thousand Parisiens made them retire and from thence marching towards St. Denis where were 200 Swisses of the Kings Guards in Garrison and assailing those old and rotten walls they made themselves Masters of it taking those souldiers prisoners which were led to Paris in triumph But this City was soon recover'd by the Kings Forces commanded by the Sieur de Renville Colonel of Horse after which a Neutrality was granted to the Town of St. Denis upon condition that the Princes should also leave free the Passes of St. Cloud Neully Charenton and St. Maur. After these divers successes the Parliament assembled again and having heard the Relation made by the President Nesmond they determined to send him back to St. Germains to receive the Kings Answer which he had promised in three days But it being to the advantage of the Court to gain time Mazarine with great subtilty prolong'd the Resolutions keeping still the Treaties on foot not to put the people in despair and necessitate them when they should have no more hopes to declare for the Princes and for that cause the Duke d' Anville made divers journeys from Court to Paris on the Kings behalf managing dexterously the Treaty with the Princes who pressed more and more the Cardinals departure The Prince of Conde who by a particular gift of Nature was no less endowed with a most prudent faculty of discerning then with a marvellous and unparallel'd valor in Arms observing the instability of his Party grounded on uncertain and wavering designs he inclined to an agreement in any manner even without the removal of the Cardinal from the Ministry considering it better to treat with him who was of a sweet and gentle nature then others of a violent Genius as the Cardinal de Retz was reputed to be But the good intention of the Prince was diverted by his Kindred and Friends who declared that in such case they would forsake him and lastly by the Duke of Orleans sollicited thereunto by the Cardinal de Retz who was accused that for his private advantage he equally desired the ruine of the Prince and of Mazarine so that His Royal Highness vigorously opposed it and was cause that this Overture took no effect From S. Germain the Court removed to Melun for this City being upon the Sene and nearer to Estampes they might from hence with more ease send Supplies and Recruits to the Kings Camp stopping in the same time the Provisions which are wont to be brought down the River from those fertile Fields to Paris and here the King gave Order to Mareschal Turenne to endeavour what er'e came on 't to expugn Estampes and defeat the Army of the Princes who defending themselves bravely there followed many hot Skirmishes with no small slaughter of Souldiers and considerable Captains on either side wherefore the Princes perceiving that their Army would subsist a long time in Estampes sollicited the Spaniards that the Army of Duke Charles of Lorrain might advance to their succour The Ministers of Spain chearfully assenting to uphold the Party of the Princes and keep afoot the Civil War in France presently set themselves about it The Duke of Lorrain was wont every year to make a bargain with the Spaniards for the next Campania by which they obliged him for a certain summe of money to serve them with his Troops This year therefore 1652 they engaged him to pass into France to succour the Princes In pursuance of which accord he marched with his Army of 4000 Foot and about 5000 Horse with some Pieces of Artillery thorough Champagne towards the Sene to raise the Siege of Estampes leaving his Forces at Lagny he went to Paris where he was received with all the Honours wont to be given to a Prince of whom they stood in need At this news the Cardinal began to set his Wits at work and to give necessary Orders for securing the most important places He sought to gain Duke Charles by the mediation of the Dutchess of Chevreuse his Ally and of the same House She being a Lady of great sense and full of Intrigues making use of the natural jealousie wont to be betwixt the Princes of the Bloud and the Dukes of Lorrain and especially betwixt Conde and them who was much esteemed amongst the Spaniards she gave the Duke to understand that it would not turn to his benefit to assist them The Duke was convinc'd by her Reasons and inclin'd to imbrace her counsel so he could find a sufficient pretext to disingage himself from the Spaniards to whom he had promised to succour Estampes Mazarine sent the Marquess de Chasteauneuf to negotiate secretly with the Duke and they agreed together that to disingage his word and to keep himself from the blame he might incur he should raise the Siege of Estampes and the morning following that Turenne should retire from thence the Duke promis'd to retreat to the Frontier of the Kingdom to make a shew that it was not by compact but by reason of the State of the Kings Army that obliged him to take this course to which purpose they should furnish him with all necessary provisions The Princes knew him by his Conduct and by the difficulty he made in passing the Sene that he had intelligence with the Court wherefore they went to find him at his Camp and oblige him to pass the River but he represented to them that they ought to rest satisfied if so be he raised the Siege of Estampes and having some hopes that the Court would take the same resolution it was not necessary to engage himself further The Prince of Conde gave him to understand it was a small matter to cause the Siege to be raised if he did not give them the opportunity to put their Troops in safety because they could no longer subsist in a ruinated place so that after many Discourses the Duke permitted himself to be engaged before he was aware to give in writing a Declaration to the Princes by which he obliged himself to stay yet some days in the same Post upon the River Sene that in the mean while the Princes might withdraw their Troops from Estampes and come nearer Paris The Kings Army being retired from the Siege of Estampes and the Court seeing he failed in performing the private Treaty concluded with Chasteauneuf the Mareschal de Turenne by advice of Mazarine moved his Camp with expedition toward Corbeil with design to fight the Lorrainers before they should pass the River to joyn with the Princes Forces and they faced the Enemy so opportunely that being surprised and astonished doubting they should be engaged in fight they presently retired taking the advantage of the high Hills of Ville nieufve and S. George and putting themselves under covert of a little River that dischargeth it self into the Sene. The Kings Party advancing towards Corbeil took several prisoners which obliged Duke Charles to desire the Sieur de Beaulieu who was present with him to procure the fulfilling of the
the Dutchess of Chevreuse and the Marquess of Chasteauneuf Condé's Enemies endeavoured to separate the Duke of Orleans from the Prince and unite him to the Court that so remaining together near the King they might hinder the return of Mazarine and having ruined the Party of Condé get the management of Affairs into their own hands And this was the onely true cause of all the Caballs of these Lords for they had no ill will against the Kings service onely thought to do it handsomer then Mazarine did who was hated by many as a stranger and not beneficial Yet notwithstanding the troubles of the Court the Kings Troops went on with the Siege of Monterond and took it obliging the Defendants to yield it up for want of Provisions Brisac was likewise put into the Kings hands by the Mareschal of Guebriants Lady through the Address of Mazarine after strange occurrences happened in that place by the Intrigues of Charlevois who was taken prisoner and of the Count d' Harcourt who under some vain pretences that he was not secure at Court retired into that Fortress and staid there some time till he had spent all the Money he had got in managing the Kings Army in Guienne in which Affair Mazarine had the whole direction and ordered the matter so dexterously that the Count d' Harcourt refusing the Offers of the Spaniards and Imperialists returned at last to his due obedience The Princes in the mean time prosecuted their design to streighten so the Camp of Turenne that forcing them to quit the Post they might fight him and destroy him by the superiority of their Forces Turenne staid there with much hardship hoping to weary out the Parisiens and reduce them to their duty obliging them to drive away the strangers from the Town But all this while there happened no Action of moment because both Parties proceeded with caution and reserve lest they should receive any disaster so that the Countrey being on all sides overrun by the Souldiers Paris chiefly found the trouble and incommodity none being secure to traffick without the gates without danger of being robb'd and kill'd Upon these disorders the Townesmen began to frequent the Assemblies more then ordinary to devise how to free themselves from these tedeous miseries The 5th of September it was resolved on in the Town-house to send some of the Body of the City to supplicate the King to come to Paris For the same effect the Clergy likewise deputed some of theirs and the Cardinal de Retz was chosen their Head as Coadjutor of that Archbishoprick He went in a very splendid Equipage and made a most elegant Oration to their Majesties exhorting them to return to Paris The motive of this his going as the report went was to gratifie the Parisiens in their desire for the Courts return to gain the credit as Mediator of so great a work for the universal good and drawing advantage by Mazarines absence render himself necessary at Court gain the Kings favour and by means of the Duke of Orleans make his way The Kings answer was in general and like to the others formerly given to those that went upon the same account which was that he was ready to grant their request whensoever the Enemies of the publick peace should be driven away And this was the result and drift of the Court according to the advice of Mazarine to stir up the City against the Princes who though they laboured all they could to make them understand that the Amnesty given at Pontoise was full of Prevarication they could not so prevail but the major part accepted it and not onely in Paris but also in Bourdeaux it caused some dispute 'T is true that the Princess of Condé the Prince of Conty the Dutchess of Longueville and others being in this remote City their Presence and Authority prevailed The new Council of the Ormiera determined not to permit by any means the Parlement to accept it without the consent of the Prince of Condé The Bourdelois were in this point more resolute and constant because the Kings Army in Guienne wanting a General after the departure of the Count d' Harcourt they hoped encouraged thereunto by Count Marcin to recover the Towns and places possessed by the said Count d' Harcourt especially the Kings Troops being grown lasie and negligent they let Marsin attempt what he pleased Wherefore it being necessary to provide another Chief by the counsel of Mazarine the Government of the Army and the Province was conferred on the Duke of Candale onely Son of the Duke of Espernon a young Prince sprightly and generous and valiant above measure who undertook divers Enterprises and finally constrained the Bourdolois to return to their obedience THE HISTORY Of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE LIB III. AT the same time the Duke de Mercoeur was in Provence with Commissions for Governour of that Province yet without the dismission of the Duke of Angoulesme who was the true Governour but by order of the King was kept Prisoner in Berry because having promised His Majesty not to go into Provence without his Permission but to stay at Paris he notwithstanding afterwards under colour of going to his estate went out of the way with design as it was discovered by Mazarine to foment the sedition begun in the City of Tolon by this imprisonment with the diligence of the Duke of Mercoeur and the direction of Cardinal Mazarine Tolon was restored to its former obedience and the gates were opened to the Kings Troops and all the Province thereupon kept in peace which was otherwise threatned with sedition and troubles The Duke of Angoulesme remained prisoner three months but afterwards the King being assured by the promises and good intentions of the Dutchess his wife and by the interposition of the Duke of Joyeuse his son-in-law he was set free the beginning of October following and was permitted to stay in Paris and at Court keeping all this while the Patents of Governour of Provence but few months after he passed to another life and with his death his Family was extinct At the same time that the Cardinal of Retz with the other Deputies of the Clergy were compleating their business with their Majesties at Compeigne the Deputation of the Commons of Paris was sent back by the King with the Answer which followeth That his Majesty always preserving a gracious inclination for his good City of Paris and having a perfect knowledge of their fidelity and disposition to his service and their due obedience did suffer an unspeakable grief of heart to understand the oppression which it underwent and particularly since the fourth of July all seeming to be perverted which he had endeavor'd to make known his right intentions in opposition to that malice and violence through which those Conflagrations Massacres and other strange effects had taken place for no other end then to turn away his faithful subjects from their obedience that the Officers and lawful Magistrates
to go to Liege by Sea or by Land as he pleas'd it being his native Country and the same to the Count de Mora the Marquess of Lusignan Lenet and the rest if they refus'd the benefit of the Amnesty Some difficulties arose about the Gens d'armes the Princes Guards and the Regiment of Enguien the Generals pretending that those Troops belonging to the King they ought either to be disbanded or entred again into his Majesties service but the Example of the Capitulation at Bellegard prevailing They consented that they should have ticketts given them for quarters till they came to the Frontiers of the Kingdom The Regiments of Marque and Marquese with the rest of the Princes party were all of them disbanded The Irish had leave to retire into Spain having secretly treated with the French Generals The Castles were surrendred the Prisoners released but the dismantling of Fort Caesar Bourg and Libourne and other places upon the River was referr'd to the pleasure of the King There was a long debate likewise upon the restitution of the Parliament in Bourdeaux as also upon the Article about the taking off the Imposts establish'd at Blay of two Crowns upon every Tun of Wine the reimbursement of the debts contracted during the War upon the Merchandizes and Rents as also the revocation of the subsistence of the discharge of Taxes and Tenths for ten years and the suppression of the Court of Aids all which Articles being of more then ordinary importance were left to the decision of his Majesty Moreover the Generals refus'd to comprehend Villeneuf d' Agenois and the other Towns of the Princes side in this Treaty alledging they were free to accep of the Amnesty and return to their obedience without it if they pleas'd After this Conference the Duke of Vandosme demanded of the Deputies what the sentiment of the City of Bourdeaux would be these Articles being granted the Kings General Pardon pass'd in the forme and manner requested and the Souldiers drawn off This was a long time under debate the 29. of July in the Burse where in the presence of the Prince of Conty the Duke d' Enguien and Lenet the Propositions of the Generals were read Which contained this That the Articles being signed they were to rely upon the word of the Generals as Persons of honour seeing it would require time to procure the Kings confirmation That the said Generals would enter into the City allow Provisions to be brought in and give security to the Princes and their Troops to retire if otherwise they chose rather to expect the Kings Declaration before they suffered them to enter in that case no Provisions were to be brought in nor liberty for any to come out but the Deputies themselves The Counsellors of the Parliament who were then in Bourdeaux and who were all of them Frondeurs especially Spagnet and Saux declar'd their opinions That in that case War was to be preferr'd before a doubtful and uncertain Peace That they ought not to consent that the Kings Declaration should be registred any where but in the Parliament sitting in Bourdeaux Nor the Generals permitted to enter into the City But the Prince of Conty and Lenet were of another minde and declar'd that they ought to treat with their Sovereign in termes of obedience and respect In this Intrigue they took this expedient To cause the peace to be published To attend the Kings ratification with mutual Hostages on both sides without admitting the Generals into the Town To this was to added That the people beginning to tumult and cry out for an end of the Treaty and their miseries the Troops should be sent away and only some few days granted to the Princes to adjust their Affairs But the Generals would not condescend to these demands replying that if the peace was not absolutely concluded they could not draw off the Kings Troops from the Town and that whilst the Prince Princesses Marsin Lenet and others remain'd in the City they must only expect the benefit of the bare suspension of Armes agreed on by the Truce of the 30th of July The Prince of Conty who for himself and his whole family had subcrib'd a Treaty with Courville declar'd in the Assembly at the Burse that for his part he relied upon the Generals Parole nor should his interest or his families hinder the Citizens from obtaining a speedy remedy for their miseries by the withdrawing off the Troops That as for his part he was resolv'd to leave the Town forthwith and retire to Cadillac It was declar'd likewise by the Chevalier Todias That the Princess of Condy would retire to L' Esparre and the Dutchess of Longveville to Plassac there to expect either their passports or the Amnesty The Dutchess of Longueville as soon as hers was arriv'd by the consent of the Duke her husband retired out of the noise and clamours of the world into a Monastery of Nuns in the Suburbs of Moulins in Bourbonnois The Deputies being return'd the same day it was concluded that the Dukes might enter the Town when they pleas'd according to their condition and quality and the honour due to His Majesties Armes and that the Princes troops should withdraw as was desired The Passports were brought to the Princess of Condy the Duke d' Enguien Marsin Lenet the same day were dispatch'd to Court the Count of Montesson from the Duke of Vandosm and the Conte de Marinville from the Duke of Candale for the ratification of the Treaty The 3d. of August the Dukes were receiv'd into the Town with great Ceremony and the universal applause of the people who but few days before were of a cleer contrary mind The Dukes to demonstrate the entire confidence they had in them dismissâ—d their own Guards and caus'd their houses and persons to be guarded by the inhabitants They elected new Jurats and the Assemblies which were held in the Burse were removed to the Town-house The Princess with the Duke d' Enguien her Son went to Chastillon de Medoc Marsin into Spain by Sea The Count de Fiesco took Post thither by land the Prince of Conty retired to Cadillac where he found Langlade Cardinal Mazarine's Secretary sent thither to assist at the Treaties of Bourdeaux but falling sick he could not be present at the Conclusion Colonel Baltasser entred himself into the Kings service with 600 Foot and 400 Horse Monsieur de la Rocque who was at that time with some Horse and Foot at the City of Perigueux followed the example of Baltasser and took up Armes for the King the said la Rocque conceiving a jealousie that the Marquess de Chanlo Governour of that Town had a design to take him Prisoner went out himself with some of his freinds and repairing to the Commanders of the Kings forces was an occasion of a Treaty with the Inhabitants of that place in order to their returne to their Obedience Father Ythier a Jesuite by directions from Cardinal Mazarine led the
in the Enemies Countrey and the Spanâ—ards as much as they could to prevent them upon which several skirmishes hapned with reciprocal successe Afterwards the French Army dislodg'd from Mountemagno and came to Tuline attended still by the Spaniards which at the same time discamp'd from Felezzano and was got in the Enemies front Here Caracena and Grancè had a Conference each of them accompanied with the principal Persons in their Armies discoursing together for two houres with great Complement and Civility the French remaining well satisfied with the humanity and valour of Caracena holding him in the esteem of a most prudent and most generous Captain This Conference being over the French Army kept the Field for some time now in this place and now in that but still according to the Instructions they had receiv'd from Mazarine in the Enemies Countrey where by the vigilance of the Spanish Commanders not being able to gain any Post to subsist in and at length the Weather growing sharp they were forced to retire into Piemont where they winter'd their Foot and sent their Horse over the Mountains into Dauphinè Bress and Dombes and in this manner ended the Campagne in Italy in the Year 1653. Whilst things went thus in Flanders and Italy Letters were brought to Court with the Capitulations of Bourdeaux which being read in the Royal Council and the relation of de Las heard who was sent from the Generals and the Sieur d' Estrades the Amnesty was immediately dispatch'd away conteining an entire abolition of all crimes without exception of any but Francar the Counsellor Blaru and Desert Merchants deputed from the Olmiera into England as also Durateste and Villars Heads of that Faction with Clerat their Agent in Spain It was decreed moreover in the said Amnesty That the Citizens should renew their Oath of Allegiance That they should repair the Castles of Trompet and du Ha as necessary to restrain the unruly turbulencies of the people and support the honest and more honourable fort it being observeable able in all Cities that the Populacie is always an enemy to those who have any thing to lose This Declaration of the Kings being propos'd to La vie the Advocate-General who was at that time at Bourdeaux to draw up a Process against the two Spies which Marsin and Lenet had sent back into the City he promis'd the Duke of Vendosme it should be speedily verified who expected from every one of the Parliament such testimonies of their submission as might be able to cancel and obliterate the memory of their late disobedience But the said La Vie making use of this opportunity to render himself necessary created so many difficulties and ambiguities perplexing it with such intricate Interpretations that gave encouragement to the Counsellors of the Parliament to restrain the Kings pleasure with their Comments Glosses and Modifications that they seem'd not only to be the Intepreters but the Moderators and Disposers of his Majesties Favours as if they had come by their means They stirr'd up the people particularly not to suffer the yoke as they call'd it of the Castles ordering to renew their instances at Court for the demolishing of all the Fortresses in the City and that if it should be the Kings peremptory resolution to force that servitude upon them they should not however consign the said places to the Governour-General of the Province This reflexion was not at all pleasing to the Cardinal and the other Ministers much less the Contion that the Publication of the Amnesty should be deferr'd till the Parliament should be established and resident in Bourdeaux as if that had been deemed necessary for the security of the people and to make valid his Majesties Will and Pleasure which made the Court the more suspicious of them by how much they press'd to have their desires in this Point granted These kinde of Proceedings and Extravagancies of the Parliament were extreamly resented by the Dukes of Vandosme and Candale as looking like manifest demonstrations of their express disobedience wherfore they order'd the Counsellors which were come from Reole to Bourdeaux to return again to their residence The said La vie who was suppos'd to be the Author of this boldness for his own ends was expresly forbidden to abide in Bourdeaux After which having with a wile procured the Original of the Declaration out of the hands of the Clerk of the Parliament it was published by Order of the Generals by the Magistrates of the City The Court was as much surprized at these disorders as disgusted with the Parliament of Guienne the most Loyal of whose Members seem'd by this to be as much Rebels as the rest wherupon by a severe decree of the 26. of September they were prohibited to their great mortification to meddle in any matters pertaining to the State The King Generals observing the inconvenience of their Troops lying so near the Town resolv'd to remove them and by the surrender of Peregueux the war in that Province being at an end the Count de Bougy Lieutenant-General was by Order from the Court sent away with 6000 Horse and Foot towards the Frontiers of Flanders Three Thousand other Horse and 2000 Foot were Commanded into Catalonia there remaining only part of the Duke of Vandosme's Army in the Country called Betwixt the two Seas to be ready to be Ship'd upon the first Order in case the Spaniards should continue to block up the Mouth of the Garonne who landed some men within 12 Leagues of Blaye and set on fire certain stacks of Hay belonging to the Duke of St. Simon and on the other side they fell into the Country of Medoc and burnt all the Neighboring Villages The Duke of Vendosme in the mean time having view'd all his Ships under the Fort Caesar and with those which had been equipped by the Bourdelots during the Siedge he proposed to engage the Spanish Fleet as was earnestly desired by the Duke of Candale and the Count d' Estrades who to that end had brought along with him 700 Seamen from the Isles under his Government of Rochel But the Sea Commanders represented that their force was unequal in respect of their great Ships for though they out-numbred them in the whole yet the French Ships were much less in bulk so that the Spaniards had great advantage by their Galeons full of fresh men with which they would be too hard for the French Fleet which was neither well mann'd nor provided with other things necessary And if the Spaniards should put out to Sea or keep themselves at the Mouth of the River where they then were it was not possible for the Galleys though never so well arm'd nor the small Ships in the French Fleet to do them any mischief But if they should advance higher in the River where the Channel is narrower and full of Sand then they might be able to Attaque them with more advantage To rectify the differences and difficulties the Sea-Commanders objected the Count
complaining publickly of this reception The Duke of Mercoeur in the mean while remaining in Paris after the departure of the Cardinal was every night with the Queen when all others were retired conferring with Her Majesty about those Expedients that were most urgent and seeing his own Affairs but in an ill condition by reason of the dissatisfaction of those of his Family for his Interest with the Cardinal he supplicated the Queen for the Government of Auvergne Her Majesty before she would gratifie him asked the opinion of one of her Ministers of State in whom she confided who represented to her that the Duke obtaining what he desired might perhaps take an occasion to withdraw himself from the Marriage with Madamoiselle Mancini and therefore judged rather to defer it to gain time which ripens all things Which counsel being imbraced by the Queen caused Mercoeur aware of this artificial delay to protest with much frankness that his intent was to consummate the Marriage and that there was no reason to doubt of his word shewing all readiness to complete every thing agreed upon Upon this they writ to the Cardinal who though he did not recede from the terms agreed on yet knowing that this Parentage would give new occasion to his Enemies to foment the disturbances he resolved by any means to prefer the Kings service before his own private Interest wherefore he answered the Advocate Bluet that he did not approve that the Duke should stir from Paris as well to avoid the dangers that might happen in such a journy and for the alterations that might follow in that City under this pretext as also by reason there was none else at that time nigh His Majesty with whom the Queen might discourse freely and confide in except himself and the Mareschal de Plessis Pralin But the Duke seeing his Word and Honour engaged admitted not of this repulse esteeming that to expose himself in so turbulent a time and in the greatest heat of the persecutions to a journy full of danger would give a more clear testimony of his Fidelity and more oblige the Cardinal and the Spouse to effectuate the Marriage so that having represented to the Queen several times his determined resolution he disposed her at last to grant him leave to depart receiving besides a thousand Pistols to help to defray his charges Having thus established his departure and resolved to take his journy with all secresie to shun the Ambushes that might be laid for him on the way he sent his Gentlemen into the Country of Vendosme with semblance that he would make a journy thither and feigning himself a Servant of the Sieur de Siron a Domestick of the Cardinals in the beginning of July 1651 issuing out of the Queens Cabinet and descending all alone by a private stairs in the dusk of the Evening he took Post and with the Sieur de Siron rode to Peronne and from thence with a Spanish Pass-port passed to Brules where on the 12th of the same Moneth the Marriage was celebrated and solemnized by the Archbishop the Elector of Colen after which with the same celerity he returned to Paris where it being understood that there was an Ambush laid for him on the way the Marchioness d'Ampoux by an express Courrier borrow'd of the Venetian Embassadour advertized him of the danger whereupon he returned to Paris another way and remained there hid for some time in the house of the said Marchioness At the news of this Match a great rumour was spred in Paris arguing probably from this that Mazarine's return was no more covertly but publickly endeavoured but because by their Majesties Declaration and by the Decrees of the Parlement not onely the Cardinal but also his Kindred were condemn'd they persuaded themselves that the Marriage ought to be held invalid since that as they said a Prince of France could not marry without the Kings consent and much less with an exiled person and an enemy of the State not reflecting that if this Contract was not valid neither ought the Decrees of Parlement to be esteem'd valid which were made without the Kings assent and not ratified by his Authority Upon the account of this Invalidity the Parlement met often and the business would have run a greater Praecipice notwithstanding the Duke was not wanting in his own concern if for the change that followed and that obliged the Parlement to think of something else this Affair had not been laid aside for the which Mercoeur being call'd as Duke and Peer of France went to the Parlement accompanied with so great a number of Friends that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde arrived not till two hours after retarded by putting their Followers in order to appear full as strong as Mercoeur He being there very much pressed to clear this Affair Answered that he was not obliged to say any thing else then that he had not in the least transgressed their Ordinances and justified to their faces that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde were the persons that had persuaded him and engaged him in the aforesaid Marriage and if afterward the consideration of their Interestâ— had made them change their Opinion he for his part knew what was to be expected from a Cavalier and a Prince born in maintaining his Faith and Word This notwithstanding his Father the Duke of Vendosme was call'd who appearing in Parlement and being demanded if he had given his Assent could not deny but that he had formerly consented to it and withall said that he had done it by the counsel and assistance of the Duke of Orleans but after the Cardinals departure there was no more said of it there being no occasion for it so that the Affair rested in this manner without passing further For these Controversies Paris being in a great commotion every one cast their eyes on the proceedings of the Court and of the Princes and their curiosity was grown to that pass that whensoever the Parlement assembled to treat of publick Affairs and against the Cardinal and infinite number as well of the People as of the Nobility ran to the Palace with all sorts of Weapons to assist some the one some the other Party by which the dangers daily increasing for the variety of Interests which divided and incensed their minds the Parlement decreed that every one should retire upon pain of death and the Kings Officers were charged to see the Decree observed The Queen courted the Duke of Orleans at this time to concur with her for the Election of a Council to assist the King the Duke answered that he would speak with the Prince of Conde but Her Majesty would not consent that he should communicate any thing to him holding him for one of her bitterest Enemies The Parlement met again and went on to treat about the Marriage of the Duke de Mercoeur to whom it was given in charge that within the space of three days he should put into the
of the Duke of Lorain's Army Every one desired to establish his own interest by diminishing the Royal Authority supporting themselves with the pretext that Mazarine was the ruine of the Kingdom and all Paris was full of seditious Libells Satyrical Verses lying Stories and Politick Discourses which tearing the name of the Cardinal and other Ministers of State did redound to the contempt and disgrace of their Royal Majesties and with such formes those seditious did seek to make sinister impressions in the people ignorant of the Mysteries of State On the contrary all the streets and corners of the City did echo forth the Praises of the Princes and of the Arch-Duke himself celebrated in prose and verse by a number of Writers with the Title of Deliverers of the oppressed people and many Preachers getting into the Pulpits wearied themselves with no less liberty speaking detractingly of the present Affairs and all this to imprint sinister apprehensions in the people which redounded more to the blame of the Superiours which tolerated them then of those that recited them The Parlement continuing still in their purpose to reduce Mazarine to the last extremity dispatch'd the President Nesmond with other Counsellours to Sully to represent to the King what they thought necessary for his removal from Court in conformity to their first Deliberations and His Majesty's Word but the Court was not at all moved for any of these instances judging it a petulancy and too great an impudence of the Parlementarians in pretending to give Law to their Master In the mean while the Spaniards making use of these favourable conjunctures which the discord in the Kingdom of France gave them they possess'd themselves of Trino in Italy taken by the Marquess of Caracena and in Flanders of Graveling gained by the conduct of the Count of Fuensaldagna who commanded under the Archduke The Cardinal did his utmost to succour Graveling a place of great importance but the remedies are too weak in a time that the Court was miserably distracted by domestick broyls when the Foreign enemy from many parts assailed her with powerful Forces and in a conjuncture that the Seditious of the Parlement to render the Malady more incurable diverted the Kings revenues in such manner that oftentimes he was reduced to great necessity not having wherewithall to provide even for the Court it self In Paris the disorders continued more then in any other part The Prince of Conde being come thither it is impossible to relate with what Applauses he was received whereat the Kings faithful servants and the Cardinals friends were so much astonish'd that they durst not set their foot out of doors These sent Dispatches to Court supplicating their Majesties to draw near the City with all speed otherwise the Faction of Conde growing stronger they should be constrained to abandon it and let all their consultations fall to the ground The Kings Council being moved by these Sollicitations and much more persuaded by reason to preserve by all means that great and potent City determin'd to approach nigh it In order hereunto their Majesties came to Auxerre from thence to Sens to Montreul to Melun and other places near and in the Kings Council it was debated to famish Paris by taking away the commerce of the River but this was not assented to by the Cardinal who knowing well that these Extravagancies of the Citizens proceeded from the Arts of a few Seditious people more covetous to advance their particular Interests then desirous as they gave out of the publick good and that suddenly they would perceive their errour and put themselves again in their due obedience to their King adding that it was not good by rigour to exasperate the people of that City further and precipitate them by despair to declare for the Princes which was the Card they call'd for without which their Party was weak and declining That the people ofttimes changed their minds and sometimes for the better as there was some hopes they would do now when they continually invited His Majesty to return to his Royal Palace having to that purpose sent the Sieur de Lerygue But the Cardinal was not for embracing that counsel it not behoving to trust the Kings Person on the word of the people and la Fronda without good caution he consented nevertheless to hold the Parisiens in hand with hopes and fair words without coming to any particular Declaration And thus by Mazarines dexterity Paris was in effect kept Neutral though in outward appearance it seemed the contrary by which they gain'd time to perfectionate those things which afterward followed to the Kings advantage The Court departed from Melun and came to Corbeil and thence by the way of Chily to St. Germains still under covert of the Army Though Paris was not in open breach with the Court they nevertheless continued to keep a good correspondence with the Princes the Inhabitants took Armes and began to keep guard held consultations and made preparations for Warre And among other Assemblies they held a General one of the Body of the Citizens assisted by the Deputies of the Parliament in which was decreed that when the Cardinal should be driven out of the Kingdom with security not to return again they would presently lay down their arms but as they made use of this pretext only to make their actions appear innocent to the people and that they directed their intentions to no other end then to the publick relief by sending farther off that Minister to whom they imputed all their grievance and continuance of the Warre so the Court admitting they did deprive themselves of the Cardinal by licensing him to depart knew that they should be at the same pass that they were the last time he left the Kingdom And by yielding to the pretensions of subjects they sensibly wounded the Royal Authority which ought to be kept absolute and independent wherefore they pretended on the contrary that it did not belong to any one to give laws but to receive them from their Sovereign and that the sole pretension that the King should serve himself of Ministers of their appointing deserved as much blame and correction as it was contrary to the Maxims of good Government to permit that any body of His Majesty's Council should depend on any other then on the King himself so that they cried Out on 't as too great an impertinency to require that one should be driven away of whom his Patron did profess himself well served to put in another that probably would not please him and who might perhaps study more the Interest of particular persons then the publick good and the Crown 's it manifestly appearing that to deprive the King of the Cardinal was to take away from him all satisfaction and to make him depend on their pleasure And therefore not to give so pernicious an example though he had had a mind for other causes to put him away he ought not to do it but to uphold
could make them comprehend he thought it not difficult to disjoyn them from the rest for when the support of Paris should be taken from them all their fabrick would moulder away and be ruined Upon these considerations the Court departed from Melun towards the end of May and came to S. Denis a League or two distant from Paris to countenance the Managements undertaken by the Kings Party in that City towards which place by the Cardinals counsel His Majesty us'd as great clemency as if it had been Loyal that they might see it was far from the Kings mind to block them up as the Princes divulg'd abroad He caused moreover the commerce to be kept free and order'd so much as the Bread to be convoy'd by his own Guards which in great abundance is brought thither twice a week The Kings Army led by Turenne follow'd the Court and being reinforc'd with 3000 men of the Mareschal de la Ferté Seneterre who together with Turenne was left to command the Army they incamped near S. Denis on the left hand upon the River towards Paris which was in this manner every where beyond the Sene on the West side inviron'd by the Kings Forces who at their pleasure could shut up the Passes on the River and reduce the City to greater straits for provisions then it was though they paid at that time an excessive price for bread and every thing else not only in Paris but in S. Denis and the Camp it self This Expedient was thought by Mazarine to be the best foreseeing that the people not being able to endure the scantness of Victuals nor the Citizens to see their Trade interrupted by which they have their subsistence and lastly wearied out by the desolations which they daily felt in their Territories round about equally ill-treated by Friends and Foes they would resolve to deliver themselves from such tedious mischiefs but notwithstanding they suffered so many miseries and incommodities yet the obstinacy of the people was such by reason of the credit of the Princes and the Frondeurs that feeding themselves with hopes to hear suddenly of the ruine of all the Mazarines for so they call'd those of the Kings Party they did not mind their own destruction and this served to render their grievous sufferings tollerable which they experimented very considerably as well for the continual dammages to which they were daily expos'd as for the interruption of their rest being obliged to keep in that vast City 10000 upon the Guards day and night the Kings Party then not being able to reduce into a streight path that people back'd by the Army and encouraged with hopes given them by the Princes They endeavour'd to destroy as soon as might be their Troops the attempt not seeming difficult their Camp being neither fortified nor advantaged by the Situation and inferiour by more then the half to that of the Kings The Cardinal provided what was necessary for the execution of this Enterprise before the Spaniards should appear with their promis'd Supplies and which were continually sollicited for by the Princes The 29th of June then the Mareschal de Turenne drew near to the River to make a Bridge of Boats beneath Espinay and there passing the Sene to assault the Camp at S. Cloud which having allarm'd the Army of the Princes the Count of Tavannes sent 150 Foot and as many Horse and he with the rest of the Troops followed thither In the same time advertizing the Prince of Conde at Paris who suddenly issuing forth put himself at the head of them and hindered the Royallists from framing the Bridge as likewise their Passage down lower at Poissy but suspecting that Turenne should pass at Espinay and come upon their backs he resolved to raise the Camp from St. Cloud and pass over to Charenton as a more safe Post having the Marne on their backs and flank'd by the Sene. In pursuance of this rising from S. Cloud the first of July two hours before Sun-set he pass'd the Sene over the Stone-bridge and another of Boats and march'd thorough the Wood of Bologne and Chaliot directly to Paris But finding that Order had been given to the Captains that were in Guard with their City-companies at the Gate of the Conference and all the other Gates to permit no Souldiers to pass whatsoever he caused his Army to advance along the Town-ditch towards the Gate of Richlieu continuing his March towards Charenton About an hour after Mid-night Cardinal Mazarine had advice of it by one of his Confidents hid in Paris who made his Servant pass over the Wall to give notice to Turenne who without losing time mounted his Cavalry with such diligence that at 5 a clock the morning following he encounter'd the Rere of the Prince at the entrance of the Suburbs of St. Denis street The Count de Novailles charg'd them so briskly that the Regiment of Conty was greatly endamag'd and another Squadron which was drawn up in Battalia with him near the Gate of the Temple was no less ill-handled The Prince entering into Paris went to confer with the Duke of Orleans and issued out afresh at S. Martins Gate flying like Lightening from the Van to the Rere of his Army which was marching to the designed Post All the Royal Camp and Court was got on Horse-back being confident that day to conquer and put an end to the War not only for the superiority in Number but also for the length of the Way which the Prince was forc'd to take in regard of the Baggage The Cardinal upon this confidence leaving fit Orders with Turenne conducted the King to the hill of Saronne that he might be Spectator of so famous an action in which they discoursed to have the Prince dead or a prisoner his Army destroyed and the War ended Mazarine sent to his party in Paris to be of good courage and to use all their industry to hinder that the Gates might not be opened to the Enemies Troops nor to the succour that might be sent them from the City The Kings Army being arrived at Villette half a League from Paris and having notice that the Forces of the Princes were already past those places in which if they could have set upon them they would without doubt have been defeated Turenne taking to the left hand passed the hills of Saronne and came into the Plain between the Suburbs of S. Anthony and Charenton putting his men in order while the other part of the Army remained on the right hand with the Mareschal de la Penté Seneterre and although the Prince being in the Suburbs and under the Walls of Paris had the advantage of the Post nevertheless the Kings Generals knowing that they could not in the end be able to defend themselves against their Attaque and being assured by the Court that they would not be received into Paris having been denied the Evening before they resolved to advance boldly and fall upon some Squadrons that were entered into
chief Minister of State with the Kings good liking Prince Thomas of Savoy as one who besides being his great Confident was of an incomparable Integrity in whom the King might wholly confide without any suspicion he left also the Count de Servient a Person no less Politick then versed in all the Affairs of the Kingdom Tillier the Secretary of State a man of great wit and understanding ready to execute the Court-orders with faithfulness and zeal and these three for the Negotiations of the State and the War he left besides with the Queen for the directions of the most important and most secret Affairs the Abbot Ondedei who was afterwards Bishop of Fregius Counsellor of State to Her Majestie of whose known and experienc'd fidelity and practice in managements he had full assurance This being done he took leave of their Majesties with that tenderness which his ardent affection urged him to and the 19. of August 1652. departed from Pontoise for Sedan passing first to the Mareschal de Turenne's Camp to view the Army which from Lagny was already advancing into Brie to oppose the March that the Duke of Lorain was taking after the Prince of Wirtemberg had sent back the Count of Fuensaldagna's Spaniards into Flanders and proceeding in his journey with a good Convoy he came to Sedan and from thence went to Bouillon where he staid expecting from time the fruits of his truth and innocency The Prince of Conde understanding that the Cardinal was going and by consequence the Pretext of the War ceasing He sent the Marquess de Jersé to the Army of Lorain to which were joyn'd the Troops that Wirtemberg conducted to the Princes with direction to take his time and set upon the Cardinal in his journey and take him prisoner But the Spaniards upon this becoming diffident he was by their means advertized and shunn'd the danger seeing the Ministry of Spain knew that it was for their interest that the Cardinal should subsist for under this colour the civil dissentions in France were kept afoot from which they drew much profit The same day the King the Queen and all the Court went to Compeigne and the better to dispose the minds of the Parisiens to joyn themselves to their party the King so soon as he was arrived at Compeigne put forth a General Act of Oblivion the Contents whereof imported after a summary Rehearsal of all things past from the year 1648. till that time a General Pardon and abollition of all that had been done against his Royal Service making void and of no effect all the Informations Decrees Sequestrations and other Proceedings following thereupon by occasion of the disorders from the first of February 1651. till this time as also His Majesties Declarations of the month of September and the 8. of October in the same year upon this Condition that the Duke of Orleans the Princes of Conde and Conty and all others of their party should lay down their Arms within three days after the Publication of this Act. To this end the Duke of Orleans should send to His Majestie within the term of three days an Act subscribed with his own Hand by which he renounced all Treaties Leagues and Confederations made with what Prince soever without his Majesties Approbation the like was enjoyn'd the Prince of Conde and Conty who were also at the same time to put into the Kings Hands necessary Orders as well to send the Spanish Souldiers out of Stenay and Burg in Guienne and other places wheresoever as also to cause the Enemies Ships to draw off from the Coasts of France That the said Duke of Orleans and Prince of Conde should cause the foreign Troops that were about Paris to march directly to the Frontiers of Flanders and unite their Souldiery to the Army of Turenne and la Ferté Seneterre and all those who were further off within the space of fifteen days declaring that those who should fail to perform in the space of three days the Contents of this Amnesty should reap no benefit by it from which his Majestie only excepted the Crimes committed betwixt particular persons which were to remain as before without other alteration This Amnesty with such an Exception at the end of it was esteemed only as an Artifice by those that did not desire it though for that time it took no effect for it was publish'd abroad that not including those that had fought in duel and assaulted the Town-house the 4. of July it rested in the Will of the King to chastise whom he pleased under colour of this Delinquency yet it ceased not to leave an impression in many who understanding the cavil introduc'd by the Princes and the Frondeurs were much offended having always believed that when the Cardinal should be gone the Princes and the Parlement would have cast themselves at the Kings feet But although those with the Frondeurs had no thought to receive the said Amnesty though it should be made in the forme they desired nevertheless they feined themselves zealous for the publick good shewing themselves very well pleased at the Cardinals departure The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde went afterward to the Parlement where it was concluded to present the King their thanks for sending away the Cardinal and the Sovereign Courts and the body of the City send Deputies to the King to the same effect and to compleat all that was necessary for the welfare and repose of the State A little after the Parlement resolved to desire the King again to return to Paris and the Princes declared that they were ready to lay down their Armes so an Amnesty were granted them in good forme making the same Protests in the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids The Duke of Orleans dispatch'd a Courier to the Duke d' Anville his Friend and a Minister of State very dear to the King and most faithful to the Queen to obtain of his Majestie Passports for the Deputies that were appointed to negotiate the final Peace But d' Anville having kept the Courier a while sent him back empty because it did not seem decent for the King to enter into other Treaties since by the Amnesty he had perfected every thing and expected that the Princes should suddenly lay down their Armes as they had formerly declared to do so soon as the Cardinal was gone from Court D' Anville writ withal another Letter to the Duke of Orleans importing that he believed the Passports would be granted if they renewed their requests directly to the King himself which being done a Passport was granted to the Mareschal d' Estampes to come to Court not as a Deputy but as a meer Courtier and at the same time some secret Negotiations were renewed betwixt the Secretary Goulas the Marquess de Chasteauneuf and the Dutchess of Aiguillon the drift of which was to take off the Duke of Orleans from the Union with Conde they clearly perceiving that the Declarations that he made
were banished the Governour the Prevost of the Merchants the Deputy and others compell'd to flie away to secure their own lives in whose room the Authors of these attempts for their recompence were placed new Sheriffs were made contrary to the Kings Prohibition Taxes laid upon the goods of the Citizens and people whilst those of the Villages and Countrey were sack'd and plundred with all temerity and insolence That his Majesty had done all things possible even to the prejudice of his own honour to restore them to their former liberty and to preserve them from the miseries of the War granting the Princes leave honourably to lay down their Armes and return to their obedience but they instead of resting quiet had called together an Assembly of the Body of the City the chief of which were without title or legal character this to delude the people with a pretence of desiring peace at the same time that themselves refused it declaring that they could not accept of the Conditions offered them whenas there were no others then the very same they had demanded that far from any thoughts of laying down their Arms they had caused a part of the Spanish Army to draw near to Paris to which they had joyned their own troops with design to maintain their usurped Authority and to share betwixt the enemy and themselves the goods of the poor subject That they had put a sinister interpretation upon those deliberations which the King had made and did still make to preserve the lives of his Officers and Magistrates by getting them out of their hands That he lived in greatest impatiency till he saw a possibility of restoring that Noble City to her ancient splendour to that plenty enjoy'd in the first years of his Reign the Trade there and the Parliament re-establish'd and to honour it with His Royal Presence not only for his own content but also for the satisfaction of all his obedient subjects That in the mean time His Majesty would be much satisfied that a good number of Officers and Inhabitants did come to him but considering that the Body of the City was over-powered guided and compos'd by the Adherents to the Princes who came contrary to the ordinary custom into the Assembly held on the fifth of that moneth to hinder that nothing else should be concluded on but what contributed fewel to the War having by such designs turned away all good resolutions which might have been taken there to oblige the Princes to lay down their Arms and return to their duty he neither could nor ought to authorize that which was determin'd in their Presence particularly in the presence of the Duke of Beaufort and Counsellor Brussell principal Authors of all these disorders without offending for ever the publick liberty and security He did therefore declare the aforesaid Assembly null invalid and unlawful and consequently could not grant the Passports which were demanded for them whom they had deputed but free leave should be given to any particular men which were dispos'd to come and see him whether they were Magistrates lawfully established in their Charges or other publick Officers Citizens Companies of Merchants or Inhabitants of the City who should be courteously heard upon all matters which they would represent De Pietre who had been sent by the Assembly being return'd with this Answer to Paris where the troubles daily more and more encreasing not only by the Commerce being interrupted but also by the damage done to the countrey round about which was made a spoil to both Armies with insupportable licentiousness especially of the Lorrainers and Germans who because they were strangers thought they might do any thing though never so extravigant the Parisiens understood how nigh their total and irrecoverable ruine did approach Especially considering that the time of sowing and the Vintage was very near wherefore they began more openly and with greater heat fomented continually by the ingenious Artifices of Mazarine to renew the Negotiation with the Court by the means of Cardinal de Retz of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf and other persons who desired no less the fall of Mazarine then the destruction of Conde The Duke of Orleans shewing himself of the same opinion and wearied with these disorders being a Prince of a very good disposition and an enemy to violence beside the often repeated Promises of his good intention to the Peace promoted by the endeavours of the Duke d' Anville and others he wrote to the Queen the 20. of September in these terms That having understood with great comfort by the Marquess Joyeuse Lambert the favourable inclination of her Majesty towards the peace he thought himself obliged to assure her by these lines that he also together with the Prince of Conde did passionately desire it and although the first subject of their Requests which they made to Heaven ought to be the good of the State yet he did protest with sincerity that the inclination which he hath always had to honour her Majesty which was one of the principal Reasons and that there could never any thing happen which should upon any account ever alter that zeal any respect with which he declared himself her most obedient Servant At the same time the Court of Aids through the secret management of Mazarine found an expedient to assemble at Pontoise in conformity to the Kings order The Kings good subjects in the mean-while did not cease to contrive how to draw themselves out of these troublesom disturbances The Bishop of Amiens and others having made palpably evident to their friends and those that knew the state of Affairs the necessity of some ready and fit resolution to restore to Paris the splendour of the Kings Authority obscured and damaged by the pretensions of the Princes and the artifices of the Enemies to the publick good the 24th of September they held an Assembly of between four and five hundred persons in the Palace Royal where the Counsellour Prevost appeared who was in perfect intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine and consequently with the Court he presented them a Letter of the Kings in which he declared that His Majesty had a very great desire to come to Paris but that he ought not to return so long as there were Seditious Governours he proposed therefore that all those who were faithful Citizens should take Arms throw away the Straw stick Paper in their Hats go out into the Streets and cry Vivele Roy and with one accord seise upon the principal places of the City drive out the disturbers and fall upon as many as should oppose this design this being done the King would then soon return The chief Heads and principal Authors of this Company after the aforementioned Bishop of Amiens Father Bertaut and the Counsellour Prevost who had all the secret and ordering of this Affair in their hands were the Sieur Barby Controller of the Kings Houshold who drew after him many of the people about the Gates of Monmartre and
Body of the Spanish Army under the Command of the Prince of Ligne should advance into the Kingdom which Forces were designed to keep Paris in that servitude under which it now suffered and to hinder His Majesties Return So soon as the Colonels before-mention'd were departed it was variously debated at the Counsel whether the Court according as they had resolved should return to Paris or no. They who apprehended some danger of receiving affronts by reason that there were still divers ill-affected persons said that there was no trusting to the people who being always inconstant are apt to be led away with every Novelty and to forget all Promises and therefore they ought to walk cautiously to secure themselves from falling into new inconveniences The greater part of the Counsel was of this opinion adding that they ought not to trust those who had deceived them so often or to think to finde faith amongst persons who with such bruitish insolence had shewn themselves unfaithful that to forsake the King and now again to forsake their friends whom they had so often protested never to leave was an Argument of an inconstancy which was as easie to promise as not to perform That this City by its out-rages committed against His Majesty and his Officers had rendred it self unworthy of the Presence of the King and his Court neither would it be well thus by the easiness of the Pardon to encourage subjects to commit new misdemeanors But Prince Thomas of Savoy who had the chief Management of Affairs and who being a Stranger examined matters with no other passion then that of serving their Majesties discreetly weighing the prejudice they might receive by letting slip out of their hands such favourable opportunities proposed and maintained yet with the Advice of the Cardinal that they ought to enter into the City without loss of time and drive from thence the principal Leaders of the sedition and as the Princes had made use of the favour of the people to strengthen their party so the King ought to do the same to overthrow their Faction Mareschal Turenne was also of this opinion who considering that the Countrey about Paris was wasted and the Kings Army not well provided for represented to them the necessity of making themselves Masters of Paris in respect of the abundance of all things there and that the King might be said to be without his Crown so long as he was deprived of that potent City The opinion of these Princes of so great reputation and experience overcoming all Arguments produced by others to the contrary was at length unanimously received and the rather because both of them assured their Majesties upon their words and lives that they should be received with all testimonies of affection and that the Citizens to wash off that spot they had contracted by what was past would with so much the more readiness procure the satisfaction of the Court as they had before acted to its displeasure In order to this the Mareschal of the Hospital the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs being restored to their places followed the Collonels to Paris those of the contrary party endeavored to hinder their entrance into the City perswading them that there could be no security for their persons amongst those people who had their very names in abomination The Duke of Orleans in particular told them that not being able to promise them any security they ought to consider to what danger they exposed themselves but these threatnings took no effect for they being informed of the good intention of the people to receive the King doubted not but to be welcom also and therefore freely entred The Mareschal of the Hospital took presently possession of the Bastille and the Arsenal which the Sieur de Louvieres son to Counsellour Brussell quitted and Orders were given through all the streets and quarters of the City to keep the people quiet and in obedience to the King After this His Majestie ordered the Parliament of Pontoise to be at Paris upon the 22. following in the Palace of the Lovure where he designed to lodge for his greater security the King of England who lodged there removing to the Palace-Royal he wrote also to the Communalty to advertise them that his Entrance should be on the same day and that therefore they ought to take away the Guards from the Gates and all the Inhabitants fall to the exercise of their several Professions and traffick which was presently done To Mademoiselle d' Orleans it was signified that the Kings Brother intending to lodge in her Apartment in the Lovure was therefore to be left free which she submitted to with some displeasure and removed into the Hostel of the Embassadors extraordinary in the suburbs of St. Germain On Munday morning the Parliament met where the President Nesmond declared that he had received a Letter with the Kings Seal and that His Majesty had sent the like to each Counsellour in particular in which they were appointed to meet on the morrow Morning at the Lovure there to understand His Majesties pleasure concerning the present Affairs The Duke of Orleans replied that he knew nothing of it and some other Counsellours about twelve in number said that they had received no such Letters with much resentment and paleness of face perceiving that all their designs were totally ruined and those of the Kings Party being called to give in their opinions they gave their voices for the adjourning of the Parliament to the Gallery of the Lovure although those who had received no Letters from His Majesty as the others had and that knew themselves not to be in favour endeavoured to oppose it representing the prejudice the Priviledges of Parliament might receive from this unaccustomed Novelty The President Nesmond made it appear that the King was Master to hold it in what part of Paris he pleased alledging that formerly in the Reign of Henry the second and Henry the third it was held in the Tournelle and in the house of Saint Paul and that the Chamber of Vacations had ordered the Canopy of the Kings Seat of Justice to be removed into the said Gallery and they ought to obey to this the major part consenting they determined to meet the next morning by Sun-rise in their Scarlet at the place appointed Upon the 22. of October the King departed from St. Germains dined at Ruel and from thence sent the Count of Nogent to the Duke of Orleans to give him notice of the Kings journey and to exhort him as from himself to come and meet the King and do his respects to him assuring him of His Majesties favour and kinde reception The Duke of Orleans was surprized not thinking that the King would in earnest come and trust himself in Paris where the inquietude of those spirits who had so highly out-raged him was not yet appeased but the effect confirmed how fallacious those designes are which are founded upon the inconstancy of the
he esteem him faithful who had not shewn himself so to him that these offers might be like those Gifts sent exchangeably between Hector and Ajax That we ought to give least credit to things which seem most credible and to consider that the more any one offers and promiseth out of Necessity the sooner he will fail when his turn is served that he knew sufficiently the Cardinal to be a person as ready to promise much as industrious afterwards not to observe more then what he thought convenient for his interest and protested finally that he would not consent to any Agreement but wherein the Catholick King should be included to whom he profess'd himself highly obliged The Envoy laboured to draw him from these sinister opinions putting him in minde that he was a French-man and of the Blood-Royal of Bourbon and that he had too much honour and glory not to be hereafter made the object of the Envy and Jealousie of a Nation so emulous of the French That to lay foundations on the Promises of those who built upon the hopes of others was no sure structure That friends follow the fortune and not the persons of their friends That he abandoning France the French abandon'd him That to a prudent man his Countrey ought to be as dear to him as the shell to the Tortoise and that as he was sincerely his faithful servant he declared freely that it was much more honourable for a Peace as he was to bear the Title of Cousin to His Christian Majesty then that of Servant to the King of Spain He used also many other urgent Reasons but all in vain for the hatred and contempt which he had for the Cardinal did at that time turn away the minde of the Prince so that the Cardinal not being able to prevail with him he endeavour'd to disengage his brother the Prince of Conty from his party and caused to be proposed to him very advantageous conditions and such as were worthy his consideration thinking that if he could gain Conty he might by that means reduce Bourdeaux and Guienne to their former obedience seeing that this Prince had a powerful party in that City and Province The Cardinal thought to draw from hence great advantages to the Kings service by ihe Jealousies which the Spaniards might have of Conde and by the treatment he might receive from them which would be slender enough when they should see him deprived of those supports which rendred him so considerable but although Conty was no great friend to his brother and had a mind much more pliable yet he was fixed to satisfie his Sister the Dutchess of Longueville that without her he would resolve of nothing and she not being able to disengage her self from that intimacy she held with Conde nor from the hopes which were suggested to her by the generosity of his mind the attempts on this side were also rendred fruitless and by consequence all those Practices weakned which were made by the well-affected to the Kings Party in Bourdeaux while it was evident that that City was resolved to follow the resolutions of the Prince of Conty and Dutchess of Longueville But the Cardinal had recourse to other Expedients and because the design of gaining the Princes failed him he went about by new Stratagems to take away from the Princes and those of Bourdeaux the assistance of those people and places which fomented their pretensions He ordered therefore the Duke of Vaxdosme to carry his Fleet into the Garonne and sent to the Duke of Candale who was already upon his march with all the forces that he could gather out of the Neighboring Provinces He treated also with the Count d' Ognon and others to disengage them from the Union and to render the Kings party more strong in that Province as it afterwards succeeded In the mean time the Prince of Conde was in Champagne with his Army where his designs upon Reims Soissons and other great Cities full of Warlike people and faithful to the King proving little successful he went to Vervins where leaving two Regiments of Foot and one of Horse he went with the Body of his Army towards Rhetel which in a short time was surrendred to him by the Governour the Sieur de Rale by reason of the weakness of the place and for want of Necessaries to defend it he took also Chasteau Porcien not far distant from it he attaqued afterwards St. Menhand another walled Town which was yielded up to him upon the 13 of November by the Sieur de St Mor. and because this place was being situated between the Mose and the Marne upon the river Aisne and between Verdun and Chalon was some what considerable he left there a strong Garrison under the Command of the Sieur de Montalt and ordered it to be fortified hoping by maintaining this place and Rhetel to winter his forces in France From hence having dismissed the Troops of the Duke of Orleans he went speedily into Barre where he took Barleduc the Castle of Lagny and Voet but not being able to attempt any thing more by reason the season was too far advanced and his Troops wearied he sent away the Spanish and Lorain forces and put his own into Winter-Quarters about the Mose The Cardinal on the other side indefatigably exercising his minde in intricate and dangerous affairs considered that it was absolutely necessary before the Army went into Winter Quarters to dislodge the Princes forces and drive them out of the places which they held he therefore reinforc'd the Kings Camp with two thousand Souldiers which the Duke of Elboeuf had gathered together in Picardy and with others drawn out of Normandy and the Neighbouring Provinces and in stead of coming to Paris he stayed in the Camp to redress by his Presence the Affairs of the Army much diminished and weakned which the Generals would scarce been able to have done without him he drew after Him many friends and dependents and confirmed those who wearied out with long travel and pain thought rather of retiring home then of continuing the Warre at that season of the year and encouraged every one to continue in the Kings service being in great veneration and high esteem amongst the Souldiery by whom he was as much loved and respected as he was abhorred and hated by some seditious and contemptible people of Paris He was not a jot deceived in the hopes he had to draw profit from these opportune endeavours for the souldiery awakened by his gracious aspect and the military Affairs enlivened by his Counsel he gained those advantages that made him in a short time return gloriously and as it were triumphant into Paris more then ever in his Majesties favour and setled him in the Authority of his Ministry The Marquess of Chasteauneuf in the mean-while remained in Paris without employ deprived of his Offices and not being able to refrain from bewailing his ill fortune and the miserable estate of the Kingdom he was also banished
party they might be able to make a vigorous Inroad upon the French on that side whilst the forces of Bourdeaux gave them strong and considerable diversion on the other The money which was remitted was very welcom to those that had the good fortune to receive it who for the most part misappli'd it and converted to their own what was intended for the publick use by which means the designes and deliberations of the Catholick Court were not only retarded but oftimes precipitated for being so remote from those Provinces in which the War was carried on it could not contribute nor proportion its Recruits according to the suddenness and variety of the Accidents which hapned an inconvenience of great importance to that Crown by which the wisest and most prudent of their resolutions have been many times enervated and lost To these Reasons another may be added and that is that the Royal Council of Spain was from time to time deluded by the successive relations they receiv'd from the French in their service who magnifying the power and interest of their party and villifying that of the Kings fill'd the heads even of the gravest of them with vain and impertinent hopes and they taking their measures accordingly found themselves at last not only mistaken but involv'd in greater difficulties then before On the other side the French being an united and entire body able to derive Orders immediatly to its several members and being animated and directed in their affairs by Cardinal Mazarin a Person of miraculous knowledge in the nature and interest of all Nations no wonder if he knew how to make his advantages and apply remedies to the maladies of that Country which without his Judgment and dilligence would by degrees have grown incurable In the mean time then whilst in the Court of Spain they were contriving expedients to foment the troubles in France and in France the Cardinal was as busie to re-invigorate the declining Grandeur of that Kingdom the Generals of the Armies on both sides omitted no opportunities that might advance the interest of their several Princes The Count Marcin General for the Prince of Conde in Guienne desirous to enlarge his Quarters by the taking in of such places as were most easie to be attaqu'd he commanded out Colonel Baltassar with 800 Irish to fall upon Grenada on the Garonne in the County of Grave as a place which would facilitate his passage into the County's of Armaniack and d' Auches The Sieur Baz endeavor'd to possess himself of a Pass upon the River call'd La douxand hoping to force the Chevalier de Aubeterre to abandon those places that he might enter with great profit and advantage to himself and his Party Bat Monsieur de Aubeterre having intelligence of his design with a Party of 300 Horse and some commanded Musquetiers fell so furiously upon his Forlorn which consisted of some select Horse and Foot drawn out of their Gross that without so much as drawing a sword they betook themselves to their heels part of them being drown'd in the River and part taken Prisoners by the enemy The inhabitants of Sarlat being much infested by the Garrisons belonging to the Princes took heart at this good success and signifi'd to the Marquess of Sovebeuf that if he pleas'd to advance at a certain time with his Troops they would receive him into the Town by a private Water-course which ran under the Town-wall but that design miscarrying the Towns-men attempted to corrupt some of the Officers of the Garrison whom they perceiv'd discontented with their General and having concluded an intelligence with them they gave notice thereof to the Duke of Candale who sending them a party of four hundred men under the Command of the Count Marin On the 23. of May an houre before-day they were receiv'd by the Sieur Boreel Advocate and Counsellor for the City where having joyn'd with what forces could be made in the Town they march'd immediately to the Bishops Palace where Chavagnac was quartered at that time Chavagnac being awak'd with the noise leap'd out of his bed and endeavor'd to escape in his shirt but he was pursued by the Citizens and taken Prisoner The main Guard in the Market-place made some little defence till the Sieur Boismale their Lieutenant Colonel three Captains and other inferiour Officers were slain Chambelloy their Camp-Master della Roche their Field-Marshal and the rest of the Officers who had barricadoed themselves up in the houses surrendred and voluntarily took up Arms for the King This fortunate Acquisition was seconded by the taking in of several other places and walled Towns in which the Princes forces were quartered so that the Kings Army advancing towards Bordeaux on all sides and the City every day streightned more then other the sober and more provident part of them were in no little distraction to consider the consequences which were too likely to follow they foresaw that without a sudden and a vigorous supply the Kings Army encreasing daily as it did all would in a short time be reduc'd to the utmost extremity The City of Bordeaux was at this time capable of relief but two ways either from England or Spain To which end the Sieur de Couppes and Count Marsin's Secretary were dispatch'd to Saint Sebastian and from thence to the Court of Spain to sollicit the performance of their Promises made for the support of those Parts which being the most expos'd of all the Provinces and Cities in France brought Bordeaux into a dilemma of becoming a prey to those that fought against it or those which defended it In the mean time the Sieur de Saint Agolin had not been wanting in his solicitations in Spain to press the dispatch of their Fleet and the supplies of money which had bin promis'd and at last practised in the name of his Master the Prince of Condy that unless a considerable sum was sent before the last of that month which was February he should be constrain'd to depart They had already disburs'd 100000 Crowns which they had sent to Bordeaux but upon the Arrival of de Chouppes who was immediately followed by a Deputy from the Counsel of Olmiera the Court of Spain being fully inform'd of the danger all Guienne was in by the vigilancy of Cardinal Mazarin they immediately dispatch'd 30000 Pistols to Priscay with peremptory Orders to put forth six of their most considerable Ships and four Fireships with all possible diligence that they might force their way into the Garonne and oppose themselves against the French The said Persons were likewise immediatly returned with 150000 Crowns more for the Prince of Conde and because it was conceived that the Sieur Lenet had not observ'd the respect which was due to the Prince of Conty by reason of his particular intimacy and correspondence which he held with Conte Marsin who had no great veneration for the said Prince there were Instructions given by the Spanish Ministers which way they should conduct themselves
with the assistance of the Spaniards and Imperialists to oppose the designes of the French Mazarine had his eye continually on the Liberty of Italy and on the Conservation of Mantua at that time besieged which was one of his principal Instructions and seeing the maintaining Duke Charles of Nevers in the possession of his Hereditary Countreys in Italy depended on the Protection of the French he advertised the Ministers of the most Christian King of the powerful Forces of the Confederate enemies that Cardinal Richlieu might opportunely provide against them and shun the approaching danger To this and to the easier Acquist of Pignerol Spinola's clashing with the Duke of Savoy and refusing to assist him in such manner as he desired did not a little conduce and was cause that he died afterward with discontent and that the Imperialists missed of obtaining their designes The Duke sent the Abbot Scaglia into Spain to represent to the Catholick King that Spinola giving ear to the Propositions of the Cardinal Legate for an Accommodation occasion'd all the ill success and that the French through his fault were got on this side the Mountains for which the King being full of indignation against Spinola in opposition to whom there wanted not the Suggestions and Arts of those that envied his Employment resolved to take from him all Authority and Command of the Army which through so great experience of his worth he had conferr'd upon him Mazarine continuing a Mediator between each party demean'd himself with such exquisite Sagacity and with so sweet a manner Negotiating sometimes with one sometimes with another that he rendred himself equally beloved and confided in by all and continuing by Play and Familiarity to acquire every ones Friendship he came at length to penetrate into the most hidden Caballs and to discover the most secret Designs He by this means seasonably advised the Duke of Mantua's General of the Surprisal the Imperiallists were plotting against that City on the side of the Mincio not over carefully guarded by the Besieged Spinola in the mean while had laid siege to Casal with a most flourishing Army and had begun very much to streighten it Mazarine brought on new Treaties and persuaded Spinola to condescend to some honourable and honest Accommodation He formed a Writing to the satisfaction of the Duke of Savoy of Spinola and of Colalto and immediately went to find the King of France at St. John di Moriana who staid there expecting the yielding up of Montmelian attaqu'd by his Forces and brought back from the King what he desired He returned into Piemont but in those few days of his absence the face of Affairs being changed by the surprize of Mantua as also by the death of the Duke of Savoy and that Spinola was far advanc'd in the siege of Casal his first Projects were confounded and he was forced to mould new ones with which he went back to the most Christian King at Paris by order of his Patron Cardinal Antonio He was received there with great Honour and demonstrations of high Esteem for his Person and obtained His Majesty's assent to the Agreement with which he hastened to find Vittorio Amadeo the new Duke of Savoy and Collalto He demonstrated to them the good inclination of the King to the accord and left them satisfied and inclined to the Peace But because Spinola longing to take Casal seemed likely to withdraw himself from the Treaty Mazarine went again to find him at the Camp and with convincing Reasons disposed him to the Agreement He requested that for the Honour of the King and himself the City and Castle of Casal might be deposited in his hands the French retaining still the Cittadel promising to resign up the said City and Castle within the term of 15 days and that Mantua should likewise be delivered up to that Duke for the performance of which he offered in Hostage his own Son The King of France condescended to the Proposals of Spinola and gave order to his Lieutenants Generals to conclude the Treaty but in the very point of effecting it the King of Spain sent an Express depriving Spinola of all Authority At which he was so much cast down and struck with grief that when Mazarine returned to give him an account of his Negotiation and how he had accomplished what Spinola had desired and proposed he could get no other Answer from him then these two words V. S. es hombre da bien pero jo tambien Your Lordship is an honest man and I am so too And thus walking to and fro and stamping he shewed himself to be agitated by a most fierce and secret grief Wherefore temporizing with artificial Excuses he gave no other Answer then the former words often reiterated Finally Cardinal Antonio resolving to see the end of it with the approbation of the Duke of Savoy and Collalto sent back Mazarine to Spinola who was sick in bed and prevailed so much that Spinola in the end not being able to resist the force of the Reasons produced by Mazarine broke out into a grievous lamentation in defence of his Honour saying M' hanno levato l' honore They have taken away my Honour Then calling one of his Servants he ordered the King of Spains Letter to be brought by which all his Power was taken from him and shewed it to Mazarine that he might know the true cause of his Irresolution and said again M' hanno levato l' honore They have taken away my Honour Afterwards turning himself to the other side of the bed with the Letter in his hand he aggravated his Misfortune and the injury done to his Reputation and the Merit of so many Services performed by him to the Crown of Spain for 40 years together The business being in this posture Mazarine by order of Cardinal Antonio entered upon new Negotiations and proposed a Suspension of Arms but Spinola being dead and the Marquess di Sante Croce entering upon his Command who found all things in disorder by the death of the General underwrit the Truce which was already subscribed to by the Duke of Savoy and Collalto In the mean while the French Army descended into Piemont to relieve Casal and each Party hoping to win by their Arms the business was in a ready way to be decided by them To that purpose the French Army advance within sight of the place The Legat made use of Mazarine also in this occasion who flying like Lightening now to one side now to the other behaved himself with such dexterity that in the very instant that both Armies were ranged in Battalia ready to engage he concluded the Peace to the general satisfaction of all and with so great applause for himself that by this action the way was open'd to those Grandeurs which afterwards he arrived at becoming in a manner absolute Moderator of the greatest Affairs of the World Upon putting the Peace in execution the Spaniards by their slow departure out of the Territories of
when that unfortunate accident happened of the Gentleman of the Horse to the Mareschal d'Estree the French Embassadour But as the best qualified and ablest men are most envied and most liable to Persecution and Malice so he being watch'd on every side could not advance himself to those Honours which the Malignity and Emulation of others hindered him from Whence the King of France perceiving that this Person for being well affectionated to his Crown was persecuted by the Spaniards and esteeming it a dishonourable thing to keep idle and depress an Understanding so sublime took him near himself with profession of great esteem and with offers of support honour and assistance Many other Princes of Italy proffered him considerable advantages in their Courts Vittorio Amadeo Duke of Savoy a very intelligent Prince particularly invited him with much benignity to his Court. Resolving finally to pass into France he went thither in the beginning of the year 1639. and arrived just at the time when Father Joseph the Capucine died one for his great Parts and Experience in the Affairs of State imployed with great assurance by Cardinal Richlieu in the Intrigues of the Kingdom The King had nominated him to a Cardinalship and his Promotion was with all earnestness sollicited by Mazarine whose Fortune it was not to obtain the Scarlet for Father Joseph seeing that the King named him instead of the other declaring by this the great esteem he had for him in preferring him before any other of his Kingdom qualifying him besides with the Title of his Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of the General Peace which Mazarine valued more then his Recommendation to the Cardinalship Few days after his Arrival in France His Majesty sent him Extraordinary Embassadour into Piemont upon business of Importance and particularly to win to the French fide Prince Thomas and to reunite those Princes to the chief of their House He dexterously atchieved them both though that which concerned the first with Prince Thomas had not then its effect for some impediments which he could not suddenly surmount but he fixed the second in such manner that France thereby received many advantages Returned from Piemont he waited upon Cardinal Richlieu into Languedoc honoured by that great Politician with an entire Confidence and his Zele for the Kings Service was succesful not onely in the Affairs of that Voyage but also in remoter parts for at the same time by his Negotiations he reduced the strong Town of Sedan into the Kings power which was a receptacle of Male-contents He was the man that designed the Attempt of Tortona in the State of Milan and took upon him to provide all things necessary for the gaining of that City and it was he likewise that drew the Prince of Monaco to the French Party Finally on the 16th of December 1641. with universal Applause he was promoted to the purple robe to the particular satisfaction of the King and of Richlieu who was pleased to see him his Companion in the Ecclesiastical Function whom he already presaged his Successor in his Ministery He prepared for his journey to Rome to receive the Hat and to perfect many important Commissions But Richlieu's indisposition of body increasing and the machinations of his enemies growing stronger to justle him out of the Kings favour he thought fit to cause him stop his journey to make use of his help and councel of which he had so good experience very useful in that rugged conjuncture The King perfectly knowing Mazarines abilities in the foreseen failing of Richlieu had oftentimes thoughts to make use of him in direction of the Affairs of the Crown and had also discovered this his intent to some of his Confidents extolling him for the most able he knew to undergo this burden which gave much trouble to Mazarine doubting with himself that such manifestation of his Majestie might give Richlieu some jealousie it being for the most part the humour of Courtiers to look with a scouling brow on those they deem able to sustain the same charge with themselves and therefore he urged anew for leave to go to Rome which was still denied him by the King and opposed by Richlieu himself quite contrary to Mazarines expectation besides Richlieu before his death assured His Majestie that he could not better trust the Management of his weighty Affairs to any then to Mazarine Richlieu dying the King immediately began to make use of Mazarines Advice and Councel with open shew of the value and confidence he had of his ableness and fidelity and to qualifie him higher caused him one day to sit in his Presence an honour that was never bestowed on Cardinal Richlieu in so many years of his Attendance The King desirous he should take notice that the Choice he had made proceeded solely from himself assured him that of his own proper inclination he had chosen him out from amongst so many excellent men of his Kingdom The Cardinal being very wary in his demeanour conformed himself so well to the humour of his Majestie that he did not give him the least doubt of that odious power that he had abhorred in his Predecessor from whence it hapned that he became in a short time disposer of the Kings Will and Trust By how much the more he saw himself advanced in his Princes favour so much the more did he reflect on his tottering Fortune for while the King lay under a languishing condition he began to weigh what a difficult passage it would be from a firme to a wavering Government by the disorders changes and turbulencies commonly hapning in Minorities especially the Queen-Mother being of a Nation so much exposed to the jealousie of that Countrey The first trial the King made under the direction of Mazarine was to render his Armies victorious the next Campania to the intent that the world might not attribute his past Victories totally to the Government of Richlieu Mazarine in this occasion gave great proof of his dexterous abilities by obtaining that the Command of the Army in Flanders might be conferred on the Duke d' Anguien eldest son of the Prince of Conde notwithstanding his Majestie had some aversion against it The Kings sickness increasing with little hope of recovery calling for Mazarine he communicated to him his intent of forming a Councel without the Princes of the blood of which he intended to make him President The Cardinal though astonish'd at so great honour was not at all dazled with the ambition but with great reverence demonstrated to his Majestie the disorders such a form might cause and with convincing reasons framed his answer in favour of the Queen comprehending also the Princes of the blood as for what concerned his own person he beseech'd his Majestie that others might share in that honour which he thought too far exceeding his merit and too probable to excite envy against him being a stranger The King notwithstanding continued resolute in his purpose to limit at least the Regency of the Queen
were generally dis-satisfied The Warre being kindled the Fire seemed unextinguishable not only because it chiefly arose as the common report went from private passion and particular envy and the flames daily encreasing from those puffs of anger the discontents grew still higher which according to the Contingencies of Warre administred new matter of rancour But also on the Popes Account that he being the Common Father should with a constant resentment pretend a just title to disturb the quiet of Italy by armes when all Christendom groaning so long time under the weight of innumerable miseries thought they might expect from his Piety a paternal and serious application to compose the inveterate motions of War and not to excite new ones On the other side the interessed Confederates longing to abate the temporal power of the Ecclesiastical Princedom and to give a wholesom Admonishment to those that being destin'd by God to enjoy it for a season are oftentimes unmindful of returning again to their private condition were resolved to maintain with all perseverance the reputation of their Armes For this cause the mediation or the Spaniards and the Emperor for a pacification proved a long time ineffectual the King of France not omitting to interpose his his Authority for the service of her to whose Assistance his Ancestors had so often passed the Mountains dispatched by the Counsel and dictates of Mazarine the Marquess of Lionne to the Confederate Princes to whom he delivered his Message with such vigour and reputation that by his prudent Negotiations he ripened that fruit which Cardinal Bichi who was ordered by the King to manage the Treaty afterward had the good fortune to gather by the Conclusion of the Peace as acceptable and advantageous to the Barberines as afterward the memory of that War proved prejudicial to them The Cardinal likewise got no small reputation by composing the differences between the Kings of Swedeland and Denmark who were entring into a most cruel War He shewed himself also very constant in overcoming all the difficulties which hapned upon the Marriage of the Princess Maria Gonzago with Uladislao King of Poland brought to an end by his great Prudence While the Affairs of France went thus prosperously on and that all Europe had their eyes fixed on the greatness and power of that Crown admiring the Ascendant Fortune of the most Christian King with the same Reflexions wherewith heretofore were admired that of the most victorious Emperour Charles the Fifth on a sudden she saw her self overwhelmed by those Civil broils which have always been the most powerful mischiefs to depress her The first ground from whence these turbulent Revolutions arose was from the Treasurer Emery who was the Person that disposed the minds of the Parlementarians of Paris to Commotions by troubling them in their places hereby to raise money not without the opinion of many that he did this with an intent to overthrow the Cardinal who vigorously opposed such his dangerous Undertakings knowing the nature of the French to be most extremely violent for their particular benefit For this cause therefore the Parlement of Paris having declared against the Kings Government the Queen thought to destroy this growing Hydra by punishing three of her Heads giving order for the Imprisonment of the Counsellour Brussel and the Presidents Blamenil and Charton though Mazarine did greatly impugn it well perceiving that it was not yet time to stir the Humours when there was no likelihood to dissipate them and it succeeded just so as he foresaw for the People having taken Arms and chained the streets compell'd the Court to set free the prisoners and to turn out Emery to the great prejudice of the Royal Authority and to the emboldening of the Seditious to undertake new Villanies The Cardinal on this occasion maintained but it did not help him that by the rule of good Government they ought constantly to adhere to their resolutions once taken although they were not assumed with their due precautions it being always hurtful to Princes to recede from that which they have once pretended to be observed by their Subjects From the like beginnings the Alterations plotted by the restless minds of those who hoped to advance their private Fortunes greatly increased These disorders were fomented by the Coadjutor of Paris allured by the hopes of Mazarines ruine to enter into his place of Chief Minister being a person of an high spirit and very intelligent in the Affairs and by the Count de Chavigny likewise exasperated seeing himself by the Queens aversion to him not in that full Credit and Authority which he had in the Consultations in the time of Richlieu's Government So that all things being in a confusion and impossible to provide against the disorders without That flourishing and potent Kingdom at the height of its greatest glory became a Scene of most lamentable miseries losing in one Campania the fruits of many others purchased with so much sweat with so much bloud and with so great expence of money The Cardinal sought nevertheless to hinder what he could the growth of these disorders and knowing how dangerous it would be to France if England should declare for Spain as it was by all Arts endeavoured by the Spanish Agents he knew so wisely to manage the business that he frustrated the Enemy's design and preserved the friendship of the English though ever emulous and no well-willers to the French The Events that after these commotions rent in pieces the Regency and all France were infinite and deplorable for although Mazarine with all sweetness and gentleness did endeavour to smooth their minds by temporizing till the Kings Majority but the more he endeavoured by these means to appease the Animosities of the Seditious the more they were hardened in their insolence and by open violence opposed the Orders of the Regent whereupon by his advice the Queen resolved to remove from Paris with the King which she did on Twelveth-night 1649. For this cause the City was in a great commotion and the Court in a state to recover its due regard but hereupon their Animosities against the Cardinal grew higher suspecting him to be as indeed he was the Author of this Retreat whence the fury of the People and Parlement breaking out against him he was by the later order'd to depart within eight days The Court stoutly supporting the Cardinal resolved to block up Paris with the Army as it was forthwith done by the Prince of Conde who though he had his Brother his Sister and his Brother in Law on the Parlements side yet held himself always united with the Regent and Mazarine who failed not in the mean while accurately to watch how to compose the differences In this occasion Cardinal Mazarine made manifest the height of his Intellectuals the excellency of his Skill his Wit and his Craft joyning himself now with the one now with the other Party and finally crushing them both remained Conquerour in the field and obtained the
shew'd not the least alteration in his Countenance received the Prince with all demonstration of affection and sincere friendship and Conde complaining to him of the bruit spred thorough the City that he was not his true friend and sought his ruine Mazarine with the greatest protestations of sincerity and friendship assured him of the esteem he had for him and of his affectionate and loyal correspondence redoubling still his Asseverations that he never had the least thought of being against him and yet at the same time Mons de Lionne was writing the Order To entice the Duke of Longueville to transgress the Agreement made with his brothers in Law never to appear all three at the Council they made him believe that in the evening of the 18th of January 1650 the Affair concerning the Marquess of Beveron his great Confident would be debated so that for his care to favour his friend he forgot his own concern and notwithstanding that Mons Priolo his familiar Acquaintance advertiz'd him not to go to the Council yet would he not be persuaded so that all three came thither one after another though Conde and Conty were dissuaded by the Princess their Mother that very morning the Prince not apprehending any thing as well for the Cardinals demonstrations of his true friendship as for his confidence of the Abbot della Riviera who would have told him all supposing that the Duke of Orleans without his assent would have taken no such resolution and though it had been taken would have communicated it to the Abbot his bosom-friend They went together to wait on the Queen who feigning her self not very well was lain down to repose her self on her bed wherefore they suddenly withdrew and staying awhile in the Anti-chamber the Queen being alone with the King and sollicitous for what she knew must happen prayed the King to shut the door which he did The Princes going afterwards into the Gallery where the Council was held they found every one there but the Cardinal who was in his own Appartement discoursing with the Abbot della Riviera ignorant of this business after which he found himself openly in disgrace with the Duke of Orleans his Patron who likewise came not to Council as they had agreed for fear of what might happen abroad The Sieur de Cominges Lieutenant of the Queens Guards entered immediately into the Gallery with the Sieur de Guitault his Uncle and Croissy who told the Princes the Orders they had from the King to secure their persons They standing amazed at such news the Prince of Conde requested to speak a word with the Queen but being refused as also to speak with the Cardinal they were constrained to descend by the Back-stairs that leads to the Garden without the least noise or suspicion given to any although the Halls Chambers and Courts were full of the Princes friends and followers They were carried away in a Coach with a Guard of Horse to the Boys de Vincennes The Partizans of the Princes were exceedingly astonished at this news which was presently noised in the City the sign being given by discharging a Cannon that the prisoners were arrived at Vincennes whereupon the whole City was immediately in Arms the people believing that the Duke of Beaufort was likewise secured as the friends of the prisoners did artificially divulge to exasperate the people against Mazarine so that Beaufort was obliged that very night to ride thorough the City by Torch-light that he might be seen which pacified and much contented the people who rejoycing at the imprisonment of the Princes made Bonfires in several parts of the Town with such Acclamations as if the Kingdom had been redeemed from all misery and affliction and all blessed the Cardinal for so pious a resolution But the more reputation he gained by this act the more did he awaken their envy and incited the Frondeurs to contrive his destruction since they had obtained their intent in seeing the Prince of Conde's Party laid low pursuing still their former design of getting the sole management of Affairs in their own power After this there arose new disturbances in divers parts of the Kingdom stirred up by the Prince of Conde's Mother the Dutchess of Longueville and many other Princes and Noblemen of their Kindred and Friends in the Provinces under their Government and in Paris it self the favourers of the imprisoned being assembled in the House of the Princess Palatine consulted about the properest remedies to draw them out of prison The Coadjutor and Beaufort concurred with them in this Consultation on design to ruine also Mazarine and remain sole Masters The Cardinal finding himself more at liberty to act began to practise the ways how to arrive at his intent which was to destroy the Faction of la Fronda serving himself to that end with his wonted dissimulation excellently by him practised to make appear his reconciliation with the Duke of Beaufort seem candid and sincere who at that time was in the highest degree of Esteem and Veneration with the Parisiens and with design to make them diffident of him he went publickly to pay him a Visit unusual for him to do for which the Frondeurs murmured against the Duke calling him a Mazarine which much lessened his credit and esteem with the people and the Faction of la Fronda The Friends and kindered of the Princes ceased not at the same time to raise new commotions in the other parts of France so that the Tumults of Normandy Champagne and Burgundy were scarce appeased when as those of Guienne and chiefly of Bourdeaux began to break out Mazarine being no less agitated by the commotions of the Kingdom then by those in Paris where the people were more and more set on to Seditions he thought fit to cause the K to leave the City again under pretext to oppose the Preparations of the Spaniards who were united with the Male-contents on the Confines of Flanders Whereupon the Court went to Compeigne and because the Spaniards at this time had besieged Guise a place of great importance the Cardinal thought it convenient to go in person to the Army and attempt to relieve it which successfully he performed having encourage the Souldiers and Officers with money and many Presents distributed amongst the principal Commanders by which kind of dealing he kept the Souldiery always well-affected and faithful to the King and his own person Upon this good success the Cardinal took courage to go with the King to chastise the Rebels of Bourdeaux and drew the Duke of Orleans and all the Council to his Opinion This resolution displeased the Frondeurs for the advantages they foresaw the happy execution of this Enterprize might bring to the Court and to Mazarine and by consequence the damage and prejudice to their own Party Whereupon they began to divulge new calumnies against the Cardinal namely that this Progress was for no other purpose then to establish the Matrimony of his Nieces who after the
hands of the Secretary of the Parlement the Circumstances of his Espousals with the Avouchment of them to be communicated to his Father the Duke of Vendosme that all the Decrees against the Cardinal his Domesticks and Kindred should be renewed and particularly against Madamoiselle Mancini who especially was prohibited to return into France and if she were there to depart within 8 days The Declaration that the King was to set forth against the Cardinal was likewise read and the Duke of Orleans made them adde The damage which ensued upon his hindering the General Peace as also for undertaking the War against Bourdeaux without his consent The Prince of Conde obtained to be added That his imprisonment was for no other cause but that he would not consent to the Marriage of the Cardinals two Nieces with the Dukes of Mercoeur and Candale Upon the retirement of Servient Tillier and Lionne the Regent saw it necessary to elect a new Council to which the Duke of Orleans assenting counselled thereunto by the Dutchess of Chevreuse and the Coadjutor who had pressed him a great while before they could prevail it was resolved on to call the Marquess de Chasteauneuf to exercise the charge of Chief Minister the Marquess of Vieville to be Superintendent of the Finances and to confirm the Chief President Keeper of the Seal and the Coadjutor was nominated to be Cardinal Chasteauneuf taking upon him the Management of Affairs began immediately to think upon those means that might hinder the Cardinals return which were to make the King to go into Berry and from thence towards Poictu for the further off he was the more difficult and impracticable it would be for the Cardinal to return as well for the Animosities of the Parlement as for the ill season of the year being to pass 14 Rivers and by keeping the King absent he should put the Duke of Orleans into the Government of Affairs which was his principal end These designs of Chasteauneuf being suspected by the Cardinals Confidents who discovering that there were but few in the Council which delivered their mind cordially the rest onely in appearance and to gratifie the Queen professed themselves good friends concluded that there was no better Expedient for their Majesties and for the Cardinal himself then to make use of their power and to get that by force which they could not obtain by reason and fair means To this intent the Abbot Ondedei by the Kings Order who with reiterated Letters had recall'd the Cardinal to Court hasted to Brules to let Mazarine understand the necessity of taking this course and to inform him really of what past assuring him of their Majesties good intentions for whose service it was absolutely necessary he should return to his Charge it being manifest that there was no person served them with more readiness and cordiality The Cardinal hearkened to what the Abbot delivered for having found him in all occasions of an ingenious free and sincere nature he much confided in him but he rested somwhat doubtful in his resolution for fear of making a greater alteration in Affairs and of giving new matter to the Male-contents and to his Enemies to raise pretexts for Seditions and Tumults to quiet which he thought it best to remain in exile with the loss of all he had gained hitherto But in the end the reasons alledged by the Abbot prevailing who with an equal zele to his hearty affection laboured to make him comprehend the necessity of his return he determined with his own mony to make without delay a Levy of four or five thousand Souldiers giving the command of them to the Mareschals at la Ferté Seneterre and d'Hoquincourt the Counts de Novailles and Broglio his intimate friends and persons of great integrity who took upon them the command and with all diligence applied themselves to serve him desiring earnestly to see him readmitted to his former State to his Enemies shame and reproach This being resolved on the Cardinal desired a Pass-port of the Spaniards to return to Bovillon which was by them delay'd foreseeing perhaps of what prejudice his return to Court might prove Wherefore departing suddenly from Brules instead of going to Juliers without drawing bit he rode to Duren a City belonging to the Duke of Newbourg from thence to Aix la Chapelle and so to Liege to Huy and lastly to Dinan whither the Counts of Novailles and Iroglio came to him to agree on the Levies for which he there disbursed the Moneys and in 40 days time that he staid there they raised their whole number of Souldiers Upon this news the Parlement renewed the Decree against the Cardinal laying to his charge that he had infringed their Order by levying of Souldiers to enter again into France and did what they could to hinder his return but he continuing at Dinan hastened with all diligence the new Levies that he might accompany them to reinforce the King and the time of his motion drawing nigh he renewed his request to the Spaniards for a Passport but it not appearing one night unexpectedly in 18 hours riding without drawing bit he came to Bovillon not without danger of being snapt by the Prince of Conde's Troops who watched diligently to intercept him skirting ever and anon the adjacent Campagne From hence he sent word to advertise the Spanish Commanders that he was gone and since they had not favoured him to with the desired Pass for himself desired that they would at least vouchsafe one for his Nieces which was immediately granted and with much Honour they were served and convey'd to Bovillon by Don Antonio Primentelli and from hence arose the good correspondence betwixt him and the Cardinal which afterward so much conduc'd to the Peace of the two Crowns to which the Elector of Colen contributed much by encouraging Mazarine to so pious and holy a work He went on to Sedan and determined as soon as might be to advance with his levied Souldiers and with those the Mareschal d' Hoquincourt had gathered who had Order from the King to joyn with him and with one Body to enter into France This novelty made a great noise in Paris but alarm'd most the Frondeurs the Parlement and the Dukes of Orleans and Beaufort who being surprised when they least imagined with clamorous complaints gave out that it was a thing not to be endured that the Court should so notoriously infringe their Promise and Word so often given and that the contempt was too remarkable to see themselves so palpably deluded The Parlement therefore decreed that in prosecution of the Judgment concluded four days before against the Cardinal to depute some with a Message to their Majesties to complain of what was acting on the Frontiers against their service by levying of Souldiers distributing of Mony and bruit of Mazarine's return all contrary to the Kings Declaration and his Royal Word for the maintaining of which they should beseech him with all earnestness that the
whereat the others taking Alarm became much more audacious and undertaking The Parlement added to the Instructions given to their Deputies dispatched to the Court to urge the release of the Counsellour Bitant and that the Mareschal de la Milleray could be advanced to the Dignity of Duke and Peer if first he did not give the pretended satisfaction to the Parlement of Brittain Moreover that no Duke Mareschal of France or other Officer of the Crown should hence forward be admitted to their Function if the Cardinal were not first withdrawn out of the Kingdom It was thought that this was done to lessen the Interest that he had by disposing of the Offices of the Crown thereby to gain those Officers to their Party But of this the Gentry and Nobility of the Kingdom made no reckoning but by how much the more the Parlement shewed themselves eager against the Court so much the more contemptible they render'd themselves no body regarding their Decrees so long as the Authority of the King could annul them and render them invalid and therefore they who sounded the Affairs to the bottom found it better counsel to keep the streight way of Obedience then to walk in rugged paths and praecipices In this manner the Princess Palatine Anna Gonzaga from being first Conde's Friend became the Queens greatest Confident and the Cardinals to which the King corresponding called her to Court to foment by her ready and smart Wit the Parties proper to destroy the Caballs of the Male-contents She arrived there as likewise divers other Lords did who openly condemned the Opinion of those which could not but in the end be losers yet obstinately follow'd the Game In the mean while the Cardinal at the Head of the Army departing from Pont sur Saone came to Chasteaurenart and from thence advanced to Gien upon the River Loire The Souldiers of the Marquess of Sordis who were enter'd into the Town upon news of his March quitted it The Cardinal pass'd the River over the Bridge and was civilly receiv'd by those Inhabitants He went thence to Vierron where he left the Army under the command of the Count Broglio to continue their March towards Guienne and His Eminence accompanied with Hoquincourt and Grançay Mareschals of France with a great number of other principal Officers and Persons of Quality went in diligence towards Poitiers where the King was and drawing near was met by His Majesty without the City The King light out of his Coach and imbraced him with so much affection that the Honours were greater which the Cardinal received by that benign Reception then his misusage by so many Decrees of the Parlement His Majesty took him into his Coach and conducted him to kiss the Queens hand where the joy of the Court was redoubled By how much the more splendent the Applauses and Contentments were in this part by so much the more the hatred was dismal and cloudy in other parts and in no City greater threatnings appeared then in Bourdeux whose Parlement after the example of that of Paris persevering in their Assemblings and unlawful and seditious Decrees drove from the City the persons and whole Families of those who were esteemed faithful to the King and did all that Rebells and Enemies of their lawful Soveraign could do THE HISTORY Of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE Lib. II. MAZARINE being enter'd into France the 16th of January 1652 the King cancell'd and annull'd the Decree of the Parlement of Paris of the 29 September 1651 with express prohibition to put it in execution and not to attempt any thing against him upon pain of death He forbad also not to proceed to the sale of his Goods nor Books the Transgressors in this case being to lose what they had paid and â—0000 Livres penalty declaring â—â—at the said Decree was contrary to His Majesty's intention to the ordinary Forms of Justice to the Customs of the Kingdom and injurious to the Sacred College of Cardinals to the Head of the Church and to the Holy Apostolick See towards which he protested following the example of the Kings his predecessours always to observe an unalterable devotion and reverence that the Cardinal was entered into the Kingdom by his express Order to conduct a good Body of an Army levied at his own proper charges to serve him in the present Emergencies and that he being a Soveraign King and absolute Master of all he ought to be obey'd by his Subjects without any limitation In Poitiers after the arrival of the Cardinal divers Consultations of War were held which were reduced to the examinations of two points The one to go with all the Forces into Guienne to bring under Bourdeaux and totally to suppress the Prince of Conde's Party the Queen and the Cardinal were of the same judgment The other was to go towards Paris with the greatest part of the Forces to disperse those of the Duke of Orleans encourage the well-affected Citizens and hinder the passage of the Duke of Nemours Souldiers who were about to enter into France Divers Reasons were alledged for both these Opinions and it was resolved on to pass into Guienne but the City of Anger 's being up in Arms by means of the Duke de Rohan Chabot Governour of Anjou the Cardinal judged it more opportune to direct their course that way so that unexpectedly on the 6th of February the Court hasted to Saumeur to the great resentment of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf who seeing that in the Kings Council it was resolved on to march into Guienne and afterward without consulting him they changed their resolution for Anjou He thought they made little Account of him and that the Cardinal was become again the sole Disposer of all Affairs wherefore he took free leave of the Court and retired to live privately at Tours whereby Mazarine remain'd to direct all as before without any companion but not without the envy and jealousie of some of his friends who could not brook the preeminency of a stranger The Court having finished the Enterprize of Anger 's which was reduced to the Kings obedience possessed themselves also of Pont de Cé and secured the Provinces beyond the Loire the News coming of the Duke of Nemours Arrival in France with some Troops out of Flanders the Cardinal thought fit not to defer time but to provide carefully for the Affairs of those parts where all their friends desired the Kings Presence The Court then departed from Saumeur the 7. of March 1652 and settled at Tours whether from divers Provinces and Cities came several Persons of Quality deputed to confirm to the King their fidelity and obedience and amongst others the Archbishop of Rouen Chamvallon Primate of Normandy deputed by a great Assembly of Prelates met at Paris upon the Decree against the Cardinal to demonstrate to his Majestie the wrong that was done to the Church of Rome and the injury she received in the person of one of her Members out-raged The Archbishop
him that the world might know that he was Master The Parisiens the day following had another general Assembly and selected some Deputies to desire their Majesties to remove the Cardinal further off and to return to Paris but it was to no purpose the Court standing firm in their resolution not to sully the Royal Authority endeavouring to gain time and to keep Paris Neutral that they might not supply the contrary Party with Men and Money of which they stood in need enough The Princes and the Parlement on the other side studying to maintain themselves in the Peoples favour did not omit to imploy all their industry to stir up the people against the Kings Ministers and because it was necessary to keep afoot the commerce of Paris to hinder the Kings Army from passing the Sene they made some Levies which joyn'd with some other Troops of the Princes to scower the neighbouring Campania The Army of the Princes possest themselves of the Country of Estampes situated betwixt Orleans and Paris where they found a great quantity of Corn and here they intended to abide and fortifie themselves with hopes by maintaining this Post to keep Paris and Orleans faithful which was the main scope of all While the Kings Army lay quarter'd at Chartres and thereabouts they cast themselves into Estampes with their Lieutenants Generals for the Prince and the Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort were gone to Paris where they staid to make sure of the Frondeurs and their Party a good part of whom desiring the Kings return hearkened willingly to the Treaties that thereupon were had about the entry and reception of His Majesty who if at that instant he had frankly shewn himself he would have been received with all joyfulness and applause and the Princes and their Party chased away since the Citizens were at last weary of these hurly-burlies but nothing was done the King not daring to venture himself on the peoples instability nor willing to let the Cardinal depart as he often pressed to take away all pretext from the Male-contents The Kings Army besieged that of the Princes in Estampes where followed divers skirmishes and amongst the rest a very bloudy one in possessing themselves of the Suburbs The Court fixed at St. Germains and here the first Deputation which was sent was in the name of the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde who dispatched thither the Count de Chavigny the Secretary Goulas and the Duke de Rohan Chabot Chavigny was for the Prince Goulas for Orleans and Chabot for both At first they declared that they would not treat with the Cardinal but this was only a shew for they had secret order to see him and to seek all ways to come to an Agreement with him with a firm resolution to gain him to their particular interests supposing that he to continue in France and in his Ministry would easily condescend to their pretensions They were secretly in the Cardinals Cabinet treated with him and Chavigny a person of great worth propounded to the Cardinal to make an entire Agreement with the Prince by granting him four Demands One was to make the Count d' Ognon Duke and Peer the Count de Marsin a Mareschal of France the Prince of Conty Governour of Provence and the Prince himself Plenipotentiary for the General Peace To the two first the Cardinal did comply because they simply concerned only honourable titles But the Government of Provence and the Plenipotentiary of the Peace he did wholly reject declaring he would never consent that for his particular interest the Kings Authority and Service should be prejudic'd This Deputation was of huge prejudice to the Princes because it was made in a time that the Parliament and the Parisiens were more incensed against the Cardinal and when all the Sovereign Courts had deliberated to require his removal and that the Commonalty of Paris were of the same mind in a time that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince had declared in Parliament that for a general satisfaction they desired nothing but the banishment of the Cardinal so that the people seeing them act against such express Declarations from thence forward they were not a little jealous of their carriage and many that were very well inclined towards them began to be more wary in their proceedings which was afterward one of the principal causes of their fall In the neck of this Deputation the Deputies of the Parliament appear'd at St. Germains with their Remonstrances to their Majesties about giving the Cardinal his Congé against whom the President Nesmond spake with great liberty The King heard them with much civility and afterward told them that he was very well informed of the good intentions of the Parliament and wish'd that they were as well perswaded of his That he would confer with his Privy Council and in three days they should understand his will with such words and general termes concluding nothing the Deputies return'd to Paris The same day those sent from the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids had Audience and the Answer was the same he gave the Parliament also the Provost of Merchants the Sheriffs the Attorney-General the City-Notary and others deputed from the Communalty presented themselves before his Majestie representing to him the unhappy state of his Subjects and of the necessity of dismissing the Cardinal the sole cause of all the distasts and differences The Keeper of the Seals answer'd that his Majestie was assured of the good affection of the City of Paris and to satisfie them he intended to return thither so soon as the Passes should be open and this he said to give them a wipe that in the same time they made these Addresses they endeavored to hinder his coming cutting off the Bridges of the Sene and Marne The King therefore not yielding to condescend to such licentious demands the Male-contents took occasion to exclaim against his Council who on the other side complaining of the Subjects Proceedings every thing went more and more into confusion and all the faults which indeed did concern onely a few interessed people and Male-contents were charged upon Mazarine against whom their hatred and fury not abating he was commonly called The root of all evil and The cause of all the miseries of that flourishing Kingdom which would have been more unhappy wanting the protection of the Cardinal and the power of the Princes and of the Parlement increasing if the Kings Authority had been diminished which the more independent and absolute the more profitable to Subjects who are always most miserable where there are most Masters The Parliament Assembled to hear the Answers that the Deputies brought from Court where were present the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde with all the chief of the Faction when the News came that the Royallists were assaulting the Bridge of St. Cloud defended by a little Fort whereupon the Prince of Condé mounting suddenly on Horseback with several Gentlemen and above eight
against the Complices of these proceedings And the Provost of Merchants the Consuls the Sheriffs with the other Heads of the Citizens being assembled they order'd that the Colonels and Captains of the several Wards should have their Companies ready and a Court of Guard placed about the Palace to hinder greater insolencies and conserve the Liberty of the Parlement whose power was too weak to preserve the Peace since the number that followed the Party of the Princes was greater then those who adhered to the Parlement and the Common Council of the City It was concluded on to have a general Meeting of all the Inhabitants the 4th of July to resolve on the most convenient Expedients for the Indemnity of Paris and of the Parlement In the mean while the Duke of Lorrain was discamp'd from Ville neufue St. George the 17th of June and already out of the Kingdom Which unexpected News greatly surprised the Parisiens fearing that the said Duke had abandon'd and betray'd the Princes from which arose great rumours and no ordinary Trepidation in all those that were against the Court-Faction suspecting that the Kings Army apprehending nothing from the Lorrainers should beleaguer Paris and the Princes be necessitated to comply with force Wherefore the Prince of Conde caused his Troops that came out of Estampes to march towards Paris and encamp betwixt S. Clou and Surenne upon the Sene two Leagues from Paris and hither also were sent those few Souldiers that the Princes had about them in Paris with the which they formed a Body of about five or six thousand men and were provided of all necessaries from the City but all with the Princes own Money for they never could draw from the Parisiens neither Money nor other sustenance but onely free commerce popular affection and shelter in time of need Wherefore the Prince knowing that he could not long subsist without an open Declaration of the City and the Parlement in his behalf he sought all ways to oblige the one and the other to second his designs but all was thwarted by the address of Mazarine who in these fastidious Emergencies shewed in a more extraordinary manner the refinedness of his Wit And because the Castle of Vincennes in these conjunctures was of no little importance it was reinforced with 100 Souldiers by the Count de Chavigny Governour of the said place who was then in Paris and in good intelligence with the Prince of Conde although as the same went he held private correspondence with Cardinal Mazarine and by his dexterous carriage his Enemies were by little and little won over Divers other provisions were likewise made for maintaining their common Interest to which end by reiterated Carriers and by dispatching away several Gentlemen they sollicited the Spaniards in Flanders for their promised assistance and to enter into France with a powerful Army to drive away the Kings Forces from about Paris who held the Male-contents in continual jealousie and fear and fill'd the Kings Party with hopes and confidence But the Count de Fuensaldagna a sage Politician and a Cavalier of a very acute understanding consented not to give any larger help then what might suffice to uphold them in their pretensions thereby to keep afoot the civil disturbances in France and be able by such means to advance the Interest of His Catholick Majesty in Flanders Italy and Catalogne where it was more behoveful to imploy the Armies then in France where by the instability of that Nation he foresaw that if the Princes by the assistance of Spain should be made more powerful then the Kings Party His Majesty would upon easier terms agree with the Parlement and the Princes themselves who afterwards would turn with greater zele against those that had helped them He continued nevertheless to feed them with hopes and now and then with some returns of Money things not seeming to him to be reduc'd as yet to such straits to require so great aid and that they should neglect their own business to attend onely that of others The Princes and the Frondeurs were not wanting to instigate in Bourdeaux the minds of those who were desirous of novelties where many of the Citizens being more and more inclined to Sedition Ambition and Avarice added more fuel to the fire And here it will not happen amiss to understand how among those of the same Party by means of Mazarine many divisions did arise while in all reason they ought to have been united as well in Affection as Interest It is a common Maxim that One Absurdity begets another and he that cannot submit to a lawful Government much less will he endure an unlawful Usurpation The Frondeurs of Bourdeaux were divided into two Factions one was call'd the little and the other the great Fronda each compos'd of various persons as well of the Parlement as of the Citizens These divided the Province betwixt them to levy Contributions Those of the great Fronda had a strong pretext to accuse them of the losser for causers of all the disorders From these two Factions there sprang another callâ—d the Ormiere which in a short space being become more potent then the others because follow'd by the people there happen'd divers dangerous Seditions The Princes endeavour'd to weaken the Ormiere by the Authority of the Parlement but this occasion'd greater disorders and made them more insolent And the distempers grew so high that there followed divers fierce Conflicts and greater would have happened without the pretence of the Prince of Conty who interposing his Authority many times quieted the fury of the people and endeavoured to divert those Innovations which were plotted by some of the most insolent and seditious In several Cities of Provence there arose likewise some disorders but having none of Reputation to head them nor sufficient means to support themselves they signified little and by the vigilance of the Duke of Mercoeur who acted according as the Cardinal his Uncle who loved him extremely advised him with a few people and with little ado they were suppressed maintaining that Province in its due obedience The Court in the interim did not lay aside the endeavours for adjusting with the Princes and in particular with Conde upon whom they bottom'd their greatest foundation as of most repute in respect of his Followers and the esteem he had gain'd by his valour Nor was it difficult to bring him to an Agreement he being very much inclin'd and very willing to it but by the means of the Cardinal de Retz and others to whose Interest the Peace did not sute all the Negotiations were interrupted the Cardinal of Retz prevailing still with the Duke of Orleans to oppose it and Conde resolving not to abandon Orleans having so many times declar'd always to stand by him so that all the proposals were obstructed Cardinal Mazarine trying all means to render these Machinations unuseful the aptest was found to be to make the people of Paris see their own error which if he
the Suburbs it self which they did and pursued them into the very houses Here the Prince who with an unmatchable valour bore all the brunt of this hot Conflict though he declar'd aloud that the danger was great and inevitable using his Wit where Force fail'd galloping from Squadron to Squadron put his men into very good order The Royallists press'd on with marvellous courage and fury assaulting vigorously the Enemies Posts in two several places where they were courageously resisted and beat back for some while But the Regiments of Languedoc Valois and Langeron not being able to resist any longer and retreating with some loss as far as the Market-place of the Suburbs the Prince himself came speedily to their assistance at the head of his Regiment of Horse and that of Anguien and here the Fight was renewed afresh so hotly that the Prince gave high proofs of his skill in the art of War and of his undaunted Courage never shewing greater boldness nor more hazarding his Life then in this perillous Rencounter engaging himself as a common Souldier amongst the Enemies Ranks killing many with his own hands and repelling others so that to his eternal glory those Regiments assumed new courage and regained their Posts from whence they had been chased But in the other Posts commanded by the Count de Tavannes they had not the like fortune for the Marquess de St. Magrin a Cavalier of great courage with divers noble Voluntiers the Light Horse and Cuirassiers of the Kings Guards sustained by a Battalion of Suissers fell on with such fury that the Princes Troops were much shattered and near being totally routed if by the death of St. Magrin the heat of that Onset which by his boldness was fomented with an extravagant not to say bizzarre temerity had not been abated for he being in the Skirmish mortally hurt and unhors'd was miserably slaughter'd by some Freebooters who were mingled amongst them so that the Kings Troops in this part also were beaten and repulsed by those of the Princes though with the expence of much bloud for here happened their greatest loss many of the principal Gentlemen of the Army being slain or wounded In the mean while the Royallists had possessed themselves of the street Rambovillet with some Houses and Barricadoes notwithstanding the obstinate defence of the Assailed to whose succour a Regiment of Germans advancing they fail'd not to perform their parts manfully The Prince kept the street from the Gate of Paris to a large place upon the same street environ'd about with Houses and Garden-walls here the Royallists had made holes in the Houses and Walls and from thence they gall'd with shot the Princes people The Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort joyn'd both at the same instant with the Prince and although betwixt these two Brother-in-Laws there was no good intelligence they agreed very well in this Emergency and were cause that the resolution was taken to attempt the recovery of the lost Barricado The Prince though he suddenly foresaw the ill success it being difficult with people weary and worsted to vanquish those who were under shelter and fresh yet for all this his Generous Heart never refusing the most dangerous and difficult bickering he submitted to this reason that though the attempt succeeded not according to their intent he should by such a bold and extraordinary an action give his Enemies cause to look about them and lengthen the Dispute which would be the onely remedy for his safety They were thereupon attaqued by these two Dukes together with the Duke de Rochefoucaut and the Prince of Marsillac followed by a Body of Musquettiers who refusing to advance further they dismounted from their Horses run on without fear of death with so much courage not to say rashness that the Royallists being surprised and amazed they abandon'd the Barricadoes and those four Princes alone recovered them with admirable Gallantry and would have maintained them if the Enemies flank'd on both sides the streets and thundering in continually Volleys of shot against the Assailants had not made them see it impossible to make a stay in that open place where the Duke of Nemours received 13 Musquet shot in his Cuirace and two in his right hand The Duke de la Rochefoucaut was wounded in the face betwixt his Eyes and the Duke of Beaufort and the Prince of Marsillac being oblig'd to help the wounded were necessitated to abandon the Post which being observed by the Royallists they issued out of the houses in all haste to take them prisoners which they had done if the Prince of Condé with his wonted courage had not pressed forward thorough the cloud of smoke and fire with some few Gentlemen that followed him giving by this means time and opportunity to the wounded Princes to retire Many were slain and hurt on the Princes side in this Skirmish and the rest would have very hardly escaped if with the same care as the Royallists attaqued this side they had assailed that part behind the Suburbs putting themselves betwixt it and the City gate which was not done it being not thought fit to put themselves under the mercy of the shot from the Ramparts of Paris full of armed Inhabitants doubting lest they might have been persuaded to discharge upon them or as it was whisper'd though upon what grounds is not known that some persons did not desire the loss of the Prince with so many brave French Gentlemen against whom the Victory could not be but damageable it being probable that they finally perceiving their own errour would return to their duty and serve His Majesty with as much Fidelity as now they express'd Affection for the Party that oppos'd Mazarine In the same time that without the Walls they were fighting with their weapons the contest was no less in words within amongst the Citizens some pretended that they should not onely issue out to help the Princes but that opening the Gates they should give them a favourable reception Others insisted that letting the Prince be destroyed the occasion of all their misfortunes thereby they should put an end to those miseries and settle the City in its former tranquillity and be freed from those sad accidents wont to accompany the confusion of War Finally upon these differences that concluded nothing in favour of the Princes Madamoiselle d'Orleans came into the streets went to the Town-house told the Citizens that without loss of time the Inhabitants ought to go out to assist the Princes allowing the Baggage and Troops of their friends to enter the City which she urged with such efficacy that adding hereunto the lamentable and horrid spectacle of so many Noblemen of high condition gasping wounded and besmear'd with bloud they concluded to open their Gates and receive them and many crying in the streets they ought to help the Prince who with so much valour put his own Life and the Lives of so many good Frenchmen in evident and almost inevitable peril for the publick cause
there issued out about 300 Inhabitants who were placed by the Prince to guard certain Posts One part of the Baggage enter'd by the Gate of the Temple and the other by that of S. Anthony The Prince gave the Orders for the favouring and securing their retreat and sent to Monsieur de Louviere Commander at that time of the Bastile in lieu of his father the Counsellour Brussel to cause the great Guns to be discharged upon the Kings Troops which being delay'd as a thing unbeseeming a Subject Madamoiselle came into the Bastile and mounting briskly upon the Wall with an Amazonian courage as if she her self had participated of the glory and danger commanded that in her presence the Artillery should be discharged against the Kings Army which was done accordingly Thereupon Order being given for the Retreat the Horse Foot and Canon march'd forthwith It was thought at the first discharge of the Bastile that it was against the Princes Troops the Parisiens having assured the Kings Ministers that they would not receive the Princes People but afterward perceiving that they shot against the Royallists and that the Inhabitants failing of their promise the Baggage was already safe and the Troops began to enter into the City those of the Kings Party were greatly astonished for the lost hopes of their assured Victory The Kings Generals were no less troubled as well for some reproofs of their slowness and negligence as to see themselves at the very point of their Victory defrauded of their Expectations so that they retreated again to S. Denis The Cardinal being very sad for the ill success of the Enterprise and for the mortal Wound his Nephew Mancini receiv'd of which he died in few days in which time the King with a demonstration of singular affection visited him often as also the afflicted Lady of S. Magrin The Forces of the Princes encamp'd themselves in the Fields of Yvry without the Suburbs of St. Marceau and in two days time sackt all the Villages and Houses for three Leagues about Madamoiselle in this occasion did another mad prank which was seconded by all Paris She stuck a handful of straw upon her head and passing thorow the streets cried that was the sign which they that were not Mazarines ought to wear In a moment not only all the Inhabitants but the strangers of every Nation and of all sorts even to the Religious Men and Ministers of forreign Princes were seen to follow this fashion to secure themselves from the violence and insolence the people used towards those that had not this distinction about them But this was a fore-running Presage of unhappy events to follow for straw-fire being the weakest and the easiest to be extinguisht portended that that Party should suddenly be dissolved like straw-fire into smoke In this manner ended the memorable Fight in the Suburbs of St. Anthony the second of July 1652 in which the quality of the slain and wounded was more considerable then the number The Prince of Conde not at all valuing his own life running now to one place now to another where the fight was most bloody and his men in greatest danger he perform'd the Office not only of a General but of a Common Souldier and oftentimes was at the Graves Mouth His Horse was slain under him he received several shot on his Armour his Cloaths pierc'd through in many places his Feather and Hair burnt and yet to the admiration of all he remain'd unhurt The Mareschal de Turenne behaved himself with no less valour who pressing on with great celerity on every side gave worthy proofs of his experience and skill and he was heard to say that he had received order to go and fight the Prince of Conde But wheresoever he charg'd the Enemy he always found the Prince at the Head of them All the other Generals and Captains behaved themselves bravely And for their extraordinary boldness and famous and courageous deeds of both Parties this was accounted amongst the noblest and worthiest Exploits that ever happened in any Age. The Prince of Conde being grown more confident upon the increased reputation of his Arms he tried to make them declare openly in favour of his Party seeing he wanted money and other necessary assistance to maintain the War But because till that time his pressing instances made to the Citizens had taken little effect who by Mazarines means were daily more and more gain'd to the Kings party he thought as it was famed abroad and the Parisiens themselves fear'd to constrain them by force to do what he desired A General Assembly of the Citizens being to be held in the Town-House at the Greve the 4th of July in the same year 1652 It was resolved by the Princes to make the common people fall upon that Assembly and by putting them in fear bring them to their will All the Officers of the Communalty being come together which might be about 400 of the chief of the City the Duke of Orleans sent the Mareschal of Estampes to the Mareschal de l' Hospital who presided in the Assembly as Governour of Paris to assure him that that morning there should happen no disorder and that he desired that laying aside publick affairs they would consult how to put the Parlement in safety and give time to their Deputies which were gone to Court promising to be himself within two houres at the Assemblie The Mareschal answer'd that it was fit that his Royal Highness should have all satisfaction The Assembly met the Duke came thither at half an houre past four in the afternoon at which time the Greve was full of armed seditious people with straw upon their heads an evident token of some extravagant disorder and a Prelude to the funest Tragedy that followed The Duke being entred into the Hall the Mareschal resigned his Chair to him placing himself upon the Prevost of the Merchands Bench. It is not amiss to observe that the Mareschal having received the Duke at the foot of the stairs seeing him adorned with his bunch of straw told him boldly What your Royal Highness then enters with the mark of sedition into the Kings House The Duke replied he had indeed received that straw but did not approve of it they went up the stairs and Orleans taking his place thank'd the City for granting a passage to his Troops asking them if in a like occurrence they would do it again The Prince appear'd there also and spake to the same purpose The Mareschals Answer was that they should always have the same inclination to their service and when they pleas'd to withdraw they would take it into their consideration in which Speech the Prevost of Merchands concurr'd In the mean time a Trumpet arrived with a Letter with a Seal in which the King ordered that the Assembly should be put off till the 8th of the same moneth The Mareschal caused it to be read and then asked the Princes and the rest of the Assembly if they were
in the mind to obey the Kings Orders The Princes without answering any thing retired judging their Party not strong enough to make them determine on the Union which they desired and coming out of the Parquet so is the Tribunal or place rail'd in where the Lords sit called to accompany the Duke and the Prince the Mareschal was presented by an impertinent fellow with a posie of straw with which sawciness being much incens'd turning himself briskly told him that if it were not for the respect he bore to his Royal Highness he would cause him presently to be thrown out at the window and hang'd upon a Gibbet The Princes going out said that place was full of Mazarines who had a mind to prolong and gain time which occasion'd so great a commotion that the Souldiers of the Princes and the seditious people fell to discharge against the windows and doors Some Officers of the Princes to give countenance to this business had appointed several Musquettiers with their Leaders who having attempted in vain to raise a tumult in some other parts of the City came at last to this place mingling themselves with the people One of the people that stood upon the steps of the Cross in the midst of the place happened in this time to be kill'd by a shot whether by chance or on purpose which much more increas'd their rage and fury every one beginning to cry the Mazarines had made that shot and therefore they ought to kill them all menacing those that were within the Town-house and in this hurly-burly many were heard to cry Union Union and away with the Mazarines and all running with the straw in their Hats like so many possess'd with Furies they began to commit the accustomed insolencies that the indiscretion and bestiality of the rabble are wont to inspire The City-Companies that guarded the Town-house fled presently away which emboldning the seditious more and more they ran to fetch wood from the next boats and set fire to the great Gate endeavouring to get in to commit all the insolencies that blind passion could prompt them to In this danger the Mareschal and divers others undauntedly resolved rather to perish gloriously then to submit and save their lives weakly and dishonorably wherefore they prepared for a generous defence The Mareschal ordered them to make a Barricade of great Pieces of Timber above stairs at the entrance of the great Hall that looks into the Court which was defendde and maintain'd bravely by the Mareschals Guards He gave order likewise to spare their powder till night and in the mean time they should defend themselves with the stones of the pavement but at the same instant the great Gate being burnt and fallen down the seditious assaulted the Barricade where Blancart Commissary of the Princes Army received a mortal wound of which he died a little after with him some other Souldiers of the Princes were also slain While this pass'd the Prince of Conde was at the Palace of Orleans where having notice that the business went contrary to his intention which was to put them in fear but not to carry it on to extremity he intended to transport himself presently upon the place and making them by his Presence to cease the assault oblige those within to acknowledge their lives and safety from him But the Duke to whom it seemed not perhaps convenient that the Prince should hazard his person amongst that mad rabble or whether he thought it not expedient he should gain the good-will of the Citizens by that generous action and himself to bear all the hatred detain'd him by force and in no wise would not permit him to go out of his house so that to his great discontent he was constrain'd to remain quiet Many in this while seeing the imminent danger and excited by fear desiring to get out of the Palace attempted to make their way thorow the thickest of the people several of them were kill'd but some had the good fortune to save themselves without hurt The Duke of Beaufort and the Marquess de la Bollay who were in a house near by issuing out call'd aloud to some of the Assembly by their names saying he came to bring Peace and free them from the danger they were in The Mareschal believing this to be only a trick to get out those of the Princes Party and leave the rest to the discretion of the peoples fury sent to ask him if there was safety and with a constant and stout mind declar'd that they would all have their lives or all perish together The Assault lasted from five a Clock in the Evening till ten at night at which time the Mareschal going to the Barricade found it abandon'd and his Guards retired upon the false report spread that he had made his escape The people thereupon entred sack'd every thing and stript all they met who were glad to part with their cloaths to save their lives The Mareschal not knowing how to get out without being discover'd took the opportunity to put himself among the people and so passed into the next Chamber He had given the Order of the Holy Ghost to one of his Pages to keep and chang'd Hats with him and having on a Coat of a dark colour stood in the midst of them that blaspheming and raging with madness sought him every where and by the Address of a friend of his that call'd him by another name he got safe out At last Madamoiselle being moved to pity for so great a Massacre with her wonted generosity though it was three houres within night went to the Town-house and took along with her the Duke of Beaufort where she quieted the tumult and caused those of the Assembly to pass out safe and unhurt to her great commendation The Confusions and Cruelties committed in this Action served only to put the Prince of Conde in the ill opinion of the Parisiens whence as the second of July was the day of Triumph and height of his glory in that City so the fourth following was the impulsive cause of his fall being the Parisiens could never be got to contribute any money nor to come to an open rupture with the Court complaining generally of the Princes who to abate the ill esteem and to disguise as much as they could the part they had which was very considerable in this deliberation they imprisoned two Complices of the sedition who were also executed The 6th of the same month the Assembly was called again to the Town-house but few went and for all the entreaties the Duke of Orleans made sending thither even his own Swisse Guards none appeared but some few dependents of the Princes The Prevost of Merchands sent to declare that he should come no more to the Councils nor publick Assemblies till the Kings Authority was re-established wherefore Orleans substituted the Counsellor Brussel in that Charge making him take his Oath in forme and the Mareschal de l' Hospital being no more to exercise
artificial reach of the Court to weary them out by delays in stead of giving consolation in good earnest and to protract time by which Mazarine hoped to be able at last to gain the Parisiens by force of sufferings accustomed to enjoy peaceably their rich Traffick and to make extraordinarily advantage of those commodities that they send to all the parts of the world To take order for all these things the King with advice of his Council the 18th of July after a long rehearsal of all things past and of the principal causes of those ill events decreed that Information should be taken of the horrible and scandalous attempt upon the Town-house the 14th of the present moneth seeking and finding out the circumstances and dependencies also by way of Monitory and to proceed against the Authors and Complices of the Massacres and Violences committed according to the Statutes and rigour of the Laws and in the mean time annull'd and revoked the pretended Election of the Counsellour Brussel into the place of Provost of Merchands whom His Majesty expresly prohibited to act in that Function upon pain of Death and he and all his posterity to be accountable for the disorders happened or that should happen since his pretended administration He declared moreover all the Resolves made from the first of July as well in the Parlement as in the Town-house touching the publick affairs null and invalid till the Governour and the Provost of Merchands and the other Magistrates that were constrained to absent themselves were restored and that sufficient Provision were made for securing of the due Administration of Justice and safety of the City according to the tenure of that Decree The King expresly prohibited all the other Cities of the Kingdom and all his Subjects and Servants not to take any cognizance of any Orders or Decrees from Paris so long as it remain'd under the Tyrannical power of Rebels And to the end that the Money destin'd for the publick Uses of the City should not remain at the Enemies disposal to make use of it for the Warre and to pay the Spanish troops that they had call'd in His Majestie ordered it to be brought to the place where he should establish his abode to be put into Hands of the Pay-Masters of the publick Rents who were commanded to repair to Court with all the other Consuls and Sheriffs of the Cities within the term of three days after the publication of the Decree in the usual manner The Princes the Parlement and the Frondeurs were greatly disturb'd at this departure believing that the Court did but mock at their licentious and extravagant Pretences The Count de Servient had signified to the Deputies in His Majesties Name that if the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde not willing to nominate Commissioners of their own should rather desire to make use of the Parlements Deputies that the King was content and would adjust the Propositions with them contain'd in the foresaid Answer promising to send away the Cardinal and that before the Articles should be performed on their part provided they could come to an Agreement with their Deputies or with those of the Parlement when they should be impowered but the Princes in stead of accepting this offer and staying the Deputies at St. Denis to expect there the Kings Answer or to go and find him at Pontoise as he had ordered they were conducted as hath been said to Paris where continuing their Complaints of their being slighted by the Court they stood firm to have the Cardinal expell'd before any thing else was done flattering themselves in their own opinions and esteeming every thing easie arising from an overweening sufficiency The Parlement ambitious to usurp a greater Authority then what became them fell at last upon the resolution to chuse the Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the Crown and the Prince of Conde General of the Army under Orleans and supplicated His Royal Highness to take upon him this Quality under pretence of freeing the King from the hands of the Cardinal who had snatcht him from his people and kept him in constraint But this determination profitted them little as well because it was not imbraced by the other Parlements of the Kingdom but rather refused and reprehended as also because Orleans being of a disposition absolutely contrary to violent courses would not imbroil himself in that attempt but especially because he and the Cardinal de Retz the Contriver of all the Plots promised to themselves that without their ruining the Court Mazarine would be gone of himself The Cardinal de Retz put this into the Dukes head for fear that the Court being too much depressed the Prince of Conde his irreconcilable Enemy should rise too high Retz thus endeavouring to arrive at the Ministry first with the expulsion of Mazarine and afterward with the ruine of the Prince through the re-uniting the Queen with the Duke of Orleans was supposed the onely and true cause of the total downfall of that Party and afterward of his own imprisonment The Parlement moreover decreed that should go in the sale of the Moveables and other things belonging to the Cardinal The fond was likewise laid for the 50000 crowns the price of the Cardinals Head upon a years tax on Cattel But whether it was lukewarmness or the policy of those who endeavoured with like arts to bring to an advantageous conclusion the secret Treaties still managed in the Princes name by Monsieur de Goucourt with the assistance of the Duke of Bovillon who insisted earnestly for bringing the Prince of Conde and the Cardinal to an Agreement excluding Orleans or for what other secret respects the money was never deposited and many other things were passed by by reason of the concerns of the parties that interven'd The day following Orleans went to the Parlement and after many Complements declared that he would accept the charge of Lieutenant-General of the Crown so long as the King should be retained by the Cardinal but desired to have a Council about him establish'd by the Parlement The Chambers return'd Answer that they referr'd themselves to what his Royal Highness should determine He went in the same manner to the Chamber of Accounts where he declared the same thing and made the same request to have some of their Members in his Council and here again he had the like Answer that all was left to his own choice in pursuance whereof he took into his new Council of State the major part of the Male-contents and the first Consultation that was held was the third of August But these Proceedings so prejudicial to the Crown were carried on with as much coldness as they were embraced with eagerness And although in appearance these Decrees of the Parlement and Actions of the Princes looked like some great matter of importance in reality they were only shadows which in a short time vanished of themselves for by the cunning contrivances of Mazarine by little
Ammunition to the Troops that served under the Princes against His Majesty This Decree was read and published throughout Paris the 27. of September there was also fixed to all the corners of the principal streets a Manifesto of the Assembly made at the Palace-Royal the Contents of which were that His Majesties good Servants and Subjects there met together had no other design then to re-establish Peace in the City which could not otherwise be effected then by the Presence of its lawful Prince and by driving out the Strangers and Disturbers of the publick quiet To this Manifesto was annexed an Edict of the Kings made at Compeigne the seventeenth of the same moneth to this effect that His Majesty being informed of the Perseverance of the inhabitants of his good City of Paris in their right intentions for his service and for the publick good and of their readiness to employ all their power to reduce things to their former estate and to deliver themselves from the oppression they then suffered under by recovering their liberties under his obedience he granted leave to all the forementioned inhabitants and to every one of them in particular and ordered them in case of necessity to take armes to joyne themselves together to seize upon those places which they judged most fit to fall upon those who should oppose their design to imprison the seditious and in general to do whatsoever they should judge necessary and convenient to the re-establishing quietness and perfect obedience towards the King and to reduce the City to its Government according to ancient custome by lawful Magistrates under the Authority of His Majestie who granted them all ample and full power to this purpose In pursuance of these good intentions of the Citizens it was concluded at the Meeting of the six Companies of the Merchants to choose ten persons out of every one of these six Companies and to send them to Court to attest not only their services and fidelity to the King but also to supplicate His Majesty to return to Paris it being so universally desired by all his faithful Subjects The Assembly met again the 28. at the Palace-Royal where the aforesaid Resolution of the six Companies of Merchants being proposed they treated immediately of providing a Guard for the City that forein Forces might not be received in and other Troops that continually passed to and fro and to hinder the sending out of Victuals and Ammunition to the Camp of the Confederates and that they should send to the Colonels to put this order punctually in execution Their meeting at the Palace-Royal was put off till the return of the Deputies of the six Companies of Merchants from Court at which time they hoped to obtain the so much desired and longed for Peace He that was sent to Court before being returned brought with him a new peculiar Act of Oblivion granted by the King to the Inhabitants of Paris excluding the Parliament and the Princes as those who by perverse Interpretations had abused the former He brought also the Kings Letters to the Colonels containing after a fair Preamble express Order to keep strict Guard at the Gates not to let any of the Spanish Lorrain nor Princes Forces to enter nor suffer the carrying out of any sort of Provision for the Enemies Army to search through all quarters and houses where any Souldiers of the adverse party might be lodged and drive them presently out of the City so that by this means every one returning to his due obedience there might not remain any obstacle to his Majesties return assuring them that he would take particular notice of whatsoever they should perform in this juncture of Affairs The Princes and Parliament being advertised of the Assembly of the Message from the six Companies of the Merchants to the Court and of the Kings Letter to the Colonels the same day that they met upon the Duke of Beauforts Affairs concerning the duell with the Duke of Nemeurs they were all of them troubled and so much the more by reason that they had not received any Answer of the Letter written by the Duke of Orleans to the Queen although that the Duke d' Anville had given them notice it was well received and that they should have suddenly a favourable Answer They debated on the prejudice which might happen to their party if the publick and private Meetings and Assemblies of the Citizens tending to open sedition continued as they began and consulted how to remedy them but finding so many difficulties not to be surmounted they resolved to send le Sieur le Talon Advocate-General to the Court to renew the Treaty and decreed to prohibit the Assemblies the wearing of paper or straw in their Hats and they nominated le Sieur Meusnier and Lesné Commissaries to take information concerning those who had been the first Authors of the Meetings at the Palace-Royal and some were of opinion that they should send for le Sieur Prevost to the grand Chamber to give an account to the Parliament of his assisting at that Assembly but this advice was not followed most being of opinion that this business was too nice to be handled without serious consideration In the mean time the Sieur le Vieux and Pierre met the King at Mantes where he was then arrived from Compeigne by reason of the inconveniences which the Court began to suffer in that City and to be nearer Paris that by his Presence he might give more life to the Negotiations They produced their Commissions with all respectful and affectionate supplications testifying to his Majesty the good-will of the people towards his service and to the re-establishment of his Authority They were received graciously and returned to Paris the 28. of September with this following Answer That his Majestie was very well pleased that it was the resolution of the Communalty to establish the ancient Orders and to put every one in their due obedience and commended the decree made by them in conformity to his Commands not to suffer any sort of Provision Armes or Ammunition to be sent out to the Enemies Camp or to permit any Troops of the contrary party to come into the City That he was also well satisfied that Brussel had voluntarily laid down the Office of Provost of the Merchants which he had taken upon him contrary to the Laws and in prejudice of the lawful Possessor and as for the pretended Sheriffs who thought they might lawfully exercise their charge under pretence of leaving it so soon as they should know his Majesties pleasure they could not be ignorant that their Election was very much displeasing to him seeing that he had made it null and void by an Order of Parliament passed in his own Presence of which they had been sufficiently informed and therefore he had reason to take it ill that these pretended Sheriffs after such Advertisement given them of their errour should still continue audaciously to exercise those Offices and did therefore again
command them to give up their places without delay under pain of most severe punishments due to Rebels and Disturbers of the publick Peace As to his Return to Paris the substance of his answer was that as soon as his Enemies and those who by abusing his Name and Authority to keep the people in disobedience had procured the destruction of the principal Inhabitants in the Town-house and did still make use of the Spanish Forces to keep them in subâ—ection should have left the Town that then he would immediately return having drawn right to Paris to that intent His Majesty added that as he was much contented and satisfied that those who had entred upon offices without a lawful title and contrary to His Royal Will were discharged of their places and from the Assemblies at the Town-house so he declared that he could not for the future but disapprove and declare void and unlawful whatsoever should be done at their Meetings in the Presence of the Rebels and their Adherents if they continued to appear there or did any thing by their order or any ways favoured their evil designs of which he thought fit to advertise the Inhabitants that they might take care for all things as they should judge convenient and necessary assuring himself that upon these occasions they would give good proofs of their fidelity of which His Majestie would take particular notice and give proof of his Royal gratitude to all those who should be assisting in so important an occasion as the Preservation of the State and the re-establishment of the Metropolis of his Kingdom to its ancient splendour While Affairs pass'd in this manner at Court they fail'd not at Paris to attempt all manner of ways the Accomplishment of these designes and the Citizens growing daily more and more weary of the Spanish Troops which lay about Paris a part of the Duke of Wirtenberg his baggage was plundred by the people of St. Honore's street near to the Croix du Teroir whilst those who conducted it were busie at some Taverns in lading of Muscat and Spanish Wines for the Camp of the Confederates After this strict Order was given that the Gates should be guarded and none of the Army to be permitted any more to enter the Town esteeming it a dishonour to the French name that the enemies of their King and Countrey should be seen publickly in their red Scarfs in the Capital City of the Kingdom whereat the Parliament and Princes were extraordinarily surprized perceiving that their Authority became every hour more weak and languishing being deprived of the support of the people and the Citizens in Arms but what astonish'd them more was to see the device of the Straw obscured by the splendor of the white Scarfs and Ribands worn by many of the Kings faithful Servants The Assembly at Palace-Royal was afterward advertised that the Guards of the Duke of Beaufort were to go out to Convoy the bread made at Gonesse a Captain of a Quarter being spoken to and perswaded to cast away his Straw as a mark of Sedition and to take a white Scarf the Colours of those who were Loyal and threatned withall that if he did otherwise he should be set upon seeing that in the Assembly it was resolved to fall upon as many as should be found without Scarfs or White paper about them and that they should begin to execute this design at the gate of St. Martin where this Captain was to keep Guard who thereupon and all his Company very joyfully accepted of the white Colours and drank the Kings health and the Cardinals obliging moreover the Captain of the Duke of Beaufort's Guards to do the like who going out at that Gate were stopped telling them that none must go out there without Passports from his Majestie on his Generals and that by the white colours they wore they might perceive they were the Kings Servants The Captain answered that he had a Passport from the Duke of Orleans they replied that that was not the question but that they must drink the Kings Health and return back again which he was constrained to do the Souldiers making use of their Hats in stead of Glasses all this was done and not a man of that quarter offered to stir The Duke of Beaufort having notice immediately took Coach to remedy this Affair but having understood the resolution of the Assembly he stopped at the Curates house of Saint Nicholas Parish expecting while that Company should come off the Guard After this beginning there followed many happy occurrences and great advantages to the Kings party many in emulation of one another following this example The King being very much satisfied with these demonstrations of their loyalty to encourage them the more commanded upon the 29. of September that the Passages should be opened for the conveying of Corn Wine Wood and other necessary Provisions for so numerous a people The Answer afterwards which he gave to the six Companies of Merchants contained That His Majestie was very sensible of these new Testimonies of Affection and Fidelity from his beloved City of Paris and profess'd himself the more satisfi'd in that he discovered in their looks the good intentions of their hearts by the tears which accompanied their speeches As to the new instances they made for his return to Paris he gave them the same Answer he had signified to the Deputies of the Town-house upon the same subject of which he caused a Copy to be delivered into their hands adding only That there was no need of applying themselves any further to His Majesty for Peace since he had already granted it them by the Declaration of the Amnesty given in the Parliament at Pontoise the forme or termes of which ought not at all to be censured by Subjects seeing that the most guilty and blameable with perfect security might therein finde the Pardon and Oblivion of all their Errours but that they ought withal to oppose them who were the cause of the continuation of the War and made their advantage by it and these were the only persons to be complained of seeing that His Majestie for his part upon these occurrences had out of his incomparable goodness granted without any exception whatsoever was pretended to or desired when the others had so often gone back from their word so solemnly given making use still of the Royal Authority to the great prejudice of His Majesty and the State continuing armed contrary to their Promise and united with the declared Enemies of the Crown keeping the Capital City of the Kingdom in awe by continual seditions and violences sacking and ruining the French by Foreiners and to serve Spain made desolate and destroy'd France and therefore it being the interest of all the Inhabitants to put an end to these disorders in that City he hoped that they would apply themselves with all diligence to restore her to her former state notwithstanding the opposition of those who were enemies to the publick good
he ended this Answer with a demand which he made them to try their good intentions and as a business most necessary which was That the Inhabitants would re-establish in their Offices the Governour the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs who had been turned out Which being done his Majestie would presently send Orders to be observed in the Town-house assuring the six Companies of Merchants of his entire satisfaction good-will and Protection The Princes the Parliament and the whole Faction were very much disturbed at this Message and as they clearly saw that those of Paris had changed their minds and most earnestly sought for Peace which was not a little destructive to their designs they applied themselves with all industry to finde out means to overcome the Kings Army by force of Arms and make themselves Masters of the Field esteeming this the only way to maintain themselves in Paris while it remain'd deprived of that support which on all occasions it might deceive from the Kings troops But to return to Mazarine who arriving at Sedan and from thence Bovillon out of the Kingdom there wanted not persons who interposed for the adjusting at least of the Duke of Orleans with the Court. The Cardinal de Retz and the Marquess of Chasteauneuf promising to themselves that if once his Royal Highness should return to Court he might by degrees regain His Majesties favour and taking his place again in the Council they should not be left behind To this end with the consent of the Duke of Lorrain the Marquess of Saint Lambert was dispatch'd to the Court to begin the Negotiation But the Queen and the Kings Officers who were attent upon the return of Mazarine and their own security could in no wise consent that the Duke of Orleans a Confident of the Prince of Conde's and a Confederate of the Spaniards should meddle in the Government considering that if the Duke of Orleans with his followers and Adherents should insinuate themselves into the Affairs of the Kingdom there would be more danger then ever of diminishing the Kings Authority for the secure support whereof it is requisite that no Officer of State should depend upon any other then the King himself for these by diminishing the credit of others would endeavour to dispose of all things after their own fancies threatning whomsoever should oppose them to turn all things upside down again The Prince of Conde who was engaged with the Duke of Orleans by the Promise of Marriage between his Royal Highness his Daughter and the Duke of Anguien and thought he went hand in hand with him although he was left out of the Treaty might in time also have made his Peace with those advantages himself desired and the Duke of Orleans had promised Mazarine therefore making prudent reflexions upon considerations so nice who though far from the Court yet directed all things was very sensible how inconsiderate advice this must be that exposed the Government to the will and discretion of others which under an absolute Monarch will admit of no Companion These Affairs being thus on foot the Princes and the Parliament stood much upon the Point that the Act of Oblivion granted by the King did not contain a full abolition and pardon of what had been done in the last five years past nor was expressed in those termes which were desired viz. in general and without conditions but served only for the inhabitants of Paris with design that if they were once satisfied not to matter much the Princes and Parliament They urged therefore that the King ought to give full and irrevocable Authority to the Duke of Orleans to forme another without any exceptions to be ratified in the Parliament of Paris where the Counsellors gone to Pontoise ought to appear and this to be done in the Presence of the King himself for this cause the Parliament met often some Letters were writ by the Duke of Orleans the Duke d' Anville and the Marquess of St. Lambert negotiated with the Kings Council and many things were done the particular relation of which would be too tedeous But Cardinal Mazarine knowing how prejudicial this would be to the Kings Authority by his Advice the granting of Pass-ports was absolutely denied to those deputed by the Parliament already declared invalid holding firm to their first resolutions so that Affairs remained in the same posture as at first each party endeavouring to uphold their own opinions The third of October the Parliament in Paris being assembled to hear what News the Marquess of St. Lambert brought from the Court two Watermen were laid hold of who cried aloud God bless the King and Cardinal Mazarine and were seconded by many others they were led to the prison of Conciergery and Order given to draw up their Indictment as also against divers others who cried the same in several streets of Paris giving out that such kind of Fellows were set on by some that gave them money on purpose to move the people to sedition This News being brought to Court and besides that the Parliament continued to proceed against some of those who met at the Assembly in the Palace-Royal the King with the Advice of His Council passed a Decree upon the fifth of October by which he cancell'd and annull'd all the aforesaid pretended proceedings informations and orders published or to be published imposing severe penalties upon the Commissioners or Judges that should proceed any further commanding all the Inhabitants of Paris to execute His Majesties Orders and Commands In the mean time the Kings Army was at Villeneufue St. George much streightned and pressed hard upon by the Troops of the Princes and their Confederates who were superior in number and in danger either to be forced as they lay or set upon in their retreat seeing that for want of provisions and forage many both men and horses died This troubled the Court very much and above all Mazarine who was the cause that the Army put themselves in that place and doubted some sinister event the winning of the day consisting in keeping the Kings Army near Paris by which means those Practices were fomented which were managed by the Cardinals directions in that City in favour of the King The Princes who understood the importance of this business and that if the Kings Army should preserve themselves all their designs were ruined omitted nothing either to overcome them or reduce them by famine and sufferings to the utmost despair but the nearness and delights of Paris together with the sickness which hapned to the Prince of Conde Wirtemberg and many other of the Principal Commanders which may be truly attributed to an effect of the Divine Providence was the break-neck of their party but besides the sickness of these Princes the Dukes of Lorrain and Beaufort and most of the other Chief Officers with a considerable number of the best Souldiers were also in the City as well for the suspicion they had that the Citizens might rise
the 9th of October in the Assembly held at the Town-house divers were chosen and deputed to go to Court and to intreat His Majesty again to return to Paris but because His Majesty did not admit of publick Messages from an Assembly where the Duke of Beaufort pretended Governour of Paris used to be present contrary to the Kings Prohibition so that by consequence the Assembly was accounted unlawful it was proposed in Parlement and concluded on that the Duke of Beaufort should be desired to renounce his Charge voluntarily that he might not hinder the conclusion of the Peace which was so earnestly sought for by all wherefore Beaufort remitted it into the hands of the Duke of Orleans who had conferred it upon him The whole Body of the Militia of Paris was also resolved for Peace and knowing that the presence of the King was necessary for the consummating of it they made choice at the same time of 250 persons Colonels Officers and other Inhabitants to go and render their due respects to His Majesty and to entreat him that he would honour his good City of Paris with his return These Officers having given notice of this to the Court and desired the accustomed Pasports they were immediately granted and the King himself wrote to them with Orders to come to S. Germans Octob. 14. where he intended to be that night and besides this Letter to all in general he sent one in particular to every Colonel in which he thanked them for the affection and goodwill which they expressed to his service He wrote also to the Communalty and commanded them to call a general Assembly and to restore to their Offices the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs which had been turned out The Prince of Conde seeing by all these changes that his longer stay at Paris would be to no purpose and that every thing was in readiness to receive the King he resolved to hasten his departure The Duke of Lorrain also took leave of his Brother in Law the Duke of Orleans upon the 11th of October to follow his Army which were on their march not far off but at his going out of S. Martins Gate the Guard stopt him for not having a Pasport from the Communalty and were very near giving him some affront for some of them reproching him for all those evils which had happened to France proposed to have him imprisoned and detained till his Forces were out of the Kingdom and he had given satisfaction for the damage they had done to the Country about but this was not put in execution for the respect they bore to the Duke of Orleans but they gave him a thousand injurious words and the next morning they permitted him to depart upon His Royal Highness command The Prince of Condé went away two days after together with the Duke of Wirtemberg the Duke of Rochefocaut the Prince of Tarante and many other peesons of Quality who resolved to take their Fortunes with him At his going away he said as he passed through the streets That the Parisiens hoped for the return of the Court but that would not end the War He went afterwards towards Rheims a great City and Metropolis of Champagne with intention to lay hold of what he could in that Province that he might the better winter there under the Protection of Stenay and Mauson two places upon the Mose which held for him At his departure from Paris he left a printed Manifesto in which he set forth how much he had done for the publick and in particular for the Parisiens exhorting them not to trust to the Court and to believe that he could by the force of Arms have constrained them to make Peace Conde therefore and all the Officers of the Army having thus abandoned Paris upon the fifteenth following the aforesaid Colonels and Officers went to St. Germains Accompanied with two hundred Citizens more who joyned with them upon the way They had a favourable audience in which they express'd the general desire of all to see these mists cleared up by the splendour of his Royal Presence and assured His Majesty of their inviolable faith and entire Obedience engaging faithfully their word that they would be all in armes upon any occasion ready to spend their lives and fortunes in his Royal service beseeching him not to refuse them this favour but to be touched at their sighs and tears proceeding from their sincere and zealous devotion protesting to him finally that he should finde nothing from them but due observance and a perfect propensity to make good the Character which they bore of His most humble and most faithful subjects The King Answered them with his own mouth that he should be mindful all his life-time of the service they had done him upon this occasion and desired them to be always assured of his affection and that although the disorders stirrâ—â— up by those who were revolted might oblige him to take some other journey yet nevertheless seeing they had so great a desire he was resolved to go with the first occasion to Paris and would signifie to the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs what he thought necessary to that effect the Deputies gave him thanks and did their obeisance to their Majesties severally who were pleased to receive them with testimonies of extraordinary satisfaction After this they were treated with a Dinner and had leave to depart to Paris with so much joy of the people that seeing them pass through the streets and hearing the News of the Kings sudden return they loaded them with benedictions and deafned them with their continual shoutings of Vive le Roy. The same day that the Colonels went to St. Germains his Majesty before he left Mantes answered the Letters which the Duke d' Anville had delivered him from the Duke of Orleans to desire an Act of Oblivion in better forme then the former the Contents were that the King did not desire any further Declaration from the said Duke it being sufficient if he made his word good which he had so often given to lay down his Arms and send the foreign Troops to the Frontiers thereby to free Paris his Majesty having nothing more to do seeing he had already publish'd a General Amnesty and such an one as the most seditious could not find what more to adde to it for their security and less to pretend that it should be registred at Paris seeing that it was done publickly in the Parliament at Pontorse so that his Majestie having anticipated all that the Duke desired of him without any reservation there remained nothing but that he on his side should perform his Promises And that therefore his Request for Passports was superfluous and from the purpose because it tended to no other end but to gain time till the Spanish Troops commanded by the Duke of Wirtenberg were drawn near Paris to joyn with those at the Prince of Conde and to amuse the people whilst that another
multitude naturally inclined to follow what flies them and flie from that which follows them He answered Nogent coldly and desired eight days time to consider of it for he could not nor would not do any thing without the Prince of Conde with whom he was bound in a strict League of Friendship The King being come to St. Clou hearing nothing of the Duke of Orleans his coming to meet him but rather that there was little appearance of it he sent the Duke d' Anville for the same purpose to him whereat the Duke was much perplexed with two great Considerations On the one side he was touched with remorse that he should deny his Affection and due respect to the King his Nephew on the other side his faith fair dealing with his friend the Prince of Conde would be called in question by all the world should he proceed in this perplexity therefore at last he resolved not to stir and it is thought that he took this resolution by the Counsel of Cardinal de Retz who promised to himself that if the Duke were resolved to stay in Paris he might make his party strong enough against the Court by the great number of people his dependents and followers but whether the Duke could not or would not enter upon this design the Proposition was rejected as shall be related A great number of Persons of the better sort besides all the Officers and Magistrates went out to meet the King and returned with him the same night to Paris His Majesty came in late by reason of his staying by the way expecting the Duke of Orleans his Answer not thinking it convenient to come into the City if the Duke did not go out or promise to do so the next Morning At the Gate of the Louvre the King was received by the Cardinal de Retz with a great number of Prelates and other Persons of Quality The Sieur de Sevin was sent the same Evening to the Duke in His Majestie 's Name to give him notice that he should retire to his dwelling at Lemours he made Answer with some resenting words They consulted again what expedient to take some insisted not to obey but that the Duke should defend himself in his Palace in St. Germains suburbs from whence it was no easie matter for the Kings Guards alone to drive him out for they judged that the People would never take Arms against the Kings Uncle especially seeing that a great number of the Parisiens were dependent upon him and on other Lords of his party amongst these was the Cardinal de Retz who was in favour with a great part of the people as well in respect that he was their Pastour as for his liberality in all things and chiefly to the poor He insisted that if the Inhabitants that were affectionate to their party were united with the help that they might receive from those of the Suburbs of Saint Germain they should be able to contest with the Court if in case they should set upon them and upon occasion they might call the Prince of Conde back again with the Army by which means it might so happen that their Majesties to avoid living in the midst of such confusions upon the confidence of the Inhabitants so much given to change would return to St Germains or else the business being brought to a Treaty and this Cardinal entring as Mediatour he should by this means set himself right again at Court and perhaps partake in the Management of Affairs of State which was thought to be the scope of all his Actions The Duke would not embrace this Counsel but resolved to obey and give way retiring the next Morning to Limours with the Dukes of Beaufort and Rohan and other Lords of his party Mademoiselle went to Fargeaux a house of hers near the Loire It was very fortunate for Mazarine that Orleans refused to agree for if after the Agreement he had remained at Paris the people would have thought that all this was brought about by his contriving whereby he would have increased his reputation with the Parisiens and maintained his former Authority so that Mazarine would not have dared to return to Court whilst there was a strong party in Paris against him and especially the Cardinal de Retz who for his generosity was more generally beloved then Mazarine who in his Actions shew'd somewhat of covetousness and was more sparing both in his expences and in gratifying his friends and servants The King therefore being absolutely restored to his full Authority and the Duke deprived of all obedience and a great way from Paris with all his Adherents those happy events which succeeded afterwards were more easily brought to pass The next Morning being the 23. all the Courts of Parliament met in the Gallery of the Louvre except those persons who had not received particular Letters from the King as the President le Bailleul son of the late Chancellour to the Queen and Surintendant of the Finances De Thou and Viole the Counsellours Brussell Genou Portail Brisac Croyssi Foquet Machault and Martineau At this Meeting they made four Declarations the first was for the reuniting of the two Parliaments the second the General Amnesty the third was a Prohibition to the Parliament not to meddle in any matters but civil and criminal according to the Laws and the fourth was to nominate those who were by the Kings ordet to retire viz. the forementioned and Counsellour Bitaut to whom a Letter had been sent by a mistake The Duke of Beaufort of Rohan of Rochefoucaut Frontailles le Bollay Penis the Domesticks of the Prince of Conde of the Dutchess of Longueville the Wives and Children of all those who were then in the service of the Princes and in the places which they held as well in Guienne as elsewhere had order to be gone from Paris and not to return upon any pretence soever without express leave from his Majesty these being the persons accused who always perverted the Parliament and made the people discontent and seditious there were also express orders made against all things contained in the third Declaration The same day the Queen of England and the Dutchess of Chevreuse went to visit the Dutchess of Orleans who remained in Paris by reason of her being great with Childe and the Dutchess of Chevreuse told her from the Queen that she had liberty to stay in her Palace The Dutchess was very much surprised at the Novelty of it and answered in modest expressions that she could not leave the Duke her husband and seeing that she could not take a journey any otherwise in the condition she was in she would be carried in mens arms and prepared for it but she received express Orders from the Duke to stay and not to hazard her life being so near her tâ—â—e which she did and was brought to bed of a Daughter a few days after Prince Thomas went also to visit her and assured her that it was never his opinion at
the Counsel that the Duke should withdraw from Court where if he had appeared he would have been received by their Majesties with extraordinary testimonies of their cordial affections But because it was not thought good that so great a Prince should be left under the notion of the Kings enemy the Wednesday following the Duke d' Anville was sent to Limours to treat with him where the King desiring that Cardinal Mazarine might be comprehended they could not agree the Duke continuing firm in his resolution never to be friends with him more nor to come to Court so long as he should have the management of Affairs but in every thing else he should be ready to give His Majestie all manner of satisfaction The Secretary Tellier and others of the Kings Ministers went some days after to try to gain him but the Duke that he might not seem mistaken in his deliberations would not yield to their reasons and having at length given notice of this to the Prince of Conde by the Sieur de Godovin Field-Mareschal whom he sent expressly to him and receiving Answer that the Prince was of the same opinion with the Duke of it was concluded in this manner that he was contented to live quietly at Blois that he would call back his Forces from the Prince of Conde's Army and unite them to the Kings upon condition that they might not be employed immediatly against the said Prince to whom by reason of the entire friendship that he professed to him he could not be wanting in what unfortunate estate soever he might be cast The Affairs of the Duke of Orleans being concluded in this manner he executed punctually all that was agreed upon and withdrew himself from the care of all worldly affairs applying himself to live quietly and free from all disturbance The Duke of Beaufort went to live at Vendosme and the rest of those who were exiled leaving Paris retired to their Countrey-houses very much grieved but especially when they saw Mazarine triumphant in their misfortunes The President Maison and Counsellour Vedeau proposed to assemble the Chambers of Inquest to treat vpon means how they might protect their Companions fallen into disgrace and gave out that they would rather renounce their places then support a grievance so prejudicial to the publick dignity But the greater part being of another opinion the Chambers met not and Maison being sent for to the Louvre received a sharp reprehension with some threathings which were afterward put in execution for he and Vedeau were also banishâ—d some of these were backward to quit Paris but it helped nothing being constrained to do it for fear of greater violence Only Brussel being old poor and without any Countrey-house did not stir from his in Paris where he remain'd privately saying boldly That he feared nothing because he was guilty of nothing that if the Court desired his life they might take it for he was now old enough and for a year or two more or less he cared very little seeing that the praises of good men have their birth from the bosom of death These expressions made deep impression in the hearts of many of the people whose spirits were not yet quieted and who had not forgot the good-will they had had for him nor their Prejudices against the Court. The Court took no notice of this and made as if they believed he were out of the Town being out of Commerce and sight of the people Brussel therefore remained private and retired in the City although he was banished by name Afterwards there was very good order taken for the Government of the City the security of Paris consisting in winning the affection of the people which succeeded happily by the help of him who governed in a time when by the weakness of the Court they might have expected great misfortunes it was no small marvel not to say a miracle to see in so short a time the fury and indignation of a multitude appeased of its own accord which boasted of nothing more then their firm and immutable resolutions of maintaining their own phrenzies to see the Meeting of the Fronda broken and dispersed the Parliament curbed the most audacious brought low and lastly the King triumphing more by the Power of Justice of his Innocence and Mildness then by the force of his Strength and Authority Whilst things pass in this manner at Paris many new disturbances broke out at Bourdeaux Those of the Faction called de l' Olmiere dismantled the Palace du Ha and committed many insolencies upon those of the Parlement so that there was great disorder amongst them The Parlement sought by all means to keep this Faction under but in vain seeing it was backed by the greater part of the common people Mazarine fail'd not also to use all industry to appease these disorders endeavouring to sow discord amongst them and to render them diffident of one another and in the end obtained his intent as shall be related The Spaniards in the mean-while engaged in the siege of Barcellona failed not to do their utmost for the gaining of that most important place The Cardinal though absent took care that the King gave necessary Orders for the relief of it and the Marquess de St. Andre Monbrun was commanded to march from Piemont into Catalonia with a good number of Horse and Foot which he did with all speed there ensued divers exploits The besieged making a Sally by night out of the gate of Trussana upon the 16. of July 1652. with design to drive the enemy further off assaulted and took the Fort upon the Mountain of Mongirick but not having furnished it with Provision and Ammunition it was attacqued again and retaken by the Spaniards giving good quarter St. Andrew Montbrun had relieved the Town if he had had money enough for Provisions to have put into it and for the maintaining his Army for having happily attaqued the line He entred in but was afterwards forced to retire for want of Provisions and the Horse mutinying by reason of the great hardships they endured the Spaniards took all the places which are beyond upon the Sea-Coast from Palamos to Barcelona and so deprived the besieged of that little which used to be brought in to them by night in small barks so that being reduced to the greatest extremities upon the eleventh of October the Mareschal de la Motte capitulated with Don John of Austria for the surrender and so that City returned again under the obedience of His Catholick Majesty Upon the 21 of October the same year neither the French nor the Savoyards being able to relieve Casal in Italy the Governour thereof Monsieur de St. Angel was constreined to surrender it upon Articles and to put the Citadel into the hands of the Duke of Mantua's Captains who put in a Garrison of his own souldiers laughing at them who imagined and even after the taking of it were so confident to maintain that the Spaniards should have
Arrival of this succour occasion'd the discovery of a notable Conspiracy in that Fortress against the Governour of it the Marquess de la Farre laid by his own familiar friends The Kings forces in Guienne began also to prosper according as those of Bourdeaux began to grow weak by the discord which Mazarine had sown among them The Duke of Candale being sent into this Province as hath been said to command the Kings Forces in the place of Count de Harcourt took the Castle of Poniols and secured Marmende and Aiguillon situated between Bourdeaux and Agen on this side the Garonne set upon and routed some Troops of the Prince seized upon Bastide and other places and by the directions of Mazarine secret Plots were carried on for reducing of Bourdeaux to the Kings obedience But because it was difficult to gain that important and powerful City by force of Armes therefore they made use of Art and Industry Father Faur a Franciscan who was afterwards made Bishop of Glandeves an understanding person and zealous for the Kings service and who had been successfully employed in bringing Paris to its duty proposed the holding of Intelligence in Bourdeaux it self by means of the Fathers of his Order to this effect Father Bertaut Guardian of Brode was sent to consult with Father Itier Superiour of the Franciscans Convent in Bourdeaux who carried with him divers Instructions for the advancement of this design according as they should have opportunity Bertaut being discovered by the Prince of Conty escaped out of his hands with much dexterity having under a dissembling confidence told him many lies to take away from him the true knowledge of their designs and of the Conspiratours But Father Itier was not at all moved at this for knowing himself to be greatly esteemed and loved by the Citizens he hope that in case his Practices were discovered he should be protected by them and the rather because he was assured that many of them were weary of groaning under the Tyranny of the Olmiere which proceeding in precipitous inconsiderate Progresses put their Countrey and Religion upon the point of being ruined by treating with the English to bring them into Guienne it was concluded therefore that there was no means more expedient and more sure them to gain some of the Heads of the Olmiere Mother Angelica Abbess of the Carmelite Nuns gave Father Ityer a fit occasion and discovered to him how that one of the Mothers of her Convent Sister to Villars had communicated to her the good disposition of her Brother to return to his obedience towards the King out of remorse of Conscience and the fear of a miserable end which he had deserved by his great wickedness and therefore he had desired his Sister that she together with the rest of her Companions would pray to God to give him grace to amend his life Father Ityer made no difficulty of confiding in the Nun and procured that she should confirm her Brother in his purpose Villars engaged to restore the City to its obedience if the King would grant a General Act of Oblivion and give him the Office of Procurator and Syndick of the Communalty and the summe of fourty thousand Crowns for himself and those who should be employed in this affair The Court consented to his demands being besought by the said Father they ordered that no injury should be done to the Princes or Princesses This design went forward well and had easily taken effect if Villars unconstant in his resolutions had not discovered the Conâ—piracy which hapned by the vain â—rating of the Sieur de Lenet who making as if he knew although â—ndeed he knew nothing of it at all that there was a new Intrigue carrying on in Bourdeaux in which were many who professed themselves of the Princes Party Villars believing that some of his Companions had revealed the secret to Lenet was in fear of being ruined and therefore sought to save himself by declaring the whole matter to the Prince of Conty saying that he had not engaged in this business but the better to discover it and then to give a more particular account of it to his Highness and that this was the reason that he did not disclose it to him before The Prince answered him that he was well satisfied touching his fidelity and charged him to continue his dissimulation and to observe the whole whole matter that he might learn the Names of the Complices and get sufficient proof against Father Ityer he bound Blerno and Giraut Goldsmiths under a solemn Oath to go and receive the money promised by the King of which there were 1500 Pistols consigned so that upon his examination and deposition Father Ityer was imprisoned and carried before a Counsel where Marsin was President with many of the Olmiere and Officers of the Army and here arose a Contest upon the Point that Laymen had not power to judge Churchmen but they did not long demurre upon it The Prince of Conde and Dutchess of Longueville commanded absolutely that they should not put him to death but that it was sufficient to keep him in prison Marsin and Lenet who sought to inrage people more caused some of the â—abble to cry out Tolle Tolle Cruâ—ifige c. At this rumour some of the Judges were much disorderâ—d and with disdainful countenanâ—es said We are no Jews and â—f you are not Christians you may go and search out some Pilates for we do not intend to dip our hands in innocent blood Marsin was much humbled and composed the difference causing him to be adjudged to an open pennace which Spectacle moved the whole City to Compassion and loaded the Princes party with blame and hatred for the Father being led through the streets with a thousand reproches and insolences from the Rascallity was not at the least disturb'd either at death which they threatned him or at the injuries they did him but walked along with as great an assurance as if he had been going to a glorious triumph This behavior of his so fearless and yet full of humility and patience did so move the Citizens that they were forced quickly to send him back to the prison from whence they had taken him and because they had taken from him the habit of his Order the Dutchess of Longueville detesting such wicked doing gave command that it should be restored to him again and to check the insolence of these people After this they imprisoned a Cousin of the said Fathers a Complice in all his Contrivances whom they put to a strange torture but as if it had been nothing he endured it with an incredible and marvellous constancy nor could they ever draw from him the least word concerning this matter The same morning that Father Ityer was taken the President Dasis Counsellour Bort and Counsellour Castelnaut were also attached and committed to the Castle du Ha and afterwards released upon their words D' Asis withdrew himself from these Intrigues and went
fail to act vigorously in Champagne to ease the Countrey of the enemies Troops where they lay quartered He went to the Army which was reinforced with divers troops took Barleduc and having passed the River of Aisne attached Chasteau-Porcien where the Sieur de Brisson commanded with a strong Garrison of old souldiers which rendred the place very considerable especially it being then the midst of Winter a season improper far Armies to lie in the field This difficulty was surmounted by the affectionate and accurat assistance of the Cardinal so that all labour and hardship seemed light to the souldiery who endured it with as great resolution as they served and followed him with affection In seven dayes he took Chasteau-Porcien had also taken Rhetel and Saint Menhaut if the season had been less sharp and if the Prince of Conde had not opportunely reinforced them with a great number of Souldiers wherfore the Cardinal gave over the thought of them and having put the army into winter quarters made towards Paris being often importuned by their Majesties He was met by the King himself and the Duke of Anjou two leagues out of the City His Majesty received him with extraordinary tenderness and affection took him into his own Coach and coming in at St. Denis Gate conducted him through a great throng of people to the Louvre The Cardinal took up his Lodgings there to be nearer as first Minister of State to His Majesty he was presently visited by the Body of the Town-house and by all the other Orders and Magistrates who declared their acknowledgment for many singular advantages received through his care and that all France was obliged to the conduct of so great a Minister expressing their joy for his happy return Though many thought that how much the more kind they were in outward appearance so much the more corrupted they were in reality there being no greater malice then that which is hid under the mask of dissimulation Yet I who have procured with much accurateness and long experience to instruct my self in the knowledge of â—he nature of those persons of whom I write can say to the glory of France not to have found any Nation less addicted to dissimulation then this which being free and frank of speech thinks little of what is to come and nothing of what is past Whosoever shall consider the contempts and abuses done in Paris to the name of the Cardinal in the month of September 1652. and shall compare them with the honours and welcome he received in the moneth of February 1653. will perceive that the Fine of fifty thousand Crowns which was set upon his head with all the reproches ignominies with which his reputation was wounded were nothing else but the effect of passion which being prudently dissembled by Mazarine served him afterwards to fortifie his right and good intentions and rendred him triumphant over his persecutions making his Ministry still more glorious The same Evening the King caused him to sup with him in the Apartment of the Mareschal de Villeroy and that night was signalized with a great number of Bonefires in the City the next morning as he came from Mass he cast a quantity of money amongst the people as he had done the day before in those places where he passed and after he had received the Visits of the chief of the Court and of other persons of all sorts and conditions he applied himself to the most important Affairs of the Crown On the 3. of February being the same day which he entred Paris he brought with him his three Nieces which were met out of the gate of St. Honoré by the Pincesse of Carignan Louise her daughter by the Mareschall de Guebrian's Lady by the Marchionesse of Ampous and many other ladies of quality These Ladies were lodged also in the Louvre in an apartment by themselves over the Queens Lodgings The King had not conferred any Office or Charge either Ecclesiastical or Secular since his Return although there were many vacant and a great number of Pretenders willing to stay for the Cardinal and give him the honour of confering them He was exactly informed of the deservings of each particular person so that keeping every one in hopes to receive rewards proportionably to their worth he rendred them more ready and zealous to the Kings service The King had passed the Edicts of the new Impositions and dispatched all other things which might sound less grateful in the ears of the people lest that doing them after the Cardinals return they should seem to be suggested by the Minister of State against whom they might renew the pretences of those fault which formerly though wrongfully they had laid to his change so that the Cardinal by His Majesties special favour having the disposal of the Benefices of the Church and divers other offices of the Court and Kingdom he began presently to distribute them to those he judged most deserving and most fit to be employed in His Majesties service detaining a considerable part vacant to keep those that remained at that time excluded in hopes and obedience knowing by experience that the French are as ready to serve when they hope to be recompensed as negligent to performe when they have obtained their desires He conferred the office of Superintendant of the Finances vacant by the death of the Marquis of Vieville upon the a count de Servient Minister of State who had deserved well of the Crown being very cordiall in the Kings service and grown aged in the course of many useful negotiations to whom he joined the Sieur de Fouquet Procurator General who was also made Minister of state a person of great worth for his constant fidelity towards the King whom in all things but particularly in the removall of the Parliament to Pontoise he had served with great zeale so that at this time there was two Super-intendants of the Finances in France as also a Chancellour and a Keeper of the Seal which though it seemed strange yet had been practised at other times and namely under the ministery of Cardinal Richelieu To these Superintendants were joyned four Intendants of the same Finances who were the Sieurs de Paget de Boisleve de Hausset and de Brisaciers besides this he gave good orders for the payment of the Kings revenues to the relief and satisfaction of the Farmers and Cardinal Antonio Barberin coming to Paris at this time the dignity of great Almoner of France was conferred upon him Vacant by the death of Cardinal Richilieu Archbishop of Lions This was done by Mazarin to make his gratitude the more conspicuous and to oblige him he conferred it on more streightly to the Crown esteeming his assistance in Rome necessary for the Interest of France since that Cardinal Francesco his brother had given som jealousie of his intentions having lately done some ill offices in his tart Letters to His Majestie touching the direction of the Government It was discours'd
at Court that Barbarin had changed his first inclinations having been gained by the Pope and the Spaniards upon the hopes of having the Ecclesiastical Revenues of Naples and Sicily restored to him and the money seized upon in Rome by the Chamberlains when the Pope pretended to ruine the family of the Barberines by forcing them to an account The Pope was inclined to a reconciliation with the Barberines because having not long to live he thought it not convenient to leave his Kindred at variance with these great persons who were still very powerful in Rome the Spaniards also concurred herein thereby to disengage this Family from their dependence on France that they might not oppose them in the Election of a New Pope Cardinal Francesco cherishing himself as was supposed with these hopes complain'd having no other pretence that they made little account of him in France seeing that Cardinal Mazarine had married his Neece to the Duke of Mercoeur without concerning himself to finde out a Match for the Princess Lucretia Barberini at which he manifested so much displeasure that he sent his Nephew the Abbot Don Maffeo to Lions to bring away privately the said Princess and the Prince Don Carlo Praefect of Rome into the Countrey of Vicenza in Italy which was done while Cardinal Antonio was at Paris without his having the least inckling of it This resolution seemed strange in France and the more because the same Cardinal Barbarine had sent his Cousin Colonel Vaini a Person of great value and esteem some years before into France to ratifie the Espousals betwixt that Prince and his said Neece After this uniting of Cardinal Barberin with the Pope to engage that family to him by a streighter Tye a Marriage was concluded between Don Maffeo Barbarine at that time Abbot and a Grand Neece of his Holiness in consideration of which the Prince Governour was promoted to the Cardinalship who renounced his Primogeniture to his Brother Bride-groom as hereafter shall be said FINIS THE TABLE A. Anger 's in Armes page 155 Archbishop of Rouen deputed to Court page 157 Assembly of the Citizens of Paris page 172 Army of the Princes at Estampes page 175 Encamped betwixt St. Clou and Furenne page 218 Assembly at the Palace-Royal page 349. Gives great disturbance to the Princes page 347 B. Brisac put into the Kings hands page 326 The Battel in the Surburbs of St. Anthony page 230 Barcelona rendered to the Spaniards page 415 C. Cardinal Mazarine his Birth 1 His Voyage into Spain 2. He betakes himself to the Wars 3. Makes a Relation of the Affairs of the Valtoline 5. Endeavors to put himself in the Barberins service ib. Returns to his Studies 6. Goes to Milan with Sacchetti ib. Returns to Rome 8. is sent back to Cardinal Antonio 9. treats with the Count de Collalto ib. He captivates the affection of the Duke of Savoy 11. Chasteauneuf banished Paris 433 Chavigny endeavours to make his Peace with Mazarine 380 his death 383 Counsellor Brussel lays down his office of Prevost of Merchants 346. Cardinal de Retz deputed to the King 328 The City begins to treat with the Court 338 Casal delivered to the Duke of Mantua 416 Cardinal Mazarine his Advice to the King 318 His return to Paris 477 His Artifices to render the Princes odious to the Parisiens 292 his Plots to to reduce Bourdeaux 451 Contrives the Imprisonment of Cardinal de Retz 435 He goes to the Camp 432 Endeavors to gain those of the contrary party 423 Cardinal Antonio Barbarin Legate à Latere for the Peace 8 Protector of France 27 Sends Mazarine to Spinola 16 Cardinal Francesco Barberine complains of Mazarine 21 Grows jealous of him 27 Cardinal Richlieu takes an affection to Mazarine 12 Conspiracy of the Duke of Beaufort against Mazarine 45 Cardinal de Sancta Cicilia Vice-Roy of Catalonia 48 The Coadjutor of Paris and the Count de Chavigny envy Mazarins fortune 60 Commotions at Bourdeaux quieted 87 Cardinal Mazarine sent to the Court of France 11 treats with Cardinal Richlieu ib. He begins to render good Offices to the French treats with Spinola ib. passes into Savoy to the King of France 14 after the death of Spinola he propounds a Suspension of Arms 18 Concludes the Peace 19 treats secretly with the Duke of Savoy to deliver Pignerol to the French 20 Enters into the service of Cardinal Antonio 23 is made his Auditor ib. is sent Nuntio Extraordinary into France ib. gains the Affections of the French Ministers of State 24 is recall'd to Rome 25 the King of France recalls him to Paris 28 Nominates him to the Cardinalship 29 Flempotentiary for France at the Treaty of Munster 30 Extraordinary Embassador into Savoy ib. is made Cardinal 32 Extraordinary Honour conferrâ—d on him he causes the Command of the Army to be conferr'd to the Duke'd Anguien 35 Godfather to the Dolphin 38 He endeavours to confirm the Alliance with the foreign Princes 40 He draws the Princes of Este to the French Faction 49 His good Offices to the Barberins 52 Endeavours to preserve the friendship of England 61 His dissimulation with Conde 72 His Art to draw the three Princess together ib. He endeavors to quiet Bourdeux 78 He leaves Paris 103 Arrives at Havre de Grace 102 Departs the Kingdom 105 He is complemented by several Princes 112 endeavors to divide the Princes and the Frondeurs 113 Recall'd by the King 126 Returns into France with an Army 142 is kindly received by the King 151 Endeavors to gain the Duke of Lorain 187 Raises discord among those at Bourdeaux 414 He encourageth the Court of Savoy to persist in their Union with France 421 Great commotions in Paris 130 Chafteauneuf chief Minister 132 retires from Court 156 The Count de Servient recalled to Court 158 the Count de Chavigny and others dispatched to Court 177 consternation of the Parisiens upon the retreat of the Duke of Lorain 217 The Cardinal de Retz hinders the Peace 242 The Court resolves to destroy the Army of the Princes 228 The Court of Aids assemble at Pontoise 338 The Colonels of Paris go to the King page 386 D. The Duke of Angoulesm imprisoned 311 Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the Crown 286 The death of the Duke of Bouillon 226 Designes of the Cardinal the Retz 324 The Duke of Nemours slain by the Duke de Beaufort 295 Duke of Beaufort invites the people to assemble at the Place-Royal 208 Made Governour of Paris 258 renounces his Government 385 The Duke of Savoy complains of Spinola 14 the Duke of Lorain stopt going out of Paris 387 Dutchess of Chevreuse disgusted with the Prince of Conde 68 Divers Lords banish'd Paris 406 Disturbances in divers parts of the Kingdom 76 Duke of Wittenbergs baggage plundred 359 Dutchess of Chevreuse undertakes to free the Princes 81 Duke de Mercoeur marries the Cardinals Neece 126 His Marriage questioned in Parlement 127 Decrees of the Parlement against the Cardinal 132 Death
of the Count of Chavigny 135 Designs of the Coadjutor 145 Difference betwixt the Duke of Beaufort and Nemours 160 The Duke of Lorain marches into France 187 Dunkirk taken by the Spaniards 299 A dispute betwixt the Citizens and Souldiers 317 E. Exceptions against the Amnesty page 313 Endeavors to take off the Duke of Orleans from Conde page 316 F. The Frondeurs of Bourdeux divided into two Factions 222 French Fleet in the Garonne page 462 G. A General Pardon granted by the King 311 the Guards of the Duke of Beaufort stopt the Gates of Paris page 363 H. Hoquincourt routed page 164 K King of Spain takes away Spinola's command 15 The King draws near Paris 170 His Army at St. Denys 226 His Answer to Nesmond 272 Gives the Cardinal leave to depart 304 His Letters to the Colonels of Paris 354 His Answer to the Deputies of the City 357 His Answer to the Duke of Orleans his Letter 390 He comes to Paris 398 His Answer to the Deputies from the City page 233 L. Losses of the French in Catalonia page 90 M. Metz Tul and Verdun confirm'd to France 44 Mareschal de Turenne advances against the Duke of Lorain 185 Mazarine studies to quiet the people 242 The Mareschal de l' Hospital his words to the Duke of Orleans 248 threatens the fellow that presented him the straw 250 Madamoiselle quiets the people 256 Manifesto of the Assembly at the Palace-Royal 351 Mazarine foments the War betwixt England and Holland 470 his Progress in Champagne page 476 N. New disturbances at Bourdeux page 413 O. Orbitello besieged by the French page 50 P. The Princes conducted to Havre de de Grace 89 The Pope disbands his Troops in the Valtoline 4 Satisfied with Mazarines Relation 8 Progress of the French in Flander 46 in Italy 48 Plombino and Porto Longone taken by the French 52 Three of the Parlement of Paris imprisoned 58 Paris besieged by the Kings 60 Prince of Conde dissatisfied with Mazarine 64 displeased with the Frondeurs 67 The three Princes imprisoned 74 Prince of Conty promiseth to marry the Princess of Chevreuse 84 Princes freed from Prison 102 Paris alarm'd upon the Cardinals March 130 The Princes Army endeavors to hinder the Kings Passage 159 Prince of Conde comes to the Army 161 Parisiens exclaim against the Cardinal 166 Prince of Conde received with joy at Paris 169 The Parlement of Paris send Deputies to the King 180 The Princes desire Aid of the Spaniards 186 The President Nesmond deputed to the King 195 the people incensed against the Parlement 213 The four Proposals of the Duke of Orleans to the Parlement 259 Parlement of Tholouse declare against that of Paris 291 The Parisiens complain of the Prince 294 The Parlement removed to Pontoise 300 That at Paris declared unlawful 305 Prince Thomas of Savoy chief Minister in Mazarines absence 308 Prince of Conde sends to take the Cardinal Prisoners 310 The Perisiens weary of the Warre 327 The Prince of Conde leaves Paris 388 Prince Thomas advises the King to go to Paris 393 President Brussel stays privately in Paris 411 Progress of the Prince of Conde's Army in Champagne 430 The Parlement at Pontoise return to Paris 396 The Preachers in Bourdeaux perswade the people to Loyalty 463 Parlement of Bourdeaux removed to Agen 464 Progress of the Royallists in Guienne page 466 Q. The Queen of France anualls the Kings Will 38 Queen of England visits the Dutchess of Orleans page 407 R. Roses in Catalonia relieved by the French 490 Royallists assault St. Clou page 183 S. The Spaniards retire from the Siege of Casal page 10 Spinola made Governour of Milan ibid. Surprize of Mantua page 14 The Spaniards complain of the French for putting forces into Casal 19 open enemies to Mazarine 20 They invited the Parifiens to a Treaty of Peace 85 Servient Tellier and Lionne retire from Court 122 The Spaniards take Graveling and Irino 168 The sedition begun at the Townhouse 250 Succours out of Flanders to the Prices 262 A Sea-fight betwixt the French and Spaniards 297 The Spanish Army marches to Paris 323 Several imprisoned at Bourdeux page 458 T. Tumults in Guienne 78 Tumults in Provence quieted by the Duke of Mercoeur 223 Turenne discamps from Villeneufve St. George page 377 W. War betwixt England and Holland page 467 FINIS ERRATA PAGE 2. line 21. dele so that p. 44. l. 2. dele yet l. 17. did p. 46. l. 1. at the treat ib and saved p 70. l. 19. dele that p. 91. l. 5. dele the p 100. l. 25. not to give p. â—02 l. 1 loâ—â—ate p. 116. l. 4. gain p. 117. l. 1. pretensions p. 118. l. 6 the Court p. 129. l. 15. skirting p 113. l. 3. of some p. 136. l. 17. laughed at p. 137. l. 15. disposition l. 18 could not be p. 183. l. 25. made p. 189 l. 10. dele him p. 192 l. 24 said p. 193 l 1. ready p. 208. l. 1 l. 14. place p. 210. l. 15. Place p. 223. l 5. presence p. 229 l. 18. Pass'd ib. l. 18. Parifiens p. 252. l. 23. defended p. 261 l 14. dele and p. 263. l. 3. dele his p. 271. l. 4. of so p. 310 l. 13. Ministers p 317. l 22. and. p. 320. l. 21. Mose quit p. 338. l. 5. dele which p. 343. l. 25. Reghenet p. 358. l. 2 nigh to Paris p 380. l. 9. dele and. p. 409. l. 18. dele of p. 427. l. 2. Prince p. 430. l. 21. dele was p. 433. l. 15. Conty p. 434 l. 7 it self l. 25. not p. 338. l. 23. not p. 444. l. 21. them p 461. l. 23. dele him p. 44. l 16. Merchant-men p 476. l. 22. at THE HISTORY OF THE MANAGEMENTS OF Cardinal JVLIO MAZARINE Chief MINISTER of STATE of the Crown of FRANCE Written in Italian by Count Galeazzo Gualdi Priorato And Translated according to the Original In the which Are Related the Principal Successes Happened from the Beginning of his Management of Affairs till his Death Tom. I. Part II. LONDON Printed by H. Lloyd for George Calvert and Sam. Sprint at the Ball in Duck-lane and Christopher Wilkinson at the black Boy over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet 1672. THE HISTORY of Cardinal JULIO MAZARINE Part II. Lib. I. THE YEAR 1652. concluding with worse Fortune and Success to the Crown of France then it had begun Cardinal Mazarine being triumphantly returned to Paris with the universal Applause either true or pretended of the People and Parliament it self which had treated him so ignominiously not long before and wounded his reputation with so many extravigant injuries applied himself with great diligence to the continuation of the Government as well in its Politick as Military Authority endeavouring both by his Negotiations and his Armes not only to reduce the disobedient and seditious Towns that were in rebellion at home but to purge the Kingdom of all Foreign Armies and restore it to its primitive Potency and Grandeur Proceeding therefore in his
time betwixt them and the English to whom they were profest enemies But Marsin foreseeing the danger had provided very politickly against it by confirming the Officers of their Tertia's to put Hostages into his hands The loss of Lermont was a cooling Card to the Bordelots it being of such importance that by the taking of it the Kings Army intercepted the benefit of the River in the dominion of which their loss of security consisted Notwithstanding all these advantages the King desisted not from his Overtures of Peace with the milder sort of his Rebels and that in such manner as gave them more assurance of his Pardon then suspicion of his revenge so that in the Month of May he publish'd another General Amnesty in such terms as demonstrated his inclination to be less vindicative then merciful Upon this Proclamation the Bonrdelots call'd a General Assembly in the Town-Hall where it was consulted Whether it was better to accept of this Act of Oblivion and put an end to their miseries or persist in their Contumacy The sober part was of opinion it was more expedient for subjects to live in obedience to their natural Prince then in the shadow of liberty under a stranger The fear of the Olmiera made every body startle yet in private things were largely debated by some of the Olmiesti but the obstinacy of the Populacy could not be over-ruled by any politick considerations As if they had been all bewitch'd by the Spaniards they were possest with an opinion that they should be set at liberty immediately they perswaded themselves they should have whatever they desir'd they believ'd nothing but what agreed with their own imaginations and concluding they had that sure in their own hands which was but the false reflexion of the Artifice of the Princes they resolv'd That no Amnesty should be propos'd or accepted but such in which the consent and satisfaction of the Prince of Condy should concur for whose sake they had taken Arms and brought the War home to their own doors and if any should be so audacious to deliver his opinion to the contrary as a Traitor to his Countrey he was to be thrown headlong into the River They argued that the Offers made them by the Court was but the effect of their weakness and the product of necessity rather then any Compassion to them and in that mind they suppos'd themselves able to justify their disobedience to the King especially if by their sollicitations in England they could prevail with Cromwell to undertake their defence they doubted not in that case but under his protection they should be able to vindicate their liberty and shake off their Dependance upon their natural Prince But these being the dictates of fury and passion rather then rational deductions it was not long before they found themselves deceived by the vanity of their imaginations The Court of France perceiving therefore all the ways they had taken to sweeten the obstinacy and fierceness of the people to be absolutely ineffectual they gave themselves over to a resolution of acting with all severity and vigor against that Rebellious City Orders were sent to that end that by streightning it on all sides it should be necessitated to return to its duty seeing no other way was like to succeed Above all they were to secure the River against whatever attempt should be made by the Spaniard for if they could cut off the benefit of that from them the City would be desperate in a short time especially if they could keep things in that posture till the Vintage was over for that being in the power of the Kings Army and to be destroyd or intercepted by them as they pleas'd there could be no greater loss nor punishment befal them the Estates of the chiefest Citizens in the Town consisting principally in the plenty and excellence of their Wines which they selling yearly to the English Hollander and other Northern Nations afforded them very considerable profit But because it was necessary likewise to provide for the Frontiers towards Flanders where the Prince of Condy joyn'd with the Spaniards made Extraordinary preparations boasting of what he would do that Campagne by means of the places he held in the Province of Champania and the intelligence he had settled with his friends in Paris towards which City he gave out he would march directly The Cardinal with no less dililigence provided to prevent him making all provisions to oppose him he consider'd that all consisted in the unity of the forces of that Kingdom That his greatest difficulty would be to preserve himself against his enemies at home That if he could not reduce the Prince of Condy to his Allegiance whose mind was elated with high hopes and advantages he expected from Spaine it would be his best way by all possible means to lessen his party and reputation in France so as he might be left as it were a bare Commander of Spaniards who being to recompence him for the losses he received in France and to maintain him in the Quality of first Prince of the blood would be weary of him by degrees and he become a greater burden to that Crown then a Compleat and intire Army Two things therefore were more especially under the Cardinals consideration one to reduce what places he had in his possession in France the other was to debauch his friends away from him in pursuance of this design a General Pardon was publish't to all such as should before a prefix'd time return to their obedience The Count de Tavanes who had been very zealously engaged with the said Prince upon some particular dissatisfaction return'd to his house upon whose example several others of the Princes Adherents fell off likewise In the mean time the Prince of Condy seem'd to be unconcern'd at what past though to speak truth he wanted wherewithal to recompence or repair the losses his friends receiv'd in their own Countrey the supplies he had from Spain being too small for his own private expences much less to remunerate those who had served him He would have complied notwithstanding if the King's Council could have been brought to condescend to his termes which in that case it is possible he would have moderated but as when he had a numerous train of discontented persons attending him it was then of importance to reconcile him so now when he was as it were alone and abandoned by all of them it was not thought necessary to continue their applications forasmuch as in that condition he would be rather a trouble and expence to the Spaniards then of any use and advantage so that according to the Cardinals Judgment there was less danger in remaining abroad then in his return for being a Prince ambitious of honour and reputation he supposed he could hardly comport with the Spaniards who were no less ambitious then himself and that the frankness and liberty of the French would not accommodate with their gravity and reservedness The Prince was of
Boda Governour of the Town with his Tertia of French Foot and march'd himself to observe the motions of the Prince of Condy and the Spaniard who during this Leagure were joyn'd at Hayes d' Auvenes having been retarded in their Campagne both by their want of Horses as abovesaid and also by a Negotiation they had with a Citizen of Arras for the surprize of that City But the same Person held Intelligence likewise with the Cardinal as he had done with the Prince to gain money on both sides This Correspondence was began the Year before and continued till the Prince found himself deluded and cheated at several times of about 2000 Pistols The French having notice that the Spaniard had not yet their Forces united to engage the French Army which was then numerous and flourishing till they were reinforc'd which they most sollicitously endeavor'd by express Order from the Cardinal they advanc'd against the Prince with full resolution to attaque him But he had drawn up his Army betwixt two Woods behind a streight Pass by which means he prevented being fallen upon in a disadvantageous place as it might have hapned had it bin but one half houre longer before he had had the News of the French Army The Mareschals him in so good a posture return'd to their Posts and afterwards march'd towards Vervins passing thorough certain Villages not far from the Abby of Tougny they drew near to Vervens about Proussy and thence coasting by Guise they encamp'd at Riblemont to observe the motion of the enemy who being reinforc'd with the Lorrain Troops and other supplies from Flanders did principally design to make an Inroad into France upon presumption that at their first appearance many would declare for them The French Generals being inferiour in number were oblig'd for that reason to be more wary and circumspect and to have a care how they ran the risk of a Battel which if it went cross would be more dangerous in the consequences then in their present loss The Cardinals design was to protract time and to set the Affairs of the Kingdom to rights by the reduction of Bourdeaux to incapacitate the Prince to raise new troubles by the assistance or intelligence of his friends and to let the Spaniards at length see they were mistaken in the opinion they had conceived of that Juncture to ruine France and the confidence they had repos'd in the reputation and interest of the Prince in his own Countrey thâ—t being the principal mark to which all their Councils were directed it seeming unlikely to the Court of Spain that that Crown of it self with its States and Kingdoms so distant and depopulated should act any thing with advantage against France whilst it was entire and unanimous for this cause they spared no money but were many times lavish and profuse in their distributions to the discontented French who always deceived them with vain hopes and pretences endeavoring still to draw more of them into rebellion that by that means they might be able as it were to compel the French to a solid Peace to which his Catholick Majesty was seriously inclin'd but could not hope to obtain any other way But the effects did not answer Expectation for placing their hopes upon particular persons more sollicitous of their own then of other peoples advantage who propos'd only such things as might render themselves necessary to the Spanish affaires founding their principles upon this Maxime That to draw benefit from Princes they ought to make them expect more then they intended to perform forasmuch as their custom is when they are once delivered to regard them no longer who brought them out of their exigence Things being acted in this manner and hastned by the Spaniard in order to the approaching Campagne the Princes and Generals of the Armies held many Counsels what way they were to proceed The chief of of the Spanish Officers and particularly the Count de Fuensaldagna a person of great judgment propos'd to fall upon some of the most considerable of the King of France's Towns by the benefit of which they might be enabled to pass on and upon a solid foundation maintaine the War afterward in the Enemies Country Some propounded to ship 5 or 6000 men under the Command of the most expert Officers could be chosen and to send them into Guienne to reinforce the Princes Troops in that Province and support the courage of the Bourdelots thereby to sustein the War in those parts which was the strongest diversion could be given to the French Armes To that end it was proposed they should sit down before Bayon and the Princes repair thither with their Troops which would be more feasible in respect that Colonel Baltasser had made himself Master of Tarsas But the hopes that the Reliefe from Spain would be sufficient and having no Orders for dividing their Army in Flanders confuted all those Propositions The Count of Fuenseldagne was of opinion that laying all other things aside they should sit down before Arras whilst their Army was fresh and the Alarmes so hot in other parts of the Kingdom for which reason he look'd upon the Enterprise not so difficult as other people might imagine and that the Prince of Condy might consent he offered to give him Mouson But the Prince insisting upon his Intelligence in Paris prest hard and upon very good reason that drawing all their forces together they should pass the Soma march up to Paris and give their party in that City opportunity to rise while the Court growing jealous of them would be easily perswaded to quit the Town and that in these confusions their Army advancing to Mantes might possess themselves of all the Countrey about Pontoise Saint Lis and other adjacent Towns where recruiting themselves with the discontented party which in probability would throng to him daily they should reap extraordinary advantage and foment the Civil War in France This Proposition was in appearance plausible and so well represented by the Prince that the Council were of the same minde and esteemed that his opinion ought really to be followed as was seemingly desired by those who applauded his Actions with their tongue more then by their deeds But there were two considerable difficulties objected The first was that by the loss of Bellegard and Rhetel the minds of many people were much dejected so that there were but few of the opinion but the King of France would be stronger that Campagne then the Prince of Condy who had lost two such considerable places as it were under his Nose to the great diminution of his credit The other was that the French Army being come into the Field much stronger then was imagin'd it was dangerous to pass so many Rivers and put themselves into the Enemies Countrey without any place of Retreat in case of disaster whilst also the Spanish Army was attended by another though less numerous yet superiour in courage being all French bold and experienc'd besides 4000
German Horse the remainder of the famous Waymers forces and supported by several strong Towns and Fortresses all firmly devoted to their King Nevertheless as there is nothing deludes the imagination more then a mans esteem of himself the Prince of Condy was so transported with an opinion of his Reputation in France he thought that sufficient to do his business without being troubled to fight for 't This opinion therefore was embrac'd contrary to the judgement of Fuensaldagne who for two secret reasons was really averse The first was that he believ'd the Princes designs were not upon good foundation and if they were it did not consist with the interest of Spain to advance them forasmuch as it was most certain if he reduc'd the Cardinal to any streight he would find some way or other to accommodate with him and then the Spaniard would run great hazard of having him engag'd against them and the troubles in France would cease of themselves The other was that it was not convenient for him to expose the whole Forces of Spain without a certainty of gaining some considerable place and with the hazard of some dangerous disgrace not daring to be too confident in the Prince who was a Frenchman or in the Duke of Lorrain who the Count of Fuensaldagne knew had his ears always open to any Proposition of advantage and might easily be gain'd by the Artifice of the Cardinal These two Reasons reflecting so nearly upon the Prince of Condy and the Duke of Lorrain could not be publickly urged in the Council and therefore the other opinion prevailing the Spanish Army marched towards Cambray from thence to Crevecoeur and came to Chastelet without interruption and so to Fonsomme where the River Somma arises which was but two Leagues distant from the French Camp The Spanish Army comprehending the Prince of Condy's and the Duke of Lorrain's forces consisted of 30000 effective men it was compos'd of Spaniards Italians Walloons Dutch Burgundians Flemins Irish and other Nations who by the diversity of their Languages and customs were the cause of great confusion in that Camp Their Train was very great both for Cannon Ammunition and Baggage Here the Prince of Condy made a halt for several days in the face of the French Camp passing the time in frequent but inconsiderable skirmishes with their Horse which with most exact diligence were kept scouting upon the Roads The Princes hopes were impregnated with strong conceit of his Party in Paris by whose assistance he thought his success would be in infallible but he reckon'd without his Host for the King being there and the Cardinal very watchful against the least insurrection there was not one person durst appear in the City nor one Officer of those which were banish'd who durst venture to come into Paris and head the Male-contents who wish'd the Prince well in their hearts though they durst not shew it his design vanishing in fumo He lost his Reputation among the Spanish Commanders who discover'd him to be without that interest and dependence which he was suppos'd to have in France and which his friends had promis'd upon their Parols Perplex'd therefore and in confusion about the resolution they were to take the Armies confronted one another for several days The Prince of Condy being stronger in number desir'd by all means to come to a general Engagement but the French unwilling to hazard themselves on so great a disadvantage endeavor'd by the benefit of their Incampments and the convenience of the Fortresses they had thereabouts to give impediment to their Progress and make them lose time This posture of affairs gave occasion to the discovery of the valour and conduct of two Captains Competitors at that time in point of Glory and Renown the disadvantage under which the Mareschal Turenne then lay in respect of the disparity of his Numbers making his Prudence in that Juncture more remarkable then his courage But the Cardinals designs proceeded at another rate his principal Object was to reduce Bourdeaux to its obedience he knew very well that to secure this part of the Kingdom would be the safety of the other His judgment was approved by the whole Council and resolution was taken to amuse the Prince on the Frontiers of Picardy or Champagnia till the Affairs in Guienne were dispatch'd where all things tended to a fortunate Conclusion though the means used in the management were not entirely successful The Marquess de Theubon who had defended with great courage and better fortune the Town of Villeneuf de Agenois against Count Harcourt disdaining that Count Marsin should arrogate to himself the glory of preserving that City for that during an inundation of waters which had forc'd the Kings Army further off he had put into it 200 Horse as also because by his Order the Houses of some of his Relations were plundred amongst which was that of Colonges and of the Marquess Dowager of Villefranca which said houses he had taken into protection he came to Bourdeaux to make his Complaint to the Prince of Conty who intreated him to lay aside his animosity at that time and not to think of revenging himself upon Marsin as he had publickly threatned but neiher that nor the giving him 500 Crowns by way of Reparation prevailing he dispatch'd a Messenger to Blaye to negotiate his Accommodation with the Duke of Saint Simon and Vandosme the last of which was newly arrived at that place the Dukes giving the Cardinal Advice thereof were required by all means to bring him off if it were possible and what other of that Party they could This business was of importance and in a fair way to succeed but the Advocate Literie being banish'd in the interim upon some suspitions though nothing was perfectly discover'd that design was for the present laid by Theubon was advised by his friends and by those that were true servants to the King to remain in Bourdeaux to make himself Head of that Party in the Town and never to reconcile himself to Marsin but to study a revenge for if he could be so happy as to kill him he would not only satisfie his private resentment but put a Conclusion to the War and perform an Action extreamly meritorious to the publick Nevertheless being too much taken notice of he departed the Town having first setled there a good correspondence and communicating his thoughts to the Duke of Candale they agreed that advancing the Fleet to Lermont he should endeavor to introduce the Army into the City by the assistance of the Sieurs Mousnier and du Sault both highly disgusted at the Princes Government and by the help of the Counsellor de Bordes exceedingly incensed for having been imprisoned by the Princes Order though he was presently releas'd and receiv'd with great courtesie These three persons were of the chief of the Frondeurs and of great Authority in the Town and therefore with their directions it was no hard matter to compass their design especially
considering several of the Olmiera were joyned with them and particularly one Cot a Ring-leader of the seditious and another called Chevalier a son of one of the Attourneys of the Palace carried all the Letters which past betwixt the Conspirators and the Commanders in chief for the King The Fleet appear'd at Lermont ready for the Enterprize but the Messenger was taken with his Letters about him hang'd as a Spie before the Town-Hall and the whole Plot interrupted At the same time the Sieur de Chambon who was sent by the Prince of Condy into Guienne to hinder the Count d' Ognon from reconciling himself to the Court by offering him 300000 Crowns in ready money and one of his Mannors with the Title of a Duke ran the same hazard for after he had found all his Negotiations with the Count absolutely ineffectual desiring to pass into Bourdeaux though they had no good opinion of him for having delivered up Xantes to the enemy the year before He was arrested by the people drawn to the Gallows and had doubtless been hang'd if in the time granted him to make his Confession the Prince of Conty had not sent to deliver him and luckily rescued him from that infamous death Yet all this could not discourage Theubon to set on foot new Machinations for the compassing his designes and entring into a correspondence with the Count de Marin Camp-Master under the King he held frequent Intelligence with all such as he thought serviceable upon that occasion in which number having judg'd one of the Treasurers of France called Filiot a proper person in respect of the liberty he had of entring the Town daily and going out at his pleasure he committed the improvement of the correspondence to him which Count Marin held with the two Brothers of Chastein and the Counsellor du Sault Son of the Advocate-General who being offended to see the Authority of that Parliament prostituted to the impertinencies of the Olmiera engaged himself in that Plot and resolv'd to put himself at the Head of a Party of Citizens and open one of the Gates to let in the Kings Army This Scene was very well laid and the success not improbable because all was managed by Persons in whom the people had very great confidence But young Heads especially of the French Nation who are a communicative people keeping their secrets as Water in a Sieve One of the Chasteins having imparted the whole business to the Count de Auteuil the Duke d' Enguins Governour by the means of a Citizens daughter with whom the said Count was in love Filiot and the Counsellor de Sault were both taken and clap'd into prison The other Chastein not knowing the treachery of his Brother was gone out to perswade the Duke of Candale to advance with his Troops towards Bourdeaux as believing all sure The Dukes forces march'd with that diligence and secresie That though the Plot was discover'd and the assistance expected within totally interrupted yet had not the Prince of Conty been in person at the Gate to encourage his men the Duke of Candale had questionless without any Complices entred the Town in that confusion This advance of the Duke of Candale was so strong a confirmation of the truth of the Conspiracy and fill'd the Olmeisti so full of disdain that like mad men they ran up and down the streets with their swords in their hands crying out That it was better to die a thousand deaths fighting valiantly for their liberty then to suffer themselves to be so basely and villainously betray'd They immediately ordered a solemn Procession to be made to give God thanks for their delivery and caused a Franciscan Frier to preach a Sermon to exhort them to unity and fidelity to their Countrey The Frier got up into the Pulpit and though in his affections he had been a Frondeur nevertheless being at that time illuminated by the Divine Wisdom he delivered himself in such a manner before the Prince the Princess the Frondeurs the Olmeisti and the rest and perswaded them so efficaciously to Peace that all of them were touch'd and the people extreamly edified with his extraordinary eloquence and doctrine so that hence we may see that Gods Providence is as active in the confirmation and establishment as in the destruction of Kingdoms Here the innocence and goodness of the King was protected and the wickedness and ingratitude of his subjects chastised by the Justice of Heaven After this a Process was form'd against Filiot and the Evidence being short he was most inhumanely put upon the Rack in the Presence of Duratesta the chief of the Olmeisti and the Advocate Pontelier who took his examination Filiot swooned at first but having implor'd the divine assistance he found himself so strangely encouraged as he reported afterwards himself that he kept firm to his resolution of confessing nothing nor did he discover one man of all his Accomplices For du Sault they proceeded not so violently against him by reason the tears of the father and the former services of the son out-weigh'd the resentment of a Treason which had it succeeded would have left the Princes expos'd to the fury of the Souldiers without any capitulation The Negotiations and Conspiracies for reducing Bourdeaux to its obedience to the King not having the expected success and the Forces under the Dukes of Vandosme and Candale being too weak to reduce so potent and obstinate a City by force the Cardinal dispatch'd his Orders to the Count d' Estrades Lieutenant-General in Rochel to draw what strength he could out of the Neighbouring Towns and lead them with all speed to the Duke of Vendosme Estrades us'd all imaginable diligence and being a good souldier and well-affected to his Majesties service he suddenly appear'd with a considerable body of men before Bourg the Conquest of which Town being judg'd conducive to the reduction of Bourdeaux it was undertaken by his advice And to proceed the more vigorously it was necessary to attaque it in three several places but they having foot enough but for two the Duke of Candale was desired that he would furnish them with men for the third The Duke granted their desire very readily and going immediately to Caesars Fort to discourse the business with the Duke of Vandosme and l' Estrades he caus'd his own Tertia and some other Companies to march and he himself having agreed with the Duke of Vendosme about the Command would needs be of the Party Bourg was beleagured and on the 29. of June their Trenches were opened in three places The first was commanded by the Duke of Vendosme the second by the Duke of Candale and the third by l' Estrades The last Approach was managed so vigorously that the fourth day the Sieur Delus Camp-Mareschal lodg'd himself upon the brow of the ditch cut down a strong Pallisadoe in the middle of it notwithstanding several showers of small shot made against him and the Granadoes and other Fire-works poured upon them
above 2000 persons they assaulted the house of Bleru who was at that time an Agent in England that by this means the tumult which they noised abroad to be much increased might dispose the Prince and the Assembly to satisfie the Petition of the City but the unstable Rout soon gave a proof of their inconstancy deserting their Leaders in the very height of the Action who did what they could to keep them together but to no purpose and in the mean time night coming on and nothing done Virlada resolv'd to give some money to his Kinsman Cabanieux if with other of his Companions he would go and take down a red Standard which had been set up by the Olmeisti upon Saint Michaels Steeple and in stead of that funest and bloody colours put up a white one the Kings colours in its place which being done and another of the fame in like manner advanc'd on the Steeples of St. Remy and St. Peters by the well-affected of those parishes as also on the Gate next the Exchange the appearance of these colours had so great an influence that Marsin himself who did all he could to divert the Propositions for Peace condescended to all the Deputies of the Merchants desired upon a suspicion of some unavoidable surprize Twelve Deputies therefore were chosen to consult with the Princes Counsel upon such terms and expedients as should be most proper for the Conclusion of the Peace but Marsin perceiving that their fear was without any foundation the same night coming to the Town-house where the Prince of Conty lodg'd with all the Officers of the Army and the chief of the Olmiera they consulted how to disturb and prevent the designes of the well-affected to the King The Olmeisti propos'd to fall upon those that were assembled in the Burse Marsin and Fiesco were for standing upon their defence and bringing in their Troops to place them in the street before the Town-house as far as the quarter of Santa Eulalia towards the Archbishops Palace and the Castle of Ha where the inhabitants had not declared against them it was resolv'd also to make use of an Arrest of Parliament offer'd by the Frondeurs which under pretence of Remonstrating for Peace forbade all Assemblies as unlawfull and seditious to the end that the Olimiera might unite with the remainder of the Parliament against the other Citizens The Prince of Canty did not approve of bringing in the Troops as a thing which would make the Citizens disperate and and force them to open a Gate to the Dukes of Vandosm and Candal which would prove the utter desolation and ruine of the whole City so that the result was that they should only make use of the Ordinances of Parliament The next day the Counsellors of Parliament going to meet were hindred by a party of Citizens telling them the Parliament was at Agen and not at Bourdeaux Virlade clap'd a Court of Guard before the Palace of Judicature to hinder the Entrance of the Counsellors and upon the Exchange ordered the Sieur de Lovergnac one of the Advocates to reade a Letter publickly from the Duke of Candale in which he offered the Citizens his Mediation and a General Amnesty The people though they did not accept thereof yet they desired Virlade and Baccalan that they would be present as their Tribunes at the Counsels held for publick business in the Archbishops Palace This being the posture of Affairs in Bourdeaux and the greater part of the Citizens dispos'd for Peace the Kings Generals thought it not amiss to encourage these Proceedings and to hinder the seditious spirits of the Olmiera from interrupting them to cause their Troops to advance from their Quarters about Begle towards the Gate of Saint Julian and at the same time to bring the Fleet above Lormont This Council was immediately put in execution the Duke of Candale's Troops marching forward by Land to the number of about 4000 Foot and 200 Horse The Clouds of dust which the trampling of the Horses rais'd in the Air and the noise of the Artillery from the Ships against the Post of Bacalan was seen and heard with so much confusion and terrour that the Frondeurs and some Counsellours of the Parliament who were met in the Burse or Exchange dissolv'd the Assembly suddenly in great fear upbraiding the others that under the colour of Peace they had plotted the surprize and desolation of the Town Virlada did his utmost endeavor to change the Officers that had the Command of the Gates which were all of them Olmiesti but being yet all alone with the Advocate Dalon advising what was to be done their design being discover'd and seeing the people incens'd against them he resolv'd to repair to the Town-house and there with the help of some of his friends attempt the nomination of new Captains Here he found the Prince of Conty and represented to him that in respect of the confusions within the City and the approach of the enemy without the Citizens also being refractory and unwilling to follow their old Officers not so much as their Serjeant-Major Periera it was better as he did most humbly intreat for his own proper security to accept of those few Captains which in the name of the Citizens he tendred to him insinuating withal a jealousy of the pretension of the Jurates of the City against his Authority if it should happen into their power to choose them as they desired The Prince to rid himself of him quickly fearing to be surprized having taken their Oaths they took possession of their places in the Council held in the Arch-Bishops Palace and fell into debate immediately about the most probable Expedients to obtain a Peace to which end Virlade offred himself to go forthwith and negotiate with the Duke of Candale without expecting a Passport not to lose time Marsin thought to elude him appointing him for his Companion Baz a Mareschal de Camp and his very great Confident But Virlade departed at Midnight with the single Permission of the Prince without the said Baz Bacalan was nominated also to go to Vandosme with Calapian another Mareschal de Camp Brother to the Marquess de Lasignan and strictly engaged in Marsin's interest Virlade represented to the Duke of Candale the intention the City had to submit themselves to the obedience of the King and shewed him the full power they had given him to treat as also a Letter of credit from the Prince of Conty who to prevent the fatal effects of a Conspiracy contrived against his life by certain persons which had been banish'd and were return'd again into the Town condescended to treat with the said Duke his particular friend in the behalf and for the security of his Nephew the Duke de Enguien the Princesses and the rest of his Party and he entreated him most earnestly to interpose his Authority that the good Citizens might receive the effects of the Kings Clemency rather then of his justice The Duke receiv'd these Overtures
with great civility and declaring himself a friend to the Prince of Conty he express'd all the demonstrations of esteem that could be expected from an entire Correspondence it being necessary for the better carrying on of the Treaty first to make a Truce which Viralda earnestly press'd the Duke reply'd he would conclude nothing of himself till he had advised with the Duke of Vendosm with whom he went hand in hand in carrying on the Kings Interest yet they proceeded so far that the Duke prohibited his souldiers under severe penalty to go out of their Quarters or to commit any Acts of Hostility either against the Goods or Lives of the Bourdelots The Duke in the mean time sent the Chevalier de Muns Captain of his Guards to complement the Prince and to assure the inhabitants of his good affection and sincere mediation to his Majesty in their behalf from thence the said Captain repair'd to the Duke of Vendosme to give him an Account of what had passed Bacalan made the same submissions to the Duke of Vendosm who receiv'd him with extraordinary Courtesie answerable to the sweetness and affability of his humour That very same day Gourville arrived from the Court at the Duke of Vendosmes quarters and desiring to pass likewise into the Duke of Candales the next way being thorow the Town he sent thither for a Passport which every one being curious to understand how Affairs went since their separation from the Prince of Condy they presently granted He arrived late in Town and Lenets house being near the Post-house where he alighted he made his first Visit to him and stayed with him all night which gave some jealousie to the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess of Longueville who imagin'd that coming from the Court he had had private Instructions to treat with Marsin and Lenet who were then in no good correspondence with the Prince and the Dutchess The next day he went to pay his Visits to them who were very importunate with him to know what Orders he had brought along with him from the Court and because he assured them that he would not meddle with any thing without communicating with them and desired them that they would look upon him as a Person wholly devoted to the service of the King they look'd upon him with more suspicion then before The Curiosity of the Princes entertain'd him in long Discourse of several things so that the same effect his Conference with Lenet had wrought in the Prince the same did his discourse with the Prince produce in Marsin and Lenet and the rather because not having negotiated any thing with them they concluded his Orders were to treat only with the Prince so that they were all of them equally in the dark Gourville pursued his Voiage in the Company of Baz who was sent by Marsin to the Camp at Begle to have an eye upon Virlade's Proceedings and coming to the Duke of Candale who received him with great kindness he communicated to the Duke all that was to be done for his Majesties service in Bourdeaux according to the Instructions he had received from Cardinal Mazarine Joyning with Viralde they together obtain'd a suspension of Arms for three days in which time the Duke of Candale promised to speak with the Duke of Vendosme to adjust the Articles of the Truce not only for the City but for the whole Province of Guienne In the mean time the Prince of Conty went to the Exchange and put on a white Scarf to the great joy of the people But the inconveniences which might arise from the frequent resort of the Kings Officers and Souldiers to the town being represented to him he prohibited the admitting any of them for the future without a Passport Whilst things were thus in Agitation Virlada return'd to Bourdeaux and inform'd both the Prince and the Citizens of his Negotiations with the Duke of Candale Marsin being enrag'd to see the Conclusion of the Treaty so near which he sought with all Art and Industry to protract and interrupt he would not consent that any Answer should be return'd from the Arch-bishops Palace Whereupon Viralda to animate the people the more and to excite them to Peace produced another Letter from the Duke of Candale by which he permitted the Citizens to go to their Countrey-houses if they pleas'd to get in their Harvest and distributed Passport to those that desired them who came in great throngs The Duke of Vandosm likewise sent Butin his Secretary into Bourdeaux to assure the Citizens of his inclinations to favour them but that he would not admit of any Treaty without the consent and participation of the Duke of Candale and that the Propositions might be the better discuss'd and examin'd they would meet together and not separate till the Treaty was concluded or broke off Butin was receiv'd with extraordinary Acclamation but the Chevalier Todias represented that it was contrary to the Rules of War and against their proper interest to shew such partiality The Secretary was sent back and Vandosmes Letter delivered to the Prince of Conty Marsin came into the Council assembled in the Arch-bishops Palace and sharply reproved Virlade for that in his Presence he had suffered Feran a Huguenot Minister to inveigh against the Princes party before the Duke of Candale adding that this was a clear demonstration that the Huguenots hated the Spaniards which was repugnant to the common interest by reason they could hope for relief from no other Countrey but Spain and that he and Feran both would have but little thanks from the Citizens Marsin hearing the relation of these transactions was not a little disturbed who foreseeing that all would be lost the greatest part of the inhabitants being disposed to return to the obedience of their King A Passport was here demanded for the Duke of Vandosm's Galleys to go and receive the Duke of Candale at Begle Marsin oppos'd it saying it might be a Treachery and proposed that the Duke might be conveyed in the Vessels belonging to the Town whereupon a Contest arose betwixt him and others who maintained that it was not decent for the Kings General to appear in any Ships but what belong'd to His Majesty Marsin insisted that the Deputies might be changed but these being in good esteem with the people that were well-affected they were confirm'd and the Articles of the Truce enlarged The Contents of them were that all Hostilities should cease till the Consummation or Rupture of the Treaty That there should be no communication betwixt the souldiers and inhabitants without passports from the Kings Generals That when the Kings Troops should be removed further off quarters should be granted to the Princes Forces four leagues from Bourdeaux That during the Treaty there should be free entrance for all kind of Provisions into the Town That Passes should be given to certain persons to be sent into Flanders to give advice of what pass'd to the Prince of Condy and into Spain to his
Catholique Majesty That Baltasser with his Troops might retire to Tartas The Article concerning the Passport into Spain was disputed and at length altered by the Prince of Conty it being agreed on that only notice should be given to the Generals of the Spanish Fleet But with order not to come near Bourdeaux for if they did they should neither be received nor assisted All these Transactions being highly displeasing to Marsin and all such as were enemies to the peace they raised new murmures and divisions in the City and plotted all ways to break or disturb the Treaty They assured the people that there was Corn enough in the Magazines for three Months That the want of provisions and sickness encreasing daily in the Kings Army they could not long subsist nor be able to make the least opposition against the Spanish Fleet which was expected every moment with ample supplies both of Victuals Money and men so that holding out but a few days longer they should obtain a Peace much more advantageous That the Prince of Condy was in Flanders with a powerful Army able to march to Paris without any obstruction by reason of the weaknes of the Kings Forces and the peoples disaffection to the Cardinal Marsin continued to declaim aganst the Propositions of the peace as dishonourable to the name of their Union and to their Promises and oaths so often reiterated not to abandon the Prince of Condy That it was nothing but the effect of a Conspiracy of a few persons corrupted by the flatteries of Mazarine and inveigled with the thoughts of bettering their own fortune by the ruine of the publick interest That their Offers were to be shunn'd as the singing of a Sirene That having offended a Prince to the quick the best Counsel was to see him no more except in a Picture But on the contrary those who understood the Artifices and machinations of seditious persons were of another judgement and declar'd That things were reduc'd now to such an extremity they must fall inevitably into the hands of the Spaniard and live under their yoke and dominion or become miserable sacrifices to the armes and vengeance of their own King That the State could never fall under greater Tyranny then what they then suffered under the Officers of the Princes who had no other aim then to satisfie their insatiable desire of robbing them both of their honour and estates leaving them in a miserable and languishing condition That the City not being to be brought to a worse plight ought to embrace so happy an opportunity of redeeming it self from such imminent dangers whilst the Generals with unexpected Courtesie distributed every where his Majesties grace and favours full of clemency and pity and thought it greater honour to be the instruments of his mercy then revenge That now was the time to wipe off all the unworthy stains of rebellion by making it appear they were rather the effects of a few peoples violence then any universal disgust That Marsin as a stranger was manifestly more solicitous for his own private interest for the Princes and therefore he ran things to Extremity with false and pretended promises of releif which if soberly consider'd was rather to be abhorr'd then receiv'd seeing by prolonging the War all the people must of necessity be precipitated into an eternal and inextricable confusion and their revenues brought to nothing consisting principally in trade with strangers and in the fruits of the field the one absolutely precluded and interrupted and the other like to be destroy'd by the spoiling of their Vintage They further added that the Princes professing the ease of the people to whom they had so many Obligations it was to be suppos'd they would not consent that for the advantage of a few of their party so many innocents should be ruin'd and that themselves being of so high a birth by returning to their obedience they might restore themselves to their pristine Authority and Grandeur in the Kingdom of France where no true Frenchman by reason of their natural antipathy could willingly brook the Spaniards who sought to advantage themselves by these troubles alluring the uncautious by the lustre of their Gold and deluding the people more with false hopes then really assisting them with any formidable and effectual force Finally they concluded that having for their own Sovereign a King given them by God they ought not to doubt of his being endowed with so Noble and Generous a mind as to forget injuries and pardon Offences These Reasons with the Engagement into which most of the Citizens had publikely entred and the fear of falling again under the outrages of the Olmeira in case they should recover their former Authority by the means of foreign force was the cause that the Assembly of the Olmeisti was expresly forbidden and the Captains of the quarters renewed with all diligence and strict Guards placed at the Gates to hinder the entrance of forreign Soldiers They treated also privately with Colonel Baltasser to gain him to their side as a valiant and generous person and one that was capable of doing much mischeif were he united with Marsin with whom by reason of several disgusts past betwixt them he held no very good correspondence Virlade being in the mean time return'd to Begle to accompany the Duke of Candale to Lormont and assist at the General Truce receiv'd an express from the Duke of Vandosme at Mid-night that 33 Sail of Spanish Ships were arriv'd within sight of Blay Whereupon the three days Truce being expir'd the Duke of Candale thought it expedient to give them another indefinite till the conclusion of the peace and the publication of the Amnesty which he did to engage the Citizens in a Treaty before the news of the approach of the Spanish Armada lest they should change their resolutions and concurr with the contrary party It being concluded therefore and establish'd as firm as was possible Virlade was dispatch'd back to Bourdeux to draw the Prince of Conty to a peremptory resolution to declare puplickly for the service of the King where being arriv'd he found the City much altered by the Artifices of Marsin who having been at the Burse to clear himself and Lenet of the machinations wherewith they were charg'd he had in some measure mollifi'd the hearts of those who had been exasperated against him and by the distribution of Money amongst the Plebeians captivated a good part of them particularly those of the Fraternity of Saint John which are so numerous they seldome appear less then 1500 in their procession upon that Saints day so that he caus'd them to fasten peeces of Red Ribbon to their Procession-staffs and to cry up and down the streets and in their very Procession Viva i Principi Long live the Princes Virlada astonish'd at this change rid amongst them with a Trumpet of the Duke of Candales before him snatching from some of them their Red Ribbons giving them white and casting some Moneys amongst
them he caus'd them quickly to change their note and cry out as fast Viva il Re e la Pace Long live the King and the Peace and from thence passing to the Town-house where the Prince of Conty then was he prest him to declare himself either for Peace or War telling him that as his servant he could not but advise him of the evident danger he was in seeing the design was to make themselvs Masters of the Town though with the destruction and ruine of his Highness That therefore he did earnesly desire him to continue the suspension of Arms which during till the conclusion of the peace would secure him and take away all occasion from the Kings Generals to attempt any thing against the City which in the confusions they were then in would be no hard matter for them to do to the endangering of his person and his friends or at least to his dishonour These Propositions sunk very deep into the heart of the Prince full of generosity and therefore the more dispos'd to receive such counsels as were grounded on reason and honour Besides Gourville being in private Treaty with him at that time who took great pains to remove him from all contrary sentiments he finally resolv'd to subscribe the suspension of Arms which was solemnly publish'd and went to the Exchange to declare openly that he renounc'd all leagues and confederacies with Spain Here were likewise read the Articles of peace which were to be propos'd as also a renunciation of the Citizens of all Treaties with the English and the Ministers of Spain and this was also done in publique by the Prince with much frankness which drew after him all the acclamations of the people The Arrival of the Spanish Fleet was not yet known in Bourdeaux and those that understood the inconstancy of the people always desirous of novelties endeavour'd to conceal it as much as was possible The Duke of Candale went to Lormond to the Duke Vandosme and the articles of the Truce were agreed on in the same form they were presented except the granting of quarters to the Princes Troops a passport to Baltasser or liberty for bringing in victuals or Ammunition into the Town They agreed afterwards on the houre to meet the Deputies to treat about the peace The designes of the seditious and the Spaniards being in this manner defeated The Kings Generals were much rejoyced and the rather because they had reason to fear that if the Spanish Navy had appear'd before the Treaty had been concluded they would easily have made themselves Masters of Bourdeaux and all the Kings Affairs in Guienne been utterly ruin'd besids the prejudice they would have receiv'd in the other parts of the Kingdom by so potent and so considerable a diversion The Spanish Fleet came to an Anchor at the mouth of the Garonne and the Generals having notice of the resolution of the Bourdelois whilst they lay there attending the opportunity of the Tyde to attempt the relieving of the Town were in great confusion and at a stand what to do fearing to engage themselves in vain further in the River with so much hazard not being assur'd to be receiv'd by the City but rather treated as Enemies They concluded at length to continue where they were upon their Guard and to dispatch away a Messenger with all speed to the Spanish Court to give notice of the alteration of Affaires that they might deliberate what was best to be done in this exigence They sent likewise advice into Flanders to the Spanish Ministers and the Prince of Condy who at the receipt of this News saw his expectations quite vanisht while with a secure confidence he had cherish'd himself that the Spanish Fleet would have got easily to Bourdeaux and have had the better of the day if they came to an engagement which the Spaniards themselves gave evident tokens they were not willing to undertake upon a slight account On the 27. of July the Deputies being twelve in number whereof Chevalier Todias was the chief to whom was joyn'd the aforesaid Virtade they propounded the Articles of the Peace By the permission of the Prince of Conty Bartau a Citizen of Bourdeux was sent to the Spanish Navy to let them know that the City renounced all leagues and confedederacies concluded with his Catholick Majesty and disowned all succours that came from him The Generals having perus'd the Propositions of Peace they found some things too prejudicial to his Majestie 's honor so that they had like to have sent back the Deputies But apprehending by rendring the Bourdelots disperate they might throw themselves into the Arms of the Spaniards already advanced too far they found out a medium very proper to compose all which was to shorten the Trea-and come to a Conference in which those Articles that could not be granted should be remitted to the King rather then to send away the Deputies It being more then probable that Marsin would take new courage by the discontents of the people and the well-affected themselves seeing their hopes frustrated would easily be perswaded to admit the Spanish supplies For these Reasons the Deputies were recall'd and after having offer'd them the favour of the General Amnesty for the inhabitants of the Town in the same form as it was granted to the Parisiens and as it was Registred in the Parliament transferr'd to Agen To the Princes and Princesses and all others of their partie as ample passports as they could desire to the Generals and French Officers leave to retire to their own houses and to the Foreign Troops to depart out of the Kingdom They promis'd to examine the Articles in a Conference the day following All which being tendred to the Prince of Conty and the assembly of the Citizens in the Burse in two Sessions they resolv'd them in this manner following Upon the 1. and 2. after the Kings Declaration of 1650. was read it was agreed That a general Amnesty should be granted to the Citizens of Bourdeaux with confirmation of their prviledges The 3. which respected the Person of the Prince of Condy and his indemnity was referr'd to the King but it was propos'd that they might have a months time to give him notice of their Treaty by a Messenger express to whom the Kings Generals were to give a Passport to the Court and from thence he was to have the Kings safe conduct into Flanders That the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess of Longueville were to be comprehended if they pleased in the Amnesty of Bourdeaux or if they desired one separately it should be granted them in the best form and verified for them and their dependents in the Parliament of Paris as that for the Bourdelots was to be in the Parliament of Guienne That the Duke d' Enguien and the Princess his Mother should have Passports given them for their security and residence in case they were inclin'd to abide in any part of the Kingdom That Marsin should have liberty
nor by the Prince but by a third person Chosen to that purpose by them both The Duke of Lorrain pretending that by the ill Air of that place his Troops were grown sickly and died daily on a sudden without the least intimation to the Arch-Duke he March'd off with his Forces to the great wonder and astonishment of the other Generals for without his forces which made up the third part of the Army if the French should attempt the relief of the Town they might easily effect it and force them to raise the Siege not without great danger of a further disaster wherefore the Count de Fuensaldagne followed the said Duke who was already some leagues off and overtaking him at Mariambourg with much ado perswaded him back to the Leagure The first Salley the besieged made was upon those that were lodged on the Countrescarp towards the point of the Half-Moon by 60 choice men arm'd all of them with a kind of Syths upon strong staves with which having entred the work they cut all in pieces that were advanc'd the most forward after this Salley another Captain issued out with 45 men and two Granadeers and entring into another work advanc'd by the enemy against the Bulwark of Chene under the Pallisadoe to facilitate their passage into the ditch they put all they found within it to the sword Yet notwithstanding such brave opposition the Besiegers ceas'd not to double their strength advancing to the Wall of the Bulwarks to open a breach with their Mines come to an assault In the mean time the besieged made another Sally upon the Spanish quarter doing them great mischief and taking Prisoners a Lieutenant Colonel with a Spanish Captain The besiegers some few days after opening a way into the Foss they pass'd it by the help of two Bridges of Bavins and gave fire to their Mines under the aforesaid Bulwarks one of which prov'd ineffectual by the diligence of those that were within the other took effect at the Bulwark of Chene where the Governour received a wound in the Head by a Musquet-shot who notwithstanding caus'd himself to be carried up and down in a Chair where his Presence was most requisite Two breaches in the mean time were made in the front of these bulwarks and furiously assaulted by the Spaniards and as stoutly defended by the Garrison The same night the besiegers were repuls'd in another assault upon the half-Moon yet not so but that they lodg'd themselves at the point of it carried it afterward for they within not being able to defend it any longer thought best to abandon it especially there being no Port of Communication which made them doubt that if it hapned to be forc'd all those men would be lost of which they stood in need The Governor having taken a review of the remainder of his men fit for service and finding they amounted not to 300 and seeing the breaches open in the bulwarks and another Battery began upon the Courtin which had no defence without nor water in the Ditch That same night the enemy was ready for the assault he resolv'd to capitulate which was concluded on the 30th of September and on the first of October he march'd out with 220 Souldiers with honourable conditions and was convoy'd to Charleville This Town was deliver'd into the hands of the Prince of Condy garrison'd by his souldiers and the Government of it given to the Duke d' Anguien his son which gave some resentment to such as were truly for the interest of his Majesty of Spain who discoursing politickly among themselves said that they had lost Mouson and not gain'd Rocroy for it remaining in the Princes hands would serve rather to foment his pretensions and facilitate his reconcilement with the Court of France then to augment his affection to the service of Spain Rocroy being taken the Spanish Army remain'd there for some days to demolish their lines of Circumvallation and make up the breaches and finding themselves much weakned and harrass'd with that siege they retired into the countrey about Avennes to refresh themselves the Prince remaining at Rocroy being fallen ill of a quartane Ague The Mareschal de Turenne having taken Mouson as hath been related left in it a Garrison of 600 Foot with the Regiment of the Count de Grand Pre giving him the Command of it and passing the Mose march'd directly towards Meziers and whilst he lay there he had News of the Surrender of Rocroy At the same time the Count de Novalles advanc'd to Vervins with 1500 men and having taken it Mareschal Turenne March't to Aubigny to observe more narrowly the motion of the Enemy and obstruct their attempting of any other place and here he rested for some days Whilst he was at Meziers he sent the Marquess d' Uxelles with 1200 men towards the Castle of Bousancy which not being capable of relief from the Garrisons of Stenay and the adjacent Towns by reason they were watch'd with a Party of Horse under the Count de St. Maur it surrendred before the Cannon came up The King was come from Paris the first day of September and after a short stay at Amiens removed to Soissons the 30. of the said month and thence to Laon in order to the relieving of Rocroy which he had a design to have attempted and to that purpose the Duke of Elbeuf was call'd out of Picardy who with 3000 men lay quartered in those parts to which the King joyn'd the greatest part of his Guards but the Surrender hapning before all the Preparations were ready those thoughts were laid aside and chang'd into another resolution taken up by the Cardinal with great undauntedness and courage He judged it very convenient for the King to go to Amiens whilst Affairs were in that posture to cajole the Duke of Chaunes out of that City and Cittadel who had insinuated himself into the possession of that place after the death of his Brother and as was doubted would keep it contrary to the desire of the Kings Counsel and thought the said Duke having a considerable estate in France and his mind well compos'd to the service of the King was suppos'd to have no other intent but to create a jealousie in the Court thereby to addvance his fortune which Arts are no where practised so much as in France nevertheless it was judg'd no ill piece of policy to secure themselves against the least suspicion of a person who by the Variation of his mind might contribute so largely to the prejudice of his Soveraign And though the said Duke had sent to the Court the Letters which were writ him by the Prince of Condy full of invitations and promises if he would engage on his side yet the Cardinal look'd upon it as a Seasonable piece of service to make sure of that important place considering how unstable the minds of men are and particularly of that Nation in whose brains there always boyls a certain vivacity more turbulent
with the desire of Novelty then the Waters with the Wind. All this was managed and effected without noise the said Duke being contented to deliver it up to the Sieur Bar and he in Exhange to enter upon the Government of Dorlans held by the said Bar To which was added the Title of his Majesties Lieutenant General in the parts about Dorlans and a certain sum of Money payd him for such Arms and Ammunition as he had provided at his own Charge in the Cittadel of Amiens But the end of this Voiage was not barely the securing of Amiens but to be more ready at hand to assist the Army with his Counsels and besides the usual Guards of Horse and Foot there being great numbers of the Nobles attending the King with the one and the other to succour the Army in time of need Nevertheless it had not been amiss had their Majesties stay'd in Paris to prevent such accidents as might arise in that City where the sinister intentions of some persons towards the Government were not absolutely dispell'd especially the Archbishop being decrepit and the Cardinal de Retz to succeed him new troubles might arise among the people who would have pretended not to be satisfied without their Pastor he being a person of much esteem amongst them for his Generosity But there being a necessity of the Kings going into the Field the Cardinal thought to evade all accidents that might happen and to remove the said Retz out of Paris as a person of too high and extravigant a spirit to be left behind to offer him his liberty and the Kings favour upon condition he would renounce the hopes of his future succession and retire to Rome with promise to stay there and not return into France in recompence of which he promis'd him an Equivalence to the Archbishoprick though his Uncle was living and other assistance besides to augment his dignity and splendor Cardinal de Retz though under the durance and inconveniences of a Prison preferr'd the glory of his Constancy before all other private considerations and being puff'd up with hopes of seeing in a short time the face of things altered either by the death of the Arch-bishop or by the means of his friends at Rome emulous of Mazarine he stood firm in the Negative not to quit his dignity declaring That for the King he would do this or any thing else to the very effusion of his blood and loss of his whole estate but knowing it to be no other but the Artifice and interest of Mazarine he could not swallow so bitter a potion presented to him by his most irreconcileable enemy The Pope though not much inclin'd to the interest of France declar'd that the Proposition in his judgment was honourable and practicable of this also the Prisoner had notice but it would not sweeten the bitterness of his mind who bearing his adversity with great constancy he gain'd the reputation of an intrepid person and having found a way to write to the Sacred Colledge of Cardinals in Rome Letters full of Lamentation with earnest requests to be assisted with their Protection by whom he did humbly conceive he ought not to be abandon'd for fear of manifest prejudice to the dignity of the Purple One of the Cardinals of principal credit amongst them seeing they were inclined to answer him declar'd in delivering his opinion that he could not see why they should engage in an Affair more likely to prove a detriment to the Church then any benefit to the prisoner seeing they could give him no other assistance then by words which would perswade more by gentleness then by rigour He urged moreover that Cardinal Mazarine was in the same or greater perplexities with the Parliament of Paris and that nothing have been done in his behalf though concurrent with the service of the King his Master much less were they obliged to do any thing for Cardinal de Retz who was at that time in his Majesties displeasure The Counsel of this Cardinal being heared and approved as the best gave occasion to the resolution they took of interceding to his Holiness that out of his paternal care he would exhort his most Christian Majesty to grant Cardinal de Retz his liberty The King shew'd himself very ready and after divers Negotiations the Dutchess of Chevreuse undertook it shuffling in Conditions for the Duke of Lorrain who though he was secured by the Spaniards as we shall hereafter relate Nevertheless the Treaty about the Cardinal was not laid aside but at last was concluded upon Condition he should renounce his Coadjutorship of Paris giving him as many Benefices as were Equivalent to that Arch-bishoprick the revenue of which amounted to a vast sum This affaire was almost brought to a Period all difficulties being reduc'd to two points the one about the value of the Benefices the other about the security for the performance when the death of the Archbishop chang'd the face of Affaires but though the Curates of Paris all the factious party and the friends of the Coajutor had rais'd new tumults in his behalf nevertheless the Cardinal resolv'd to accept of the Conditions offered him Being brought therefore from the Castle of Vincennes he was delivered into the hands of the Mareschal de la Melleray who convey'd him to Nantes where he was to remain till the Articles agreed on were accomplished after which he was to be sent to Rome and money given him for his Voiage and subsistence there but he making his escape from Nantes all things were disordered again as we shall relate in its proper place In the mean time the enemies of Mazarine seeing their Artifices and Cabals to ruine him ineffectual they began to plot and contrive how to take away his life It was divulged that the Prince of Condy had a hand in this business upon a suspicion that the Cardinal had attempted his life It is most certain as was afterwards made manifest that neither the one nor the other were true but that all was plotted and designed by the malice of the common enemies One Recous and Bertau were gain'd and perswaded to do the deed who being resolv'd upon the Enterprize they began to frequent the Louvre and to watch for a place and time to put their design in execution it hapned that Letters were accidentally intercepted which gave such discoveries as were sufficient to cause them to be apprehended upon which they freely declar'd their resolution to have stabb'd the Cardinal with a knife as he was coming down as he was accustomed every night from the Kings Apartment by certain private and strait stairs They were according to their deserts condemn'd to be broken upon the wheel the 11th of October in Paris near the Bastile in the great street of St. Anthony The Cardinal according to the gentleness of his nature and as a true Prince of the Church abhoring such bloody spectacles interceded very earnestly for their Pardon and had certainly obtain'd it if
d' Estrades Ingaged to muster up all the Seamen that were able to bear Arms and put them on the Ships But as they were Executing the Duke of Vandosm's Orders to conduct them on on a sudden the Spanish Fleet was discover'd under Sail standing towards Blay and advanc'd as far as Paulliac not as formerly five or six in Company to fetch fresh water but the whole Body of their Navy in appearance to fall upon the French at a time when the Duke of Vandosme had withdrawn his Troops into Xaintoigne to ease the Countrey about Bourdeaux But being called back again in great haste and advancing some Regiments to put aboard the Ships the Spaniard retired to the Foss of Verdun The Duke of Vandosme had taken a view of the Spanish Fleet the 26. of September and sent Sir George Carteret to inform himself more particularly of their condition who found they were 28 vast and stout Galeons but by some which had been taken prisoners in the Island of Patiras he understood they were much infested with the Scurvey which is a disease that eats up the Gumms Nevertheless they landed some men at St. Surin de Cadurna in Medoc and burnt some few houses before the Kings troops were in a condition to repulse them or accost them with their Cannon As Vandosme was preparing to engage them and had sent several Galeots to Saint Surin de Mortagne and to Mortagne it self to take in some corn the Count Marsin arriving at the Spanish Fleet had a design on that place and accordingly landed about 3000 men surprized the ten Galeots sent thither to furnish themselves with corn for the necessities of the Army and Fleet forc'd the Castle and pillag'd some houses but apprehending lest the Marquess of Breval Mareschal de Camp should fall upon him with the Regiment of Normandy which was quartered hard by he aabandon'd the Post he had taken and if Breval had had but the least number of Horse to have cut off the passage from the Spaniards who had no Horse at all and were laden with booty he had undoubtedly defeated them Marsin made some barricadoes in a Meadow which extends it self to the River having on one side the Canale de Mortagne to shelter that flanck and on the other his own men which he drew into Battalia He sustein'd the skirmish vigorously embark't all the plunder of that miserable Country losing nevertheless some few men in his retreat which the Regiment of Normandy fell upon as they found their Number lessen upon the Shoar In the mean time the Count de Estrades had got together about Rochel and Browages and other places belonging to his Government some 1200. Mariners which he put aboard French vessels and sent them away without delay to joyn with the Duke of Vandosme The Duke being gone on board the Admiral and all his men embarkt the set Sail resolving to give them Battel but the Spaniards surprized with this unexpected resolution set fire on certain small Vessels and with the favour of the wind retired The Duke followed them out of the mouth of the River where he saw them divide their Fleet into two Squadrons one of them making towards Biscay and the other towards Dunkirk The Duke went on shore at Royan and whilst he stayed there to receive more certain news of the enemies Fleet the San-Salvatore Vice-Admiral of Spain which came from Saint Sebastian together with another small Ship both of them laden with Victuals and other Provisions for the Fleet entred into the River not knowing they was departed and were so far engaged amongst the French Ships before they were aware that after some small opposition against the Ship called the Berger they were forc'd to strike Sail and surrender In the Vice-Admiral there were 40 Peeces of Cannon in the other Vessel 700 Marriners and a Months Provision for the whole Armada After this Prize the French Navy retired into the River Sudra and the Duke of Vandosme went away to Court The Count d' Estrades for his great merits was declar'd Major of Bourdeaux an Office of great honour and importance and the Principal in all that Town signifying as much as the Head or chief Governour of the City which Office is so considerable that it was formerly enjoy'd by the Sieurs de Mattignon d' Ornano and de Roquelaure Mareschals of France In this manner the disturbances at Bourdeaux were composed But whilst these inhabitants were enjoying the fruits of the peace which had bin granted them by his Majesties clemency the Plague breaking out in that City interrupted their liberty and their Trade the Countrey round about was so sorely visited that it remain'd almost depopulate The Deputies of Bourdeaux being arrived at Court which was at that time it Chalons in Champagne were received by their Majesties with such demonstrations of clemency and affection that the guilt of their past errors was quite forgot and gave them confidence to expect even the favour of the Kings bounty The Parliament of Guienne who had removed themselves to Reole receiving the Provisions of the Government of Limousin granted by his Majesty to the Mareschal Turenne who with his Valour and Counsels maintain'd the Frontiers against the strongest efforts of the enemie encamping always so as to be ready upon the least motion of the Prince of Condy who though he was retired to give his Army refreshment yet not without thoughts of returning into the Field again and take up at least his Winter-quarters in France The Cardinal finding by the reduction of Guienne the Kings Army 's free from a most powerful diversion in those parts and being able thereby to apply himself with the whole Army to check the bold designes of the Prince of Condy and ruine his reputation in France He call'd the Generals of the Armies together in his Abbey at Laon to a Councel of War and propos'd to them that before they went to their Winter-Quarters to attempt some new Enterprize and if possible to take from the Prince of Condy the Town of Saint Menehaud which having a strong Garrison in it infested all the Neighbouring Country and forc'd not only the Villages and open places but the walled and strong Townes to pay them very large contribution The Judgment of the Major part of the Officers was not to ingage in any new Enterprize that year for that the Spaniards though much weakned by the siege of Rocroy might recruit themselves and returning with considerable forces either raise their siege to the great diâ—reputation of the French Arms or by some other diversion recompence the loss they should sustein and perhaps to double the value The Cardinal oppos'd this opinion and made it appear that with the Army of the two Mareschals Turenne and la Fertè Seneterre they might oppose the Spaniards and the Prince of Conde and in the mean time with the Kings Guards and some other few Troops block up St. Menehaud till the forces from Guienne and certain
is despised As an example they alledged Cardinal Richlieu who by his extravigant greatness was become so odious to Lewis the 13th that without doubt had they lived longer together that Minister must of necessity have fallen That it would be better therfore to settle his Alliance further off to secure a retreat if any accident should happen without exposing himself to the inconstancy of that Nation who are friends to none but their own fortune But the Cardinal esteeming the advantage to be reciprocal his inclination to his own interest prevail'd above all other Advice so that the Contract was at last agreed on and the Marriage concluded by their Majesties to whose determination the Cardinal left the whole disposure of that Affair submitting his will to their pleasure as he said he had sacrificed all the rest of his faculties to their service but the consummation was put off because the Prince was unwilling to be present in the Parliament of Paris whilst they were forming a Process of High Treason against his Brother the Prince of Condy. He obtein'd therefore to protract his coming to the Court till the latter end of the Carnevale about which time he arrived and was received with all applause and satisfaction imaginable The first Saturday in Lent the Ceremony of touching the hand and signing the Articles of Marriage was perform'd The Princess had a Dowry of 200000 Crowns given her by her Uncle and 50000 by the Kings bounty besides a Pension to the Prince equivalent to his Ecclesiastical Revenue which he resign'd into his Majesties hands after this followed the Espousals and the Nuptials which were honoured by the continual Presence of their Majesties the Duke of Anjou and all the Princes and great Lords of the Court where there was not any one found so stimulated with envy or overwhelm'd with rancour no mind so enraged or corrupted that durst cavil at this Alliance since the deserts of the Uncle towards the Crown were unparallel'd and the Beauty of the Bride such an entire Compendium of the most conspicuous qualities in a woman which were able to excite the praises and commendations of the greatest Emulators and Detractors The Queen her self would needs do her the honour to see her in bed by which incomparable Civility her Majesty made appear how much she was pleased with this Wedding The King afterwards made a Present to the new married Prince of all the Estate and Offices belonging to his Brother the Prince of Condy but he out of an exemplary Grandeur of mind refused that grace as despising the riches which came from that spoil To express the content and joy every one conceiv'd for the reuniting this Branch to the Royal Stock The days following were spent in Balls Feasting Musick and other Recreations and Divertisements becoming a Royal and Majestick Court as is that of the most Christian King The HISTORY of the Managements of CARDINAL MAZARINE Lib. II. Part III WHilst Paris was thus full of joy and festivity at Brussels all was in sadness and confusion for the Imprisonment of Duke Charles of Lorrain who was Arrested Prisoner in that City as shall be related in the ensuing Narrative The Spanish Troops were retiring into their Winter-quarters and the Count de Fuensaldagna considering that by reason of the Numbers of great Officers and the Generals of the three Armies it would be impossible to quarter them all in the Low Countreys he treated with the Duke of Lorrain and paid him a sum of money upon condition he would quarter his Troops and some of the Prince of Condy's out of the Countreys belonging to his most Catholick Majesty as he was accustomed to do at other times under pretence of being General of the Empire by which he made bold with several Neutral Countreys in those Provinces and other Principalities of the Empire as were most expos'd to that inconvenience The Duke began to take up his quarters accordingly and about the middle of Winter marched with his Army into the Countrey of Liege pretending the Elector of Colen had given Sanctuary to Cardinal Mazarine in his State permitting him to make levies there and giving him other assistances against the Prince of Condy. The Elector desir'd help of the King of France against the Troops of the Prince and take Duke Immediately Orders were sent to Faber the Governour of Sedan to draw a Body of an Army together and march to the assistance of the Elector He executed the Orders with all possible expedition marching with the French Troops directly towards Liege The Duke of Lorrain so soon as he had notice hereof in stead of meeting and engaging them as he might easily have done being much stronger then Faber retired into the Territories of the King of Spain took up quarters there for his men and came himself to Brussels The proximity of these Troops of the enemie being as it were in the heart of the Countrey and the Dukes retreat without attempting in the least to oppose them The various Advices they received from several parts that what was acted by the Duke of Lorrain was done by private Intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine gave no small trouble to the Arch-Duke and the Count of Fuensaldagne and so much the more because these Advertisements did quadrate with the Treaty the Duke made with the King of France near Paris deserting the Princes in their greatest need With the withdrawing of his Troops from the siege of Rocroy with the Negotiations which were lately discover'd he had held with the Crown of Swedeland and other Princes to hinder the New Election of the King of the Romans hoping himself by the help of his money and the assistance of the King of France and the Protestant Princes in Germany to be able to pretend to that dignity This jealousie was not a little fomented by the strait correspondence he held at that time with the Elector Palatines Family with the Swedes and with other Princes of Germany to whom he had sent Ronselot his Secretary having sent likewise for the Prince Palatine of Sultzbach in the place of his Brother killed at the battel of Rhetel with design to marry him to his daughter By the displeasure he expressâ—d for the assistance granted to the Prince of Condy by whose Treaty with the Court of Spain he pretended to be very much prejudiced by reason that all the acquisitions made in France being to be deliver'd into his hands there remain'd no place in the power of the Spaniards to exchange afterward for those of Lorrain at the General Peace He began therefore to doubt that the bare Protection of Spain would not be sufficient to restore him to the Sovereignty of his Dominions This was one of the principal Reasons that renewed in the Duke the ancient emulation betwixt the Houses of Lorrain and Bourbon not being able to endure that the Prince of Condy should be Master not only of Stenay Clermont and other places belonging to Lorrain but of the Conquests