he might return from Brisac with an answer but notwithstanding this the Truce was suddenly broken and the Place vigorously assaulted The Count d' Harcourt upon notice hereof dispatcht presently Orders unto the said de Grun to receive in the King's Forces without contest which Orders Dautichamp sent away forthwith by a Souldier who went all night and himself came thither the next morning But the Mareschal not willing to receive from Harcourt a thing which he knew he could gain by himself suffered them not to speak together and so the City was Assaulted with great fury Castlenau being hurt there with a Musket shot and divers other Officers of either party The Governour trusting upon what had been treated with the Mareschal coming out of the Town to discourse it with him was made Prisoner and the King's Souldiers entred the Town plundered the Governour 's own house and himself was condemned to pay 3000 Dobloones to his great mortification and trouble to have been betrayed under colour of the Publick Faith Dautichamp having at last got to speak with the Mareschal and the Regiment of Lorrain being brought into the Town the Mareschal himself who at first had demanded onely the Town and had as the Count d' Harcourt said promised not to attack the Castle demanded that should be also rendred and gave onely four dayes time to the Commander that he might have Count Harcourt's Orders who that he might by this last Action take away all pretences could be made against the sincerity of his dealing at the same time released Brinon and sent back Dautichamp unto the Mareschal and from thence to Court to throw himself without reserve at his Majestie 's Feet declaring that he went to put himself into Phillipsbourgh where he would expect his Majestie 's Commands And so this Prince quitted Brisac and Charlevois being at the same time satisfied what he had advanced the Garrison was changed and the said Monsieur de Besmenus was placed there as Commander with other Officers depending entirely upon his Majestie This Action which succeeded just as the Cardinal contrary to the opinion of many others had foretold much encreased the Reputation of his Managery and merits from the Crown But the Cardinal declared notwithstanding unto the Duke d'Elbeuf That he was sufficiently satisfied of the Count d'Harcourt's Ingenuity and had him in the same Esteem as formerly and that in case he would leave the care thereof to him he would find a fit occasion to procure an entire satisfaction for the Count. The Court was well pleased with his respect and the generosity of his proceedings and his Enemies who had falsly slandered him with many imputations laid to his charge were very much confounded and ashamed The Duke d' Anvil who a few dayes before had been banished the Court was recalled and restored unto his former degree of favour with his Majesty and the Cardinal he fell into this disgrace because having promised to surrender the Government of Limousin destined to the Mareschal Turenne for recompence of his Services when it came to the point he refused by the instigation of the Archbishop of Bourges who suggested to him that he was not to quit it but upon other terms whereupon the Court who were engaged unto Turenne and could not let him want it without some shew of collusion found themselves obliged to take this course as well to satisfie the Mareschal as to let the Duke see how 't was resented by his Majestie which he perceiving and performing what he promised he was restored unto his former degree of Favour Whilest the Mareschal d'Hoquincourt was making preparation for his Voyage into Catalonia the meeting of the States of Languedoc was that Winter held at Pezenas a City with a Castle situate upon the Point where the two Rivers of Peine and Erand do meet together the Marquiss de Plessis Belliere was then quartered there and finding the minds of that People through the unhappiness of the Times disposed rather to make Cabals than contribute Money to the King did what possibly he could to make them sensible of their duty and discovering at last that the States would fall upon a resolution not to give any thing unless the Troops were removed out of that Province and knowing that the Money for accommodating of the Horse and other things necessary for the provision of the Army in the Campagne must be raised by what should be given by that Province which would â—ail totally if they gave nothing and that by consequence the Army would be disabled to march he resolved to get into the Field that something might be contributed to that purpose which accordingly they did He saw farther that the Season of the year was advanced and was informed that there came unto the Spaniards Recruits of men from Italy That the Enemies drew to a Rendezvouz That they made preparation in Castile of Pieces of Battery Powder Bullet Scaling Ladders and all other Necessaries and intended forthwith to besiege Roses And believing that there would be no means of relieving it in case they should finish their Line before his coming he resolved to make a timely preparation for it He parted therefore from Pazenas the 25th of May and advanced to Segean and Rivesalta where he made a halt that he might draw together all his Troops and to see what would be the last Resolution of the States he knew well the importance of preserving Rossillon to which purpose the Cardinal had written to him and recommended that Province to his care he therefore appointed Boulon for the general Rendezvouz of all the Troops from whence he marched the 16th of Iune to pass the Hill of Pertus his Army was composed of about 2500 Horse and Three or four thousand Foot all tried old Souldiers That of the Spaniard was stronger by a Regiment of Foot and was commanded by the Baron of Sabach the Constable of Castile and the Marquiss Serra and it was therefore probably thought they would have opposed the French at that Pass but they onely put a Guard in the Tower della Ionquiera with a thought notwithstanding that the same would have stopped the French until they might march up to charge them with advantage but the Tower contrary to all expectation yielded forthwith upon sight of two small Pieces of Canon which the French had brought with them out of Rossillon There they staid one day to expect the Rear-Guard and the Baggage and from thence advanced into the Plain beyond Loustelnau Plessis Belliere ordered his Army into two Battails having advice that the Enemy would expect him towards Castillon and to the end they might be stronger in the Field they had burnt their Forts before Roses and drawn the Garrison out of Feguieres The French marched in good order towards the Spaniards leaving Feguieres on their right hand the Van-Guard saw the Spaniards in Battalia behind Castillon covered by the Town a Morasse and by several Ditches and Cutts but as soon
too much Glory as being jealous of his inconstancy After many consults touching the course they were to hold it was at last unanimously resolved To endeavour by all means the forcing of the Enemy unto a Battel according to the event whereof they might afterwards proceed to farther resolutions With these Designs therefore the Armies advancing and confronting of each other â—taid eight or ten dayes having no other obstacle to hinder their encountring but the River Oyse which ran between them The Mareschal Turenne although inferiour in number to the Spanish Army would have have accepted of the Battel to which his noble Courage did provoke him had not his daring spirit been restrained by that staid Experience which though young in years he had to his great glory gained in Two and twenty pitch'd Battels wherein he had commanded and he was forbidden by express Orders from the Cardinal who seeing the Fortune of the Kingdom to depend upon that Army would not expose to the uncertainty of an Encounter upon so much disadvantage all his past labours present condition and future hopes And thereupon following the opinion of that wise Roman who destroyed the Carthaginian Army with holding it at a bay without concerning himself for publick rumours he contented himself with galling them sometimes in the flank sometimes in front and sometimes in the rear with enforcing them sometimes to Quarter close together sometimes to enlarge themselves to hinder their Marches reduce them into want of Victuals and finally to overthrow all the designs they had projected against France But there being in Turenne as well as the Prince of Conde a most ardent desire of glory he could not satisfie his Mind without giving some proof of his Courage upon some occasion and therefore he passed the River one day with between 700 and 800 Horse and joyning with the great Guard he kept beyond the River charged that of the Enemy kept upon the head of the Marsh of Fonsomma beat them into the gross of the Spanish Army took many prisoners and with incomparable Courage and Conduct made a safe retreat to his own Quarters Upon the 24th of Iuly the King Cardinal and the whole Court came to the Army where he was received with extraordinary Duty and Applause by 100 Squadrons of Horse and 18 Battalions of Foot drawn out which made up in all 16000 Combatants consisting of Old Souldiers inured unto the Warr Expert Officers and Noble Persons who were Volunteers Turenne being willing to give them the Divertisement of a Skirmish which was wonderfully desired by his Majesty who was full of Lively Martial thoughts passed the Oyse at a Foord with the Guard of Cavalry Gens d' Arms and about 1000 Horse drawn out of the Army charged upon and beat up the same Guard of Conde who taking it for granted that the French Generals upon his Majesty's arrival were resolved to give Battel drew up all his Army and stood firm observing the motion of the French until the King retired and that 't was known to have been onely a party at which time they were troubled they had not advanced and tried their Fortune His Majesty staid all that day in the Camp filling all persons by the Majesty of his presence with Courage and Desire to do something which might signalize them in his Service He Dined that day in Turenne's Quarters with a good number of the principal Commanders who sate at Table with him at Night he Supped in those of the Mareschal de la Ferte Senneterre with the same order and lodged in Turenne's Quarters in the middest of the Army and went the next day from thence towards Paris Two or three dayes after the King's departure the Spanish Army rose from these Posts and took their March directly towards San Simon and Serocourt Passes upon the River Somme between Ham and San Quintin That of France followed it marching the way of Fera lodged at Chery and Maiou and passing the Oyse in the same place where it makes a little Island and a little higher at Verduel it drew up in Battalia a little above Travessy where it encamped alwayes observing the Enemy that he might not have time to invest any place or throw up Works about it as they desired to have done after they perceived the difficulty of drawing the French to a pitched Battail Conde doubting least Turenne should be upon his Back as they filed along by San Simon was careful in the passage and took up Quarters onely a league from Ham which gave great apprehension that he thought of besieging that most Important place situated upon the Somme between St. Quintin and Peronne This Motion obliged the French Generals to advance unto Chauny a Town upon the Oyse and from thence to coast unto Noyon chief Town of a County strong in Men and situate upon the same River where they made a halt some dayes during which the Spaniards making head against them the Prince of Conde went with 6000 men to Magny and from thence to Roye a walled Town upon the head of the River Moreul and approaching it on three sides got it by Surrender in 15 hours there being none but the Inhabitants and some Gentlemen of the Countrey thereabouts who ran in to defend it and being without Parapets or other Fortifications The taking of this being understood by the French Generals they suspecting the Attack of some place upon the Somme marched to Magny Conde designing the Enterprise of Corbie a most Important place Royally built seated upon the Somme between Peronne and Amiens made shew of marching with part of the Army and Artillery upon the way of Beauvais a City the Metropolis of a rich County one of the strongest and wealthiest of France bathed by the River Therin that he might cause the French to draw off from the Post which they had taken and at the same time clap about Corbie Turenne who by long experience was able to discover the Prince's Arts and knew full well that he would not engage himself into France with so many strong Towns behind him and an Army in flanck instead of marching after him as it might seem probable he should have done after he had consulted with the Mareschal his Collegue upon the 9th of August marched that very Night to Magny where they made the rejoycings due for the good News of the Reduction of Bourdeaux which filled all their Minds with confidence of good success and presently passing the River dispatched the Count Schomberg Lieutenant of the Company of the Scotch Guard with 400 Horse and 200 Foot to reinforce Corbie and prevent the Prince's designs upon it All the French Army marched at the same time towards Ham passed the River by night and quartered on the other side where having notice that the Count de Maile with a great Convoy of Ammunition and Victuals 4000 men drawn out of the Garrisons of Flanders and 6000 Freebooters was parted from Cambray to reinforce the Spanish Camp before any
to make his attempt the City capitulated and surrendred after which losses Duke Mercure though recruited with 1000. Foot from Barcellona and with as many from Provence seeing the Spaniards were retreated to their Winter quarters and that he had had but ill success in that imployment he also retired with his Army to their quarters and with leave returned to France leaving the Marquess of St. Magrin to Command the Forces The Archduke making use also in Flanders of the French being ingaged in Guien went to Rethel where was great store of Corn and other provisions and consulting what enterprise he were best to fall upon the Count Grandpre of the Family of Ioyence and who was then a great favourite of the Prince of Conde propounded the taking of Moson upon the Mose which had been his Government and he prevailed that it should be attackt with 4000. Spaniards under Don Stephano di Gammarra and with 2000. French of Longueville and Turen's Troops who passing over the Mosa on the 4 th of October began the expugnation but they found greater resistance than they expected yet being loth to give over a work of such importance the Count of Fuenseldagna came before it also with other Spanish Forces The Archduke with part of the Horse retreated to Brussels leaving Don Iohn delli Ponti a Neapolitan Governour of Rethel he hastned the business before Marishal Plessis Pralin should be able to relieve it And though the Defendants out of hope of being relieved and for fear of being ill treated by Granpre did stoutly defend it yet not being able to resist so many reiterated assaults they yielded on the Eleventh of November the French Garrison marched out and the Spaniards entred who not thinking it fit to give the Government thereof to Granpre by reason of his instability nor yet to deny it him left he might be displeased they took a middle way which was to declare him Governour thereof but not put him in possession pretending need of him in the Camp and promised never to make peace with France till he were re-admitted thereinto which the Spaniards did that they might be free masters of that Town which was of such importance to their affairs least Granpre might be won over by the Cardinal whose Maxim it was rather to sweeten his particular Enemies by fair means than to ruine them by rigour After this Turen went over the Mose to Olesy and quartered between that River and the Aisne that he might inlarge his quarters in more commodious and plentiful places and to refresh his Army which was much weakned and wearied with this Siege since he could not perswade the Count of Fuenseldagna to stay with his men between those two Rivers as he had wisely advised Wherefore the Cardinal finding that he should have done but little if after having subdued Normandy Burgundy and Guienne he should not also have freed Champagne from the Enemy he resolved to go himself in person to the Army and to drive the Spaniards and Turens Troops from Rethel and the other Neighbouring Towns having to this purpose re-inforced the Kings Camp with part of the Forces brought from Guien and with other taken into pay by the Prince Taranto some to the Duke of Tremaglia in Poicton and by the Marquess of Aligre and others in Auuergne he doubted not but to have the glory of driving the Enemy out of the Country The Cardinal parted from Paris about the end of November in great Pomp leaving the Parliament and the Frondeurs much mortified to see that to the power of Government he had the Command of the Army was added When he was come to Reimes with an Army of 12000. choice veteran Soldiers the recovery of Rethel was resolved on by a Council of War towards which the Army marched on Friday the ninth of December Commanded by General Plessis Pralin and by Messieurs Villaquiere and Oquincourt Lieutenants General the next day they took the Suburbs and began to play upon the Gate and passing over the Bridge assaulted the Town from whence they were at first valiantly repulst by Iouan delli Ponti a Neapolitan who Commanded within the Town with 1200. Foot and 200. Horse But at the second assault those that were within knowing that they could not defend those imperfect Walls they capitulated on the 13 th day though it was but a false Alarm on that side given by only two Regiments the Kings Army being all on the other side the River This happened just when General Turen was come with his Army as far as Tagni to releive the Town which he did not doubt to do for the French Camp having no line about it and being divided in several quarters on both sides of the River he would have made them rise or would have entred the Kings quarter by the intervall Turen moved this for if the Town should be lost his quarters would have been straitned and he could not have maintained himself long but all his men would have been ruined this winter for the Spaniard would not suffer him to quarter in Flanders where the Archdukes Forces were already quartered who for the expence and in consideration of the time of Year would not tarry there but declared that he left the care of that place to Turen who was more concerned in the preservation of that place than the Spaniards they being content to keep Moson la Capelle and Catellet into all which they put good Garrisons for that they afforded good conveniency upon any occasion to enter into Champagne Picardy and into the Bowels of France and the Kings Army could not be re-inforced save only with 2500. Horse from Lorrain conducted by Monsieur Fouges a Savoyard and by Count Ligneuille and with 2500. Walloon and Lorrain Foot Commanded by Don Stephano Gammara a Spaniard which being join'd to 2000. German Horse lately raised the whole Army consisted of 5500. Horse 4000. Foot and six field pieces Turen hearing by some Prisoners that were taken that the Town had capitulated and fearing to be faln upon by the Victorious Army faced about and marching all night went to lodge in Vallatadi Eurg near the River Aisne Then Marishal Plessis Pralin though he had not as yet possession of the Town called a Council of War to advise of what was to be done before he would adventure to give Battle where it was considered that the Spaniards chief design being to drive Turen's Army into the French quarters so to ease the Towns of Flanders it would be a masters part to disturb their design and to drive them also from Chasteau Porcienne which would redound much to the prejudice of the Enemy their ends being thereby broken for which they had taken and fortified those Towns to effect which it was thought there was but two means the one to oppose them with the Army all the Winter by which trouble and sufferings their own Army would either be destroy'd or so lessened as that the next Spring they should not be able
many others On the contrary the first President Plessis Pralin and Vieville said that it was fear and not ambition which made the Prince do as he did that it was best to leave him quiet in his Governments and not put him into despair forcing him to take up Arms in his own defence That if Conde should begin the War that then the Court and King's Army might go thither whereby he might be overthrown but this opinion differing from their private intentions who could not advantage themselves but by War was laid aside and under pretence that no parties should be tollerated in the Kingdom save such as were obedient to the King Their Majesties and the Duke of Anjou went on the 24 th of Sebtember from Paris to Fontenbleau together with the rest of the Court which stands upon the way to Charite whither some of the Princes Forces were come to guard that important pass over the Loire which enters into Berry where was Prince County and the Dutchess of Longueville incouraging the Inhabitants of Burges by the great Towers which serve there for a Castle and which was garrison'd by their men to joyn with them whereby they intended to make head against the King in case he should assault them but Conde staid too long in Burdeaux whose own person was requisite for such a design This departure of the Kings from Paris caused much murmuring amongst the seditious people who said that the Queen and Council meant not to return to the City without the Cardinal who by his directions did in his absence govern all things and the hearts of most men were so poysoned by the pravity of some seditious people as all things seemed to tend to open War wherefore the Spaniards who wearily observed the conjunctures and indeavoured to counterprise the ballance justly to the end that the pretentions on both sides keeping upon a streight beam that discord might be kept alive in France which was most adequate for their affairs And least the too much fomenting the Princes faction might necessitate the King to give way to their pretentions and agree with them or that by the Spaniards great preparations they might make the French aware of the danger which over-hung them and to make them lay aside all spleen and joyn together in the common defence they fed the Princes more with hopes than effects and went so reservedly in their proceedings with them as that in due time they might reap the fruit of their collegation They therefore contented themselves with taking some of those places which might facilitate the recovery of Dunkirk when they might with safety turn upon that important place And therefore on the 10 th of August went to besiege Fournes which was assaulted by Marquess Sfomdrato with the Flanders Army and was taken within six days for wanting fit provision wherewith to hold out and having no hopes of relief Monsieur Bosquet the Governour thereof was forced to surrender it on the 16 th of the said month which did afterwards facilitate the enterprise of Burges St. Venoz which not long after was faln upon by the same Sfomdrato and Count Fuenseldagnia who went thither with new Forces but though it were better scituated and fortified then Fournes yet Marishal de Aumont who to that purpose was advanced with the French Army not being in a condition to force the line nor yet to come near the Enemy for want of men and other provisions after the Garrison had valiantly defended the Town for 24 days being incouraged by their Governour Belloy it was at last forc'd to yield upon honourable conditions on the 29 th of September So the Spaniards were also masters of this place seated within a league of Dunkirk upon the River Colme whereby it communicates with the Sea Thus they made way for falling upon Dunkirk Graveline and Mardike and freed many Towns in Flanders from contribution extorted by the Garrison of Dunkirk which was inclosed by these two Forts Signior de Estrades then Governour of Dunkirk a valiant and well experienced Gentleman had from the beginning of Iuly so eseen the Spaniards design upon Fournes and had desired 2000 Foot and 1000 Horse from the Court wherewith he promised not only to preserve those Towns but to fight the Enemy who could not hold communication between one quarter and another but the King having need of men against the Prince of Conde and not being able in this confusion to raise other Forces the Spaniards without any disturbance might obtain their intent Estrades forbare not notwithstanding to provide for Bergues Dunkirk and Mardike which were under his Government he sent divers Barques to be loaded with Corn Arms and Ammunition in some neighbouring Towns wherein he had so good luck as they were no sooner entred Dunkirk but the Spanish Fleet appeared and cast Anchor in the mouth thereof and block'd it up whilst the Spaniards had faln upon Fournes and placed a great quarter of Horse within a league of Dunkirk the Governour put 500 Foot into Burgues whereby it was defended longer than Fournes During these Sieges the Garrison of Dunkirk scowred the Countrey broke divers of the Enemies Convoys and took many Prisoners Linch Hanvin and Burbury were taken after Burgues and Fournes so as Dunkirk was soon besieged by Sea and Land being berest of receiving any commodities from those parts And that they might block it up the straiter they built three Forts at the entrance of three Rivers which come to the Town one at Hauscote the other two at Slen and Miltrech whereby Estrades not being able to send parties further into the Countrey he caused 12 flat bottom'd Boats to be built every one of which carried two small Guns in their prow and imbarquing 300 Foot in them he on the 10 th of December assaulted the Fort of Hanscote and took it as he did also the other two which were immediatly demolish'd and burnt wherefore he made several inrodes that winter took many Prisoners and a great many Cattle which being powdred were of good use to the Garrison of that Town Whilst the Court of France was at Fontianbleau well pleased with being out of Paris where the seditious Male-contents predominating the King's Authority was highly prejudiced the Prince of Conde's business was warily disputed but not without great jealousies and it was given out that County and the Dutchess of Longueville fortified themselves with friends in Berry a Province which at that time was of great importance defending the way to Guienne and keeping the neighbouring Towns favourable to the Princes whereat the Court was much troubled None durst propound going further then Fountainbleau for the King not having men enough for the enterprise of Burges it was not thought fit to fall upon it unless they might hope to take it least it might more lessen the King's parties Reputation and increase that of the contumacious as would have happened if they should have been unfortunate at the first Yet the French being
and with a large deep ditch but it being requisite that at the same time when the Suburbs should be assaulted on the other side the besieged should also make a Sally and assault the Suburbs Monsieur de Rochecheviera was sent into the Town to make agreements with those Commanders and ordering the assault in three parts that of the middle was given in charge to Plessis Belliere with the French guards and 150 forlorn Foot led on by Captain Chassonville that on the right hand was led on by Monsieur Folleville with the Switzers Guard back'd by the Queens Gens de Armes and Cavalry that on the left hand was given to Monsieur Haudecourt with Harcourts Recruit back'd by the King's Cavalliers and by the Duke of Rhohans Gens de Armes The rest of the Horse were placed in a convenient place to back those that were to give the assault affairs being thus ordered Harcourt summon'd the Suburbs who answered with the mouth of their Musquets and Monsieur de St. Aubine a Domestick of the Prince who commanded there said that was all the composition which they would give So as the French guards advancing under Monsieur Chassonville they made themselves masters of the first Barricado as did all the rest with miraculous courage on their parts Monsieur Heudicourt was wounded on the thigh by a Musquet Vmont Captain of the Switzers guard Cavalliere Bagnol Beauvoire Captain of Harcourt's Regiment and Monsieur Godiniere were also wounded At the same time Monsieur Bellafons came out with the Gentry which were in the Town and assaulted the same Suburbs on another part which opens upon the Bridge whereby he kept the Enemy from saving themselves by the River so as after a stout defence the Suburbs was storm'd and all that were in it either slain or taken Prisoners amongst which Monsieur de St. Aubine Noier and many other Commanders were taken and four Captains eight Lieutenants and about 300 Soldiers were slain and the Town was opportunely relieved to Harcourts great glory for it was done in sight of the Enemies Army and of Conde's self who was ready to go wild seeing his men routed and had he not been hindred by his men he would have put himself into a small Boat and have indangered himself to relieve his party The business of Cognack being thus vanished whereupon the Prince did build very much they who had conceived great hopes were much dejected and the Prince his business grew daily worse he retreated with his Forces in such confusion as they left behind them twelve Cart load of Ammunition as also Prince Taranto's baggage and in passing over a little River the Prince his Van taking their own Reer for Harcourts Forces was so terrified as seeking to save themselves many of them were drowned But because the getting of the three Towers upon the Gate which were fortified made much for the peaceful possession of Rochel Estisack having received Artillery and some recruit of Soldiers presented himself before that of la Catena and Lanthorn the Soldiers when they saw the Canon ready to thunder upon them surrendred upon conditions But the third which was greater and much stronger called St. Nicola gave more trouble to the Kings men there being above 130 Soldiers in it with several valiant Commanders so as Harcourt came before it himself in person with more strength and assaulted the said Tower the Governour resolved to parly but Harcourt answering that he could not treat with a Rebel and telling the Soldiers that they should have no quarter unless they would kill their Governour and throw him out of the Window into the Ditch they were so terrified as they slew their Commander and surrendered on the 27 th of November and Rochel together with the Country of Aunis remain'd well Garrison'd under the Government of Estisack The zeal which not only the Catholick Officers shewed upon this occasion to the Kings service is remarkable but even the Hugonots who shewed excessive hatred against Ognone The Island of Rhe submitted likewise to the King After these prosperous successes Count Harcourt went from Rochel to a Village three leagues off the weather being so bad as would not suffer his Foot to come further than Surgeres where hearing that Cavalliere Crequi was come to Parancy which was within two leagues with the Flanders Forces and that the Prince had caused his whole Army to come on this side the River over the Bridge of Tonney Charente he thought to make use of the occasion which was fortunately offerd him by this recruit He therefore sent away orders to the said Crequi to muster all his men in Parancy whither he himself went the last of that month intending to surprise the Prince by a secret and sudden march to which purpose causing all his Forces to pass over a certain Ford by which he was to go he put himself in Battle array before Tonney Buttonne a little walled Town where there is a great Tower wherein the Prince had placed some Musquetiers to make good that station where leaving some few Soldiers to take it he presently advanced his guards under Plessis Pralin and gave him order to charge some Squadrons of the Enemy which appeared on the top of the hills near Moragne behind the which he thought the Enemies whole Army had been and so to give them battle but they by the advantage of the night were not seen so they came not to blowes till the next morning when the Kings men being come within sight of the Enemy Crequi on the right hand Bellafons on the left and the Voluntiers in the midst inheartned by Harcourt who followed them with the body of the Army they charged the Enemies Squadrons so bravely as though they resisted stoutly yet they were pierced through and through and pursued to a breast-work where the Prince stood with other twelve Squadrons and could not keep his men from being slain and taken Plessis Belliere and the other Officers who were on the head of the Anjou's Regiment seeing there was no means to pass the breast-work which Conde defended with a considerable body of men and discovering that there was a quarter on the left hand from whence some Troops pretended to go and joyn with the grosse body they charged them so hotly as many were slain upon the place others saved themselves in the washes and the rest got to a strong house where they rendred upon discretion to the Anjou's Regiment Harcourt with some others advancing at the same time to cut off the way from the Princes men met with another breast-work which hindred him and the night coming on parted the two Armies The Kings men were incamped half a league from the Enemy who return'd to Tonney Charente and past by right over the River having lost 3 or 4 hundred Gentlemen together with divers Officers and their baggage Harcourt went afterwards to Tonney Charente having re-made the Bridge which the Prince had broken Thus the two Armies stood facing one another
to Merolles near Blois whither the Court came likewise which restored Count Servient to his former State imployments Oquincourt went from Chartres towards the Loire about Vandosme to oppose the Army of the Princes for so hereafter we will call it and chose Baugency for his station and sent Monsieur Plainville thither with Rethlisi's Regiment for the nearness of the Enemies Forces made him fear that place would be assaulted whose loss would have been a great hindrance The King staid some days in Blois as did his Forces in the neighbouring Villages where the Soldiers for want of pay committed unheard of extortions and over-running the Country in parties they were met with and a Serjeant Major of Valloi's Regiment with two other Captains were taken Prisoners The Kings Council met oftentimes in that City to consider whether the King had better to go for Orleans or Paris it was long disputed whether or no he should go straight to Orleans where the Inhabitants were for certain faithful to the King or whether he should go some other way since Marquess Lordis was ill affected to the Court and an Enemy in particular to the Cardinal which was the reason why that thought was given over as also for that the King was not able to advance with safety his Army not being great and for that he ought not to trust himself in the hands of an indiscreet people apt to sedition They therefore thought of sending the Guard de Seaux and Council thither but neither was this adhered to it not being thought fit to hazard the King's Authority by exposing his commands to the danger of not being obey'd It was therefore held better to advance with the Army and to do as occasion should serve when the expected recruits should be come They therefore went from the quarters about Blois on the 26 th of March where passing over the River upon the Bridg they resolved to march towards Gergeau whither Vaubecourt and Paluau's Troops were to come Marishal Turenne was sent thither with 2500 men to take upon him the command of the aforesaid men and together with Marishal de Oquincourt to do what should be best for the King's service And the King with the Court went also from Blois to Sully and the Army was quartered at Sandillon between Orleans and Gergan The Princes Army after having taken some contributions from the parts about Chastres went into Beaux the Province wherein Orleans stands with intention according to Nemeurs opinion to take Gergeau and Guien Those of Orleans wavering in what they had best do amidst this noise of Arms being incited on the one side by seditious people who were of opinion that they ought not recede from the obedience of the Duke of Orleans who as Lord of that Town if they should so do would hold himself highly offended and being sorry on the other side to forego the duty of good Subjects to the King their Sovereign resolved to remain neuters whereof the Duke of Beaufort who was come to that purpose to that City being assured he acquainted the Duke of Orleans therewith adding that if that Town should be taken by the King he would be forced to forsake Paris wherefore he thought it necessary that he should come thither himself in person to keep them all obedient with the Authority of his own presence But the Duke not thinking it fit to abandon Paris when the people were so wavering ready to yield to any the least accident resolved to send Madamoiselle his Daughter thither to weaken the Kings party by her presence and to incourage the favourers of his Family who were many This Princess assuming a generous and man-like spirit did not refuse to go but did so cheerfully imbrace the proposal as she appeared another Zenobia or Thalestris who was going to make new conquests She went from Paris accompanied by the Marchioness of Fronseneck the young Countess of Fiesco by the Duke of Rohan by two Counsellors of Parliament Croisy and Bermont and by many other Gentlemen of condition She past by Estampes and after having been received two leagues from Turry a great Town in Beaux by the chief Officers of the Army a Council of War was then held in her presence wherein it was resolved that the Army should march the next morning straight to Gergeau to secure that Town which had a Bridg over the Loire and that in case they should meet with any difficulty by the Kings Forces which were not far off that then they should indeavor to make themselves masters of Guienne in performance whereof Beaufort advanced to Gergean which was seated upon the Loire and walled about after the old manner but finding that Marishal Turenne had cautiously prevented him who was come into the Suburbs beyond the Bridg he was forced to hault and fall to blows without any advantage for though there were none to defend it but some of the Kings Officers who had accompanied Turenne they did so excellently defend it as after Beaufort had lost several Soldiers and had had many chief men wounded amongst which was Monsieur Sirot Lieutenant General who not long after dyed he was forced to return towards Loris a Village over against Sully on the Rivers side Madamoiselle being this mean while come to Orleans she found the Gates shut and guarded by armed Citizens whom she acquainted with her being there and at the same time appeared the Guard de Seaux on the other side the River who was sent by the King to keep the people in their obedience The Counsellors were at that time met in the publick Palace with several chief Citizens to consider how they should receive this Court-officer the Guard not being able to open the Gates to any without express order from the said Council sent presently to acquaint them how that Madamoiselle was come on the one side and the Guard de Seaux on the other about which whilst they were considering what to do Madamoiselle being upon the ditch and weary with attending an answer walked toward the River which the Boat-men observing they boldly ran to the Walls and breaking up a little Gate brought her into the City not being withstood by the Guards of the next Gate where she was cryed up by all the people many whereof were gained some days before by some monies given by Monsieur de Fiesco to spoil the management of Monsieur Gras master of the requests who was sent thither to that purpose by the King The people flocked together in great numbers in the Streets through which Madamoiselle past to see and reverence her and she using that French liberty towards them which does not at all derogate from civil modesty their acclamations grew so great as all the City wondred at the unusual and unexpected hardiness of that Princess Then going to the publick Palace she made the Council adhere to her party and to keep the Guard de Seaux from coming into the Town she went the next morning
be done without a King whilst there was a King This was the best thing the Cardinal could do for this Maxime well observed fomented the Prince his ruine since not being able to free the Parisians from the ruine wherewith they were threatned without his withdrawing he would be undoubtedly undone for by staying there he would increase their miseries whereby he would draw on the peoples hatred and if he should go away he would loose the assistance of so rich and powerfull a City and would be forced to retire to his Towns upon the Maax forsake the Kingdom and cast himself into the Spaniards hands The Spaniards were much confused when they heard the Cardinal was gone from France for they foresaw that by his removal all pretences which did any ways cloak the Male-contents reasons ceased and wisely weighing how they might maintain but not advance the Princes party two ways were thought upon the one to advance with their whole Army and drive the King from about Paris and so keep the Citizens true to the Princes the other to feed the Princes and Parisians with hopes but without effects to the end that by appearance of their aid they might keep fast to their pretentions and redoubling their disobedience might at last be necessitated to declare against the King and becoming unworthy of pardon and afraid to be punished they might strive to continue their usurped Authority The first was gain-said by suspicion that the Court being reduced to straits should grant the pretentions of the Princes which were still hotly pursued by their well-wishers The other seemed not fit for the present conjunctures for when the Princes and Parliament should be void of all hope and promise made by the Spaniard they must be ruled by necessity and be contented with such terms as they could get They therefore chose a third way which was to cause their Troops to advance that they might thereby soment Conde's unquiet thoughts who making War in France as first Prince of the blood and one of the valiantest and best esteemed Commanders of the age was likely to disturb the whole Kingdom long Wherefore after having staid a while at Fimes and thereabouts and having changed Fuenseldaglia's Forces for those of the Duke of Lorrain who had again taken pay for his Army for two months from the Spaniard they marched towards the Seene it was thought better-to send the Lorrainer then Fuenseldaglia for that they had rather put Forreigners to hazard and sufferings than their own Soldiers as also because if Spaniards and Italians who differ so much both in habit and face from the French should come into France they would rather provoke the hatred and aversion than civilities of the French towards them who do naturally abhor Nations of another Climate This Army consisted of 3000 Horse the most part Germans under the Duke of Witemberg of Six Regiments of Horse paid by the Country of Leige and the parts adjacent in the name of the Princes commanded by the Chevalliere de Guise and Count Pas and of 6000 Lorrainers which in all made between Ten and Eleven thousand good fighting men and well in order This Army being come on the first of September almost without any obstacle to Sessene a little Town in Brie Fourteen leagues from Paris thought to approach the Seene and to come to Villeneuf St. George in the same place where some months before the Duke of Lorrain lay when he came to relieve Estampes but he was prevented by Turenne whose Army being much lessened by their continual labour intrenched his Army there and threw two Bridges upon Boats over the River to succor the other side and to provide forrage for the Horse Lorrain kept therefore higher up and falling down afterwards into the Plane incamped on the East side of the River the Army of the Princes going the next day from St. Victoire past over the Seene at the Pontneuf of Paris and over the Marne at Charinton and joyned with Lorrain the Princes Forces consisted of about 3500 what Horse what Foot the one commanded by Baron Cleinchamp which were the remainders which came from Flanders with Nemeurs the second was Orlean's own Forces Commanded by General Beaufort the third were Conde's men under Prince Taranto the General and the Lieutenant General Tavanes For Rochefaucolt was not yet cured of his wounds These three bodies of Armies and the other two of Lorrain Wirtemberg and Duke Charles having assigned over their Spanish Forces to Conde Lorrain declared he was no Enemy to France nor to the King thereof but that he was only obliged by the Spaniards to bring those men to Conde which being done he was free He went the same day being the Sixth of September to Paris where consulting with Orleans in Orleans his own Palace wherein he was lodged with Conde and the rest of the party they resolved to draw near the Kings Camp with all their Forces and either to fight them as occasion should serve or to incommodate them chiefly in their forrage in performance whereof they made divers quarters about Villeneuf St. George in safe places and well fortified from whence sending out great parties of Horse to plunder and get Victuals their past several skirmishes between them and Turens men with Reciprocal success but of little moment the Soldiers being thus incamped all about Paris was besieged by its own Friends the King was desired daily to come to Paris who answered he vvas vvilling to do so but that the Parisians must first get Orleans to cause Conde to return to his Government of Guienne and Beaufort to Annet a Castle of his Fathers and all Forreigners out of France The Cardinal of Rets Dutchess of Chevereux and Chasteauneuf who were all three Condes Enemies made use of these favourable conjunctures and were not wanting to stave Orleans off from joyning with Conde and to re-unite him to the Court for the reasons already alledged Notwithstanding all these troubles of the Court the siege of Montrond continued and Count Palau who commanded there in chief knowing how few the besieged were and what scarcity they had of Victuals resolved to open his Trenches and hasten the taking thereof but meeting with more opposition than he expected he fell to finish his line the circumvallation whereof being but small it might the more easily be kept Marquess Persau who commanded therein for the Prince to keep from being reduced to such necessity as he must surrender upon discretion articled on the 22 th of August that if he were not relieved by the 30 th of that moneth he would deliver up the Castle to the King and would match out on the first of September with Arms and Baggage That Hostility should cease on both sides and that daily Victuals should be given by the King's men to the Soldiers and Inhabitants they being paid for it that no Fortifications should be made on neither side and that if relief should come Persau and his men should be Newters
as they saw Night draw near and that the French Rear-Guard approached the Baggage and Foot marching behind with great diligence they began to turn their backs and by the benefit of the Night to retire leaving in Castillon 1200 men to hinder the advancing of the French The Marquiss of Blessis Belliere called then a Councel of Warr to consult what was fit to be resolved touching the pursuit of the Enemy and it was resolved they should not follow him because in a Country full of narrow Passes as that was 't was not possible to fight him unless he would himself and besides the Provisions for the Army were not come so as it would be necessary to retire back to have them and would besides have much lessened their Reputation with the People who are much guided by outward appearances and whose Friendship was of great importance to them It was resolved therefore to take Castillon before they advanced farther and to go on slowly without ingaging themselves by their marches where they could not be followed by their Baggage and in order thereunto having brought two Pieces of Artillery from Roses and viewed the place they began forthwith to open a Trench which was presently advanced to the Town-Ditch notwithstanding the continual firing upon them by the Besieged Castillon is a Town invironed with a plain Wall and a little dry Ditch the Garrison consisted of Irish and Neapolitans Commanded by Colonel Milon who being made one of the Heads of the People of Naples in the late Revolution had abandoned the Party and put himself into the Spanish Service where he gained great Reputation The Besieged made no Sally because they had no Redoubts without to favour them but cast an infinite number of stones which obliged the Assailants to make a Gallery over the Ditch that they might with more security approach the Wall where having in three days sunk a Mine in the corner of a Tower the Besieged knowing the place was not longer to be defended made Articles and were admitted unto an Honourable Capitulation with a tye upon them to return into Spain by the way of Fontraby being the farthest way about The French found here six Pieces of Cannon and 5000 pound of Powder which came very seasonably to them considering their present want having ingaged themselves in this Enterprise with a great scarcity of Ammunition During this Siege Plessis Belliere sent the Marquess de Bellefont with part of the Troops to attaque Empouriers the Torne de Medas and other little places which were all yielded upon the same Terms with Castillon The French Commanders being informed before their entring into Catalonia that the Irish were not well satisfied with the Spaniard invited them unto their Party and made them advantageous offers which were accepted with a promise to come over with seven Regiments of that Nation upon the first occasion should be presented Notice was given during the Siege of Castillon to those within that they should execute their promise who answered That they would not basely abandon the Spanish Service that whilst they were in the Town they would do their Duty like men of Honour and when the Siege was over they would make good their words and so they did assoon as they came to Rossillon where they divided from the Neapolitans and went into Quarters in the Daulphine where they were forthwith followed by many others As soon as the Spaniards had quitted Castillon Plessis Belliere renewed his Orders to all the neighbouring Villages after the taking of Barcellona to bring Victuals into Roses and he gave farther Orders that they should send in Workmen to demolish the Forts built by the Spaniards about Rosa and the Walls of Castillon and left that charge with the Governour who remained there with a Regiment of Foot and one of Horse who having neglected the performance thereof was severely punished From thence being informed that the Enemy was retired into Girone and there intrenched he marched thither without delay with a resolution to fight them he thought to march along the Coast and put himself between the Enemies Camp and Barcellona but finding it not practicable he took along the River Fer putting himself at the Head of the Forlorn-hope that he might the better observe the Enemy where having discovered the Guard of Horse which they kept at Ponte Maggiore that was retiring towards Girone the first Squadrons of the French leaving Ponte Maggiore on the left hand and marching always up the River until they were beyond the City found the Spanish Horse a forraging on the other side of the River who were presently cast into Squadrons and all the remainder of the Troops issuing out of Girone and the Trenches with the Cannon were drawn up into Battailia before the said Fortifications and there whilst the Forlorn-hopes skirmished together on each side of the River which was betwixt them the French advanced and drawing close together as they came up disposed themselves to give a sudden charge upon the Spanish Army whose Commanders discovering the Enemies Design drew back forthwith into their own Line which was broad and deep enough with a good Breast-work flanked with four or five stone houses and well lined with Musquettiers These Fortifications being regularly made began at the Wall of an Hospital in the Town and ended at a Stream not foordable Night in the mean time drew near the greatest part of the Souldiers wanted Powder and the Waggons which carried the little store they had were not yet come up notwithstanding which the Souldiers shewed an earnest desire to fight and Plessis Belliere being unwilling to deny them that satisfaction took with him all the Horse and six hundred Musquetiers and making each of them carry a Faggot passed himself the River on the left hand a little below the City and the Marquess of Bellefond did the same 500 paces below that There were several other little cuts between the River and the Spanish Camp so that it was midnight e're the Forlorn-hope of the Foot reached it they found the Trench set with Maâ—ches and drawing near knew that the Spaniards had abandoned it Plessis Belliere sent them several little Parties upon all the ways to bring tidings of the Enemy and the night being passed over without making any discovery the day at last discovered them upon the Mountain behind the City The French had left their Baggage beyond the River with some Foot to guard it and expect the Cannon The Spaniards knowing it made their Horse come down the Mountain and passing through Girone thought to go and plunder it but they missed of their Design because as soon as they were seen to march that way 7 or 8 Squadrons were forthwith sent to cross the River which caused the Spaniard to forbear the Attempt and return unto the Mountain The Baggage Cannon and remainder of the Foot being passed the French encamped themselves in the open field within half Cannot shot of the Town wall with a Design to
Souldiers and the best of his Officers amongst whom he heard with great grief of the imprisonment of Coligny his Kinsman a Person of great valour and in whom he had great confidence and the Court taking this as a Presage of good Success Resolved that the Duke of Espernon Governour-General of Burgundy should undertake the Enterprize of Bellagarde After the rendring of the Castle of Dijon Burgundy had been ever in great trouble by reason of the plunderings of that Garrison which continually infested that whole Countrey The Duke had therefore Garrisoned the Castle of Pagny near unto it and wanting Force sufficient to take it he had given ear to some Propositions made by the Prince of Conde's Friends to sell him the said Place which was hard to keep because it was so far within the King's Countries but the Treaty being broken off by reason of the too high demands of the Marquiss of Batteville Governour of the Place Espernon took order for making of Provisions fit for besieging of it and considering that those of the Franche Comté notwithstanding their Neutrality might send and succour it he sent concerning the same unto the Marquiss of San Martin and Monsieur de Cea Principal managers of the Catholick King 's Affairs in that Province from whom being assured that they had no thought of doing any thing against the Neutrality established and being also encouraged by the Burgundians who to pull this Thorn out of their sides offered to find Money and Provisions fit for the Siege the Duke passed the Somme at San Iean de Losne the Marquiss d'Uxelles came from Chalons to Verdun with what Souldiers he could draw from the Neighbouring places and brought together about four thousand Souldiers Horse and Foot under the Command of the said Uxelles and de Roncerelles both Lieutenants-General The Ninth of May the Duke possessed the Posts of Campblanc and de Pany whilest the others took up their Posts at Casâ—elles and San George and opening the Trench they made their Approaches to the place and with their Artillery battered it on two sides and a little below also on the other side of the River where Monsieur de San Quintin lodged himself with four hundred Foot The Besieged defended themselves with great courage and by their frequent Sallies endeavoured to hinder the King's Forces from advancing towards the Ditch but Roncerelles advancing the Trench unto the Counterscarp drained the water out of the Ditch filled it with Faggots and sprang a Mine under the Bulwark towards the River Batteville having no hopes of Succour and not being in a condition long to defend himself sent to the Duke and let him know It had been never practised in a War amongst Christians to assault a place without first giving a Summons to know if they would freely yield and therefore he desired to understand upon what ground they proceeded so severely against him Espernon made answer to him That this was usually practised against lawful Enemies but not against Rebels to the King and pretended he would not defer the Assault for which all things were now ready but being entreated by the Officers of his Army not to use such severity which oftentimes casts men into dispair he consented rather for sparing the lives of his own Souldiers than of the Enemy and a Capitulation for the Surrender was agreed upon Batteville marching on the 8th day of Iune out of the place with 700 Souldiers with their Arms and Baggage who were convoy'd unto Stenay The Burgundians were much pleased with this Enterprise having hereby quieted their Province and Espernon according to the promise he had made them caused the place to be dismantell'd and uncovered whereby the passage over the Somme became free and those people were eased of the Contributions they were forced to pay unto that Garrison to avoid being fired and ill entreated by the Souldiers and himself acquired much honour and a general Commendations by the Action The Troops who had served in this Siege were sent part unto Mareschal Turenne who was now ready to take the Field and part unto the Mareschal de la Ferte Seneterre who was already quartered upon the Frontiers of Lorrain and had taken divers Castles of the Territory of Verdun which were held by the Enemy To these good Proludiums of fortunate Success followed another Enterprize very bold and unexpected executed by Count Broglia Governour of la Basse a Captain of high repute and experienced valour He was advertised that the Troops which had been in the Quarters of Etere la Gorgue and the Neighbouring Posts being appointed to serve in the Prince of Conde's Army were the most part of them drawn thence unto the general Rendezvouz so as there were in those Quarters only Colonel Murphy with about 700 Irish and about 80 Horse under the Command of the Baron de Lambes he marched therefore from la Bassee with 400 Fire-locks and 100 Horse with a Bridge of Boats to pass the River Lis above Etere and Armentiers that he might fall upon the Quarters of Etere where Murphy's Regiment lay He Commanded Monsieur de Lavogadre a Colonel of Piemontoiâ— to pasâ— the River with 350 Fire-locks and himself staid on the hither side with the 100 Horse and the remainder of the Foot to succour and assist where need should be Monsieur de la Trenoy Serjeant-Major of Bassee advanced with 100 Fire-locks about midnight the 13th of Iune and charged with so much valour that notwithstanding the Assault was sustained with great courage by the Enemy yet he drove them to the Church where they fought two hours but at last the French having made themselves Masters of the Church Doors constrained the Irish all to yield themselves prisoners of Warr who were in number 300 Souldiers 6 Captains and all the other Officers Murphy himself escaping by favour of the Night From thence the same Night the Count advanced unto the Fort of la Gourgue but found it quitted and so having driven the Countrey thereabouts and got some Booty he returned to La Bassee very well pleased to have destroyed that Fort and taken all those Souldiers and Officers The Prince of Conde was startled with this News and had without doubt forthwith taken the Field had not the taking of the 300000 Ryals before mentioned by the English retarded the Provisions which were thereby to be made and in particular of Horses to remount the Cavalry and for Artillery which were afterwards provided with some difficulty in Holland The General Turenne making use of this Conjuncture having caused the Troops to march into the Countrey about Rheims parted from Paris the 14th of Iune and in a certain place not far distant from Chillery in Champaigne consulting with the Mareschal de la Ferte who was yet drawing together his Souldiers in the Countrey about Verdun touching the course they were to hold they concluded to besiege Rhetel to take from the Enemy all means of advancing farther into Champagne being
place they should besiege presently with the best part of the Horse and a party of choice Foot Turenne at break of day put himself upon his march that way where the said Convoy was to pass to look for and Fight it which was the best thing he could have done and would have spoiled all the Enemies designes Conde perceiving the French march as he that had a perfect knowledg of the manner of proceeding of Turenne and the best part of the other Captains who had formerly served under his Command perceived that his design was discovered and suspecting what the Enemy might Enterprize made a sudden turn and with the lightest of the Horse marched presently towards the Somme sending notice by Polinet his Ajutant di Camera to the said Count de Maile to return unto Cambray without passing farther Polinet in his return the same day was taken Prisoner by a party of the King's Forces and it being known by him and after confirmed by the Scouts who had been to discover even to the Gates of Cambray that Maile was retired and that the Prince having cast two Bridges of Boats over the Somme had passed it and was Lodged upon the banks thereof between Corbie and Bre Turenne with all speed returned unto his Camp which was now advancing towards him and together with the Mareschal Ferte Senneterre secured their Baggage under the Walls of Peronne and encamped about a little Village not far distant thence and neer the Spanish Army from whence they took the advantage of a Scite proper for them to fight in if they should be enforced unto a Battel The Prince verily thought to have then taken Turenne unprovided and force him to fight and with that belief he marched hastily all Night so long a march that the next morning in sight of Peronne he found the Enemies altogether unadvertised of his coming as having thought it unpossible he should have come so soon but he forbore to attack the French Camp not so much because his men were extraordinarily tired and weary as because Fuensaldagne would not give way to it doubting the Lorainois would not Fight it having been insinuated to him by some Letters received from France that Cardinal Mazarine by great promises of Money and other means had under-hand gained the Duke of Lorrain so as from thence grew the beginning of the Disgusts between Conde and the Count Conde pretending that the opposition made unto those earnest desires of his to make use of the opportunity proceeded from fear not from a prudent foresight or just reason The Prince took up his Post at Mount St. Quintin an Abby upon a Hill but found it so well provided that he thought not fit to assault it with so much disadvantage Conde notwithstanding made shew of being come expressly to attack it to stop Turenne there untill he might receive the Convoy from Cambray without which there was no likelihood of being able to lay Siege to any place and in the mean time whilst with slight skirmishes he endeavoured to give credit to that report he caused his Van to march the straight way towards St. Quintin leaving the King's Army on the right hand and a great Wood between them Turenne being watchful to all occasions not willing that the Enemy should advance before him which was the design of Conde marched with so much hast as he got before unto that Post which he intended to have seized and by that means obliged him to make a stand and so the Armies were again brought to front each other separated by nothing but a little Valley easie of access upon which the French put a great guard over against a Wood which ended near to the Spanish Camp not above a Musket shot from it There the two Armies made a halt three or four days which they passed with great care and watchfulness Conde and the Spanish Generalls not being willing to make any attempt upon that place the Mareschals of France had chosen The 14th day of August there happened a great Skirmish wherein the two Counts de Russy ingaged themselves too far and Turenne's Lieutenant Colonel was killed the same day the Prince of Taranto the Marquess de Batteville and the Count Duraz were upon Conde's out Guard and being desirous to see and salute the Mareschal Turenne who was advanced to his main Guard they desired that favour by a Trumpet which was civilly granted to them receiving them with his wonted affability and they discoursed and complemented each other Reciprocally Some Gentlemen also of the King's Camp went to salute the Prince of Conde who came within 200 paces of Turenne with a desire of speaking to him but he making shew of business set spurs to his Horse and went thence without expecting the invitation which the Prince gave order should be sent unto him to that purpose by one of his Gentlemen The 25th day of August two hours before day the Prince raised his Camp and took his march towards St. Quintin of which Turenne having notice and suspecting the attack of some of those places he caused the Count Beaujeu presently to repass the Somme with 1200 Horse and 600 Foot with orders to keep near unto Ham and St. Quintin that he might relieve any Town should be invested and the French Generals repassed the River at Peronne marching all Night and the next day strait to Ham. Beaujeu coming to St. Quintin heard that the Count Duraz had drawn out 2000 of the Enemies Horse and was advanced with them to invest Guise whereupon with great diligence crossing the Fere he put into that Town a seasonable Recruit of a good number of men whereof Conde having notice suddenly recalled the Count after he had held that Town invested for 12 hours space The Prince finding that his designs were still defeated and much confounded to find in the King's Captains Wit and Valour equal to that wherein till then he had conceived hinself unmatched by any resolved to make another trial advancing the Army within a League of Ham and extending it in length along a little River which there falls into the Somme with a resolution to attack that place or in case the King's forces should come to relieve it to fall upon them and with Sword in hand to determine their emulation and differences upon that Campagne He was no sooner come to the designed Post but that he saw all the French Army in his flank and the Count Beaujeu on his Rear who having repassed the Oyse had taken up his Post at Fargny to be ready at hand upon all accidents The Armies rested there looking on each other three weeks without making any attempt because Conde and the Spanish Generals being now hopeless to break into France as they imagined to give Battle nor take any place upon the Somme by reason of the great vigilancy and wariness of the French Commanders their counsels were very confused and variable Conde had insinuated unto the Spanish Ministers and
of stairs They were condemned unto the deserved punishment of the Gallows and being broken upon the Wheel in Paris near the Bastile the 11th of October in the great street of St. Anthony The Cardinal Mazarine who by reason of the mildness of his nature and the Character he bears of being a Prince of Holy Church abhorres these bloody Spectacles did what lay in him to procure their pardon and would surely have obtained it if being so enormious a Crime it had been grantable without a notable prejudice to justice which in such cases must not at all give way to pity There followed after divers other Executions in Paris done upon several persons who were imprisoned for heynous Crimes but without doubt the effects of the King's clemency were much the greater those being many more in number who were pardoned then who were punished I cannot here omit the mentioning of one who being condemned to be beheaded pretended by his Ambition to Triumph over death he before he was brought out to Execution with an undaunted boldness as if he had been going to a Wedding dressed himself up shaved turned up his Mustaccio's powdred his hair and made his boasts That Civil Men though suffering Ignominious death ought to dye honourable And although to encourage subjects by too much levity to a relapse into their former errours be by some qualified with the name of a false Maxime yet that could not discourage the King's Ministers from using it because to generous minds the occasions of meriting the thanks of such as are obliged are much more welcome then the imprecations of those who suffer which having drawn down Heavenly favours on them hath let us see those miracles which have rendred his Government most happy who having inherited the Title of Most Christian hath joyned unto it the glorious appellation of Most Clement Truly they may be well called miracles which were seen in France in the year 1653 because whilst it seemed likely that the Kingdom combated every way by furious storms should fall in pieces it became suddenly more serene and every way more glorious then before because being by the quieting of Bourdeaux and all Guienne freed from that powerful diversion which imployed so many Forces those being now at liberty have secured all the borders from those dangers wherewith they were threatned and marching into Catalonia and Lombardy have interrupted all those designs the Spanish party hoped for from their precedent Victories The Ministers of which Crown were thought to have committed a great oversight in that they had not four years before agreed unto a general Peace the ease whereof tempering the fierce and stirring nature of the French would have proved much more useful to them then the necessitating of them to a War which raising the desires of it in a youthful King and so a great number of young Nobility may probably make the effects thereof bitter unto them it being certain that no Victories are so severely prosecuted as those which are in prosecution of a just revenge The same time that the Affairs of Warr in Catalonia Guienne and Champaigne passed in the manner before related the French concerns also in Piedmont put on a better face so as there was no farther cause of fear that the Piemontois should for want of considerable assistance be forced to free themselves from the Inconveniences of Warr by making some agreement with the Spaniard for that the Count de Quincè being gone as hath been said into Piedmont and some French Troops being joyned to him he advanced into the Enemies Countrey with between 5000 and 6000 Men and incamping at Annone upon the Banks of the Tanaro for about a moneths time during which he staid there he infested continually the Countrey about Alexandria with frequent parties sent into those parts after which quitting that Post he returned to Monferrat and passing the Po at Verna went to incamp above Crescentino to observe the Marquiss Caracene who having taken the Field with 8000 Souldiers was marched to Fontant and Palazzuolo three miles distant where the Armies stayed some dayes observing each other in which mean time the French sent abroad several parties and particularly one even to Vercelli of 1500 Horse Before he dislodged thence drawing up all his Horse in the Plain of Bertola about a Cannon shot from the Spanish Camp he sent to defie the Marquiss Caracene to fight a Battel but he holding a Maxime That the French Fury was to be stopped by the Spanish Gravity made a mock of him These attempts of the French being vanished without effect Quincè repassed the Po in Iuly and entred again into Monferrat crossing the Tanaro upon a Bridge of Boats near Asti and from thence staying two dayes at Rochetta went to encamp at Monbersel Upon notice of this march by the French the Marquiss Caracene passed the Po again with his Forces near to Pontestura and having marched cross Monferrat went to lodge at Felizzano intending to cross Tanaro at Rochetta but finding opposition from the Enemy he went to pass lower towards Alexandria advancing unto Nizza della Paglia Quincè stayed at Castel Nuovo Brusato observing his motions about 15 dayes there being daily skirmishes between the Horse of either party But Caracene being at last resolved to break into Piedmont and by that diversion to make the French quit Monferrat passing the Po at Pontestura he began to scour over the Countrey thereabouts but that sufficed not to make Quincè stirre who judging that it would be of great prejudice to his Affairs to bring his men to make the Warr in a Friends Countrey took a contrary course he sent his Baggage into Asti and foording over the Tanaro at Rochetta and after passing Bormida came by the way of Novi unto Saravalle a great Town above Alexandria in the Confines of the Genouese Countrey between the Rivers of Sirvia and Orba and having sacked it went towards Tortona and Castel nuovo de Scrivia taking great Booties in those Towns where he was not expected Caracene was thereby forced to quit his designs in Piedmont and march in all hast to Alexandria gathering together all the Garrisons and forraign Souldiers to cut off the retreat of the French towards Nizza but Quincè advertised thereof marched by Cassino de Strada by Aicqui and by the Valley of Bistagno to the said Town of Nizza whither the Spanish Army was already come for which cause the French retired that Night to St. Spefaro and went with great care to get the Pass of Our Lady at Tenello and prevent the Enemy who came thither just as the French had seised it with their Vantguard where they began to skirmish but with great reservedness of the Spanish side because they would not engage in a Battel with the French who although they were inferiour in number had the advantage in the Experience and valour of their Horse Quincè went from thence directly towards Alba and thence between Alba and Asti
with the Court and the business was upon the point agreed but the Town being blocked up just as he expected the Prince of Conde's consent unto the agreement he thought he could not with his honour quit it but as a generous Cavalier stand in defence thereof he returned therefore that answer and that Montal might have no occasion to suspect his Faith he declared that he would in that Siege serve as a private Souldier leaving the care and Government of all to him which he did exposing himself always to the greatest dangers The King returning upon the 28th of October to Chalons upon the first of November the French began to break ground and make their aproaches on two sides and planted their Batteries against the City but with little profit by reason of the brisk defence the besieged made by sallyes and other oppositions which made the Enterprize seem difficult Upon news brought that the French besieged this Town the Prince of Conde who as hath been said was troubled with a Quartane Ague gave order unto the Counts Briole and Duraz that drawing together what strength could be gotten out of the neighbouring quarters they should endeavour to put some relief into the Town and the whilst he with the Spanish Generals would gather together all their Forces not so much to defend that place as to be able to take up Quarters within France The said Counts by assistance of the Lorenois got together 3000 Foot and 2000 Horse and advanced to accomplish their design which without doubt had taken if the Cardinals diligence had not prevented them who having notice thereof upon the 4th of November at Night from the Count Grand Pre Governour of Mouson presently leapt out of Bed and gave orders about it he dispatch'd presently Monsieur d'Onè Lieutenant of his Guard to Vitry to make the Count Brugy with the Forces of Guienne come in all hast unto the King's Camp he commanded the Gens d' Armes and Horse of his Majesties Guards and his own and all the Gentlemen of his House to march immediately He forthwith sent Courriers all about that from all places Souldiers should come and re-inforce the King's Army to the command of which he appointed the Mareschal du Plessis Pralin in whose fidelity and experienced Valour he had great confidence so as by break of day all the Souldiery and as many Gentlemen as were about the Court were Horsed and Armed with a readiness equal unto the quickness of their Life and Spirit The Mareschal went from Chalons after Dinner the same day and being accompanied by a good number of Volunteers and the said Guards marched towards the Camp to be there at Night the most privately he could and that he might be ready to fight them the next morning at which time they were expected but the Commanders of Conde's Troops moved not at all being perhaps in fear of being encountred and inclosed by Mareschal Ferte Sâ—nnâ—terre who by the Cardinal's Order was drawn off from the Army with 3000 Horse and 500 choice Dragoons and marched to get between Clermont and St. Menhaud being a fit place to charge upon the Enemies Rear in case they had engaged themselves in any design against the Army that besieged the Town The next day all the Troops of Guienne came up being in number Eleven Regiments of Horse and Ten of Foot all Old tried Souldiers so as the Army being now re-inforced by these and other Recruits which came from Germany Conde could not undertake to relieve it without a full Army and that with evident danger of being drawn to a pitch't Battel then much desired by the French but abhorred by the Spaniard who should then have run too great a hazard and therefore were very wary in seconding the daring Councels of the Prince of Conde about fighting a Battail or the undertaking of any hazardous design and especially it being about a Town belonging to the Prince himself they were not willing to venture their Souldiers for anothers benefit To which was added That the Lorenois pretending to have done sufficient for that Campagne were resolved not to draw again out of their Quarters Upon the arrival of the Mareschal du Plessis the Siege was taken up with greater vigour being notably defended by Montal with frequent Sallies and losses on both sides and better he would have done had not a Magazine of Ammunition been blowed up the Night before the 6th of November by means of a Cannon Bullet shot into it or some other accident the same being variously reported The French assaulted vigorously the Half-Moon before the Port du Bois and at the same time got into the Ditch on the other side but the Besieged fallying out upon their backs hindered their work and took prisoner Monsieur d'Ortis a Lieutenant of the Guards and hurt several other Souldiers and Officers amongst whom was Monsieur de Pontet a Captain of the said Guards Upon the 16th day they made a Sally upon the Guard of Monsieur de Nancre who commanded then in the approach but were with some loss beaten back which happened also in another Salley made upon the Trench kept by the Regiments de Guard two days after where they were repulsed by Monsieur de Charmon a Captain of that Regiment with the loss of some Souldiers and of Monsieur de la Garde Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment de Burgoigne Which was also seconded by the death of Monsieur Demon Sergeant Major of the Town who was next day killed in the Ditch as he went to discover which way they might go with most security to interrupt the Works of the Besiegers The Marquiss Castelnau in the mean time attacked a Work called Ferra Cavalli and having carried it got into the Ditch and made a Gallery to defend the Miners which succeeded well after they had beaten back two Sallies of the Besieged who were many of them killed upon the place The Regiments d'Uxelles and Dampierre on the other side took the Half-Moon on the right side of the breach called La Exvelape whereupon the French being on the one side ready to give the Assault and a Mine ready to blow up the Bastion on the other the Besieged wanting Powder demanded a Parley and offered to give up the Town if in Eight dayes they were not relieved which being refused by the Mareschal who gave order for prosecution of his Works Upon the 25th day Montal without any reserve agreed to march out of the Town with Arms and Baggage which he did upon the 27th of November towards Rocroy being followed but by few French because the greatest part of those who served him accepted the Amnestie and either went into the King's Service or their own houses as did also the Marquiss de Forz Monsieur de Taissy Geneste and others who being invited by the King's Clemency câ—st from their minds all kind of bitterness and found that the true happiness of Subjects consists in their entire obedience to their Soveraign
would always be ready The Cardinal caused it to be signified again on the 21 of August and replied on the fourth of September that it would be best for the preparing of the business that Pignoranda should send some body to Paris who answered that he knew none on whom to trust more than on the same Nuntio and on Cavalier Morosini the Venetian Embassador but the Cardinal seeming not to be therewith pleased the Count thought good to employ Francisco Galleretta Secretary of State in the Low Countries for his Catholick Majesty The Affair was agreed upon Galleretta came to Paris in the beginning of October and had conference with the Cardinal who told him that anciâ—â—â— Loâ—ain should be restored to Duke Charles and that the Towns of Stenay Ianitz with what belonged unto them should be reserved for the King of France and that the Walls of Nancy should be demolished The Secretary answered That this was to alter the first Propositions and without any more ado continued on his Journey whereof the French did highly complain giving out that the Spaniards building upon the troubles of France did in their effects correspond to what they made shew of making use of the Peace concluded with Holland which though it were not very honourable for them at the first aspect was in effect very advantageous for their interests for that the chiefest reputation of Princes lay in what made most for their advantage That it was glorious for the Hollanders but not much advantageous since it was known to be contrary and dangerous to their condition not to keep long in a Government which is Popular of several Religions and various Interests as theirs is which to keep united needs nothing but the dread of a powerful Enemy The Province of Zealand made a great bustling nor would they ratifie the Peace for a long time blaming Knut their Plenipotentiary for having exceeded his instructions and for being corrupted by the Spaniards for which Process was made against him and he was banish'd The Affairs of the two Crowns being interrupted by the making of this Peace apart by the Hollanders the French joyn'd more firmly with the Swedes and being secretly fomented by the Elector of Bavaria they grew more servent in making an Agreement with Caesar and with the Empire excluding the King of Spain whose Agents did no less endeavour to separate the Crown of Swedeland as they had done Holland from France They bad the Imperialists consider That as the Union of the two Houses of Austria was the onely way to make Peace between the two Crowns so on the contrary the separating of their two Interests was to make the War perpetual between those two Potentates That the Swedes Army was much diminished and the Emperour 's much increased That the Enemy might be easily driven out of Bohemia and out of the other Provinces which they possessed and that the Peace might afterwards be made upon better Conditions and the rather if civil Discords arose in France But the Imperialists fearing to loose Bohemia and being all of them weary of War said The Prejudice which flourishing Bohemia and many other Provinces had suffered was very great by the prolonging of Peace That the Coffers were empty the Armies discontented the Provinces too much burthened That all the afflicted Subjects cry'd out for Peace whereunto they were perswaded by good and unconcern'd friends That the Peace with Germany did put the Emperour in peaceful possession of the Empire whereas he was in danger of loosing what he had yet there by War That by Peace many Princes would be restored to their pristine Splendor who were likely to undergo greater miseries by War That Peace did comfort many distressed people whom War made miserable As for Religion which ought to be the Rule of all Humane actions it was to be considered that wise men ought to believe that Religion is setled by Doctrine by Disputation and by Integrity of life and that it may very well subsist without being upheld by interest of State their Affairs being totally different But all these considerations would have been pass'd by had not another greater been added which was that the Germans being weary of War long'd for Peace particularly the Elector of Bavaria having the French and Swedes upon him declared openly for Peace though with the Exclusion of Spain The French desired an end of War as well for the apprehension they had of Civil war as fearing that the Swedes when they should see France embroiled at home and therefore not in a condition to assist Forain Wars should resolve to make Peace without them Other important reasons were added to these which made Cardinal Mâ—zarine write to Servient that he should employ all his power in appeasing the Swedes who declared themselves irreconcilable Enemies to Bavaria making them see that the Interest of both the Crowns required that this Prince might not onely be preserved but that his Dominions should be augmented as being the only Catholick who could dispute the Empire and take it out of the House of Austria Thus by the French mens means the Duke had not onely the Electoral Title but was put in possession of the upper Palatinate and on the other side by his means who fomented the French underhand they got the important Town of Brisack By these and the like considerations an end was put to the Wars of Germany which had lasted so long with the adjustment of Spain apart and by a multiplicity of Articles Peace was concluded between the Emperour and Empire on the one part and the Swedes and their Confederates on the other part in Osnâ—burg on the sixth of August with this caution That it should not be taken to be of effect unless Peace were made with France which was made between them and the Empire and Emperour in Munster on the 24 th of October following The chief sum of the Peace was That all the Princes States Cities and Lordships of the Empire should have the free possession and exercise of their Religion in the form and manner as was in the year 16â—4 That the Crown of Swedeland should for ever enjoy all Pomerania Citerior vulgarly called Voorpomeren together with the Island of Rugen containing the same limits as were held in the Dominion of the other Dukes and in the further Pomerania the Towns of Stetin Gratz Gaâ— Golnaw the Island Wuolin the three Imboccatures or Out-lets of the River Oder to wit Pfien Divenaw and the Towns adjacent to the one and the other part from the beginning of the Territories of Riga to the Baltick Sea and to the Eastern Banks comprehending the City and Haven of Wismar with the Fort Wolfeck the Jurisdiction of Foel and of Nevemcloster the Arch-Bishoprick of Bremen the Bishoprick of Werden and the City and Jurisdiction of Wilshawsen together with all the Rights possess'd by the last Arch-bishops of Bremen in the Chapter and Diocess of Hamburg with the Priviledges and Grants which they were
token of the valuation he put upon his Excellency would declare him to be his Vicar-general in Italy The Duke appli'd himself willingly hereunto the rather for that Duke Argos Viceroy of Naples had made some overture therein with the Dukes Resident in that City and sent Don Vincenzo Tuttavilla to Millain to have intelligence with that Governour who as he pass'd by Modena found him ready to embrace the offer But not finding the other Spanish Agents willing thereunto the Proposals after Tuttavilla was gone were alter'd the Effects prolonged and finally the Viceroy's Offers were varied in the most essential parts So as dissidences began again to arise for though the Duke condescended to some advantageous Proposals and press'd the performance nothing was resolved of so as he began to conceive that these things were given out rather to make France distrust him than to fix him to Spain Being therefore amidst these Rocks he resolved not to loose the French whilst he could not confide in the Spaniards especially having such an opportunity offer'd him as the risings in Sicily and Naples which threatned the subversion of that Monarchy Cardinal Grimaldi was then going towards Piombino and Portolongone with Plenipotentiary-power from the King of France to negotiate with the Princes of Italy and chiefly to binde up the Negotiations which were in hand between Mazarine and the Duke of Modena At last after several Treaties the Confederacie was setled upon these terms That the King's Council resolved to send the Neapolitan Troops which had lain long in Pioâ—bino and Portolongone by the order of Signior d' Estrades who marched with 4000 Foot and 1200 Horse by the way of Tuscany into the Modenese the Express not coming time enough which was sent from Court to Grimaldi with orders to make the Troops advance to Naples whereby the Duke being recruited he resolved to pass over the Poe and to enter the Cremonese which is a fertile Territory wherein the Souldiers might be maintain'd with notable disadvantage to the Milanese At the news hereof the Marquiss Serra was advanced with 4000 Foot 2000 Horse and ten pieces of Cannon to Pomponesco to keep the French from passing over the Poe but they seeming that they would pass just over against the Spanish quarters falling down lower at the same time in 17 Vessels pass'd 1000 Foot upon break of day over the River and not long after pass'd their whole body over pursuing the Spaniards who fled from Pomponesco to the Gates of Cremona against which City the Duke would have made some attempt had he not been obliged to forbear by the great store of Rain by the bad ways by the approaching Winter and for that the Forces which he expected from Piemont were not yet come so he was forced to Winter in the Enemie's Country distributing his Troops part in Cassalle Maggiore which was abandoned by the Spaniards part in Riverole and the rest in the neighbouring Villages where they lay quiet till the February following at which time they began to draw into the Field For the Count Haro who was made Governour of Millain instead of his Father the Constable of Castile mustered 6000 Foot and 2000 Horse wherewith he pretended to drive the Enemy from their quarters before more recruits could be brought to the Duke Which the French perceiving the Duke being so advised by Estrades thought to advance 3000 Foot and 1000 Horse and to keep the Spaniards from beating up his quarters to place himself between Bozolo and St. Martino Haro advanced with such fury as that he broke the Enemies Right Wing on the head whereof was the Duke of Modena's self who thinking he could not avoid a total Rout advised Estrades who guided the Left Wing to retreat whilst he hindred his own mens disorder But Estrades thinking that the Spaniard would be the more encouraged by so sudden a retreat and that greater mischief might ensue advised the Duke to get behinde his Squadrons wherewith he would withstand the Enemy till night by advantage whereof they might afterwards both of them retreat joyntly He straightway took the advantage of a certain House and two great Ways which were inclosed with thick strong Hedges where the French fought manfully for three hours space and till the Sun being set they might retreat to their quarters in good order The Fight was fierce and bloody many perished on each side the action was glorious all the Generals having signalized themselves with undaunted valour Estrades received a Musquet-shot on his Curass and had two Horses killed under him The Duke won great glory Both Armies being thus retreated the French Wintered without any other considerable event but the Duke having made new provisions for the next Campaigne they reassumed Arms on the beginning of March with successes of important consequence for the Marquiss of Caracena who was now Governour of Millain resolving to give proof of his sufficiency in that place after he had put all things in good order went to Cremona thinking that by driving the Enemy from the greater Cassalle he might the better defend the Passes over the Poe he therefore took a little Island within the River just over against that part and he with the rest of his Army quartered at Gazolo three miles off to assist to the maintaining of the Island that he had taken which the French went to recover but were repulsed with some prejudice and with the loss of their Boats which made the Duke to gather all his Troops together and with them and those recruits which were then brought him by Marshal Plessis Pralin hoped to make good Cassalle and by the addition of those French which were landed at Lirici and were already on their march towards him to alter the face of affairs Wherefore having furnish'd that place with Victuals he prepared to assault the aforesaid Island and to drive the Spaniards out Caracena foreseeing the Designe and the difficulty of maintaining the Island drew his men out of it and mustering his whole Army at Cremona thought by drawing the Trench from Rebecco to the Ditch of the City which was about twelve miles in length to keep the French from advancing further and to make them give over their first intentions but at last the Duke's Army being grown to be fourteen or fifteen thousand men he by the advice of the Marshal and of the other Commanders resolved to assault the Trench and came within sight of it on the 30th of Iune in a glorious order the Forelorn-hope advanc'd with some Volunteers and assaulted the Enemies Trench in several parts which though they were stoutly defended by the Spaniards were notwithstanding quickly overcome by the French and the Artillery taken many Officers and Souldiers made Prisoners amongst which Count Galeazzo Trotti Leiutenant-general of the Horse Yet did the Victory prove bitter by reason of the Assailants loss amongst which was a Son of Marshal Plessis Pralin who advancing courageously in the first Files was slain by a Musket-shot
By this fortunate success the French should have fallen upon Cremona which in this confusion would soon have yielded but they forbore the attempt for two reasons the one was necessity for they wanted Victuals and Artillery to batter The other for that the whole Council of War agreed that it would be better to pass over the River Adda without engaging in any Siege and march into the bowels of the State of Millain whereby depriving the people of gathering in their Harvest which was yet in the fields they might ruine them but they failed in this for being forc'd to tarry for the getting of Victuals they were forced to tarry at Cava longer than they thought to have done Howsoever they attempted to pass over at Maeastorna and at several other parts but still in vain by reason that the River was so swoln by the great fall of Rain and by the Spaniards vigilant Guards They therefore retreated to Crotta and advanced to Spinadesco and from thence with their whole Army drew neer Cremona placing their Artillery against the Fortifications which the besieged raised at the Mills upon the Poe. The Marquiss of Caracena was glad that the Enemies Army which he feared would have pass'd over Adda sat down before Cremona for knowing that he could relieve it as he lifted he thought to make them wait their Forces there to no purpose He therefore re-enforced the Garrison again and failed not in the part of an expert and valiant Commander Wherefore the French knowing how hard it is to take Towns that may be relieved by Water they fought to keep the Spaniards from coming upon the Poe but failed for other Armed Vessels coming out against them they forsook their Boots and got to land The Duke of Modena would have fallen upon the City with all his Forces as being but weakly walled which being gotten the Castle might be brought to yield the more easily being to be invironed by a few men He alleadged the Example of Tortona when Prince Thomaso took it and was seconded in his opinion by Marquiss Villa who was then come thither with a recruit of 3000 Horse and 2000 choice Foot accompanied by Marquiss St. Andrea Lieutenant-General Mombrune and by Marquiss Monte who commanded in the third place But Marquiss Plessis Pralin and other French Commanders diverted them making them resolve to fall onely upon the Castle because they had not Foot enough to assault the large compass of the City in several parts and for that the Castle being taken the rest would soon be had This advice prevailing the French pass'd over the Water which runs by the side of the Castle and advanc'd against the Half-Moon of Ambrosio where they fortified themselves Don Alvano di Chignones Governour of the Castle came out against them and fought them many of both sides were slain of the French Monsieur de la Lieu Mareschal of the Camp and Monsieur Guillotiere was mortally Wounded And of the Besieged Count Piatti Don Giuseppe Monpavone and Don Carlo Stampa were slain The Duke then endeavoured to block up the Poe with a strong and long Chain but did no good for the Besieged sallying out ever and anon with many choice Souldiers hindred them amongst other Sallies one was remarkable made by Don Diego Quintano a Spanish Camp-master by night on the 19 th of August where both sides fought bravely where the same Quintano with many other brave Officers were slain and of the French Count Vaian was slain and Count Navayles mortally Wounded Other actions past daily wherein sometimes one sometimes another had the advantage but the French fared always worst They were chiefly prejudiced by Marquiss Villa his failing to pass over Ada who went from his quarters to the Camp to advise with the Duke and Marshal where whilst he staid expecting the springing of a Mine which the French gave fire unto he was slain by a Cannon with much sorrow to the whole Army and much grief to the Dutchess of Savoy of whom he had deserved very well by his long and faithful service yet the French continued the Siege more fervently than before and though they were still worsted yet they forbore not making attempts At length the expected Forces from France not appearing who were retarded by the troubles which hapned in that Kingdom the French Army being much lessened and the Spaniard's increased they resolved to raise the Siege The French discamped on the 8 th of October and retreated to Castore and when they had carried their Artillery Baggage and Sick folks to Monticello they went to Rebecko Thus did this Campaigne end unfortunately which was thought at first would have proved glorious for France The Austrians happiness was afterwards Crown'd with the Marriage between the King of Spain and his Niece Anna Maria Daughter to the Emperour Ferdinand the 3 d. She was first designed for a Wife to the Prince of Spain who dying and the King of Spain having no Issue Male he resolved to marry her himself and writ to the Emperour that in remembrance of his Daughter the Empress he had chosen her for his Wife whom he intended for his Daughter The Marriage-Ceremonies were made by the Cardinal d'Arach and the King of Hungary married her on the 8 th of November in the King of Spain's Name THE HISTORY OF FRANCE The SECOND BOOK The CONTENTS The Queen being displeased with the Parliament goes out of Paris with the King and the whole Court Retreats to St. Germains Great Rumours arise hereupon The People incited by some seditious people take up Arms. Both sides prepare for War The City is at last besieged by the King Before which several accidents happen The Duke d'Elboeuf is with great applause chosen General of the Parisians The Prince of Conty and Duke Longueville come to Paris Conty goes to Roan and Longueville is declared Generalissimo The Siege continues with advantage to the King Arch-Duke Leopold sends to offer himself to the Parisians Victuals grow scarce The Inhabitants are aware of their loss An Agreement is endeavoured Peace concluded Agreement is made in Italy between the King of Spain and the Duke of Modena The King of England is beheaded by the common Hangman The Spaniards make divers attempts in Catalonia Some proceedings in Flanders WAR being resolved upon against Paris by the King 's Privy Council consisting of the Queen the Duke of Orleans the Prince of Condé the Cardinal the Marshals of Milleray and Villeroy the Abbot della Reviera and Monsieur Tilliere Secretary of State it was held expedient that the King together with all the great ones of the Court should go out of Paris to the end that the Sun being vanished which illuminates the City she might remain in that obscurity whereinto her own indiscretion had concentrated her About the beginning of the year 1649 the Queen and Cardinal went in a Coach together after Dinner to L'Hostelle d'Orleans to agree upon many things with the Duke touching their Majesties going
Oquincourt's liking to speak with him and clearing him of his jealousie Oquincourt was so obliged to the Cardinal as he contracted great confidence with him and was ever afterwards his intimate friend The Court kept thus for a while at St. Germains intimating their intention of coming thither whilst all things were in a peaceful condition But War hapning afterwards in Flanders by the Spaniards falling in upon St. Venant and Ypres it went to Compeigne and though this was a necessary remove the seditious people forbore not to whisper against the Cardinal who the more they murmured against him the more did he endeavour to keep up the Kings splendor and dignity which caused the turbulent Commonalty of Paris to publish defamatory Libels against the Kings Agents to make all men think that the Court intended not their quiet which made the Duke of Orleans go to Paris about the beginning of Iune to certifie that City of their Majesties real intentions which he did to the great satisfaction of all that were well minded And hereupon the Provost of Merchants the Sheriffs Councellors Colonels and the rest who make up the Common Council meeting together resolved to issue out Inquisitions against the Authors of the said Libels and against those that printed or published them They also thanked his Highness for his good affection and beseeched him to use his power in bringing the King to Paris which would be the true means of dissipating all the fluctuations of that wavering people to which purpose they deputed some to be sent to his Majesty to represent this their so general desire The care of the universal Government was not for all this given over but the War with Spain being reassum'd the King was in a condition of raising an Army of 25000 good veterane Souldiers which it being questioned whither they should go some propounded the falling upon Doway in Flanders others upon Avennes in Hainault and others propounded other Enterprizes But the Cardinal being assured that there were not above 600 Foot in Cambray was of opinion that they should fall upon that place which was then in the Spaniards possession which was not any part of the Low-Countries but was in the late War with Flanders taken by the French and was given by the King to Marshal Baligny who possess'd it as Soveraign thereof for some years till Count Fuentes recovered it By which example it was said that the Cardinal hoped to be endowed with it when it should be taken or at least to be made Governour of the City and Citadel Wherefore it was thought he betook himself thereunto out of self-Interest The Prince of Condé was invited to this so considerable business but he being then at his Government of Burgundy refused the employment blamed the resolution interposed many difficulties which were all thought excuses to cloak his aversion to assist the Cardinal in his fortune And at his return to Paris he spoke against the Marriage between Mercoeur and Mancini had often conference with the Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort was visited by the Presidents and chief Councellors of the Parliament and began to swallow that Maxime That much mischief must be done to receiue much good He blamed the Court for rewarding injuries and neglecting good turns as in the case of Vandosme's Family and began to slacken his adherence to the Court and his confiding in the Cardinal which till then he had cultivated He blamed him for aspiring to the absolute Government and gave him signes that he could not approve of his company in Council having found him an hindrance to his secret ends wherefore to render him hateful to the people he strove to make him be believed the Author of all the violences that he endeavoured to raise jealousies between the Queen and him that in stead of defending him with the Frondeurs The Merits of this Prince who had deserved so well of the Court mixt with other representations whether true or false caused such jealousies even in those who were most affectionate to the King's service as use to usher in highest hatreds So as the Cardinal that he might sweeten him studied to keep this first agitation from breaking further forth and though the Prince did not undertake the business of Cambray yet he alter'd not his former design but in lieu of the Prince employ'd Prince Harcourt therein and sent all the Kings Forces which were come from several parts to that affair which as they crost the River Some were found to be more than were believed all of them experienced men and well in order And whilst they encamped sometimes in one place sometimes in another to conceal their true designe from the Spaniards Count Palvan with 4000 Souldiers gathered together in the Maritime parts of Flanders began to scowre the Campagnia as well to secure the Towns which were held by the French as to draw some of the Enemies Forces thither and so to weaken their Army towards which the Arch-Duke marched from Brussels to joyn the whole Army together which was for the most part come then from Doway Valenciennes and Lisle Whilst the Spaniards were a while in this uncertainty the French about the end of Iune sate down before Cambray with much wonder to both parties as well in regard of the greatness of the City which had in it both a Castle and a Citadel as for the difficulty of the Enterprize But the Spaniards appeared to have been so careless of the Town by reason of their undervaluing the French Forces after the troubles of Paris as all men thought that so important a City absolutely lost especially the Governour Count Garce a Spaniard being then absent who at the first news thereof came thither in a Country-fellows disguise The French began to make the Line which because it was to be of a great circuit could not be digged with such diligence as was requisite Cambray is one of the greatest Cities and of most importance which the Spaniards have in those parts distant onely three Leagues from the Frontiers of Picardy It lies on the right hand of the River Schelde five Leagues below the rise thereof which therefore is not there very broad The way of Convoys to the French Camp was very convenient but somewhat long they being to come from St. Quintins and Peronne to Chastelette a Fort not far from thence from whence they were brought to the Camp When the Spaniards heard of the Siege and knew the danger the Town was in by reason of the small number of Defendants therein they forthwith sent 150 Officers thither who being discovered by the French were for the most part taken Prisoners and the whole Spanish Army in a body marched towards Buchein a strong Castle upon the Schelde three leagues below Cambray to provide for the safety thereof which consisted in speed for had they tarried till the French had compleated the Line the succour would have been very difficult The Governour who knew the Enemies Works which
were as yet open on two or three sides writ to Count Fuenseldagne That the City was in danger to be lost unless it were speedily relieved and mentioned the way to do it which was to march straight forward with the body of the Army towards the Fortifications feigning to fall upon one Quarter and to send 2000 Foot to another Quarter which was not yet intrenched so as the one or the other of them might easily enter where they were least looked for This Letter was intercepted by the French and being decifer'd was sent to Count Harcourt that he might so order his Affairs as to disappoint the Enemies The Spaniards assaulted the Quarters The French thought assuredly either to take or to cut in pieces the 2000 men that came to relieve the Town but notwithstanding they got in no man knew how nor no man withstanding them Some would have it that it was by the negligence of an Officer who quitted a Barricado to run to hear a noise that was made in another part but be it what you will it hapned so unexpectedly as all were amazed at it yea even the Spaniards themselves The French imputed it to the Germans who as strangers might perchance have been favourable to the Enemy But the common Opinion was That it hapned by a very great Mist that fell then and by the negligence of an Officer that guarded the Barricado Harcourt hereupon rais'd the Camp to the great discontent of the Court for it was thought his Forces were such as he might have taken it although the relief was entered He retreated to Cambresi whereat the Arch-Duke being very much joy'd as having saved a place of such importance he sent the Marquiss Sfondrato with 6000 men toward the Washes of Flanders to observe Palvan's proceedings propounding nothing to himself during that Campagnia but how to keep the French from making more attempts Thus the Armies kept for some days neer one another wanting many necessaries The King and Court kept still at Compeigne and were the more displeased with this accident for that they saw the Frondeurs and other Male-contents of Paris rejoyced thereat as if they had thereby received a great Victory being so blinded with hatred as the French were seen to rejoyce at their own ruine left good success might have increased the Cardinal's Reputation Beaufort and the Coadjutor and others who envied his fortune gave out That he was the cause why the King did not return to Paris rendring him thereby hateful to the Inhabitants who got much by the Courts being at Paris and so highly were they incensed against those that were of the Royal Party as in scorn the Frondeurs called them Mazaâ—inians Two things did much trouble the Court and the Cardinal to whom as chief Director all both good and bad success were attributed so as he resolved to go himself to the Camp upon pretence to treat of general Peace with the Spanish Plenipotentiary Pignoranda who was to that purpose to be at Valenciennes as was agreed upon by the Pope's Nuntio and the Venetian Embassador On the 22 of Iuly he went to Chasteau-Cambrey where the King's Army lay and was accompanied by the Dukes Vandosm and Mercoeur the Mareshal Villeroy and Pâ—essis Prasin together with dâ—ierâ— others of the Court He was received in the Camp with all applause due to his Eminency Where he had divers consultations with the prime men whom he admitted to the Treaty and inviting them frequently encouraged them to shew their Worth and Valour Then causing the Army to be mustered he presented them with considerable Donatives particularly the Dutch Commanders declaring That he never had the least suspition that Cambray was relieved through any miscarriage of theirs and that the King was of the same opinion from whom he brought Letters to General Ohem wherein his Majesty expressed his opinion of their innocency and by these and other civilities endeavoured to sweeten them who for the imputation falsly laid upon them threatned to forsake the Service as being freemen and Forreigners and did win upon their affections for all the French could do to their prejudice And there being nothing that makes Souldiers willinger to hazard their Lives than to shew them a means how to make amends for their sufferings he moved that they should march into the Island of St. Armand a rich and plentiful Country seated between the Rivers Scheld and Scarpe Which being agreed upon the French marched into that fruitful Island and entred into the midst of it without any opposition for their coming was unexpected and pillaged whatsoever they pleased to the as great confusion of the Inhabitants as grief of the Spaniards who were generally blamed by all Flanders for their inadvertency therein The Arch-Duke went thither to see whether the Enemy were to be fought with or no and driven from thence and took up his Quarters there where the Scarpe falls into the Scheld to keep the French from advancing further And since his Army could not fight the French being fewer in number he by the advantage of scituation defended the Passes and sent for Souldiers from Flanders and from all the neighbouring Provinces to increase his Army The French quartered in this opulent Country for above two Moneths running up and down without doing any thing till finding it needful to possess themselves of some place behinde them whereby they might facilitate the bringing of necessaries to the Camp and keep their Cavalry without any trouble in the Enemy's Country Count Harcourt rose on the 7 th of August from the Abby of Denaim where he was encamped after the Spaniards had retreated to Valenciennes and went to Arleux between Doway and Bocheim which is a small tract of Ground Islanded by the River Scarpe and by the Rivolets of Sluce and Sally five Leagues from Arras where he staid some days as well to hinder the Spaniards from bringing Provisions to their Camp from Doway Cambray Bocheim and other places as to get Victuals for his Army And not long after parting from thence he encamped within sight of Valenciennes and went himself in person with 1500 Horse and 2000 Commanded Foot to assault the Town of Condé scituated in a place where it is not overlooked any where having a no contemptible Castle which is watered by the Rivers Escaut and Aisne Count Broglio had the charge of assaulting the Town given him which he did with incredible speed and lodged suddainly upon the Counterscarp of the Town and forced the Enemy quickly to surrender it Colonel Grondes marching out of it on the 24 th of August with 500 Foot and 50 Horse which were Convoy'd by Monsieur Beauvais to Valenciennes Upon this advice the Arch-Duke advanc'd to Morteigne but hearing that that place was lost went neer Tourney summoning together all the scattered Souldiery and the Country-Militia to keep the French from making further progress who marched even within sight of Brussels though not without the inconveniency of want of
Province nor Governour of Libourn So their Request was frustrated The first President said That an Order might appease the disorder and that time would advise what was best to be done next The Order was resolved upon but the difficulty lay in who should carry it Some of the boldest Counsellours said That they themselves would go with it but they were told They might be detained Wherefore they all concluded that Argenson should tarry in the Castle but that he should send his Son who because he could not safely pass through that crowd of people Marquiss Chamberet General of the Troops came himself to the Castle-gate to guard him to a Bark which was prepared for him And when this was resolved the Father was no longer suffered to speak in private with his Son so as all he could whisper unto him as he embraced him at his going away was to wish him not to return to Bourdeaux though by his Letters he was desired to do so When he was come to Libourn the Governour refused to obey Argenson's order wherefore it being to come from the Duke of Espernon the Count went in haste to Agen to dispose the Duke thereunto but he first advertised his Father and the first President of all he did The disorder grew this mean while so great in Bourdeaux and the clamour of the people was such as not expecting answer they resolved to go themselves to demolish those Fortifications Argenson was all this while shut up in the Castle of Ha but he did so well represent to the Deputies of Parliament who went dayly to visit him what injury the City did her self by imprisoning one whom the King had sent to pacifie the Province as at last fearing that the Court might deal in the like manner with their Deputies who were at Court they were advised to give him his liberty He promised them to go forth with to Espernon hoping undoubtedly to obtain his request for the resolution whereof he desired onely three days they promised him not to innovate any thing in that mean while Upon these terms he came forth of the City under the conduct of the aforesaid Chamberet This mean while the Count his Son was gone to the Duke whom he had prepared to free his Father and to give order for the demolition of the Fortifications about Libourn which just as he was ready to do Argenson came himself and what was already resolved of was done so as Argenson was partly minded to return to Bourdeaux to acquaint the Burdelois with this good news But news came the next morning that about 7000 of those factious people were gone out to besiege Libourn which made the Duke alter his resolution and to dream of nothing but upon opposing the fury of the people The Duke embarked his Souldiers at Reole and went himself along with them many Gentlemen flock'd presently to him and without more ado those Forces which did not in all amout to 2000 men quartered within two leagues of Libourn intending to fall upon the Camp of the Burdelois the next day Libourn is about a mile in compass of a square form invironed with Walls and antient Towers without any Platforms seated upon an Angle made by the rivers Durdone and Isel which meet at one side of the Town towards Fronsack the Campaguia is plain and plough'd up The Burdelois had not yet time to intrench themselves nor was there any order in their Camp The General Chamberet was old not much verst in leading any Foot and much less in what belonged to a General His people were undisciplined On the contrary the King's men though they were far short in number yet were all expert Souldiers conducted by Warlike Officers whereof the Count de Marin was the first Camp-Mareshal all the rest who accompanied Espernon were such as had for the most part been in the War The posture of the besieging Camp being discovered by petty parties of Horse small Skirmishes hapned which grew greater afterwards on the Dukes side Count Serres with Crequy's Gavalry and Count Marin with the Foot of the Guienne Brigadoes fell furiously on the Enemies Quarters who did so ill defend themselves as they were immediately routed All sought how to save themselves and so great was the astonishment as many of them perish'd in the Water as they strove to save themselves by Swimming The Kings men made what havock they pleased whilst they could follow the Fugitives Marquiss Chamberet was be alone who with some other of his friends behaved himself as a man of Honour but he was slain as was likewise Monsieur d' Andre Serjeant-Major of the Army Some of the Councellors of Parliament were taken Prisoners The number of the dead was about 2000 all the Baggage Cannon and two Frigats were lost Monsieur Martinet Governour of the Town sallied forth at the same time with most of the Garrison and killed many of the Enemy The Bourdelois had above 7000 men and all the Bells of the neighbouring Villages rung out to call in men to their assistance who came from all parts Espernon was very proud of this action he entred Libourn and lay therein quartering his men in the neighbouring Villages Count Argenson tarried in the upper Country to expect the issue of this action which when he knew he went to the Duke to advise of what was to be done but he found him so exasperated against the Bourdelois as it was impossible to bring him to any moderate resolution He dream'd of nothing but of chastising the Bourdelois and thought the Court would have sent him Forces to that purpose he pass'd over the River and advanced to Castres and accompanied by the same Gentry that had served him at Libourn hasted towards Bourdeaux The mean while the Arch-Bishop with the Deputies of the Commons who had kept to the King's service entred into Treaty that the Duke might besure to be welcome to the Citizens if he would come into the City The Parliament would have no part herein but declared they would never have to do with their Enemy Espernon yet it was thought that if once the people were satisfied means would be found to appease the Parliament the hope whereof made him comply with the City's offer The Duke advanced with his Army to Graves two Leagues from Bourdeaux the Arch-Bishop and Deputies came to meet him and acquainted him with the reasons which made the Citizens and People go out against Libourn and desired him to do what was sitting and not to be the occasion of such ruines as civil Discord brings with it The Duke replied That Subjects could have no reason to disobey their Soveraign's Decrees That they should treat according to their duty dismiss their Souldiers demolish Fortifications disarm their Vessels and be content to live quietly as before The Deputies answered That the City would obey and that they desired him to enter the City Which the Duke said he would if they would disarm their Men and beat down
the Parliament the Inhabitants and chief men of the City to insist upon his removal In the Kings Council he did publickly defend the Bourdelois condemning Espernons violent proceedings with Words likelier to foment Discord than to make Peace And to hinder that the Government of Provence might not fall upon some one too pleasing to the Court he defended his Kinsman the Count of Aletz against the Parliament and City of Aix not onely by express Letters and by particular Promises but in State-Consultations and with threats against the Deputies of that Province who complained continually against their Governour Finally the more to hinder Mercoeur's Marriage and to bereave Vendosme of the hope of being Admiral he made Marshal Breze demand the Admiralty as Father to the Duke of Breze who had been slain in the Kings service supposing that Vendosme would not condescend to that Alliance without the said Charge and he moreover wrought it so that his Father-in-law the said Marshal sold the Government of Anjou to the Duke of Rohan Chabot who was his great friend As for the fourth Faction of the Frondeurs they seemed to minde nothing but the Cardinal's Ruine either by making him be banish'd the Kingdom or by making him be seditiously slain by the people by which they thought to advance their private fortunes Duke Beaufort was resolved to keep in favour with the people with whom he did publickly contend against the Court. And the Frondeurs endeavoured to draw more Citizens and others over to their party knowing themselves to be of themselves too weak to contend against the other Factions The Coadjutor who thought himself fit for any employment how great soever and longed to get into employment and to get the dignity of Cardinal did so wisely carry his affairs as though he was a great Confident of Duke Beaufort's and the chief counsellor of his party yet he sought privately how to fall in sometimes with the Cardinal sometimes with the Prince of Condé that so if he might be able to pull down one of them by means of the other he might easily afterward effect his end which was to destroy them both and to become sole Arbitrator of all things himself The Cardinal who cunningly penetrated into the depth hereof defended himself dextrously from these the Coadjutor's seigned semblances who growing sorry for it sought for protection to Condé that they might both joyn in extirpating the Cardinal which if it should succeed it would not be hard for him to overthrow Condé who was to this purpose extraordinarily reverenced by the chief Frondeurs especially after his return to Paris from Compeigne and truly he might be said then to have Fortune by the Forelock For had he embraced this opportunity he would have become very powerful by adding the Authority of the Frondeurs and that of the Parliament of Paris to that Renown which he had already gotten But were it either that he feared he might make way for others to compass their ends or that being of a noble and generous minde be hated cozenage and double dealing he would not go so far about but governed himself according as occasions did arise to attain to what conduced most to his ends Some maligne Star seemed to have influence every where for after Tumults had been raised in many parts of Europe they came to France and afterwards to the City of Liege The Troubles which arose there were occasioned by the Citizens denying to pay the 60000 Crowns which fell to their share in the Peace which was concluded the year before by their not admitting of the Coadjutor being sent by the Elector of Culen under whose jurisdiction Liege was and for that it was discovered those Citizens had a designe to chuse the Prince of Conty for their Coadjutor Wherefore the Elector finding it now a fitting time to reduce that City to its devoire whilst it was divided he sent General Spor thither with 6000 men who entring those Territories in Hostile manner the Ligeois and those those that confin'd upon them took up Arms obliging the Elector's men to War which began by their falling upon Fleron a Village about a League from Liege which was presently stormed and burnt Iuppole another great neighbouring Village made stout resistance for being fortified and defended by many Citizens who marched out with Monsieur Hannet they manfully withstood two Assaults but not being able to withstand the third it was also taken and fired with the death of Hannet and of as many as were in it Then the Electorals encamped in the Monastery of the Carthusians not far from the City They burnt Amerceny planted their Cannon before Corvillion a little Town which commanded it took the Cloisters of St. Giles and placing their men in Battle-aray began to batter the Walls though the Besieged being a Warlike people did with great and frequent Salleys endeavour to keep the Enemy aloof Here was Colonel Arar slain who was of great experience and much beloved by the Souldiers many other of the best Inhabitants were slain here likewise The Electorals were still sollicitous in advancing the Siege fearing left the Hollanders might come in to the relief They set upon the Abby of St. Lorence which was fortified by the Ligeois and guarded by 300 men but were repulsed with much loss both then as also a second time but being wearied out by many reiterated Assaults and by the death of many of them and not being relieved by the City the Abby was taken by Storm the same day all the Souldiers were slain the Abbot and all the Monks were taken prisoners as held to have holden intelligence with the Besieged The Citizens being hereby as much terrified and dejected as they at first appeared stout and courageous and being much more cast down by the disagreement of many amongst themselves who held private intelligence with the Enemy they demanded a suspension of Arms for six days which was granted them but for 24 hours a sufficient time to treat of and conclude such a business In which time one of the Burgomasters and some others who sided with the Elector opened the Bridge-gate privately and let in the Baron of Linden Governour of Huy with 4000 armed Men who were placed in several parts of the City not meeting with any opposition save a little in St. Mark 's place where the most seditious amongst the people made a Head But being quickly overcome and their Captain slain they soon run some one way some another so as the Electorals made sure the City took Burgomaster Hennet Prisoner who was Brother to him that was slain whilst he defended the aforesaid Village made the Regiments of Spor and Goltequer enter the City by which they became absolute Masters thereof And thus did this Insurrection end with the Imprisonment of Burgomaster Bartlet to the great glory and advantage of the Elector The aforesaid Prisoners were condemned to die as chief Authors of the Tumult but Bartlet ransom'd his life at a
upon France as he had till then done and in all reason ought still to do But not foreseeing such an inconveniency were it either out of unadvisedness or that he thought to keep the Duke in awe by the Town of Cassal or that there were not therein then any Marraigeable Princesses for Madamoselle d'Orleans had no minde thereunto as being unwilling to marry into Italy where she might not enjoy that Liberty and Freedom which is allowed in France the Duke might do what he pleased Wherefore he married with Donna Isabella Clara of Austria Arch-Dutchess of Inspruch in Iune this present year which made a straight tie afterwards between these two Houses For the Emperour Ferdinando being a Widower and being to marry the third time he pitched upon the Sister of the said Duke of Mâ—ntua whom he married the next year 1650. Both which Brides as they pass'd to their Husbands went through the State of Venice where they were entertained throughout all that Dukedom with such Splendor and Magnificence as the Commonwealth is accustomed to do upon like occasions A Match was formerly treated of between the Emperour and Madamoselle d'Orleans who had a great desire to be either Empress or Queen not thinking that her Princely Endowments ought to match beneath her birth Monsieur di Mondevergne was sent upon this occasion to Caesar's Court whose Negotiation failing Monsieur di Saugeon was sent thither in the year 1649 under pretence of visiting her Brother Francis Duke of Lorain who was then at the Emperours Court where he tarried some moneths and had many Conferences with Count Trautmendorp making chiefly use of the Lantgrave of Hessen and of the Jesuites with whom he used all means to effect it first with Caesar and afterwards with the King of Hungary but the Spaniards mar'd all with whose Interests the Marriage did not comply Whilst affairs went thus here the Spanish Fleet which being commanded by General Pimento failed from Naples toward Catalonia on the end of August came before Oneglia upon the Coast of the Ligustick Sea between Monaco and Finale belonging to the Duke of Savoy where landing some Souldiers they drew neer the Town and forc'd the astonished Inhabitants who wanted Garrisons and Fortifications to receive in a Spanish Garrison Upon news whereof the Spaniards who were already in the field upon the confines of Alessandrino parted suddenly from Montegrosso intending to make some attempt upon Alba a City in Montferrate But some Souldiers being put thereinto by Monsieur St. Oné and by Count Verua they returned towards Ceva and assaulted the Castle which being valiantly defended by Count Alexander Bogerello Governour of the Town and by Count Mauritio Santi who commanded the Fort they were withstood and at last forced for want of Victuals to retreat by night and on the 15 th of the said moneth were fallen upon in the Rear by some French Troops who shew some of them The loss of Oneglia troubled the Savoyards by reason of the disturbance which it caused unto all the neighbouring parts Wherefore Marquiss St. Damiano Governour of Villa Franca and Marquiss Omberto Governour of Mondoni knowing that there were but 400 Souldiers in it came before it with certain Forces which they had drawn out of their own Garrisons and out of the neighbouring parts and recovered the Town The Governour retreated to the Castle where wanting necessary Provisions he was forced to surrender by the diligence of these Gentlemen the Spaniards designes were thus interrupted who got much advantage in Catalonia by reason of the troubles in France The necessity grew still greater in Catalonia by reason of a general Famine that was there and civil Discords were augmented in France wherefore the Spaniards had hopes to make full acquisition of that Province To which purpose having given forth order for new Levies in the State of Milain Kingdom of Naples Germany and Flanders they also rigged out a Fleet at Sea As soon as they had mustered an Army of 7000 Foot and 3000 Horse commanded by General Iohn di Garay Lieutenant-General Tuttaville and by the Duke d'Albuquerke General of the Horse with 17 pieces of Cannon and requisite Ammunition they marched about the end of September to Ionneda neer las Borgias from thence to Splaga in Calno it not being known whether they meant to march towards Cervera or to fall down into the Valley of Tarragona which made Count Marsin who was General of the French in Catalonia equally to fortifie all the Frontiers to keep them from being attempted by the Enemy who after having tarried two days at Splaga fell upon and took Monblank and took 80 Foot of Fabrick's Brigade Prisoners which made the French advance suddenly to Sarcall with 1500 Foot drawn cut of the Garrisons of Cervera Arbecca and Ballaguer and with all the French and Catalonian Horse advancing afterwards to Pira half an hours march from the Spanish Camp with intention either to hinder or to protract their passing into the Vale of Aragon by the Hill of Cabra as they seemed willing to do and here there pass'd many Skirmishes between the Horse which were advanced But the French not being in a condition to keep at Pira they retreated to Rochefort Whereupon the Spaniards falling down without any hindrance into the Vally of Taragona they on the third of October assaulted Constantine and in three days took it though it were stoutly defended by the Garrison and at the same time they fell also upon Salo which is seated upon the Sea-side and took it by assault wherein almost all the Defendants were slain and the rest were taken Prisoners together with the Governour Monsieur Benjamin who was Wounded in six places From thence the Spanish Army marched toward Les Panades seeming to have a designe upon Barcellona which Marsin suspecting he sent 800 Horse thitherward commanded by Monsieur di Nestiere together with the Foot-Brigadoes of Champagnia Auvergne and Montpallion and 200 Switzers giving order that they should be in readiness and that when they should see the Spaniards were ready to fall upon that City they should go in to recruit it Garay advanced without any opposition and his Army being strong and well provided of all things he set upon and took Serges four Leagues from Barcellona and he might easily have effected his intent upon Barcellona had it not been for the vigilancy of Don Iusippe Marguerite Governour of that place and of Monsieur di Mark Bishop of Caserans who discovered the intelligence which the Spaniards held in that City for which above 200 persons were put out of it And all other things were diligently provided for particularly the Fortifications of Mongovich and Guards of the Maritime parts where there was most suspition whilst the Spanish Navy was upon those Coasts upon pretence of carrying the Queen from Genoua to Finale Servera Camarassa Braedes Falset and other Townes of the Vally of Arum were likewise fortified and moreover in 15 days space above 4000 Country-people
party as well as of all others that depended on him This was executed with much speed and upon very advantageous conditions the Government of Pont de l' Arche being thereupon granted to Longueville and the Cardinal assuring him he would proceed no farther in the Treaty of Marriage between the Duke of Mercoeur and his Niece Such was the end of this difference the Cardinal kept his Station the Frondeurs were deluded the Parliament confounded and all other the discontented parties were much unsatisfied especially to see so great a change in less than eight days without the least notice given of it to any one of those many persons of Quality who had upon this occasion declared for him whereupon the general hatred which was in a manner laid aside was kindled against Condé much more violently than before and especially in those who having thought the difference between him and the Cardinal would continue had been too forward in the declaring of themselves and being now discovered and abused railed against Condé taxing him to be a person who minding onely his own ambitious designes had no value for his friends nor consideration of the services which they had done him But above all Beaufort and the Coadjutor were most implacably his Enemies they having fancy'd to themselves great matters by his assistance and the rather because the Prince said publickly That he would rather suffer four Mazarines to be Ministers of State than one Chasteau Neuf professing That he had been in much trouble those few days he had been with them their inclinations being so diametrically opposite to his The Frondeurs and all others being thus disappointed of their hopes of banishing the Cardinal that which followed was first the small respect which Condé seemed to bear towards the Queen and the first Minister of State believing the shews of reliance upon him from them were true not counterfeit Secondly the great dissimulation which the Cardinal used towards him And thirdly which was most of all the Curses which were generally made against Condé for keeping in a Minister of State who was generally hated by all persons and many thereupon presaged the time was drawing on which might be seasonable to Imprison him as heretofore his Father had been in the Bastile upon the like conjuncture of affairs by the Marquiss d' Ancre and there was none but thought the Cardinal capable of those Maximes by which great persons are taught to take such courses as that a Subject who hath been able once to dispose of all things at his pleasure should not be continued in such Authority and Power This came to be the general discourse so as in all places there was nothing so much spoken of as of the Princes being clapt up though there were divers persons who said it was not to be thought the Cardinal during the Kings Minority would dare to attempt such a thing against a Prince of his quality because nothing of that kinde could be effected without the knowledge and consent of the Duke of Orleans who was President of the Council and Condé had the Abbot de la Riviere for his Confident who proud of such an Honour from so great a Prince assured him that his Royal Highness resolved nothing and much less of affairs of such importance without consulting first with him and therefore he assured him he would not fail upon any such occasion to give him notice The Cardinal in the mean time was particularly informed of all the Prince's actions and studied nothing more than some convenient opportunity to interrupt his bold designes and the great difficulties which appeared in the performance of it rendered him much more fixed in the resolution he had taken to perform it He considered on the one side the desperateness of the attempt and the extremity of ruine which would fall upon him if the Prince who was extreamly jealous of every thing should come to have the least suspition that he had any thought against him And on the other side how ignominious his management of the State would be if the Authority of the King his Master should during that time be impaired and lessened by the Prince And in this perplexity he resolved that dissimulation was the true Sugar he was to use wherewith to sweeten all his Actions In order hereunto he caused presently all his said Nieces to be removed from Court and shut up in a Monastery of Nuns in the Fauxbourgh of St. Germains and declared publickly that his intentious never had been to marry his Nieces in France for those ends which he was charged withal and therefore he was very glad to give over the thought thereof his onely drift being to unite the Royal Family against those who endeavoured to raise Dissentions amongst them This gave a stop to those Discourses which his Enemies had formerly made against him in Paris upon that occasion But his true end therein was to put them in a place of safety so as in ease he should be forced upon any occasion to retire these Ladies might not be exposed unto the insolencies of an unruly people as foreseeing all those artifices which the malice of his Enemies made use of to procure his Ruine These passages very much troubled the Leading Men of the Frondeurs and all the other Malecontents who saw their party decaying daily by the Residence of the Court which eclipsed all other Authority in Paris and by the agreement between the Prince and Cardinal and therefore they resolved by some extraordinary and suddain attempt to put things unto a hazard before the peoples mindes were wholly quieted and thereupon to take such resolutions as time and the condition of Affairs should suggest to them The Parliament had not in this mean time met since the first of April because all things being quieted by the Peace lately concluded there had been no occasion for their meeting The Great Chamber had ended several differences between the Partisans and their under-Farmers who refused to pay their Rents although it were the order both of the King and Parliament that they should do it In pursuance hereof the Partisans had caused several of the under-Farmers to be Imprisoned in the Town-house where they had been restrained for several days And upon this occasion the Partisans to procure payment of their Money met several times and in great numbers in the Town-house which caused some discourse amongst the people who were very much enclined to Tumults and Sedition The Chambre de Vacance upon the motion of the Procurator-General his Substitute prohibited all kind of Meetings upon any occasion whatsoever without order from the Magistrate The Partisans thought themselves injured by this Order and presently chose several Deputies persons of quality as Councellors and Advocates and Temporal Citizens amongst which were the President Charton the Councellor Iolly the Advocate Portait Monsieur de Constunes a Burgess of Paris and others who had Commission to endeavour the ending of this matter without
Queen and Cardinal and also to the Prince who being then at Court and upon the first knowledge of it was returning home had he not been stayed by her Majesty and the Cardinal who represented to him that those persons could have no other designe in meeting there but against him and therefore desired him that he would by no means hazard his person The Prince was at last perswaded by them and went to lodge for that night at his Stewards house but to be satisfied touching the matter sent home his Coach accompanied with some of his Servants and retinue When they came neer Pont Neus two Horsemen came up with the Coach but not finding him there went to that of the Count Duras which followed and discharged several shot into it one of which killed a Lackey that was in it This made the Prince who had designed the destruction of the Frondeurs Faction that the Heads thereof might not be made use of by the Court to frame a party in opposition to him readily lay hold on this occasion for the doing of it by taking this Assassinate to have been intended against him The Cardinal who looked on this conjuncture as favourable to the designe he had of making an immortal hatred between the Prince and the Frondeurs laid hold on the occasion which he managed very dextrously by making the Prince sensible that all this was a Plot of the Duke of Beaufort and the Coadjutor to take away his life because by his agreement with the Court he had given a stop to their designes mean while there having been great talk touching the matter attempted by Bollaye the Duke of Beaufort brought him unto the Marshal Grammont's House where the Prince supped to justifie himself from having had any ill intentions against his person The Prince answered he knew not whom to suspect but could not see Bollaye since he had endeavoured to make a rising among the people whereby he had incurr'd his Majesties displeasure Beaufort answered that he was well assured Bollaye had not the least ill thought towards his Highness for which he would be a pledge for him and if he should appear in the least guilty would be the first man to punish him The Prince thanked him and the Marshal having desired him to stay Supper he dismiss'd Bollaye and sate down with them The Signior de Bovillon la Mark Captain of the Guard of Switzers and Bollaye's Father-in-law besought the Queen to pardon the action by him done the Saturday before but her Majesty told him it was a matter of high consequence and that therefore she must not stop the course of Justice The Duke of Orleans returned to Paris the same day having been sent for by the Queen to consult touching some fit means to quiet the disturbances begun and to assist the Parliament in punishing such as upon examination should appear guilty As soon as the Duke came to Court there was a private Council held and the next morning a Letter was sent to the Parliament giving them orders to make enquiry and proceed against those who had endeavoured to raise Storms in Paris and to assassinate Iolly concluding with words full of confidence of their zeal and affection unto his Majesties service and the publick Peace and quiet of the Kingdom Next day the Parliament met and thither came the Duke of Orleans accompanied with the Prince the Dukes of Vendosme Elboeuse Mercoeur Bovillon and several others where his Majesties Letter being presented by Monsieur Saintes was ordered to be read and registered The Duke of Orleans thereupon made a handsom discourse touching the present juncture of affairs but the Prince was silent though 't was reported he intended to enter his complaint in Parliament The City-Colonels and Captains were all summoned to the Town-house and commanded not to take Arms or chain the Streets without express order from the City-Council upon a report which was spread that the discontented party intended a second rising The Parliament ordered the restraint of Bollay of the Advocate Germain of the Provost de L'Argent and of Anean a Wine-Merchant and then the Prince made his own complaint and demanded Justice for the assassinate designed against him Her Majesty the same day sent for several of the principal Citizens and assured them that the King her Son was very much satisfied with the proof he had now of their Loyalty and Affection towards his service notwithstanding the great endeavours used by some factious spirits to raise Commotions And it was really a great satisfaction to the Court who thought that Paris would upon the least provocation have risen against them to finde that on the contrary the Parisians were very Loyal and affectionate unto his Majesty and that if the contrary had at any time appeared 't was brought about by the false practices of some few seditious persons who were Enemies to the publick Peace The Parliament adjourned then for six days that those who were to make enquiries might have time to do it during which Monsieur de Iolly upon what occasion it was not known presented a Petition to the Great Chamber setting forth that the Assassinate attempted against him being a private action was no matter of State nor had any connexion with their crime who endeavoured to raise Sedition in Paris and therefore prayed that his Cause might not be judged in Parliament but left to be determined in the ordinary Court appointed for the tryal of those Cases and that he might have leave to proceed there against those who were guilty and their Complices adding that he had now gotten some light touching the matter and hoped in case he were left at liberty to proceed freely therein to make a full discovery thereof Upon this Petition it was ordered that he should give in his Charge in Parliament and that the Great Chamber should have the hearing of it Upon the 20 th of December all the Chambers being met there appeared the Duke of Orleans attended by the Princes of Condé and Conty the Dukes of Beaufort Retz Bresac and Luynes the Coadjutor and other Councellors of Honour above 20 in number This Meeting and two others which were held upon the 22 th and 24 th of the same Moneth were spent in contests touching the persons who were to be Judges exceptions being taken against all those who were parties either as persons against whom the Assassinate was intended or as favourers of the designe of doing it amongst which the Duke of Beaufort and the Coadjutor were pointed at so as after several disputes touching that matter the Assembly broke up without agreeing any thing and was adjourned till the Wednesday after the Holy-days But the Prince was so positively resolved to pursue the resolution he had taken to destroy the Faction of the Frondeurs that 't was an easie matter for the Court to gain him with the shew of being troubled at the attempt against him and render him a mortal Enemy unto the Duke of Beaufort
goodness to Burdeaux by a general act of Amnesty or Oblivion and was therefore to be received in like manner as Kings were usually received in the Towns of their Dominion that the Dukes of Boullion and Rochefaucolt were to be sent out of the City as being declared by the Parliaments of France guilty of High Treason as chief inciters of all the disorders and that things should be put into their former condition But just as it was hoped that this would take happy effect the news of Richon's death discomposed all and did so incense the people as they ran up and down the Streets crying Justice and Revenge but no peace Wherefore the Duke of Boullion who had divers Prisoners in his hands which were taken in the recovery of the Island of St. George on the 6 th of August caused Monsieur de Caroles to be hanged The Marshal Millerey being gone from about Vaires incamped at Creon three Leagues from Burdeaux The Knight of Vallette Lieutenant General under Espernoun commanding all those Forces in chief in the Dukes absence undertook to recover the Island of St. George but as he advanced too forward to discover the Enemy he was shot by an Harquebuse on the Thigh whereof he dyed at Cadilliack four days after the Court came to Libourn to the great grief of as many as knew him he was a Gentleman of much Generosity and very faithful to the King he had served the Commonwealth of Venice long in Italy and it was he who entring Paris when it was besieged threw divers Papers amongst the People wherein he exhorted them to expell the Frondeurs and to submit unto the King for which he was imprisoned and hazarded his life Count Palaw was by the King put in his place and Island being stoutly defended by Monsieur De la Motta Delas the Kings men were forced to tarry there some days longer than they had thought waiting for their Canon which made much for the Burdelois for if this important place had been lost the City had been reduced to great straits and want of many things wherefore it stood the King's men much upon to perfect this enterprise who did therefore plant some great pieces of Canon upon the hill of Cambes wherewith playing incessantly upon the Fort and making several assaults they forced it to surrender which redounded much to the prejudice of the City which was not far off So as thinking how to defend ' this place they caused some Baracadoes to be made at Sansurino which were furnisht with Souldiers of Fortune to keep the Inhabitants from going out There was also a Fort with four little Bulwarks at Bastida a place beyond the City over against the City The Port of Dicoux was fenced by a woful half Moon made of Marle without a Ditch some other armed Vessels were put into the Water Affairs passing thus in Cuien during the Kings absence from Paris the Court being ingaged in Arms before Burdeaux could not supply the needs of all Parts States and Cities which required defence wherefore the Spaniards took the advantage of the present conjuncture of times being well informed by Count de Ognate Viceroy of Naples who knew very well how much it concerned his King to bereave the French of Piombino and Portolongone which were receptacles for the Enemies Fleets to the prejudice of that Kingdom and therefore resolved not to let slip that opportunity which was now offered by the troubles of France He prepared all things sitting and betook himself to that expedition which was approved of by many Princes of Italy and also by some Forreign Princes for these Harbours were become receptacles for French Pirates which troubled Navigation not distinguishing Friends from Enemies to the great hindrance of Traffick Nor did the Court of France remedy this as well because it was not good for her to disgust a number of men well experienced in conducting Fleets at Sea as also that they pleaded a Law in their defence which was confirm'd by the States General in the time of Francis the first permitting the reprisal of all Vessels which carried Merchandize of any whatsoever sort belonging to the Subjects of any Prince with whom France was in War The Viceroy having mustred 6000-Foot 800 Horse and being accompanied by many Gentlemen and Titulado's imbarqued on the 10 th of Iune seconded by Don Iohn of Austria who as the Kings Son had the chief Command one part of the Forces imbarqued in the Island of Elbe one part with Count Connersano who upon this occasion was made General of the Horse incamped before Piombino and Cannon was planted at one and the same time against both these places they began to dig Trenches that they might hasten the Conquest before succour could be sent from France which being impossible to be done in those Domestick Wars he had of himself provided for the Defence of Portalongone and orders were sent to Provence that all possible means might be used to send some relief thither But nothing being to be done without money and experienced Commanders the orders availed nothing The French Agents who were in Rome foreseeing these difficulties thought good to interest the Pope and the great Duke but all their reasons could not prevail with these Princes who prohibited their Subjects to assist either party Count Conversano did this mean while straiten Piombino being recruited by Don Iohn de Austria with 1000. Foot and having driven the French out of the Town he betook himself to oppugne the Castle which was constantly defended by the besieged who were incouraged by the Arrival of Seignior Valperga a Piamontese well experienced in the Military Mystery who was come into Provence hoping assuredly to relieve it But the place not being able to hold out longer by reason of the scituation which was so weak as it was not to be fortified the Governour parlied on the Eighteenth of Iuly by vertue of which capitulation the French and Swissers being to go out Valperga was detained as an Italian and not comprehended in the Articles the place being Garrison'd Conuersano went with all his Forces to strengthen the Vice-Roy before Longone whither 500. Foot were come sent by the Marquess of Caracena Governour of Millan and Skirmishes past daily between both parties But whilst Cavalliere Poll was providing a Vessel in Thouloen to attempt Relief Cardinal Mazarine gave order to Monsieur Lauriere the Lieutenant of a French Gally to arm it suddenly and that taking in 100. of the Queens Guard he might indeavour succouring the place Lauriere who was very valiant but not over good at ordering affairs instead of going the nearest way to Monte Christo from whence the Winds having kept the Spanish Gallies aloof from that Haven he might have effected his design he wheeled about by the Coast of Corsica and came late to the aforesaid Island which the Spaniards being aware of they sent Ianettino de Oria General of the Neapolitan Squadron to find him out with two good
went in August near to Montronde where he continued for a month still defying the Garrison though it were more numerous than his men but as he returned to his Camp with but only 30. Horse he fell into an Ambuscado of the Enemies who shot at him with Muskets and Pistols wherewith he was wounded in the hand and had his face burnt yet throwing himself fiercely amongst the Enemy he forced them to fly without loss of any one of his men and having slain some of the Enemy with his own hands he returned to his Quarters and was no sooner healed but being advertised by Cavalliere Barada that a party of the Enemies were in the Castle of Garghelissa he presently got on Horseback accompanied by 300. of those of Tsouldon and set upon Garghelissa where the Enemy wanting all things particularly water they yielded the 2d day Eighteen Officers remaining Prisoners and above 150. common Souldiers A Trumpet came in the interim to Paris on the beginning of September with Letters sent from the Archduke to the Duke of Orleans wherein boasting of his good intentions to a general place he invited him to accept of the offer The Duke listned to what the Trumpeter said and he being also desirous of peace sent the Baron of Verderonne Gentleman of his Bedchamber with a gracious answer shewing a reciprocal good will which was not altogether well approved by all men as misbecoming the respect due to the King without whose consent no treaty ought to have been held with the Enemy and the Duke after this having sent a Messenger to Court to crave leave that he might apply himself to the Treaty the King's servants observed that he had ingaged himself further than he ought to have done Yet to keep from irritating the people more who already complain'd that no means was used to make peace and also not to distaste the Duke totally Commission was sent him to Treat but with some others join'd with him It was thought that these projects of the Spaniards tended to two ends the one to increase the peoples hatred yet more against the Cardinal the other to win the good will of the people who were opprest with continual grievances and by insolencies of War And in earnest by this cunning things were reduced to that condition as the Archdukes name was publickly cried up in Paris and he as well as the Spaniards were said to have deserved well of the Parisians nay singing Songs and eucomiums in praise of the Archduke they called him a good Frondeur But the Archduke knew not how to make use of the Parisians applause as he ought to have done for having so far ingaged himself in the aforesaid offers and his after proceedings not corresponding with his beginning it was thought he did not mean sincerely and that he did not really desire peace so much as he seemed to do On the other side the Duke of Orleans imbarqued therein incited by vain glory thinking to win the peoples applause by so good a work he sent Messengers continually to Court the Officers whereof spying into the Spaniards deep designs laughed at the vanity of the business which being built in the Air vanisht soon away in smoak The Count de Avaux knowing how much his power in Court was lessened and thinking how to regain it grew in love with these Treaties and intending to be the guider thereof so to win credit with the people he went with the Pope's Nuntio to Soisouns to confer with the Spanish Commissioners but he found none there for the Archduke as was appointed nay Don Gabrielle di Tolledo at his return to Paris said that Orders were first to be expected from Spain contradicting plainly what the Archduke had said who affirmed that he was Plenipotentiary to conclude all things But the Prince of Conde's Friends finding that the Parisians were pleased with nothing more than with this whisper of peace framed some Libels in the name of Marishal Turenne though he knew nothing of it and on the 4 th of September they were found fastned upon all the Corners of the Streets and the people ran to read them with such delight as the Duke of Orleans striving to have them pul'd down the people did oppose it with so much heat as two men were upon that occasion kil'd The Contents of these Libels were verbatim as followeth The Marishal of TURENNE to the good Citizens of PARIS IF Cardinal Mazarine who is the disturber of publick Tranquillity had not refused to make the most advantagious peace three years since that France could desire the Kingdom would not have been troubled with so many commotions as hath cost it so much blood and Treasure and you should not now grieve to see the fire which is preparing to consume so many fair Provinces unless you extinguish it The Archduke who might justly make advantage of the disorders of France and of the Confusion whereinto it is put by the wickedness of some particular men who prefer their own particular interest before the peace of Christendome comes to your Gates to offer you that peace which till now the Cardinal Mazarine hath hindred This design appears to me to be so generous and so good for the publick as it is fitting to follow it Friends you are invited to receive it he himself presents you with it it now depends upon you Lassure you the intentions of this Prince are sincere his offering to Treat with his Royal Highness and with the Parliament the moderation which he will use during the whole course of this Negotiation will justifie to all Europe his intentions to make it peaceful he tells you that the disloyalty of Cardinal Mazarine which is better known by strangers than by you hath made his Catholick Majesty resolve not to accept of any proposals made by him but to make use of his absence to Treat thereof with the Duke of Orleans and with the Parliament of Paris who are bound to be accountable to the King and to the State of the publick conduct of affairs and of the disorders which the continuance of War will occasion It is you that must solicit your false Tribunes who are become Mazarine's Pensioners and Protectors who have long laughed at you who have sometimes excited you sometimes allured sometimes cooled you sometimes held you back according to their Capricioes and different progress of their ambitions from preferring the publick interest and the general good to the welfare of this States-man whom afterwards when he hath paid them for their friendship they exalt unto the Heavens notwithstanding the continuance of this War The Archduke comes with a spirit of peace intending to facilitate the conclusion of a Treaty so necessary for the two Crowns but he protests that as he will leave nothing undone to effect so noble and so glorious a design to Christendome so he will imploy the Army which he commands to revenge his Catholick Majesty in case these just and reasonable conditions to which he
might subvert it this maxim was constantly to be insisted upon without fearing the Duke of Orleans or the Frondeurs who could do little or nothing out of Paris without having the imprisoned Princes at the head of an Army and without the joyning of the other parts of the Kingdom which being all very obedient were of themselves able to curb Paris if it should attempt any novelty But the Queen being perswaded by the Dutchess of Orleans and by the Dutchess of Cheuereux who negotiated as a friend and confident between the parties resolved at last to do against the Cardinal's Counsel and to return to Paris from whence all the mischief ensued which befell the Court afterwards And the Kings concernments were no less prejudiced in Catalonia Italy and in Flanders than in France For the Commanders in Flanders being but ilfavourdly paid were forced to give way to Military licentiousness in those Towns which were wont to be civilly dealt with which caused them to complain bitterly being indiscreetly plunder'd by the Horse of Flix And though process were made against Monsieur Santa Colomba Marin Governour of Catalonia by the pressing of the Countrey people yet nothing being able to refrain their licentiousness the Catalonians resolved to acknowledg him no longer for their Commander but to deny him those contributions which they were forc't to pay him to preserve themselves from Military insolence grounding themselves upon the agreement made with the King of France that none but those of the Nation and not any French should be made Governours of any Towns there But Duke Mercure not being satisfied with this reason resolved to force them to obedience sent Colonel Baltazar thither with 1000. Soldiers part Horse part Foot wherewith entring Mora a great Town upon the Ebro he plunderd it using great extortions and did the like in many other Neighbouring Towns which made the people take up Arms and besieged the French in the said Towns of Mora so as the Vice-Roy finding violent means hurtful he sent Don Giuseppe Margherite thither one who was in good credit with them to reorder affairs with his presence He marched thitherward not without danger of being slain for by intelligence held by the Baily of Vilboda who feigned to be his friend an Ambuscado was laid for him in certain narrow ways through which he was necessarily to pass which was to give the sign when the Enemy was to advance But Margherite advancing so fast as he had not time to give the sign the Enemy moved not but suffered him to advance on to Falset a chief Town of those parts where by his credit he accommodated differences promising the Countrey people that the French should go out of their Towns and that the Garrison of Flix should not injure them and having satisfied them all he went to Mora drove out Baltazar whereof Marquess Borry who commanded the Spanish Forces in chief being advertised he laid another Ambuscado for him as he returned from Flix to Mora near Composina but Baltazar being overseen in Wine he went by water instead of going by land whereby the Spaniards were deluded and his drunkenness was Margherite's safety Borry staying afterwards with his men in those parts for seven or eight days he made the Catalonians be assaulted by an Ambuscado conducted by the aforesaid Baily of Vilboda and by Lewis Magrinate an Inhabitant of Falset but the Castilians came off with the worst for about 40. of them were slain and as many taken Prisoners and the rest saved themselves by the Mountain Margherite being afterwards sent for by the Vice-Roy came to Santa Colomba where the Vice-Roy was with the Marquesses of Marsilly and Marinuilla and went from thence to Barcellona but before he went from thence a Council of War was held wherein it was resolved to divide those Forces into the most considerable places as well to reinforce those places as to spare the Country from quartering but this was not affected for news being brought that a body of Spaniards was entred by Granadiglia a Country lying between Flix and Lerida the Vice-Roy would fight them but failed in his designs for the Spaniards were seasonably retreated and Falset being at the same time revolted the Vice-Roy was forced to come before it with 3000. Combatants and with the Artillery drawn out of Flix wherewith he forced those Country people and 200. Spaniards who were come from Taragona to yield upon usual conditions of War and with general pardon to those that rose Here were the Regiments of Mount Paullion La Motta and Baltazar quartered under this mans Command who pretending afterwards that the Citizens went about to revolt again made the Town be plundered with so much terrour to the other Neighbouring Towns as the Spaniards were thereby invited to besiege Flix which they took Duke Mercure endeavoured to releive Flix and came to Compossina where it was resolved to fall upon the Spanish Camp and get into their Trenches He therefore came within sight of the Enemy but finding them too well provided he suffered that Town to fall into their hands Mercure having been incamped four days and suffering much for want of Bread for all the Corn that was in the Neighbouring Villages was brought into Mirauet he went from thence to Tineza where he routed 50. Spaniards that were quartered in Reux and slew the Baily of Villebay and from thence fell into the vally of Taragona a fruitful Country where the French tarried two months doing nothing wherefore the Spaniards making use of the Enemies negligence went speedily to take in Mirauet upon the same River of Ebro half a days march from Flix towards Tortosa wherein there was a Garrison of 500. Foot At the first onset Dolerier Governour of the Town was slain and within eight days the Town was taken By reason of these fortunate proceedings Marquess Mortara went to before Tortosa where Seignior Launage Gringenier Commanded and Monsieur de Chaison as the Kings Lieutenant a brave Soldier and well beloved by those people with about 1500. Soldiers and though the Spaniards were then so strongly recruited as that they had 8000. fighting men and that the Citizens and Country people stood for the most part for Spain yet not being able to do any good by storming as at first they indeavoured they resolved upon a Siege wherewith in six weeks space they reduced it Duke Mercure knowing the importancy of the place strove to relieve it and writ to Don Guiseppe Margherite to send him Victuals from Barcellona Margherite forthwith hired four Merchants Ships which were in the Haven at Barcellona and fraughting them with great store of Cattle he sent them to the French Camp in the plains of Taragona And whilst the said Munition was unloding at Cambrils where the Vice-Roy was seven Spanish Gallies Commanded by Duke Alberkirque fell upon them and after a long fight and with loss of some few men made himself master of the four Vessels so as the Duke wanting means
to make head against the Enemy the other to come to a general action of Arms before the French Forces should be diminished and before Turen should have recruited his as he easily might do by the neighbourhood of the Spaniards or leaving both these to betake themselves to a third means which was to go to their winter quarters which would be as bad if not worse than to lose a Battel for thereby Turen would obtain his intent all these reasons being weighed by common consent all pitcht upon the resolution of fighting as soon as might be Plessis Pralin solicited the Governour of Rethel therefore to end the Capitulation by the next day break and at the same time when the Garrison began to march out he hastened his march after the Enemy that he might overtake him and ingage him to fight But being come to Geneuille he was told by a party of Horse which came then unto him that the Enemy was already so far advanced as it was impossible to reach him with his men who were already wearied with the Siege and with their march wherewith he acquainted the Cardinal who sent him word that if he could do no otherwise he should retreat and that he would expect him at Dinner that day but he was advertised by the forerunners of another party of the quarters of Oquincourt and of Lieutenant General Le Rose who were further advanced that Turen had haulted in the said vally of Burg wherefore without sending to the Cardinal he hasted thither being resolved to fight and by Moon-shine he came on the 15 th of November before it was bright day to the vally of Smide from whence the Enemies Croats were just then gone having heard news of the advancing of the Kings men Then General Turenne giving sign to his Troops by three several shot of Cannon that they might rank themselves in order the Commanders were so diligent as the most of them were in Battle-array upon the tops of the Mountains before the Kings men could come up unto them as they indeavoured which when Plessis Pralin knew finding how he had failed in his first design which was to have gotten between the Enemies quarters and to have kept them from joyning he betook himself to march with much diligence upon the parallel line to the Enemy and getting the upper hand with his right wing on the part where Turenn's left wing stood intending to play upon it on the Flank now that they were weak and that the Lorainers were not yet come up unto them who came not long after but Turenne also hastning his march both the Armies marched in a parallel line for above a League not far from one another and then came the Lorainers in with whom Turenne finding himself able to resist the Kings men he staied upon an advantagious scituation to put his Army in Battle-array and to put the business to the arbitrement of Fortune He drew out his men into only two lines that his Front might be the larger upon the top of the Hill which extends it self into a large plain and he according to his custom placed himself upon the left wing of the Horse assisted by Count Duras by Baron Bouteuille and by Messieurs de Beaunau and Montelieu who were the prime Commanders Monsieur Fuges and Count Lignauile Commanded the Lorainers who ranked themselves on Turenn's left side The right was possest by the five newly raised Regiments of the Germans conducted by Monsieur Lanau Don Stephano di Gammara assisted the Walloon and the Lorain Foot and the French were led on by Messieurs di Betbets de Rosopere and by Count St. Quinten whereof the first Commanded Turenn's Brigade the 2 d. that of the Crown and the 3d. that of Stenay on the head of which Battailions stood Marquess Hocourt of Omale and Count Bossu a Fleming The six field pieces were placed on the Front of the Army preceeded by the Forlorn hope who were to give the first Skirmish some Croats were to scour the Country and to Skirmish with the forwardest of the Enemy Marishal Plessis Pralin having discovered the vally which lay between the two Armies divided his Army which consisted of 4000. Foot and 500. Horse into two Battailions also the first whereof was led on by the Marishals self accompanied by Monsieur Maincamp Monsieur Villaquiere the Marquess d' Oquincourt and de la Rosa all four Lieutenants General by Count Plessis Pralin Son to the General by Count Nauailes Vicount Corvalle Monsieur de St. Gervies and Monsieur Fleshenteyne with whom were divers other Officers and experienced Gentlemen Messieurs de Valle and de Pradell commanded the Foot which were divided into six Battailions on the Front whereof were placed two pieces of Canon The 2 d. Battel contained five Battailions of Foot part French part Dutch led on by Messieurs Chaumontelle la Susa d' Emeraut la Flotte Venciuille and others in the intervall between these two Squadrons of Foot were two Squadrons of Prince Thomaso of Sauoy his Gens d'arms some Companies of the Generals and of his Sons and of my Lord Digby an Englishman Monsieur d' Invile Marishal of the Camp had the care of the reserve of Horse of this 2 d. line The King's Army advancing in this order General Turenne to keep the Foot from adjusting themselves between the intervals of Horse Squadrons as they began to do advanced himself in person with his wonted courage and the Lorainers were so ready on the left hand as they gave leave only to three Squadrons of the Enemies Horse to oppose them for the Kings men had regulated their first body on the right hand according to the number of Turenn's Troops which as yet had not the Lorainers joyned to them and therefore finding this advantage he furiously charged the Enemies line who with no less valour incounter'd them so as without giving fire their Horses heads shook one against another Marishal Plessis Pralin being on the head of the first Squadron on the right hand thrust forward to incounter him and at the same time sent Cavaliere Barada to wish Marishal d' Hochencourt to fall upon his Flanck but the Enemy not having at all sustain'd the onset on that side d' Hochencourt could not make use of the advantage of his station but being advertised by Monsieur de Quay Marishal of the Battel that five of Turenn's Squadrons marched a little lower to fall upon his Flank he was forced to quit his first design and to fight these with the Queens Regiment and that of Carlo Broglia who put them to flight Monsieur de Cosse who was to have backt him on the head of the second Battle seeing that d' Hochencourt had escaped danger on that side advanced with Vatimont and Cimitiers Squadrons against others which were led on by Count Ligneuille who hasted to assault the Dutch Troops of Lieutenant General Rosa and routed them But the conflict was much hotter on the right wing where Turen's
in this whether they were to have the Queens permission or whether it was sufficient to have leave from the Lieutenant General that the Nobility had Assembled for three reasons for the liberty of the Princes for driving out the Cardinal and for the maintaining of the Nobilities priviledges which were lost by the bad Government of State Ministers That nobody could doubt but that the two first points were contrary to the Regents desire since the Princes had been imprisoned by her that therefore it was unnecessary to ask leave for the Assembling of the Nobility seeing it was contrary to her sense wherefore not being able to address themselves to her Majesty they had be taken themselves to the Lieutenant General who having given them leave to meet the occasion of taxing them for having taken upon them an unjust power ceased That those who sided with the Cardinal said this was a Criminal fact but that they could not shew any other way which was more innocent that they were shut up between two great extreams either to become guilty by complaining or to be opprest by holding their peace and to suffer that without remedy the honour of their Wives and Daughters their Goods their Houses and all they had should be exposed to the insolence and violation of Soldiers Marishals Task-masters and to the avarice of Officers and that their liberties and immunities should be opprest through the jealousie of those who had neither birth nor worth thatthe Kingdom of France was a free Kingdom and that the most noble and freest part thereof ought not to be forbidden lamenting and demanding justice against such excesses and their conclusion was that any thing might be done which was just and reasonable at last the Clergie and after them the Nobility did acquiesce upon the reiterated desires and perswasions of the Duke of Orleans and of the Prince of Conde and much the rather for that they had not met with such correspondences as they looked for from the meeting of the third order without which and contrary to the King's power the Clergy and Nobility could of themselves do nothing So all was husht up upon hopes of the next Assembling of the States General which Orleans and Conde did under their hand assure them of The Cardinal being gone from the confines of France Paris grew weary of keeping continual Guards at the gate for which the Soldiers had no pay wherefore those Guards were taken away so as the Court being at liberty to go into the City and Country the Princes party was thereby not a little weakned who confided much in Armed men Conde began to apprehend a second imprisonment which he feared as himself said more than death wherefore he grew more circumspect than usual The Court began to take courage and to think how to uphold the King's Authority and because the Cardinal at his departure counselled the Queen to recall Count Chavigny who was Conde's friend to keep him from thinking to return by some other means he was sent for back and the seals were taken away by the Queens direction from the Marquess of Chastauneuf who was suspected to be become a friend to the contrary party and were given to the first President Mole which made it be believed that the Queen did all by intelligence with the Prince who was a friend to Chavigny and Mole and an Enemy to Chasteauneuf the next day he took the wonted Oath and the Queen used him with honour and esteem whereat the Duke of Orleans was much amazed in whose House the Prince of Conde Duke Beaufort the Dutchess of Chevereux and of Moâ—bason met together with the Coadjutor and other conspicuous persons of that party and they discoursed long upon the Queens taking too much upon her contrary to their pretentions speaking openly that if the Duke of Orleans would suffer such shame he would incourage his Enemies who would grow the more haughty But because the Council differ'd in their opinions it will not be amiss to lay open the affections of the one and of the other because private interest is more minded in France than in any other Court or Nation and is prefer'd before any publick consideration The Duke of Orleans his Daughter Madamoselle Duke Beaufort and the Dutchess of Monbason minded only their own greatness The Prince of Conde and his adherents cared not much for this mutation as being adversaries to Chasteauneuf and friends to the first President the Dutchess of Chevereux and the Coadjutor as friends to Chasteauneuf were more incens'd against the Queen than all the rest the rather for that they thought they had been upon good terms with her Majesty Orleans broke forth into sore complaints against the Queen for making such alterations without his knowledg Duke Beaufort offer'd to make the people rise in his behalf when he should please Count Montresore a great friend to the Coadjutor said it was no longer time to dally that the people must forthwith take up Arms and force the first President to forgoe the Seals and afterwards go with the like fury to the Queens Court and do as occasion should serve it was thought that this being a violent proposal came from the Coadjutor who was of the same opinion but the Prince of Conde who held private intelligence with the Court declared he would not ingage himself in a War in the Streets of Paris as not being accustomed to fight with stones and that therefore he would leave the care thereof to others That he would be ready to obey the Duke of Orleans if he should so command him in going presently into Burgundy to raise men and make War wheresoever he should please Upon these speeches of so renown'd a man the diversity of opinions ceased and the Marishal de Estampes one that loved not troubles said it was now late and that the business might be defer'd till the next morning which was done The Coadjutor finding Conde to declare thus much intreated the Duke of Orleans to give him leave to withdraw himself from the intrigues of the Court and follow his study and seemed to continue a while thus resolved The Queen was somewhat troubled at the taking the Seals from Chasteauneuf and giving them to President Mole by reason of Orlean's so highly resenting it which the Frondeurs also did so as fearing some extravagancy though she did much protect the first President she was at last forc'd to forsake him and to take the Seals away from him and to deposite them in the Lord Chancellor's hands with promise under hand to the said President by Marishal Grammont that they should be restored unto him when the King should be of years yet was not he well pleased since the Queen had made him accept that place against his will not being able to protect him therein but he was more offended with Conde from whom for his past service he promis'd himself more fervent assistance wherein the Prince failed him to keep from breaking with the
with the King and her Majesties interest and if occasion should require declare her self against the Frondeurs The Princesses entred into the treaty the Queen seemed ready to give them all reasonable satisfaction the Prince inclined to agreement but some of his friends and particularly Chavignie whispering in his ear that he ought not to forego his old friends for new ones that the Court was full of subtilty whereby he might be sure at last to be deluded and he listning more to bad than to good Counsel he would not be fed with bare hope nor confide in the Court So as not being able by these means to reduce him they tackt about and resolved totally to ruine him for he being supprest little care was to be had of the rest and to effect their intent they resolved to secure themselves of all the Provinces of the Kingdom And the Duke of Longueville who was Governour of Normandy and Brother in Law to the Prince was sought to be won over by a secret treaty which was effected by friends on both sides and whereunto Longueville listned not for that he had any natural good inclinations but because he was not well pleased with Conde who dealt disdainfully with him and fomented his Wife in Domestick differences that were between them he ingaged his word that he never would recede from what was agreed on with the Court no not for any whatsoever offer might be made him of bettering his condition All the Officers of the Flanders Army were also treated with who took a new Oath to serve his Majesty against all his Enemies within or out of the Kingdom and declared that they did depend only upon the King They summon'd in all the Troops which served under the name of the Prince to appear at a general Muster and that they might be disposed of in several parts they thought either to detain their pay or to give them inconvenient quarters or if need were to disarm them but the Prince suspecting this wrought so as that they drew up towards Burgundy Champagnia and the Frontiers of Picardy and that they should never come within three days march of the King's Army They afterward indeavoured to draw over from the faction of the Frondeurs as many of the Parliament or of the chief Citizens as they could among which President Novion was one deceiv'd in his hopes of being the Director of the Duke of Orlean's Council Monsieur le Feure Provost of the Merchants and finally all means were used to draw over the Princess Palatine who afterwards grew a great confident of the Queen and Cardinal by reason of her being but badly requited by Conde's Family after her so much partiality and good service done to Conde and they also won over the Dutchess of Chevereux and the Coadjutor promising to call the Marquess of Chasteauneuf to the Privy Council again and to nominate the Coadjutor to be Cardinal when the King should be of age the joyning together of the two last was of great importance in this business out of their desire to revenge themselves of the Prince and as being partakers of the Duke of Orleans his most secret Council all this was managed by the Court with their accustomed cunning for the most wary were of opinion that the Queen could not confide neither in Chevereux nor in the Coadjutor in whom she was forc'd notwithstanding to seem to trust and to believe things which were unlikely and though it was thought that by Chasteauneuf's return to Council Chevereux might pretend to have a share in the Government of the Kingdom and that the Coadjutor by being Cardinal might one day prove Favourite even they allured by such hopes labour'd to keep in favour with their Majesties and to seem desirous of Mazarine's return wherein Chasteauneuf being of all others most vigilant fearing Conde's faction and considering that the Cardinal would at last overcome all difficulties since it was the King and Queens will having with great wonder hard the question asked by Priolo in Conde's name whether or no he would approve of the Cardinals return he was desirous to sound the bottom of the business wherefore he sent his confident Berret to Brules with a Letter of credence and with exhibition to imploy all his power in helping his return when the Cardinal saw the Letter he very warily made Berret write down the articles of instruction at the foot of the Letter and that he might the better discover truth treat the more securely and know the true meaning of the Queen he sent Abbot Vndedey to Paris incognito in whom he trusted much who coming thither with much danger of losing his life he behaved himself so well as he agreed with Chasteauneuf that he should be made chief Minister of State when the King should be of years he assured the first President that he should have the Seals restored to him and Marquess Vieville that he should be made superintendent of the Finances Vndedey not having a Pasport from the Spaniards was in his journy to Paris stopt by the Garrison of Charlemont but was released at thirteen days end for they considered that it made not for them to detain one who by his negotiation might renew jealousies and afford new pretences to the Male-contents he being imploy'd to revive the Cardinals Party whose subsistance was judged necessary by the Spaniards thereby to make Conde joyn more firmly with them and holding that this was the only means to widen the wounds of France The Princes were advertised of his detention and of his being set free and they laid snares for him by the way but he fearing it turned about by Mesieres and past in disguise through the Princes Troops and got safe to Paris whereat the Queen was very glad Vndedey staid Eleven days not being discovered by whatsoever the Princes could do he negotiated all the business that he was come about which was all put off till the King should be of years but fearing afterwards to be found he went to Peroun and staid there incognito till the King was of years and till the Prince retired from Court after which being recalled by the Queen he returned to Paris to finish what he had begun The Parliament knowing that it was an unjust and odious thing to make a man guilty without naming his fault that they might the better justifie their proceedings against the Cardinal sent two Counsellors of the Chamber into Normandy and Picardy and to all places through which he past to inform themselves diligently of all his comportments in order whereunto Cantarini an Italian Bancker was imprisoned and had all his Writings taken from him hoping to find notes of the sums of Money which he was said to have conveyed into Italy and Germany and Brousell was appointed to make this inquisition who was his chiefest Enemy but after having spent much time in making diligent search he returned without any thing worthy the Assemblies knowledg Nothing was found in Canterini's writings
declared his distaste by saying he would return no more thither But keeping his negotiations on foot as well in Flanders as in France to the end that he might effect his designs abroad if he should not effect them at home he with large offers and fair allegations invited the Duke of Longueville to enter into his party But Longueville who was wise and loved his quiet though he seemed to joyn in his interest yet keeping his agreement made with the Queen did not accept the invitation saying that though the beginnings of all civil Wars seem specious yet their middle and their end prove fatal to those who undertook them and that therefore as a true friend and allye he exhorted him to agree and peacefully to injoy his Governments well foreseeing what the contrary might produce as being fomented by ambitious people and who for their particular concernment desire to put the Kingdom into troubles Yet these the Princes ways tended not to the precipice of War though they seemed to do so for by what happened afterwards it was known he pretended rather to make an advantagious agreement than to enter into an uncertain and dangerous War At this time the Prince received a Letter from Marquess Bouteville Governour of Belgarde wherein he advertised him that Monsieur de Isole was come thither sent by the Emperour who desired to speak with him and to let him know that if he would declare himself he would invest him in Brisack and would cause all the rights of the house of Austria therein to be given unto him That moreover he would give him 4000 Soldiers which he would add to the Garrison of Franchendelle which the Spaniards should abandon so as together with his own Soldiers which at that time were 5000 he might make an Army of Ten or Twelve thousand men The French Army lay this mean while about the River Liss but was not able to make any considerable assault upon that Frontier for want of Corn and Artillery and much more for want of Money the rather for that the Enemies Towns were all well fortified whereat the Queen was not displeased in these present disorders that so she might have her Forces disingaged and free to send against the Prince upon any emergency Notwithstanding Marishall de Aumont incampt at Arleaux not far from Doway with 10000 foot and 6000 horse and sent Duke Chaunes to fall upon two redoubts which were sheltered by the River Scarpe making 600 Musquetiers ford over the River at the same time conducted by the Count de Espagne and Chevalliere Chaunes so as the Spaniards having had two Squadrons of Croats routed forsook the redoubts by the taking whereof whilst it was thought the French would approach Doway they went away without doing any thing else and went to Inchy a Town three leagues off and quarter'd in the Abbey of Vauxelles On the other side Marishall Fertesenetre Governour of Lorain went with some Troops gathered up in the Neighbouring Provinces to take Charte upon the Mosell the Castle whereof though it were but small was well fortified and of no little consideration in respect of the Neighborhood of Lorrain and he took it though it were by the Garrison stoutly defended to the great advantage of the King's Forces who were thereby likewise unincumberd on that side Whilst things were in this condition Duke Mercure who staid in Paris after the Cardinal was gone met every night with the Queen when all others were withdrawn maturing such expedients as stuck most with them and seeing himself much prest in his own particular affairs for the ill satisfaction which was conceived against his Family by reason of his interest with the Cardinal he beg'd the Government of Auvergne Her Majesty before she would gratifie him therein ask'd the opinion of one of her confidents who told her that if the Duke should get what he desired he might find some means to avoid marrying Madamoselle Mancini and that therefore he thought fit to defer it and make advantage of time which advice being approved of by the Queen made Mercure who was aware of the cunning delay to protest seriously that he intended the marriage and that there was not the least reason to doubt his word shewing all possible readiness to accomplish what was agreed upon notice was given of this to the Cardinal who though he went not from what was agreed yet knowing that this alliance would afford matter to his Enemies to make the troubles greater would howsoever prefer the King's service before his own concernments He therefore answered Advocate Bluet that he did not approve the Duke should go from Paris as well for his shunning the bad accidents which might befall him by such a voyage through the alterations which upon this pretence might arise in Paris as for that there was none with the Queen but himself and Marishall Plessis Praliâ— with whom her Majesty might freely discourse and trust without suspition But the Duke not admitting of this denyal held himself bound in honour and thought that the exposing of himself in so turbulent times and in the greatest heat of persecution to a dangerous voyage would give the clearer testimony of his faith and the more oblige the Cardinal to assist him in his marriage So as having often acquainted her Majesty with his firm resolution he brought her at last to give way thereunto and she gave him moreover 1000 pounds for his journey this being therefore resolved with all secrecy to shun the treachery which might be laid for him in his journey he sent his Gentlemen into the Vandomase seeming as if he would take that journey and he feigning himself to be servant to Monsieur de Siron one of the Cardinals Domesticks went from the Queens Cabinet on the beginning of Iuly and went post with the same Siron to Peronne and from thence to Brules where on the twelfth of the same month the marriage was solemnized by the Archbishop of Colen which being done he returned with like speed to Paris At this news great rumors were had in Paris arguing thereby that assuredly the Cardinals return was indeavoured but because by their Majesties Declaration and by the Decrees of Parliament not only the Cardinal but all his kindred were sentenced they were of opinion that the marriage must prove null since as they said a Prince of France was not to marry without the King's leave and much less with one that was banish'd and an enemy to the State Being come in great pomp to the Parliament at Paris sent for as Duke and Peer he was much prest to declare the truth of the business He answered that he was not bound to say any thing save only that he had done nothing contrary to their Decrees and did publickly affirm that the Duke of Orleans and Conde had ingaged him in the said marriage that if afterwards they had for their own concernments alter'd their opinion he knew what belonged to a Gentleman that was born a
Prince touching the keeping of his word notwithstanding all this his father the Duke of Vandosme was sent for to appear in Parliament and being asked whether or no he had given his consent he could not deny it saying that he had been therein assisted by the Duke of Orleans in the beginning but that after the Cardinal was gone he spoke no more to him therein there being no occasion for it so as the business remained thus without more ado Paris being in great commotions by reason of these Controversies all mens eyes were upon the proceedings of the Court and Princes and the curiosity of inquiring into these affairs grew to such a degree as when the Parliament met to treat of publick affairs and of the Cardinal many of the Commonalty and of the Nobles ran armed to the Palace some to assist the one some the other party wherefore the danger growing daily greater by reason of the several interests the Parliament made a Decree that all men should withdraw upon pain of life and the King's Officers were charged to see the decree executed The Duke of Orleans was desired to interpose in making the agreement but the greatest part were for Conde's party whereof Orleans was one wherefore the Prince incouraged by so great a party in Paris resolved to tarry in his Palace which was well guarded by those who lay therein and in the neighbouring houses nor went he ever to the Court alledging that it was only out of fear of his life or liberty but he forbare not to pass freely through the Streets of Paris and being once in a fair Coach in the Course together with the Prince of County and the Dukes of Nemeurs and Rochefaucolt he unexpectedly met with the King as he came from bathing himself whereupon causing his Coach to stay as others did he made a low reverence to his Majesty but this incounter was not well interpreted neither by the King nor Council and the King was well nigh to have made him been unhandsomely treated by his Guard had not his fear of displeasing the Queen his Mother as he told her afterwards diverted him Wherefore Conde gave out that he would go to his Government of Guienne which he would have done had not his partakers fearing least the Cardinal might return in his absence keep him from doing so This mean while the Queen having sent a Letter to the Parliament to send Commissioners to her which were soon sent she told them that the Declaration against the Cardinal was not yet issued forth because those Commissioners who were to agree thereupon with the Chancellor had not as yet appeared that howsoever her Majesty would not teach them what to do knowing the zeal and fidelity which they bore to his Majesties service The Chancellor made a long speech afterwards in praise of the Prince extolling his deserts in regard whereof as also to satisfie his Highness the Queen had turn'd away three Officers who had served her well whom she had not only no mind to recall but did declare that they should return no more to Court which she was content might be Registred in Parliament that howsoever she could not forbear saying that the Prince was ill advised since he had no way to excuse his now proceedings being bound to keep about the King whom he was to serve with all due respect and obsequiousness he added that nothing but seditious and scandalous Papers were thrown about the City of which he desired them to inform themselves and to punish the Authors though some were not pleased that the mouth of the common People should be stopt for to take notice of what they say was to make what they said better reputed and was an occasion to make them renew their railing with more petulancy the chat of the rabble rout being like a fire of straw which the more you strive to quench the more it smokes The Queen did at this time desire the Duke of Orleans That he would joyn with her in choosing a Council to assist the King who answered that he would speak therein with the Prince of Conde The Queen reply'd that was not to be done for that he had declared himself to be an enemy of hers and blamed the Prince for indeavouring to incite tumults amongst the people in his own behalf and that as the King went over the new bridge to the Iesuits the people being set on by him cry'd out may the King live may the Princes live and away with Mazarine The next day the Parliament met and and fell to discourse of Duke Mercure's Marriage who was charged that within three days he should deliver up unto the Secretary of the Parliament the circumstances of his marriage that all might be made known to his Father the Duke of Vandosme it was also ordered that all the Decrees against the Cardinal his Domesticks and Kindred should be renewed and particularly against Madomoselle Mauzeni whom they did by name forbid coming into France and commanded that if she should come she should go from thence within Eight days The Declaration which the King was to make against the Cardinal was also read and Orleans caused the damage to be added thereunto which had insued by his hindring the general peace as also by his undertaking the War of Burdeaux without his consent and Conde caused it also to be inserted that his imprisonment was occasioned only for his not consenting to the marrige of the Cardinals two Nephews with the Dukes of Mercure and Candalle The Queen who had still an eye to Conde's actions being told that his Troops would not only not come to the King's Army but march towards Champagnia and being also advertised that the Prince caused divers Towns to be fortified she made the Duke of Orleans tell him that he should give her a precise account of those his actions and that chiefly he should command all his Troops to joyn with the King's Army and that otherwise she would give order to have him treated as an Enemy and to be imprisoned But Conde attributing the reasons thereof to his aforesaid jealousies which made him provide for his safety left the Court in the same perplexity Who thinking they had good reason to proceed against him as guilty sent a Letter to the Parliament who were meeting to treat of the aforesaid marriage charging them to come to the Palace Royal and did the same to the Sovereign Companies of the Chambers of account aids and to the Magistrate of the Commonalty of Paris who going all thither they were brought before their Majesties in the presence of the Duke of Orleans the Prince of County and of many other Dukes Peers and Marishalls of France and of other chief Officers of the Crown The King told them by his own mouth that he had sent for them to acquaint them with his intentions for the publick good as also to let them know the proceedings of the Prince of Conde with which he hoped to
take good order speedily referring himself for what was more to Count Brienne the first Secretary of State who presently read a writing dated the 17 th of August containing That his Majesty with much sorrow found that after so many Declarations made formerly against the Cardinal the Enemies of the publick good did still make use of the same pretence to foment the dissentions which were already kindled in the State which had made his Majesty to send for them to him to declare again that he intended to exclude the Cardinal for ever not only out of his Council but out of his Kingdom inhibiting all his Subjects to hold any correspondency with him and declaring that whosoever should countervene this his Royal will should incur the penalties specified in the antient orders of his Predecessors and by the late decrees of his Sovereign Courts to which purpose he commanded that all necessary courses should be taken That after having given this assurance to all his Subjects his Majesty could no longer conceal without prejudice to his Authority what was done Here he mentioned all the favours and graces which the house of Conde and this Prince in particular had received from the late King and the now Regent that his Majesty after having consented at the intreaties of the Queen his Mother and of his Vnckle the Duke of Orleans and of the Parliament to grant him his liberty he had restored him to the same place as formerly in his Councils had returned unto him the Government of the so many Provinces and Towns which he and his adherents held in the Kingdom so as it was easie to be believed that he rather chose to be feared than loved That after having confirm'd the Forces raised by him which were sufficient to make an Army that after having given way to the change of his Government of Burgundy for that of Guienne he had moreover permitted him to keep the Towns which he held in Provence whereby he had granted him more than had ever been granted to any That he had caused the immense sums to be paid unto him which he said was due to him for arrears of Pensions for the pay of his Soldiers and Garrisons which were such as to content him he was forced to alter the monies which were design'd for the maintaining of his Majesties houshold and of his Fleets and that finally he had left nothing undone which might give him intire satisfaction and make him imploy those good qualities wherewith God had indued him as he had done formerly to his Majesties service that his Majesty having expected this found much to his dislike by the actions so contrary to the solemn protestations made unto him by the Parliament that he was much deceived for that as soon as he was free from imprisonment his solicitations had induced his Majesty to make the alteration which they all saw in his Council and that having thrived in this his first attempt he grew so bold as to complain of the conduct of the three Officers and of the Queen his Mother who commanded them to withdraw not only from the Court but from Paris so to take all pretence of complaint from the Prince and to appease the revolts which he was about to raise That when by all these graces it was hoped he would comply with his Majesty in some things or at least forbear his evil courses he then did the clean contrary to what his Majesties goodness towards him had strove to withdraw him That after the Duke of Orleans had past his word to him in his Majesties name and had offer'd unto him all he desired and pretended unto He kept many days from resolving to see his Majesty notwithstanding that he met him once in passing by that at last being desired by the said Duke and by the Parliament to pay his Majesty his due respects he saw his Majesty but once and was then received by both their Majesties with all demonstration of love sufficient to wean him from all sinister opinion that his Majesty was obliged to declare what was come to his knowledg as well within as out of the Kingdom And that to begin with publick affairs that after two months he had absented himself from the Council speaking ill of the Parliament and saying that he could not trust his Majesty nor those that were about him The Prince had written to the Parliament and to many chief Cities to imprint sinister opinions in them of his Majesty ingaging many in every Province to take up arms when they should be desired to do so by him and by the City of Paris which gives motion to all other places That he had given out an ill report of his Majesties good intentions that he had re-inforced the places intrusted to his Government that he had fortified them with all things necessary and done this then without any order from the King imploying his Majesties Subjects therein and making them forego gathering in their Harvest That he had taken his Wife and Sister into the strong hold of Montronde That he had got together a considerable sum of Mony that he had practised all things which might make it be believed that he held intelligence with the Enemies of the Crown particularly at Brussels with the Archduke and Count of Fuenseldaglia causing their Messengers to be guided to Cambrey by Horse drawn out of his Troops that the Prince had done these things without his Majesties knowledge or leave that therefore his correspondency was not to be doubted with those with whom the King had declared War That he would not make the Spaniards go out of Stenay as he was obliged to do which was the only condition that was required from him when he had his liberty given him That he had afforded means to Don Stephano di Gamara to come with his Army to the Mose that he had munition'd Moson and kept the passage of Dun whereby part of Champagnia was put to contribution thereby to make the Spaniards more able to undertake things against the Kingdom and to divert the proceedings of the King's Forces which being greater than theirs might be made greater in the low Countreys by an enterprise never known in France That notwithstanding all express orders given those that commanded his Forces would never obey the orders given them to joyn with the body of the King's Army which occasioned the confounding of all designs as well in respect of the differences which the King had had with the Prince as for having given time to the Enemy to know themselves and to put themselves in a condition to oppose his Majesties Forces moreover that he had made them more resolute by the hopes or rather assurance given them of some coâ—motion in the Kingdom That he must not forbear to mind them of the dissolutions committed by the Soldiers under Conde's command in Champagnia and Picardy which ended in the ruine of those Provinces instead of carrying the War into the Enemies Country
that he made use of the Cardinals name to foment the divisions of the State he said he had nothing to do in any thing that had been said or done against him before his disimprisonment and that if he had afterwards joyn'd with the sense of all the Parliaments of the Kingdom and with the Votes of all the people it was only to maintain the quiet which might be disturb'd by his return and that if the Kings Council had been so diligent as they ought to have been in taking away the jealousies occasioned by so many sendings to Colen the Parliament should not have needed to be troubled at his return nor to desire a Declaration in confirmation of the Decrees which had been made which it seems was indeavoured to be deluded by that writing which wanting the usual form ought to be of no consideration That though this were enough to say That he had no need to answer that notwithstanding since it had been said in the presence of that Assembly and in the rest of the body of the City and which had moreover been Printed he thought it fit to convince all men of the calumnies which were laid upon him for what concern'd the favours conferred upon his Family by the King he said he had deserved them by the service he had done the Crown That Sfenay and Claremont had been given him in recompence for the place of Admeralty and for the settlement of his Brother in Law the late Duke of Bresse which by his death was lost That the Governments had been justly confirm'd upon him having been held by the Prince his Father that he held his liberty from the favour of their Majesties at the desire of the Duke of Orleans and Parliament that he thought he should be faulty in gratitude if he should partly alledge justice for this obligation and that the Declaration made by her Majesty of his innocency was a sufficient proof of the violence which he had suffered under that he thought it strange that after Thirteen months imprisonment without any known cause his liberty must be acknowledged as an act of Grace and that he did no less wonder that it should be said he was restored to the Kings Council since that place having been given to the Prince his Father by the late King and since the time of Regency he could not attribute that to favour which did of right belong unto him as Prince of the blood and whereof he could be no more be justly deprived without apparent injustice than of his Towns and Governments That it was ridiculous that the Cardinals new confidents who as it was likely had dictated that writing should give out that he strove rather to make himself be feared than loved by reason of thenumber of Towns which he past though he had no more besides Stenay and Claremont than those that had formerly been in his Family no complaint having ever been made of any violence by those that commanded and that he was not troubled to defend himself against any thing that was upbraided unto him had he not in some sort sacrificed his interest and glory to the obedience which he ought unto the King whereof his Enemies made use of now to discredite him and that he refer'd himself to the judgment of the Parliament whether or no these intrigues of the Cardinal were enough to upbraid him with the number of his Governments since the Cardinal and his Domesticks possest Pinarole in Italy Salse Perpignone and Roses in Rosiglion Dunkirk Mardike Bergue Dorlans Bapumes la Bassea Ypre Cotra in Flanders besides Portalongone and Piombino which he had suffer'd to be lost not reckoning an infinity of other places the Governours whereof did wholly depend upon him which was sufficient to denote that more than words were requisite to secure the Kingdom of the absence of one who had so many gates to enter by and when it was experimentally known too fatall to France that his policy was always to make himself formidable to all men That for what was said that the Forces which the King had given him might make a whole Army it was well known to all France that the advantages which his Majesty had gotten over his Enemies were partly got by them that his having changed the Government of Burgundy for Guienne was occasioned by the Queens desire merely for the peace of that Province which could no longer tollerate the Duke of Espernoun that he had preserved the Towns which he held in Burgundy because none were given him in Guieâ—ne and that having bought them it was not just they should be taken from him without having some others given him in charge or at least without having the monies repaid that his Father had given the Duke of Bellegrade That he had not received above 5000 pounds for all that had been assigned to him as well for maintaining the King's Kitchin as for the maintenance of his Troops and all this because the monies were otherwise diverted by the Cardinal and his friends as he could prove unto the Parliament that his having solicited the sending of Count Servient Lyon and Tillier from the Court could not be termed an undertaking against the Regal Authority since the Parliament justified him therein by their Demonstrances and for that he had seen their Majesties but once it was by reason of their new ordering the Council putting in persons newly ingaged in the Cardinals interest without his knowledg or consent it being most certain that none were admitted into the Council but such as did depend upon and were partial to Mazariâ—e wherefore he could not hazard himself any more in their hands who were swaid by ambition and who consequently had given him just occasion to apprehend their Counsels and to declare that whilst they were without his advice of the Council he could have no safety there That for these reasons he had forborn coming to Council not having any other considerations than those which he had declared to the Duke of Orleans in his last Declaration That his having written to the Parliaments of the Kingdom and to several Cities was done to give them an account of his actions and to make them lose the opinion which was given out that he would introduce civil wars into France in consequence of the Letters which the King writ to all the Provinces after his retreat to St. Maure with the faults therein imputed unto him it being false that he had written to raise any men more than usual as also that he had re-inforced the Garrisons in his Governments and fortified them of late forcing the people of the neighbouring Towns to work which had he done ought rather to be commended in him than blamed and that it were to be wish'd that all Governours of Frontier Towns would do the like That the retreating of his Wife and of his Sister the Dutchess of Longueville was upon the consideration that they were to preserve his Family which after so many jealousies
landed about 700 foot so as the Fleet which consisted only of eight Ships and fourteen Gallies was hereby increased as it was afterwards by the remainder of the Gallies brought by Duke de Alburcheque who landed some foot wherewith the Castillian Camp was ever and anon furnish'd as well by Sea as Land some 2500 Soldiers what foot what horse being arrived at once and two pieces of Canon conducted by Don Pietro Vancella on the last of December Governour of that Town to the great joy of all the Army so as being assured to be assaulted the besieged battered their Guards and began chiefly to have an eye to those who were held to adhere to Marsine and Spain wherefore Don Giuseppe de Ardena who as hath been said was sent for back to Barcellona march'd down the Mountain with 350 foot on the side of Valuedriera and by the Covent of Madonna delle Gratie and entred the Town on the 25 th of November The Spaniards this mean while acosted the City with their Gallies and Ships and October and November were spent in making little Forts upon the neighbouring Mountains which were the Fort Masguinardo upon the hill Portello del Pino and another near the Covent of Madonna delle Gratie whereof nothing succeeded of note but a deluge of Rain which drowned divers Soldiers Wherefore failing of Victuals which were daily brought from Taragona the Army was well nigh forced to rise there being no Corn nor any thing whereupon to sustain themselves in those desolate parts yet that Nation injoying the great prerogative of sobriety and sufferance they at last won the day The Court of France though involved in intestine troubles was not wanting in doing what the bad conjuncture of time would suffer them to do and now that the season would not permit the use of Arms in Piemont the King writ in November to Marquess St. Andrea Monbrun to make hast back over the Mountains leaving only Scoope's Regiment of foot to guard the Towns upon the Frontiers that most of the foot together with Camilla's and Terme's Regiments of Horse the Gens de armes Prince Thomaso's Guard and le Compagnie Franche of Villa Monte and Vaosi should go into Burgundy and that the rest of the Horse together with the Foot Regiments of Normandy and Britanny should march into Guienne which Andrea doing not without some delay by reason of the opposition made by the Dutchess of Savoy who was loath to be abandoned by those Forces but the Horse not being able to pass over the Bridge St. Esprite by reason of the abundance of Rain that fell which caused Rhodanus to swell they were forced de ingolfare le truppe in Dolpheny and to inlarge them in the Towns of that Province and the Forces consisting of 37 Companies of Horse and 60 Foot Companies did much oppress that Country Wherefore the Nobles sent Commissioners to complain thereof to the Marquess who willing to content them could take no other expedient than to make his men march over the Bridge of Avignion which was not usual and which was not to be done without the Pope's permission who is Lord of that place yet the Vice Legate Seignior Corci gave him leave for which the King himself did afterwards vvrite thanks unto him But because there was greater need of help in Catalonia than in Guienne he was no sooner come to Nimes but that he received Letters sent from Marishal della Motta who was declared Viceroy of Catalonia by the King wherein he was ordered to go and releive Barcellona telling him that the only sight of his men would suffice to free the City and promising him that he should return within one month after he had entred that Province in Conformity whereunto the Marishal wrote unto him likewise from the Court that those Forces not being to stay above a month in Catalonia Sopra di cio dovea prender le sue misure he was accordingly to take his measures The Marquess who found his men wearied with their long march writ to la Motta that he might have leave to refresh his men one month in Languedock which la Motta refusing wish'd him to go into Catalonia and raise men saying he must not look to hear any more from him upon consideration that the journey was short and that he needed not carry along any Baggage for the more hast to the end that relief might come before any succor could come from Spain This years Campagne ended in Piemonte without any affair of Consequence for though the Spaniards advanced as far as Montcalliere not far from Turenne seeming to have some design upon Pivaralle their end was only to ease the State of Millan and to refresh their Army with plundring Piemonte which was already wasted very much whereby the Spaniards hoped to bring the Dutchess of Savoy since she had but little hopes of succor from France by reason of the intestine troubles to some reasonable agreement But Marquess St. Andrea Monbrune mustering the French Forces traced the Enemy so luckily as by frequent Allarms and Skirmishes he made them forego part of their booty and at last overtaking them in a Village called Boutelliere two of their Squadrons of Horse were stoutly driven back by the French to the body of their Foot which guarded the Baricado at the entrance into the same Village which gave so hot an Alarm to the Enemy as Marquess Caracena hasting to take Horse put his foot out of joint The next morning knowing that St. Andrea was a narrow passage between two mountains where he might might fight them upon advantage he ordered Padaglian to fall upon the Spanish Army on the Rear with three Regiments of Horse with Vxelles his Brigade of Foot and with 900 Foot of the Country Militia whilst he should assault them on the Front Affairs being thus ordered Pardaglian march'd speedily after the Spaniards and after three hours march upon the going down of the Sun he overtook them in the Vally of Montison but not having order to fall upon them till after St. Andrea had begun on his part whereof he heard no noise he haulted upon the banks of a little River within sight of the Enemy with whom he Skirmish'd all the night with his Horse But Caracena being removed at Sun-rising Pardallian did the like taking to the left hand and being come to the Castle of Courtendome a mile distant from the Enemies Army he there heard that St. Andrea could not assault them according to agreement for that the Spaniards were gotten by intelligence into the aforesaid Castle yet that he might not return without doing any thing he came once more up to the Spanish Rear and finding that the Enemy withdrew their Foot leaving three Squadrons of Horse to guard them he presently charged them with his forwardest Horse hoping to ingage the Foot but the Horse betaking themselves to their heels he in the head of his Troops chased them even to the grosse of their Rear ordering the rest
also of the Messieurs della Forza except the Marquess who was in Normandy and intended to do as Bullion and Turenne should do he sent Gurville back to Paris the same night that together with Gaucourt who attended the Duke of Orleans on his behalf they might tell Orleans that he could not upon any terms accept of the conference desired in Richelieu For that having disbursed much money in raising men and being ready to declare this might suspend their resolution and make his Officers retard the levies which were already begun intending to make use of the monies which they had received in case of agreement moreover his conditions with the Spaniards would be broken and he should be much puzled not being able to rely upon the Dukes constancy who adhered to the Coadjutor his declared Enemy The Duke accepted of the Prince his justification and though he did effectually follow the Coadjutors advice yet he always declared for the Prince against all men except the King's person But Conde and those of his party finding that the Coadjutor did still cross him in all things and that he would ingage with the Court out of the hopes of being made Cardinal and fearing also that if he should close Orleans might by the Coadjutors means fail him he bethought himself with his trustiest friends how he might rid himself of the Coadjutor whom he apprehendedmuch for that he was very bold revengful had many abettors and infinitely ingenious Some were for killing him presently but the Prince who was of a more generous mind would not give way unto it declaring his hatred to all Treachery but he resolved to remove him from Paris and to imprison him somewhere else which being resolved upon Gurville a man of a ready wit and lively spirit had the imployment given him who taking it upon him authorized under the Prince his hand who made him plenipotentiary he sent for some of his friends and kindred to Paris and causing Monsieur della Roche to come from Danvilliers with others that depended upon him and in whom he durst boldly trust feigning afterwards to go from Paris and to go for Germany to take the Elector of Brandenburg's Forces into pay which being to be cashiered by reason of the peace made with the Duke of Newburg he kept concealed in the City and calling his men together he told them that he had orders from the Prince to make a great man Prisoner and not telling them who it was save only two in whom he thought he might safely confide and who always followed the Coadjutor who telling him one night that he was in the Dutchess Chevereux house he placed his confidents between the Gates du Conference and le Guichet commanding them not to stir from thence He moreover placed 15 Foot over against the Louvre and he himself stood near Chevereux her house to observe his coming out hoping that if he went not along the River he might advance his men to the new Bridge and to the Ponte de nostre dame if his Coach should go by the Râ—e St. Honore but the Coadjutor went out in a Coach with Ladies and his own Coach followed without Torches which made them believe he was not yet gone The next day the Coadjutor was not very well and kept his house But Gurville being told that he was the next day in a house at Marets where he used to entertain himself at night he diligently assembled his men but not so many as were sufficient to have all things in readiness before he came out So as Gurville failed in his design Gurville had always a Coach with him to put the Coadjutor into The design was to carry him to Danvilliers with 15 or 20 Horse which was not hard to do but the Heavenly influences having power over mortals actions we must believe that they seconded not these designs for though the Coadjutor suspected not these plots yet being wish'd by his friends to be circumspect he withdrew himself to his house early and went not out by night not so much out of any apprehension of the Prince as of the Cardinal least he should have indeavoured his death and lay the fault upon the Prince who was his more discovered Enemy So as Gurville perceiving that in many days the Coadjutor returned home late but once and then well accompanied he feared that he was discovered and therefore fearing some disaster might befall himself he resolved to return and to put off the business till a more favourable conjuncture of time he therefore sent his men away secretly and he withdrew himself cautiously from all publick Company Monsieur de la Roche went from Gurenne with Monsieur de Fay Lieutenant of the Prince of Countie's Guard as he came from Brussels but he was stopt at Chastres it being thought that he brought the Princes treaty with Spain along with him wherefore he was imprisoned together with a servant of his who being interrogated upon pain of death what company his master had kept since he went from Danvilliers said that he met with many as he came along the River and that he feared Gurville had a design to make somebody Prisoner which was interpreted to be the Coadjutor who did all he could to come by the certainty thereof but though he could have no certain proofs thereof he was perswaded that Gurville would have detain'd him wherefore he also indeavoured to take Gurville in his return but without success Count Tavanes who as hath been said was gotten to Stenay and to the neighbouring places with the Prince his Troops knowing that he could not subsist in those parts sought how to get with his men into Guienne where the Prince wanted old Soldiers But finding the chief passes possessed by the King's Soldiers he sent to Flanders to negotiate with the Spaniards and being promised to be received by them he past with his Troops over the Mause and retreated towards Charlemont where being eyed by the King's Forces under the Command of Marishal Ferte Senetre he with much danger past over part of Luxemburg and going over the River Semoy near Sedam and then by Liege he repast over the Mause at the Bridge of Gives and entred safely into Hamault and so having with these few Forces escaped the King's Soldiers they were received and quartered in the Spanish Towns whereby France was freed of their continual inroads And the Spaniards intentions being to let all other things alone and foment civil war in France they furnished the said Tavanes with monies as well to satisfie his Soldiers who for want thereof lessened daily some running away some dying for want as to make them fit to go through with their design in pursuit whereof the Spaniards failed not to increase the jealousies and distasts which the Parliament of England pretended to have received from France as well for the welcome which the King of great Britain and his followers received there and for their inciting the Scots to go against
hearing that Harcourt was marching towards him left Prince Taranto in Xaintoigne to defended Xaintes Faileburg and some other Towns which were for him and went with some Horse and Foot into Guienne himself that he might be sheltred by the River Sille and by the Town of Bourg within one league whereof Harcourt was lodged who diligently pursued him But Ambleville and Berbisieux two walled and well Garrison'd Towns being on his back which might much incommodate the Army he that would take them must leave pursuing the Prince and give him time to look to his affairs otherwise he should err against the Maximes of War wherefore Harcourt resolved to continue his march and yet at the same time to reduce the aforesaid two Towns to the Kings obedience He sent Marquess Plessis Belliere against Ambleville who upon the sight of the Canon reduced it he left Monsieur Bellasons with the Regiment of Picardy to reduce Barbesieux who discharged himself therein with much honour and Harcourts self staying no where came with miraculous speed near to St. Andrea within three leagues of Bourg almost before his march was known where he found that Aubeterre whom he had sent before to possess himself of the passes and to take up quarters had been repulsed and but badly treated in his attempting the Regiment of Baltazar which was got into the Village of St. Antoine and that the Prince was in Arms with all his men and that he had placed himself in very good order in advantagious places So as not daâ—ing to advance further by reason of the advantagiousness of the Prince his situation he spent that night only in some small skirmishes wherein Harcourt not being able to discover the Prince his weakness many of whose men were wanting and could not come up unto him he lost an opportunity of routing him totally and might peradventure have taken him Prisoner The Prince passing his men here over the River went to Libourn and having refreshed his men there he went to Bergerack where he made the Fortifications desensible and return'd from thence to Libourn to see the Princess his Wife who was with child of a Son which was afterwards called Duke of Bourbone Being advertised that the Prince of County had taken Guadacosta a Town three leagues from Libourn and that he faced Marquess St. Luke and was ready to fight him he marched towards him and came opportunely for finding the King's quarters lay a sunder about Miradaux he got into the midst of them but being to pass over a Bridge before he could assault them they had time to give an Alarm and to put themselves in order about that Town notwithstanding he charged them with Marche's Regiment on one side and he himself being on the head of his men fell so furiously upon them as he slew many and took many Prisoners the rest got into Miradaux and gave an Alarm to the head quarter whence St. Luke came out with his men and put them into battle array The Prince did the like though he were fewer in number thus they stood looking upon one another not doing any thing Prince County came thither four or five hours after with the Marquess Montespan and with the rest of the Forces and here a Council of War was held to know whether they should charge the Kings Camp or no. Conde's Foot were but few and all new men they exceeded not 500 Foot and 700 Horse St. Luke had about 2000 old Foot 700 Horse the situation was steep and advantagious for the King's men so as it was thought fit to forbear attempting them till three pieces of Canon were come which the Prince had sent by water to take in Agen. All the day was therefore spent in lusty skirmishes wherein the Marquess his men had the better at first but when the Prince having released some of the Kings men whom he had taken Prisoners let the Enemy know that he was on the head of his Troops the Enemy were so affrighted at his very name as they began to retreat by night to Leyteres two leagues off in such disorder as the Guard which was advanced by County discover'd their march and gave notice thereof to the Prince his Brother he took with him what Horse were ready caused all the rest of his Soldiers to march and overtook the Enemy at Miradaux and charged them so furiously as he routed the Enemy who ran with some loss then with no less fervour he fell upon the Brigades of Champagnia and Lorrain who not being able to make their party good unbacked by Horse got into the Town but fared but ill the Town is environed with old weak walls broken down in many places and may rather be termed an open Village than a walled Town The Prince summon'd Count Marin Camp Marishal and Couvanges Colonel of the Lorrain's Regiment to surrender upon discretion they offer'd to yield up the Town and not to bear arms against him for six months But Conde finding the Town weak and that it wanted Warlike Ammunition thought he should have them all Prisoners of War within two days wherefore he refused their offer and resolved to attack the Town and planted two pieces of Artillery against it though he had but 80 Bullets and very little powder The besieged were likewise but badly Ammunition'd but St. Luke found means to have some brought in every night yet the Prince resolved to make a breach and made his Horse men light to give an assault but was hindred as not being in a fit condition Count Harcourt was come again to St. Iohn de Angeli after his having given many defeats where hâ—aring of the Prince his proceedings marched speedily towards him he past the Garomne at Avilare The Prince being far inferior in number would not stay for him but quitted the enterprise of Miradaux and retreated to Stafort where he refreshed his men and divided his Army in Pluma Peregrin and in the neighbouring Towns and sent from thence a party of Horse to inquire after Harcourts ways who was gone from Avilare to Lomagna intending to secure his quarters by taking Beaumont a little walled Town upon the River Gimona Marquess St. Luke being gone from Auch with other Forces was marched towards him and Saufbeauf advancing as near Stafort as he could to charge the Troops which should come out of the Enemies quarters Count Illabone and Aubeterre went towards Pluma to charge Conde's Gens de Armes who were quarter'd there and St. Luke went also against Pergaime Harcourt with the rest of the Army tarried in the midst of them to releive such as should have most need The Prince not having had any news of the Enemy till such time as they were got into the midst of his quarters was much surprised but being an excellent Commander and good at putting on resolutions he presently made all that were with him get on Horseback and drawing forth his Foot accompanied by the Dukes of Rochefaucolt and Belgarde Count Marsin and others
come The Duke of Nemeurs having already past over the River with some of his men the Kings men thinking that more of the Enemy were past retreated to beyond their quarters and left the breast-work free to Conde who passing over on the head of 100 Horse went with some others to fall upon Oquincourt's hindmost quarter which he took as he had done the others and whilst they were busie in plundering here the Marishal knew by the light of the fire which burnt the Houses that there was not above 300 of the Plunderers wherefore he made towards them with 700 Horse which when the Prince perceived he drew out his Squadron and marching in the first file himself with Nemeurs Beaufort Rochefaucolt Marsillac Tavanes and three or four more of his Gentlemen he exposed himself and all the chief of his party to do the duties of ordinary Gentlemen The Kings Troops charged his Squadron and having given fire neither side gave back but at the second Volly the Duke Nemeurs was wounded and had his Horse kill'd under him at last the Prince was forced to give back and all the Officers having made the light Horse stay haulted some 50 paces off not being further charged by the Kings Troops wherefore a Squadron of 30 Horse belonging to Megly coming on at the same time Conde and the rest of his Commanders placed themselves again on the head of his men and charged Oquincourt on the Front and worsted him nor were his men ever able to rally again From thence he went to before Blenau and Oquincourt followed the baggage which was then totally plundered by the Prince his men The Marishal by reason of these exigents retreated by the advantage of the night to joyn with General Turenne Monsieur de Espouse headed his Squadron and went directly towards St. Prive that he might get from thence to Briara The Croats staid in their first quarter sounding their Trumpets to make it be believed that their whole body was there and they had order if they should be charged to run as fast as they could by another way thither Oquincourt rid all the rest of that night and met not with any incounter for the Enemy did but seem to follow him and in lieu thereof chased 200 Horse which on purpose went another way When Turenne heard first of the assault he caused to sound to Horse throughout all his quarters and joyning his Troops speedily together he marched toward the place where the assault was given to bring relief but having heard by the fugitives of the disorder and the misfortune which fame makes always greater than it is being ratified by divers Captains and Officers he thought half the Kings Troops had been lost and that in such a case it was better to think of retreating and of saving the rest of the Army which if it should be lost the Kings person would be in no small danger than to hazard a new bickering yet he took a contrary resolution and rallying his Soldiers as he marched he went straight toward Osay on this side the Channel where Count Naivailes quarters were thinking by the knowledg he had of those parts to get into some advantagious station and that when the Prince should see him march so franckly towards him he would be more weary in his march and more apprehensive and that fortune which always favours the forward would not abandon him in this which was thought a great piece of valour When he had put his men in battel array and had rallied many that ran away he advanced couragiously against the Enemy There is a small thin Wood within three leagues of Briara which parted the Generals quarters nor could the one come to the other but by a narrow causey near which Turenne advanced thinking to make the Prince believe that he would make use thereof and defend it which the Prince did cunningly suffer him to do intending afterwards to incompass him and totally undo him But Turenne with the wariness of a gallant Commander possest himself of the causey with 50 Horse observing Conde's ways who thinking to have him in a Net went presently towards the Wood with his whole Army and with two pieces of Artillery Then Turenne in stead of defending the Causey as he made it be thought he would do and which would have been his utter undoing came speedily out and drew out his men into an orderly Battalia in the midst of the plain whereby Conde thinking that the Kings Army retreated sent out some Squadrons to pursue it But Turenne facing soon about fell upon those that were advanced that he might fight them before the rest were come forth Conde knowing his disadvantage haulted and recalled those that were advanced declaring that none but Marishal Turenne could have kept him from an intire Victory and that of all the friends that he had ever lost he was grieved for none so much as for him The Kings men drew up towards the Wood where they planted their Canon and began to play upon the Enemy who were a little damnified not having Canon sufficient to answer the frequent shot of the adversary Monsieur Marrais Brother to Marishal Grance and chief Commander of the Valoi's Regiment were there slain Turenne having thus by his mere industry stop'd the Army of the Princes they stood facing one another all that day when Oquincourt came in with almost all his men for he had lost but few and those more by the darkness of the night than by the Sword of the Enemy Oquincourt spoke with the Prince who in a civil manner sent one of Turenne's Captains whom he had taken that night back to him and writ unto him that though he never thought to have seen him in the head of an Army against him the Prince yet he declared that he had always been bound to him and would ever be his servant he presented his service in the same Letter to his Brother the Duke of Bullion The rest of the day being spent in the playing of Canon the Kings Generals a little before night caused their Troops to retreat Conde did the like returning by the same way that he came from Braliera and went the next day to Chastillion where having staid three or four days he found it necessary to go to Paris being sent for thither by his confidents to interrupt the treaties which were then in hand between the Inhabitants the Parliament and the Duke of Orleans by such as were partial to the Court and for the jealousie he had of the Coadjutor The Dukes of Beaufort and Rochefaucolt Prince Marciliack Monsieur Guitaut and divers other Lords and Gentlemen went along with him which was the cause of the prejudice which afterward befell him and his party The nights success being brought to Court with such inlargements as use to accompany uncertainties did much perplex all mens minds for it was thought that day would prove fatal to one or other of the parties and as the French measure
affairs by their own passions more than any other Nation this doubt remained a while but when the Cardinal was fully informed of what had happened he presently informed the King how affairs went moderating the boasts which were made by the Enemy His Majesty with a generous and Princely mind leapt out of bed and said he would be at the head of his Army himself promising himself good fortune by the justice of God who is the giver of all Victory which when the Courtiers heard they all took Horse and came to the Castle desiring to be honoured with some Command The Duke of Bullion was made conductor of the Voluntiers who having got some 200 together came presently to the Court. The King got on Horseback attended by his menial Servants Guards and Gens de Armes having moreover the greatest part of the Switzers and French Foot Regiment the rest whereof staid to guard Guinne He was further waited on by the Cardinal Prince Thomaso of Savoy by Villeroy and Plessis Pralin Count Brienne and divers others When he was got half a league out he was by all his Council desired to hault till he might know the condition of affairs certainly and accordingly resolve what to do not any one who had a Sword staid in Guienne The Council did not intend to expose the King's person to the uncertainty of fortune but to let the battle begin and that then the King might move accordingly with his Guards and Courtiers which amount to nigh 3000 and they hoped that the Soldiers would thereby be so inheartned as they doubted not the Victory Certainly such a resolution would mightily incourage the Combatants by reason of the incomparable affection which the French bear unto their King as was infallibly witnessed for Bullion being come within sight of the Army with the aforesaid Voluntiers and it being said that the King was there the Soldiers threw up their hats leaping and dancing with such joy and jubilee as if they had longed for nothing but to fight the Enemy Whilst War was thus in France nothing of novelty hapned in Italy for Don Lewis de Haro favourite to the King of Spain hoping to recover Catalonia with as much honour as it was lost with dishonour by his predecessor applied himself with all his might to recover Barcellona the King of France being diverted by civil Wars at home was forced to slacken his remote assistances When Marquess Mortara had finished all the circumvallation about Barcellona to the line drawn from Sans to St. Matona he on the sixth of Ianuary gave order for the building of a Fort called St. Rey upon the Mountain Mongevick whereby he did almost totally finish the Circumvallution And the French though troubled by intestine Wars forbare not doing what they were able When the Marquess de St. Andrea Monbrune had refreshed his Forces for twelve days in Languedock he marched with them towards Barcellona and on the 4 th of Ianuary they passed over the hill Pyrius where he mustered 1200 Horse and 450 Foot and when he saw his Forces on Foot he himself went to the Rendevouze which was to be at Estalrich where he found Marishal della Motta waiting for them but the Catalonians were backward much to the grief of the French who were removed from their good quarters in France to bad ones in Catalonia and where they suffered very much La Motta had with him three Regiments of Foot and one of Horse of the old Catalonian Army And Monsieur de Allets was sent with these Horse to take the Abby of St. Colga where all the Forces met The next day the Marishal and St. Andrea went with their Guards and with 50 Horse to discover the situation of the Spanish Camp and finding that this was the properest place the French Army incamped within half a Canon shot of the Circumvallation The old Catalonian Troops were placed on the right hand and those of St. Andrea which were called the Italian Army on the left and being ranked all along the hill in the Front of the Enemies Camp Count Pardalian advanced to see by which way he might relieve it he found the line was not yet fully finished though furnished with sufficient Forts with good store of Soldiers and Artillery he resolved to attack the weakest which was before the Fort Sans and Baron Sabacks quarters wherewith he acquainted the besieged by some that he had convey'd in on purpose to let them know that after midnight he would assault the line to the end that they might make out a general sally at the same time and so the Spaniards Trenches might be at one and the same time assaulted on both sides but the Soldiers moving too early they were to hault a while and being forced by excessive cold made fires whereby the Spaniards discovered the Frenches designs and had time to draw out their men into Battle aray two hours after midnight the French marched directly to the lines which they did so furiously assault as a Serjeant of the Norman Regiment leapt into the Trenches by whose example others did so likewise and made themselves masters of the Corps de Guard the Soldiers whereof threw away their Arms and began to run The French would have effected their design if the besieged had sallied out at the same time but they alledged that they did not know the signs well and that they wanted time to advertise la Motta therewith that so they might have been backed by him wherefore the whole Spanish Army falling upon them they were forced to retreat to their former quarters where they tarried some days till driven away for want of water and forrage they went to St. Bois a Village on the plain of the River Lawbregate as you go from Taragona to Barcellona where there was better store of forage and which place lay fitter to incounter all the Enemies Camp betwixt which and the French divers skirmishes past and the Marishal thinking how he might bereave the Spanish Cavalry of forrage possess'd himself of three or four places about the lines whereby he defrauded the Spaniards of more than half their forrage and as this did straighten the Spanish Camp so was it an advantage to Barcellona here the French made many acquisitions as of the Tower of L' Eglise de St. Hospitalle within one hours space without any loss as also another house that was fortified which yielded upon discretion which being done they returned to their quarters which was imputed to them for a great error for if they had advanced with their whole body it was generally thought they might easily have relieved the City or have obliged the Spaniards to a battel which the Spaniards avoided not long after the Marishal went on Foot by night accompanied by Count Pardalian six of his Guard and a Catalonian guide being followed by St. Andrea with 200 Horse to discover the quarter of Sans and finding it fit to build a Fort upon the Mountain St. Pietro Martire he
by the River Seene Their Majesties vvere received in Auxeres vvith incredible joy So as the Court being comforted to find so great loyalty in those Inhabitants the King dismist his ovvn Guards and vvould be guarded by the Citizens Auxeres is one of the chiefest Cities of Burgundy seated upon the Banks of Tone begirt vvith Walls and Tovvets after the ancient form of a large circuit and vvell peopled having about Five thousand armed men usually lifted in it From thence their Majesties came to Sens an Archipiscopal City upon the same River and from thence to Montreule and so to Melune upon the Seene vvhere the King vvas received also vvith extraordinary content and thither came many Parisians to kiss his hand and to assure his Majesty of their uncorruptible fidelity And the preservation of all these places being the only means in these present conjunctures to vvin the game for from those plentiful parts the Parisians greatest subsistance comes Foot and Horse Garisons vvere put by the King into Forgeaux Iogray Sens Montereux and into all the Walled Cities and Tovvns in those parts And vvhilest the Court vvent from one place to another the Army marched still by the parallel Line So as vvhen the Court came to Melune the Army came to Moret a little Tovvn upon the River Loin near Fountainbleau not incountring any Enemy for they lay tovvards Estampes to keep the Passage and Communication free betvveen Paris and Orleans The Famishing of Paris vvas propounded in the Kings Council and the compelling it to lay down all contumacy by bereaving it of the Commerce of the River but the Cardinal vvould not listen thereunto knovving that though the City fell then into extravagancies it vvas by the procurement of some seditious people vvho vvere more greedy to advantage their ovvn particular interests then the publick good as vvas given out but that being freed of the Witchcraft vvherevvith thev vvere possest the King should not need to desire any thing of his Subjects Moreover that it was not good to exasperate the people of that City yet more by rigor and to preci pitate them desperately to declare for the Prince which was the thing desired by him and his followers and without which their party could not subsist That those people often altered their opinion and sometimes for the better as it was likely they might do now they having desired his Majesty to return to his Royal Throne to which they had sent Monsieur de Leaygue to him Though by these strong Reasons he sought to perswade the Council to return it was notwithstanding observed that the Parisians were only moved by the suspicion they had of the Kings Forces which not being able of themselves to oppose they must consequently throw themselves into the hands of Foreigners or succumb to the Regal Authority But three things hindered the effecting of this Council The first was the condition of those who made the invitation the second because their Subjects who were well affectioned to the Court counselled the contrary the third that it became not the King to put his person in ballance with the People or Frondeurs without good Caution By these and the like arts Paris was kept from declaring particularly but keeping as it were Neutral though it appeared otherwise it afforded time for such things as made for the Kings behalf The Court went afterwards from Melunt to Corbeile and from thence to S. Germans by the way of Silly being still sheltered by the Army But before the King went from Gien he sent a Letter to the Marishal de l'Hospitalle and to the Corporation of the City to acquaint them with his going from thence and with his drawing near Paris Wherefore he commanded that no Assembly should be made before his coming for he intended to be there in person and having heard under hand that Guards of the Inhabitants were to be placed at the Gates he gave order likewise for the same to let it be seen that it was done by his Majesties order and not by the Parliament And the said Guard being desired by Merchants as well in respect of the nearness of the Armies which came even to the Suburbs as for the peoples insolency who in a sedition were apt to plunder the houses of the ablest men And that though Paris was not in open Rebellion against the King they held notwithstanding frequent correspondency with the Princes and for that Counsels and Preparations for War were made there and in the Assemblies a General was made who should be one of the Corporation assisted by the Deputies of Parliament In which Parliament it was Decreed That when the Cardinal should be driven out of the Kingdom with assurance never to return they would immediately lay down Arms But as they made use of this pretence only to make the people believe their actions innocent and that they aimed at nothing but the Publick good by sending away that State Minister to whom they imputed all their grievances and the continuance of War So the Court knowing that if the Cardinal should be sent away they should get no more by his dismission then they had done when he was before sent out of the Kingdom and that by yielding to the Princes pretensions the Regal Authority would be insensibly wounded which ought to be absolute and independent They also pretended that it belonged neither to the Princes nor to the Parliament to give Laws to their Prince but to receive Laws from him And that the very pretending that the King should make use of such State Ministers as they should chuse deserved correction since it stood not with the Maxims of good Government That any of his Majesties Council should depend upon any bodies will but the Kings They therefore said it was impertinently done to desire that any one should be turn'd away whose service the King approved of to place another there who was not so much to his satisfaction and who would be more careful to please private men than the publick or the Crown and that it did plainly appear that to deprive the King of the Cardinal was to take his satisfaction from him as they listed that therefore to avoid so pernitions an example though the King should have a mind to dismiss him he should forbear doing it and maintain him against all men the King being their sole Patron and Master The Parisians who were not aware of the Princes their actions had a general assembly the next day wherein they chose Commissioners to desire that their Majesties would return to Paris and to send away the Cardinal which was the way to restore peace to his faithful Subjects But the Council finding that the design of the Princes and Parliament was to banish the Cardinal to the end that they might govern all things as they listed they would not alter their resolution of maintaining the Royal Dignity but on the contrary resolved to suppress the exorbitant and indiscreet pretences of the Princes and
Parliament wherefore they indeavoured to gain time and to keep the Parisians Neutrals that they might not assist the contrary party with men and monies which they wanted much The Princes and Parliament on the other side studying to preserve their credit with the people by the specious pretence of easing their grievances forbare not any thing that might incite the fury of the Inhabitants against the King's Agents and because it was necessary for the Commerce of Paris to keep the King's Army from passing over the Seene and to exhaust St. Germans of all things by keeping it from the daily helps which it received from Paris they raised some Troops which being joyn'd to other Forces overran the neighbouring Country by night doing more harm to the neighbouring Town and Villages than did the Kings men who came even to the Gates of Paris The Prince of Conde caused two Arches of the Bridg of St. Clow to be broken and all the rest that were upon the Seen from Paris to St. Germans and placed good Garrisons in St. Clow and Neully with Ammunition furnished from Paris but at the cost of the Princes for the Parisians could never be brought to disburse any monies for them in this War whose Troops having taken Estampes they pretended to fortifie themselves there hoping thereby to keep Paris and Orleans true to them which was their main business Whilst the Kings Army was quartered in Chartres and thereabouts the aforesaid Troops threw themselves into Estampes with their Lieutenant General for the Prince and Dukes of Nemeurs and Beaufort were gon to Paris to keep the Frondeurs and their friends true to them many whereof wished for the Kings return and willingly listned to treaties which were then in hand touching the receiving of their Majesties who if they had then freely appeared they would have been welcomed with all joy and applause and the Princes and their party had been driven out for the common people were easily wound about and the Citizens were mightily affraid they should make tryal of War and the miserable effects thereof the Princes men had abundance of Victuals in Estampes which the Kings Forces wanted mightily wherefore Marishal Turenne who managed the War with much precaution when the Court was come to St. Germans and that the treaty of publick peace was begun upon the Princess of Orange her passing through Estampes and before the jealousie of the Duke of Lorrains marching towards Paris grew greater bethought himself of a gallant design After he had received a pass from the Court and sent it to Madamoselle to carry her to Paris he propounded to the Marishal de Oquincourt and to the other head-Officers that the said Princess being gon to Estampes and the Army of the Princes which were drawn out in Battalia when they should be retreated to their quarters and the better half of them according to custom gone for forrage they might easily get some good advantage by falling upon them at unawares Upon this with general consent they got on Horse-back and marched quietly with all their Troops and Artillery on the third of May which was the next day after Madamoselle was gone from Estampes thitherwards leaving the Horse Regiments of Marcuse and Lamet and Rales Burlemonts and the Crowns Foot to guard the Bagage at Chartres which was five leagues from Estampes the design was to surprise the Suburbs St. Martine wherein part of the Princes Troops were and having past the River Fuleville they marched quietly and in good order till an hour before day within sight of Estampes the Enemies Army kept in Battalia and when Madamoselle was gone Conde's Regiment and that of Burgundy together with seven other Dutch Regiments of Foot and Virtembergs and Bruchs Horse Regiments quartered in the aforesaid Suburbs which was to be assaulted The Kings Generals finding the adversary thus quartered they drew out a body of commanded men from out the body of Foot to place them in the intervals of the Squadrons of Horse together with all the Pol-axes the Army was drawn out into Battalia the Canon was placed within Musquet shot of the Town Turenne took upon him the most dangerous charge with 300 Soldiers whilst Oquincourt was to assault the other end of the Suburbs with 500 commanded men Virtemberg and Bruchs Dutch Regiments who were placed without were forced by some shot of Artillery to alter their station the forlorn hope fell on upon the Suburbs but finding stout resistance for the Princes men were many and well fortified Turenne came in with his own Brigage and those of Vxelles and Picardy and after a hot skirmish made himself master of some of the houses and of some of the Garden Walls which were defended by the Enemy even to throwing of stones the mean while Oquincourt making forwards in the head of his men with his Sword in hand was the first himself that got over the Wall and driving the defendants into some houses that were near the Church yea even into the Church and Church-yard where they Barracadoed themselves But because the Kings men at their entrance into the Suburbs fell to plunder so as the Enemy might have come out upon their backs and get some great advantage in that confusion Monsieur Varennes a Voluntier who was near Turenne rid with loose reins into the Suburbs and making the Soldiers come quickly out of the houses put them into Squadrons in the Street before the Church-yard and seeing some of Count Broglio's Soldiers lead Count Brioll Prisoner â—e desired him to let those Soldiers know that there being no hope of safety their best course was to yield which he refusing to do Turenne sent him away Prisoner and caused a call to be beaten to Pieur's Regiment who were fighting desperately there whose Officers knowing Varennes capitulated and became Prisoners of War upon his word at which time Oquincourt coming in on the other side all the rest were also made Prisoners Count Tavanes who was in the Town with the other Commanders thought to go out and succor his side but being beaten back all that were in the Suburbs were left to the discretion of the assailants and all the Soldiers and Officers were generally slain or taken not being able to get into the Town nor to ford over the River The Burgundy Brigade abandon'd its station and retreated intire Conde's Regiment did make stout resistance and recovered a place where the Kings Commander yielded upon discretion Thus there being no more Enemies to make opposition the Suburbs was totally plunder'd and little less than burnt to ashes and the Generals much to their glory return'd to their quarters at Chartres and two days after to Palaisau Many of the Kings Officers and Soldiers dyed in this action and the young Count de Quinchy and Carlo Broglio were sorely wounded whilst they fought valiantly amidst the Enemy this action was generous and noble for which the Generals were much commended and the credit of the Princes was very much
and Monsieur Fourville The other incounter was made by Colonel Baltazar near the Castle Montiresi who foarding over a River with his Horse fell so vigorously upon the Kings Troops that they abandoned the Marquess of Montousie who being wounded in the Arm was forced to retreat the rest were all routed many of the Nobles wounded and slain Baron Montendre was taken prisoner Monsieur Nieull was killed Baltazar took the Kings Baggage and took also the Castles of Montanse and Bordoilles wherein he took much Stuff and put a Garrison into the White Tower Some Tumults hapned in Provence but they were soon pacified by Duke Mercures vigilancy All this while the Court ceased not to treat of peace with the Princes and particularly with Conde nor had it been impossible to reduce him had he not been diverted by the Cardinal de Retz and others for whom Quiet was not good Retz kept Orleans continually of a contrary mind wherefore Conde being unwilling to countervene the Duke with whom he had so often faithfully promised to joyn all Proposals met with difficulties and were interrupted The Court used the best means it could to render these machinations invalid The best way was thought to make the Parisians aware of their error which when they should be it would not be hard to stave them from off the rest and the Princes wanting the aid of Paris would soon have all their machinations destroyed Upon these considerations the Court went from Melune about the end of May and came to S. Dennis within a league of Paris to incourage what was undertaken by the Kings friends there The King used universal clemency treating them all as if they had been all equally affectionate And to let them see it was not his intention to block them up as the Princes gave out he kept commerce open The Kings Army which was conducted by Marishal Turenne followed the King and being recruited with Three thousand men by Marishal dela Ferte Senetre who was joyned with Turenne in command of the Army incamped near S. Dennis on the left hand near the Seene toward Paris which was invironed beyond the River on the West side by the Kings Forces who might at their pleasure block up the River and reduce the City to greater straits of Victuals then it was yet in This was taken by the Kings Council to be the best expedient For the people unable to indure Famine and the Citizens being debarred Traffick which was their sustenance and finally being annoyed by the ruine which was daily made in their Territories as well by Friends as Foes they would resolve to free themselves from so long slavery But for all these inconveniences suffered by Paris yet were the Inhabitants so obstinate trusting to the Princes and Frondeurs as hoping soon to see all the Mazarinians destroyed for so they called all the Kings party they thought not of their own undoing which made them the more willingly undergo their sufferings The King not being able by these ways to reduce the people who were backed by the Army and by the Princes indeavored to destroy the Forces of the Princes which not being thought to be hard their Camp not being fortified nor well seated and not half so many as the Kings Order was taken for all things fitting for the enterprise before the Spaniards should come with their promised recruits On the Twenty ninth of Iune Turenne came to the River to cast a Bridge of Boats over beneath â—spenay where passing over the Seene he might Assault the Camp at S. Clow. Which giving an Alarm to the Princes Army Count Tavannes dispatched away One hundred and fifty commanded Foot and as many Horse under Camp master Goville that he might interrupt the Kings Works till he might be ready to march thither with the rest of the Forces Goville went and finding the Bridge already advanced to the Island in the midst of the River between Argenteule and Epivalle and that the Artillery was carried to the opposite Bank sent word presently to Tavannes who was ready to get on Horsback and hastning his march came to the Bridge accompanied by several Officers and sent to acquaint Conde with it Tavannes retreated to a Village near the River and hearing that the Kings men past over returned to the opposit shore to hinder their landing Who finding the attempt not feasible was content to quit it Then leaving Fifty Foot and One hundred and fifty Horse to Guard the Station he returned to his Quarter at S. Clow the Prince of Conde having this mean while gathered together as many of his Friends as he could in Paris gallopped to that place and calling Tavennes and his Horse to him he fell upon the Kings Forces which were drawn up upon the Rivers Bank seeming as if they would perfect the Bridge and pass over to entertain the Prince whilest the rest should pass over beneath Poissy But Conde discovering the design and fearing least the Kings Army would pass at Espeney and Assault him he called a Council of War and resolved to remove his Camp from S. Clow and carry it to Charenton as a safer place where he had the Marne on his back and was flanked by the Seene He therefore on the first Munday of Iuly went from S. Clow two hours before Sunset past over the Seene upon the Stone-bridge and upon another Bridge of Boats and marched towards Paris But finding Orders given at all the Gates that no Soldiers whatsoever should be suffered to pass he made his Army march along the Ditch Richelieu and continued his march towards Charenton About half an hour after midnight the Cardinal had news hereof from a Confident of his that lay concealed in Paris who made his servant be let down over the Wall and sent word thereof speedily to Marishal Turenne who without loss of time Horsed his men and about five of the clock the next morning met the Prince his Rear as they were entring S. Dennis and were so briskly charged by Count Navailes las County his Regiment suffered very much and a Squadron of Conde which was with him fared no better Conde being come to Paris went to L'Hostelle d'Orleans to confer with the Duke and went presently again out of Le Porte S. Martine running like Lightning through his whole Army and sending divers paâ—â—ies towards S. Dennis to inquire after the Kings men he ordered Coâ—â—t Tavannes to continue his march and sent Monsieur di Foruemont again with some Horse to discover the number of the Enemy whom he discovered from the top of Mountmarter to be putting themselves into Battle Array The Prince finding his design discovered and that consequently whether he should advance or retreat his loss would be irreparable ordered Monsieur Beaâ—â—ean to send a Squadron of men to the top of Mountsaucon to observe the Kings proceeding and that the rest of his men should go to Pickepuses and to the Suburbs of S. Antoine thinking to defend himself there and the
and went to the Duke his Father having past his word that he would forget what was past The King tarried at Pontoise from the 17 th of Iuly till the 19 th of August in which time great sickness grew there by reason of the straitness of the Town and the scarcity of all things Many dyed amongst which the Duke of Bullions death was lamented and this malignant influence dilated it self even unto Paris where a great many men of all sorts dyed in a few days the Duke of Vallois the only Son to the Duke of Orleans being about two years old dyed also this September to the great grief of his Father and Mother by his death Conde returned to be the first Prince of the blood as he was before the other was born for the Sons nor Brothers of the King are not called Princes of the blood but Sons of France Whilst affairs went thus in these parts Count Harcourt keeping still with his Army in Guienne to observe what the Princes Forces did went to besiege Villaneus upon the River Lot which was fortified only with old Wals and Towers but well garrison'd under Marquess Theubon wherefore he was forced to raise his siege after two months attempt The Kings men had ill fortune also in Flanders for want growing hourly greater in Dunkirk the Plague and dysentery grew so violent amonst the Soldiers as above a thousand of them dyed in eleven days and the rest were so weakned by continual watching as the Archduke resolved to approach it with 8000 Foot and 3000 Horse and Ten pieces of Canon there were not above 700 Foot in the City who were fit for service of which 200 of the Inhabitants who wished well to Spain did still keep Guard and the rest defended the Fortifications who were continually in Arms without being misled whereat there was such murmuring as they were thrice ready to revolt had not the Governor by hopes of speedy succor and by his much reverenced Authority detained them The Spaniards fell upon the Counterscarp on the sixth of September upon three sides with a Thousand men on each part the Spaniards and Italians won it and lost it again with some prejudice but being assaulted a second time with fresh men they won it wherefore Monsieur de Estrades finding that his men had given back and that the Enemy began to lodge upon the same Counterscarp fell upon them with 500 Foot and 40 Officers and charged them so furiously as after a bitter and bloody bickering he recovered the Counterscarp losing Seven Officers and Twenty five Soldiers and he himself was shot with an Harquebuse on the Thigh After this unfortunate but glorious accident followed treachery framed by three Soldiers who were bribed by the Enemy which being discovered cost them their lives and the Governor was commended for discovering and punishing it for six weeks past the Soldiers had but six ounces of Bread the day wherefore Estrades and all the chief of the Garrison thought it fit to yield to necessity and to parly wherein it was concluded on the 12 th of September that if they were not relieved within six days the place should be surrendered that in the interim there should be a cessation of Arms and that the besieged should be permitted to send two Captains one to Callis to the Marishal de Aumount and another to the Duke of Vandosme at Diepe to acquaint them with the condition of the place and in what need they stood of speedy succor Rivilliers went to Callis Rouvie to Diepe and they arrived so luckily as Marishal de Aumount began the same day to lade six months Victuals in several Barks and 1500 Foot at Callis to attend the Fleet which was gone from Diepe wherein they were to go to Dunkirk which being block'd up by some few Spanish Vessels it had not been hard to have fought them and to have made way through them But before we speak of the going of the Fleet we must acquaint you with what past in the Seas of Britanny before it went from thence the Duke of Vandosme vvho vvas Lord High Admiral of France vvas gone into that Province and had armed some Frigats about Rochel against Count de Ognons Fleet which was re-inforced with some Ships from Spain which threatned Rochel not a little When he had gathered together Twelve Ships Three Frigats one Gally and some other Vessels in Brest he went from thence on the 19 th of Iuly and coasting along Eiavet and other places some other Ships and Gallies joyned with him so as being about Twenty Ships and Frigates Four Gallies and Twelve fire Boats he went towards Olone and from thence to the Strand of Pallisse over-against the Fort Preda where Monsieur Souches Commander of the Isle of Rhe furnished him with some French Foot The Spanish Fleet consisted of Seventeen Frigates commanded by Admiral Antonio Misnell and by Antonio Dies who being drown'd between Blavet and Grois Cornelius Meigne succeeded him to this Fleet was joyn'd Twenty five Vessels and five fire Ships when news came of the Arrival of the French on the Ninth of August two hours after Sunrising they were at a competent distance to begin battle with their Canon which roared on all sides they advanced warily not to ingage themselves in danger a brisk wind blowing a little before night the Fleets were severed The Nativity a Spanish Ship was burnt and taken Commanded by Antonio Gonsales a Dunkirker a Ship of the Neapolitan Squadron vvas sunk aftervvards Vandosme vvould have done more but vvanting necessary provisions and monies he vvas contented to have driven them avvay sent his Ships into Haven and he landed at Rochel vvent tovvards the Court vvhich vvas then at Campagne vvhither he came on the Fourth of September from vvhence he vvas suddenly sent vvith orders to relieve Dunkirk to vvhich purpose expresses vvere sent into Britanny and the neighbouring Provinces at the nevvs brought by Monsieur Rorur of Dunkirks capitulating the Commanders of the Fleet made that vvays presently hoping to relieve the Tovvn But the Parliament of England at the desire of the Spanish Ambassador in London and the rather for that they liked not that that important Haven so near the Thames mouth should remain in the French mens hands they apply'd themselves to divert their succor vvherefore that Kingdom being strong at Sea by reason of the War declared against the Hollanders vvhen the French Ships appeared before Callis to receive in provisions and necessaries for the relief of Dunkirk assoon as they had cast Anchor Blake the English General fell upon them vvith many of his Fleet vvith such fury as they prepared rather to fly than fight though in vain for unless it vvere Three Ships vvhich held out at Sea and got into Flushing all the rest were taken but that the Parliament of England might not appear an open Enemy to France now that they were at War with the Hollanders they sent all the people that were in
on the Ninteenth of August passing first by Turennes Army which advanced from Lagny towards Brie and pursuing his journey he came to Bedam and from thence to Bovillon where he stayed Conde hearing that he was gone whereby all pretence of War ceased sent Marquess Ierze to the Lorraine Army whither was come the Succor which Wirtemberg brought the Princes with orders to fall upon the Cardinal in his journey and take him prisoner But the Spaniards who liked it not acquainted him with it so he escaped the danger The very same day the King went from Pontois and that he might win the more upon the Parisians when he came to Campaigne he published an Act of Amnesty wherein after a short account of all that had past from One thousand six hundred forty and eight till then he granted a General Pardon and Abolition of all that had been done against his Majesties service nulling whatsoever had been done by his decrees upon occasion of the present troubles from the first of February One thousand six hundred fifty and one till then as also his Majesties Declarations of September and the eight of October that year upon condition that Orleans Conde County and their whole party should lay down Arms within three days after the publication of the said Amnesty and to that purpose Orleans should within three days send a writing to his Majesty subscribed by himself wherein he should renounce all Treaties Confederacies and Leagues with any whatsoever without the Kings leave and that Conde and County should do the like and that they within the same time should put necessary orders into the Kings hands to make the Spaniards who were in Stenay Burg or in any other places to go from thence as also to make the Enemies Ships depart from the Coasts of France that Orleans and Conde should cause the Foreign Forces which were about Paris to march directly towards the Coast of Flanders and join their Forces to them of Turenne and Ferte Senetre and also all Forces that were farther off within fifteen days declaring that who should not do what was contained in this Amnesty within three days should not partake thereof wherein the King did only except such faults as had been committed between particular people of the same party which he left to the due course of Law This Amnesty with this bundle at its breech seemed a piece of cunning to those who liked it not saying that those not being therein comprehended who had fought Duels or assaulted the publick Pallace on the fourth of Iuly the King might punish whom he would under colour of this Riot It did not withstanding make impression upon those who liked not the cavil of the Princes and Frondeurs but had thought that when the Cardinal should be gone the Princes and Parliament would throw themselves at the Kings feet But though neither the Princes nor Frondeurs had any thought of accepting the Amnesty yet they appeared zealous of the general good seeming very well pleased that the Cardinal was gone Orleans and Conde went to the Parliament where it was decreed that thanks should be sent to his Majesty for dismissing Mazarine all the chief Companies and the whole body of the City did the like And soon after the Parliament resolved to intreat the King to return to Paris and the Princes declared they were ready to lay down arms when a good Amnesty should be granted Orleans sent an express to the Duke Anville who was a friend of his and one whom the King loved and who was very faithfull to the Queen to get Pasports from his Majesty for such Commissioners as were to negotiate a final Peace But Anville having detained the Messenger three days sent him back without an answer for it seemed not decent that the King should enter into other Treaties having supplyed all things with an Amnesty and intended that the Princes should presently lay down arms as they had offered to do when the Cardinal was gone from Court Anville writ therefore back to the Duke of Orleans telling him that he thought his request would be granted if his desire were made directly to the King which being done Marishal de Estampes had a Pass sent him to come to Court not as a Commissioner but as a Courtier and at the same time certain private Treaties were renued between Secretary Goulas Marquis Chasteaneuse and the Dutchess of Aguillon the contents whereof was to slave Orleans off from joyning with Conde whose declarations made in Parliament and to the Court were clearly found not to be real since at the same time that he said he was ready for Peace he protested at Madrid and Brussels that he would alwaies join with the Crown of Spain and continue war and did negotiate in England for assistance in his designs that therefore all assistance in France should be taken from him without which he would be but a bare Captain of the King of Spain and would be able to do but little against so powerfull a Kingdom when it should be wholly obedient to the King The Prince his Forces lay this mean while behind the River between Surene and St. Clou expecting Recruits from Flanders and those fruitfull hills being full of Vineyards and grapes beginning then to grow ripe the Soldiers did very much prejudice the people in these parts at whose requests they were sent to St. Victoire where some Soldiers quarreling with the Citizens upon the Guard five or six of the inhabitants were slain and twenty of the Soldiers which seemed to set them at variance But because the Cardinal knew that the welfare of the Royal party consisted in reducing the Parisians to a necessity of Peace which they began to wish the people Merchants and all others being weary of the ruines which they underwent he advised the King to go Campaigne as being more commodious for the Court than Pontoise and that he should never be allured to go to Paris without undoubted security of not being once more detained there and this was one of the chiefest Maxims which he recommended to the Queen in his absence which he gave in precise charge to Abbat Vndedei he added that the Kings Forces should go to oppose those of Flanders which were marching to assist the Princes and that if they should be too weak they should go to Villeneufe upon the Seene and fortifie themselves and have Provisions from Corbeile Melune and other neighbouring parts by means of the River where whilst they should tarry the Enemies Forces would be necessitated to keep there abouts also so as the Country being sack't and plundered by the Soldiery and Travellers slain the Parisians would without an open breach be in a manner besieged whereby the Princes would become odious as thought the chief occasion thereof that thus keeping corrispondency with their friends that were faithfull to them in Paris the Parisians might easily be brought to resolve upon fitting means to free themselves of their miseries which could not
same time to make his Name famous and to get good store of Mony from the Spaniards and that if he should fail of the appointed payments he might at all times make his Peace with the King upon advantageous Terms and that injoying the Wealth gotten by War which far exceeded what he lost in France he should make the World know that Troubles being the advantage of a Souldier they ought never to be fore-gone by one who professeth Arms. These Treaties being over the Princes and Parliament stood still upon the point That the Amnesty granted by the King and pardon for all that had been done the last five years was not as was desired to wit not general and without condition but that it reached only to the Parisians bearing but little respect to the Princes and Parliament they therefore pretended that his Majesty should give ample and unretractable Authority to the Duke of Orleans to frame another without any exceptions and that it should be Authenticated by his Majesty in the Parliament of Paris whither the Councellors that were gone to Pontois should come Many meetings were had about this his Royal Highness writ some Letters to Court Duke Anâ—iâ—e and Marquess Ioyeuse negotiated with the Privy Council and did many other things which would be too tedious to relate But the Court finding that it would be prejudicial to the Kin'gs Authority Pasports for the Parliaments Commissioners were absolutely denied so as Affairs remain'd intangled as before The Parliament being met on the third of October to hear what News Marquess St. Lambert brought who was return'd from Court Two Boat-men were imprisoned who cry'd Vive le Roy e Mazarino and many more were led to the Concergeria and Process was ordered to be made against them and it was said that this was done of purpose by some that gave them mony that they might move the people to Sedition This being brought to Court and that the Parliament continued to proceed against some of the Assembly in the Palace-Royal the King with his Council pass'd a Decree on the fifth of October Whereby He annull'd all the pretended proceedings of the Parliament of Paris which were or were to be publish'd imposing severe punishment upon such Commissaries or Iudges as should act any thing further therein and commanded all his Majesties People in Paris to see his Orders executed The King's Army lay this mean while at Ville Neuf St. George much straitned by the Princes Troops and those of their Confederates being more than they in number and were in danger to be beaten out of their Quarters and fought with in their Retreat for not only many of their men but many of their Horses perished for want of Victuals and Forrage The Court was much troubled hereat fearing some sinister accident for the Victory consisted in that Armies abode near Paris whereby the endeavors which made for the King were fomented The Princes who knew the importancie hereof and that if the King's Army were preserved all their Plots were ruin'd did what they could to overcome it by Famine but the neighbourhood of Paris and the sickness which besell Conde Wirtemberg and many other of their Chief men which may truly be attributed to an effect of Divine Providence caused the ruine of their Party Together with these sick Princes Lorrain and Beaufort and almost all the Chief Commanders were come to Paris with a considerable number of their best Soldiers for fear of some Conspiracy amongst the Inhabitants and to advise upon what was best to be done in this the Peoples tottering condition who were weary with the length of these troubles Turenne a no less wise than valiant Commander after a short consultation had with his Collegue Ferte Seneterre resolved to get out of these Straits and to remove his Army elsewhere where it might be safe and have whereon to live The 4th of October he past his Baggage and Artillery by night over the Seene by a Bridge of Boats by break of day his Army rise in such order and silence as they past undiscovered by the Enemies Sentinels Tavanes was the only General that was left in the enemies Camp who being aware of Turenne's march though too late sounded to Horse and put his Army in order to follow and fight him But Turenne being shelter'd by the River got soon to Corbeile a place which was guarded by the King's men where crossing the Seene upon a Stone-bridge he escaped danger with much honor and quarter'd upon the Marne between Meieâ—x and Lagny raising Victuals from all the neighbouring parts for the maintenance of his Troops The Princes were mightily amazed at this Conde in particular was scandalized complaining of his Officers carelessness saying That had he been well he would not have lost so favourable an occasion But what is past being past remedy On the 7th of the next Month the Prince's Army advanc'd to the head of the Suburbs of St. Antoine and for the defence of the City incampt near St. Vincents-Castle The King and Court went from Pontois to Mantes that they might pass over the Seene there and so come to St. Germains intending to come to Paris when things should go as it was hoped they would do The Parisians were resolved to withdraw themselves out of those miseries wherein they were plunged and being all of the same mind accordingly as Fortune forsook the Princes they sided with the King wherefore Conde finding the storm ready to fall bethought how to save himself and his Army by removing quickly from Paris and because by his going away and the King's return the good of Paris and the Cardinals return was foreseen many sought to follow the Cardinals re-rising Fortune and some of the Prince's Friends began to wheel about and particularly Count Chavigny Being much vext in mind at these changes of Fortune Chavigny fell sick and died on the 11th of October and this was the end of Lyon di Boutelliere Count of Chavigny aged 44 years one who at 19 years old was admitted into the King's Council and at the age of 21 and 24 was made Secretary of State and in 1642 had the care of all the important affairs of the Crown committed to his charge and when Lewis the Thirteenth died was made Plenipotentiary at the Peace of Munster He was quick-witted of a lively spirit ready counsel and ambitious of Glory and Greatness The Parliament and Town-house met often touching the present occurrences and all good men being grieved to see the poor Country people so wasted by the Souldiers especially by the Lorrainers who left nothing unransackt divers Commissioners were chosen in the Town-house on the 9th of October to go again to Court and to desire their Majesties to return to Paris But because the King intended not to admit of publick Addresses from that Assembly which was held illegitimate since Beaufort pretended Governour of Paris contrary to his Majesties Command was there it was propounded and agreed upon in
an honest Man and went to the Hall of Justice where being questioned by Sault the Vicar-General touching what he and others had plotted against the Life of the Prince of Coâ—â—y to betray the City he answered That for any attempt against the Prince his person be put it to the Vicar-Generalâ—â— Conference whether he had ever dreamâ—â— of any such thing or no but that he did confess That to free his Country and the Parliament from being opprest by the Olmiere he had conspired and had listned to Proposals which were made of killing the chief Men of that Faction Having said this he was led to the Common Hall where fearing that the inraged Multitude might kill him the Prince of Conty left the Captain of his Guard there with divers Souldiers The good Citizens were sorry to see disorders increase so as advising dayly amongst themselves what they were best to do they could find no better way then to seem as if they would joyn with the Olmerists and so coming into the Common Hall under colour of Friendship to drive out the Olâ—â—rists and then do as occasion should serve Upon this occasion above a hundred of the ablest Merchants met upon the Exchange making as if they did so to subscribe the Union but at the instant of effecting it they were betray'd by their Consuls who acquainting the Princes with the Plot Coâ—â—t More was sent by them to hinder it but he being confused amongst the indiscreet Multitude Conty himself got on Horse-back and by his presence made the Merchants return to the Exchange whether Monsieur Lâ—net coming hâ— begâ—n to drink the Prince's Health to the people and appeased the Tumult The Consuls who betray'd the Merchants discover'd that the Rector of St. Peters had the chief hand in these Affairs accusing him moreover of having made a Sermon a little before to the people exhorting them to put an end to their vexations by reconciling themselves to God and the King who offer'd Peace The Olmiere were so incensâ—d hereat as they went one night to his House to make him Prisoner when they came in they found him on his knees praying before a Crucifix and without any respect taking his Writings from him they delivered him to Villars to carry him to prison His Servant going into the Street acquainted some of the chief Inhabitants with it who sounding to Arms all the neighbourhood arm'd themselves the Olmerist ran away and the Rector saved himself and kept himself a while concealed not slackning his good intentions nor forbearing to Treat sometimes with one sometimes with another secretly how to to bring his Country to Peace and to make the Princes either to accept of the King's Amnesty or to go elsewhere Marsine return'd this mean while from Peregort having quarter'd his Forces there as well to remedy this Novelty as to keep the Dutchess of Longueville from going from Bourdeaux for she falling out with the Prince her brother was about to withdraw and to accept of the Amnesty The occasion of these distasts were for that Conde had suffer'd Guionet Mâ—rigny and other of his Favourites to use licentious Actions and Words which were prejudicial to her Authority taking the Government of Affairs from her and her brother Conty which did in right belong unto them In this interim the Court had sent the Marquess of Châ—â—bâ—ret to Bourdeaux Son to the late General of the Burdelois who was slain at the Action before Libourne whose presence both in Memory of his Father and for his own worth was thought might have been acceptable to the people He did notwithstanding insinuate himself into the Oâ—â—erists and found credit with them so as the Prince of Contâ— growing jealous that he might make himself Head of that Faction to the prejudice of his Authority though he seemed willing to depend upon him did under colour of honouring him offer him the Command of a Brigade in the Country and good Winter-Quarters that he might keep him from Bourdeaux and the same time framed a Complaint against him by the means of one called Pesche one of the chiefest of the Seditious who m the Olmiere accused him of Treason Chamberet who thought himself wrongfully calumniated began to make an uproar whereupon Conti taking pretence that such contentions ought to be obviated made Chamberet retire and the Princes and Olmerists began to manage their Affairs with more circumspection their distrust of the people did afterward so encrease as that the Princes were more intent to keep themselves from Conspiracies than to manage War against the King But to return to Catalonia those of Barcellona desired to do somewhat which might facilitate their desired succour wherefore they resolved to fall upon the Fort Rey which the Spaniards had built upon Mongeuick Don Iusippe di Pinosâ— was destin'd hereunto who put himself in order presently and taking 400 Commanded Foot along with him and 100 Horse went privately out on the 16th of Iuly by night and undiscovered by the Enemy entred the Mountain from whence joyning with Cavalier Austrin and Monsieur Varron he advanced having forc'd the Palisadoes past the Diâ—ch and made so gallant an Assault as the Spaniards not able to resist the French they were forc'd to yield at the noise whereof the Horse which were quartered at Sans beat to Arms and squadronized themselves near the Fort St. Francis The Catalonians who were march'd out with 2000 Musquetiers and 600 Horse made their Foot retreat to Fort Mongâ—uick and their Horse into the Trenches which the Spaniards observing and arguing some weakness or stratagem by this sudden Retreat they advanc'd to from whence the Frenchmen were gone whereby dividing the Fort from the City they fiercely assaulted it which Cavalier Austrin defended valiantly and was slain there Seignior Iayot succeeded him defending himself no less valiantly repulst the Enemies second Assault and forc'd them to retreat with some loss But they kept their first Station still where whilst they should keep they were likelier to take it by Famine than Force for they within had but one days Victuals Mareschal della Motta being very sorry to hear that his men were retreated from their Station before he had provided necessaries for them and there being no other way to save it but by opening the Pass and conveying in Victuals he resolved to do it himself And though he was not yet well healed of his wound yet he caused himself to be carried in a Chair to Fort Mongeâ—â—â— and sent away twenty Souldiers with each of them a sack of Bisket on their backs that they might relieve it on the side next the Sea whilst Marquess Marcelly should endeavour to get in on the other side with 500 Horse But the Spaniards being advertised of all things by such Catalonians as were their friends they doubled their Guard where Marcelly was to pass and placed a good Body of Foot on the other side of the Mountain to keep those from entring on the other side who carried
conveying the monies safely into France or elsewhere where the owners should be and also that they might call in any Monies or Debts that they had in Banck at Barcellona or in any other place within six Months space That the Mareschal la Motta should cause it to be proclaimed 24 hours before he marched out that none should carry out any Moveables which were not his own or did not belong to some of the Company and that if any fraud should be found herein they might be recovered within the aforesaid six Months That all the Inhabitants of Catalonia of what Quality or Condition that would retire into France might enjoy the same Conditions with those of Barcellona That all Prisoners of all sides which were taken after the War began in Catalonia should be sâ—t free without Ransom to wit those that were in Catalonia Rossiglion or Cordona That his Higness should agree That any French Barks or those of any other Nation that were in the Haven or Wharf of Barcellona might sayl out when their Masters should please and go into France uninjured But on condition that they should not carry away any Artillery or any Warlike Ammunition save such as abovesaid That the French and those of other Nations should go out by St. Anthonies-Gate that they should go the first day to St. Fileau the second to Martereile the third to Pieere where they should tarry one day the fifth to Igolaude the sixth to Capoux the seventh to Calat the eighth to Linalinge the ninth to Pont where they staid one day the eleventh to Folke Monmagaltre and Coâ—illy the twelfth to Coques the thirteenth to Pouplo the fourteenth to Sot the fifteenth to Libournes the sixteenth to Esteris where they might tarry one day the eighteenth to Louer the nineteenth they were to pass over Sailack or Piere Blanca and to go into France That the Commander of these Troops might make his Marches longer or shorter as he pleased That he should have a Convey of an 100. Horse to bring them to the Bay of France and that his Highness should furnish both Horse and Foot with Victuals and necessary Monies for their Voyage That no Officer nor Souldier might be detained for Debt Carriages Mules and Horses might be provided for the Cannon Baggage Ammunition for such as were Sick or Wounded and that the Sick or Wounded that should be left behind in Catalonia should be sent into France when they were well That Mareschal de la Motta the Lieutenant Generals Camp-Master and aforesaid others going out of Barcellona with their Arms Ammunition and Baggage by Port St. Anthony the Spanish Army should be put into Battalia on the side of the Gate Lanye and that his Highness should have Notice of this the night before that the Hostages for performance of publick Faith should be sent to Roses and delivered to the Governour or to him who should Command in his absence who should keep them till he should be assured by Letter from the Commander of the Garrison in Barcellona that all the Forces were arrived in France and that the Governour of Roses should acquaint the Governour of the said Garrison when the said Hostages should be come which were to be Don Carlo d'Aragon one Horse Captain and two Captains of Foot That the Hostages when these Articles should be perform'd should be sent into France by the Rode-way that leads to Rosillion with a Pasport and Guide as also all Prisoners that were in the power of the King of Spain in Catalonia their Bread and Tappe being paid for by the King of Spain till they should come into France and as for the Garrison of the Castle and City of Cardona it should joyn with that of Barcellona at Callis That as soon as these Articles were subscribed the Souldiers of the Garrison should be furnished with Bread for as long as they should tarry in the City and that they should March out on the Twelfth of October and that though within that time the Town should be Victuall'd either by Sea or Land the Articles should notwithstanding be observed unless it were a Royal Succour or the quantity of 10000. Quarters of Corn. That no War-like Ammunition should be taken from the Magazines That Mareschal de la Motta should cause all the Artillery that were in the aforesaid places as also those that were in Montegivick or elsewhere belonging to the Catholick King to be deliver'd unto Don Joyan Pallavesino General of the Spanish Artillery That his Higness and Mareschal de la Motta should promise to observe and keep all these Articles without any reservation Affairs being thus adjusted about 2700. French and Swisser's Foot all choise and veteran Souldiers and 800. Horse with 700. Catalonian Foot Marcht out of Barcellona the next day after Dinner and about 200. Officers and Voluntiers of that City and Principallity they went by the way appointed towards the Perineans to go for Rosillion which they did observing their Articles punctually The Crown of France was very sensible of the loss of this City which was followed by many other Towns and almost by that whole Principallity in the preservation whereof so much Treasure and so many People had been lost The taking of Barcellona fill'd the Spaniards with vast pretences and made them aspire after greater things By this loss the French were the more incited to revenge and to raise greater Forces to maintain the punctillio of Honour The taking of Barcellona was at first sight a sweet bit to the Spaniards but of bitter digestion for they did not only consume the flower of their Malitia in so long a Siege but spent so immense a some of Money as the gain might be rather held destructive than advantageous for the Catalonians being naturally bitter Enemies to the Castelians the latter were obliged to keep their Armies entire to guard themselves rather against their own Subjects than against their Enemies and as Catalonia was judged by many to be one of the worst acquisitions that ever the French made so was the recovery thereof ascribed by many to the ruine of Spain Whilst Affairs past thus in Catalonia Plessis Belliere was come to Agen whither Monsieur Trassy came to speak with him and promis'd to see the Forces paid that were design'd for Catalonia according to the Courtâ— intention and soon after Orders being brought by Monsr Nevile one of the King's Gentlemen who came thither on the 5th of November those that were to March were immediately divided from the rest and the Marquess marcht with those that were designed for Catalonia who had part of the Pay that was due paid upon the place and were promis'd the rest at their coming to Mont Alban There was much ado to make them resolve upon this Voyage the Captains and Officers met together and writ things of dangerous consequence to the Generals but at last Cavallier Crequi and Marquess Bellefons who were to be Field-Mareschals of this Army having assembled the Officers spoke so
it self into the Duke of Mantua's hands who placed therein a Garrison of their own Souldiers to the derision of such as imagined and would needs afterwards affirm That not the Mantuans but Spaniards were Masters of it The Governour of Milan observed Religiously what he had promised to the Duke insomuch as his Highness having thought it convenient that for the safety of the place a German Garrison should be placed in it drawn out of â—uch as served under the Spaniard being first discharged and after taken â—nto his Higness Service with an Oath to be faithful to him Caracene refuâ—ed to consent unto it suspecting that 't would be thought a collusion beâ—ween them Neither would he permit any of his Souldiers to enter the place nor go himself into it but in company of the Duke himself who came thither some few dayes after The Generals of Savoy having not found in those of Monferrat that inclination towards them which they imagined and knowing there was now no means for saving of Casal that they might not lose all that preparation resolved to attempt the recovery of Crescentino before which they came the 13th of October and in seven dayes carried the place because the Spaniards being engaged before the Cittadel of Casal could not relieve it The news of this loss flying abroad and the fame being not in Italy alone but also throughout all Europe That the Duke of Mantua being joyned with the Spaniard had delivered into their hands that most Important Place gave no small Jealousie to those who feared the Spaniards greatness and made the Duke to be ill thought of in the Court of France where they censured his Actions with much bitterness and threatned upon the first occasion to make their resentments â—â—own by an exemplary punishment The Duke of Maâ—â—ua notwithstanding protested That he complâ—ed with all due respects to France and with all submission fit to demonstrate his devotion and gratitude towards that Crown and protested That he would still continue obsequious and dutiful towards the most Christian King But his Professions were not in France regarded in such manner as he expected and having therefore published upon this occasion a Manifesto in the Month of September this very year just before his agreement with the Spaniard it will not be amiss to set it down that so upon comparing thereof with the Declaration made after by the French when the Lord Plessis Besanson was sent unto the Princes of Italy the Prudent reader may be able to make a judgment touching the whole matter The Manifesto was as followeth THe Obligations wherein the House of Mantua stands bound upon several occasions to the Crown of France publickly owned by my Predecessors and which I have inherited together with my Dukedome have alwaies maintained in me an inviolable affection towards his most Christian Majesty promising unto my self by his Royal assistance a most powerful Protection whereby my state of Monâ—errat and my Town and Citadel of Casal should be defended from loss or prejudice and at last restored unto me with the same freedome as they were for their preservation and defence deposited into the hands of the late King of glorious Memory by the late Duke Charles my Lord and Grandfather And although that Country hath for many years last past been daily ruined not only by the Quartering of Souldiers but also by the plunder of my poor Subjects pillaged continually as well by the Forces of Piedmont united unto those of his Majesty as by the Armies of his Catholick Majesty the one upon pretence of defending the Country and the other with design to drive their Enemies out of Italy and particularly from a Town so considerable for iâ—s neighbourhood unto the State of Milan and thereby free themselves from the continual jealousie it gave them yet having always constantly refused the Propositions and offers made unto me upon several occasions I have rested firmly confident of the just Intentions of his most Christian Majesty and that I should with his good liking and without the interposition of any other obtain from him that which belonged unto me without any dâ—smembring of the Country but forasmuch as after having several times represented unto his Majesty the urgent and pressing necessities of my Towns altogether unprovided and the condition wherein they stood being exposed unto the danger of falling under the Command of any who should have designes upon them my Applications full of duty and respect have brought no other return from his Majesty but remote hopes of feeble Succours which could bring â—o security unto the places whether it were by the advice of some person ill affected toward my Family or some other particular consideration or by reason of my ill fortune the Kingdom being then engaged in other Interests which were perhaps esteemed to be of greater consequence After I had reiterated my Addresses and petitioned by my Agents in that Court to have some speedy supply or that some other expedient might be thought on for my preservation since just means were not wanting to do it gloriously and with immortal Reputation to the Crown of France I resolved to give new proofs unto his Majesty of my affection and zeal unto his Service by maintaining the Garrison many Months at my own charge But this expence becoming insupportable to my Revenues very much diminished and to my Subjects who are totally destroyed and did continually sollicite me to take some course for easing of those burdens under which they have long groaned and perceiving that my suspicions were encreased by a new march of the Spanish Army into the Field besides the report spread abroad that they would certainly attempt the place the Governour of Milan being encouraged to it by reason of the weakness of the Garrison the taking of Triâ—o a place very important towards the facilitating of the Enterprize and the intestine Troubles wherein France was involved which rendered him secure from a diversion thence I suffered not my self to be for all this overcome with fear or gained with those Propositions and Promises were made unto me but sent an express Courrier to his most Christian Majesty beseeching him that he would please to order either some speedy supply of men and money or take some other resolution suitable to the necessity or that otherwise he would not take it ill I should my self take such Expedients as might be best to gain the possession of the place for my self who am the lawful Soveraign thereof to the exclusion of all others and keep it with a Guard of my own Souldiers so as it might not longer be exposed unto the danger of falling into the hands of the Spaniard or others who may have Designes upon it the which they have sufficiently demonstrated not without being listned unto as I am certainly informed and their success therein would have proved to my irreparable damage besides the other wrongs and injuries I suffer which are not of small importance but are acted
She with her blandishments and arts prevailed upon her Husband to treat with the Spaniard made a great progress therein and wrought so powerfully in the minds not onely of the Officers of the Garrison but of the Houshold Servants also of the Marquess de Fara Governour of the place that even his most antient and reputed most faithful Servants were engaged in this amorous Frenzy and became complices in the Treason by a wonderful and almost incredible example wherein 't was seen that the allurements of a lascivious imagination prevailed against the obligation of their vowed Loyalty unto the loss of their Reputation and the destruction of their Lives and Fortunes The design of this Conspiracy was to kill the Governour at a certain Post one Night as he went the Round and then to open the Gates unto the Spanish Troops who under the Command of the Baron of Sabac were entrench'd near unto them The coming of this new Recruit cooled the Affair and drew it out at length because the Officers of this new Succour were to be treated withal and gained whereby it came to be so long delayed that the Plot was discovered in this manner There was a Spanish Drum used to go and return for Exchange of Prisoners and other Occurrences of Warr by whom Ganot used to communicate all things with the Enemy it came into the Governour 's Mind one day to have him searched and see what Letters he carried whether they were the same which he shewed as he went out of the Port the Governour 's Brother a young Cavalier took them from him and the Drum growing first pale and then blushing upon the taking of them from him put the Cavalier into some suspicion of him he brought the Letters unto the Governour who finding them the same which had been at first shewed thought no farther of it but as he was upon the point of restoring the Letters and discharging of the Drum it came into his mind that Ganot himself had taught him to write with a certain water the Characters whereof could not be seen but near the fire he thought therefore to review these Letters and try it perhaps they had the secret of this water and by that means the whole business came to be discovered Ganot was forthwith called and strictly examined whether he knew any thing of the Conspiracy which the Spaniards had about the betraying of the place and desired if he did he would discover it promising him pardon and â—ecrecie in the Affair this the Governour did to make him serve as a double Instrument that he might countermine the Enemies Designes Ganot denied it absolutely but being afterwards convinced by these Letters he suddenly abandoned himself unto that baseness which is usually the companion of guilt confessed the whole and all his Accomplices who being seized upon and tried by a Court-Marshal to the number of above twenty were cast and suffered deservedly an ignominious death amongst whom to the admiration of all was one Giardeni Secretary to the Governour a person who had long served him and had in many occasions by experience been found trusty and of an unblemisht reputation In Guienne the King's Armies began to prosper by degrees as those of the Bourdelois grew weaker who were divided amongst themselves and governed by particular Interests and Passions The Duke of Candale who as hath been already said was sent to Command his Majestie 's Forces in that Province in lieu of the Count d' Harcourt took presently the Castle of Piniols and seized upon Marmanda and Arguillon Towns fortified after the ancient manner scituated beyond Bourdeaux and Agen on this side of the Garonne and being afterwards informed that the Count Marsin had caused the Colonel Baltassar to pass the Garonne with five or 600 Horse to gain some advantage by the division of the Cavalier d' Aubeterra's Troops which were placed in Garrison and that he had also made Monsieur di Bas Mareschal de Campe to march towards Granada he sent Orders to the said Cavalier d' Aubetterre to be watchful unto the preservation of the Town as a Post which would be of great advantage to the Enemy because it not only hindred their entrance into the Country of Chalosse and Armagnac but made him Master of the River of Adour which is the principal Stream of all that Province the which having for its Head a Fountain called Cap Adour in the Mountain of Tourmalet in the Barrois washes the Soyl of Bigorne the Cities of Turbe and of Aire and after receiving into her self the Rivers of Isle Leckez Larras upon the Confines of Bigorre and Gascoigne and after of Lons and Douse passeth to Mugron where growing Navigable with a less rapid course it discharges it self into the Ocean near to Baione To hinder this Design Aubeterre rallied his Troops with so much diligence and so good fortune that in less than thirty hours he had gotten together more than three hundred Horse and better than four hundred Musquetiers with which he forthwith marched against the Enemy but finding him possessed already of the said Post of Grenada he advanced notwithstanding to the Banks of Douse in a place called San Mauritio where had already passed 100 Horse and as many Foot whom he set upon and charged so briskly that almost all their Foot were lost either by the Sword or by the River the Horse saving themselves by a hasty flight and rallying behind the River with a Squadron of Horse as great as the other and five hundred Musquetiers The King's Troops forthwith passed the River with so much fury that those of the Princes terrified with fear after they had given one Volley of Shot with their Fire-arms all fled recommending their safety unto the swiftness of their flight Monsieur D' Avennes who commanded a Squadron of d' Aubeterre his Regiment with the Monsieurs de Troe and Villeneuf Officers of the Regiment of Crequi following them with extraordinary diligence attacqued them so furiously that amongst the dead and Prisoners were accounted more than one hundred and fifty Irish and amongst them was taken Monsieur Faget eldest Captain and Serjeant Major of Baltassar and Monsieur de Danansin mortally wounded those who escaped shut themselves up into Grenada against which place the same Cavalier d' Aubeterre forthwith advanced with some Recruits come unto him from Mont de Marsan being a Town with a Bridge upon the said River of Douse but he was not expected by the Enemy for they escaping privately in the night time escaped to Tortas the most important place they had in all that Quarter standing upon the same River of Douse and fortified with strong Walls ancient Turrets and a numerous Garrison The Duke of Candale after these fortunate Encounters having first assured himself of Mont de Marsan and other Towns in those Quarters by sufficient Garrisons and banishing such of the Inhabitants as he found ill-affected left there Aubeterre with part of the Cavalry and
they besieged Chasteau Porcien in which Monsieur de Boisson commanding with a strong and numerous Garrison of old Souldiers rendred the place very considerable especially being in the heart of Winter a time very unfit for Armies to keep the field This difficulty was overcome by the Cardinal himself by whose presence the Souldiers having an extraordinary love for him all dangers seemed light and were endured with a patience equal to that affection wherewith he was served and followed The Regiment d' Espagny Commanded by its Colonel attacqued the said Town of Chasteau Porcien by Orders from the Duke d' Elbeuf and Mareschal d' Aumont and the second of Ianuary at night possessed themselves thereof without resistance the Enemy being retired into the Castle from whence they fired fast upon the King's Forces who had made there a Barricado and taken up their Quarters and some time after fell to mining but because the besieged defended themselves obstinately and threw great quantity of wild-fire into the Town wherewith many Houses were burned this work was hindred The Count de St. Aignan first Gentleman of the King's Chamber having Commanded in Chief the Body of an Army was come as a Voluntier there to wait upon the Cardinal as did also many other Lords and Great Persons this Count with the good liking of the Duke d' Elbeuf and Mareschal d' Aumont the Generals began a new Mine together with the Marquess d' Espagny and Monsieur de Layeux and St. Aignan being busied at the work where he wrought indefatigably with his wonted Courage one night about five a Clock as he returned he was shot with a Musket in his left arm and received a great Wound but this accident hindred him not from running presently with Sword in hand before he was dressed to make Head against a Sâ—lly where the Besieged were valiantly received and beaten back At the last the Mine being compleated and ready to be fired and another also of Monsieur de la Fronde being in a good forwardness the Enemies seeing the works very much advanced by the assistance of the Cardinal who neglecting all thoughts of dangers was never from the Work yielded upon Articles and marched out after six days respite which were willingly accorded to them to see if Conde would advance to relieve them which he gave out that he would do but he not appearing they then issued out and the Town was restored unto his Majestie 's obedience The Prince of Conde knowing that without stronger succours it was impossible to give a stop unto the Cardinal's proceedings and much troubled to see his Designes crossed which were as he told the Ministers of Spain to winter in France and maintain the War in that Kingdom without Charge to Flanders being much grieved and perhaps repenting that he had put himself into that Action began to cast away those hopes which till then had born him up and represented in time not only to the Ministers of Flanders but also to the Catholick King 's Court the necessity there was of a greater Force for the carrying on of that Affair Writing besides the Orders sent to Monsieur de St. Agolin his Agent in Madrid unto the Favourite Don Lewis d' Aro a Letter to the ensuing purpose MY LORD I Cannot possibly forbear longer to give your Excellency an account of the wretched condition wherein my Affairs stand for want of those things which have been promised me your Excellency knows with what patience I have seen for want of Money all my Concerns in Guienne to go to ruine Paris Montrond Dijon Bourges and many other considerable places to be lost and with what constancy I have refused all the advantages have been offered me by the Court of France for the observance of my promise but I must now declare unto your Excellency that I find my self reduced to the last point The Cardinal Mazarine is returned into the Kingdom hath got together all the Power of France and is now come to drive me from my Winter-Quarters the Army of Flanders and the moyety of that of Lorrain have abandoned me and the Duke Charles speaks of calling the remainder from me The Count Fuensaldagne who makes open shew of an aversion to assist me hath let me know there is no Money for me nor no hope of it in the mean time the Enemies establish themselves possess my Quarters and in case they establish their Design will settle an Authority which as yet France never knew and put themselves into such a condition as will be very troublesome not to me alone but to your Excellency also My Friends have lost all hope of being succoured and perceiving me to be thus abandoned do make their peace one after another and quit my Party I beseech you my Lord to take some good Order herein Commanding these Ministers expresly to assist me with all their Troops when all those of the Enemy shall come against me or with part of them when I shall be assaulted only with a Party and also to send me forthwith Money which hath been with so much asseveration promised me I shall then be bold to promise that we shall quickly force the Enemy to quit the Field or consent unto a just and honourable Peace This I expect from his Majesty's Iustice and your friendship and shall endeavour to let you see I am most Affectionate to serve you c. He added a Postscript to the Letter whereby he desired him to give credit unto what should be declared unto him touching this matter by St. Agolin by word of mouth or by Monsieur Lenet by Letter to whom he had recommended the care of his Affairs in Bourdeaux The Prince's design was by all means to keep up his party in Guienne and thereby to assure the City and Parliament of Bourdeaux and by that diversion employing a good part of the Catholick King 's Forces in that Province he thought with the Flanders Army to enter France and give new life unto the fickleness of the Parisians and the bitterness of male-contents and therefore all his desires were reduced unto two points One That the King of Spain with Men and Money speedily dispatch't into Guienne would add new fuel to the Warr which was there kindled And sending the Money promised into Flanders would permit him to encrease his Army and march upon those designs he had projected independent upon any other But forasmuch as the Spaniard by the exorbitant Expence he had been at in the Sieges and Enterprises of Barcellona Gravelin Dunkirk Trin and Casal was very bare of Men and Money and the Kingdom of Naples could not now furnish those great Recruits of Men and Treasure in which consisted the chief strength of the Spanish Forces but rather appeared likely to fall into despair by reason of the oppressions it had suffered under the King's Ministers the Provisions of Guienne were so slow and feeble and the Preparations in Flanders so short of the hopes and expectations
an open Country and full of Corn as without doubt they would otherwise have done to their very great advantage Turenne advanced to Chauteau Porcien and placed himself beyond Rhetel and Chaumont that is a Castle where the Spaniards had a Regiment of Foot that were recruiting and 60 Horse in Quarters who at first sight yielded themselves prisoners of Warr without Colours or Baggage The Mareschal de la Ferte came by the Valley of Bourg on t'other side of the River Aisne and there in the Campagne of Chaumont having drawn up all their Troops they made their approaches to Rhetel on both sides where the same Night the Regiments of Picardy of Turenne and Palnau possessed themselves of all the Out-Works raising two Batteries one near the Port of Rocroy and the other at the River Gate where La Ferte was quartered There were in the Town 5 or 600 men under the Command of the Marquiss de Persan who in the Night was in great danger of being made a prisoner at the taking of the Out-works they opened in two dayes two breaches and whilest the French prepared to assault them the besieged Capitulated and agreed to march out with Arms Baggage and two Pieces of Artillery and to be convoy'd unto Stenay The Mareschals left there for Governour Monsieur de Boda with his Regiment of French Foot and themselves went to observe the motions of Conde and the Spaniards who during the time of that Siege marched together towards Hayes d' Avennes their taking the Field having been delayed as well for the said want of Horse as for a Treaty they had with a certain Citizen of Arras about surprizing of that City he had intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine and played the double spy to deceive the Spaniard and get money from them The intelligence was begun the Year before and continued untill Conde found himself abused having parted with above 2000 Doubloons at several times upon that score The French having notice that the Spaniards were not strong enough to fight their flourishing and numerous Army marched up towards the Prince being resolved to assault him before he was reinforced with more men which he carefully laboured to be but he drew up his men in Battalia between two Woods behind a straight Pass which prevented them from taking him in that place of advantage where he first was and had been found if he had been but one half hour later advertised of the French Armies motion Whereupon the Mareschals returned unto their Quarters and from thence marched towards Vervins into certain Villages near the Abbey of Fougny from whence drawing to Vervins they lodged near Poussy and from thence Coasting by Guise they encamped at Riplemont to observe the Enemy who were reinforced by the Army of Lorrain and some Troops from Flanders with which their design was to enter France upon hope that when they should appear there would many declare for them The French Generals therefore being much inferiour in number were to carry themselves very circumspectly and not to hazard a Battel which was much the more dangerous by reason of the consequences would depend upon it then for the present loss they could receive The French Courts aim was to gain time to resettle the Affairs of the Kingdome by gaining Bourdeaux to hinder Conde from raising new Stirres and Garboiles by means of his party and dependance and to frustrate the Spaniards expectations of ruining France grounded upon the Credit and Reputation of Conde which was the onely Butt unto which the Consultations of Spain tended as believing that Crown with their Dominions and Countreys so divided and void of Inhabitants could not in any other manner get an advantage over France an entire united Countrey and therefore without sparing of Money nay even with the prodigal lavishing away thereof unto the Malecontents of France they endeavoured to draw others and by such arts obtain that which by their own Forces they could not gain The Effects notwithstanding corresponded ill with the appearance because the hopes being reduced unto a few particular persons who were more greedy of their own profit than that of others they sought onely the means how to render themselves necessary unto the King of Spain's Service and to draw thence advantages grounded upon this Maxime That to draw Rewards from Princes they ought to make them rather hope for than obtain the fruit of their Endeavours Things being therefore thus managed and the Spaniards having made their Provisions for that Years Campagne there were divers Consultations held between the Princes and Generals of the Armies touching the several courses they ought to steer The Generals of Spain proposed to undertake some notable Design and by taking some Town of Importance by means thereof to make afterwards a farther progress and upon that foundation to maintain a Warr in the Enemies Countrey it was proposed That Five or Six thousand of the best Souldiers with Expert Captains should be imbarked and sent forthwith for Guienne to re-inforce the Prince's Forces in that Province give Courage unto those of Bourdeaux and nourish that Warr which was the powerfullest Diversion could be given to the Christian King's Forces But the fears that the Succours of Spain would not be sufficient for that purpose and the disorder would arise by dismembring the Forces of Flanders made that Proposition to be laid aside The Prince of Conde magnifying the Correspondence he had in Paris declared and was very pressing with pregnant Reasons That they should forthwith draw the Army together pass the Somme and marching as near as they could to Paris invite their Partisans to raise some new Sedition in the City wherewith the Court being startled would easily quit it and in that confusion marching to Mantes they might seize upon Pontoise Senlis and some Neighbouring places where their Party being strengthened by those Malecontents would fall in with them they might reap singular advantages and keep the Warr alive in France This Proposition was specious in appearance and so well represented thâ—t the Councel approved of it thinking that Conde would be seconded by the effects as he seemed to be by the desires of many who applauded his Actions and could not stop the turbulency of his spirit Two notable Difficulties occurred in the execution the one that the hearts of many were very much cast down by the Successes of Bellegard and Rhetel who could never have imagined that the King in that Campagne could have Forces and Conde want them to suffer two Towns to be miserably lost under his nose whereby the confidence they had in him was much diminished The other That the French Army being drawn out into Campagne much stronger then was expected 't was very dangerous to pass Rivers and engage ones self in an Enemie's Countrey without a place of Retreat upon occasion being Coasted by an Army though inferiour in number yet equal at least to them in valour of Souldiers being all French Bold and Expert and a Body
Captains that when they entred into France he should meet with the applause and assistance of the people so as their way should be made rather by their voluntary yielding than the Sword but they not only failed therein but exasperating the Countrey by the rapine and violence used by the Armies had caused an Universal hatred of the people against him which being discovered by the Spaniard they abandoned the thoughts of advancing and the rather because distrusts or emulation falling between the Prince and the Count Fuensaldagne they seemed not to proceed with the usual agreement their bloods being stirred and jealousies between them being rekindled by some brisk words and threatning gesture used by the Prince unto the Count. 'T was a great corrosive unto the Princes generous mind when he considered that his former credit which was much lessened by the said unfortunate rencounters would be totally lost if with so great Forces and such preparation a Campagne should be unprofitably spent which in its first beginning seemed to promise so great advantages and glory unto Spain and so much ruine and destruction to France and thereupon in a full Councel of Warr he proposed the Enterprise of Rocroy and brought Warlick and Politick Reasons for the maintenance of his Opinion He said He had been informed the Garrison was very weak because the Chevalier Montaign Governour of the place upon the confidence he should not be attacked had sent out the King's Regiment unto Rhetel that in 12 dayes at farthest they might win it that 't was not hard to invest it there being no River to pass and the Siege would be very easie the place standing between great Woods so as whoever could first gain the entrance of them would defend them with much ease and make good the Field Line and that Rocroy was a place of great Importance being a Key unto the Frontier of Picardy by which although France could receive small damage yet the Interests of Spain would be much advantaged because the French by means of that Town brought all the Neighbouring Countrey and the moyety of Luxembourg Province under Contribution The Considerations of the Prince were very good and his words by reason of the great Esteem had of his Valour were received by all the Captains as an Oracle but the Spaniards who use not to put their feet into the water till they have sounded the bottom and who have prudence for the unseparable companion of all their Actions though they inclined unto the Proposition yet seemed not totally to approve it considering that a Siege consuming Men Money and the patience of their Souldiers if it should last longer than was expected would so lessen their Army as they should be no longer Masters of the Field wherein was placed the sole hopes of those who upon that ground were endeavouring new Cabals in France Some were of the opinion that the Army living upon the Enemies cost in his Countrey they should endeavour by money and promises to make use of the intelligence they had and gain thereby a profitable Conquest which could not be entire without penetrating into the Bowels of France and dividing the great and opulent City of Paris from a Union with the King But this design having been at first attempted took no effect and now there was no ground to hope it the rather because by the Pacification of Guienne the Prince's party was much declined and the Cardinal's credit highly encreased Wherefore the Enterprise of Rocroy was resolved and to that purpose the Count of Ligneville went with 3000 Horse upon the 5th of September by break of day to invest it at unawares being followed by the gross of the Army which was a thing so unexpected and little foreseen by the Governour that 100 of the best Souldiers of the Garrison who were gone out to scour the Countrey according to their usual custome were excluded The French Generals used their utmost diligence to put in some supply of Men but wayes being narrow and hard to pass they could not do it All Passes being taken by the Spaniard the Prince of Conde lodged himself in a place called L'Unâ—hue the Count Fuensaldagne sate down in the Field where heretofore had been fought that Famous Battel got by the French extending his Quarters from the place of Battail to Getdessu The Lorenois shut up all the space from thence unto the Prince of Conde's Post The Quarters of the Army being thus disposed the Circumvallation was presently begun which in four dayes was entirely finished and the 11th of September they began to open the Trenches and at the same time attacked the Bulwarks du Chene del Perdu and the Half-Moon or Ravelin between them In the Besâ—egers Camp there commanded over the Spaniards the Count Fuensaldagne General Count Garcies Liutenant General the Prince of Ligny in the third place and the Prince Ulric of Wittemburgh Captain General of the German Horse Over the Lorain Troops the Count of Ligneville And over those of the Prince of Conde the Marquiss of Batteville the Counts of Briole and Duraz together with the Prince of Taranto who after left the Camp being disgusted with the Spaniard because they would not admit him into a Command which had been conferr'd upon him by the Prince Rocroy was very well provided with Victuals Munition Artillery and good thick Walls but thin of defendants the Garrison consisting onely of 450 Foot 50 Horse and 30 Townesmen armed to which were added 90 Peasants that were run in thither for relief the Ditch full of Water the Earth without being all spungy and as it were moorish but 4 or 5 foot deep all a chalk clay The French Generals upon the first motion of the Enemies Army saw presently they could have no design but upon Rocroy and therefore it being impossible to hinder the Siege and much more to relieve it they marched presently unto the Fera crossed the River and by the way of Heppe d' Auchenne and Polineux came to Armely from whence they sent away a Body of Men to joyn with the Count de Grand Pre who was already from the Fera advanced to invest Mouson The Prince of Conde foresaw that Turenne to recompence the loss of Rocroy would endeavour to take Mouson and therefore gave order unto the Count de Briole to go before-hand with 400 Horse and 1200 Foot unto Stenay and joyn with the Forces of the Marquiss of Persan who were gone thither after the rendring of Rhetel and together with them to be watchful unto the preservation of all the Neighbouring places which were held by his Forces and thereupon as soon as they had notice of the King's Armies march Briole went to Beamont a Town distant from Mouson about a league and from thence put with care some Companies of Foot into the Town returning with the remainder into Stenay that he might be ready upon occasion to re-inforce the Garrisons of Clermont and St. Menaud if the French finding the
Bulwark de Chene was fired and took good effect the Governour was also shot in the head with a Musket Bullet but he ceased not for all that to cause himself to be carried in a Seat wheresoever his presence was necessary In the mean time two breaches in the face of the Bulwarks were made and fiercely assaulted by the besiegers and with no less constancy defended by the besieged The same Night after they had been repulsed from another assault given to the Half-Moon having lodged themselves upon the point thereof they became Masters of it because the besieged not being able to maintain it thought fit to quit it especially because there was no Port of Communication which made them doubt that not being able to defend it those men would be all lost which was a matter of great consequence considering the need which they had of them Finally the Governour having taken view of his men which were fit for Service and finding they exceeded not 300 seeing the breaches in the Bulwarks opened and an attack begun upon the Curtain which had only a dry Ditch the same Night when they were ready to give the assault resolved to Capitulate and yield the Town which was concluded the 30th of September and he marched out the first of October with 220 Souldiers upon Honourable Terms and was convoy'd to Charleville This Enterprise cost the Spaniards dear because according to the common opinion they lost 2000 men who were killed and 7000 or 8000 by sickness and that ran away so as in the last assaults they were forced to bring the Horse up to the breaches who dismounted came to fight with Boots on their Legs and Pistols in their hands whereby 't was thought the Conquest was rather hurtful than profitable considering that in the beginning of the Campagne with such a numerous and well appointed Army they might have gone into the heart of France and thereby have given Fuel unto the intestine discontents which had been much more advantageous unto the Catholick King 's Interests than the taking of one simple Town with the loss of so great a number of men and the expence of so much Money and Amunition it being computed that there past no day wherein there was not at least 500 great shot made so as all things being considered the taking of Mouson by the French with the loss of a few men and with that Reputation which in War is looked on as the Life and Soul of Armies was esteemed to be a thing of greater consequence Mean while the pang's wherewith the resolute couragious heart of Conde was tormented were very great who blamed the Count of Fuensaldagne that he had taken an entire and secure Victory out of his hands he said his prudence was void of daring that he was envious of his Glory and distrustful of his Actions and among his friends he would make his complaints that he had engaged himself with a Nation whose manners and Genius were so different from the French and sigh to be i' th' head of 10000 of his own Countrymen with whom he could have done more service than with 15000 Strangers and to be kept from it by engaging himself amongst a people where never any stranger was exempt from Envy and from Emulation and where no French-man could ever yet Enjoy a lasting quiet This Town was after put into the Prince's own hands Garrison'd by the Forces depending on him and the Government thereof given unto the Duke of Anguien his Son not without some resentment of divers who had served the Crown of Spain who discoursing politickly amongst themselves would say that they had lost Mouson and were not Masters of Rocroy because it being in the hands of Conde 't would rather be a means to encrease his pretensions by the jealousie would be had of him that he might the better make his peace with France by being Master of that Town than any way make him more constant to the Spanish Service The Spaniards were forced to take this course because conceiving that after those disgusts which he had taken he did not press things with his wonted earnestness and that in case that Enterprize could not be suddenly effected there might happen some disaster to the Army they thought fit to engage him with the promise of that place to give a quick dispatch unto the Siege Rocroy being taken the Spanish Army staid there some days to throw down the Line of Circumvallation and repair the Breaches and after in regard it was much weakened and harrassed out retired into the Country d' Avennes to refresh themselves the Prince of Conde remaining in Rocroy sick of a quartane Ague The Court made this Voyage to Amiens to take the Government of that City and Cittadel from the Duke de Channes who had thrust himself into the possession of it after his Brother's death and seemed willing to keep it against the will of the King's Councel and although the said Duke having a great estate in France and his mind well affected to the King's Service was not conceived to have any other design but onely to give some jealousie unto the Court and make his profit thereby being a thing much more usually practised in France than elsewhere yet 't was thought good Policy to secure themselves against the very shadow of those who might by their change of thoughts any way prejudice the Soveraign Authority And although the Duke had sent to Court the Letters written to him by the Prince of Conde full of promises and hopes if he would enter into his party yet 't was however esteemed to be a seasonable Service to be entirely secured of that most important Town which was by this means done without noise the Duke himself being content to quit it unto Monsieur de Bar and accept the Government of Dourlans which the said Bar had with the addition of the Title of his Majestie 's Lieutenant General in that part of the Province which lyes about the said Town and being paid for all the Armes and Ammunition which were bought into the Cittadel upon his account Mouson being in this manner gained the Mareschal Turenne left there a Garrison of 500 or 600 Foot with the Count de Grand Pre his Regiment and made him Governour and he with the Army past the Mose and marched directly towards Maziers and being lodged thereabouts he had news of the taking of Rocroy at the same time the Count de Navailles advanced to Vervins with 1500 Combatants and Turenne after the said taking marched near to Aubigny that he might be near at hand to observe the motion of the Enemy and hinder him from making of any other attempt and there he made a halt two days Turenne being at Maziers sent the Marquess d'Uxelles from the Army with 1200 men unto the Castle of Bousancy which being not to be relieved from the Garrisons of Stenay Clermont and St. Menhaud because they were watched by Monsieur de St. Maur
the French continued shooting with the other but to so little purpose that being every where Nobly repulsed at last with the declining of the Sun their fury flacked wanting also Artillery and Ammunition it being observed that the Swissers for want of Bullets shot away almost all the Buttons from their Coats and they retired to the Campagne upon the Hill where they encamped that night in Battalia and the next morning marched towards Montemagno and Grana there died of French in this action the said Marquess Monte and 4 Captains and divers Officers together with some considerable number of Souldiers which was not precisely known and above 100 wounded amongst whom were several Commanders The Marquess Monpesat had his horse killed under him and his Hat shot through with a Musket Bullet and so had also Monsieur d' Epinchat and the Captain of the Mareschal's Guard The Spaniards lost fewer Souldiers and few or no Officers but there were many hurt and amongst others the Marquess himself received a slight hurt with a Musket Bullet After this Action the French Army staid 17 days at Montemagno and neither party being in a condition to do any considerable thing all this Campagne was spent in marches and Countermarches from one place to another The French desiring to live in the Territory of Milan upon their Enemies Country and the Spaniards to hinder them from doing of it during which time there fell out several Skirmishes between them with various success The French after disldoged from Montemagno and went to Fubine being always coasted by the Spanish Army who at the same time leaving Felizzano were a front of them and there some Burgundian Officers having a desire to wait upon the Mareschal Grancè as being known unto him and his friends by Licence of the Marquess Caracene went and spoke with him as did also afterwards the Marquess himself and the Mareschal both the one and the other being accompanied by the prime men in either Army they continued together in conference about two hours with much civility and complements The French being all of them much taken as well with the Valour as great courtesie of Caracene by whom he was highly valued as a generous and prudent Captain so as many of the French said to the Spaniards themselves That t' was great pity he was not a French-man This conference being past the French Army marched to San Salvator and from thence the Marquess Monpesat three days after with 500 Horse and as many Foot scoured all the Country thereabouts Pillaging several Towns and gathering together a great quantity of victuals the Army staid for those three days at San Salvator that of Spain being always in the Flank of it with design either to distress it for want of Victuals or take it in some place of disadvantage and fight it in which time there past continual Skirmishes between the Scouts of either party But the French afterwards perceiving that by reason of the great vigilancy of the Spanish Captains they could gain little in that Country retired towards Monferrat unto Moncalvo and for as much as Grance had strict orders from Court that he should be sure to Winter in the State of Milan he marched to Gabbiano and casting a Bridge of Boats over the Po a little below Crescentino the French passed toward Sesia to plunder and live in the Enemies Country took the Castle of Carpigna Garrisoned by two Italian Companies run over all the Country even to the Gates of Novara and made several other marches without any other Action between them but only some skirmishes which from time to time fell out between the parties because the Spaniards intending to hinder the French from taking up their Winter quarters in the State of Milan were sometimes in Flank sometimes in Front and other whiles upon their backs with so much inconvenience and trouble to them that at last finding themselves not so strong as was necessary to maintain the Posts which they had taken and the season growing very bitter they were forced to retire into Piedmont where lying too heavy upon the Duke of Savoy his Subjects the French Horse was sent beyond the Mountains to Winter in Daulphine Bress and Dombes and so ended the Campagne for this year 1653 with some resentment of the Court who intended that the Troops should what ever became of it maintain themselves upon the Enemies charges that Winter in the State of Milan In this mean time the Courriers who brought the Letters and Capitulations of Bourdeaux were come to Court and Monsieur de Las who was dispatched from the Generals and Monsieur d' Estrades having made his relation of all passages the Amnestie was presently dispatched unto the Burdelois containing an entire abolition of all their Crimes none being accepted in it but the Councellor Trancours and Blaru and Desert Merchants who were sent by the Olmiera into England and also Duna Festa and Villars heads of that Faction and Clerac who was deputed by them into Spain it was farther ordered that the Citizens should renew their oaths of Fealty unto the King and rebuild the Castles Trombesta and de Ha as being necessary to repress all popular risings and to protect and defend the good and able Citizens it being evident that in all Cities the Common People are ever Enemies to those persons who have most to lose This declaration of the King 's being proposed to Monsieur La Vic Advocate General who was then in Bourdeaux that he might make the process against those two spyes from Marsin and Lenet sent back into the City and verifie it Every one expected from the Parliament proofs of their submission which might cancel the memory of their passed disobedience But La Vic willing to make use of this occasion to render himself necessary raised such scruples and intrigues by his propositions which were interlaced in such manner with his conclusions that some of the Counsellors of Parliament took thence occasion to restrain the King's Will with such Glosses Comments and Modifications that it appeared they would be not the Interpreters but Moderators and Disposers of the Kings Favours so as none should be thanked for them but themselves They did particularly excite the people not to suffer the yoke of the Castles ordering that new Instances should be made to Court for demolishing the Forts in the City and that in case the King were absolutely resolved to impose that Slavery upon them yet that those Places should not be under the command of the Governour of the Province This reflexion was not pleasing to the King's Ministers and much less the Condition That the publishing of the Amnestie should be put off until the residence of the Parliament should be established as if their return to Bourdeaux which was so much the more suspected by the Court by how much 't was more earnestly desired by them were necessary for the security of the people or for rendring the King's Pardon valid These Actions of
Governour of the City the Mareschal's of France de Mattignon d'Ornano and de Roquelaure having heretofore enjoyed that Office The stirs in Bourdeaux were thus quieted and the people enjoying the fruits of that Peace granted unto them by the King's favour the Plague coming into the City allayed much the gust of their repose the freedom of Commerce being interrupted thereby and by the Calamity of all the Neighbouring Towns who tasted of the same Calamity and were almost dispeopled by it The Deputies of Bourdeaux coming afterwards unto the Court which was then at Chalons in Champaigne were received by their Majesties with such demonstrations of clemency and affection as took from their memory the shame of their past errours and gave them courage to expect favours from his Majesties Bounty in the mean time the Parliament of Guienne which was retired to Reole received the provisions for the Government of Limousin granted by his Majestie unto the Mareschal Turenne He by the vigour of his Sword and prudence of his Councels kept the Frontier quiet from all attempts of the Enemy and encamped always where he might observe the Prince of Conde's motions who though he were retired a little to refresh his Souldiers had not yet laid aside the thoughts of taking the field afresh and at least to keep his Winter quarters in France But the Cardinal Mazarine finding himself by the happy success in Guienne freed from that strong diversion which was given to the King's Forces in those parts and being now at liberty which all the Forces to repel the Prince of Conde's bold designs and take from him all the Credit he had in France having called all the Generals unto a Councel in his Abbey at Laon proposed unto them that he desired before the Forces drew into their Winter quarters it being as yet Autumn which in France is used to be mild open weather to attempt the taking of St. Menhaud from the Prince of Conde as that which having in it a strong Garrison scoured all the Country thereabouts and drew great contributions not only from the open Towns but from those also that were Walled The opinion of the greatest part of the Commanders who met in Councel was not to engage in any Enterprize that year because the Spaniards though much weakened by the Siege of Rocroy might draw out again and returning with considerable Forces might either raise the Siege which would much prejudice the reputation of the Army or by way of diversion recompence the loss of it with something which would be of more importance The Cardinal opposed this opinion and let them see that with the Armies of the two Mareschals Turenne and Ferte Seneterre they might make head against the Spanish Army and at the same time invest St. Menhaud with the King's Guards and some few Forces added to them and afterwards the Forces which were expected from Guienne and new Levies from Germany being joyned to them they might besiege the Town and carry it whereby all Champaigne would be freed from the Plunderings and damage which they suffered by that Garrison This opinion prevailing the Court returned from Laon unto Soissons and from thence upon the 20th of October went to Chalons mean while the Marquess Castelnau drew out with about 1500 men from Turenne's Army and was sent towards St. Menhaud and St. Mor also did the like with 900 Horse and some Foot provided by the Cardinal and they with these Forces the next morning blocked up St. Menhaud making four quarters about it but without drawing any line about it because the Armies of Turenne and Ferte Senneterre standing to cover and defend the besiegers they pretended to take it by storm without a Siege And although it appeared ridiculous that 3500 men should attempt to besiege a City with a strong Castle Garrisoned by above 1500 men under the command of brave Chieftains the Marquess de Fortz Governour of the City and Monsieur de Montal Commander in the Castle but who directed all as being Conde's greatest Confident they undertook the matter notwithstanding with so much readiness and courage that the issue of it made it apparent how great the Judgment and ability of the Cardinal was who himself alone contrary to the opinion of all the other Commanders made them engage in this design There commanded then in the King's Camp as Lieutenants General the Marquesses of Castelnau and Uxelles the Count of Navailles and Monsieur St. Mor the provisions for the Camp were brought from Chalons and for want of Horses and Carts all the Country being ruined by the War they made use of the Court Carriages a thing extraordinary and which not being foreseen by the Enemy made them constantly believe that 't was a vain Enterprize being resolved upon without means convenient to perform it principally because Clermont was on the left hand the Garrison whereof scoured the Campagna and incommoded all the Neighbouring Country having amongst other exploits one day taken divers of the Court-horses under Carts of Ammunition and Victuals going to the French Camp The Mareschal Turenne in respect the Cardinal had undertaken the said Siege rose from Aubigny and with between 6 and 7000 men put himself to observe the motion of the Spaniards who seemed as if they would go towards Rocroy The Mareschal de la Ferte placed himself with his body between the Mose and Clermont to countenance the besiegers The Count Beaujeu marched farther into Picardy with about 2500 chosen Souldiers to guard the Frontier places The Duke d' Elboef and the Count d' Illebonne his Son with their men kept sometimes at Rosan sometimes at Mon Cornet and sometimes at other Posts according as the business most required The 26th of October the King accompanied by the Cardinal and a good number of principal Cavaliers of the Court went to the Camp to see the posture of it and to give countenance to the Siege he lodged in the Abbey of Cicussy belonging to the Cardinal Bichi and from thence went to the rising of a Hill under which was the quarter of Marquess Castelnau from whence some Cavaliers went in bravery within a Musket shot of the Walls and amongst them the Count de Guiche eldest Son of the Mareschal Gramont though a youth not above 15 years of Age being all fire and spirit advanced his Horse before the rest and without fear discharged his Pistol upon the Enemies Guard and returned without hurt unto his Majesty who was much edified to see so extraordinary a Courage which to the French Nobility uses to be an unseparable companion of their high Birth And there being a Councel of War held in his Majesties presence they resolved to send Monsieur de Villequier with a Summons to the besieged and a particular demand unto the Marquess de Fortz to give up the Town unto his Majesty This Marquess by the mediation of Monsieur de Vaubecourt his Brother-in-law who was Governour of Chalons treated to make his peace
Money as they should be forced to give him if they intended to make use of him and his Armies Service and that therefore the Arch-Duke foreseeing that when Money fell short he might be drawn to quit them and make his Peace they had by this Act sought to prevent him not upon any just ground they had against him but only upon a bare suspition of it Others published That all this was a plot of the Prince of Conde who being naturally zealous of the House of Lorrain and impatient to have a Companion in the Army who perhaps did in some sort take away part of that profit he expected from the Catholick King 's generosity and by reason of his wariness in preserving of his Army which was his All would not second his fiery resolutions but gave a stop unto them by sober and mature Councells had by his Artifices contrived and brought to pass all this mischief which fell upon him But as all these conceptions had no other foundation but guesses and conjectures grounded only upon likelihoods so they found not that credit was expected but as shadows upon the appearance of light vanish so all those suppositions were wiped away by another conceit which of all others came nearest to the Truth and this was That the Dutchess of Chevreux who is witty and full of Spirit above any Lady of this Age being for the reasons above mentioned a particular Enemy unto the Prince of Conde being of the House of Lorrain and consequently of kin to the Duke Charles found means to insinuate unto him dexterously an agreement with the Court of France proposing to him That prudent men ought to make use of all imaginable Conjunctures since there was nothing of greater consequence then to lay hold of opportunity which renders that at sometimes easie which when the nick of time 's once past becomes impossible The Duke listned unto these Propositions and much more unto that of 300 thousand doubloons to which as the report went besides the payment of his Army which in that case was to come over from the Spanish Service into that of France and entered into a Treaty the rather by reason of the Envy he bore unto the Valour and Prerogatives of Conde which seemed to lessen the esteem was had of him and might also dimminish much of his usual gains and this being discovered either by Conde or the Count of Fuensaldagne was the cause that moved the Spanish Ministers to prevent a blow of that importance which would have proved destructive and fatal to them because their Army being lessened by the departure of the Lorrain Forces and the French receiving a double encrease by the addition of those Forces all Flanders would have been totally over-run and wasted by the Enemy The Cardinal in the mean time ceased not to continue the management of Affairs with a wise dexterity his design was to keep the Kingdom United to carry the War out of France and to enforce the Spaniard unto that Peace which they professed publickly to desire but were privately resolved never to make He renewed therefore the Treaty of Peace with the Protector Cromwell at London to secure France against those Jealousies that Kingdom which was in Arms and had no diversion might give unto it and sent the Mareschal Grammont on whose Valour and Fidelity he much relyed unto his Government of Baione and Bearne to observe the motions of the Spaniard in Biscay and prevent all stirs upon that Frontier either by them or by the English He sent abroad new orders for recruiting the old Troops and raising new ones that he might the next Campagne not only Quarter without fear in Flanders Catalonia and Piedmont but also take in hand any other design upon occasion and for that reason gave order for setting out and Victualling of a Fleet that when time served might set Sail for Catalonia or towards the Sea of Naples where the Duke of Guise pressed for a sudden resolution relying much upon the good intelligence he had with the discontented Persons in that Kingdom by whom he was often Solicited and Persons sent expressly to him from them Together with the care of things belonging to the War he mingled also the thought of those which tended to the settling of Peace at home and caused his Majestys mercy and clemency to be extended unto all those who were yet contumacious that so an end might be put unto all Jealousies within the Kingdom and by experience it might appear that he desired nothing but to render his Actings and Ministry equally profitable and grateful to the whole French Nation Towards which notwithstanding the ill usage he hath received from many of them instead of seeking his revenge forgetting all injuries done him he bears so great a kindness that his whole Study is to bring them all by favours unto a repentance for their Errours that they may avoid all punishment due to the crimes they have committed And for as much as Money is the sinews of War and the Soul of all great Enterprizes he applyed himself with his whole Study to distribute it in due manner and raise it with the least trouble of the people he received in all places good intelligence with friends and endeavouring to create good correspondencies with Neuters he dispelled from France all those Cloudy storms of troubles wherewith 't was threatned and restored unto it that calm it now enjoys which probably will produce the Peace so much desired and hoped for in Christendom and furnish a large matter for Learned Pens to celebrate the glories of his most Christian Majesty and applaud the Vertue of him who hath done him such worthy Service FINIS 1648. 1649. 1650. 1651 1652. Anno 1653. 1654.
without opposition in the hands of the Citizens who forthwith writ unto the Marquess de la Douze one of the prime Lords of that Country desiring him that he would procure their Deputies access unto the Duke of Candale from whose hands they would receive the Amnestie and put themselves under his Majesties obedience which was done one called Magot being Broken upon the Wheel 16 of the most Seditious persons banished and a new Election being made of Officers and Captains of the Quarters Perigeaux lyes upon the River Isle which divides the City into two parts the Situation of it is something raised upon a rising ground in a Champane Country compassed with good fortifications made by the Prince of Conde's care who repaired it with the addition of new works the people Fierce and War-like as are all the Gascons who become good and stout Souldiers this City is numbred amongst the most Antient and Noble Towns of Guienne The Villeneuf d' Agenois which was grown Proud with having resisted and broken the designs of Count d'Harcourt against it after it had been quitted by the Marquess de Theubon emulating the fury of the Olmiera in imitation of those inhabitants had taken some Companies into their pay made their brags that they would by that means keep themselves free was also in great likelihood of being surprised by the Count de Valliac who had made an agreement with some Citizens that having seised upon a Tower thought to have brought him in but the design being discovered took no effect The Troops conducted by the Marquess d' Aubeterre chanced to draw neer unto it at the time when their Corn being Ripe wherein the Town is very rich the people were just going out to Harvest whereupon they fearing to be deprived of their Rents without which they could not live at ease preferred the fear of Misery before the Ambition of being free and sent Deputies unto the Prince of Conty desiring him either to send them relief or make their Peace but Bourdeaux being now reduced and the Prince having retired to Cavillac and laid down Arms the persons employed were brought to the said Count Valliac and from thence unto the Duke of Candale who sent thither Monsieur de Ribere a Councellor of State and Officer of the Army with whom the Amnestie was concluded but upon condition that the Walls should be thrown down the fortifications dismantled and the Citizens who had offended because they were Purse-proud should pay 4000 Doubloons reserving also a Liberty to dispose of 20 persons Prisoners two of which were hanged up by the Neck upon the publick Gallows Villeneuf d' Agenois stands in a spatious Plain compassed with Antient but strong Walls bathed by the Loth a River which rising in the Mountain of Geâ—odan after it hath with a Rapid course passed through the Provinces of Rovergne and Quercy comes to run calmely in Agenois and loose its Name in the Garronne not being Navigable before it comes to the Villeneuf It was heretofore very plentiful of excellent Fish and particularly of Pikes but after the Fishing of them was forbidden by St. Ambrose Bishop of Cahors and that the people refused to obey him it hath been constantly observed and found true that there hath never more been any there The people is there very numerous because the Commerce for Corn and fruits is more abundant there than in any other part and the Citizens being thereby wonderfully enriched were swelled to a great heighth of Pride and Insolence Whilest the Dukes of Vendosme and Candale were ordering the Affairs of Bourdeaux with all mildness and sweetness possible being notwithstanding watchful over the Actions of some who full of perfidiousness were by the sweet harmony of their Virtues rendred more Barbarous and Savage the Chevalier Carteret an English-man had notice that one Edward sent from the Parliament of England was hid somewhere about the Countrey privately blowing the coals of that Rebellion which was not yet totally extinguished in the minds of some Seditious persons whereupon a little Felouke being by chance taken with Letters from Lenet to this same Edward which invited him unto a Councel was to held aboard the Admiral of Spain There were also taken two Citizens of Bourdeaux with Billets from Lenet to several persons in that City and particularly unto some Women in which their intentions of re-uniting themselves with the Spaniard and fomenting the hopes of the Frondeurs being sufficiently manifested the same gave occasion to the said Dukes to open their Eyes and apply themselves with all diligence to minister fitting Remedies for making up those Wounds which were not as yet sufficiently healed Espagnet after the Procession of the 15th of August was imprisoned and with a good Guard sent unto the Castle of Angoulesme There were Passports given unto divers persons suspected of plotting some new Conspiracy and amongst these were the Counsellors de Duc Morpin and La Chese Some Troops were ordered to march into the Meiau that they might go aboard the King 's Shipping and fight the Spanish Fleet which rid at Anchor in sight of Royan a little place but wonderfully strong with a Castle seated upon a rising ground which makes it more defensible being a place of great Importance having on the right hand Xaintonge and on the left the Country of Medoc Other Souldiers were put into Xaintonge it self where all the Countrey was in Arms for fear the Spaniards should land and all other the inconveniences which might happen were so well provided against that Rebellion could take no footing nor disturb the publick quiet and contentment which was generally in Bourdeaux where they were grown wise at their own costs the conveniences of good order being no where so well known as where disorders have been experienced Whilest the Affairs in Guienne passed in the manner above rehearsed the two Armies encamped upon the Frontiers of Flanders with different designs The Spaniards and the Prince of Conde having a great confidence in their Forces which consisted in an Army of above 30000 Combatants took up large Quarters and endeavoured to draw the French Army unto a Battel because in case they got the Victory they thought they might march unto the Gates of Paris to give countenance unto those whose minds were yet set upon Troubles and fill all the Countrey with terrour and confusion by breaking into the heart of France before any thing could be done in Guienne to the advantage of the King But the number of Counsellors differed in their Opinions touching the way they were to take for the effecting of it because although the Prince of Conde was firm in his Opinion That they ought to advance without ingaging themselves in the attacking of any Place before they came unto the Seine the Spaniards notwithstanding were very wary in concurring with the bold ventrous thoughts of this Warlike Prince being loth either to engage their Army into some dangerous Pass or to elevate Conde himself with