brave now they fought for him for they deserted him before St. Denis and if he had not had those who stood by him he had been bafflâ—d before a little paltry Town The Prince of Conde was come back to Paris but in a few days return'd to his Army perceiving the Kings had taken the Field on purpose to dislodge his which by the means of the Bridge of St. Cloud was often cover'd by the river of Scine so as to avoid coming to a Battle He found the Enemy had made a Bridge of Boats ready on the side of St. Denis to pass over part of their Army while the other marcht on this side of the River Being therefore afraid to be inclos'd he decamp'd and intended to retire between Charenton and Ville neuve St. Georges where he hop'd the rivers of Marne and Scine would serve him for a good Reâ—renchment The Viscount de Turenne whom he had to deal with peâ—etrating into his design fell upon him from the rising grounds of the Fauxbourg St. Martin and furiously charg'd his Rear The Prince seeing himself so hotly prest and despairing of gaining the Bridge of Charenton which he could not pass neither without defiling resolv'd to fight since he was forc'd to it and commanded his Van-guard to halt They were come up as far as the Entrance of the Fauxbourg St. Antoine where he found several Retrenchments the Parisians had cast up to cover themselves from the Spoil of the Duke of Lorrain who had ravag'd the Countries all thereabouts The Prince as he had the greatest knowledge in Military Affairs of any man in his Age immediately concluded that nothing could have happen'd more advantageous than what Fortune herself here offer'd him so he drew his Troops into these Retrenchments and lodg'd them as fast as they came up The Kings Army was stronger by half than the Princes but the Mareschal de la Ferte who commanded a part of 'em being still on the other side of the Seine their Forces were pretty equal The King who did not imagine that the Prince of Conde could escape him posted himself on the rising grounds about Menilmontunt from whence being out of danger he might see all that past He propos'd two advantages to himself in doing this one was by his presence to animate the Souldiers and the other that it would hinder the City of Paris from giving the Prince a retreat And indeed it had this effect that they did refuse to let his Baggage come in which was forâ—'t to be left upon the Bulwark The Mareschal de la Ferte hearing the Viscount de Turenne was going to engage the Prince made all the haste â—e could to repass the Seine but that was a thing not to be done in a moment so the Battel begun without him The Viscount de Turenne advancing to the entrance of the Fauxbourg made a vigorous attack upon it while at the same time he sent some of his Troops to my to enter some other part of the City I had always till now a good opinion of the Courage of the Duke de Beaufort and thought the Reflections made on him by the Duke de Nemours proceeded rather from the hatred that was between them than from any just occasion but I saw now that he did all he could to get into the Town upon pretence of declaring for the Prince of Conde but indeed as I thought I had good reason to believe to avoid fighting For the rest having told you the zeal of the common people in assisting some enterprises of his I ought also to tell you how it came to pass that they had now an other Opinion of him you must know that he not only grew weary of the War but complain'd his Troops were expos'd to all the Hardships of an Enemy which the Prince of Conde could not help having not Money to pay them that so they might have been kept in Discipline however the fight being begun as I have just now said was maintain'd on both sides with such Resolution that 't was not known for a good while who would have the better of it but the Viscount de Turenne knowing that the Mareschal de la Ferte was marching with all speed possibly to join him made such efforts that he disappointed his hopes of sharing with him in the Victory The Barricadoes were forc'd in two places and tho the Prince of Conde disputed their passage with an incredible obstinacy he was in great danger of having all his men cut off If Madamoiselle de Montpensier who was always his Friend had not done him a great piece of Service She seiz'd upon the Bastile a Foâ—â—ress at the Gate de St. Antoine and letting fly the Cannon among the Kings Troops not regarding that he was 〈◊〉 himself oblig'd him to make a precipitate Retreat and also to order Turenne to do the like I had not been in very many actions so I could not say this was hotter than usual but I heard several old Officers say 't was and I know very well some Squadrons charg'd five times and tho they had been often broke to pieces yet they rally'd again as often here was abundance of men kill'd and wounded and the Duke de la Rochefaucaut was among the latter he receiv'd a hurt under his Eye by which he lost his sight for the present but he has recover'd it again since they carry'd him into Paris which Madamoiselle oblig'd at last to declare it self and thro which the Prince de Conde marcht his Army The Duke de la Rouchefaucaut thinking his Wound had been mortal sent for a Priest to be confest who told him 't was to no purpose unless he would count this for one crime his taking up Arms against his King and would promise never to continue in it 'T would have been very well if all the Confessors would have acquitted themselves as this fellow did the disorders would soon have been ended but they were not all so honest And the Cardinal de Râ—tz who ought to have been an example to others as a Cardinal and Archbishop of Paris was so far from that that he was one of the first in the Revolt It pleas'd God to preserve me in this action tho I fought in a Troâ—p of which above half were kill'd upon the place but seeing the Duke de Beaufort behave himself as I have noted it very much lessen'd my esteem for him and I resolv'd to leave him which I did three days before he fought the Duel with the Duke de Nemours in which the latter was kill'd If the Prince of Conde had thought it worth his while he might have prevented this misfortune but he was not sorry that he was thus rid of this Prince who was his Rival in the Dutchess de Chatillon and as he thought better receiv'd there than himself so that when they told him he was kill'd he hardly behav'd himself decently for shutting himself up with his Favourites he gave
true name it was remain'd with the body so I had the unhappiness to see all my fellow Prisoners go free and my self left behind I remain'd so overwhelm'd with trouble that Nature it self sunk under it and I fell into a Fever which held me two months at least and being carry'd to the Hospital all my hopes depended upon an Officer of Picardy whom I thought to be an honest man and to whom I had discover'd my self I had desir'd two things of him before he went away one was that he would convey a Letter for me which I had writ to the Cardinal in which I had given him an account of the sad accident that had befallen me the other was to send me the half years revenue that was due to me of my rent at Lyons which I desiâ—'d him to receive and to that end gave him a Blank Receipt signed with my hand for the Pay-master to fill up as usual in that case but instead of doing me this kindness he not only run away with my Money but was so barbarous as to keep my Letter which I had written to the Cardinal I waited with impatience for an answer from him and from his Eminence but I heard from both of them alike yet I was such a credulous Coxcomb as to flatter my self for three months that there was some extraordinary thing had fallen out to hinder him at last seeing I was forsaken both of Heaven and Earth if I may dare to speak so my despair was so great that I was ready to lay violent hands upon my self in the mean time I relaps'd into my distemper and was come to that extremity that they began to tell me I ought to think of settling my Conscience I askt then for a Confessor and having as it happened fallen into the hands of an honest man I made him my Confident in some part of my sorrows I told him of the false name I had taken up and how it depriv'd me of that relief which otherwise I might have had I durst not tell him any more lest out of a false zeal he should reveal my Confession The good man after he had given me what Consolation he could offer'd himself very freely to go for me to Paris and having gladly accepted his proâ—â—er I gave him a Blank sign'd as I had done the Officer of Picardy that he might receive whatever there was due to me from Lyons I did not tell him how much for I was afraid that Officer had pâ—aid me some nick and indeed he found that he had receiv'd five hundred Crowns which he was gone away with but there being by this time another half year due he brought me likewise the like sum of five hundred Crowns excepting a small matter for the Charges of his Journey If I durst have trusted him as I said with my affair to the Cardinal he would without doubt have acquitted himself honestly since he was a Frenchman both by Birth and Inclination but Providence having order'd things otherwise I resolv'd with my self being reliev'd from that horrible necessity I was in to have a little longer patience and the rather because they began now to talk of the General Peace which the Spaniards who had always rejected it seem'd now more inclinable to since the ill success they had in the last Campagnes but it all depended upon this Summers Expeditiâ—n and if the Spaniards should happen to beat us all our hopes would be lost again The Kings Army was commanded by the Viscount de Turenne who had with him join'd in Commission the Mareschal de la Ferte but the latter suffâ—ing himself to be beaten by an oversight before Valenciennes the Viscount de Turenne manag'd it so that he had no longer a Collegue and affairs were never the worse for it for before the Jealousy which arose between these two ruin'd the best of their designs but now those disorders being prevented we got the better of the Enemy on all sides but as we could not be satisfy'd with any Conquests till we had added that of Dunkirk which nevertheless was to be deliver'd up to the English by virtue of a Treaty with them the Viscount de Turenne marcht thither with his Army Monsieur de Montal who apprehended nothing so much as a Peace said openly that it all depended upon the success of this Enterprize and I assoon as I heard how it was pray'd heartily it might come to pass as I had reason to do for I saw plainly enough that this was the only hope I had left for the recovery of my liberty but the place being of the greatest consequence to both Parties the Spaniards were not less vigilant in the defence of it than we were vigorous in our attacks and they who had always before shun'd giving Battle with a great deal of caution now drew all their Forces together into the Field and the Prince of Conde having join'd them with his Forces advanc'd together within Cannon-shot of our Trenches The Viscount de Turenne who did not expect to take such a place as this without blows had dispos'd all things for their reception like a great Souldier and the Enemy knowing who they had to deal with resolv'd to make a discovery of his Lines before they advanced any further Don Juan of Austria who commanded the Spaniards would trust no body for this service but advanc'd himself with the Prince of Conde to take the view and the Mareschal de Hoquincourt who was with them having with more courage than wit adventur'd too far before the rest was kill'd with a Musquet-shot this made the rest retire but did not put by their design of attacking us in our Trenches The Viscount de Turenne having notice of this by his Scouts was resolv'd to be before-hand with them and coming boldly out of his Trenches drew up in a posture to receive them he did not stand to encourage them by amusing them with a long Speech but riding thro the Ranks to see that all things were in order he show'd a countenance so full of assurance that put such an opinion into the minds of his Souldiers as was a good Omen of a certain Victory If I had been in this Engagement my self 't would have pleas'd me to have given you the particulars the account being so much to our advantage but I know too well the errors they are subject to who write of such things from the mouths of others and shall therefore to avoid the same mistakes content my self with telling you in general that the Viscount de Turenne having broken the whole body of the Enemies Army sat down immediately before Dunkirk which he oblig'd in a few days to capitulate and from thence he march'd his Army along the Sea Coast and took in all the small Towns thereabouts for having gain'd so great a Battle and taken so strong a Town in so short a time they thought there was no resisting him and he would have over-run all Flanders if
reply'd he but in short what business have you with the Count de Soissons and what are you two plotting together I saw by these words I was betraid and that nothing but telling the truth could save me My Lord said I if I did not give you an account of that it was not to make a secret of it but your Eminence having chid me I thought 't was enongh to do my duty without making my court to you from the merit of my answer to the Count de Soissons he sent to me indeed to entertain me in his service but if those who told your Eminâ—nce that story had also told you what return I made 't would have been so much to my advantage as would effectually have re-establisht me in your favour I know all says the Cardinal to me hastily to terrify me and if you would have me to pardon you you must confess the whole matter freely I ask no Pardon my Lord said I but to do me Justice only I told him that I had too good a Master to think of changing him and I will always say so as long as your Eminence will please to accept of my service Then you have nothing else to say return'd the Cardinal very seriously Well take heed you will repent it before it be long I said to him all that an innocent man could say but as he still doubted the truth of it he continu'd eight whole days without taking any notice of me in which time he employ'd La Ferâ—é to discover how it was La Ferté did all he could but understanding 't was one Mezieres had spoke to me who was a man very faithful to his Master and from whom he had no hopes to learn the secret he try'd if he could pump it out of the Prince himself he told him that I was a gallant Fellow and behav'd my self so at Locates and had been very faithful ever since I belong'd to the Cardinal but that the Cardinal had us'd me very ill and I had reason for some resentment that this was the time for him to gain over such a man into his service who was worth having and if he pleas'd he would attempt it The Count de Soissons who was a man without artifice or disguise told him 't would be in vain that Mezieres had spoke to me already but there was nothing to be done with me This restor'd me to the Cardinals good opinion but not to any capacity to relieve Mr. de Marillac on the other hand the Cardinal was resolv'd to cut him off the more to despight the Queen Mother who was always forming Parties against him and whereas the pretences on which he apprehended him were too weak he came upon him for false Musters a fault that every Captain in the Army is more or less guilty of And indeed what General can be safe if he is answerable for all the actions of his Subalterns 'T was on such a slight matter as this that the Cardinal begun the ruine of so great a person and having gotten a Court Martial of his own Creatures they question'd him on a thousand trifling stories that as a very worthy Gentleman said if they had been all true were not crimes sufficient to have whipt a Page and he answer'd them Article by Article so readily and so directly as puzzled all his Judges But the Cardinal who saw them wavering sending them word they should take heed what they did the fear they had upon them of his displeasure made them pass the sentence he desired for they condemn'd him to have his Head cut off which was executed the same Afternoon in the Placé de Grâ—ves Knowing the nicety of his humour I askt his Eminence if he would give me leave to put my self into Mourning he told me I might do what I would which I understood too well to venture upon it A month or two after this a match was propos'd to me which seem'd to be much for my interest the Cardinal also was very much for it but not for any reason he saw in the thing so much as for the aversion he had to the Count de Soissons and the Lady was Niece and Heir to the Baron de Coupet a sworn Enemy to that Family Indeed that Prince who carry'd it very high had sent the Captain of his Guards one day to abuse a Baron in his own house on pretence that he had spoken dishonourably of a certain Lady whom he had a respect for This occasion'd a great deal of disturbance all the Gentry who thought themselves toucht in such an affront to a person of Quality were got together an account of it being sent to them by the Baron de Coupet and they all agreed that his Dignity secur'd him from his resentment but yet they resolv'd that from that time forward they would universally slight him and not one of them come into his company and that whoever he was that should break this agreement should not be lookt upon as a person of honour This resolution was exactly observ'd and the Prince who had some friends and some creatures found himself at once abandon'd by them all he did all he could to regain the good opinion of the Nobility but finding that not one of â—hem would so much as see him he su'd for the Command of the Army and the Enemy being at that time advanc'd as far as Corbie the Ban and Arrierban was to be rais'd which he thought to be â— fit occasion for his purpose He was prodigious extravagant keeping twelve Tables of five and twenty Dishes for all comeâ—s caressing every body offering Money to several and sending it to others whom he believ'd in want By which means he recover'd the Friendship of most of them But the Relations and Friends of the Baron de Coupet would never forgive him and as they breath'd out nothing but revenge or at least pretended it they cast their eyes upon me in the proposal of this Marriage hoping by that means to be protected by the Cardinal they obtain'd it at first word and the Cardinal told me I could not do better I was surpriz'd at the motion I that had neither Estate nor Employment at least considerable enough to expect a fortune and at the same time mistrusting something in the bottom the sad example of my Father made me resolve to go fair and softly In the mean time I saw the young Lady who was really very agreeable but a little too free for the very second time I saw her she was pleas'd to tell me that being already as it were Man and Wife if she did give me those little liberties I might desire I should not construe it to her prejudice This was enough for me I could understand the rest and these words made me examine her more nearly and I fancy'd she lookt a little big upon which I grew cold in my Courtship all of a sudden It seems I was not deceiv'd for it was even
Relation of Brothers-in-law could have been sufficient as one would have thought it should to have united two Tempers so vastly different as these two then the Prince of Conde did not commit such a great mistake to leave 'em together and go into Guienne But not foreseeing that his absence would beget a mortal hatred between these two Princes who had been before at variance he ran the greatest risque that he ever did in his Life for hearing on all hands that their enmity was not only arriv'd to that pitch that they were ready every moment to cut one anothers Throats but that all affairs were like to be ruin'd by it he made a desperate Journey to them from Agen by his presence to rectify this disorder The Prince was to pass the Loire and tho he took all possible care to conceal his departure by giving out that he was gone to Bourdeaux upon some special occasions yet the Count de Harcourt who Commanded the Kings Army on this side of the River had notice of it and presently detach'd a number of small Parties to possess themselves of all the Passes both by Land and Water but he disappointed them notwithstanding their extream Diligence for travelling Night and Day he was gone by before they could come up to the Passes In the mean time the Marquiss de Levi one of the Prince de Conde's Party had procur'd of the Count de Harcourt a Pasport to retire to his own House persuant to a design of the Prince's under the favour of this Pasport to wait on him disguis'd like one of his Retinue The Marquis stav'd for the Prince till he came at Langres and from thence they both took the Road of Auvergne the greatest part of the Marquiss's Estate lying thereabouts While they were there refreshing themselves the Prince of Conde who was sensible tâ—e Cardinal had lin'd the River with his Souldiers sent to Bussi Rabutin who was in la Charite and obtain'd a promise from him that he would favour his passage and he was as good as his word for he drew off the Guard that stood right against the Ferry of Allier and the Prince of Conde at the same time coming up to that place pass'd over without any manner of opposition After this escape he made the best of his way tho the length of the Journey and the badness of the Roads had so tir'd their Horses that they could not make all the haste they desir'd The King who was on the side of Anger 's came marching up the Loire and had sent out Expresses to all places with orders that they should apprehend the Prince and secure him alive or dead There was one of these Scouts came so near him as to know his Favorite Guitaut and suspecting that the Prince himself was not far of inquir'd for him of a Valet de Chambre who stay'd a little behind If they had had the least presence of Mind in the World they would have certainly kill'd that Courtier upon the spot the Duke de la Rochefaucaut thought of it a moment after but then the Fellow was gone The King as well as the Cardinal was inform'd of this Adventure and immediately detach'd a Party of Horse after him who taking the Road of Chatillon upon Loin so closely persu'd him that he very narrowly escap'd falling into their hands But his good Fortune deliver'd him and having reach'd Chatillon he pass'd on to Lori where his Army than lay At his arrival there he found matters infinitely in a worse condition than what they had been represented to him The Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort were at open defiance one with another for they could not dissemble any longer their resentment after the occasion I am going to tell you of The Inhabitants of Gergeau a Town belonging in Apanage to the Duke of Orleans had promis'd the Duke de Nemours to give him notice of the approach of the Kings Army that so he might have time enough to send them a Garrison This they did not fail to do and he accordingly drew out of the Duke of Orleans's Troops five or six hundred men for that purpose But the Officer that commanded them having receiv'd false intelligence by the way that the King had already enter'd the Town proceeded no further but came directly back again Upon which the People of Gergeau sent another Express to let them know that if they neglected them in this manner they should be oblig'd to open their Gates to the first that appear'd Whereupon the same Troops were remanded thither but then 't was too late and they return'd just as they had done once before The Duke de Nemours was mightily incens'd at this accident and whether he really did suspect some Treachery in it or that he was glad of that pretence to vent his Spleen against the Duke de Beaufort is uncertain but he did not stick publickly to accuse him of holding Correspondence with the Enemy The Duke de Beaufort gave him the Lye and had not the whole Army interpos'd to perswade the Duke of Nemours to suspend his resentment there would have follow'd some strange disorder upon it A few days after this had happen'd the Prince de Conde arriv'd who presently undertook to mediate an Accommodation but the Duke de Nemours would by no means hearken to it yet out of his respect to the Prince and the Interest of their affairs which would not permit him to attempt any thing at that time he was content to constrain himself he said but that afterwards all the World should not hinder him when he saw his convenient time The matter being thus made up for the present or rather deferr'd he march'd against the Kings Army commanded by the Viscount de Turenne and the Mareschal de Hoequincourt who took their Quarter separate one from the other but the Mareschal lying more expos'd he attackt him and took four of his men Prisoners before the rest could be brought to their Arms. The Mareschal lost all his Cavalry in this Encounter and if his Infantry had not sav'd themselves by flying at the very beginning he could not have been more intirely routed The Viscount de Turenne provided a little better for his security for possessing himself of a considerable Post he not only made head against the victorious Troops of the Prince of Conde but put them to a stand and afterwards Night coming on retir'd to Gien One of the Prince of Conde's Gentlemen happen'd to be taken Prisoner some time before this and it being publickly known that this Mareschal was reflected on at Court upon the account of the late Action the miscarriage of which they attributed to his neglect the Prince found a way to let him know that if he would engage in his Interests he should meet with more gratitude from him Hocquincourt who was acquainted of this by some of his Friends askt this Gentleman of the Prince's what advantage it was that he might expect from his Master
was wanted immediately at Paris about some business of consequence so I took my leave of this Traytor without taking notice of any thing and it pleasing God that I should not continue long uncertain whether my suspicion was well or ill grounded it happen'd that a Souldier whom my Valet had carry'd to drink with him on purpose to pump him told him that I was much in the right of it to go away for I had scap'd a scowring he could not get a word more out of him tho he prest him to speak plâ—iner but as this was enough to make me judge of the person I was no sooner on Horseback but I told him I should remember him as long as I liv'd and that at another time I would tell him more he stood mute at these words and not giving him time to justifie himself I clapt Spurs to my Horse and got so far from him that if he had said any thing 't was impossible for me to hear him In the mean time all that I had told him came to pass Monsieur de Tonecharante having been inform'd of his rudeness gave the dismiss to the Souldier without him and not content with giving him this affront he resolv'd to have him casheer'd the first minute he could get an opportunity The thing was difficult to be done at that time it being not then as 't is now that the Collonels were absolute Masters of their Regiments for on the other hand the King was in want of Officers and accordingly was more chary of them than it has been since Indeed they did not come in such crouds for Commissions in those days nor were not so prodigal either of their Estates or of their Lives so that Monsieur de Tonecharante tho he had resolv'd to do his utmost to throw him out found it impossible to bring it to pass till the Peace of the Pyrennes but now the time being come that there was not so much need of Souldiers and the King making a reform among his Troops he manag'd it so that he got his name into the List of those that were to be disbanded tho it was a little out of the order for he was the fifth or sixth Captain of the Regiment and the reform us'd to begin at the youngest Desplanches could not bear this affront without making his complaint which the Count de Toncherante had foreseen and had been beforehand with him having waited upon the King and given him a large account of his behaviour which was not only brutish but something worse for he was grown to that height that sacred things were not free from his violence when he was in drink and he would speak either of God or the the King in the same terms as he did the worst of his Enemies For all this he had the Impudence to go to the King and having pleaded the merit of his service how he had been several years in the Army had always kept his Company full and had never been charg'd with any failure of his duty that he had an Estate of his own and did not serve meerly for his Pay and a thousand things to the same effect The King after he had given him Audience with a great deal of patience answer'd him coldly that he knew all this as well as himself and that since he had been so faithful to him he had done this to give him leisure to serve God as regularly as he had serv'd him and tho he did not expect him to be a Saint yet he would not have him be impious that he had been inform'd from very good hands that he had pist in the Holy Water Pot in contempt of that sacred Element and of all Religion that he did not know how it came to pass he was not prosecuted for it and but that he understood at the same time he was in drink he should perhaps have repented coming to him else Desplanches who knew in his heart the King had tax'd him with nothing but what was true insisted no more upon it but went out with shame enough and retir'd himself altogether to the Country and never stirr'd out of it but once that he came to Paris to marry the Daughter of Monsieur de Brillac Councellor of the great Chamber but this Lady neither being not able to cure him of his Debauchery he kill'd himself with drinking in about five or six years I had resolv'd at my last parting with him to demand satisfaction from him for the Treachery he had us'd towards me but having given the Cardinal an account of the whole matter he prohibited me so strictly that I durst not think of it In the mean time he sent me to Brussels upon a secret affair which I must not reveal and in which I could not succeed The Prince de Conde was still at the Spanish Court and it happen'd while I was there that Monsieur de Beauvais was kill'd he was Father to the Countess de Soissons and Master of the Horse to the Prince he was a Man of Courage but â—ad too good a conceit of himself which was the cause of his misfortune for as he was coming down from the Prince de Conde'â— Lodging he met a Gentleman coming up and takes him by the arm at the top of the stairs with â—uch sorce that he threw him down and walkt over him himself The Gentleman would not so much as ask him the meaning of it then from the respect he ow'd to the Place but going out immediately he gets a Friend and sends him to Beauvais to demand satisfaction of him for this affront Beauvais was not a man that us'd to refuse any body so having brought a Friend with him to be his Second they fought it out two and two of a side one of his Enemies was quite kill'd upon the place but he was never the better for this short liv'd advantage for he receiv'd a Pistol Bullet in his head of which he dy'd in a few days The Prince of Conde being inform'd of this accident went to see him before he dy'd and as he saw there was no hopes of his life he told him that seeing the condition he was in he ought to leave all other thoughts but those of his soul that he had kept a certain Lady a long time by whom he had had several Children one of which was the present Countess de Soissons but was never marry'd to her that he advis'd him to discharge his conscience which he might do by making her his Wife that he knew not how to show his friendship more to him than by advising him for his good and that if he would be rul'd by him he would go and send for a Priest immediately Beauvais had lost all his sences and had not spoke a word in four and twenty hours but the Prince's voice or rather the discourse he made to him reviving him No my Lord said he raising his voice I shall not be rul'd by you I
out a way to come directly to the point and consummate without Matrimony She was both old and ugly and but that she was a good Pay-mistress would have had but few Customers yet by the help of her Money she found some who had stomach enough to be concern'd with her and they had so drein'd her that now if she could find a fair motion to a Husband there would be no great difficulty in the bargain The Siege of Doesbourg was fatal not only to Martinet but also to two more who bore as he did the name of an Animal which was observ'd by the whole Army one was Monsieur de Ciron Governor of Meneâ—ou and the other Monsieur Souris Major of a Regiment of Suiss As for me I was quite on another side with my General he being oblig'd to command in the room of the Prince of Conde who acted with a separate Army and was wounded in passing the Rhine We took Towns faster than we could march to them for we no sooner came before a Town but we found the Gates open or at least they made us no resistance so that we took an infinite number of places and excepting a little opposition we met with at Nimeguen we could hardly perceive there was any War the reason why the Enemies were in such strange confusion was the Divisions which were amongst themselves besides that they had no assistance at all from their Confederates who seeing the Kings Army so powerful durst not give him the least shadow of disgust for fear he should fall upon them 't was in short a very lamentable thing to see the condition they were reduc'd to and not easily to be exprest but you may guess at something of it by this their State was so perplext that they entertain'd any thing that offer'd to serve if there were but the bare looks of a man Upon which I have heard a very pleasant story of an Italian who offer'd his service to the Pensioner of Holland to raise a Company who being examin'd if he had been a Soldier and whence he was and the like after giving answer to those questions he draws out his Sword and tilting at the Wall show'd them that he was a brisk fellow but the jest of the case lay here the Pensioner having objected that he was an Italian and consequently a Papist Yes says he I am so since you must know it but this Sword is a Protestant and ready to serve the States and your Lordship The Pensioner lik'd his blunt way of answering so well that instead of a Company which he askt he made him Lieutenant Collonel of a Regiment but he had no sooner finger'd the Money than he ran away and never rais'd a Man The Enemy being often thus cheated and the disorder of their affairs encreasing daily began to think that a Peace however disadvantageous it might be would be less so than the War by which in less than a month they had lost three whole Provinces This was the opinion of some of the more timerous people but the Prince of Orange was of another mind and to that end dispatcht his Courriers to his Uncle the Marquis of Brandenburg to remonstrate the state of affairs to him â—nd how it was his interest to joyn his Forces with the States that we took indifferently his Towns and theirs all was alike to us Tho the King was serv'd the best and most exactly in the world yet his Spies who he kept in that Country gave him no account of this till eight days at least after the Viscount de Turenne had advis'd him of it I know not by what means he got this news but he came himself to the King about it and informing his Majesty of what he had heard told him Now was the time for him to make a Peace infinitely to his advantage by which at least he might demolish the greatest part of the Towns he had taken and keep his Army entire to oppose his Enemies The King would have the opinion of the Prince of Conde upon this affair and having sent a Courrier to Arnheim whether he was carry'd to be cur'd of the Hurt he had received the Prince immediately gave the same advice The King saw of himself the necessity of their advice yet could not take their Counsel for having left all things to the management of the Marquis de Louvois who thought he knew more than both of them he let slip the opportunity being lull'd asleep by that Minister with the hopes of easily defeating all the Contrivances of the Germans And as generally one error draws on another especially with those that will never acknowledge themselves in the wrong they staid till thâ—se Succors appear'd in the Field and more from other parts and never follow'd that advice till it came to the last extremity The Prince of Conde and the Viscount de Turenne were very much disoblig'd to see the Marquis de Louvois harken'd to so much to their Dishonour and the Damage of the King's Affairs and if Louvois had not made up this Miscarriage by extraordinary Services perhaps the King had not been so well satisfy'd with him as we now see him Monsieur de Turenne being come before Arnheim sent to compliment the Prince of Conde and to know how he did as to his Wounds and tho the Message seem'd to belong rather to a Domestick than an Aid du Camp yet he was pleas'd to confer that honour upon me as well to show that Civility to me as that I might discourse of some other affaairs I found him very much out of order with the hurt he had receiv'd insomuch that in speaking to me he was fain to interrupt his discourse by the pain of his Wound which occasioâ—'d me to cut short my discourse as much as was possible and just as I took my leave of him the Duke of Mecklenburgh came into his Chamber they had told him in the Anti-chamber how bad he was at which he put on an air of concern and sorrow and entering the Chamber in a fantastick manner or rather like a Fool Fructus Belli Monsieur begins he Fructus Belli and repeating those words at least a dozen times he comes up to the Bed without making him any other Compliment I would have staid a little longer in the Chamber to see the end of this Comedy but my respect to the Prince oblig'd me against my will to withdraw all I could do was to stay in the Anti-chamber with Desroches the Captain of his Guards and desire him to go in and see what became of that Maggot but he told me I would take him for a Coxcomb if he troubled himself to go in for such a thing that I did not know the Duke of Mecklenburgh if I expected he should say any thing which was not very silly In the mean time the Marquis of Brandenburgh drawn by the force of the Dutch Money more than the Prince of Orange's Arguments had given
it might fall into the Hands of the Enemy and also it was to be order'd that he who carry'd it should not be privy to the design neither Having laid all these measures I desir'd Mr. de Pillois that he should get the richest Man in those parts he could meet with and threaten him that if he did not carry that Letter safe he would not only burn his House down and all that was in it but he would certainly hang him if ever he came home again he had confidence enough in me to do all this for me without inquiring upon what account and having got a Man he would fain have excus'd himself upon the account of the difficulty of passing the Enemies Lines but he had as good have said nothing Mr. Pillois told him in short he should either go of this Errand or of another into the next World so seeing there was no remedy he prepar'd to go on the Message But while he was getting ready my Host who I had gain'd with a promise of a great reward got before him and staying by the way met him and made him believe he was going about some business the same way Thus jogging on together and falling into discourse he who had the Letter to carry told him what a strait he was in adding that he was undone both ways that if he should perform his Message he should be taken in the Camp and hang'd for a Spy and on the other hand if he did not he should leave his Wife and Children to the mercy of Monsieur de Pillois who besides the plundering and burning of his House would treat him in the worst manner that could be imagin'd that he had told him what would be his fate so that there was no room to flatter himself that he had thrown himself upon Providence being unable to make a choice when it lay between his own Life and theirs who were as dear to him as his life My Host pretended to pity his Misfortune and to gain more upon his belief accus'd Monsieur de Pillois of Cruelty however after a great deal of talk and expressing his concern for him he told him that if he was in his place he would e'n go and surrender himself into the hands of the Enemies and tell them by what Threatnings he was oblig'd to carry the Letter that they would let him carry it into the place or they would not let him but either way he would save his Life and his Wife and Children Mr. de Pillois believing he was taken endeavouring to execute his Orders could have nothing to say to him and the Enemy on t'other hand would do him no hurt seeing he had put himself voluntarily into their hands The Man thought this was an admirable expedient and resolving to take that course gave him a thousand thanks My Host seeing him in so good a mind had done his business and feigning that he was to go no farther that way left him and coming back the same way he met Mr. de Pillois who marcht at a venture with his 2500 Horse he gave us an account of what resolution he had left the Man in and we taking it for a good Omen made no question but the Enemy would take it all for truth and the rather for that the Man himself had been really made believe there was a very great force ready to march to raise the Siege in short what with the Man's Report and the Letter together they were so frighted that they immediately resolv'd to raise the Siege and retreat We receiv'd this News when we were come within three leagues of the Enemy and Monsieur de Pillois having then no business to go any further marcht back to his own Quarter where in a little time he receiv'd Letters from the Court which complimented him extremely on this happy success not but that it was known by abundance of people that I had a great share in the action but as he was the General and they bear the Reproach of ill success and so ought to have the Credit of the good so also it was just he should have the Privilege his place afforded him And indeed I ought to say this in his praise that he was a Man that perfectly understood the Cavalry and perhaps there was none in the Army went beyond him of which he gave an undeniable evidence a little while after when in the Fight at Einseim he refus'd to charge at the command of Monsieur de Vaubrun for seeing that the Enemy kept their advantage he chose rather to stay till he drew them out of their Post than to obey and be beaten I do not say he did well in disobeying and he that had serv'd so long ought to have known that nothing can dispence with our obeying the Order of our superior Officer and he found the effects of it afterward being cashier'd for doing it but yet he show'd by that action that he understood his business better than Monsieur Vaubrun who commanded him and the Court was so sensible of it that tho they could not allow the fact on account of the example yet they allow'd him a Pension of a thousand Crowns a year that it might not be said he had serv'd so long and so well for nothing Just as I was come back from this Adventure with Mr. de Pillois there came an Officer to me and made me a very pleasant Compliment which was that having been pleas'd to quarrel with Mr. de Montperoux Maistre du Camp of the Regiment de Rovergne he had occasion to cut his Throat a little and desir'd me to be his Second I told him I was very much his humble Servant and I show'd my self so most effectually for instead of going to fight as he imagin'd I took care to have us discover'd by which I prevented him from fooling away his Life This Monsieur de Montperoux was a very stout Man but so very shy that 't was difficult to conform to his temper he had his Sallies of Humour which made him very ridiculous but of all his Whims that was the pleasantest when the King gave him the Regiment for after the King had told him he granted the Regiment to him he begg'd his Majesty to give it the Name of some of the Provinces of the Kingdom tho it was not the custom then except for the old Troops telling the King that he was so little known in his own Country that if the Regiment should be call'd by his Name no body would list themselves in it The King thought this was somewhat strange in a Gascon too who generally value themselves extreamly and don 't use to fail so in their own character however the King would not deny him and he behav'd himself with a great deal of Bravery till at last as it often falls out with those who serve a long time in the Armies he was knockt on the Head I was of an age as I have often said that I could
oblige him and he would certainly reimburse me when he came there I believ'd all he said and did more for him than I should have been perswaded to do for one of my own Countrymen at least unless I had known him very well I told him he should not be disturb'd I would let him have what he had occasion for When we came to Mets he told me the Man who he was directed to was gone out of Town so that instead of paying me what he had promis'd me he must beg me to continue my assistance to him and supply him till he came to Strasburg that there he had abundance of Acquaintance and that assoon as ever he came there he would punctually repay me all I had laid out for him I did not mistrust him yet but supply'd him with whatever he wanted but from that day to this I could never see one penny of my Money and 't is the least that I can do to give this caution to such as read these Memoirs to take heed who they trust in that manner I have been since told he is become a Capuchin but he might have paid his Debts first for I do not understand they have any more priviledge than other people to rob their Neighbours In short Monsieur de Turenne soon after being come to the Army he had about as much cause to be pleas'd with the Inhabitants of Strasburg as I had with Monsieur Cueillette they promis'd him a thousand things which they never perform'd but he might have known them for they had us'd him just in the same manner the year before this oblig'd him to pass the Rhine to prevent their giving up their Bridge to the Enemy but all the Country being ruin'd it is impossible to tell you what difficulties we were put to for want of Forrage and for fifteen days together our Horses eat nothing but Weeds we pickt up and down near the Camp The Quarter Master General of the Horse gave Monsieur de Turenne an account of this every night when he went for Orders telling him the Cavalry could not subsist any longer if they were not permitted to Forrage for it had been a long time since he would suffer them to go out for that supply but Monsieur de Turenne answer'd him that they would never dye with hunger as long as there was Leaves upon the Trees and if they wanted they might go and gather them if they pleas'd The Enemies far'd no better than we did and we did nothing on neither side but watch to see which would break up first so as the other might make some advantage of it for if we had a great Captain at the head of our Army the Germans had no fool with them being Commanded by no less a Man than Montecuculli who had shown us a piece of his skill at the beginning of the War in the first Campaign when feigning to march way he countermarcht immediately and went directly the contrary and on a sudden surrounded Bon in such a manner as we could by no means relieve it Thus the two Armies lay and both suffer'd great inconveniences till at last they came so near as 't was thought they could not part without coming to a Battle and every one was overjoy'd at the hopes of being deliver'd at once from all these miseries but just at the very moment when Monsieur de Turenne thought the hour of Victory was come he was kill'd with a Cannon Bullet by the fault in part of Monsieur de St. Hillaire Lieutenant General of the Artillery I say by his fault because Monsieur de Turenne having spoke to him to go along with him to view where he might place a Battery he must needs stay to put on a Red Cloak by which they were known to be Officers and that made the Enemy fire at them and the same Ball that kill'd the one shot off the Arm of the other as he was pointing at something they were taking notice of together If another was to tell this story you might expect some account of the strange consternation which seiz'd the whole Army upon this unhappy accident but I can give no distinct relation for the confusion I was in my self was so great that I minded no body else nor took no observations of other matters this I know that every body gave themselves over for lost and the more because the Marquis de Vaubrun and the Count de Lorges without considering that the condition we were in requir'd a common unity for our general safety fell to making Factions and Parties and to draw the great Officers to their sides about the principal Command This had certainly been the ruine of the whole Army if it had continued but two days but some of the graver heads remonstrating to them that this was not a time for them to dispute Punctilio's of Honour and point of Command but to consider the Honour of the King and that they would be call'd to an account for it if things miscarry'd upon this score At last they perswaded them to refer their pretensions to some of the principal Officers chosen by the rest to decide it between them and so the differences being compos'd we began to retreat towards the Rhine where we had a Bridge of Boats But we had taken several advanc'd Posts very near the Enemy and 't was necessary to draw our Men out of them before we decampt which we did without any loss setting fire to our works and principally at Willessat where all the Mills were burnt The Enemy assoon as ever they had notice of the Death of our General imagining we would resolve to retreat as we did indeed prepar'd to fall upon us and decamping the very moment that we began to retire they attackt us at a Pass of a little River the Fight was very obstinate on both sides ours being enrag'd at the loss of their General and the other in hopes to make their advantage of our Confusion knowing we had lost our principal dependance but neither Party had their ends for the Germans being oblig'd to repass the River with the loss of a great many men we had the honour of the Action yet however we were forc'd to proceed on our Retreat and that with all the caution imaginable and the Enemy having waited upon us to the Rhine we past that River in sight of their Army My Commission being void by the Death of Monsieur de Turenne I resolv'd to leave the War and there being a great many more in the same circumstances we form'd our selves into a little Troop that we might be able to defend our selves if we should be attackt for besides that the Country was full of Schepepans a sort of people as dangerous as the Enemy the Germans also had past the Rhine after us and fill'd the Country with their Parties and we met with one of them presently with whom we engag'd and had the good fortune utterly to defeat them by plain
force We took the Officer that commanded them Prisoner and they that took him having searcht him they found a Passport in his Pocket which they brought to me for they had made choice of me to command them till we should be past danger This Passport seem'd something particular to me for among us there was no body took Passports but such as belong'd to some Garrisons but they told me they did not belong to the Body of the Army but to certain Troops which the Enemy had posted in several places in Alsace While he was talking with me I perceiv'd some Blood to run down his Coat upon which I told him I doubted he was wounded he told us he was not for he knew nothing of it but when he saw his Blood he chang'd colour immediately and which was very strange in a moment more he dropt down dead whether 't was really from the greatness of the Wound or the surprize of it that seiz'd him which I am more apt to believe for certainly Fear is capable of producing more extraordinary effects than that And the Marquis d' Vxelles Collonel of the Dauphin's Regiment told me a story a few days ago that at the Battel of Cassel one of the Soldiers fell down dead in the Ranks before one shot was fir'd just as they were going to charge 'T was a great good fortune to us however that this Man dy'd thus without which I and all my Troop had been taken Prisoners for we were hardly got a League farther before we met with another Party of the Enemies Horse who were at least three hundred strong I was a little surpriz'd for our Scouts had not had time to come to ask them who they were for But some of their body came up to me and askt me who we were It came strangely into my Head at the very moment to make use of the Passport I told you of and with a greater presence of mind than was usual to me in such cases I told them we belong'd to such a Garrison naming the place the dead Officer had belong'd to and to confirm it I show'd them my Passport which they taking for granted let us all go 'T was a great happiness to me that I was pretty well Master of the German language so that they never imagin'd me to be a Frenchman for that indeed was what deluded them most Being thus happily got out of their Clutches we pursued our Journey and arriv'd safely in France where they had given over all for lost upon the Death of Mr. de Turenne The King himself indeed expected some disaster to fall out and therefore had sent an Express to the Prince of Conde who was then in Flanders to put himself at the Head of the Army in Germany with all the Expedition imaginable The Germans were set down before Hâ—genau but the Prince of Conde advancing with a resolution to fight them they rais'd the Siege They had also appear'd before Saâ—erne and rais'd some Batteries and for three days together had fir'd upon the Town and thrown in a great many Bombs but this only serv'd to encourage us again seeing they made no better use of the advantage they had I was just arriv'd at Paris when the news of these things came thither but nothing surprizâ—d me like the story they told of some Jews in those Towns who had got a way to put out the Fuse of the Bombs just as they were going to break They threw themselves desperately upon them with the Hide of an Ox just kill'd in their hands and stopping the Mouth of the Fuse so that no Air could get in they put the Fuse quite out It had been a brave contrivance for the Genoeses to have had some of these people with them upon the late recounter we had with them which if they had their City which was the most magnificent in the world had not been reduc'd to that condition we are told it now lyes in The death of Monsieur de Turenne was daily in my thoughts and if I had had the least inclination to a solitude I believe this alone would have caus'd me to have retir'd to a Cloister but that sort of life having been always my aversion I made no advantage of the example that great man left me who had resolv'd to retire himself among the Fathers of the Oratory if ever he had out-liv'd the War I speak this to my own shame that an old Fellow as I was of above threescore and ten should be so fond of the World at that Age that I could not be perswaded to forsake it To speak the truth I did not seem so old as I was as I have said before for tho I might have been trusted safely enough with Women yet my Age it seems did not appear so much but that I was capable of making some people jealous Indeed I was the occasion that a Gentleman of Picardy whose name I shall conceal made a pretty sort of an essay upon his Wife which might have been a fine History if it had been publick for being become extraordinary jealous of his Wife he gets him a Fryers habit one of the same sort he knew his Wife went to Confession to and having brib'd her Page to be true to him he order'd it so that when she sent the boy for her Confessor he should bring her word that he was not well but that he had sent one of his Fellows of the Order In the mean time her Husband drest himself in the habit and went to her Chamber which being a dark Room he did not fear being discover'd being there he began to make strange work with her for he instead of acting the Confessor examin'd her particularly if she had not entertain'd me and she could not imagine why after all she could say to him still he repeated the same question to her over and over which he did also to inform himself of some other suspicion which he had in his head if I might believe what she told me the next day he got nothing from her but what she did not care if all the World knew But the truth was she knew him by his voice which made her be cautious and she had Wit enough not to let him perceive it but both made a jest of their Religion one to satisfy his jealousy and to find out if it had been possible the Intrigues of his Wife and the t'other to cure his Jealousy if she could which only made him ill natur'd While I spent my time thus the Kings Army had enough to do to repulse the Germans and hardly cou'd keep them from pressing into France it self for the death of Monsieur de Turenne was not the only misfortune that befel us for there happen'd a worse at Treves were the Mareschal de Crequi was so intirely beaten that we have very rarely heard of such a defeat most people especially those that did not know how things were carry'd thought the accident
on the other hand the pleasure of revenging the Murther of his Father urg'd him against all manner of accommodation So in hopes to perswade the other to desist from his sollicitation which to say the truth as the Case stood was a little uncivil he told him that if there had been no other quarrel but that which lately happen'd between his Family and Mr. de Melun he should have had so little occasion to use intreaties with him that he would have return'd him thanks for concerning himself in it but his Quarrel to the Count de Melun was upon another account and of a nature not to be forgot that he would comply with any thing for his sake but he besought him to reflect upon the reason he had to seek revenge and what the world would say of him when having so fair an occasion he should have had more regard to the Intercession of Friends than the Blood of his Father that he begg'd of him to consider that what he desir'd of him was against the Law of Nature and would be a blot upon his Honour of which he himself should be the Judge wherefore he did not question but that instead of taking it ill he would have the greater Friendship for him tho in this point it was not possible for him to grant what he desir'd These were the reasons he oppos'd to Monsieur de St Heran's solicitations which I leave to the judgment of any if they were not very just and equitable However Mr. de St Heran not contented with this strove all he could to make him alter his mind and with me also to perswade him to it but finding he gain'd nothing neither upon one nor t'other he told the Count de la Chappelle that he would entertain no ill will against him for this denial because he saw his Passion had got the ascendant over him so much that he was not at present capable of taking the advice of his Friends that indeed he expected to find him pretty warm but that a little time perhaps would allay his fury and he would then be better dispos'd to take his advice that therefore he only desir'd him to resolve on no measures for 24 hours during which time he desir'd him to remember that God had commanded us to forgive our Enemies and that nothing procur'd greater peace of mind than to practice the Duty in the very Letter of it that he hop'd he would grant him that small request without any difficulty and that it might not be prejudicial to his interest he gave him his word the Viscount de Melun should do nothing on his part By this means the Marquis de St Heran without taking any notice did the Viscount de Melun the greatest piece of service imaginable for the Count de la Chappelle could not refuse so fair a request especially on the assurance that his Enemy should take no advantage of the delay so he let it rest for two days in which time the Marquis de St Heran sent away to Court and informing the King of a quarrel in general between them and that it happen'd about matters relating to the Game desir'd power from the King to hear and determine it and no body being by to speak for the Count de la Chapelle easily obtain'd the Grant So that instead of a Mediator which he pretended to be he made himself a Judge My Friend was very much surpriz'd at this Fineness and very much displeas'd with it But we saw there was no manner of remedy for now 't was too late to apply to the Mareschals of France and 't was to no purpose to attempt the Kings revoking his Order My Friend was then forc'd at last to go to Fountain-bleau to see what Justice he would do him which indeed was but very indifferent The Viscount de Melun only askt his pardon for what had happen'd telling him that 't was not by any design of his that his Hounds had broke into his Park and if he had found his Huntsman there 't was only to fetch them back that it was an accident that the Hare took over his ground and for his coming up to the Draw-bridge of the Castle â—twas only to ask him for his Dogs which were lost as he himself could witness and not to offer him any affront However that if he thought he would have been affronted at it he would never have done it for he was so far from desiring any quarrel with him that he should be very glad of any opportunity to show how much he was his Friend that in the mean time he promis'd him to observe more strictly the conditions which the King had obligâ—d their Families to to which end if ever he was hunting and the Game took the same way that his did he would immediately call off his Hounds and a great deal of this sort which Monsieur de le Chappelle was forcâ—d to be content with and to tell him that since he had made so much acknowledgment he was very sorry he had kill'd any of his Dogs This was the conclusion of that affair and 't was a long time before we could come to know what it was occasion'd the Marquis de St Heran to be so industrious to oblige one rather than tâ—other But a Gentleman of the Country who was of neither party told us it was upon the account of Mr. de Besons whom Melun was related to by Marriage We could hardly believe it at first because that Match was made against his consent but we understand by another hand that it was certainly true and quickly after we had positive proof of it This Monsieur de Besons was a person of extraordinary wit and had by his rare Genius gain'd himself abundance of Friends but the best of them all was Monsieur the Chancellor who procur'd for him the place of Intendant of Languedoc tho he had not been yet Master of Requests which was not customary and he had not only enjoy'd that Post three years as is usual for the Intendants of Justice in the Provinces but had by the same favour been continuâ—d there five or six times In which time he had gain'd so much credit and respect in the Country that the King himself could not have more for indeed I have heard him say that the King might publish an Edict but he must have his Warrant to it if he expected to have it punctually executed I have heard him say one thing also more extraordinary than that and I think I have ventur'd to say somewhere 't is grown a Custom in those Provinces for the Intendants to join their Warrants to every Order that comes from the King but whether it be so or no Iâ—m not certain I 'le relate the story as he told it me which was that having receiv'd an Order to make out a Process against one Roule who had been an Agent in the Rebellion of Vivares he causâ—d his Head to be set up upon the Gate of