Their Courages saved them for the Enemy was much more numerous then they were Indeed the Sieur de Canoples good conduct did not a little further the business for knowing the strength of the English he had commanded the Captains to draw all their Souldiers into the Counter Scarps of the Fort but he had not so ordered his businesse had it not been in the night for Buckingham seeing his first Battalia in disorder and thinking he had onely met with the Forlorn Hope commanded a retreat He left six and thirty on the place and of his Majesties party there were onely six and twenty killed and wounded amongst the rest Mausan Tourilles Lievetenant was found dead of a Musket shot and two cuts with a Halberd Politique Observation WHen there is a necessity at first dash to fight an enemy it is more discretion to fall on him then to expect him and especially being inferiour to him in force for then pure valour must carry it Souldiers are ever more couragious in assaulting then receiving an enemy An assault distracteth an enemy maketh in suspect some further stratagem and puts him often into disorder Julius Caesar made an experiment hereof when passing the Hellespont in one onely Galliot he met Crassius Captain of the contrary Faction with ten Gallies A courage lesse resolute then his would have endeavoured to save himself by the lightness of his vessel but in stead of flying be put himself into a posture of defence went directly up against Crassius and so terrified him that Crassius delivered up himself When such encounters are foreseen it is needful to be accompanied with choise resolute Souldiers such as know not what fear is for fear is repelled by any the least resistance A timerous Souldier never yet did any thing worth notice but to a resolute man every thing makes way It is said of Cajus Marius that in his youth he was so hardy in all his enterprises that nothing could resist him but that in his age his Vallour decreased with the heat of his Bloud which lost him some part of his reputation Bertrand du Gueslin was both one of the most valiant and Fortunate of his times But every one doth ascribe those great advantages which he obtained in Battails to that resolution of his which would sometimes so transport him that he would with a dozen Souldiers fall into the midst of his Enemies who unable to withstand the effects of so admirable a vallour would presently be put to disorder Robert de La March hath afforded us one more notable example of the successe which attendeth on vallour it was in the Battail of Navarre where being touched with a fatherly affection he rushed into the Battail of the Swisses then victorious that he might save his Sons Florange and Jamets who lay upon the ground much wounded Which resolution of his was so succesful that though seconded but by a few Horse yet it so terrified the Swizzers that they could not prevent his bringing of them off in safety Prosecution of the Subject THe Duke of Buckingham finding it would be a difficult thing for him in future to prevent the accesse of relief to the Island as well because divers Vessels of his Fleet were lost as also by reason of the small successe he had hitherto had resolved to make his last attempt upon the Cittadel of St. Martin He was not ignorant of those other and greater preparations which were in agitation upon the main land to send a stronger supply then any yet so that there was a necessity of taking the place or hazarding a sharp conflict The Sieur de Thoyras had divers conjectures of his design and that he might put himself into a condition of defending himself he sent advice to the Fort de la Pree desiring them to have their Forces in a readinesse to assist him when he should discharge three Canon shot for a sign that the enemy began their assault Presently hereupon the Sieur de Canaples called the Officers together to consult of what was proper to be done and it was unanimously concluded that all their Forces should be put into Battalia by break of day That they should march towards Abbay and that upon hearing of the Signal they should go directly to the enemy to divert them from the Assault This Order was exercised accordingly and they were no sooner drawn up together but the Cannons gave them notice of the assault the Sieur de Canaples went directly towards the Cittadel It is reported that there were between four and five thousand English at the assault However they made but two considerable attempts one upon the Bastion de Thoyras which was not quite finished they got up upon the Rampars but were so ill treated by the Besieged that they were forced to give back and to make such hast down their Ladders that some of them never touched but the last round The t'other Attempt was at the Bastion Antioch where the English had no better successe for many of them were killed with Musket shot Stones and long Staffs which were in the Half Moon so they fled and were pursued home to their Trenches That which forced them most to fall back was to see the Forces which were come out from Pree so neer them The Duke of Buckingham guesâ—ing their design was to fall upon his Trenches and to charge them in the Rear drew off his forces and set them in order to receive them But the Kings forces finding the assault given over and the enemy embattailed made an halt the Sieur de Canaples being unwilling to undertake any thing but the defence of the Cittadel until the great relief were arrived that he might not hazard his men to no purpose The two Armies lay in view of each other the rest of the day without doing any thing and night comming on they of the Kings party withdrew to Pree In the mean while the Sieur de Canaples unwilling as hath been said to attempt any thing was inform'd how the besieged had taken all the Ladders of the English fifty Prisoners most of which were Captains and Officers that they had killed between five and six hundred without losing above eighteen or twenty men and some few wounded amongst which were the Sieurs de Sardaignes and Gran Val who being shot through the Bodies died in a few dayes after This Victory did much rejoyce the Kings Army and his Majesty himself too who was diligently informed of it The English doubting their Trenches would not secure them forsook the one half of them and shortly after resolved to go back for England Politique Observation TWo things are chiefly necessary for the repelling of an assault men and fortifications It cannot be denied but that fortifications are needfull for it were a vanity to beleeve that a few men blocked up in a place should be able to resist a whole Army if they be not defended with Bastions half Moons and other Forts raised up to a sufficient height
obedience Those Rebellious mutineers when they saw there was no hopes of succour from the English and that they died by thousands of the famine made divers proposals of accommodation Hereupon his eminency told them how that those of their party on board the English Fleet had withdrawn themselves and had obtain'd the Kings pardon that the English finding it impossible to force the Bank relieve them had interceded for them that they had moreover sent Montague to make proposals of peace unto his Majesty who had kindly received him that thereupon he was return'd into England to encline the King his Master to hearken to an accommodation and that things being thus they had no other hopes but to die by famine if they had not recourse to his Majesties mercy by a true confession and humble acknowledgment of their faults This news gave an Allarum to the whole City The discreetest of them represented to the rest how the Rich did now begin to dye of famine as well as the poor having sold the greatest part of their victuals to those that had none upon hopes of the English relief that death made an harvest of them that since the last six moneths there had died between eight and ten thousand of famine insomuch that not having where withal to bury the dead and indeed having hardly any people strong enough to make their graves or carry them insomuch that they were forced to draw them with cords into the Church-yards and there to let them rot that diverse had been seen to crawl with much ado to the Church-yards and there lay down and dye hereupon the rest of the people languishing and touched to the quick with the remembrance or indeed the present image of so many horrible spectacles resolved to try their fortune to appease if possible the Kings just indignation by imploring his mercy They entreated the Sieur Arnoult to procure a safe conduct that they might send their Deputies to his Majesty which upon his Request was graunted But his Majesty would that they should first make their proposals to Monsieur the Cardinal to whom they went with an unspeakable joy therupon this grand Minister producing those Deputies which he had kept to that purpose let them discourse with one another who having assured them that they themselves had obtained the Kings pardon represented to them that they likewise had nothing now to hope for if they did not totally submit themselves to the discretion of his Majesties mercy but miserably to dye by famine his Majesty being resolved never to depart from thence till he was Master of the Town They were much surprised at this newes having not heard of it till then yet they were insolent enough to make propositions of peace still relishing of their former mutinie This grand Minister declared to them they must not think of any other conditions than absolutely to submit to his Majesties will but however promised them that he would employ his utmost power in their behalf so they returned promising to dispose their Fellow-citizens to it as much as in them lay testifying as much satisfaction and joy as they who are reprieved from the Galleys After this meeting they published all over the Town how kindly the Cardinal had entertained them with assurances he had given them to employ his interest with his Majesty to obtain the same grace for them which he had for those with the English whose Deputies they had spoken with conjuring every one to accept of it The height of that misery to which they were reduced did at last quash their mutinies although some of their Ministers not ignorant that power was the worthiest stipend of their insolencies animated them by the hopes of glory which they should obtain by dying for the liberties of their Religion so they could not presently resolve to surrender to the Kings mercy but proposed to make a general peace for all those of their party that they might choose a Governour that they might choose a Mayor and Sheriffes and generally the preservation of their priviledges to which end their Deputies made diverse journeys to and fro but Monsieur de Cardinal who never omitted any thing that concerned the glory of his Master and on the other side knew the extremities to which they were reduced still told them They must either all dye by famine or submit to his Majesties discretion This plain dealing of his did at last force them to stoop whereupon they chose twelve of the principal amongst them most of which could hardly creep to beg his Majesties pardon to assure him that they would live and die in the obedience which they owed unto him without demanding any other conditions then what his Majesty should please to give them and one of the bést Orators amongst them made their speech which was all to that purpose The King graunted them the pardon which they desired and the Sieur d' Herbant Secretary of State read the Pattent to them by which his Majesty pardoned their Rebellion discharged them of all acts of Hostility ordained that they should be restored to their goods graunted them the exercise of their Religion in the City and commanded that all the Souldiers in the City should enjoy the same grace and that the chiefe Captains and Gentlemen should go out with their Swords by their sides and the Souldiers with Cudgells in their hands but first they were to swear never to bear Arms against his Majesties service Politique Observation THough Rebels have been so stout as to let themselves be forced by a long siedge and with great expence yet it is more glorious for a King to deal mercifully then severely with them It is enough that they have already suffered great miseries unlesse there be a necessity of continuing the War against others of their party for in such case the evils they suffer are examples to terrifie others and get moderation toward them is a charm which may reduce those who are unconquered to reason This moderation is sometimes like a precious balm which takes away the pain of any would how mortal soever whereas too too strict severity drives to despair I should not be of this opinion where Rebels are forced in a few dayes but where they have endured the miseries which accompany long siedges Then I must confesse it were not amiss to expiate the crimes of all by the lives of some which were a cruelty too suparlative after the rigors unconceiveable miseries of many moneths for then a true courage is rather touched with compunction than revenge The Roman Valour is often comnended for this by Antiquity and who knoweth not how sensibly compassionate they were at the sight of their miseries whom they had vanquished Marcellus having mastered Syracusa and considering the ruine to which it was reduced could not forbear weeping Neither could Pompey endure that Tygrances King of Armenia should remain Prostrate before him whatever War he had made against the Roman people but raised
That History records above twenty Alliances between France England and Scotland That it would be easie to assure her Ladyship the exercise of her Religion considering what had been granted to the Spaniard That great Princesses are in this particular in a worse condition than Ladies of a meaner Quality by reason half an Age hardly produceth a Match correspondent to their Birth so that having once lost their opportunities they live to see the Harvest of their Beauties reaped by years without ever marrying whereupon it was resolved to see what particular Proposals would be made this result was signified to the Earl of Holland who assured them that the King his Master would receive it with much joy yet deferring to enter into any further Treaty untill he had received particular instructions from his Majesty Who upon the receiving of that news dispatched with all diligence the Earl of Carlisle with full power to conclude the Match The Earl of Holland went to Amiers to meet him that they might confer together what they had to do and afterwards being come near to Campeign the King hearing of it commanded the Duke of Cheuruse to go receive them with twelve Coaches full of Nobility and withall to entertain them magnificently and defray their charges during their abode at Court The day after their arrival they had Audience given them and the Proposals which they made appeared so reasonable that the King presently judging that they might easily be resolved appointed Commissioners to treat with them The Cardinal was at that time newly advanced to the Administration but he made it apparent that he was not a Novice in the management of it for the King desiring his opinion of this Treaty he not onely added many other reasons to those alledged in the first consultation but moreover suggested to his Majesty such judicious means to carry on the business that he could not enough admire his Prudence Amongst other reasons of the commodiousness of this Match hee represented to him that England once leagued with France by this Alliance there was hopes that they would joyn their Forces to assist the German Princes since it was yet more for the Interest of England then France to re-establish them which being so their powers would not onely ballance those of the house of Austria but overpoize them too with never so little assistance from those Princes That the happy successe which would follow would adde as much Glory to his Crown and State as discredit and confusion to his enemies Moreover that it being very expedient to curb the Insolencies of the Hugonots this marriage would be of great use as well because it would with-hold the King of Great Brittain from assisting them as also because it might be a means to procure shipping from him for the reducing of Rochel in short That there was great hopes to beleeve the Princess might much advance the Catholick Religion in England if as there was no doubt she were beloved by the King and the Prince her Husband So that of all sides there was nothing Prognosticated but great happinesse judging it requisite to use addresse and prudence for the speedy effecting of it The King did very wel relish the Consideration and thereupon commanding him to have a particular eye upon the Treaty his judgement which presently penetrates into affairs and quickneth expeditions did negotiate it with so ready a Conduct that he shortly brought it to such a passe that it might receive a Conclusion and that which I finde in it most to be admired is That the success hath shewed he was not mistaken in his conjecture England also did forthwith joyn with France to give means to Mansfield to enter with a puissant Army into Germany that he might attempt the re-establishment of the Palatine and the year following the King of Great Brittain sent ships to the King which helped him to gain a glorious Naval victory against those of Rochel The same effects had assuredly continued without the Intregues of Madam de Cheuruse without the ill conduct of some who accompanied the Princess and without the death of King James For his Majesty from that time shewed himself so affectionate to France that one day he openly said before divers Lords of the Court that the King had gained more upon him then any of his Predecessors and that he would not onely imploy his Subjects lives but his own too in defence of his interests and to oppose the Rebels who should attempt any Insurrections in France and lesse could not be expected from the Princess in the behalf of Religion if death had not prevented that Monarch from seeing the marriage consummated for the Passion which he had already in her behalf though he had never seen her was so sensible that he was heard say with a great deal of tenderness which was taken notice of amongst other discourse of the same nature That he would quarrel with her because she would not read his Letter nor that of the Prince his son without leave from the Queen her Mother but withall that he was much bound to her because after she had read them she laid his under her Pillow but his sons in her Bosome to shew that she did rely upon him and lodge his son in her heart Politick Observation ALliances with strangers by Marriages have passed amongst others for the Principal means which are thought proper to augment the Peace and Power of a Kingdome By them it is that we oâ—ten see those great fires of War which consumed them extinguished and the sweetness of a happy Peace restored to the people Thus Hugh the Earl of Câ—aâ—lins son by his Marriage with Alice Inheritrix of the Earldome of Bourgogn restored peace to both who had along time groaned under the miseries of War Thus those great enemies which exasperated the houses of Bourgogn and Orlâ—ance were allayed for some time by the Marriage of Philip Count de Vertus second son to the Duke of Orleance who had been slain by the Duke of Burgogn with Katharine of Burgogn And to re-inforce this truth with ancient examples Thus Argas King of Cyrene promised to bestow his onely daughter Beonice upon the son of his Brother Ptolomei whereby to obliterate the memory and resentment of the hatred which had been between them But Peace is not the onely benefit recorded to attend Marriages For how often have Princes inlarged theiâ— bounds by that means Who knows not that the House of Austria had not been thus Potent but by Alliances and that the marriage of Hetiâ—gis Inheritrix of Vltrich Burg Longravat and Alsace with Albertus sirnamed the Sage of Elizabeth Inheritrix of Austria Carintia Tyrol and Goricie with the Emperour Albertus the first of Jane Inheritrix of Castile Arragon Sâ—ciliâ— and Naples with Philip Arch-Duke of Austria of Anne Inheritrix of Hungaria and Bohemia with the Emperour Ferdinand the first brother to Charles the Fifth have been the true Rise of its Grandure which was inconsiderable
already made in respect of Religion the Princess and her servants and the Liberties of the English Catholiques and seeing that this new Oath was comprised too in some sort in the first Oath That there was sufficient provision made both in relation to Religion and Liberty of Conscience for her Domestiques and Children seeing they were to remain mayn with the Princess as well as the children which being so it would of nenessity follow that there could be no trouble brought on them in respect of their Religion He told him likewise that the King his Master being bound to his Holiness for the observation of those things which should be agreed to by the King of Great Brittain was an assurance not lesse valid then that of an heretique King That his Majesty had commanded him to supplicate his Holiness with all earnestness and not rest barely there but to tell him that his Holiness was the more obliged to grant him his request seeing he begged the confirmation of it rather out of respect then necessity seeing that several famous Doctors were of opinion that Catholiques in Heretiques Countries might freely contract Mariages without any dispense These were the chief reasons which the Sieur de Bethune represented to his Holiness and likewise to the Cardinals who were deputed in the businesse of the dispense They soon apprehended the Justice and importance of them and testified a great readinesse to do that which was desired of them The Pope sent word to the Cardinals that they should give a quick dispatch to the business that he desired to give the King all the satisfaction he could wish for both that he might acknowledg those great benefits which his Majesty had procured to the Church as also because he knew there could not any other thing be desired from those of England Accordingly they met together and concluded on it as the King desired and dispatched it with a great deal of diligence to the Nontio that it might be delivered to the King who as quickly gave intelligence of it to the King of Great Britain Politick Observation JT is not ever expedient in a design to propose the utmost advantage it being sometimes necessary to leave a little to be hoped for from time No Affair can oblige to the making of Resolutions contrary to honour and justice but several things may intervene to obstruct the effecting of all that might conduce to the good of a great Enterprize He who doth not take this truth for a rule in his Conduct will be subject to commit great faults and will in it Proclaim aloud to the World That he is ignorant of the many difference between Gods and Mans Will he doing whatsoever best pleases him but the latter is obliged to necessities and bound to proportionate his resolution according to the Possibility of things Thus though it be allowed such men on whom the dispatch of Affairs dispends to raise up some scruples and difficulties whereby to enhance the price and esteem of the thing doing it being usual with most men little to regard those Offices which are granted with ease yet when it is once evident that the present time and conjuncture of Affairs will not consist with the longer denial of what is desired from them they then ought to comply and apply themselves to the effecting of it For what refuse they shall afterwards make will appear rather to proceed from a spirit of contradiction then that of Prudence The death of James King of Great Brittain and the Mariage between the Prince of Wals his Son and the Madam Henrietta Maria of France DUring the negotiation for the dispense King James of Great Brittain fell very sick at Theobalds twelve miles distant from London After he had passed over three weekes with a Tertian Ague which weakned him exceedingly much he caused the Prince of Wals his Son to come unto him and discoursed to him with a great deale of reason and recommended to him those Officers who had faithfully served him But especially his little grand children the Infants of the Electrix Palatine his daughter encouraging him to make use of that power which he should leave him for the re-establishing of them in their Fathers Dominions and then finding himself declining into his Agony he gave him his blessing wishing him a happy prosperous and successful enjoyment of those Kingdoms which he should shortly leave to him About the end of March he died at which instant the Heralds according to the custom of England proclaymd the Prince of Wals King of Great Britain who presently took the ordering of all affairs upon him He having a great desire to be married the first thing he did was to dispatch full power to the Duke de Chevreuse to betroth and espouse the Princess in his name The King too desired to see an end of the businesse so that upon the first arrival of that power the execution of it was no longer deferred The Betrothments were made in the Lovre on the eight of May in the presence of the King the Queens all the Princes and great Lords of the Court by the Cardinal de la Rochfaucaud who likewise celebrated the Marriage Ceremonies on the Sunday following being the eleventh of May in the Church of Nostre Dame in the quality of Great Almoner I shall not need to relate with what magnificence these things were done only I shall say nothing was omitted The Espousals were made upon a Theater raised for the purpose over the great door of the Church Then the Masse was said with great Ceremony where the King and three Queens were assistants Though the Duke of Chevreuse and the Extraordinary Ambassadors of England were not there who after they had wayted on his Majesty to the door of the Quier retyred to the Arch-Bishops Pallace during the Masse as representing the King of Englands Person who was of a different Religion but they went again to receive his Majesty at the same door as soon as Masse was ended and to wayt on him to the Arch-Bishops hall where the King dined with the Queens his Mother his Wife and his Sister the Duke of Chevreuse the Earles of Carlisle and Holland the Ladies Dutchesses of Guise Elboeuf and of Chevreuse with the most magnificencies that the best versed in Royal Ceremonies could invent There were Bonfiers made all the while throughout Paris and the Cannons made such a noyse as if Heaven and Earth would have come together The Duke of Buckingham is commanded by the King of Great Brittain to go over into France and to conduct the Queen his Wife over to him THese things thus past the Duke of Buckingham the King of Great Britains favorite was commanded to go into France to desire the King that the Queen his Wife might set out from the Court assoon as might be to come to him He arrived at Paris about the end of May and during that little stay which he made he was entertained with all imaginable Magnificency
their respective Commands put the English to the Rout Their Horse were all lost in the maâ—n their Cornet and 24. Colours and four Cannon were taken The French did nothing but kill and slay in so much that there lay above six hundred dead upon the place besides what were drowned in the Sea Divers of their Collonels Gentlement of quality and above one hundred and fifty Officers of all sorts were killed above three thousand Arms taken in the field and above fifteen hundred Souldiers laden with their Spoyles Thus the Marshal de Schomberg in the same day landed saw the siedge raised and beat his Enemies It is reported that the English had at their first setting foot on the Island at least seven thousand men and that a recruit of three thousand came afterwards to them but they carried off only eighteen hundred the rest being either dead with sickness or killed and of them too the greatest part dyed soon after their return to England by reason of the discommodities they there suffered Politique Observation JOhn James Triuulae Marshal of France saith it is a great imprudence to give Battaile in a man 's own Country if not invited to it by some great advantage or forced by necessity He who adventureth to do it runs no lesse hazard then the losse of his Kingdome Darius saw himself despoyled of his Kingdome by being guided by his Courage and fighting a Pitch Battaile with Alexander He might well have harraised him with his Horse on many occasions as the Partheans did the Romans whereas being eager to meet him in the field and fearing least he would return into his own Country and not be fought with he made after him to give him Battaile Alexander seeing him near at hand assaulted him and reduced him to that deplorable condition as is not unknown by History to every one Fabius was wiser then so he was contented only to follow Hanibals Army and to pull him down in divers conflicts and by the great Inconveniences which an Army endureth when it passeth through an enemies Country destitute of Towns to refresh them and where they meet with resistances on every hand By these delayes he discomfited Hanibal without endangering his Souldiers lives a thing very considerable among the Romans who thought it a greater Honour to wear the Civique-Crown bestowed on those who had saved any Citizens life then that which is called Muralis given to them who had first scaled the Walls of their Enemies or the naval Crown granted to such as had done some notable exploit at Sea hence Guiccardiâ— tells us there is no victory more beneficial or glorious then that which is obtained without hazarding the bloud and lives of the Souldiers when an Enemy hath entred upon a State he is sufficiently beaten and overcome with Glory and Honour if he be only wearied out and tyred so that he have but little mind to return a second time In fine the Title of victory and the Honour of a Battail doth not appertain to him who killeth most enemies or taketh most Prisoners but to him who obtains the end of his design Which made Don Alphonso King of Naples say When he was provoked by Monsieur d' Anjou to give him Battail That it was the part of a Captain to overcome and not to fight Philip de Valois fought a pitcht Battail with the English at Cressy but he was overcome King John confiding in his Forces chose rather to give the same English Battail near Poictiers then to vanquish them by famine and those other Incommodities which an Army undergoeth in a strange Country but he was taken and died a prisoner Charles the fifth following the advice of Fabius would never be drawn to hazard a Battail with them but deprived them of all provisions and by that means took all Guyenne over their heads and made himself Master of most of the Duke of Bretaigns Chief Citties Prosecution of the Subject THE English were hard put to it in the Marisb so that divers of them were taken prisoners and amongst others my Lord Mountjoy the Earle of Hollands Brother Gray Livetenant of the Artillery The General of the Horse thirty five Captains and Officers twelve Gentlemen and one hundred or sixscore Souldiers but they served for an object of the Kings Bounty and Clemency For hearing many of them were strip'd he caused them to be cloathed and shortly after causing the chief of them to be brought to him he paid down their ransomes to those who had taken them sent them on their words to the Queen of England Commanding de Meau to present them to her with this assurance that it was only for her sake he had given them their Freedoms nothing could be more noble and the Cardinal had no small share in it But it was an usage much different from that of the English towards the French whom they had taken in divers encounters For the English would not stick to deny them meat for money some of whom assured his Majesty that in case My Lord Mountjoy and some others had not been taken themselves had been starved to death He was by others informed that they had seen the English throw some Prisoners into the water whom they so tyed that they could not save themselves by swimming Indeed his Majesties Civil treatment of the English engaged the King of England to deal better with the French for presently after they were more courteously entertained and so returned into France Politick Observation IT is no little Glory to treat Prisoners of War with civility either by testifying a sence of compassion for the condition whereunto they are reduced or by doing them all the good Offices they might expect It as a mark of true generousness in a Prince and that which sets off his Glory and Clemency with Luster and Splendor the two best flowers in his Crown He ought to remember himself to be Gods Image here on Earth and that as nothing is more essential to God then Bounty so likewise his Glory can never appear more Illustrious them by conferring favours on them who are taken in fight by the Chance of War It is reported that Cleomens being asked what a good King ought to do answered that he must do no good for his friends and all the mischief he could to his Enemies But Aristo answered him with much reason that it was much more commendable to do good not only to friends but even to Enemies For by that means a King makes himself beloved by all the World It is no small advantage to be esteemed merciful to the conquered Plato gives a good reason for it for saith he it doth encrease the Souldiers Courage for admitting their Enemies should take them yet they were obliged not to deal harshly with them Besides Prisoners do become so sencible of those kindneses which are heaped on them that they often are the Instruments of Peace Lewis the Eleventh found it so when as he kindly entertained the Sâ—igâ—eor
of being more faithful to their own Grandeur then to their Allyes As for those Princes whose inclinations carry them to believe the promises of others for Truths and are not in league with this same diffidence they are not to be discomended for it onely I would advise them so to stand on their Guards as if no such promises had been made at all Prosecution of the Subject HIS Majesty being come neer to Privas took up his Quarter in a House where he might both see the Town and his whole Army within a few houres of his arrival he commanded the Marquis d'Vxelles to go view the place and its fortifications He went out accordingly but perchance too well accompanied for his safty for the inhabitants of the Town shooting out upon them he was wounded by a Musquet of which he dyed within four or five dayes But at last the place having been viewed his Majesties Army began to take up their Quarters and after a hot sketmish the Inhabitants were beaten out of the suburbs within the Precinses of their Town Walls The Peace with England had been concluded and signed at Suze but not as yet sworn so his Majesty thought good to the intent he might dispossess them of all hopes from that part to cause it to be read a loud unto them at such a distance that they might easily see and hear the publication of it They were not a little surprised at it but that which more troubled them was they saw two Batteries raised in an Instant which so belaboured their Walls that in two dayes there was a breach made at which very time the Cardinal arrived from Suze who concluding the breach was sufficient it was resolved to give an assault All the Army was very resolute and high every one wishing it might be his good luck to fall on where most danger was that he might curb the Insolence of those rebellious Heretiques The assault was begun about eight at night and lasted until ten at which time the Regiment de Falsbourg entered the Quarter where they fell on and those of Champagne and Piedmont became Masters of Fort Saint André and Tourlon The Inhabitants fought more like mad men then any thing else so that the whole Town could not be carried at this bout yet the taking of those places strook such a terrour into the City that the next morning not a man durst appear though Montbrun the Governor commanded them to follow him every one flying for his own safety and Sainct André himself trying to make his peace The Cardinal thinking it just for the terrour of others and for the punishing of a great many that some ought to pay their lives for their Rebellious Insolencies would not admit of them but upon condition to surrender themselves to his Majesties Mercy This redoubled their Fears who were in the City and made many of them to get out some here some there amongst the Mountains who being met with by the Souldiers were all put to the Sword His Majesty having notice of what disorder was in the City Commanded the Sieur de Gordes and the Marquis d' â—ssiat to go into the Town under pretence of speaking with the Sieur de Sainct André who had sent unto the Sieur de Gordes to desire him to make his peace but in effect it was only to discover if the place were so deserted as had been informed They marched up to the Gate and finding no resistance took some more with them went in and soon became Masters of the whole Town which was presently given to the Souldiers to pillage Thence they passed up to the Castle and the Souldier whom they sent telling who he was and his business The Sieur de Sainct André came presently out unto them but could not be perswaded at first to yeild unto his Majesties mercy but stood very resolutely upon Quarter for his own life and theirs who were with him but at last being told once and again that there was no other way to save himself and seeing the Town entred and given to be pillaged he conseâ—ted and went to the door of his Majesties lodging where the Guards seized on him and by his Majesties order carried him to Bassompiere and Marillac to be by them lead in the head of the Regiment des Gardes before the Castle Gate to summon them this last time to surrender unto his Majesties mercy which was done accordingly and they forthwith yeilded But being just upon coming forth some amongst them set fire on a Barrel of powder which killed several of his Majesties Souldiers so incensed the rest that they slew all they could lay hands on The rest in stead of comming forth quietly as had been promised that they might be conducted to his Majesties feet ran away some this way and some that way and others leaped over the very Walls insomuch that it was with much a do that any of them had their lives saved But besides all this as if Heaven had not yet been satisfied for their Insolencies and Rebellions the fire kindled over all the Town on a sodain neither could the Author be discovered nor the fire extinguished until the Town was quite consumed to ashes notwithstanding his Majesties care and Command to save the Churches or at least some Houses which might serve for a Church Politique Observation IT is no lesse just then prudent to chastise one for exemples sake amongst many be they either men or Cities engaged in a Rebellion together The Insolency of them who hold out a Town against their Soveraign obligeth him to be deaf to all their last entreaties which they only fly unto when all other hopes have left them If his Clemency hath been ineffectual to reclaim them he is then obliged to let the Arme of his Justice thunder upon them to punish their insolent fuâ—y and rashness If love cannot force them to ease their Rebellion nothing but fear can then make them lay down their Weapons And indeed upon whom can a King with more Justice excercise the rigour of his Arms than upon his Rebellious subjects who by their Insolencies have rendered themselves unworthy of his Mercy He ought but seldome to employ his Revenge but unlesse he do on such an occasion as this he will quickly find his whole Authority trampled under foot He who accustometh himself in his usual Actions to violence cannot avoid being hated by all men which will in fine be his ruine And he who in Rebellions shall totally neglect it will soon be scorned by all men and that will ruine him on the other hand Princes who endeavour to make themselves be feared ought not to be discommended but only when they do it by undue wayes Man being free oughâ— to be govern'd by sweetness but if his passion shall transport him to abuse his Liberty he must be reduced by the severity of Justice to his duty The Horse who is only used to walk and never put to any swifter motion may be