as to see what was most expedient to be done in this wavering condition of the inconstant people and tired out by the long continuance of these disturbances Mareschal Turenne a no less prudent then valiant Captain stood always vigilant to observe those moments which opportunely taken bring great advantage to those who know how to make use of them in Warre and being advertised of all that past after a short Conference with his Colleague the Mareshal de la Ferte Seneterre he resolved to get out of these streights and bring his Army into a securer place and more proper for their subsistence Having caused therefore the Baggage and Artillery to pass over the Sene October 4. in the night upon the Bridges of Boats which he had there at break of day he discamped with such order and silence that the Army was got over before they were discovered by the Enemies Sentinels There was no other General-Commander left in the other Camp but the Count de Tavannes who perceiving though late the March of Turenne caused presently to sound to Horse and put his Army in order to follow him and fight him But the Mareschal continuing his march under covert of the River quickly arrived at Corbeil a place held by the King where passing the Sene over the Stone-bridge very happily and to his great reputation he withdrew himself from all danger and encamped upon the River Marne between Meaux and Lagny getting provisions for his Army from all the neighbouring Country and observing the motion of the Enemy with so much advantage to His Majesties Interest that this action becoming a great and experienced Commander was acknowledged to be the saving of the Kings Party and one of the most celebrated acts of this Prince and true Master of the art of War This blow brought extraordinary confusion and astonishment to the Princes particularly to the Prince of Condé who shewed himself very much grieved at the negligence of his Officers reproching Tavannes as if he had lost his sense of Hearing saying If he had been well so favourable an occasion should never have escaped his hands but there being no help for things past and Fortune changing being weary of staying in the midst of Confusion and so many different Humours upon the 7th following the whole Army of the Princes drew up at the end of the Suburbs of S. Anthony and encamped near to the Castle of Vincennes to keep Paris in awe The King and Court were already come to Mantes to pass the Sene the Bridges of Poissy and Meulan being broken down and so to go forwards to S. Germain with intent to enter into Paris when Affairs should be brought to that pass to which they seemed to tend every day more and more The Parisiens were resolved to free themselves of these miseries before they were irrecoverable Wherefore following one anothers example and concurring in the same mind as Fortune abandon'd the Princes so they inclin'd more and more to the Kings side The Prince of Conde therefore perceiving that the tempest which threatned him was near at hand and began to provide for his own safety his Armies by withdrawing with all speed from Paris And because by his departure and the Kings return they foresaw the quiet of Paris and the recalling of Mazarine many strove to second the rising fortune of that Minister of State and even among the Princes own friends upon this turn of Fortune some changed their inclinations and in particular the Count de Chavigny Ever since the Cardinals return into France he had thoughts of closing with him considering that if his Enemies were not able to ruine him at a distance they would be less able to do it when he should appear at Court and be Master of all affairs Besides at this time the Coadjutor was made Cardinal his capital Enemy who might he feared be made chief Minister if Mazarine was kept out He resolved therefore to come to an agreement with Mazarine so as to oblige him and that his Authority might be limited He entered therefore upon a secret Treaty for adjusting the Prince with the Cardinal and replacing of Conde there seeming an apparent necessity of making use of him and that he might live quietly at Court they would find means that he should not only preserve his Fortune but increase it But as it is not always easie to walk streight between two Praecipices so in the end he found himself deceived in his Maxims on the one side while he thought himself secure on the other for whether it was that he was resolved to forsake the Prince as he was accused that he was not Loyal to his Interests or whether he would have necessitated him to make peace by persuading him that the Duke of Orleans would otherwise conclude it without him or whether indeed he preferred his own and the Courts Interest before the Princes he made the Abbot Fouquet believe to whom the Cardinal committed the management of this affair that if the Prince did not conclude the peace upon those terms which he thought reasonable he would so order it that the Duke of Orleans should quit his Party The Letter which Fouquet wrote to the Secretary Tillier to inform him of this was taken by one of the Prince's party and presently delivered into his hands who perceiving that his confidence was misplaced in Chavigny complain'd of it to persons who were not much Chavigny's Friends and that in terms injurious to his Reputation yet would not openly fall out with him The noise of this being divulged about Paris and increased by the malice of those who were engaged in the same disorders obliged Chavigny to justifie himself to the Prince at a Conference held between them from whence he came out so mortified and concerned for having dealt with a Prince after this manner from whom he had received such high Honours that returning to his house he threw himself in despair upon his bed and after a Feaver of six days encreased by the passions of his mind he died the 19th of October This was the end of Lion de Bouttilier Count de Chavigny in the 44th year of his age a person who for being related to the deceased Cardinal Richlieu was admitted into His Majesty's Council at 19 years old at 24 he was made Secretary of State and at 34 Minister of State had the care of the most important affairs of the Crown and after the death of Lewis XIII he was nominated Plenipotentiary for the Treaty of Munster a person of a quick Wit a haughty Spirit of a ready Judgment and covetous of Glory and Greatness to procure which he spared no Industry In the mean time the Parlement and the Assemblies at the Town-house met often upon the occurrent emergencies where all the well-wishers to the publick thought themselves obliged to deliver the poor Country people from the insolencies of the Souldiery and especially of the Lorrainers who destroyed and wasted every thing Upon
to his Brother the Bishop of Lombes At the same time another Frier called Lande by the means of a Gentlewoman named Laure attempted to gain Colonel Marché who hearkned to the sollicitations of the Friars brother and communicated his design to the said Widow which was to make use of an hundred light horse which he commanded in the City to deliver up a Gate to the Duke of Candale desiring this Window to write him the design and to instruct him the most proper means to execute it This Plot was also communicated to the Jurate Robert But in the end Colonel Marché himself discovered it to Marsin and after a few days Lande revealed it to the Prince of Conty whereupon the Gentlewoman was imprisoned and examined a long while in the Presence of Lande and maintained to his face that he was the Author of all this accusing him of infidelity and treacherousness whereupon he was laid hold on and banished from the Olmiera and the Widow sent back to her Countrey-house In the mean-while the City of Monsegur wherein the Regiment of the Marquess of Monpouillon lay in Garrison was surrendred to the Royallists and the Officers pretending that two thousand Pistols were due to them put themselves into His Majesties service imprisoned the Commissary and took from him a good summe of money which he had levied on the people thereabouts but they sent him free afterwards with some Officers belonging to Marsin who at the same time with the Princes Troops besieged St. Ferme a small Town near by This was a Prelude to the fall of the Princes party being forsaken by their best Troops in a time when they had most need of them not contented to take pains continually for so small profit the hopes of those rewards daily declining which the Princes promised them to soften the labours and sufferances of those of their party Divers other Accidents hapned which rendred this party still more infirm which having no other foundation then the imagination of becoming more happy by the change of fortune in stead of meeting with their desired relief they encountred the most unexpected misfortunes A certain Engineer called Larsigne was imprisoned and 3500 Pistols taken from him set him in the Pillory and banished under pretence that he wrote to Paris the News of what hapned in Bourdeaux They arrested a vessel also and confiscated twenty five thousand Crowns which belonged to Dutch Merchants for corn sold in that City and were carrying to Rochelle declaring it to be counterband goods with these and the like proceedings the foreign Merchants and the better sort of Citizens themselves were sensibly touched and exasperated seeing that without shame or conscience they exempted none from barbarous and unjust punishments The Duke of Vandosme appeared with his Fleet in the Garonne at the beginning of February and presently began to build a Fort in the Isle of Cazaux situated in the middle of the River and therefore of great consequence and which gave no small trouble to the inhabitants of Bourdeaux amongst whom there being many that were affected to the Kings party it behoved the rest to be vigilant against surprises and stratagemms which were easie to be put in practice in such Conjunctures The Curate of St. Peters having exhorted his Parishioners in a publick Sermon to shake off the yoke of their servitude and to withdraw themselves from under the Authothority unlawfully usurped by that wicked counsel of the Olmiere he was taken and put in prison but the people of that parish who were very affectionate to him beginning to rise they were forced to let him go and escape away for fear some greater mischief might follow for those who are admitted to preach the Word of God have great power over the people when they denounce to them peace and quietness for the same cause were banished also the Curates of St. Simon and St. Remi with the Prior and Guardian of the Capucines and the Dominicans divers Counsellors of the Parliament and some Citizens who were contented rather to undergo any persecution then to follow a Faction directly contrary to the service of the King so that the Parliament being at that time by the Advice of Mazarine removed to Agen that at Bourdeaux was so weakned that there remained no more then nine Counsellors and some of them so confused and fearful that they knew not what to resolve on The Parliament at Agen beginning to assemble on the third of March the Sieur de la Lane Second President presided at the opening of the Parliament in the Presence of the Duke of Candale and the Bishop of Agen the Sieur de Pontac President of the Treasurers of France came thither with divers other well-affected persons But in Bourdeaux the suspitions of some new Conspiracy being revived all possible diligence was used to interrupt it and to maintain the Princes Concerns in their vigour Proclamation was made that all strangers who were found in the City without employ should presently depart All Inne-keepers Taverners and those who let lodgings were prohibited to receive any one without express order and billet from the Magistrate appointed for that purpose Meetings were forbidden and going about in the night after such an houre and every where they kept vigilant Guards to watch all surprizes especially because the Neighboring Towns and Provinces were every day more and more incumbred with Souldiers and people of the Kings party And because that by the taking of Sarlaet Sallagnac Terrason and other walled Towns of Perigord by the Princes Troops the Souldiery over-ran all the Countrey to the great damage of that Province The Marquess of Pompodor Lieutenant of the Province of Limosin gathering together some of the Kings Troops and divers Gentlemen encountred the enemies near to the Village St. Robert in the County of Agen defeated and destroyed them and so delivered the Countrey from the continual molestation of these Souldiers who were the more licentious by reason they wanted their pay and were dissatisfied with the Princes themselves whom they served The Town of Montignac maintaining it self in its due obedience to the King did incommodate all they could the Princes forces who lost the Castle of Surin and other places which either rendred voluntarily or were gained by the force of Armes whereby those of their party being reduced to streight termes the greater part of them were perswaded by others example to return to their due obedience To these favourable events in Guienne seconded by other prosperous successes of the Kings party was added the engagement upon the 28. of February in the Narrow Seas between the English and Hollanders each party glorying to have had the advantage but seeing there was no great difference in the loss of Vessels the Victory remained undecided so that the English being busied in this new Warre they were not in a posture to embrace those resolutions which if they had been free they might have taken to encourage the seditious in Bourdeaux and
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
Dance and not only disposed the mindes of the Inhabitants but observing what pass'd gave intelligence to Father Bertaut who follow'd the business whilst Ythier was sick Besides this another private Treaty was set on Foot with the Irish of that Garrison But the Governour not fully confiding in that Nation disgusted with those that had ordered them thither and not satisfied with those that had receiv'd them kept so vigilant an eye over them that having a suspition of some design he caus'd their Officers to be secur'd and disperst the Soldiers amongst his own companies he most trusted The Duke of Candale who was too Generous to approve of a victory obtain'd by Circumvention or treachery could not endure any such dishonorable ways but resolv'd to besiedge that City and reduce it with his Sword in his hand according to the more Glorious methods of War He had already caus'd the Artillery to be embarqu'd and dispatch'd the Marquess de Sovebeuf with part of his Troops commanded by the Marquess de Cavillac and the Count de St. Germain to invest it But the Citizens knowing how prejudicial it would be to expect a formal Siedge resolv'd after the example of the Bourdelots to betake themselves to their Arms and force the Guard of the Gates out of the hands of the Garrison The Governour having notice of their design and being at that time in Treaty about leaving the Countrey upon condition he might be permitted to march with his Troops to the Prince of Condy his Master he drew up all his men immediatly in the great Market-place and his head being a little hot with wine having been at a Wedding-dinner he went haftily accompanied only with his Page and one of the Consuls of the City to the house of Budan the Kings Attourney to demand the reason how they curst hold such private Assemblies without his cognizance and permission when he came there they repuls'd him very rudely and told him there was no such Assembly but he pressing on to enter by force some of the Attourneys friends discharg'd their Firelocks upon him so that he fell down dead in the place upon which the Inhabitants taking heart they issued into the streets arm'd crying out Viva il Ré e la Pace Long live the King and the Peace and dragging his body about in a most barbarous manner The Soldiers were in no small confusion upon this accident the Officers could not keep them together nor oppose them against the fury of the people they running from their colours some one way some another insomuch that the City remain'd entirely in the Citizens hands without further obstacle who immediately dispatch'd a Messenger to the Marquess de la Douze to desire a Passport for their Deputies to wait upon the Duke of Candale from whom they desired the benefit of the Amnesty and to return to their obedience to his Majesty as they accordingly did one of the most seditious amongst them being hang'd up several others banish'd and the Officers and Captains of the Quarters chang'd Villeneuf d' Agenois proud that they had resisted the Count de Harcourt and defeated his attempts emulating the fury of the Olmiera of Bourdeaux and in imitation of those inhabitants they listed several Companies boasting to defend their liberty To suppress their insolence the Kings forces under the Command of the Marquess d' Aubeterre approach'd the Town at the time when their grain being ripe with which that place does exceedingly abound the Inhabitants were preparing for Harvest so that the Citizens foreseeing the loss of their Revenues and that they could not live happily being deprived of their estates they preferr'd the fear of misery before the ambition of liberty and sent Deputies to the Prince of Conty supplicating him to send them succour or make their Peace But Bourdeaux having already capitulated and the Prince of Conty laid down his Arms and retir'd to Cadillac they began to treat with the Conte de Vaillac and afterwards with the Duke of Candale who sent thither la Ribere a Counsellour of State and Commissary of his Army with whom their Amnesty was concluded upon condition that their walls should be pull'd down their fortifications demolished and the Citizens who had bin too busie and pragmatical to pay 4000 Pistols besides to deliver 20 persons prisoners to be dispos'd of as the Duke pleas'd two of which were hang'd presently Dureteste also arrested by Order from the Count d' Estrade was executed at the same time Whilst the Duke of Vandosme and Candale were proceeding with great sweetness and Moderation towards the settlement of Affairs in Bourdeaux they omitted not to watch over the Actions of some perfidious persons who became more savage and brutal by how much the Generals repleat with all vertue used them with more then ordinary kindness and courtesie Sir George Cartret an English-man had intelligence that one Edwards sent by the Parliament of England lay privately in a certain place in the Town blowing up the coals of Rebellion which were not quite extinct but lay still glowing in the hearts of some seditious people About the same time a small Felucca was taken casually with Letters from Lenet to the said Edwards inviting him to a Counsel which was to be held aboard the Spanish Admiral Two Citizens of Bourdeaux were apprehended likewise with Letters from the said Lenet to several persons in the Town and particularly to certain Ladies By all these Discoveries it being sufficiently clear their design was to reunite with the Spaniards and to revive the hopes of the Frondeurs which were not yet quite extinguish'd the Dukes were more vigilant then before and applied themselves with all imagineable diligence to find out fit remedies for these wounds which were not yet well closed After the Procession of the 15. of August Espagnet was imprisoned and sent with a good Guard to the Castle of Angoulesme Passports were given to several persons suspected to contrive new troubles to remove elsewhere among which were the Counsellors du Duke de Manvesin and la Chese Some Troops were commanded towards Merau to be imbark'd if need were in the Kings Ships in order to the ingaging of the Spanish Fleet which was then at Anchor within sight of Royan a small Town but of great strength and importance having Xaintonge on its right hand and the Country of Medoc on its left Other Souldiers were sent into Xaintonge where the whole Countrey was in Armes apprehending the landing of the Spaniards in those parts And all Inconveniences were with such diligence prevented by the order of Mazarine that the Rebellion could by no wayes take Footing again nor disturb the peace and tranquillity of the Bourdelots Who being grown wise at their owne cost had found that the worth and excellency of good Orders is not to be discern'd without a sence and experience of disorders The HISTORY of the Managements of CARDINAL MAZARINE Part II. Lib. II. AFfairs going on in this manner in Guienne
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
Leonora whom she had sent Post with all possible diligence to the end he might in her behalf and in the name of the Emperess Regnant superintend the said Treaty was arrived and at that time present in the Court. Whereupon the Duke having communicated the aforesaid Propositions with him he replied That his Highness's Aunt and her Sister would have no small reason to complain if after his Catholick Majesty had pass't his Royal word that all things should always be maintained in the free disposition of his Highness and they received that Promise as a great Obligation he should have recourse to other persons for the subsistence of his Troops and demonstrate so little faith and confidence in his Majesty whose interest it was to conserve his Famil◠and his Estate To this Coexens added That it would be taken ill from his Highness if while he received Investiture for Montferrat from his Imperial Majesty he should receive into the places depending upon it either Garrison or money from any other Prince without the Privity and Consent of the said Emperour and the rather because the aforesaid Emperesses his Aunt and her Sister were his Sureties in that Affair At length all the Dukes Answers were reduc'd to one Point which was this That if the Estates which were taken from him and possest by the House of Savoy were restored and all the rents which belong'd to them he should be able without assistance from any person to secure and preserve those places himself But Monsieur du Plessis who foresaw that would be the most ready and the most proper Answer could be given was not however satisfy'd with his Answer though as the Duke told him he doubted not but upon a prudent and serious reflexion he would approve it and according to his accustomed courtesie represent it to the King adding a thousand Professions of the Obsequiousness and Devotion he intended always to preserve for his Majestie Du Plessis was not at all satisfied with his Answers and therefore finding his Propositions desperate having received many honours and demonstration of esteem as to his person but refus'd the Presents which the Duke out of his Generosity design'd for him departing from Casal he return'd to Turin from whence he gave the King an account of his Negotiation From Turin he was conducted to Genoa here he transacted with that state to their mutual satisfaction from thence he went to Parma and Modena and having managed his Affairs there with the same good success he arrived at Venice the 24. of July The substance of his Negotiation was to let the Princes of Italy know of what importance it was to them to have Pignerol conserved in the hands of the French That the Treaty of Chirasco should be observ'd and that satisfaction should be given to His most Christian Majesty by the Duke of Mantua in reference to the Affair of Casal to prevent those disorders which would be pernicious to the quiet and liberty of Italy if his most Christian Majesty should be constrain'd to transport his Arms into the very heart of Lombardy as without their compliance he would be necessitated to do The Mareschal Turenne was confirm'd in the Command of his Army against the Spaniards in Flanders for his Lieutenant-Generals he had deputed the Marquess de Uxelles the Count de Beaujeu the Sieurs de Castelneau and de Sant Maur all brave persons of great experience and renown There were designed likewise 7500 Horse and Foot for Rossiglion and Catalonia under the Command of Mareschal Hoqiuncourt and at last after several Negotiations by the intercession of the Bishop of Xaintes he prevail'd upon the Count de Ognon to resign the Governments of the Countrey of Aunis the Isles of Oleron and Rhe and the strong Town of Brouages which he held as the Queens Lieutenant-General upon the paying him 3000 Francs and delivering a Patent to be Duke Pair and Mareschal of France The Reasons upon which this person was brought to this resignation was this That not being able to stand upon his own legs he must have been constrained to have thrown himself under the Protection of Spain or of England or return to his obedience to his Majesty so that foreseeing discreetly he should at last become a prey to those who had undertaken his defence and considering that it is the property of a wise man to prevent other people and not attend till they be circumvented themselves and to return with security to his own Countrey and obedience to his natural Sovereign rather then plunge his Name and Family in perpetual Infamy he resolv'd to surrender all into His Majesties hands The Lieutenancy of all these Governments was confirm'd upon Monsiëur d' Estrades a Person of tried integrity and experience The Lieutenancy of Brouage was given to Monsieur Champfleury that of Oleron to Monsieur de St. Leonard the Fort of Preda in the Isle of Rhe to the Sieur de Louches and the Towers of Rochel to Sieur de Aunais all four the Cardinals Confidents with whose contrivances Fortune very courteously corresponding by his success and his wisdom together he managed things so well the effects still rendred his Actions most commendable and glorious Mazarine was in the mean time contriving all ways most probable to reduce the minds of the discontented by gentle rather then by violent means he heaped up great Treasures of money for the payment of the Souldiers and for the carrying on of the War The Recruits of the old Troops and the Levies of new were not small nor difficult in respect that the reputation of the Cardinal among the Souldiers prevail'd over any interest whatever they applying themselves with effectual diligence to such ways as might render them grateful and enable them to merit his favour which was so exceedingly desired by them all and this was the cause that by their fidelity and assistance he undertook such Enterprizes and succeeded contrary to the opinions of those who were emulous of his honour The principal design of the Cardinal was to calm all intestine Agitations and reunite the distracted minds of the French and considering that restoring France to its former Amity and Obsequiousness to its King there would be no further apprehension of any Foreign Power he addrest himself therefore with the utmost of his industry and his Arms to reduce Guienne to its duty not omitting what correspondences he could make with the inhabitants of the Town of Bourdeaux with several of which he treated to that purpose In the mean time he gave peremptory Orders that the River called the Garonne which passes by that City should be stopt up to the end that perceiving all succour excluded all Commerce intercepted and the Kings Army encompassing the Town they might be terrifi'd into a surrender without the hazard of fighting The Duke of Vendosme with his Fleet possest himself of the Passes upon the River and by building of Forts in places of most importance and with his Forces by land
for the future in the maintenance and support of the Condean Party But the Count d' Ognon's Accommodation with the King of France did not a little startle Don Lewis de Haro and the rest of the Grandees of the Council the foundation they had laid upon the fidelity of this Cavalier who had franckly undertaken the defence of Guienne being taken away and no grounds left for any future resolution by reason of the inconstancy of the French who would promise the highest fidelity one day and the next day leave them in the lurch So that the Kings party increasing hourly in those parts and the Princes growing every day weaker their apprehensions could not but be very great nevertheless in this very Exigence the Court of Spain fail'd not to send their Orders to suggest their Counsels to transmit Men and Money as far as the utmost of their power and ability would extend Not long after the Baron Batteville represented to the Court the difficulty of getting in to the Garonne unless he were reinforc'd with a much stronger Squadron of Ships Twenty thousand Crowns were immediatly dispatch'd to him with new Orders to ship himself upon the aforesaid six Men of war and to put 500 Irish into Bordeaux But affairs changing daily their face it was necessary to change Counsels as often and Batteuille being unable to execute them without further supplies their Commands were received oftner then put in execution After this the Marquess of Lusignan was dispatch'd in great haste from Bordeaux to Madrid where he Arrived in May. The pretence of this Embassy was to complement his Catholick Majestie upon the recovery of the Queen who had had the small Pox with great danger of her life besides the King himself had been ill five or six days of a Feaver But the intrinsick reason was the soliciting for fresh forces in respect the French had made themselves Masters of the Garonne and fortified it so that it would be no easy matter to remove them and by consequence the Kings Army increasing without interruption as it did it must needs follow that Bourdeaux must be lost Lusignan had many fair Promises 200000 Crowns were deliver'd to him and the Dispatches for the Ships from Port de Passage consigned to him Not long after that design being look'd upon as impossible Battiville had new Instructions if it were possible to get into Bourdeaux by the Lake of Arcazon with all imaginable diligence to keep that people in their fidelity and support as much as in him lay the drooping spirits of the Prince of Conty and the rest of the Officers in his Party He had Orders moreover to propose three things to them viz. Whether they would have the Spanish Fleet force its way up the River Garonne and fight them Whether they would have them clap before the Mouth of the River and lie there Or whether they thought it not more convenient for them to cruse along the Coasts of Britain and Normandy and by alarming them in those parts give them a diversion in Guienne Nine hundred more Irish were dispatch'd into Guienne and Letters sent Post to the Arch-Duke and the Ministers in Flanders that they should take the Field with all Expedition that they should supply the Prince of Condy with 200000 Crowns mere for the reinforcement of his Troops to put him into a Condition to march immediatly for France The Spaniard considering that Mazarine being in all likelihood thereby constrained to draw down what force he could make against that Invasion would not be able to pursue his Enterprizes against Guienne but by consequence give them opportunity to make Provisions for the defence of that Province But neither in this could the Spaniard compass his design for the Ship which carried the 300000 Crowns into Flanders to hasten that Affair falling unluckily into the hands of the English they made no scruple to to seize upon it though the King of Spain was at that time in Amity with that Nation and to stop the Ship likewise for some time it being a Dutch bottom Nor was this Miscarriage to be imputed to the negligence of the Ministers but to the uncertainty of humane accidents which many times run counter though managed and contrived by the best Counsels in the World Besides these sums 30000 Pistols more were sent to the Fleet with express Orders to Batteville to try all ways of introducing himself into the Garonne and open a Passage into the Town to which end and no other that sum was intended At the same time the Count de Fiesco and several other persons went also into Spain to represent the necessities of those parts and to sollicit for relief But some are of opinion the chief end of these journeys was to receive Presents and Gratuities which the King of Spain distributed very liberally to all French-men that came to his Court so that many pretended to joyn with him more to be nibling at his money then out of any true service they intended him and it is believ'd that if the money he in this manner distributed among the French-men were fairly computed it would appear sufficient to have conquered a whole Kingdom and yet either by their treachery or inexperience all these vast sums were utterly lost and these great preparations become entirely ineffectual In the mean time the Duke of Vandosme was employ'd in hastening the building of Caesars Fort upon the Garonne as likewise another in the Countrey betwixt the two Seas beginning above Vallier before the house of Alinet who considering of what importance it would be to interrupt the Communication betwixt the several Posts belonging to the Prince and the Town of Bordeaux if he could possess himself of Lermont which was situate exactly upon the mouth of the River and Garrison'd by 500 Irish under the Command of Colonel Dillon On the 26. of May he caused the Tertia's of Moasieur Milleray and Normandy to be drawn out and ship'd in such Galleys and Brigantines as he had ready under the Command of the Chevalier d' Albret his Camp-Master who with others being embark'd they sally'd forth by the favour of the Tyde against the Galliots which lay under that place Being arriv'd there disbarqu't the Count of Comminges the Lieutenant General the two Brothers the Count and Baron of Montesson the Baron of Croix Camp-Master and Sir George Carteret who as they say perswaded the Governour of the place to take up Arms with his whole Party for the King of France They agreed upon the paiment of 7500 Franks to deliver up the Town and it was done accordingly for the Irish Soldiers being much discontented and looking upon themselves as sold to the Spaniards like so many slaves did not hold themselvs oblig'd to them by any faith or duty in the world The rest indeed had followed their Example out of a temple they had taken up that they could not in conscience serve the Spaniard because of the League and Amity at that
that Province and was assured from them they had no intention not thought of breaking their Neutrality Being encourag'd likewise by the Burgundians who to draw the thorn out of their own foot had undertaken to provide them money and all necessary Provisions for that Enterprize the Duke past the Soan at Saint Jo. de Losne the Marquess of Uxelles marched from Challons to Verdun with what souldiers he could draw out of the adjacent Garrisons which being rendezvouz'd amounted in all to about 4000 men under the Command of the said Uxelles and Roncelleres both of them Lieutenant-Generals On the 19. of May the Duke of Espernon possest himself of the Posts of Chamblanc and Pavy whilst the other took their stations at Caselles and Saint George and beginning their intrenchments they approach'd with their Artillery battering it in two several places and a while after on the other side of the River where the Sieur de St. Quintin placed himself with 400 Musquetiers The Besieged defended themselves couragiously and by frequent Sallies endeavor'd to interrupt the advancement of the Royallists towards the Foss But Roncelleres having got as far as the Counterscarp diverted the water and fill'd up the Ditch with Bavins and Timber he began a Mine under the Bulwark towards the River Batteville despairing of relief and in no condition to defend himself long signified to the Duke that amongst Christians it was never the Custom to proceed to an assault before Summons was given and therefore he desir'd to know upon what grounds he was so severely dealt with The Duke of Espernon replied that that indeed was the Practice against lawful enemies but not against Rebels and that he was resolv'd not to defer the assault seeing his Troops were then ready to fall on but being perswaded from that asperity by the Officers of his Army as a thing which many times precipitate men into despair he comply'd more for the preservation of his own then any Compassion for the enemie so that upon the 8. of June the Articles being signed Batteville march'd out of the Town with 700 men upon very honourable Conditions and was conducted to Stenay The Burgundians were very much consolated with the reducement of this Town for by that they acquired the peace and tranquillity of their whole Province the Duke of Espernon according to his Promise caused it to be dismantled whereby the passage of the Sona was left open and the people excus'd from the great Contributions they would have been necessitated to pay the Garrison to keep them from plundring and the ill treatment of the Soldiers The Army which took in this Town was divided afterwards and part of it sent to the Marceschal Turenne who was then preparing with all speed and almost ready to take the field the rest were commanded to the Mareschal della Ferte Seneterra who was at that time upon the Frontiers of Lorain and had taken several Castles from the Enemie in the Territories of Verdun These good Beginnings were followed by an Exploit as bold as unexpected perform'd by the Count Broglia Governour of la Bassee a Captain of great fame and experience He had Intelligence that the Troops which were quartered at Esterro de la Goruge and the Posts adjacent intended to be employ'd in the Army of the Prince of Condy were most of them drawn away to a General Rendezvouz and that there remain'd in their quarters not above 700 Irish Foot under the Command of Colonel Morphi and about 70 Horse under the Baron of Lambech upon this Intelligence he march'd out of la Bassee with 400 Firelocks and a hundred Horse and by a Bridge of Boats pass'd the River Lis betwixt E'sterre and Armentiers and fell into the quarters of Morphi's Regiment he commanded the Sieur de Avogadre Camp-Master to the Regiment of Piemont to pass the River with some Firelocks whilst he kept his Post with his Horse and the remainder of his Foot on the other side to relieve them as a reserve upon any occasion On the 13. of June about midnight the Sieur de la Treoy Serjeant-Major of the Town of la Bassee advanc'd with a hundred Firelocks and charge them so briskly that though their opposition was very good he beat them into the Church where they defended themselves afterwards for above two hours but at last the Royalists having secur'd the door the Irish which were 300 soldiers 7 Captains with other inferiour Officers were glad to surrender and becom prisoners of War Colonel Morphi saved himself by the benefit of the night From thence the Count advanc'd to the Fort but he found if forsaken and having march'd up and down the Neighboring Villages he return'd to la Bassee with considerable booty These Rumours awakened the Prince of Condy and doubtless he would without delay have taken the Field had not the taking of the 300000 Royals by the English as abovesaid retarded the provisions of Horse which were with that money to have been bought both for the remounting his Cavalry for his Train of Artillery which were supply'd afterwards in Holland but with great difficulty Cardinal Mazarin taking the advantage of this Conjuncture he caus'd the Mareschal Turenne after he had commanded his Troops into the Countrey about Reims to depart out of Paris the 14. of June and there in a certain place not far from Chillery in Champagnia having consulted what course he was to take with the Mareschal de la Ferte Seneterra who at the same time had drawn down his forces about Verdun it was resolv'd they should fall upon Rhetel and endeavour by the taking of that place to cut off the Princes advance into Champagnia which being an open Countrey and very plentiful in corn it was too probable he would otherwise have done to his great advantage Turenne advanc'd to Chasteau Porcien and clapt himself in betwixt Rhetel and Chaumont This is a Castle in which the Spaniards had a Party of Foot and some 60 Horse who at the very first fight of the Kings forces rendred themselves up Prisoners of War without further Conditions The Mareschal de la Ferte came on the other side the River Aisne thorow the Valle di Bourg and having drawn up their men in the fields of Chaumont they advanc'd against the Town on two sides and that very night the Regiments of Picardie Turenne and Palvan possest themselves of all the out-works and rais'd two Batteries one against the Gate towards Rocroy on which side Turenne was quartred the other at the Gate by the River within the quarters of la Ferte In the Town there were 600 men Commanded by the Marquess de Persan who ran great hazard of being taken prisoner in the night at the taking of the out-works Within two days time they made two breaches so large that they prepar'd to give the assault but in the mean time the Town capitulated surrendred and were Convoy'd with two Pieces of Cannon to Stenay Mareschal Turenne left the Sieur
Three weeks together the Armies lay facing one another in this posture without any Action at length the Prince of Condy and Spanish Generals despairing of their design'd Inroad into France or of giving them battel or surprizing any Town upon the Somme by reason of the great vigilancy and precaution of the French Generals they grew very confus'd and variable in their Counsels Condy had insinuated into the Spanish Ministers and Captains that upon his entrance into France he should meet with so much welcom and assistance that they should make their way more by the good-will of the people then by the sword But not managing his Interest dexterously and wanting the means the Cardinal had to inveigle and cajole by recompences those who were of a contrary judgment he found himself deluded and those persons who had promis'd him their fidelity in lieu of proving constant to his party let themselves be corrupted by the said Cardinal and served more to endamage and prejudice him then to assist and profit him The generous mind of the Prince being netled in point of reputation which being lessned already by his daily misfortunes would be absolutely lost if with so much preparation and so great forces he should consume unprofitably a whole Campagne which at first did seem to promise so much advantage and glory to Spain and threaten so much ruine and destruction to the Kingdom of France in a full Counsel of War he propos'd the Enterprize of Rocroy making good his opinion both with martial and politick Arguments He acquainted them that he was inform'd the Garrison was very weak by reason the Chevalier Montague Governor of the place upon confidence that he could not be attaqued had sent away the Regiment of the Crown to Rhetel That therefore in 12 dayes time it might be taken That there would be no great difficulty to invest it in respect there were no great Rivers to pass and the Siedge would be very easie since the Town lying betwixt thick woods whosoever were first to gain the Passes might be able to maintain them defend their lines with a very few men That Rocroy would be of very great importance being a Key of the Frontiers of Picardy and though indeed the loss of it would be no great detriment to France yet it was very considerable to the Spaniards for by this place the French made all the adjacent Countrey pay Contribution and a great part of the Province of Luxenbourg These Considerations of the Prince of Condy were excellently good and his opinion credited and receiv'd as an Oracle by all the Commanders But the Spaniards who seldom put their foot into the water till they have first sounded the bottom and who hold Prudence as an inseparable Companion of all their Actions though in appearance they inclined to the Propositions of the Prince by way of Complaisance yet in reality they did not assent in their hearts for it being formerly by agreement betwixt them and the said Prince declar'd that all such Towns as should be taken within the distance of three Leagues from the Frontiers of Flanders should belong absolutely to the Prince they considered that they should expose and consume their Army in the acquisition of a place that would adde nothing to the advantage of their Crown and would be rather instrumental towards the reconciliation of the said Prince with the Court of France then any furtherance towards the General peace of Spain To this they added that if the Siege should happen to prove longer then was propos'd they ran a great hazard of consuming their Men their Money and their patence So that at length their Souldiers failing they should no longer be Masters of the Field in which consisted the hopes of those who relying upon their assistance were contriving new Cabals in France The Count de Fuensaldagne's judgment was to lay siege to Arras seeing they had an Army big enough to undertake it and maintain a line of Circumvallation about it Others were of opinion that encamping still with their Army in the Enemies Countrey they should not only put them to a great burden of the War but might with money and promises encourage and propagate their Intelligence whereby to obtain an advantageous victory which could never be compleat unless they advanc'd into the very bowels of France and divided that powerful and opulent City of Paris from their Union with the King But as this had been endeavored even from the beginning without any effect so was there less hopes now especially since by the pacification of Guienne the interest of the Princes was in a declining condition and the credit of the Cardinal much increased At last the Enterprise of Rocroy was resolv'd on To which effect the Count de Ligneville advanced with 3000 Horse with all speed to block up the Town the 5th of September by break of day and was followed by the whole Army which was so unexpected and not foreseen by the Governour that 100 of his best Souldiers were shut out of the Garrison being gone a scouting according to custom The French Generals did their utmost to put in supplies but the ways being narrow and difficult they could by no means effect it The Spaniards having possest themselves of all the Passes the Prince of Condy took up his quarters at a place call'd l' Vnghero The Count de Fuensadagne in the Champion Country extending his quarters from the Main body to the watch above The space from thence to the Prince of Condy's Post was possess'd by the Lorainers Their Army being Lodg'd in this posture they began immediatly their line of Circumvallation which in 4 days was compleated and on the 11th of September they open'd their Trenches directing their approaches to the Bulwarks of Chene and del Perdu and to the Half-moon or Ravelin betwixt them The Commanders in chief of the Spaniards in this Leagure were the Count de Fuensaldagne General the Count de Garzias Lieutenant-General and the Prince of Ligny in the third place Prince Uldric of Wittembourg was Captain-General of the German Horse The Lorraine Troops were Commanded by the Count de Ligneville The Prince of Condy's by the Marquess de Bouteville the Count de Briole the Count de Duraz and the Prince de Tarante who a while after left the Camp disgusted with the Spaniards because they would not admit him to the Command conferr'd upon him by the Prince Rocroy was well-provided with Victuals Ammunition Cannon Forts and a good wall Their chief want was of men there being in the whole Garrison not above 450 Foot 50 Horse 30 Inhabitants in Armes and about 90 Peasants that had fled thither The foss was full of water and the Plain without the Works spungie and morish but 4 or 5 Foot deep chalkie and firm The French Generals at the first motion of the Enemies Army perceived immediately they could nave no other design but upon Rocroy and because they judged it impossible either to
Spaniards pretended afterwards by reason the Duke of Lorrain would not give his consent The next day the Guienne Troops consisting of 12 Regiments of Horse and 10 of Foot all old and well-disciplin'd souldiers arriv'd at the Camp so that the Army being recruited with these and other forces from Germany the Prince of Condy was out of hopes of making any further attempt to relieve it without an entire Army and that with evident danger of being forc'd to a battel which was at that time much desired by the French but not by the Spanish Commanders who would have hazarded too much Wherefore they proceeded very deliberately in seconding the bold Counsels of the Prince of Condy especially the dispute being for a Town belonging to the said Prince so that the more forward he was to engage the more averse they were from venturing their souldiers for another mans advantage besides the Lorrainers pretended they had done enough that Summer and would retire to their VVinter-quarters Upon the Arrival of du Plessis Praslin the siege was carried on with more vigour then before and the Town as bravely defended by Mental with frequent Salleys and reciprocal damages and he would have done much better had not one of his Magazines of Ammunition been fired by a Cannon-shot or some other accident for it was diversly reported The night before the 6th of November the French storm'd the Half-Moon before the Porte du Bois and opened a way into the ditch but the besieged sallying out upon them they not only interrupted their works but took d' Ortis a Lieutenant of a Company in the Kings Guards prisoner and sharply handling several other Officers and Souldiers amongst which Pontet a Captain in the same Guards was wounded The 16th at night they sallied again upon the Guard of Nancre who had then the Command in the Approaches but were repuls'd as they were afterwards in another Sally upon the Trenches guarded by the Regiment of Guards and again two days after they were worsted by Carmon a Captain in the said Regiment but with the loss of la Garde a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Regiment of Burgundy The next day Damon the Serjeant Major of the Town was slain in the ditch as he was viewing which was to convey his men with most security to attaque the enemies works Castelneau in the mean time caus'd a work to be assaulted called the Ferra cavalli and having taken it he descended into the ditch where he prepared a Gallery to shelter their Mines which he happily accomplish'd after he had beat back the besieged and slain several of their men in two considerable Sallies On the other side the Regiments of Uxelles and Dampierre took the Half-Moon on the right hand of the Breach so that the French standing ready to storm on the one side and the Mine ready on the other to blow up the Bastion they within the Garrison wanting Powder the Governour beat a Parley offering to surrender upon good Conditions if they were not reliev'd in 8 days but this was refus'd by the Mareschal who went on with his Works so fast that on the 24. of November 1653. Montal was constrain'd to deliver up the Town marching away to Rocroy on the 27. onely with their Armes and Baggage followed by a few French the most part of those that served under him accepting of the Amnesty entred either into the Kings Pay or retired to their Houses amongst which the Marquess de Forz and others invited by his Majesties clemency and finding by experience that the subjects truest felicity consists in their entire duty to their lawful Sovereign laying aside all bitterness and animosity return'd to their obedience The taking of St. Menehaud concluded the Campagne for that year which in the beginning was likely to have proved very troublesom and dangerous the Kings interest as well for the inequality of their Forces in those parts as for the diversion in Guienne where at that time the Power of the Princes was much greater then the Kings so that by how much the difficulty was the greater to obstruct the progress of the enemy by so much the more did it redound to the Honour of the Cardinal and valour of the Captains who knew how to Mannage their Affaires to the best advantage for having put so happy an end to so many disasters and Misfortunes it was but reasonable to expect the Continuation of their success Seeing the malignity of times can never be so great but at length by the Constant force of policy and prudence it may be overcome The Conquest of this place freed the Neighbouring Country from the Contributions which they most vigorously exacted towards their maintenance During this siege the Cardinal with great vigilance had an eye over all and gave out such Orders as were most convenient for the good Government of the Kingdom He dispatch'd Messengers into Provence with directions for the Galleys to put in all necessary Provision of Victuals into Roses apprehending that after the happy relief of Girona the Spaniards would attempt that place He sent the Captain of his Guards to Brisac to compleat the Negotiations with the Count de Harcourt and put that strong Town once more into the Hands of his Majestie To the turbulent and unquiet spirits of Bourdeaux he apply'd such suitable remedies as made them not only relish the sweetness of Peace but abhor and nauseate their former confusions At length having issued out Orders for disposing the Souldiers into their Winter-quarters upon the Frontiers with the least grievance to the subject as was possible he return'd with the King to Paris where his Majesty made his entry in great triumph and was received with incredible applause and with such admiration of the Cardinals Management that his name became venerable and was immortalized by the very Tongues of those who had formerly traduc'd him By order likewise of the Cardinal Count Harcourt was treated withal for the accommodating his Affairs and to draw him out of Brisac upon a jealousie that he might treat with some foreign Prince and endanger that important place but the business was interrupted upon the very point of Conclusion for whilst he seemed content with the Government of Anjou and the Town of la Fere in lieu of his Government of Alsatia being mischievously informed of a design of seizing the Prince of Armagnac his eldest son who was following his studies in Paris he caus'd him to steal away secretly and come to him to Brisac whereupon the whole Negotiation ceased and their jealousies and diffidences revived It was the general opinion that Count Harcourt being a Person of valour and having such Fortresses in his hand would push on his Affairs to the highest pitch the better to capitulate and make his advantage for his reestablishment at Court but they were mistaken in their Account he had too noble a mind to engage in any Action that might reflect upon his fidelity contenting himself to pay the Garrison and
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
to the Palace He clap'd double Guards at the Gates and in the Piazza's and the same night dispatch'd the Count de Bruny to the Count de Ligneville who commanded the Dukes Troops to give him an Account of what had hapned and to let him know that the next day he would come and discourse the business with the Officers and bring money along with him to satisfie the souldiers he sent him word likewise that the Count de Sant Amour was gone Post that night to acquaint the Emperour and to invite Duke Francis to come and take upon him the Command of the Army and to take care of his Brothers Concerns The next day the Duke was sent to the Castle of Antwerp accompanied with 300 Horse and the aforesaid Camp-Master General with several other Cavaliers and committed to the custody of Colonel Barnaby de Vergas This being dispatch'd Fuensaldagne went to the quarters of the Lorrainers though many disswaded him in respect of the great danger to which he expos'd himself among those people extreamly affected to their Prince he discours'd with the Officers and carried himself so dexterously that he perswaded them partly by fair words and partly by ready money to continue in his Majesties service without any more stir assuring them Duke Francis would be with them in a short time After this they consulted to oppose the French and drive them from their Neighbouring quarters and it was concluded that the whole Army should march against them They endeavor'd likewise to establish a good correspondence with the Elector of Colen which was easily effected by the means of a Conference held in Tirlemont by the Prince de Ligni and the Seecretary Navarro whereupon the French retired the Elector having signified to them that he had no more need of them much less of the Spanish troops by which means the Country of Liege remained free in this manner this great difficulty was overcome which might have produc'd great inconvenience in that countrey the souldiers were sent again into their quarters intending to fill up their Companies and recruit them Fuensaldagne issued out Orders for the good Government and setled all Affairs sparing for no money which upon such occasions ought to be liberally dispensed Many are of opinion the Duke did absolutely believ he should have his life taken away by some lingering death But the Count de Garcies told him very discreetly that he could not but wonder his Highness had such apprehensions That the King his Master desired only to secure him for some time upon some occasion that concerned the Crown A Manifesto was afterward publish'd by the Arch-Duke declaring that when the Duke retired first into the Spanish dominions to secure himself against the violences the French began to exercise both upon his person and Estate He was receiv'd by his most Catholick Majesty and his Lieutenant Generals with cordial friendship and assurance of protection and with so much sincerity to his interests that they included him in all Negotiations and Treaties for a General Peace giving hereby sufficient proof of their candid faith and honourable esteem of his person admitting him moreover into all Councils and Resolutions concerning the War which was carried on by his Majesties Ministers That not withstanding so many and so great obligations contrary to his duty and all terms of thankfulness and gratitude he had swerv'd from these streight ties of Obligation to the great prejudice of the interest and welfare of the Crown for besides the tears sighs and general Lamentations of the people which had rendred the inhumanities rapines and sacriledge of his souldiers sufficiently notorious committed even upon his own subjects whose insolencies were connived at by the Duke himself His secret Intelligences and private designes tending to the prejudice of the publick benefit and service to which he was bound to give a most sincere assistance with all his forces were amply discover'd every one might discern his inconstancy and dissimulated variableness Besides in the resolutions of war and the delays he affected in the execution of the most important expeditions form whence there hapned by his only fault so many funest and unhappy results in several considerable Enterprises which according to all humane Providence would have proved fortunate and successful That all these things were so manifest not only to the Lieutenant-Generals the Collonells and all the Officers of the Army but to the very Souldiers themselves and the common People who were eye-witnesses thereof every one exclaiming and wondering that such abuses should be suffer'd to run on and no remedy apply'd True it was his most Catholick Majesty out of his extraordinary kindness and affection for the house of Lorrain had bin indulgent to the last extremity being very much troubled to have recourse to such expedients hoping still that the remorse of his own conscience would some time or other awaken the Duke and putting him in mind of his ingratitude towards so favourable and incomparable a King dispose him to return to his duty But growing worse every day then other and the irregularities of his actions beyond all tolleration so that all his Majesties subjects all the Princes and Neighbouring States had him in such detestation that the effect of their vengeance was like to fall heavy upon Flanders That His Catholick Majesty not to provoke any longer the displeasure of Heaven the indignation of the people and the Princes that were abused in their own Dominions could not any longer defer the necessary precautions for the stopping of these disorders and therefore had caus'd his person to be secured in which he had neither transgrest the Law of Nature nor Nations which allow all Sovereign Princes liberty to remove without respect of persons the oppressions and violences against their States or their subjects and to do justice to themselves their People and their neighbouring Potentates friends after the trial of all ways of sweetness and perswasion proves ineffectual That what was acted was not done upon any aversion to the House of Lorrain protesting on the contrary always to protect it and its interests in testimony whereof he had proposed Duke Francis his Brother to the Command of the Dukes Troops and accordingly did declare and require all persons to receive and observe the Orders of the Count de Ligneville Lieutenant-General of the said Troops till the Dukes Arrival assuring moreover all the Officers and Souldiers of a General Pardon of all their Disorders committed till that time under the command of the said Duke Charles This Manifesto was made the same day the Duke was Arrested which was the 25. of Feb 1654. It was afterwards insinuated to the Souldiers that the Duke should not be sent into Spain at all but that when some certain points were adjusted and he had given security for his future fidelity he should be set at liberty by which suggestions they appeased the minds of the Officers and Souldiers who being wel-affected to the