acknowledge his Fault in Writing and desire the King to Pardon him That he should give all reasonable and possible assurances not to commit any such transgression for the future That in order to this he should Promise to leave all sorts of Cabals in and out of the Kingdom and under no pretence and in no manner whatsoever to Maintain any Intelligence with the Spaniards Lorrainers or other Princes nor with the Queen-Mother while she continued in her present Circumstances nor with any body in the Kingdom against His Majesty's good pleasure and to remain where His Majesty should be pleased to appoint him and to live there as a true Brother and Subject That he should not concern himself for those who had joyned with him in these occasions to promote their own Affairs at his Cost and the prejudice of the Nation and should not pretend to have occasion of complaint given him if the King at any time should punish them as they deserved out of which number were excepted his Domesticks who were then with him That he should not demand any particular Pardon for those Strangers who Accompanied him but that the King out of his meer bounty and goodness should grant them six days to withdraw into Rousillon That he should fill the vacant Offices of his House and among the rest namely that of Chancellour with Persons nominated by the King and if His Majesty was displeased with any of them he should
and danger of being discover'd The Cardinal told the King in Council That Henry the 4th wou'd never have let slip such an occasion but that regard must be had to the time That the King was without Children and that Monsieur the Presumptive Heir of the Crown was in Flanders with the Queen-Mother That the King's Constitution was not strong enough to engage him in a War which wou'd exceedingly fatigue both his Body and Mind That upon this occasion the Court must of necessity be at a great distance from Paris That the King's Exchequer was exhausted That the zealous Catholicks wou'd exclaim more than ever that this War was carried on to favour the Hereticks That they wou'd be obliged at the same time to keep up Considerable Armies in Champagne and Italy because there was good reason to distrust the Dukes of Savoy and Lorrain That it was the Genius of the French Nation to be equally weary of War and Peace That if the King was once engaged in a War the Governours of the Provinces wou'd more easily declare for the Duke of Orleans That the least ill success as the loss of a Town or a Battel wou'd be enough to cause terrible Convulsions in the State That in case His Majesty happen'd to fall sick his Servants wou'd be lost to all intents and therefore though it was probable that some Advantages were to be got by a Rupture with Spain yet it wou'd be better to live in Peace and be content with assisting their Enemies that so they might not have them upon their hands That the Money which the Hollanders demanded to continue the War against the Spaniards was ready so that now nothing remain'd to doe but onely to take care to execute the Project they had propos'd which was that if the King wou'd send Six thousand Foot and Six hundred Horse before Dunkirk they wou'd send their Army and Fleet to Attack that place as also to take Graveline which they offered to deliver up to France That nevertheless great care was to be taken least these Troops should occasion an open Rupture and for that Reason it wou'd be better to send them by Sea than by Land The Baron de Charnace Ambassadour to the States-General offer'd them the Troops above-mention'd and the Continuation of a Million of Livres for a year The States made some difficulty at first to accept of these offers but not being able to adjust Affairs with the Spaniards they grew weary of so tedious and tiresome a Negotiation They gave certain Articles in Writing to which they demanded to have an Answer in Fifteen days and if this were not done they declared they wou'd hear no mention of a Truce Upon this the Agents of Spain desiring a longer time the States rather chose to receive two thirds of a Million in ready Money which Charnace offer'd them than to wait any longer for the uncertain Resolutions of the Spaniards Thus the Dutch Army took the Field and began the War afresh by the taking of Rimberg which Surrendred on the 4th of June In the mean time the Spaniards discover'd the Conspiracy that had been agitated by some of the Nobility in Flanders who kept a secret Correspondence with the French and by making Examples of some kept the rest in their Duty And now France properly speaking was neither in Peace nor Open War with the House of Austria and the Two Crowns were inclin'd to follow that side which carried the greatest Advantages with it All this while the Spaniards and French crossed one anothers Designs by turns as far as was possible But the Count-Duke who Govern'd Spain being nothing comparable in dexterity to the Cardinal-Duke who was as it were the Soul of all the Counsels of France the Affairs of Spain went every day worse and worse To prevent a Communication between the States of the House of Austria the Duke of Rohan who had Resided at Venice ever since the Peace was concluded with the Huguenots had Orders sent him to repair to the Country of the Grisons in quality of the King's Ambassadour with those People and of Lieutenant-General of the Troops that were design'd to be raised there in order to secure himself of all the Passes of the Valteline The Spaniards immediately complained of this Infraction as well as of several others and made a Proposal to France to enter into a Negotiation to prevent the dangerous consequences which a Misunderstanding might produce The Cardinal openly declar'd to the Spanish Ambassadour That France desired to see a General Peace establish'd upon sure foundations and to preserve that which they had at present with Spain He added That the King was extreamly glad to hear that the Ambassadour had full Power to Treat but the Ambassadour Answer'd That he had no Commission to Propose any thing but upon the Foot of the Treaties of Querasque and Ratisbone The Nuncio's vainly Interpos'd to Accommodate the Differences between the Two Crowns and soon perceiv'd that all these General Discourses of a Peace and a Good Understanding which they pretended on both sides were onely so many Discourses in the Air which were purposely Trumped-up to gain Time till they saw what Resolutions were to be taken The Spaniards pretended that the French in case they design'd to observe the Treatics of Querasque and Ratisbone ought to deliver up Pignerol to abandon Casal and the Passes of the Valteline to draw their Garrisons out of Treves and other places which they held in that Archbishoprick to restore those which they had taken from the Duke of Lorrain and to meddle no more with the Affairs of the Empire To this the French Answer'd That they were ready to recall the Troops they had in Montferrat and in the Country of the Grisons so soon as they were secured that the Governour of Milan wou'd not think any more either of seizing Cazal or the Passes of the Valteline That as for Pignerol they had immediately put the Treaty of Querasque into execution and that if the Duke of Savoy had since sold it to the Crown of France they cou'd not see what exceptions cou'd fairly be made against it since the Spaniards were allow'd to buy Final and Monaco and several other places which depended neither upon the Kingdom of Naples nor the Dutchy of Milan That Pignerol was one of the Dependencies of Dauphine and that since it was now reunited to the Crown the King wou'd never suffer it to be dismembred from it That some of the places in Lorrain likewise were sold to the King and others by way of caution intrusted in his hands for a certain time That the Duke had been an enemy to himself by desâ—gning a mischief to France which cou'd not otherwise preserve her self from him That as for what respected Triers and some other places in that Arch-bishoprick if they had not fallen into His Majesty's hands they must of necessity have fallen into those of the Swedes and that it was much better
both for the Catholick Religion as for several other Reasons that they shou'd be in the hands of France That the Elector had implored his Protection when he saw his States upon the point of being lost and the House of Austria cou'd not hinder it That the King was very much grieved to see Germany in the condition it was in at present but that it was the consequence of the Invasion which the Spaniards design'd to make in Italy and that nevertheless the King had interposed as a Mediator between the Swedes and the House of Austria if he had seen that House in a disposition to have kept the Peace elsewhere and not to make any Attempts against France These were the Reasons which the Ministers of France made use of to justifie the King's Conduct in this conjuncture and in the mean time they forgot nothing which might irritate the Enemies of the House of Austria against her They promised the States-General of the Vnited-Provinces to carry on the War and they sent Money to the Duke of Rohan to distribute among the Grisons who complained they were not paid and to make new I evies in order to secure the Passes They complain'd in France that the Duke of Lorrain made every day new Infractions of the Treaty of Liverdun It was said That he raised Troops and then disbanded them upon the Frontiers that so they might pass into the Imperial or Spanish service nay that he gave them leave to make Levies in his Dominions He had surprized Molseim and ravag'd the Territory about Strasburg Deuxponts and Sarbruck He had obtained Saverne and Dachstein for Payment as 't was pretended of an old Debt of Two hundred thousand Crowns but what offended the Cardinal the most was that it came to be known that ever since the preceding year Monsieur had consummated his Marriage with the Princess Margaret second Sister to the Duke which had been manag'd so secretly that not so much as his Domesticks knew any thing of the matter * The 10th of June The Count de Vaudemont and the Princess of Phaltsburg had made up this Match and it was a long while before it came to be discover'd Although the Duke of Lorrain had wholly left all Correspondences that displeased the King and especially that which he had formerly kept with the D. of Orleans yet he had all along maintain'd it in private and the Cardinal who was resolv'd to bring Monsieur to such a pass that he must intirely depend upon him and who looked upon him as the principal support of the Queen-Mother cou'd not pardon those that assisted him in any manner whatsoever Things were in this condition when the King sent †Aubery 's Life of the Card Lib. 4. Cap. 37. Guron to the Duke of Lorrain to reproach him with his Violations of the Treaty of Liverdun and to demand Satisfaction of him for it The Duke being inform'd of his coming conceal'd himself so well in Nancy where he made his Residence that no body cou'd tell Guron where he was So that this Envoy was obliged to return to Metz without delivering his Message But soon after repenting of this unpolitick Trick he sent Guron word That he might find him such a day at Luxeville however when the Envoy of France came thither he cou'd not bring him to any reasonable Terms This made the King resolve to Treat him like a Rebellious Vassal and to Confiscate his Dutchy of Bar because he had not done Homage to the Crown for it The Attorney-General after he had Assign'd this matter to the Parliament of Paris pursu'd this Confiscation which he obtain'd by a Decree on the 30th of July At this time the Neighbourhood of the Swedes furnished the Duke with a pretence to give out Commissions to raise Eight thousand Foot and Fifteen hundred Horse hoping to be powerfully assisted by an Army of the Duke of Feria who crossing the Country of Luxemburg had now joyn'd the Imperial Troops in Alsatia Soon after the Swedes intirely defeated the Lorrain Troops near d'Haguenau and the Duke affrighted at this Accident and the King's preparations who Marched towards Lorrain at the Head of His Army sent the Cardinal his Brother to meet His Majesty on the way and appease Him This Prince went as far as * The 19th of August Mem. Rec. T. 7. p. 66◠Chateau-Thierry where on the very Night of his arrival he waited upon the King and Queen Next day the Cardinal-Duke made him a Visit and gave him abundance of civil words but very small hopes as to the Affairs of the Duke his Brother It was to no purpose that the Cardinal of Lorrain represented to him That this Prince had an intention to keep the Treaty of Liverdun and as little did it signifie to excuse the Infractions they reproached him with The Minister of Lewis the XIII answer'd That they were heartily sorry to find that the Effects did not agree with his Promises and that the King being now upon a Journey was not in a condition to hear any Talk of Business That in a few days His Majesty wou'd arrive at Bar and that the Duke of Lorrain might inform him nearer at hand which of the two ways either that of Gentleness or that of Force he wou'd have employ'd against him that they might be secure of him for the future The Cardinal of Lorrain protested that the Duke was ready to surrender all the Places he held in Alsatia to the King but this was not sufficient and to satisfie them that he wou'd break his Word no more with them it was propos'd That a French Garrison shou'd be left in Nancy the most considerable Place in all his Dominions Nay the Cardinal his Brother offer'd to consent to the dissolution of the Marriage between his Sister and the Duke of Orleans and begg'd pardon for it But the Cardinal-Duke told him That this Reparation did not equal the Injury that had been done to the King and that His Majesty found himself oblig'd to put the Duke of Lorrain out of a condition of being worse than his Word for the future that for this end it was necessary the King shou'd have Nancy by way of Caution which the Duke should forfeit for ever that very moment he attempted any thing against France The Cardinal of Lorrain reply'd That this was all one as to propose to his Brother to lose the remainder of his Dominions because such sort of Pawns are very rarely Deliver'd That it wou'd be too mean-spirited a condescension in a Prince to stoop so low as voluntarily to strip himself of his Territories in the way of Negotiation that it was too severe a Mortification to lose ones Honour and ones Country at the same time and that let the War succeed never so ill it was impossible for him to be a greater Sufferer That Lorrain was the Half-way-House between France and the States of the House of Austria and that the Dukes of Lorrain were