place they desired that Sigismund the King 's eldest Son should be bred in the Protestant Religion because that young Prince began to give some Umbrage Queen Catherine Jagellon his Mother had so strongly tinctured him with the Principles of the Church of Rome that the Senators of the Kingdom having one day threatned him that he should lose the Right of Succession to the Crown if he did not soon renounce the Religion he had imbibed and embrace the Ausburgh Confession I prefer replied he boldly the Kingdom of Heaven to all the Crowns in the World No other Answer could be got from him On some Occasions the States of Sweden had more Complaisance for the King All seem'd dispos'd to receive the new Liturgy and the Accommodations he had invented Charles of Sudermannia the Clergy of his Provinces and some great Lords were the only People who defended the Reformation but the Interest of the Duke and the effectual Remonstrances of the rest brought back several whose Hopes and Fears had abated their Warmth and Zeal The King himself had lost much of that Ardor the Jesuit Possevin had inspired into him Whether he could not accommodate himself to the haughty Humour of Sixtus V. Successor to Gregory XIII or his Doubts were not sufficiently cleared or the great Power of his Brother kept him in awe John humbled the Catholicks who thought themselves now Masters of all things He drove out the Jesuits and demolished their College Gennila Bielke whom the King married after the Death of Catherine Jagellon cooled the Fervour her Husband had before shewed for the Roman Religion Kings often think they do that of their own Heads which a dextrous and insinuating Woman inspires into them John King of Sweden thought he had solid Reasons to doubt of the Truth of the Protestant Religion But his principal Motive though he scarce knew it himself was his great Complaisance for Catherine Jagellon The Queen Gennila might have brought him back to his first Religion in the same manner as the other had seduced him from it Sigismond Prince of Sweden is chosen King of Poland After the Death of Stephen Battori King of Poland Ann Jagellon his Widow and Aunt of Sigismond Prince of Sweden managed the Polish Nobility so well that the greatest part declared for him The contrary Faction chose the Arch-Duke Maximilian Brother to the Emperor Rodolphus But Sigismond's Friends carried it He was received in Poland beat the Arch-Duke and Maximilian being taken Prisoner redeemed his Liberty by renouncing all his Pretensions to the Crown of Poland The Swedes made their Conditions before the Prince left that Kingdom as the Poles made theirs before they received him The Principal thing which the Senate of Sweden stipulated with Sigismond was the preserving the Priviledges and Religion of their Country They added this Clause in the Treaty that if the King of Poland becoming King of Sweden after the Death of his Father should contravene any of the Articles agreed on that then the Swedes should be discharged from the Oath of Allegiance they had taken It is very probable that Sigismond before his departure from Sweden urged the King his Father to pursue his Design of causing his new Liturgy to be received together with the ancient Ceremonies which he had establish'd a little after his coming to the Crown When Princes have begun a Work that makes a great Figure they are loth to quit it and soon resume it when they see the least Prospect of Success Sigismond hoped his late Advancement would make it easie for him to accomplish the Work which his Father had drawn a rough Draught of And the King of Sweden strengthned by the new Alliance of Poland flatter'd himself that Charles of Sudermannia would not dare to oppose him He was deceived in his Conjectures The Churchmen of the Dutchy agreeing perfectly well with the Prince refused to receive his Liturgy This disturbed the King so much who was now at greater variance with his Brother than ever that he thought of recalling Sigismond in earnest The new King himself was tempted to return into his Country He would willingly have done it if the Poles had not briskly opposed it A Foreign Prince is easily dazled with the glittering Title of King of Poland But he soon takes distaste at the false Lustre of a Crown which only appears fair at a distance Those who have left their Hereditary Countries to go into Poland have repented This is the way to hazard the loss of an Effective Sovereignty for a Title which has more Pomp than Reality Sigismond knew by Experience the Truth of this Maxim The King his Father finding so great opposition from the Swedes who were more upon their Guard since the Election of Sigismond had nothing else to have Recourse to but to reconcile himself speedily to the Duke of Sudermannia and admit him to a Share in the Administration of Affairs The Apprehensions of John were something lessened by Charles's losing his Wife She left no Issue behind her and John pretended his Brother promised him never to think of a second Marriage If it were so the Duke in his turn broke his Word He soon after married Christina Daughter of Adolphus Duke of Holstein It is reported Sigismond courted this Lady before he went into Poland But a Sister of King John diverted the Prince her Nephew from the Match He after married Constance of Austria Daughter of Charles and Sister of Ferdinand Arch-Duke of Gratz in Stiria Christina enraged at this Contempt conceived so great a Hatred against Sigismond that after she was married to Charles of Sudermmannia she incessantly urged him to force the Crown of Sweden from Sigismond King John was not well satisfied with this second Marriage of Charles But his ill Humour did not last long He died soon after at Stockholm The Duke of Sudermannia was active as soon as he heard this News He set at liberty the Senators and Clergymen Sigismond King of Poland succeeds in the Kingdom of Sweden whom the late King had confined for opposing his Designs Sigismond very much distrusted his Uncle To prevent his enterprizing any thing to his Prejudice the new King writes that he was making all Preparations to come speedily into his Hereditary Countries In the mean time the Duke of Sudermannia takes the Administration as next of Kin to the King Puffendorf Introduction à Histoire Tom. IV. p. 11. Rhap 1. 2. John left another Son by his second Wife but he was yet a Minor The Senators without prejudice to their Oath taken to Sigismond promised to obey Charles in every thing he should order with their Consent for the Glory of God the Preservation of the Protestant Religion and the maintaining the just Rights and Priviledges of the Nation The Duke promised of his Part not to transact any thing of weight without the Advice and Consent of the Senate A Council is thereupon assembled at Vpsal to regulate Matters of
to the Prince answer'd still to all the Instances and Menaces made them That they would not restore the Princess without the Consent of her Husband who had entrusted her with them A very generous Resolution indeed But is there not ground to think their secret Desire to excite some Commotions in France to traverse the vast Projects of Henry inspired them at least as much as their love to Equity and Justice Henry IV. prepares to march at the Head of his Army The great Preparations in France and other places kept the World in suspense None doubted the King had some greater Design than to drive Archduke Leopold out of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers In the mean time the House of Austria appeared Serene It could not be observed that she made any Provisions against this approaching War which openly threatned her either because she expected that Stroke which soon changed the State of Affairs or that the King of Spain a stupid and unactive Prince suffer'd himself to be perswaded by a weak Minister that the Ardour of Henry would cool when the French had spent their first Fire on the Countries of Cleves and Juliers and some other places of Italy The King had Thirty Thousand Foot and Six Thousand Horse in Champagne Sixty Pieces of Artillery and abundance of Money and Provisions Twelve Thousand Foot and Two Thousand Horse waited in Dauphine the Orders of Lesdiguieres to go and join the Duke of Savoy's Army The Venetians promised to declare themselves on condition they might have that part of the Milanese which lay most conveniently for them Henry burned with Impatience to march at the Head of so fair an Army Sometimes he would try the Arms he design'd to bear in the Day of Battel at other times he took pleasure to see the brave Prince Maurice of Orange bring him the best Troops of the Vnited Provinces Vex'd at the Advantages which Alexander Duke of Parma had gain'd over him in the Sieges of Paris and Roan he hoped to take his Revenge against the Marquiss of Spinola whose Reputation began to equal that of the other He was the only General now which the House of Austria had to oppose to the King Measures were taken for the Administration of Government in his Absence The Queen was to be Regent and the Duke of Epernon President of her Council It is amazing that Henry would trust his Wife and Children in the Hands of a Lord whom he never loved and whose Fidelity was ever suspected by him But after all he could never have made a better Choice Of the Three Princes of the Blood the first was in the Enemies Hands Conti passed for a weak Man and the Count of Soissons was disgusted 1610. Their ancient Enmity and the strict Tie the Guises had to the Spaniard made it unsafe for him to trust any of that House Epernon had Wit Courage Honour and was not without some Vanity So great a Mark of Respect engaged him to exert himself to answer the good Opinion the King had shewn of his Prudence and Fidelity Henry had yielded to the Importunities of the Queen Henry is Assassinated the 14th of May 1610. who ardently desired to be Crowned in all the Forms He imagined this Complaisance would make that jealous Princess forget the ill Humour the Kings Mistresses and above all the Marquise de Vernueil had so oft put her in The Ceremony of Consecration was perform'd at St. Denys with great Magnificence All things were disposed for the solemn Entry of the Queen into the Capital of the Kingdom When on the Eve of the Day design'd for that Pageantry Henry going in his Coach to the Arsenal to confer with the Duke of Sully Superintendant of the Finances and great Master of the Artillery received two or three stabs with a Knife one of which cut through the Artery of the Lungs He fell down dead on the Duke of Epernon who was on one side of him and to whom he was whispering in the Ear when he received the first blow Francis Ravillac a Native of Angoulême committed this execrable Parricide the 14th day of May 1610. In the Hurry and Confusion which attend Accidents of this kind he might have saved himself by hiding his Knife But perswaded this was an Action worthy of Reward he kept it in his hand till he was seized One of the Kings Gentlemen in ordinary and some Footmen would have given him a thousand stabs upon the spot but the Duke of Epernon remembring the fault committed in killing in this manner the Monk who murthered Henry the III forbid any on pain of Death to touch him So he was secured and carried to the Hôtel of Retz By a Negligence which appear'd suspicious and affected instead of throwing this Wretch into a Dungeon every one had the liberty to speak to him during the two days he remained there If the first Persons of the Kingdom thought they had more pressing Affairs than to revenge the Death of the King what hindred the inferiour Magistrates from doing their Duty in discovering the Authours of so black an Attempt The Queen labours to procure her self to be declared Regenâ—… during the Minority of Lewis XIII her Son The Queen wiped off her Tears as soon as the Chancellour and Villeroy had made her sensible every Moment was precious and she must labour incessantly to make her Advantage of the absence of two oâ—… the Princes of the Blood and the weakness of the other to procure her self to bâ—… declared Regent during the Minority oâ—… her Son The new King Lewis XIII was about to begin the tenth year of his Age being born the 27th of September 1601. The Dukes of Guise and Epernon seemed the most proper Persons to execute the Project The unbounded Ambition of both these Men made them equally believe by doing this service to a Foreign Princess unskilled in the Arts of Ruling a Nation they should make themselves Masters of the Government Behold then both of them marching through Paris at the Head of divers Armed Men to suppress any Tumult might be caused by the unexpected Death of the King Guise goes directly to the Town-House Epernon arrives a little after and both exhort Lejay Provost of the Merchants the Echevins and the Citizens met there to continue faithful to the Son of him whose Loss they Regretted and to take all necessary care to prevent Disorder and Confusion The Duke of Sully came from the Arsenal as soon as he heard of the Death of his good Master He went to the Louvre as other Persons of Quality did who all ran to offer their Services and swear Fidelity to the New King and the Queen his Mother Memoires de Bassompierre Surpriz'd to find Bassompierre at the head of a great number of Horse he thought fit to exhort him to take an Oath of Fidelity to Lewis Well Sir replyed Bassompierre in a haughty disdainful Tone We come here to require that
of others and there is no need of â—…our preaching to us on that Chapter I cannot tell whether this answer made the Duke suspect these Men went to seize the Arsenal and the Bastile and that his Enemies were resolved to drive him out as soon as they could However this was Sully returns back shuts himself up in the Bastile takes away all the Bread in the Markets and Bakers Shops and writes to the Duke of Rohan his Son-in-Law Colonel General of the Swisses to come to Paris with six Thousand Men of that Nation which he commanded in Champagne In a word he seems to make Provisions to sustain a Siege in case any Attempt should be made to Dispossess him without his consent An Imprudent step and subject to the most Sinister Interpretations especially in a time of universal Jealousie and Distrust Whilst Sully confin'd himself in the Bastile Vie du Due de Epernon L. VI. others were providing for themselves by labouring for the Queen The Duke of Epernon had placed the Regiment oâ—… French Guards on the Pontneuf and in thâ—… Streets round the Convent of Augustinâ—… The Parlement was there at that time because the Courts were fitted up for the Feasts prepared against the Crowning oâ—… the Queen As soon as the Chamber were met by the care of the Presidenâ—… Seguier with whom the Duke haâ—… conferr'd he entered boldly into thâ—… Hall with his Sword taken out of thâ—… Belt It is yet says he in the Scabbarâ—… with a Rough Menacing Air. If the Queeâ—… be not declared Regent before the Court break up it must be drawn and I foresee there will be Blood spilt Some of you Gentlemen says he demand time to consider This is an unseasonable Prudence What I propose may be done now without Peril but to morrow it cannot without Blood The Duke added somewhat to soften so violent an Advance The Members lookt on one another astonished at the Novelty of the Proposition to put the Administration of the Government into the hands of the Queen without the participation of the Princes of the Blood and the Officers of the Crown The Magistrates remained for some time in a pensive Silence The first President de Harlay broke this at last and said in few words the Court was obliged to the Duke of Epernon for the Zeal he had shown for the Publick good and exhorted him always to retain Sentiments worthy of his Rank and Virtue This short and general Answer made Epernon reflect a little Far enough from perswading them the Soldiers were placed â—…round the Covent only to secure 〈◊〉 free Debate the Duke gave occasion to believe he intended to extort a Vote at any rate He went out of the Hall to give the Chambers liberty to deliver their Opinions without Constraint I â—…ave proposed said he as he withdrew the â—…est way There is no time to be lost La â—…uesle Procurator General who had his Hopes as well as the rest concluded in favour of the Queen and the Parlement awed declared her Regent during the under Age of her Son In the breaking up of the Assembly the wisest Men deplored more than before the Misfortune of their Country in losing a King whose Life was so necessary for its Welfare Now said they are we once again at the Discretion of an Italian Woman What good is to be expected from a Regent Prodigal Imperious and unexperienced Our dependance must be now on Galigai and Conchini her Husband Confidents of the Queen and Pensioners of Spain What Confusions will not their Covetousness and Ambition cause in the Court and Kingdom If the King added others had followed the Advice given him and drove out that Rabble who were always cherishing Jealousie and Discontent in the Queen perhaps we might not have had occasion now to bemoan the loss of so good a Prince It is well known Conchini and his Wife threatned the Person of the King if he attempted to punish their Villanies Might not People of this stamp suborn an Assassin â—â—â—moiâ—…es de â—â—â—â—gence de Mâ—…rie de Medicis The next day all was ferene at Paris Guise so well managed the humour of the Duke of Sully that he brought him to the Louvre to pay his Duty to the King and Queen Villeroy had disposed them to receive him kindly He insinuated incessantly to the new Regent that the ancient Ministers of her Husband being most acquainted with Affairs at home and abroad it would not be convenient to make any alteration in the Council The Secretary of State was afraid the Disgrace of the Superintendant might be of dangerous Consequence to the rest This was an Example might be made use of against Villeroy himself Sully made a set Speech to the Queen and being perswaded she was averse to the War with Spain and would unite her self with those her Husband sought to depress the Duke assured her Majesty he had endeavoured to divert the late King from his Designs The Duke of Vendome being luckily there Sully appeal'd to him for the truth of what he had said to his Father in his presence Base Courtier who Sacrificed so early the Reputation of his Benefactour to his wavering Fortune The Provinces followed the Example of the Capital Catholicks and Protestants alike submitted to the Regency of Mary All was calm in the Armies At the Sollicitation of his Father-in-Law the Duke of Rohan had brought the Swisses a days march towards Paris but Sully content with the good Reception of the Queen sending a speedy Countermand he returned back Gonzague Duke of Nevers who commanded the Army in Champagne made all the Officers swear Allegiance and the Mareschal Lesdiguieres kept that in Dauphine to their Duty The News being dispersed on all sides that the new King was Recognized by the Parlement the day after his Fathers Death and the Regency of the Widow was confirmed there in a Solemn manner this did not a little conduce to settle the Tranquility of the Remote Provinces The Constable the Peers of the Kingdom and the great Officers of the Crown Lewis XIII sits in his Seat of Justice the first time appear'd in the Parlement The King came thither followed by the Queen his Mother the Prince of Conti and the Count of Enghien Son of Soissons who was retired to an Estate in the Country Disgusted that some mark of Distinction was refused to his Wise at the Queens Coronation After every one had taken their place Mary began a small Discourse which she had premeditated Scarce had she uttered two or three Words but a shower of Tears hindred her from proceeding farther It was doubtful whether they proceeded from Grief or Joy Every one made what construction he pleased Resuming her Discourse after a sew Sighs Mercure Francois 1610. either Affected or Sincere I have brought you here my Son says the Queen to intreat you to take that care of him which you are obliged to do I conjure you to do this by
Man believe they were about to form a Potent League against the Turk and hoped to engage the King of Great Britain the Vnited Provinces Prince Maurice of Orange and the rest of the House of Nassau in it These Men says the Queen Lovers of Glory they will not be uneasie to have this occasion to add more to that which they acquired by their Valour The Picture which she makes of King James the I. must not be omitted here I own continues Mary that he persecutes the Catholicks cruelly But in shortâ—… he is a Prince who loves nothing but Peace He do's not seek to make himself Great aâ—… the Expence of his Neighbours he declareâ—… himself an Enemy to all Subjects who Rebel against their Princes If he could bâ—… sure of the Fidelity and good Intentions of thâ—… English Catholicks he would let them live peaceably As he is very averse to the Calvinists he will soon change in favour of his Catholicks if they give him no occasion of Suspicion or Distrust Complaints of the Court of France against the Duke of Savoy The Principal Article of this Instruction regards the Duke of Savoy He seemed to threaten to Attack the City of Geneva and the Country of Vaux belonging to the Canton of Bern. The Queen will have it represented to the Pope that the Ambition and Turbulent Humour of the Savoyard would put all Europe in a Flame and hinder the conclusion of the League which it was pretended was designed against the common Enemy of Christendom and that Henry III. and Henry IV. having taken Geneva and the Country of Vaux into the Protection of their Crown honour and Justice engaged their Successors to defend the one and the other in case the Duke of Savoy should attempt to attack them He beasts adds the Queen that his Holiness approves and favours his Designs that it is not probable The Pope knows better than any other Man in the World the Humour Power and Interest of Charles Emanuel His Enterprize can never succeed And when the King of Spain shall Reflect on the ill Consequences of these Motions of the Duke he will be the first Man to Condemn them Besides it is not well known what are the true Designs of Charles Emanuel When we demand why he keeps so many Troops afoot he answers the Spaniards being in Arms in the Milanese Prudence requires him to provide for the Security of his Dominions The Catholick Swiss Cantons making the same Demands the Ministers reply their Master will Reinstate the Bishops of Geneva and Lausanne in their ancient Rights He promises one thing at the same time he is under contrary Obligations to the King of Spain We have great reason to believe he keeps secret Intelligence with the Protestants of France and other Countries At present he is Intriguing to make an Alliance with the King of England by a double Marriage of their Children For the better understanding this Article it is necessary for me to take things a little higher and relate the several steps of Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy after the Death of Henry IV. The great Perplexily of the Duke of Savoy upon the Death of Henry IV. This unforeseen Accident mightily embarast him and he was forced to act an hundred different Parts sometimes to pacifie the Court of Spain incensed against him at another time to preserve the powerful Support he had from France and lastly to find an Opportunity to gratifie his unbounded Ambition In the first place the Duke was Sollicitous to gaiâ—â— from the Regent a Confirmation of thâ—… Promise which Henry had made him 〈◊〉 give Madame the Eldest Daughter 〈◊〉 France in Marriage to the Prince of Piâ—â—mont whom he preferred to the Prinâ—â— of Spain who had likewise been propose to him If I would make my Son a Great King said Henry Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis like a Man of good Sense it is not necessary my Daughters should be Queens Care was taken to amuse Charles Emanuel with fine Words whilst a Treaty was privately managed with King Philip. As soon as the Duke discovered this he made complaints to the Court of France but the Regent very far from having regard to his Instances Demanded of him all the Writings about the Marriage designed by Henry IV. The rest of the Princes of Italy not less Embarassed than the Duke of Savoy The other Sovereigns of Italy were not involved in lesser Difficulties than Charles Emanuel The Republick of Venice and some others had a share in the Designs of Henry on the side of the Alpes As soon as they heard of his unfortunate Death they were all equally afraid Spain delivered from so Formidable an Enemy should now in earnest think of over-running Italy under colour of chastising the Duke of Savoy and the rest who kept Intelligence with Henry in order to drive the Spaniards out of the Milanese Paul V. scared sent for the Venetian Ambassador to him Write instantly to the Seignoury Siri Memorie recordite T. II. p. 285 286. says the Pope that I intreat them for the love of God to take care we may all agree in so Terrible a Juncture Measures must be taken for preserving Italy and the young King of France I plainly see he is in great Danger The Spaniards are busie to create strange Work for him I am ready to labour in Concert with and declare my self with the Republick The Wise Conduct of the Sâ—…nate of Veâ—…ice The Duke of Savoy had sent his Secretary to Venice to press earnestly the Senate to conclude with all Speed a League Offensive and Defensive against the Spaniards Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 288 291 They make new Levies says his Minister and Distribute Money to draw Officers into their Service The Duke my Master sees these Preparations are more designed against him than any other He is resolved to continue steddy to his Vnion with France will defend himself to the last gasp of Breath and sooner submit to the Turk than Spaniard You are to consider whether his Fall will not be followed by that of your Republick The speedy Conclusion of a League Offensive and Defensive is the only Means to prevent the Disasters which threaten us alike The Venetians who very well knew the Power of Spain did not presently take the Alarm They thought it necessary before they declared to be well assured of the good Intentions and Concurrence of France the Minority of the King having changed the face of Affairs there To engage Mary de Medicis to declare her self the Seignory wisely caused the League Offensive and Defensive against Spain to be proposed to her The Regent did not in any manner intend to pursue the Designs of Henry This therefore without farther Consideration she replied to the Senate that the Under-age of her Son would not suffer her to engage in a Foreign War but if the Senate thinks it Expedient that she make a Defensive
defended the Cause of his Party but has done it a great Injury too Though he do's not think as Socinus do's of the Trinity the Incarnation the Nature and Operations of God yet he maintains that the Socinian Doctrine is tolerable and not contrary to the Fundamental Articles of Christianity The Arminians of Holland embraced the same Sentiment which makes it to be believed that Arminianism and Socinianism are near a kin Yet these two things are very different It is common in the Church of England to find Learned Divines who think in the same manner as Arminius did on the five Articles and yet vigorously Defend the Decisions of the four first General Councils James King of England opposes the Election of Vorstius I will not speak of this Conference at the Hague This was as Fruitless as the preceding ones Vorstius appeared here He made a Harangue to the States to justifie himself against the Errors imputed to him These Gentlemen were well satisfied They demanded next of the Ministers of both Parties if they had any thing to say against Vorstius The Remonstrants declared they thought him Orthodox But the others alledg'd so much against him and intervened with so great Opposition that he continued still without doing any thing tho' the States were well affected to him Mercure Francois 1611. The Opposition of James I. King of Great Britain made the greatest Noise in Europe Vorstius's Books were brought to the King when he was taking the Diversion of Hunting in the Country King James run over these in less than an Hours time He saw such Shoals of Heresies with one cast of his Eye he immediately sent an Extract to his Ambassador to the States-General with an express Order to declare to them from him that if they suffered such a dangerous Man at Leyden his Majesty would publish a Manifesto to shew the World his Aversion against the Authors of these Heresies and those who allow them to be taught in their Universities The Ambassador punctually executed his Master's Orders The States-General were a little surprized to see the King concern himself in an Affair that was purely Domestick The Zeal which a King shews for the preserving the Purity of the Faith is not to be blamed He do's well to extend it beyond his Kingdom But however there are Measures to be kept towards his Allies and Neighbours His Britannick Majesty's Threat was very high and brisk The States-General gave their Answer some days after to the Ambassador If Vorstius said they with great Discretion and Respect be guilty of the Errors he is accused of we will not suffer him to teach in Holland The High Esteem we have of the King of Great Britain's Goodness and Wisdom gives us grounds to hope that his Majesty will be satisfied with our Conduct when he shall be better informed of this Matter and the Vprightness of our Intentions In the mean time James burnt the Books of Vorstius at London Oxford and Cambridge The Reply of the States-General did not satisfie him He wrote a long Letter exhorting them to Banish Vorstius out of their Provinces Arminius was treated in this as an Enemy of God and for Vorstius his Majesty looked upon him as a downright Atheist He concluded his Letter with threatning the States to separate from the Communion of their Churches if they suffered so abominable a Man as Vorstius amongst them He was at Leyden before this Letter of King James came The English Ambassador made a long Remonstrance when he delivered it to the States-General He gave them the Propositions which his Majesty had extracted out of Vorstius's Books and exhorted them to shew no less Zeal and Courage to preserve the Purity of the Faith against so pernicious an Heretick than they had done in the Defence of their Liberty against the Spaniards The States-General did not know what to think of the Letter nor the Harangue They answered the Ambassador that the Matter in Question only regarded the particular States of Holland who were Sovereigns in their own Province That Vorstius was only at Leyden as a simple Inhabitant in the Town and waited till he should justifie himself in the next Meeting of the States of Holland For the rest said they we humbly thank his Majesty for his Concern for the good of these Provinces and the preserving the Purity of the Gospel in our Churches The States of Holland were not to meet till three or four Months after This made the English Embassador look upon this Delay as a Civil Denial And now there was a New Remonstrance from the King his Master to the States-General This bad a Text after the manner of Sermons The Ambassador began with that place of the Gospel which orders Brotherly Correction and will have those brought before the Church who will not hearken to it He complained of their want of Respect to the King in receiving Vorstius not only in their Country but in a Famous University The States-General were threatned a second time with a Manifesto from his Britannick Majesty These Gentlemen kept their Flegm They answered the King should have Satisfaction in the next Meeting of the States of Holland This was to be in the Month of February the following year In the mean time the King of England saw his Zeal against Vorstius was not so favourably Interpreted The King of England's Apology for his Conduct in the Business of Vorstius as he hoped for Ill-natured Wits Censured him for making Ostentation of his Learning and Divinity Others imputed this to his Ambition and thought it an Usurpation on the Liberty of the Provinces for him to concern himself in Matters which Sovereigns are not obliged to give their Neighbours an Account of The King of Sweden this year sent a Challenge to the King of Denmark to fight a Duel with him A thing not seen since Francis the I and Charles V. James I. like another sort of Fighting better To justifie himself from the Sinister Interpretations put on his Conduct he took his Pen in Hand and printed his Apology In this the King gave an account to the Publick of what had passed between the States-General and him His Majesty farther protested he had no other design than to oppose the Rise of a Heresie to give the States-General a new Mark of his Kindness and to hinder the young Hollanders and the English themselves who should go to Study at Leyden from being infected with the Pernicious Opinions Vorstius should spread there The King's Apology had the same Fate with all Personal Quarrels Every one believed as he pleased The Revolution in Sweden after the Death of Gustavus Ericson Let us conclude this year with the Death of Charles the IX King of Sweden and speak something of his Elevation to the Throne He was the youngest Son of Gustavus Ericson so Famous in History for having delivered his Country from the Oppression of the Danes for having by his Great Services Merited the
Crown to be Entailed on his Heirs Male in short for setling Luther's Reformation in his Country and Abridging the too great Power of the Clergy Eric the Eldest Son of Gustavus Succeeded him but wanted the Virtues of his Father He introduced into Sweden the Dignities of Count and Baron which before were unknown there It was thought this was done to divide the Nobility among themselves The too great Union of this Powerful Body was able to create Trouble to a Family newly raised to the Throne The Dignities bestowed on some gave a Jealousie to the rest Those who had most Ambition made their Court to the King to obtain the same Distinction And the New Nobility were obliged to support the Authority of the King and adhere here to his Family to preserve their Privileges Eric made himself Odious by his Cruelties and Despicable by his Debauches and Extravagancies His ill Treatment of John Duke of Finland and Charles Duke of Sudermannia obliged them to rise and put themselves at the Head of the Malecoutents These two Princes Attacked Eric in Stockholm it self He first delivered up his Favourite whom all the Kingdom Exclaimed against They inflicted an Infamous punishment on him John and Charles would have something more than all this They agreed to take the Sovereign Power from Eric who abused it unjustly and that the Duke of Finland should be declared King and the Duke of Sudermannia should share with him in the Government without having any outward Marks of Royalty John thought himself now discharged from the Oath he had taken when Eric delivered him out of a close Prison where he had kept him three or four years The Duke had given Assurance by a Writing under his Hand that he would continue faithful to the King and not aspire to the Crown neither before nor after the Death of the King his Elder Brother and that he would acknowledge those Children for lawful Heirs of the Kingdom which Eric had by a Mistress of Mean Birth whom he afterwards Marryed Solemnly But John was not very anxious about the Religious observing his Promises When he was Master of his Eldest Brother not contented with shutting him up in a Castle he soon poisoned him John and Charles continued to attack Stockholm The Senate of the City delivered it up to them and poor Eric reduced to Extremity was left to the Discretion of his two Brothers The States of Sweden declared him fallen from the Crown and John Duke of Finland was set up in his place John King of Sweden endeavours to alter the Religion Established by his Father The New King of Sweden was not truer to the Duke of Sudermannia than he had been to his Predecessor Charles had no share in the Administration of the Kingdom Men promise any thing when they are to ascend a Throne but when they are once Established in it they find other Principles of Religion and Honour John had Married Catherine Jagellon Daughter to the King of Poland Whether the Princess had inspired her Husband with an Aversion to the Protestant Religion or the Reading the Books and Conversation of able Men of the Papal Communion had raised doubts in him or he hoped to be King of Poland after the Death of Sigismund Augustus his Brother-in-Law who had no Children as soon as John had made a Peace with Denmark by the Treaty of Stetin in Pomerania he applied himself seriously to change the Religion which his Father had setled in Sweden It is not a place here to relate all the Artifices he made use of to prepare the Minds of his People for the Alterations he designed I shall only observe that the King who wanted not Wit or Judgment was convinced there were a great many things to be altered in the Worship and Doctrine of the Church of Rome He can neither be reckoned among the good Catholicks nor the true Protestants Ever uncertain and wavering sometimes he relished the Project of Accommodation which Cassander had given to the Emperor Maximilian II. at other times he was inclined to the Greek Church The Answers of Jeremiah Patriarch of Constantinople to the Divines of Wirtembergh pleased him so much that he once thought to unite with that Communion Possevin a Learned Jesuit whom Pope Gregory the XIII had sent into Sweden thought he had persuaded King John to Reunite himself in earnest to the Church of Rome He confessed himself to that Jesuit the Popes private Nuncio he received the Communion in the Form used in that Church Possevin imposed as a Pennance on him for the Murther of his Brother Eric whom he had poysoned to fast every Wednesday throughout the year It is said John observed this Practice regularly all the rest of his Life Nevertheless he frequented the publick Service of the Church of Sweden There was a New Liturgy used which himself had introduced and the Pope refused to approve of The Mixture of these two Religions was one of the ways by which this Prince pretended insensibly to bring the People to forsake the Worship and Belief of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession Several Romish Churchmen came into Sweden The Irresolution of King John and his Indulgence drew them thither Several of his own Subjects too favour'd his dissembled Designs By their manner of Discourse the more unthinking People took these Preachers for free Protestants But others observed in spight of their Disguises all they spoke tended to insinuate into the Minds of the People the Doctrines of Popery The Archbishop of Vpsal suffered himself to be won by them Some Prelates and divers ignorant or ambitious Churchmen follow'd his Example There were some Bishops ordained according to the Roman Pontifical The Bishop of Linkoping several of his Brethren and a great number of Churchmen couragiously defended the Reformation setled by Gustavus Ericson The Clergy of the Dutchy of Sudermannia shewed a firmness of Mind which much confounded King John Charles his Brother declared highly for the Ausburgh Confession He opposed this Alteration with all his Might Neither the King nor I can make any Innovation in the Religion established by Law he replied to those sent to dispose him to comply All things are well regulated by the last Will and Testament of the late King our Father We must fix there For my part I am resolved never to depart from it The States of Sweden shew'd great Vigour on several Occasions They represented to the King that mighty Jealousies were risen in Sweden and Foreign Countries that his Majesty would overthrow that Constitution which his Father had wisely established and that to put an end to all those Rumours it concerned him to declare publickly that the Reformation received in that Kingdom was conformable to the Sense of the Primitive Church Farther the States commanded several Popish Books brought into that Country to be suppress'd they press'd the King to place able Men of unblemish'd Reputation in the Publick Schools to instruct the Youth In the last
Religion They abolished the Liturgy and Ceremonies introduced by the late King and reassumed those of the Protestants of the Ausburgh Confession They elected an Archbishop who was well affected and deprived those of the Clergy who had devoted themselves to serve the late King in his Innovations The Swedes and the Goths only assisted aâ—… this Assembly The other Provinces weâ—â— afraid of displeasing King Sigismond iâ—… they engaged without his Consent Thâ—… Decrees of the Council were confirmed by the Duke of Sudermannia by the Senate the Clergy the Nobility the Ministers of State and the Burgo-Masterâ—… who were present Those who were noâ—… there subscribed after Sigismond and his Uncle Charles observed each other The Nephew's Distrust was encreased by Charles his demanding that before he left Sweden his Majesty would give him a Promise under his Hand that he would confirm the Liberties and Priviledges of the States of the Kingdom and suffer them to enjoy the same Freedom of Religion they had done under the Reign of Gustavus Ericson and in the beginning of the late King 's The Duke of Sudermannia farther represented to the King that the ill Condition of his Country would not admit him to carry much People away with him These Instructions and Demands increased Sigismond's Jealousie He thought his Uncle plainly discovered he had vast Designs Sigismond was resolved not to heed the Duke's Remonstrances And now Charles had greater Hopes than ever to embarass the new King when he saw the Poles gave Sigismond leave to go into his Hereditary Country under Condition to keep his ancient Oath not to abandon Poland as Henry III. King of France had done â—…nd that his Majesty should return when he â—…ad setled his Affairs in Sweden and have â—…is usual Residence amongst them The Swedes were disatisfied the new King had plainly declared the Decrees â—…ade at Vpsal in his Absence and without â—…is Consent to be null However they reâ—…eived him with great Marks of Joy â—…nd Affection Duke Charles withdrew â—â—fter he had made his Compliments to his Majesty He thought it proper to leave â—…im alone with the Council of his Kingâ—…om The Pope's Nuncio who was with â—…igismond much disquieted the Swedes â—…t was visible the new King hearkened to â—…he Councils of the Court of Rome He â—…roke the Regulations made at Vpsal and commanded another Archbishop to be chosen He who was raised to that Digâ—…ity was in his Opinion an Enemy to the late King Afterwards he demanded a Church in every great Town for the Roman Catholicks The States of the Kingdom and the Clergy vigorously opposed his Enterprize being assured of the Protection of the Duke of Sudermannia The time of the Coronation approaching the Senators demanded in the Name of the States of Sweden that the King should first promise under his Hand-writing not to hinder the Exercise of the Protestant Religion Sigismond replied only in general Terms that he would give his Subjects satisfaction after his Coronation All these Difficulties retarded the Ceremony The Quarrel between King Sigismond and Charles Duke of Sudermannia Men cover Liberty and Independence only for themselves Very far from procuring it for others they strive by all ways possible to enslave the rest of the World The Polish Nobility so Jealous of their Privileges and Liberty but accustomed to keep other People in Slavery incessantly cried to their King Sigismond that an Hereditary State is Governed otherwise than an Elective Kingdom That in Poland he was subject to the Laws but in Sweden he was above them These Maxims easily insinuate themselves into the Mind of a Prince Sigismond displeased to see himself dependant on the Senat of Poland was better satisfied with being Absolute in Sweden He Rejected the Petitions presented to him The Duke of Sudermannia stood Neuter in the beginning of the Dispute He advised the King to have regard to the just Requests of his Subjects but he was not very uneasie to find a Difference arise between them by his Denials and Delays The States secure of Charles Assistance abated nothing of their Pretensions The stubbornness of the King strangely incensed them and the Sermons of some zealous Preachers of the Protestant Religion warmed the most cold â—…nd indifferent They talked of offering â—…he Crown to the Duke and giving it to Prince John in case he would not accept â—…t Being persuaded it was not yet time â—…o hear a Proposition of this kind he conâ—…ented himself with going to wait upon â—…he King at Vpsal and strongly backing â—…he Pretensions of the States The Neâ—…hew and the Uncle so heated each other â—…hey were upon the point of Fighting They were parted and as soon reconcil'd â—…o prevent any Confusion and Disorder in â—…he Kingdom These Accidents conâ—…irm'd the States the more in the Resoâ—…ution they took to make the King Exâ—…lain himself before they would proceed â—…o his Coronation The Popes Nuncio and such of the Poâ—…ish Nation as then attended at Sigismond's Court now perceived clearly that in Pruâ—…ence he ought not to stand it out any â—…onger but must yield to the present Exgency of Affairs They told him withal That he was not bound to keep a Promise exâ—…orted from him by Violence Now Sigismond promises 'em any thing they 'd have He reserved only that he might have the â—…ree Exercise of the Popish Religion for himself within the private Walls of the Castle where he should make his Residence But he from that very time took a Resolution of destroying his Uncle The Plot of Murdering him at a Play having miscarried they undertook to drive at him with all the Vigour and open Violence that was possible Immediate Orders were given to the Polish Army to march toward Stockholm This made the States of that Kingdom begin to think of their own Security They Summoned the Inhabitants of the Highlands to come down to their Assistance In the mean time during all this bustle the King took no care of the Government nor of securing the quiet of the Kingdom When any Proposal was made to him by the States he likewise would make a demand of some other thing at their Hands The Polanders were still at him to return home and to come to no Conclusion with the Swedes They flattered themselves that the wider the Breaches and Divisions grew in Swedeland the easier it would be to reduce it So that Sigismond in fine following their Advice took thipping for Dantzick He left Orders how he would have the Kingdom Governed in his Absence but neither the Duke of Sudermannia nor the States would submit to any of them as judging the Persons imploy'd therein to be averse to the Treaty concluded at Vpsal before the King's Coronation The States of Swedeland commits the Government of the Kingdom during the King's Absence to the Duke of Sudermannia Soon after his Departure the States of Swedeland pray'd Charles of Sudermannia to take upon him the Government The Duke desired to be excused yet
him The Death of Boris while these things were doing arriv'd and chang'd the face of Affairs Tho' the Muscovite Army had sworn fealty to his Son division got into it in a little time after All follow'd the Example of some Lords who declared aloud for the pretended Demetrius The Son and Widow of Boris were Apprehended and Stifled At length the New Czar is receiv'd and Crown'd at Mosco the last day of July French Mercury 1600. in 1605. The Palatine Sandomir's Daughter whom Demetrius afterwards Marryed by a Proxy at Cracovia was conducted in great Pomp the following year to Mosco Her Father and her nearest Relations were present at the Ceremony of her Marriage and Coronation Demetrius and many Polish Lords are Massacred at Mosco The New Princess did not long enjoy her good Fortune Susky a Moscovite to whom Demetrius had pardon'd his Life against the Advice of many Persons who Counsell'd him to let the Sentence of Death be executed which had pass't against a Man of a restless and ambitious Spirit and of whose Fidelity no one could be assured Susky I say and a great number of Muscovite Nobles had now laid a Plot against Demetrius They render'd him odious to the Clergy and People by spreading abroad a Rumour that he design'd to alter Religion to bring Muscovy into subjection under the Pope and cause Jesuits and Roman Priests to come in And because the People thought Heaven would not have so much declared in favour of the New Czar if he had been an Impostor t' was endeavour'd to make it be believ'd that he had not goâ—… so great advantage against Boris and hiâ—… Son but by the help of Magick This Discourse made so great an Impression as the People could hardly suffer that Demetrius should have two or three Companies of Foreigners to guard his Palace and Person The natural Aversion which the Muscovites have for the Poles made the People yet more apt to receive what they took care to insinuate into them to wit that the Treasure of the Czars was to be Transported into Poland and that the State should be govern'd for the future by a Polish Princess and other Confidents of the same Nation Susky and the principal Heads of this Conspiracy having taken their Measures by the favour of the Malecontents to make an Insurrection of the People in Mosco the 27th of May 1606. came to the Palace at the Head of a great number of armed Men broke it open with violence slew the pretended Demetrius betray'd by his best Friends and did a thousand Indignities to his dead Body The People afterwards put all the Polanders to the Sword 't is reported that there died of 'em more than seventeen Hundred The Palatine of Sendomir was only saved his Daughter his Son and some Lords who were ev'ry one of them put into private Houses Susky is made Czar of Muscovy and after lays down his Dignity Susky caus'd himself to be chosen and Crown'd in the room of Demetrius whether he was the right or Counterfeit one for at last many pretended that he spoke truth But the Circumstance of the Monk who conducted him into Poland and that of his being put into Service in two different Houses this I say makes the History to be very much suspected It seems to me that a Child of this Importance shou'd have been first carried to the King of Poland What had he there to fear from him Whatever this Affair was yet to confirm further the People in their Opinion that this was a Cheat Susky was willing they shou'd dig up the dead Body of him whom Boris had caus'd to be Slain The Bones were carried to Mosco and the Patriarch order'd that he should be Reverenced as a Martyr Susky not doubting but that the Poles would wage a War against him enter'd into a Negotiation with Charles of Sudermania the New King of Sweden who sent him Succors under the Conduct of de la Gardie The Divisions of Sigismond with the Palatines of his Realm did not permit him to attack the Muscovites so soon In the year 1609. he resolved to take the City of Smolensko which the Muscovites had taken from the Poles The Siege or Blockade of this place lasted two years and more than two Hundred Thousand Inhabitants died before it was surrender'd He sought several times to cause the Siege to be raised Susky troubled at the ill success of his Arms retired into a Monastery after having laid down the Scepter and Crown Muscovy was then divided into three Parties A New Demetrius was put up Ladislaus Prince of Poland proclaimed Czar of Muscovy and a great many declared for him others to remedy the ill condition Muscovy was in would have Ladislaus King Sigismond's Eldest Son and a hopeful Prince set upon the Throne At last a third Party would have a great Lord of the Country these being united to Ladislau's Party he was chosen Czar in his absence in the year 1610. and the most considerable of the Clergy and Nobility took an Oath of Fidelity to him The false Demetrius strove to make himself Master of Mosco but the Poles having twice beaten him he was obliged to Retreat beyond the River Volga This put the Poles into a condition of undertaking ev'ry thing They made themselves Masters of the Castles of Mosco and made it known to King Sigismond who daily Besieg'd Smolensko that his Son was Proclaimed Czar The Inhabitants offer'd to yield themselves to Ladislaus Elected Sovereign of Moscovy But Sigismond was willing to get the place for Poland The Inhabitants resolved not to separate themselves from the interest of Moscovy held still the Siege out till the Month of June 1611. So that Sigismond had got but a City almost quite Dispeopled and reduc'd to Ashes The King of Poland who did not think so much of Establishing his Son in the Throne of Moscovy as to make advantage of the Country's Divisions and bring it into Subjection deferr'd too long to carry Ladislaus into Mosco He had put off this Affair to the year 1612. but the continual Contentions he had with the Palatines did not suffer him to execute his Project The Poles are driven out of Muscovy and Michael Federovits is chosen Czar So long a delay gave time to the Relations of the Deceased Czar Boris to get together a strong Party Michel Federovits put himself at the Head of 'em and march't towards Mosco The Polish General came out of the City gather'd Troops together and gave Battle to the Moscovites revolted from Ladislaus The Polandâ—…rs were Defeated and their General Retreated towards Smolensko with the broken Remnant of his Army After this t' was easie to drive the Poles out of the Castle of Mosco The Moscovites thus deliver'd from a Foreign Power chose a New Czar in the year 1612. This was Michel Federovits the nearest Kinsman of the Deceased Czar Boris A New Party united in favour of Charles Philip Brother to
far above their Neighbours Those People which some Persons look on as heavy have often more good Sense Solidity and Plain dealing than others that value themselves on their good Tast Sharpness and Wit The one without Dispute is infallibly more valuable than the other My Native Country is very dear to me and I take pleasure in professing it But I love it as an honest Man ought to do To wish well to a Mans Countrymen to pray God they may want nothing which can make them compleatly happy in this World or the next is in my Opinion to have a true and sincere Love for a Mans Country And I can protest God be praised I have such a Disposition of Mind St. Paul wished all his Auditors might become as he was except in his Bonds I pray in the same manner for all Frenchmen May Heaven grant they all become like me except being almost under a necessity to leave their Native Country to follow the Light of their Conscience If I am bound to France by that grateful Sense which a Reasonable Man ought to have for a Civil Society where God has given him Birth this do's not hinder me from thinking my self united to other Nations by the Ties of Religion and Humanity France may be Happy and Flourishing without disturbing its Neighbors or unjustly Usurping anothers Right Because I am of a Nation must I desire to see her Mistress of Europe Must I applaud the boundless Ambition of the Prince who governs her Must I praise my Countrymen for working Fetters and Chains to bind themselves withal Natural Justice requires me to contribute all I can to the Prosperity and Repose of my Native Land and that I should defend it when unjustly attacked But I am bound by the same Laws of Nature to prevent my Countrymen from destroying and doing Mischief to others Very far from extolling their Ignominous Slavery and Criminal Enterprizes Reason and Religion require me to Condemn and Oppose them to the utmost of my Power By a strange Inversion of Language and Reason a Man in France is said to be well affected to the Government when he shews I know not what ridiculous Zeal for the Power of the King Is the King then the whole State These two things are very different The State signifies a certain number of Men Associated and living under the same Laws The King is the Person who has the Charge of Supporting them and providing for the Wellfare of the People In what do's the Happiness of a Nation consist That she is only obliged to obey Laws confirmed by a long Use or made in such manner as was agreed on by the People in their first Confederacy or in the Assemblies held after in the Safe and Unmolested enjoyment of their Estates and the Fruits of their Industry without having these taken away from them by Force in Taxes and Publick Duties being so equally Levyed that no Man pay more than he conveniently can To love the Government or ones Country is ardently to wish it all the Advantages which a Man would give his Life to procure when they are wanting or to preserve them when she has the good fortune to enjoy them In this Sense it is pleasant and Honorable for a Man to die for his Country To love as it is call'd in France the Power and Glory of the King is to labour for the Establishing Tyranny Since the Principles and Detestable Policy of Machiavel have been brought into Europe a Prince thinks himself Glorious and Potent if he has found a way to become Absolute Master of the Lives and Estates of his People and securely make himself Great at the Expence of his Neighbours If this be not true Tyranny all Men in the World are deceived What do they understand by the word Tyranny The Government of those who only propose their own Profit Why should I Dissemble The love I have for my Country gives me an extream Aversion for these Politicks pernicious to Mankind I cannot value those who pursue these Maxims whatever good Qualities they have or however eminent their Rank in the World be Let some Persons born to Slavery if they please rail at me as a Seditious Author This is the Language now for those who still preserve Love for Liberty in a Country where it is almost Extinguished I am not in any pain about it A Learned Man Condemned the History of the Famous Mr. de Thou because it is writ said he with a Liberty which do's not suit with the Age. I have not the Presumption to compare my self with that Great Man He was infinitely above me by his Birth and Rank and yet more by his Sublime Genius and Universal Knowledge The Love of Truth is the only thing in which I think I may imitate him I will dare to say in which I strive to surpass him His Character his Employs his Relation to the Court have obliged him to some Management which I may lawfully dispense with If his Liberty did not agree with his Time mine will seem less proper for ours But let the World speak as it pleases I will follow the Example of this Great Man who despised Mean-spirited Censors We are not less free than the Men of former times why should we not speak the Truth as well as they There is nothing remains now but for me to give a Reason why in publishing this History I have not waited till it was entirely finished A great Book frightens the World The Reign of Lewis XIII has certain Remarkable Periods the Majority of the King the Removal of the Queen Mother the Ministry of Cardinal Richelieu the taking of Rochell the Foreign War The Reader may Repose himself at each of these Periods where there is a considerable change of Affairs For this Reason I have divided this Work into different Parts perhaps the Reader will not be Displeased to have them one after the other The Judgment which the Publick makes of the first may set me right and be of use in the following ones Those who will favour me with the Communication of any Memoirs may adress them if they please to the Bookseller They will be thankfully received and made use of with the Discretion they can reasonably expect whether they desire to have the Honour of them or will not be known I shall only desire they will not take it amiss that every thing be duly examined nor expect we should engage our selves to praise or blame what do's deserve neither THE CONTENTS BOOK I. THE Plan of this Work The State of Europe and France at the end of the Reign of Henry IV. Preparations for War The Prince of Conde's Flight Henry IV. prepares to March at the Head of his Army He is Assassinated the 14th of May 1610. The Queen labours to be declared Regent during the Minority of Lewis XIII her Son Lewis XIII sits in his Seat of Justice the first time Intrigues and Cabals at Court in the beginning of the
Extremities of the North to defend those of his Religion in Germany overthrows the ambitious Projects of the Courts of Vienna and Madrid The Emperor trembles and fears to lose his Hereditary Countries and France by the help of a League opportunely made with Sweden forces from the House of Austria part of her ancient Patrimony The Success of the Spanish Arms in Picardy strikes a Terrour into Paris it self The King of France comes out of his Capital to repulse the Enemy and cannot refrain from Tears to see the Fire advanced so near the Gates of his own Palaces The Revolutions on the other side the Pyrences change the Face of Affairs Catalonia surrenders to Lewis XIII and Portugal drives out the Spaniards and replaces the Duke of Bâ—…aganza on the Throne of his Ancestors Philip the IV. in a Consternation leaves Madrid to secure the Country of Arragon and reduce the Catalonians But no soonâ—…r does he begin this Expedition but he receives the unwelcome News that France had seized the Town of Perpigan and the County of Rousillon In this Variety of Events there may be â—…und many eminent Instances of Virtue â—…nd Vice Treachery richly rewarded â—…e highest Posts of Honour obtained by â—…e most infamous Crimes some few beâ—…owed on Merit great Preferments reâ—…cted with Contempt from Motives of â—…eligion and Probity Some great Lords â—…eanly ransom their Lives and Estates by coming Slaves to an Ambitious and Revengeful Cardinal Others threatned to be made a Sacrifice to his Passions and Interest with a Noble Haughtiness continue faithful to their Friends and suffer Death with an Heroick Courage This Fragment of the Modern History of France which I design to illustrate is so curious and full of Variety it would soon tempt a Man who would employ his Time in writing something Diverting and Instructive However the boldness of the Attempt has often awed me and perhaps it is above my Abilities If I praise the principal Actors who appear upon the Stage I am in danger of being censured for Flattery and if I speak too freely I am sure to be charged with Detraction Constant Panegyrick disgusts and incenses most Readers They love to have the Vices and secret Passions of Men laid open This Air of Freedom pleases and diverts them But if I should indulge this natural Inclination we have to heaâ—… others condemned will not the World too say I am making a Satyr and not wriâ—…ting a History I shall endeavour then to avoid theâ—… two Extremes with all possible Care have no Inducement to praise or blaâ—â— Persons who were almost all dead befoâ—â— I came into the World What particular Reason can I have to love or hate them The difference of Opinion in Matters Religion and Government shall not hind the from doing Justice to Merit or conmending what is worthy of Praise I am thanks to God in a Country where every one enjoys a Happiness which is so rare in this World to speak their reasonable Thoughts with freedom If I am not in a Capacity to do my Country Service I have the Liberty to deplore its Misfortunes The State of Europe and of France at the end of the Reign of Henry IV. Before I enter upon the Matter I shall promise some few Things of Henry the Fourth and the End of his Life It s necessary to know the Posture of Affairs in Europe and France when this latter lost one of the greatest Monarchs she ever had He employ'd the first Years of his Reign in reducing by force of Arms or gaining by Treaties all who had formed a potent League against him under Colour of Religion and in carrying on a War against Philip II. King of Spain This Ambitious Monarch had supported the League with a mighty Assistance of Men and Money out of a Design to place a Prince of his House on the Throne of France or at least to dismember that Monarchy whose Power was an invincible Obstacle to the vast Projects he had conceived But finding himself worn out with Infirmities of Body and seeing his Country quite exhausted by the Immense Sums he expended and the great number of Soldiers and Ships which he lost in his Wars against the Vnited Provinces of the Low Countries England and France Philip I say after so many Men and so much Treasure consumed in vain was glad to make Peace with Henry on such Conditions as the State of France not less exhausted than Spain could not give them leave to hope for Elizabeth Queen of England and the States of the Vnited Provinces made loud Complaints that the King abandoned his good and faithful Allies in preâ—…sing â—…o cagerly the Conclusion of the Treaty with Philip. Tâ—â—â— say they is a sure way to lose the favourable Opportunity of taking those Advantages against Spain which its low and declining Condition must have put in our Hands Henry excused this Proceeding of his as well as he could alledging the Incapacity of his Kingdom to support a Foreign War after it had been so miserably harass'd by a Domestick one which had lasted so many Years and was not yet well extinguished The Reason was specious But the King seemed impatient to give himself up to his Pleasures and with ease to enjoy so fair a Succession which he had purchased with so much Hazard and Trouble It must be own'd Henry had good Reason to distrust his Strength for the future The Duke of Mercoeur penned up in Britany would not have made his Peace if he had not believ'd that of Spain entirely resolv'd on Besides the Protestants of France who had served a King bred up amongst them with so much Courage and Constancy took Umbrage and Jealousie His changing his Religion and the Favours with which he purchased the friendship of the Great Men who had been Leagued against him began to Alarm them and his New Engagements to the Court of Rome their crael and implacable Enemy had like to have cool'd them Henry prudently confirmed his best Subjects by the Edict of Nantes which was concerted with great Industry and Deliberation Happy had they been if the Successors of this good Prince had left them peaceably to enjoy what he so justly granted them No sooner was Peace setled at home and abroad but Henry strove to win the Hearts of his Subjects by publishing he would labour incessantly to make them live in Ease and Plenty Several Manufactures were set up and some certain Duties taken off It is probable the great Debts he contracted and the engagement of a great part of his Revenue would not give him leave to take away divers others very burthensom and made him give ear to all Projects for bringing Money into his own Coffers But in all this he had the Address to prevent and stifle all Murmurs by making the French Nation since for a long time accustomed to patience believe his greatest desire was to make them happy The King flattered himself he should check the turbulent humour of divers great
Men and perhaps by degrees ruin them by engaging them after his Example to make excessive expences in Buildings Play and other more Criminal Pleasures In this he found his Account in a double manner It was his natural Inclination though he was a Manager good enough and those who could embroil the State would be drained of Money and Credit and forced to depend on the bounty of their Prince This did not succeed in all points as he had projected it If the Constable of Montmorency the Dukes of Montpensier and Epernon the Mareschals of Bouillon and Biron did not proceed so far as to take Arms to express their Resentment some because they were not Rewarded according to their mind others because some Ministers Confidents of the King had a greater share in secret Councils than themselves Yet these I ords created him great Disquiet The just punishment of Biron the most imprudent and violent of all the Malecontents and the Submissions of the Mareschal de Bouillon Defeated the Conspiracy which Charles Emanuel Duke of Savoy had laid in his Journey to Paris and Philip the III. the New King of Spain had promised to support That of the Marquise de Vernueil a Mistress of the King who had foolishly promised to make her his Wife before he was married to Mary de Medicis was likely to have had terrible Consequences but was fortunately broke by the Condemnation of d'Entragues Father of the Marchioness and the Imprisonment of the Count d' Auvergue her Brother by the Mothers side and Natural Son to Charles the IX The King complained the Court of Spain promised Aid to all his Factious Subjects He shew'd his Resentment publickly when he discovered an Intrigue of the Spanish Ambassador with a Gentleman of Provence who undertook to deliver up the Town of Marseilles to Philip the III. Two Rival Powers have ever matter to Recriminate when the one thinks he can convict the other of a secret Infraction of Treaties The Ambassadour without scruple Reproached the King with assisting the Vnited Provinces after the Peace of Vervins and endeavouring to raise the Moors in Spain In some occasions Henry was not more upright and sincere than Philip. Princes seldom concern themselves much about so fair a Vertue No sooner had the King of France setled his Affairs and amassed several Millions by the Care and Management of the Duke of Sully Superintendent of the Finances but he began to think in earnest of Humbling the Pride of the House of Austria This was the Language of those times the World is busi'd at present in Leagues to oppose the Ambitious Designs of France Henry waiting only for a Specious Pretence to make War on Spain renewed his ancient Alliances abroad and carried on Negotiations with diverse Princes to bring them over to his Interests By the Treaty of Marriage between the Infanta Isabella and Arch-Duke Albert Philip the II. had given his dear Daughter the Soveraignty of the Provinces which Spain had at that time in the low Countries Catherine Sister of Isabel brought Charles Emmanuel Duke of Savoy her Husband but a very moderate Fortune So unequal a Division did not satisfie the Ambition of a Prince who was always stirring to make himself Great though he could never obtain his Aim Charles thought the Dutchy of Milan ought in Right to be given up to him Henry seeks to take the Advantage of Discontent of the Duke A Proposition is made to Assist the Duke in the Conquest of a Country which lay so convenient for him and to give the Kings Eldest Daughter in Marriage to his Son On these Conditions Charles voluntarily makes a League Offensive and Defensive with France Some pretend all the Powers of Europe were engaged in it or at least ought to have been to confine the House of Austria to Spain and its Hereditary Countries in Germany but the Project which is ascribed to Henry on this occasion is strangely Chimerical If it be true that this King ever entertained a thought of that kind and proposed no other end in so vast Enterprize than the glory of having brought Euâ—…ope to a Balance Henry doubâ—…less was the vainest Man in his Kingdom Is it not much more probable that seeing so favourable an occasion to revenge himself on Spain he was resolved to make his advantage of it The Declension of that Monarchy was visible to all the World Philip the III. a Prince Inferiour to his Father for his Parts found it in so ill a condition that being unable to supply Arch-Duke Albert with Provisions necessary for carrying on the War against the Vnited Provinces he was constrained to make a shameful Truce with the States-General in which he owns them to be free and Disclaims any Pretension of his own or the Arch-Dukes over them We must not think Spain wanted good Generals brave Officers or States-Men bred in the Cabinet of Philip II. but the Duke of Lerma her first Minister had neither Genius nor Ability to gain his Master Reputation abroad or govern a Monarchy opprest with its own Greatness The House of Austria was still weaker in Germany The Emperour Rodolphus had no great Vices but the Vertues which make up the chief Character of a Prince were wanting in him Shut up in his City of Prague he employed himself in any thing rather than Politicks Had he had good Ministers he would not have hindred them from acting well But he had so little care to chuse them or observe their steps that himself did not know whether he was well or ill served Rodolphus did not live in good understanding with his Brethren The Arch-Duke Matthias forced him to give up the Kingdom of Hungary to him and secure to him the Succession to the Crown of Bohemia Both unable to keep their Subjects of different Religion in Peace were obliged to receive the Conditions which the stronger Party imposed on them England is so seated it ought equally to fear least Spain or France become too Potent James the First succeeded to Queen Elizabeth a Princess whose Memory is still dear to the English for her great Courage her matchless Prudence and her sincere Love to her People Both Crowns strove which should make an Alliance with the New King They believed that being more Potent than his Predecessors by the Union of the Crown of Scotland to that of England he would be more able to hold the balance even or make it incline to which side he pleased But James still fearful and wavering governed by his Wife or his Favourites soon shewed the World he was fitter to manage the Pen than the Sword to write on a Question of Civil Law or Divinity than to Reign gloriously and make himself formidable to his Neighbours He made a Treaty of Alliance with Henry Both Kings engaged to assist the Vnited Provinces and to defend each other in case either of them was attacked by the Spaniards The Court of Madrid exasperated to find the King of Great Britain
take to a contrary Interest possibly underhand countenanced the discontented Party and the Papists in England formed that Horrible Attempt which has since been call'd the Gunpowder Plot. Since that time James ever dreaded the Spaniards And they were so Skillful to improve this weakness of his and Avarice of his Ministers that far from opposing the Enterprizes of the House of Austria you will find he will patiently suffer her to dispossess the Elector Palatine who married a Daughter of England Henry IV. prepares for War In this posture were the Affairs of Europe when Henry Troops and bring them to to raise Troops and bring them to the Frontiers of Champagne John William Duke of Cleves Bergh and Juliers dying without Children lest a contended Succession His four Sisters or their Children had each different Pretenstions some Imperial Constitutions contrary to each other embroil'd the Affair more Some of these determined the Fees of the Contested Countries to be the right of the Heirs Male and others supposed Daughters capable of the Succession Among all the Princes who were pretenders the Right of John Sigismund Elector of Brandenburgh and that of Philip Lewis Palatin of Newburgh were the most plausible The first had married the Daughter of the Eldest Sister of the last Duke and the other was Husband of the second Sister who maintained that the Succession was devolved on her to the prejudice of the Children of her Eldest Sister Deceased before Duke John William These two Princes each took possession of a part of those Estates they pretended did entirely belong to them But it was to be feared a third stronger than both of them would make himself Master of the best places while they made War to drive each other out Therefore the Landgrave of Hess their common Friend made them consent to a Provisional Treaty In this they promised to terminate their Differences Amicably and by Arbitration and to joyn their Forces against any who should Attempt to usurp the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Till this should be decided it was agreed they should govern Individually and in common and without prejudice to the right of the Emperor or the other Princes pretenders The States of the Country Assembled at Dusseldorp took this Affair into their Cognizance at the Intreaty of the King of France who already declared for the two Princes They were both Protestants and the Vnited Provinces supported them as far as they were able This gave Umbrage to the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries whose Estates bordered on one side on those of Juliers A certain Prince of their House in Germany would have been glad to have made his Advantage in this Litigious Title The pretence of Religion is never wanting upon occasion and here it would have been very seasonable The Governour of Juliers then is won over and Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasbourg and Passaw passes secretly into the place He brought with him a Commission from the Emperour who pretended to be the Natural and Soveraign Judge of a Difference arising about the Fiefs of the Empire and in the mean time he gave to his Cousin Leopold the Administration of the contested places This Sequestration seem'd to tend to an Usurpation By the Addition of the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers to its other Hereditary Countries the House of Austria was in a condition to oppress the German Liberties with more ease The Neighbourhood of the low Countries gave the King of Spain an opportunity to send his best Troops to the Assistance of his Kinsmen This Enterprize ought to have alarmed equally all the Princes of Germany but the Jealousie caused by difference of Religion made the Duke of Bavaria the Electours of Mentz Triers and some others fear the Protestant Party would be too strong if the disputed Countries should fall to a Prince of that Religion See then the Catholicks assemble at Wirtsbourg and form there a League of which the Duke of Bavaria was Chief and send a Deputation to Rome and Madrid to demand Aid of Pope Paul the V. and Philip King of Spain On the other hand the Protestants come in great numbers to Hall in Swabia The Electour and Princes of Saxony do not appear there Those of the branch of Weymar and Koburg had their particular Pretensions to the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers and hoped the House of Austria would espouse their right sooner than that of other Princes more jealous of her growing Greatness The Elector of Saxony contented himself to send to Hall in conjunction with the King of Denmark to exhort all the Pretenders to put their Interests into the Emperours hand The Resolutions taken in that Assembly were kept private The Prince of Anhalt whom those of Brandenburgh and Newburg had desired to go on a Negotiation to the Court of France returned to Hall accompanied with Boissise Ambassadour from the King This Minister declared publickly his Master would Assist them with all his Strength and would march himself at the Head of a powerful Army to oppose the Designs of the House of Austria The Vnited Provinces too promised to joyn their Troops with those of Henry The Neighbourhood of the Contested Countries made it unsafe for them to suffer them to fall into the hands of a Kinsman or Friend of Spain The mortal Displeasure the King of France had to see the Arch-Dukes of the low Countries and the King of Spain receive the Prince of Conde with open Arms who had secretly withdrawn himself to Brussels with the Princess his Wife and promise him all sort of Assistance against the Injustice done him by Henry This Accident I say hapning at the same time with the Affair of Cleves and Julieâ—…s urged him more to a War than the Noble desire to assist his Allies Being Resolved to revenge the many Affronts he had received from Philip the II. and his Son and to have the Princess of Conde back what ever it cost him Henry again sent Troops towards the Alps. Lesdiguieres who from a mean Birth and Fortune had raised himself by degrees during the Wars in Dauphiny and Provence and had obtained the staff of Mareschal of France This Man was sent to conduct to the Duke of Savoy the Troops designed against Italy and to Attack the Milanese in Conjunction with him Vast Preparations were made These at first were covered with the ordinary pretence of the Publick Safety the preserving the Râ—…pose of Europe and the maintaining the Kings Allies in their rightful Possession but a Vile and Criminal Passion made them to encrease and march with the greatest Expedition Henry it was said had reason to fear that his ancient Enemies abusing the easiness and resentment of the first Prince of the Blood should excite an Ambition in him and put it into his Head to contest the Validity of the Marriage of the King with Mary de Medicis after a Divorce founded on very frivolous Reasons and the I egitimacy of his Children by this second Wife
it However the Mareschal De la Chátre was preferr'd to him The Court would not give an Abâ—… Man and a Protestant whom they were jealous of the Command of an Army designed to joyn Prince Maurice his Friend and Brother-in-Law Bouillon made a great noise Must my Religion said he exclude me from all Employs due to my Rank and Services When Mons the Prince returns I 'll try to make a Party to oppose this new Triumvirate of the Count of Soissons the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joyeuse These Men would be Masters of all things Edicts revoked for the ease of the People A Declaration in favour of the Protestants To hinder the Princes and discontented Lords from causing an Insurrection among the People or raising the Protestants they took care to give Satisfaction to every Man FÃfty four Edicts for taxing the People were Revoked diverse Commissions were superseded and the price oâ—… Salt abated one fourth part To remove alâ—… Distrust from the Protestants a Declaration on was set forth to confirm the Edict of Nants Though as the young King is reported to have said this Formality was not necessary in regard that Law was Irrevocable and Perpetual Those who had the greatest Interest in the Party they strove to gain by Presents The Regent sent word to Du Plessis Mornay He might ask what he liked best and that her Majesty would readily grant it Vie de Mr. du Plessis Mornay 〈◊〉 a la fin No Man shall ever Reproach me said that Wise and Religious Gentlewoman with taking Advantage of the Disasters of my Country or extorting the least thing from a Minor King or his Distressed Mother If the Queen order me to be paid what has been long due to me I will look on this Order as a new Gratification The Prince of Conde's Return Affairs were in this Posture when the Prince of Conde prepared to return into France No sooner did the Count of Fuentes hear of the Death of Henry but he employed all his Wit and Address to perswade the Prince not to neglect so fair an Opportunity to make himself King Mem. de la Regençe de Marie de Medicis The Divorce of your Kinsman from Margaret of France and his Marriage with Mary de Medicis says the crafty Spaniard are contrary to the Laws of God and of the Church Will you tamely lose a Crown which belongs to you Have but Courage to assert your Right you will not want Power or Support I offer you all the King my Mâ—…ster can do for you If the Authority of the Holy See interposed in the Divorce of Henry we will find a way to engage Paul V. to declare null what his Predecessour did The Thing is not without Example Fuentes caused the Project to be proposed to the Pope who rejected it Condé did not any more give ear to it either because the Design appeared Chimerical to him or remembring the proceedings against Charlotte de la Trimoville his Mother he did not dare attempt to contest the Legitimacy of the Children of a King who had employed all his power to make him so when a great many thought his Condition doubtful Conde went from Milan to Brussels to take the Princess his Wife Firm in his Resolution to content himself with the Rank he had in France he would not suffer himself to be allured by a deceitful Appearance and therefore prepares to resume his former place at Court The Regent pressed him every day to it and his Friends waited with Impatience for him Tâ—…e Arrival of the Prince Conde at Paris Those of the House of Lorrain the Mareschal of Bouillon and the Duke of of Sulli went to Senlis to meet him And now a new Part began to appear on the Stage The Regent took Umbrage at this The Count of Soissons the Duke of Epernon and the Cardinal of Joleuse fearing there was a design to drive them from Court began to think of defending themselves Mary alarm'd her self hearkned to the Advice given her to arm the Parisians New Officers were chosen who took an Oath to the Queen in the Town-Hall and in less than eight days time above an hundred Thousand Men were in Arms. However Conde enter'd Paris accompanied with fifteen Hundred Gentlemen He had received intelligence from different Hands that at the Sollicitation of the Count of Soissons the Regent would secure his Person and the Mareschal of Bouillon But the kind Reception he met with from their Majesties dispersed all these Jealousies Two powerful â—…aâ—…tions at Court The Prince of Conde at the head of one and the Count Soisson 8 of the other 〈◊〉 He declared at first he had no design to dispute the Regency which the Queen was in possession of Notwithstanding this the frequent Cabals he had with the Heads of his Party sometimes at the Hôtel of Mayenne and sometimes at the Arsenal gave an extream Jealousie The Duke of Sulii Master of the Artillery which was there and the Money the late King had lodged in the Bastile could have furnished Conde with means to undertake something considerable But he had not the Courage Either because the Arming the Citizens broke his Measures or the Guises united with him were more concerned for their own Interests than the greatness of a Prince naturally an Enemy of their House These Men privately had assured the Queen they only joined themselves to the Prince of Conde to skreen themselves from the ill Designs of the Count of Soissons who endeavour'd to depress them and they should be the first to leave him if he ever declared against her Majesty Conde might have spared the Guises and might have made the Queen the Count of Soissons and all the contrary Faction tremble by following the Counsel of the Mareschal of Bouillon Memoires de Dac de Rohan This was to return to the Reformed Church which Henry had forced him to forsake and declare himself Protectour of the Protestants in France Supported by the Experience and Credit of Bouillon secure of the Money in the Bastile which Sully could put into his hands strengthned with a great number of Swisses which Rohan their Colonel General would have brought to him followed by all the Protestant Nobility who would have been at his Devotion Master of several good and well fortified Cities with all these great Advantages the first Prince of the Blood would have balanced the power of the Regent and made himself formidable at home and abroad But he was only good to enrich himself like a Country Gentleman Covetous and Contentious in reasoning a point of Law or Discussing a Question of School Divinity Some had put it into his Head to desire the Reversion of the Dignity of Constable but he had the Mortification to see himself denied Too Happy in obtaining the Hôtel of Condi now called Conde which the Queen bought for him As soon as the Mareschal of Bouillon perceived that the
Excommunicates and Absolves by himself or his Magistrates all Laymen and Ecclesiasticks Bishops and Cardinals themselves residing in his Kingdom This Right say they farther though derived from the Holy See is now Irrevocable it is the Sovereigns Property Thus the King of Spain is alike in Spirituals and Temporals and has the same Right there as the Pope has in Countries under his Obedience Joan the foolish Mother of Charles V. and divers other Princesses who Reigned alone Sicily every one of these Ladies were Sanctissimo Padre This Title was given them and their Magistrates They might in this Quality preside in Provincial and National Councils or substitute others in their Room The Kings of Spain are so jealous of this rare Prerogative that in the Reign of Charles V. a Vice-Roy of Sicily Collected all the Titles and Acts which serve for the Justification of it Three Authentick Copies of this Collection were drawn at the same time by order of the Viceroy In the year 1698. one was exposed to Sale in London it had been brought away the last time Barcelona was taken by the French I had it a pretty while in my Hands The Right Reverend the Bishop of Norwich curious in all good Books did not purchase it too dear considering the rarity of the Manuscript This is a Collection like that of the Proofs of the Liberties of the Gallican Church It contains chiefly divers Judgments given in the Tribunal commonly called of the Monarchy of Sicily The Cardinal Baronius in the eleventh Tome of his Annals vigorously Attacked this Spiritual Power which the Catholick Kings ascribe to themselves without Scruple A Right never heard of says the Cardinal A Right that Frederick the Second and his Children those unjust Tyrants and Rebellious Persecutors of the Roman Church never were so Audacious as to usurp This caused a great Contest between Baronius and the Cardinal Colonna who pretended his Brother had no Reason to set himself so violently against the King of Spain The Court of Madrid was so displeased at the Author of the Annals that she procured him to be excluded in a Conclave where he had 37 Voices At last upon the 3d of October 1610. Philip III. published an Edict where after great Complaints made against the Invectives of Baronius and a long Enumeration of the Services which the Kings of Spain and Sicily his Predecessors had done for the Church of Rome he forbids his Subjects on severe Penalties to Read or Sell the Eleventh Volume of Baronius Annals till the place Repugnant with the Monarchy of Sicily was Expunged Servin knew very well the example of the King of Spain was of great weight with Mary de Medicis who every day contracted new Tyes to Philip he hoped this would hinder the Regent from taking exception at the Proceedings of the Parlement against Bellarmine's Book The Advocate General was deceived in his Conjecture The Queen was not less devoted to the Court of Rome than that of Madrid The Nuncio in Spain did not dare to open his Mouth against the Edict of Philip. The Popes Agent was bolder and more Successful in France At his Sollicitation the Regent ordered the Execution of the Decree of Parlement against Bellarmine's Book to be Superseded The Enemies of the Sovereign Power of Kings ever had Liberty of Speaking and Writing Differences of the Marquiss of Aucre with the Count of Soissons and Dpke of Epernon The Marquess of Ancre a Favourite of Mary's began to be insupportable to the Princes and first Lords of the Court. In the Kings Journey to Rheims the Servants of the Machioness had some Contest with those of the Cardinal Joyeuse about Lodgings Conchini made first Gentleman of the Chamber had likewise a Dispute about the Precedence with Bellegarde Great Esquire at the Publick Entry of the King into Paris on his return from his Inauguration The Duke of Epernon a Kinsman of Bellegarde declared against Conchini Mem. de la Regence de Marie de Medicis and the Count of Soissons enraged at him for assisting the Duke of Guise to marry the Dowager of Montpensier would not any more speak to the Marquess of Ancre The Enmity of two such powerful Men made him very uneasie He labour'd to be reconciled to them Soissons was not very averse to this but he required the Marquess and his Wife should serve him in two Things which he passionately desired to marry the Count of Enghien his Son to the Princess Heiress of Montpensier and to ruine the Duke of Sully Their Reconciliation For the first Proposition the Marquess delivered himself in General Terms to those who were concerned in this Accommodation He spoke more positively on the Article of the Duke of Sully in case the Ministers would side with him Conchini did not love the Duke He was afraid the Interest of an Old Minister might be an Obstacle to his growing Favour Nevertheless the Count of Soissons did not dare to conclude this Reconciliation till the Duke of Epernon was satisfied It was not so easie to bring down his Haughty and Stubborn Spirit who pretended to be his own Support independently on all Favourites Epernon required Conchini should come to him and make him Satisfaction in the presence of the Count of Soissons He blown up with his Favour and New Honour refused that Submission to the Duke which he could without meanness make to a Prince of the Blood Soissons found an Expedient which might be a Salvo for the Nicety of the one and satisfie the Haughty Humour of the other The President Jeannin had presented Conchini to the Count after those Compliments had passed which were agreed oâ—… before the two New Friends sate down to play together The Game being over It is not enough says Soissons to the Marquess that we are Reconciled You must have a right understanding with all my good Friends I am going to make a visit to onâ—… of them I beg your Company I am disposed to do what you please replyed Conchini They were soon at the Hôtel of Epernon all things were carried there to thâ—… content of both Parties That which 〈◊〉 lookt on as a Trifle amonst Private Meâ—…passes for a weighty Matter with greaâ—… ones A Party formed at Court against the Duke 〈◊〉 Sully There was no need to take much painâ—… to gain the Ministers over to act in Concert with the others to ruine the Duke of Sully He had a Misunderstanding witâ—… Villeroy the only Man of their Number who had taken pains to keep him in Employ Sharp and Affronting words paâ—…sed between them in the Council in thâ—… Queens Presence Villeroy who though himself to be the more necessary and to have the better Interest leaves the Court. This was a sort of Menace that he would not return as long as Sully had a share in the Government The Regent her self was inclin'd to dismiss him A Protestant could not be very grateful to a Princess who blindly
Pleasure Mayenne by his Address and Resolution had brought his Nephew with Honour in a very Nice case if it be true that the Duke of Guise had no ill design yet he made an Ostentation which might well give Vmbrage to the Princes of the Blood In vain did the Duke of Sully thus meanly make his Court to the Guises The Duke of Sul'y's Disgrace They would not hinder the accomplishing the Design on foot to ruin him their Party indeed made a Mien as if they would Combine to oppose the Ruine of one who had taken pains to very good purpose to serve them but the contrary Cabal was too Powerful and Zealous Perhaps too the House of Guise were not very Solicitous 〈◊〉 Bottom to support a Protestant Lord whom the Courts of Rome and Madrid were dissatisfied to see in the chiefest Employs The Marquiss of Ceuvres was the Man whom the Enemies of the Duke made use of to sound the true Sentiments of Mareschal of Bouillon in this matter of Sully The Interest of their Religion ought to have united these Protestant Lords It s Preservation depended in part on a good Understanding between them but Courtiers never think of this Sully deserves the worst that can befall him says the Mareschal However I ought not to appear among those who declare against him It concerns me very much that those of our Religion should not Reproach me with removing a Man who is necessary to them in the post he is in If Bouillon would seriously have avoided that Reproach should he have join'd himself to the Count of Soissons The World saw plainly the poor Duke of Sully was the Sacrifice in his Reconciliation The Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons joyntly demanded of the Regent to have him removed Her Majesty readily granted a thing she desired no less than they To keep fair with the Hugonot Party who must think it strange Mary should so soon take away the Rewards Sully had deserved by his good Services to the late King They gave out and would make Sully himself believe it was his desire to have his Ease The Regent civilly offer'd him a Sum of Money for the Government of the Bastile which she took away from him at the same time with the place of Superintendent of the Finances The Duke was very much surprized to see himself taken at his Word upon General Complements made to the Queen He had protested upon some Occasions to her Majesty that she might dispose of all that he had Mercure Francois 1611. I did not think said Sully that such Offers made to ones Prince were Crime enough to forfeit ones Places I have now learnt this new Maxim but I do not repent of having done my Duty The Duke shewed great Constancy in his Adversity and was Skillful enough to conceal his inward Disturbance He writ a Letter to the Queen which was filled with fine Thoughts was not this a Noble Effort of the secret Pride of his Heart to seek thus to repair his Losses by making himself Admired Perhaps he thought he should perswade the World he deserved those Places which he could quit with so much equality of Mind â—…nd Disinterestedness This Greatness of Mind would have appeared less affected if he had not made a long Enumeration of the Services he had done for the late King This was Reproaching his Widow he might talk plausibly how that without encreasing nay by lessening the Excises and Duties he had paid the immense Debts of his Master had put the Finances in a good Method subsisted three great Armies amassed seventeen Millions in ready Money the People could not believe him in his Word Fifty four Edicts revoked in the beginning of this Reign were a proof the Superintendent had not yet found the secret to enrich the Prince and at the same time to ease his Subjects The first President de Harlay resigns hiâ—… Place A Cabal to hinder Mr. de Thou from succeeding him The Duke retired to his Castle of Sully on the Loire no Superintendent was put in his Room The Presidents Jeannin de Chateauneuf and de Thou were named for Directors of the Finances De Thou declined this Employ this did not suit with a Magistrate so Upright so Zealous for the publick good and so great a Lover of all good Learning The Place of first President of the Parliament of Paris was more worthy of his Noble Ambition Christopher de Thou his Father had filled it with a mighty Reputation His Memory would have been Irreproachable if the necessity of excusing his Master had not forced him to seek out for frivolous pretences to give colour to that cruel Massacre of St. Bartholomew which this Wise Magistrate abhorr'd in his Heart Achilles de Harlay succeeded him in the most unhappy and difficult Time that ever was All Men still speak with Honour of the Integrity Justice and Affability of that great Man All good Frenchmen cannot forget the Services he did for his Country when she was almost opprest by the Efforts of the League Worn out with Age and Labour he desired to lay down his Office Memoires de la Regence de Marie de Mediciâ—… All Honest Men wished to see James Augustus de Thou in the Place his Father had formerly been but the Regent too much depended on the Pope The Knowledge and Moderation of so Learned a Magistrate did not suit with the Interest of Rome besides the Jesuits had too important Business to Sollicit in the Parlement of Paris They did not care a Man who was not less acquainted than his Brother-in-Law had been with the secret designs of the Society should preside in the determining the Process they had against the University of Paris Condé who had great Obligations to the President de Thou promised to assist him in his Pretensions to a Dignity justly due to his Merit and Services But the Weak and Ungrateful Prince had not the Courage to oppose a Cabal of Bigots Villeroy made his Advantage of this Opportunity he procured Verdun his Kinsman to be preferr'd who ought to have been content with seeing himself at the Head of the Parlement of Toulouse La d'Escouman accuses the Marquess of Vernueil and the Duke of Epernon of being concerned in the Murther of Henry IV. Some few days before his Resignation Harlay had presided in the Sentence against La d'Escouman This Creature it is said did not want either Wit or Address But her lewd Life ought to have taken away the Credit of her Evidence if all concerned in Villanies were not of necessity Scandalous Persons It is not known who put d'Escouman upon presenting her self to Queen Margaret whom she was known to and discovering to her that the Duke of Epernon and the Marquise of Vernueil had suborned Ravaillac Whether Margaret was in a Combination to ruine these two Persons or was afraid of ill Consequences if she did not give notice of what she heard to the Court the
Princess sent to let the Regent know that La d'Escouman had great things to Reveal Some Persons were ordered to go to the Hôtel of Queen Margaret They conceal themselves in an adjoyning Closet while the Princess makes la d'Escouman repeat with a loud Voice what she had said Margaret testified the Woman did not vary but repeated Word for Word before to her what they had now heard She is Condemned Upon the Report made to the Regent her Majesty ordered her Letter Patents to be dispatched for the Parlement of Paris to take cognizance of this New Affair La d'Escouman being examined by the first President de Harlay accuses two Persons one of which had been Valet de Chambre to the Marquess d' Entragues These Men are Seized Examined thrown into a Dungeon confronted with d'Escouman who affirms peremptorily all was true she had charged them with Farther she declares the Marchioness of Vernueil had sent Ravaillac to her with a Letter for one Madamoiselle du Tillet and that in her Presence du Tillet had spoke to Ravaillac to Assassinate the late King But the Evidence so ill maintain'd her Charge was so deficient in describing the Person of the Murtherer and said so many things directly false that no Credit was given to her Depositions The two Prisoners were acquitted and la d'Escouman condemned to close Imprisonment for the rest of her Life Reflections on 〈◊〉 Sentence The care taken to confine this Wretched Woman and the keeping her Examination so private gave occasion for divers Suspicions and many Reflections It was pretty commonly believed Persons of Eminent Quality had a share in this Mystery of Iniquity and it was not judg'd convenient to disclose it Some pretended this was only done to spare the Reputation of certain Persons of the first Rank who had made this use of la d'Escouman to ruine their Enemies So ill and revengeful a Woman as la Vernueil said they may well enough be guilty of a great Crime But is it to be believed the Queen who mortally hates the Marchioness would spare her Could she ever find a fairer opportunity to revenge the frequent Disquiets which the ill Nature and Raillery of a Rival had given her The Duke of Epernon 's Interest added some Judicious Men could never stifle this Matter He has powerful Enemies at Court The Prince of Conde and the Count of Soissons declare openly against him The Mareschal de Bouillon and the Marquess of Ancre strictly tied together seek to remove and ruine him If any one reflect on the Conduct of the Duke of Epernon his Humour and Inclinations he will not appear capable of so black an Attempt And if he had Malice enough to conceive it is he so void of Common Sense to trust this in the Hands of a Fool as Ravaillac was In short if he suborned the Assassin would he have taken pains to keep him from being killed on the spot as James Clement was The Duke of Epernon said some who were the most prejudiced against him could not be called to an Account without bringing in the Queen whom he served in it Doubtless said others to them it would be much safer and easier to have poison'd the King than to depend upon a Blow of that Importance on such a Fellow as Ravaillac was There was a greater Division in the Court of Prague than that of Paris and the Princes of the House of Austria in Germany lived in a more visible Misunderstanding than the Princes of the Blood in France The Emperor Rodolphus had three Brothers Matthias Albert and Maximilian The first had forced from his Elder Brother the Kingdom of Hungary and the greatest part of what the House of Austria calls her Hereditary Countries Albert lived contented with the Provinces of the Low Countries which the Infanta Isabell brought to him in Marriage and Maximilian having long agoe relinquished his Pretensions to the Kingdom of Poland which he disputed with Sigismund King of Sweden led a quiet Life with Matthias King of Hungary These four Brothers had two Cousin Germans Children of Charles Brother to the Emperor Maximilian II. The small Country of Gratz in Stiria did not satisfie the Ambition of Ferdinand the Eldest of this second Branch of that House and Leopold the younger Brother desired something more than the Bishopricks of Strasburg and Passau Rodolphus and his Brothers had no Children this gave their Cousins mighty Hopes but as yet they were a great way off The King of Hungary this year Married Ann Archdutchess of Austria and might leave Heirs Ferdinand Wisely concealed his vast Ambition he seemed contented with managing the Pope and keeping a strict Correspondence with Spain and seem'd willing to wait patiently for a more favourable Opportunity to obtain the Succession of his Cousins All Men looked on the Emperor as a dead Man The Courts of Rome and Madrid were not very well satisfied that Matthias kept fair with the Protestants which he did to prevent being opposed by them when there should be a Debate about chusing a Successor to his Brother Perhaps too his Inclination led him to follow the steps of Maximilian II. a very Wife and Moderate Prince He had had a good Opinion of the Protestant Religion and it is thought would have embraced it if he had not met with Obstacles from Ferdinand the I. and the Court of Rome The Emperor his Father pressed by the Pope threatned Maximilian to Disinherit him but if the Son had shewn greater Resolution the Father would have found it no easie Matter to have made such an Exclusion valid I very much doubt if he would have dared to attempt it Ferdinand Archduke of Gratz was very far from this Moderation of Maximilian He was violent against the Protestants to a prodigious degree The Jesuits and Ignorant Monks who had too great Influence on the Councils of this Prince and his Descendants kept him in this extravagant Bigotry flattering him with the Assistance of the Pope and King of Spain to obtain the Empire even whilst those of the Elder Branch were yet alive The Archduke Leopold had no less Ambition but was still more impatient The Ambitious Designs of Leopold of Austria Bishop of Strasburg and Passaw on the Kingdom of Bohemia vext to see himself reduced to live on his Benefices and to find his mighty Designs on the Countries of Cleves and Juliers prove Abortive he resolved to take his Advantage of the Weakness of Rodolphus and to make himself King of Bohemia to the prejudice of Matthias to whom that Crown was promised after the Emperors Decease Leopold had raised a small Army with the consent of Rodolphus under colour of keeping Juliers against the Confederate Princes The Town being taken by the Brave Maurice of Orange the Arch-duke kept his Troops in his Bishoprick of Passau with an intention to employ them in some greater and more prositable Work Romeo their General as Active and Stirring as Leopold
what passed at Madrid When he heard his Son was received with great Haughtiness and Indifference That the Duke of Lerma boasted he had a Copy of the Treaties made with France and that the Court required Prince Philibert to ask pardon in the Name of his Father Charles Emanuel fell into so furious a Rage that for a long time he could not contain himself within the Bounds of Decency I will sooner lose my Life 〈◊〉 Siri Memorie recondite Tom. II. p. 424 425. my Children my Dominions than consent to any thing so unworthy of my Rank Am I then a Vassal to the Crown of Spain that I must ask Philip's pardon for making a Treaty which does not suit â—…ith his Interests There is now no need for management thanks be to God I am not so weak but I can hazard a Battle against Spain Let them Treat my Son ill Let them break the Laws of Hospitality These Hardships shall not oblige me to do so mean an Action When the Pope's Nuncio undertook to represent to the Duke that the State of his Affairs would not allow him to refuse to make some sort of Submission to his Catholick Majesty he was more Transported than before he said a Thousand nasty things he protested he would never consent tho' the Pope himself should order him The Nuncio was not Diverted by this he briskly told the Duke that he must not expect any Aid from France whatever happened if his Country became the Stage of a War it must unavoidably be ruined So that Charles Emanuel convinced at last by the News he had from France that the Regent would assist him with all her good Offices at the Court of Spain he consented Prince Philibert should make Satisfaction according to the Form agreed on with the Duke of Lerma The thing was done the 19th of November 1610. At the Intreaty of the Pope and the King of France replied Philip with his usual Gravity In consideration you are come hither and the Request you have made me I will not put in Execution what I have designed I will give Marks of my good will to the Duke your Father as his good Behaviour shall induce me Prince Philibert made a profound Reverence and humbly thanked the King for his Majesty's Gracious Regard to the Duke of Savoy had always Velasco Constable of Castile and Governor of Milan receives orders to Disarm Philip answered to the Pope and the rest who prest him to withdraw his Troops out of the Milanese that he must wait till Velasco who was appointed to Succeed the Count of Fuentes was Arrived at Milan He was on the Road when the Prince of Savoy performed the Conditions proposed to him The Pope and Mary de Medicis redoubling their Instances to Philip to Disarm he was under a necessity of complying As soon as Velasco was in Possession of his Government he received Orders from Philip to Disband the Army The posture of Affairs of the House of Austria in Germany were so bad and the Kingdom of Spain was so much exhausted of Men and Money that Philip â—…ad no other way to revenge himself of an inferiour Prince who had attempted to take the Milanese from him Nay France and the Pope were forâ—…ed to assist him privately to save his Honour Without this Charles Emanuel would have been a Match for him and the King of Spain would not have dared to attack him Different Projects of the Duke of Savoy The Duke of Savoy was ready to burst with Spight to see himself made the sport of all Europe He resolved to defer laying down his Arms as long as he could and to make his Advantage of the Troops he had on Foot Sometimes he would declaim against the King of Spain and made a Mein as if he would Disavow all the steps of Prince Philibert At others he was violent against the Regent of France and threatned to make work for her in her own Kingdom in case she would not perform the Treaties made with the late King One day he thought of Surprizing Genoa and for that purpose enter'd into a Negotiation with the Mareschal Lesdiguieres because the thing was not fesible without the Concurrence of France Some time after he Resumed his old Project on the City of Geneva Filled with new Hopes he strove to engage the Pope and Constable of Castile to favour him in the design to destroy a Common-weath equally hateful to the Courts of Rome and Madrid Charles Emanuel was on the point of Surprizing Geneva at the end of 1602. Some of his Men were got upon the Walls and ready to open the Gates to the Duke who was come near it if the Enterprize had not been happily discovered In the year 1609 he hoped to succeed better on the side of the Harbour The Contrivance was to conceal divers Soldiers in Vessels loaded with Wood and to run these down the River The second Attempt was defeated sooner than the first Du Terrail Head of this Enterprize imprudently spoke of it to some Persons who gave the Magistrates of the City notice to be upon their Guards After this in the Spring time 1611. the Duke of Savoy thought to try if he might not succeed better with open Force The Duke of Savoy resolves to Attack Geneva and the Country of the Valleys His Troops were ordered to pass out of Piemont into Savoy This sudden Motion of a Restless Ambitious Prince gave great Suspicions at first he strove to conceal his Designs on the Country of Geneva but the Inhabitants of the Town and those of the Canton of Bern soon discovered them They first Addressed themselves to the Mareschal Lesdiguieres and desired him to procure Assistance from the Regent Lesdiguieres promised his good Offices Before he wrote to Court he laid before the Duke his Friend that Geneva and the Country of Vaux as being under the protection of France she would not fail to defend them Charles Emanuel did not seem to give much heed to these Discourses and therefore the Mareschal earnestly prest the Queen and her Councel to oppose the Designs of the Duke they saw very well the Consequences La Nove Son to that Brave and Religious Gentleman who gain'd so fair a Reputation in the Wars of France and the Low Countries had order to go to Geneva with two Thousand Foot and the Canton of Bern received New Assurances of the King's Protection The Council of France resolves to protect Geneva and the County of Vaux Bellegarde Gentleman of the Horse was sent into Burgundy and the Marquiss of Alincourt to Lyons to watch the Duke of Savoy's Motions Berrault appointed Ambassador extraordinary at Turin went to represent to Charles Emanuel that his Enterprize would have troublesom Consequences and declare directly that the Regents Council were gathering Troops to defend a Town and Country which the Predecessor of Lewis the XIII had taken into the Protection of their Crown The Duke who reckoned on the
is still in our Times She applied her self to divide the Protestants of France and weaken them but did not refuse her good Offices and the young King's Protection to those of Geneva and Germany The Marquess de la Vieuville du Brueil President of Mets and Villers Hotman were sent of her part to Aix la Chappelle towards the end of September to endeavour to appease the Troubles raised a little before in that City The occasion of these was thus In the year 1598. the Protestant Inhabitants of Aix la Chappelle Mercure Francois 1611. having drove out the Roman Catholick Magistrates the City was put under the Interdict of the Empire The Elector of Cologne had a Commission to see the Emperor's Orders put in Execution and Accomplished it by the Aid of the Elector of Triers and the Duke of Cleves So the Catholick Magistrates were restored and the Protestant Ministers in their turn drove out of the City The Protestants shewing great uneasiness to be thus deprived of the Exercise of their Religion the Catholicks to strengthen their Interest put themselves under the Protection of Albert Arch-Duke of the Low Countries The Revolution which hapned after in the Dutchies of Cleves and Juliers which Countries fell into the Hands of two Protestant Princes gave some Consolation to those of Aix la Chapelle who were of the same Religion They went two Leagues off into a Village in the Country to pray to God and hear his Word This displeased the Roman Catholicks The Magistrates forbid the Protestants to go into that Village upon pain of Imprisonment and paying a great Fine They added to this a Clause that all who should not be able to pay the Fine should be banished out of the City Some by Vertue of this New Law suffered Imprisonment and after were condemned to perpetual Banishment Their Friends and Neighbours moved with Compassion in taking their leaves of them went in a considerable Number to the Magistrates when they were met to present a Petition in favour of those poor Wretches They alledged that the Sentence against them was contrary to the Privileges of the Inhabitants and required the Rigour of it to be abated The Magistrates very far from considering this Ordered every one to return immediately to their Respective Houses Those who were thus remanded began to exclaim against the Hardships of the Magistrates and the Jesuits whom they lookt on as Authors of these violent Counsels It is now twelve years that we have groaned under this Oppression said some of them have we not had Patience long enough Shall we never think of Revenging three hundred Families of our fellow Citizens driven out of their Country in less than eight days time The love of Liberty is common to Men and Brutes But it is the Advantage of Men to have Courage and Industry to defend it and recover it when it is lost Our Ancestors have ever preferred Death to Slavery Let us follow the Examples which they have given us It is sweeter to die than endure Banishment If God bless our just Efforts for the Preservation of our Estates and Liberties We shall obtain the free Exercise of our Religion into the Bargain Fired with this warm Speech several run presently to Arms and others joyn with them They sieze the Town-House oblige the Burgomaster to let out those who were unjustly kept in Prison sieze the Keys of the Gates and put up the Chains in all parts of the City The Protestants being Masters of the Town chose Captains setled a New City Council and took all ways they could think of to prevent Trouble and Confusion Being persuaded it would be hard to keep peace in the City as long as any Jesuits remained in it the New Council sent Men to secure the good Fathers and secure their College The Consternation they were in not giving them leave to Intrigue they withdrew to their Church to implore the Assistance of God and their Great Patron Ignatius Loyola whom the Pope had newly Canonized When Bigots have rashly brought themselves into danger by their Cabals and Indiscreet Zeal they have a vain confidence that God will work Miracles to bring them out The Jesuits were carried to the Town-House and put under a strong Guard without having any harm done them The Superior of their professed House at Paris was then at Aix la Chapelle to drink the Waters He was treated with all imaginable Respect as soon as he discovered himself The Townsmen shewed they did this in consideration of the King of France and the Queen his Mother The Wise and Moderate Catholicks disapproved the Severity of the Magistrates to the Protestants several of them would not quit their Places in the City or the Pretensions they had to them but seeing in the Conclusion they were the weakest they had Recourse to Arch-Duke Albert. The Protestants of their side begged the Assistance of the Prince of Brandenburgh and Newburgh Masters of the Neighbouring Countries of Cleves and Juliers Count Solms Governor there for the Princes coming to Aix la Chapelle with a good number of Horse the Protestants remained absolute in the City And now they publish a Manifesto setting forth the Reasons they had to change the Form of their small Commonwealth for a time In this they offered to agree to these Conditions that those of the Confession of Ausburg and the Reformed should have free Exercise of their Religon that a certain Number of Protestants should be admitted to the Magistracy with a Provision in the last place that the Jesuits should be expelled the place The Regent of France interposes to calm the Troubles at Aix la Chapelle The Arch-Duke Albert and the Elector of Cologne had sent Persons on their part to labour for an Accommodation But the Threats of the Persons cut by Arch-Duke Albert having Exasperated the Minds of the People their Mediation was not accepted The Marquess de la Vieuville and his Collegues were heard more favourably After a Wise Remonstrance they made the Protestants agree to a conditional Treaty without prejudice to the Emperor's Power or what he should order hereafter The Protestants agreed to wait for his Imperial Majesty's Decision of their Differences with the Catholicks and that all things in the mean time without excepting the College of Jesuits should be Reestablished in the same condition they were with a Provision that the Protestants should have the free Exercise of their Religion in some convenient Place without the Walls of the ancient City of Charlemagne But the Catholick Magistrates refused to Sign the Treaty upon a pretence that the Empepor had Commissioned Archduke Albert and the Elector of Cologne to pacifie the Troubles in such manner as they should think fit In vain did Vieuville and his Collegues make a second Remonstrance to the Catholick Magistrates to encline them to Peace They obstinately refused it and the Jesuits retired into the Catholick Low Countries And now the Envoys of France caused New
Brandenbourg and Vewbourg about the Government of Cleves and Juliers Whilst the Regent was making present Reflections upon the good Success of her Journey into Poitou and Bretagne the Spaniards wifely made their Advantage of the private Agreement which they had made with Mary de Medicis to Assist her to maintain her Authority in France on Condition she would not Support or at least not openly oppose their Designs in Germany and Italy These false Politicks of a Regent who was Ridiculously persuaded that the Support of the Pope and the King of Spain was necessary for the maintaining her Authority has already made her take a great many false Steps contrary to the true Interest of her Son Interests of Princes by Mr. de Rohan part II. Disco V. And we shall take notice of Two more She should never have suffered the Archdukes of the Catholick Low-Countries to send the Marquiss de Spinola with a powerful Army to Execute the Proclamation which the Emperor had Published against Aix Mercure Francois 1614. and under this pretence to seize many Important Towns in the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Since the Marriage of the Prince of Newbourg with Madeleine of Bavaria there was a more open difference than ever between him and the Duke of Brandenbourg They were Employed in strengthening themselves one against the other both abroad and at home Two Passions very blind but extremely active in the heart of a young Prince Ambition and resentment of an Affront offered him in the face of the World had inclined Newbourg to join with the Emperor the King of Spain and the Arch-Dukes of the Catholick Low-Countries He hoped that the House of Austria and the Catholick League of Germany of which the Duke of Bavaria was the head would assist him to recover those Countries which were in Dispute as soon as he should Embrace the Communion of the Pope This way of Revenging which the Elector of Brandenburg had given him seemed to Newbourg the most Advantageous and Glorious He declared himself a Roman Catholick the 15th of May at Dusseldorp There is reason to think that the Prince deferred his publick Abjuration of the Confession of Augsbourg in hopes that passing some time longer under the Name of a Protestant he should the more easily effect his Design of making himself sole Master of some of the Principal Towns in Dispute 'T was not without Design that being in Juliers in the Month of March he desired Pitham the Governor of the Castle to give him and his Retinue Entrance The Officer being a greater Friend to the House of Brandenbourg than to that of Newbourg refufed to admit him although he would enter alone Pitham relied upon an Article of the Transaction which passed between the Two Houses that the Governors of Castles and Fortified Places should not give Entrance to one of the Princes in Possession unless the other were present The Governor remaining firm to his Resolution Newbourg went towards Leige He went to make a visit to the Elector of Cologne his New Ally The Prince of Brandenburg attempted a little while after to surprize Dusseldorp but he likewise mist his aim as well as the other The States of the Vnited-Provinces the Electors and Princes of the Empire as they were Friends to both Houses Exhorted them to a Peace but in vain The Jealousie of each other encreast every day especially after Newbourg had chang'd his Religion The States of the Vnited-Provinces Sided at that time with the Prince of Brandenbourg 'T was for their Interest to hinder that the whole Succession of Cleves and Juliers should not fall to a Prince devoted to the House of Austria and Engag'd in the Catholick League of Germany Brandenbourg agreed to them that they should be Possest of the City and Castle of Juliers which they should hold by way of Sequestration This undertaking had its Success by means of Pitham who was gained over He suffered the Soldiers to enter therein with the Officers which the Prince of Orange had sent Newbourg on his Side had the Policy to make himself Master of Dusseldorp where he Fortified himself the best he could These Enterprises of Brandenbourg and Newbourg seem'd to be the Preliminaries of an open War which began quickly after There was talk of an Accommodation at a Conference held at Wesel but the Prince of Newbourg not being willing to dismiss the Troops he had raised unless the City and Castle of Juliers were put into the same Condition they were before the Holland Garrison enter'd they separated without coming to any Conclusion Each one thought of nothing more than maintaining taining his Right by open Violence and the Succours of his Allyes The Affair hapen'd otherwise than the Two Princes imagin'd The Spaniards and the States of the Vnited-Provinces these under the pretence of Relieving the House of Newbourg the other that of Brandenbourg divided betwixt them almost all the Succession which was in Controversie The Emperor Rodolph had put the City of Aix-la-Chapelle under Interdiction of the Empire by reason of the Change the Protestant Party had made in the Magistracy The City of Aix la-Chapelle under Interdiction in the Year 1611. But being dead before that the Archduke Albert his Brother and Ernest of Bavaria then Elector of Cologne dared to execute the Commission his Imperial Majesty had directed to them for the reducing the Inhabitants of Aix the Duke of Deux-Ponts Administrator of the Electorate Palatine and Vicar of the Empire during the Interregnum made all the procedures void and what ever Rodolph Ordained against the City of Aix-la-Chapelle After Matthias his Brother had succeeded him Complaint was made to the Imperial Court of the Duke of Deux-Ponts's Undertaking and the Catholicks press'd forward the Execution of the Ban publisht by the deceas'd Emperour His Majesty easily granted what the Pope and the Spaniards maintain'd in his Council However it appear'd to him That the D. of Deux Ponts had gone beyond his Authority and Enchrocht upon the Emperor by annulling what Rodolph had in his life time Ordered Wherefore the City of Aix-la-Chapelle was again put under the Ban of the Empire the 20th of February in this Year The Arch-Duke Albert and Ferdinand of Bavaria Successor to Ernest in the Electorate of Cologne had Commission to put the new Order in Execution Albert straight after rais'd great Forces in the Low Countries under his Dominions The States of the Vnited Provinces watchful of the Spaniards motions so near to them put themselves on their Side in Arms and posture of Desence Good Policy required no less than that they should stand upon their Guards and oppose what the House of Austria should attempt against the States of Cleves and Juliers which they found to lie conveniently for them 'T was not necessary to raise such great Forces to bring the City of Aix-la-Chapelle into Submission for every one well knew that the Spaniard kept close another Design which was
more Important Both the Armies lay for some time without moving yet each of 'em was fearful of being charg'd with the reproach of having broke the Truce made betwixt the Arch-Dukes and the States General of the Vnited-Provinces France and England ought naturally to put in for to heal these Differences and hinder the House of Austria from coming into the Controverted Succession But Philip had his Pensioners in the Councils of France and England too Being assured that James and Mary de Medicis would stand Neuters he resolv'd that Spinola General of his Troops in the Low Countries should under pretence of the Ban publisht against the City of Aix-la-Chapelle March as soon as might be and coming back Seise on the best Places of the States of Cleves and Juliers And this was the means of disposing afterward as he pleas'd of so fair a Succession What the Vnited-Provinces undertook upon the City and Castle of Juliers seem'd to the House of Austria a sufficient Warrant to justifie what they intended to do a long time before Spinola Reduceth Aix-la-Chapelle makes himself Master of many places in Cleves and Juliers And now Spinola is in the Field with an Army of about Thirty thousand Men. He passeth the Maes to Mastricht and from thence goes and Invests Aix-la-Chapelle The Inhabitants too weak to make any opposition ask for Pardon the Second day and submit themselves to his Imperial Majesty Spinâ—â—a now Master of the City Restores the ancient Catholick Magistrates and Removes the Protestants Some of these were Imprisoned who had any hand in the Alteration made in the Year 1611. and others saved themselves as they could leaping over the Walls of the City After according to his fancy he had Regulated all things in Aix-la-Chapelle this Spinola Marches towards the States of Cleves Duren opens the Gates to him and from thence he goes to Mulheim there he demolisheth the Fortifications fills up the Trenches Consequential to some Imperial Demands which Cologne had obtained which was always opposite to the Raising of a New City which the Princes of Brandenbourg and Newbourg had began there some Years ago At length the Spanish General strengthened by the joint Troops which Newbourg had brought him besig'd Wesel took it seised on Duisbourg and many other Places Maurice Prince of Orange Maurice P. of Orange takes many places on his Side in the same Country who was then at Schenk Fort at the head of Eighteen thousand Men on his Side likewise put himself upon taking of Places He got to be Master of Emerick Rees and some other Towns in a little time A particular passage was then seen Two Armies at Enmity one with the other Interests des princes par Mr. de Rohan II. Partie Discours V. seiz'd on the Succession of Cleves and Juliers without breaking the Truce which was betwixt them without setting one upon the other and without drawing their Swords The most speedy of the Two Generals made the greater Progress When one had taken one Place the other retired without laying any pretence to it 'T is said that Prince Maurice only sent to Spinola to know in what Prince's time he enter'd in an Hostile manner into the Country and Spinola answered in returning the same Question to him Spinola dar'd not to attack Maurice who had a Braver and more Experienced Army And Maurice would not hazard his Troops which were the main strength of the Vnited-Provinces He believ'd that the States General would have glory and advantage enough in Sharing without running any Risque of the Succession of Cleves and Juliers with the King of Spain The Two Generals continu'd their Expedition without disturbing one the other in any thing but making all possible hast Spinola made an end in making a detatchment of his Army o're towards Juliers where he had taken some Places Maurice sent Prince Frederick Henry his Brother into the Dutchy of Mark to do the like A new way of Warring one with the other by being but outwardly on both Sides good Friends Conference at Santheim upon the Succession of Cleves and Juliers It is not less surprising that the King of England the Queen Regent of France and the Protestant Princes of Germany should stand as idle Spectators of all these motions in an Affair wherein at first they all seem'd to be so much concern'd But why Mary de Medicis devoted to the Court of Rome was contented to give Words and send Embassies to propose an Accommodation King James whose Council as well as France's was bought by the Spaniard did not believe that he ought to be more hotly concern'd than the Regent The Princes of Germany forsaken by both these Crowns and divided thrô Affection and Interest what could they do in the Case Nevertheless upon this occasion some hopes of life were to be given The Succession of Cleves and Juliers seemed to be Expos'd to him who could first Grasp it France England Denmark the Confederate Princes the Count Palatine the Elector of Cologne and some other Princes of Germany sent at last their Agents to Santheim for to Confer there about the means of stopping these Stirs and ending this long Contest Brandenbourg and Newbourg having both of them given in their Demands and Reasons in Writing a Trasaction was drawn up which the Two were in the mean time to observe whilst the Difference wâ—â— adjudged by Law But when it came to the Point to get Spain and the Vnited-Provinces to agree to these Articles there was so much difficulty to compass this as 't was not possible to come to any end The States threw the blame upon Spinola and the Spaniard upon Prince Maurice May speak the truth neither one or t'other car'd for any accommodation Each one thought of an Advantage from what he had taken The Duke of Savoy falls out with Spain more than ever The good success of the Spaniards Arms towards Germany seem'd to Flush and render more Proud than they were before the Catholick King 's Agents in Italy But Inojola Governor of Milan had neither the Wit nor Bravery of Spinola The Duke of Savoy openly ridicul'd the Threats made him as from the King of Spain Assure me Nani Historia Veneta Lib. I. 1614. Siri Memo. recondite Tom. III. p. 242.243 c. Mercure Francois 161.4 saith he that the King of France won't Attack me I know well enough hâ—…w to defend my self against the Catholick King Don't we know well enough what the Spaniard at this time is able to do He is far from being so formidable as he was in Charles I. Reign and in the former Years of his Son 's The Duke of Savoy is not the most Puissant Neighbour Philip hath but perhaps he fears him less than any one else And thus resolved to maintain his Dignity against all Persons who talkt domineeringly to him Charles Emanuel prepares himself for an open Breach with his Catholick Majesty The Marquiss of Coeuvres had scarce left Italy but
and Predestination in the Vnited Provinces A new Contest in Holland about the manner of chusing Pastors The Differences in the Vnited Provinces encrease A Conference at Delft between the Remonstrants and Contra-remonstrants The Prejudice of James King of England against the Arminians is abated Sibrund a Frieseland Minister publishes a Libel on the States of Holland Grotius is ordered to reply An Edict of the States of Holland to compose the Differences about the Questions of Predestination and Grace BOOK V. A New Party form'd at Court by the Marechal of Bouillon Artifices of the Duke of Savoy to raise a Civil War in France Different Measures propos'd to the Council of Franco for dispersing the Prince of Conde's Faction The Regent's Circular Letter upon the Retreat of the Prince of Conde and some Lords of his Faction The Duke of Nevers seizes the Citadel of Mezieres in Champagne The Prince of Conde writes a Letter to the Regent in form of a Manifesto The Weakness of the Parlement of Paris on this Occasion Reflections on the Answer the Cardinal of Perron made the Prince of Conde The Reply of Mary de Medicis to the Prince of Conde Mary de Medicis raises Six Thousand Swisses Bassompierre is made Colonel General of the Swisses in the Duke of Rohan's Place The Conduct of the Reformed in France in the Prince of Conde's Business The Wisdom of Du Plessis The Prince of Conde solicits the Reformed The wise Reply of du Plessis Mornay to the Regent and the Prince of Conde The Duke of Rohan seems to hear the Prince of Conde's Propositions The Duke of Vendome's Evasion He writes into Britany The Death of the Constable of Montmorency The Duke of Savoy shuns meeting the Marquess de Coeuvres Ambassador from France into Italy The Jealousie of the Princes and States of Italy occasioned by the Correspondence of the Two Crowns about the Affairs of that Country The Spaniards secretly traverse the Treaty carried on by the Marquess de Coeuvres The Cardinal-Duke of Mantua accepts the Conditions proposed by the Marquiss de Coeuvres The Duke of Savoy seems likewise to accept them Troops are raised at Turin The Treaty of the Duke of Ventadour and the other Commissioners of the King with the Prince of Conde and those of his Party The Prince retires to Soissons and goes into Champagne A Division in the Regent's Council on the Demands which the Prince of Conde and the Malecontents make with respect to their private Interests Intrigues of the Marshal of Ancre to divert the Regent from making War on the Prince of Conde The Pope's Nuncio's reasoning on the Resolution taken to make Peace with the Prince of Conde An Examen of the Political Reflexion of a Venetian Author of the Treaty made with the Prince of Conde A Treaty concluded at St. Menehoud between the Regent and the Prince of Conde The Sentiments of the Parlement of Paris against a Book of Suarez the Jesuit Paul V. complains of the Proceedings of Parlement against Suarez's Book A Discourse of the Pope to the French Ambassador upon the Parlements Sentence The Conduct of the Court of France to satisfie the Pope The Jesuits stir to have the Parlement's Sentence burnt The King's Declaration in his Council concerning the Parlement's Sentence The Pope will not be satisfied with the King's Declaration The King at last is obliged to suspend the Execution of the Parlements Sentence Differences in the Court of France The Duke of Vendome refuses to accept the Treaty of Menehoud The Ability and Prudence of du Plessis Mornay Mary de Medicis sends the Marquiss de Coeuvres to the Duke of Vendome to dispose him to an Accommodation A new Disturbance of the Prince of Conde An Interview of the Prince of Conde and the Duke of Rohan The Prince of Conde thinks to make himself Master of Poitiers A great Tumult at Poitiers The Gates of the City are shut against the Prince He retreats to Chateouroux in Berry A Remonstrance of du Plessis Mornay to the Regent The King and Queen Mother go to Poitiers The Queen goes to Nants in Brettany to hold a Meeting of the States The Prince of Conti's Death New Differences between the Princes of Brandenburgh and Newburgh about the Administration of the Countries of Cleves and Juliers The Town of Aix la Chapelle is put under the Ban of the Empire The Marquess of Spinola reduces the Town of Aix la Chapelle and seizes divers Places in the Countries of Cleves and Juliers Maurice Prince of Orange takes divers Places in the same Country A Conference at Santheim about the Succession of Cleves and Juliers The Duke of Savoy is more embroyl'd with Spain than ever He seeks to gain the Venetians into his Interests The Marquiss of Rambouillet is sent Ambassador Extraordinary into Italy An open War between Spain and Savoy Several Things writ on both sides The Pope's Nuncio and French Ambassador labour for an Accommodation between them The Duke of Savoy accepts the Conditions proposed and Spain refuses them The King of Spain is not satisfied with the Governour of Milan's Conduct The Majority of Lewis XIII His first Act. Sits in his Seat of Justice Education of Lewis XIII THE HISTORY OF THE REIGN OF LEWIS XIII King of France and Navarre BOOK I. THE Reign whose History I am about to write The Plan of the Work abounds in Great Events Here is a Scene of Civil and Foreign Wars Bloody Battles Towns attack'd and defended with great Conduct and Courage The Protestants oppress'd in France and supported in Hungary Germany and the Vnited Provinces The Nobility Clergy Parlements and People reduced to Slavery A King unable to extricate himself from those Difficulties in which some were still busie to involve him leaves the Care of Affairs to his Favourites and Ministers Alike averse to his Mother his Wife his Brother he treats the one ill and obliges the rest to form Leagues at Home and Abroad and at last to throw themselves into the Hands of the ancient Enemies of France The Princes of the Blood and the Great Lords disgusted sometimes at the ill Administration of a Regent at other times with the excessive Power of a Favourite or Minister rise under the specious Pretence of a Concern for the Publick Good The Protestants driven to Extremity by the frequent Infractions of the most inviolable Edict that ever was at last take Arms to defend the Liberty of their Consciences and preserve those Securities which had been so justly granted them in the preceding Reign The Enterprizes of the House of Austria on the Princes of Italy force them to have recourse to the Protection of France and make an Alliance with her These Sovereigns jealous of their Repose and Liberty see without concern the Duke of Savoy give up to the King of France a Place which opens a way into Italy whenever he shall think fit to send any Aid thither A great Conqueror coming from the