with the Prince of Piedmont upon the Bridge of Beauvoisin there to determine what should be done designing that this interview should entertain them with specious hopes and so prevent their absolute breach with him and seizure on the Passages by force of Arms. The Cardinal very well knew there was nothing to be thought on but to be done that was to open the Passages and furnish the Markets as it had been resolved on so that after a full debate with himself what honour he was bound to render to this Prince being the Kings Brother-in-law he concluded that in going to confer with him who had falsified his word and intended nothing but to surprize him he should do an act quite contrary to the Kings Majesties Grandeur who had done him the honour to make him Lievtenant of his Army so that he absolutely declined this meeting as well knowing that the Duke of Savoy's design in it was to amuse and delay the Army in their march and by this means to disperse and bring them by little and little to nothing so the Cardinal advanced to Embrun not being willing to come near Suze lest in case the Army should want rest they should there meet with many inconveniences and eat out all their store of Provisions Politique Observation IT cannot be denied but that it is a basenesse in a General to go meet him who hath broke his word and who designs in his interview nothing more then the losse of his Army If he will needs go meet him let it be with his sword in his hand to chastise him for the injuries he hath done I am of the same opinion with the Grand Cosmo de Medicis who said a man may forgive his enemies their faults but its fit to punish the offences of such as call themselves our friends and under that notion betray us But if a King or he who represents his person do not desire satisfaction or to revenge the injuries which are offered unto them yet it would be ignominious to go meet and confer with a Prince who aims at nothing but his own interest and advantage This were to be defective both in the Rules of Prudence and Valour Besides those conferences of face to face between incensed Princes do rather increase their hatred then breed any hearty good will between them and of this Plutarch hath well adjudged upon that conference between Pompey and Lucullus And Tacitus in his Annales upon the meeting between Germanicus and Pison It 's true the place design'd by the Duke of Savoy was proper enough and such as hath been sometimes used between Princes and great Commanders who have chosen to meet upon Bridges in the middest of which Rails and Barriers have been set up to prevent any attempts of either party And thus Lewis the Eleventh met Edward King of England as Philip de Commines hath it upon the Bridge of Pequinis But the same Historian doth much dis-approve of such meetings between Princes in the midst of their discontents and esteemeth it more to the Purpose that they should refer the accommodation of such mis-understandings to their Officers and Ministers of State who have not resented any offence done to their private and particular persons The Duke of Savoy's Artifices discovered by the Cardinal of Richelieu BY this refusal of the Cardinal the Duke of Savoy concluded that all his designs were discovered and misdoubting that a just punishment would follow he had another trick to take to which was he granted the Passages and Marts but in such places as were accessible by none but Bears and if those were not approved of he promised others but with this reserved resolution that he would so long delay the furnishing the Army with Victuals and other necessaries that in effect it should not passe at all The Cardinal whose Soul fore-sees the Effects in their Causes guessing he would flie to such tricks and shifts gave advice of it to the King His Majesties Orders soon came which were to accept of no other ways then those usually called the military it being impossible to lodge the Troops in any of the other Passages but most facile for his Majesties enemies if they had but as much power as they had ill will both to impede their march and indeed totally to ruine them So the Cardinal utterly refused any other ways the difference now was concerning the Markets which the Duke indeavoured to retard with all his might and main that the Imperialists and Spaniards might have time enough to fortifie themselves in their Passages and places of Mantua and Montferrat and that he might force the Army to break up either by mutiny or famine The Duke gave out that theâ—e was no Corn in Savoy though it was well known there had been great quantities brought thither from Bresse Dauphine and Bourgogne and that which the King sent from Nice had been likewise already received He demanded a greater rate too for Provisions then had been agreed on which however the Cardinal submitted to that he might take away all occasions of excuses and paid down the advance money Notwithstanding all this there were fifteen days spun out in which he had not provided one loaf for the whole Army creating every day new difficulties and in conclusion would open no other Passage but that of Candâ—n which in Summer was good enough but at that present so full of Boggs and Quagmires that they could not be passed but with very great danger so that all his whole proceeding for some time was nothing but a continued imposture and cheat that he might render his promises made to the King of opening the Passages and providing Victuals for the Souldiers ineffectual and to no purpose Politique Observation IT s usual amongst Princes who would deny any thing to their Allies rather to pretend an Impossibility or at least a most extraordinary difficulty then point blank to refuse them it must be granted for a prudent put off when such excuses are not contradictory to any promises formerly made which if they be they rather serve to condemn them of injustice If any great or notable losse insue as the destruction of an Army or the breaking a design it renders them for enemies and administers a good reason of commencing a War upon the Authors without breaking any Treaty He being reputed the first breaker of the Peace who gives the first occasion by his unjust Combinations and Practises not he who first takes up Arms. As Procope the Armenian Embassadour suggested to Cosroes King of Persia when he advised him to take up Arms against Justinian Indeed he who would serve himself with such excuses had need be well assured that he is the stronger for admitting him to be the weaker the punishment of his falsenesse will be unavoidable there being no one thing so difficult as for a weak and low person to attempt and enterprise the deceiving and crafty undermining of others who are more able and want neither
so that strangers had all the intelligence of their resolutions which they dis-appointed and obstructed before they were in a forwardness to be set on foot But this great Minister knowing secrecy to be the Soul of Counsel and that none are better then those which continue unknown even after the execution brought forth every day wonders effected by his Prudence of which the Grandees themselves had not so much as a thought Indeed it was so much the easier for him so to do his Majesty being the most secret Prince that ever was Formerly every one was impatient at the obstacles and delays of the Marquess de la Vieville whereas after his establishment all those who had any affairs to negotiate or represent for his Majesties service were over-joyed that they were to Treat with a Minister whose Countenance was a Throne of sweetness and bounty and whose words have so powerfull a Charm that they still went away satisfied what ever difficulties were proposed by them Besides they were constrained as it were to pay him all respects and the Gravity too which the Graces have bestowed upon him is so agreeable and taking that the respect which it begets in the soules of men never thwarts that love which is due unto him and that love doth not at all hinder them from fearing to displease him The ancient Allies of this Crown formerly left for a prey to their enemies began to be confident to him as soon as ever they had known him and finding that his Genius did not terminate in a meer defensive they betook them to their Arms not onely to oppose those unjust Usurpations which were made upon them but also to assault and set upon those who had began them In short as he never declared himself to be for any Faction but on the contrary shewed himself much averse to all Rebellions both the Grandees of the Kingdome and Hugonots too were not long to learn that it would become them for the future to live within the limits of their obedience And lastly not being able to away with any Mutiny he soon began to make them take some course of living which is the surest foundation of Peace in a Kingdome so that every one had the content to see France flourish both at home and abroad and to acquire its former lustre which hath alwaies made it acknowledged to be the first Kingdome of Europe The Marriage of the King of England with the Lady Henrietta Maria of France THe first considerable affair which presented it self after the Cardinals admittance to the Administration was the Marriage of the Lady Henrietta Maria his Majesties Sister with Charles Prince of Wales the present King of Great Brittain The Spaniard had a long time feared it would be made up knowing that if France and England were leagued together they would become so considerable as that they would without difficulty frustrate and bring all his designs to nothing so he indeavoured to hinder it by pretending a desire himself had to contract an Alliance with England and accordingly hee proposed to match his Infanta with the Prince of Wales giving some hopes by Paraquance that he would restore the Palatinate though he had as little mind to deliver it as the King of Great Brittain had earnest Passion to recover it He held on this Treaty at least twelve years yet finding every day new excuses to defer the conclusion of it But at last the King of Great Brittain detected his deceipt which had lain hid under those delays and found out that his design was onely to gain time untill all the daughters of France were married elsewhere at least he had great conjectures of it to clear all and bring it to a conclusion he thought good that the Prince of Wales should in person go into Spain Hee had not been there many dayes before it was known both to himself and those of his Counsel that they had been untill that time entertained with vain hopes however he would not make known his resentments in a strange Country where he might receive much damage by it but being return'd into England he informed King James his Father of it with so much anger that they resolved to break with him rather sooner then later to avoid exposing themselves to the dis-esteem which other Princes might have of their management of this affair and withall to countenance the breach by the Parliaments approbation This resolve was as soon executed as concluded and King James having summoned a Parliament at least to consult on a means for recovery of the Palatinate informed them of the many reasons which he had to beleeve that the Spaniards had no intention of concluding those Propositions of marriage which had been so long in Treaty that the onely end of their design was to gain time and to fortifie themselves in the Palatinate and so to settle themselves there that shortly it would be impossible to remove them thence and therefore hee thought it fit no longer to hearken after it The Parliament were induced with so much the more ease to beleeve these reasons they having testified on divers occasions their suspicions of the Spanish tricks and in conclusion thought good not to regard any more their Propositions of the Match But the King of Great Brittain stayed not long there for the Prince of Wales his son who had now good esteem of France and a liking for the Kings Sister whom he had seen as he passed thorough that Court without discovering himself had perswaded him to give him leave to seek for that Princess in marriage which was proposed in Parliament and carried without much difficulty for many reasons which were there alledged particularly That the French being accustomed to live with those of their Religion it was to be beleeved they would not make such extraordinary demands in behalf of the Catholicks as the Spaniard would have done It was then resolved to dispatch an Ambassadour into France who might lay the first foundation of that Treaty so that the King forthwith made choice of the Earls of Carlisle and Holland The latter set forward about Mid-May He had order first to wait on the King alone and to pretend the interests of the Palatinate but indeed to discover how they would resent his Proposal and if rejected not to make any more noise of it accordingly hee met his Majesty and Compiegne he began to consider about means to recover the Palatinate and then acquainted him with a great deal of dexterity that the King his Master desired his Son the Prince of Wales might marry his sister The King who understoood that Proposals of this nature how remote soever ought not to be received but with honour testified that he had a great esteem of it and forthwith debated it with his Ministers to give him an answer it was concluded That this Match was very convenient for the Quality of his Majesties Sister That in the whole Empire there was not any more hopefull
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
at that time they had no other honour but that of being issued from the County of Abspurg in Switzerland Besides Princes allyed by marriage commonly joyning their Forces together do not a little help to defend one another upon an occasion and even to favour those enterprizes which either of them shal make to increase their power Lewis the second well knew how to break off the Match between Charles Duke of Burgogn with Margaret daughter to Richard Duke of York and Sister to Edward King of Enâ—lâ—nd which would have joyned the English Forces with those of Bâ—rgogn by demanding that Princess for Charles his brother though he had no intention to marry him to her he being too too prudent to match a Brother so inclinable to Rebellion with an enemy so Potent as she was It is true if the Aliance of France with England was then thought to be disadvantagious to the good of France yet now that which may be concluded on with them is of so much the greater concernment because having nothing more to do then to ballance the house of Austria it could not gain a greater advantage in relation to that design then by this means for this being one of the powerfullest Kingdomes in Europe will turn the scales to that of the two Crowns with which it shall bee joyned in Alliance France cannot hope that England would upon any consideration of marriage whatsoever relinquish their own particular interests seeing Soveraigns have nothing which is dearer to them but it will have good reason to beleeve that it will never invade us unless provoked by honour or some great Consideration and on the contrary that they would assist us with a good will in such enterprizes where they could receive nothing but Glory After all Fâ—ance will have this benefit to hinder their being leagued with our enemies who joyned with them might much damage us and it is advantage enough to avoid those mischiefs which would follow if it were left undone and by that means to prevent the uniting of our enemies with them The Cardinal knew That that Minister who hath a care of the Church interest draws down a thousand blessings from Heaven upon the State Accordingly he did particularly imploy himself to get as much liberty as possibly he could in England The Earles of Carlisle and Holland came with confidence that there could not be any great strictness used in that particular but imagined as their Master did that the diversity of Religion which was in France would induce them not to be too earnest only of an Assurance that the Princess and those of her retinue should have free liberty to exercise that Religion whereof they made profession but the Cardinal quickly told them That the King his Master being more obliged by divers Considerations to procure greater advantages to the Church then the Spaniard they ought not to hope that he would be satisfied with less then they He represented to them that his Majesty being the eldest son of the Church and bearing the Title of the most Christian King would be much blamed if he proceeded upon other terms besides that this Alliance could not be concluded without the consent of the head of the Church That it would be ill received at Rome if it should be proposed there with conditions less favourabâ—e to the Catholicks then those which were granted to the Spaniards To which for the present the Embassadors replied That the King their Master had not procured the Parliaments consent for this Alliance with France and breaking off that with Spain but in consideration that they would not have been so strict in requiring so many favours in behalf of the Catholicks and withal that it was held there as a fundamental Law not to grant them any freedomes by reason of many great inconveniences which would in time happen to their State The Cardinal was not wanting to reply that he was well informed neither the King or Parliament were induced to break with the Spaniards untill they were convinced that their Treaty was onely feigned and that they had other designs then of giving the Infanta to the Prince of Wales and as for what related to the Peace of the State he answered that the liberty which was granted to the Catholicks could not trouble it seeing experience hath evidenced it on a thousand occasions that there is not any thing which doth more stir up People to Commotions then the restraint which is imposed upon the exercise of religion That that is it which incites people to shake off the yoke of their obedience and that never any thing but mis-fortunes have followed that Prince who would force men in that beleef which they had a long time imbraced That in truth Religion might by fire and sword be destroyed and rooted out before it be fully setled in the soul but after that it will be so far from being changeable by force that rather on the contrary violence will but ferment and fix it so much the more because those things are more difficult then the care which ought to be had for their conservation That in effect this Maxime was verified in France where the liberty which was granted to the Hugonots by the Edict of Peace had converted a far greater number then all the rigours of punishment and war These reasons were so strong that the English Embassadours found themselves unable to answer any thing against it But it was not sufficient to perswade them the King of Great Brittains consent was needfull It cannot be denied but there were great hopes of obtaining it considering his particular inclination he himself being well disposed to be converted and that he was also satisfied in Conscience concerning the principal difficulties in the Catholick Beleef and had permitted the Arch-Bishop of Ambrun sent at his intreaty by the King to sound him upon some other points to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to above twenty thousand Catholicks in London indeed it was apprehended a little hazardous lest the Parliament should not consent to it they having a great power in the resolution of affairs This difficulty induced the King after the Cardinal had informed him of it to send the Marquess de Effiat into England in the quality of an extraordinary Embassadour to negotiate all the affairs which related to the marriage In his instructions were particular orders to indeavour to perswade his Majesty of Great Brittain to like well of those reasons which the Cardinal had imparted to his Embassadour and moreover to tell him in particular that considering the Parliament was composed of Protestants and Puritans he ought to suspect them on this occasion that himself being party against them there was no apparence of any reason to delay that which concerned the Catholicks Interest Moreover that it was dangerous for a Soveraign to use violence towards his subjects in matter of Religion seeing that it teacheth to despise life and who so despiseth his own life is master of
her usuall residence there That the King of Great Britain should be obliged to treat her and her Family with that Port which was fit for one of her quality that there should be fifty thousand crowns in Jewels presented to her by the King of Great Britain as a marriage favour which should remain to her and hers as well as those which she then had as also such as she should have in future That she should have the free disposal of Benefices and Offices in those lands which should be given her in Dower and that one of those lands should be a Dutchie or an Earldome that it should be lawfull for her in her Widdow-hood to return into France whether she had children or not that in case she should return the King of Great Brittain should conduct her at his own proper charges to Callis with such honour as should be fit for one of her quality That her house should be furnished with such dignity and should be filled with as many Officers as any Princess yet had or as had been accorded to the Infanta of Spain upon the late Treaty which had been proposed Briefly that for the assurance of these conditions he of the two Kings who should be deficient to accomplish what belongeth on his part to do should be bound to pay four hundred thousand crowns to the other as a penalty for breach of them This was as much security as could be had for the present but one thing is not to be forgotten which was that all the Treaty all the promises given and taken and all the Acts which were concluded on passed in the Kings name as the Person to whom the marrying of the Princesses of the Bloud did really appertain and which he might do according to his own pleasure and upon such conditions as he should think fit whereas they are onely concern'd to give their consents both to the Persons and Articles which are resolved on Custome may raise obstacles against marriages and make them void if there bee any defect of following the usual order which is prescribed The Popes have found by the Canon Law that they have this Power Particularly Alexander the third who when a Bishop asked him the Question whether Marriage between the Children of two Gossips were allowable answered him yes in case the custome of the Country did permit it But I shall say moreover that the same Pope hath declared that there might be such Customes in France which might annull marriages though on the other side those of Rome may license them According to that answer which was made to the Bishop of Amiers who desiring to know if a marriage made with a Eunuch were good was answered that the general custome of the French Church was to dissolve it and he was contented so to permit it though the Roman Church used the contrary It is the Custome of France that no Princesses or Ladies of great quality whose marriages may be of concern to the State may marry but by and with the Kings order and consent The second Race of our Kings furnisheth us with an example very remarkable in the marriage of Judeth Widdow of Edmulph King of England who being married without the consent of Charles the Bauld with Bauldwin grand Forrestier and afterwards first Earl of Flanders he declared the said marriage to be nul by the Prelates Clergy of France assembled at Senlis though she were at her own disposal by her first marriage and royalty though Pope Nicholas the first would have pickt a quarrel at it and have confirmed it Some one perchance not well informed may suppose that this Pope wanted courage but there is no reason for it seeing he had spirit enough to excommunicate Lotharius for marrying a second wife leaving his first though his Clergy at Merz and Calogue did favour him to constrain him to quit his last Wife and to receive his first as also to dispossess two Bishops who had Abetted the disorder the true reason is he knew that the Custome of France did not permit Judith to re-marry without the Kings consent The third Race affords us another proof reported by a Historian who deserves so much the rather to be credited he being generally known for one of the enemies of France It was the marriage contracted by Proxy between Maximilian and Anne of Brittain It 's true it was not consummated as that of Judith was but because it was concluded without the consent of Charles the Eighth one of our Kings His Majesty making use of his Power declared it Null by reason of that default In fine it was allowed for naught and both parties remained Free Maximilian afterwards marrying Margaret of Milan and Charles the Eighth married the same Anne of Brittain and no one doubted the validity of either of the marriages If these examples evince to us the Antiquity of this Custome and how the Church hath allowed of it we cannot suspect or doubt but that they are grounded upon just reasons seeing the marriages of persons of such quality are of great importance to the State and ordinarily are the originals of Peace or War and serve for a Stair-Case to such who aspiring higher then they ought raise enterprizes against the Soveraignty as Cornelius Tacitus hath observed it doth therefore rest safely to bee concluded on that the Princesses of France cannot lawfully marry without the Kings consent So that neither men or women who have had them in their possession did never make a difficulty to promise either by Oath or any other assurance that they would not contract them in any marriage without their consents and approbation Philippes Auguste took security of Mahaut Countess of Flanders that if it should happen that she and Eude the third Duke of Burgogn should separate she should not re-marry without permission Philip Earl of Namur promised the same King that he would not marry Jane or Margaret of Flanders his Neeces whose Guardian he was without his consent Jane Countess of Flanders promised by a particular instrument unto St. Lewis the King that she would not marry with Simon de Montfort but with his allowance Jane daughter to Philip of Burgogn being delivered to King John by the Treaty between him and the Earl of Savoy amongst other things it was then concluded that she should be married where his Majesty should think fitâ—â— provided it were not to the Daupâ—ine his eldest son And Francis Duke of Brittain ingaged by a Treaty with Charles the Eight not to marry either of his two daughters without his advise under the penal forfeiture of two hundred thousand crowns of Gold and for the greater security he bound unto him the principallest Towns in his whole Dutchee The Deputation of Father Berule to his Holiness to obtain a Dispensation for the above-mentioned Marriage THe respect wherewith the King had ever honoured the Holy Father made him resolve with the English Embassadours in the first Article of the Treaty That in
consideration of that diversity of Religion between the Princess and the Prince of Wales his Majesty should send to his Holiness to procure a Dispensation before the Marriage were effected to obtain the said Dispensation the Cardinal proposed to the King to send Father Berule Superior General of the fathers of the Oratory and to commit the charge of it to him as a person capable of such a negotiation and whose Piety which amongst the People is extreamly recommendable might take off all shadows or apparencies which the weakness of their senses or the malice of the Spaniards might raise abroad concerning it It should seem he did fore-see that Fury wherewith the Spanish Partisans writ against this marriage So angry they were that they had not prevented it not reflecting that for eleven whole years they had testified to the world that they would have done the self-same thing But that I may not be hindred by those outragious speeches which proceeded from those spirits puft up with Ambition who then began to discover that France had a Minister capable to countermine them and to oppose their unjust designs I shall inform you that the instruction which was give to Father Berule was to go to Rome with all diligence and to obtain the Dispensation from the Pope to which purpose he was to represent to his Holiness That the King of Great Brittain having demanded the Princess Henrietta Maria the Kings Sister in marriage for the Prince of Wales his son his Majesty was the more inclinable to hearken to the Proposition because hee looked upon it as a probable means to convert the English as heretofore a French Princess married into England had induced them to imbrace Christianity But that the Honour which hee owed to the Holy Chair and in particular to his Sanctity who had formerly held him at the Font of Baptism in the name of Pope Clement the Eighth had not permitted him to conclude upon the Treaty before the obtainment of his Dispensation That this Marriage ought to be regarded for the Interest not onely of the Catholicks in England but of all Christendome who would receive great advantages by it that there is not any thing of hazard for the Princesse seeing she is as firm as could be desired both in the Faith aâ—â— Piety That she should have a Bishopâ— and eight and twenty Priests to do all Offices That she should have none but Catholicks in her Houshold That the King of Great Brittain and the Prince of Wales would oblige themselves by Writing and Oath not to solicite her directly or indirectly neither by themselves or any other persons to change her Religion Moreover that there being nothing to be feared in relation to the Princesse there were great hopes that she might be intirely beloved by the King who was well disposed already to become a Catholick and by the Prince of Wales That shee might the more contribute to their conversion in regard that women have very great power over their Husbands and Father-in-Laws when Love hath gotten any power in their affections That for her part she was so zealous in Religion that there was no doubt but she would employ her utmost industry in so pious a design That admitting God should not succeed her iâ—tentions either upon King James or the Prince of Wales there were hopes her Children might become restorers of that Faith which their Ancestors had destroyed seeing she had the education and bringing of them up in the belief and exercise of the Catholique Religion until they were thirteen years old and that their first seeds of Piety having being instilled into their souls and cultivated with carefulnesse when they became capable of good Instructions might infallibly produce stable and permanent Fruits that is so strong a Faith as might not be shaken by Heresie in a riper age And after all That the Catholiques of England would forthwith receive great advantages by it seeing both the King of Great Britain and the Prince of Wales his Son would oblige themselves by worâ— and deed not to hunt them out or when they were discovered to punish them To free out of Prison all such as were layed up to restore them their Monies and Goods which had been forced from them after the last Act if they were possible to be had and generally to treat them with more favour than if the Treaty with Spain had gone on Lastly he had order to inform the Pope that to render a greater respect to the Church he had conditioned that the Princess should be affianced and contracted according to the Catholique form like that which was observed they Charlâ—s the Ninth in the Mariage of Margarice of France with the late King Henry the Fourth then King of Navarr These things spoke in their own behalf and were so eminently visible that no doubt could be made of them The Father Berule too wanted neither Ability nor Good-will but represented them to his Holyness with such dexterity that his Sanctity gave him hopes of a favourable answer 'T is true the Pope would not grant him a dispence without conferring with the Cardinals that he might give no jealousie to Spain who had been dealt with in the very same manner when they desired a Dispensation for the Inâ—anca but they were of his own naming and such as no one could think were more subject to Passion than Justice So they met divers times about it and though it were with the ordinary delayes of the Court at Rome without which they esteem no affair can be discussed and judged with Prudence or Majesty enough yet in sine they referred the expediting of the Dispensation to the Popes pleasure All that was cross in the business was barely this Father Borielâ— being naturally addicted to refine all things was perswaded that there had not been assurances strong enough obtained from the English for the securing and hindring the placing of Protestant Officers over the Princesses children the solicitation of Officers to change their Religion the continuation of forcing English Catholiques to take Oaths of Abjuration against the Catholique Religion and the holy See though indeed it had been expresly concluded and agreed on That the King of England and Prince of Wâ—lâ—s should engage both by Writing and Oath not to enforce them any more However this induced both the Pope and Cardinals to think fit not acquainting the â—ieurâ—dâ— Bethune with it though the Cardinals Prudence had tyed up the said Father Bâ—rulâ— in his Instructions not to doe any thing without him to oblige the King in the Instrument of Dupensation to procure from the King of Great Britain new assurances in these parcicuâ—ars So that he following his own sense and specious reasons upon which he relyed his Holyness dispatched him upon those conditions and sent him back to the King with all diligence Politique Observations IF Piety prohibit Ministers to doe things contrary to Religion Prudence obligeth them to referre the management of affairs to Persons who
whom assistance may be had and who if they should slip their necks out of the Collar might not do us any displeasure in it They are very necessary with the neighbouring Princes upon a place which is designed to be assaulted either in relation to Passages or in respect of having from them Ammunitions both of War and necessary victuals as there shall be occasion Hannibal knew this full well when as he was upon his expedition into Italy and made a League with the French and Spaniard he took Hostages of them and for better assurance left Garisons in many of their strong Holds The Romans did the same when they made war upon the Lacedemonians by making a League with Ptolomy King of Egypt without whose assistance that would have had somewhat to do to have passed on Besides when there is cause of suspicion of their fidelity it is necessary either to take some Persons or Places of them by way of Hostage to the end that their interest to perserve them may compel them to continue firm in their first resolutions If many of our Kings who have made expedition into Italy had taken such a course as this were it onely in point of Passages we had not seen them exposed to so many dangers nor indeed to so many disgraces yet in case by their receding they cannot cause any great incoveniences there will not then be so absolute a necessity of such security and assurances However as it ought to be taken for granted that they will start aside in case the enemy give them satisfaction to their interests so there ought still to bee Forces ready which may clap in upon them and supply their deficiencies It is a trouble to see them break their words yet a Prince shall reap this profit from a League to make it serve to give a happy beginning to an enterprise by means of such assisting forces as may be drawn from it and by dividing expence between them which else must be undergone by one alone It will not be presently fit to defie them for that would be a means to make them take to the other part but it will be needfull to have an eye upon it and to be prepared for the worst Moreover it is profitable to make Leagues not onely with States but with Princes and their Successors and to contract them with greater certainty then Edward the fourth King of England did who having recourse to one of our Kings after he had been despoyled of his Kingdome had not other answer but that the League was made with the King of England and his State and that he being no longer King of England France could not without breaking the Laws of Alliances imploy their Arms against him who was present Master of the Crown To be short it is good to be carefull that the divers constructions which may be made may not serve for a pretext for them who would fall off There must not be so much as the least starting hole left for them to creep out or to break their words especially if they make any accompt of their reputation which is inseparable from their fidelity for without that they will perchance hardly resolve to run Counter The Marquess de Coevures takes the Field to make himself Master of the Forts in the Valtoline AT the same time that the Kings orders were delivered to the Marquess de Coevures he received a dispatch from the Sieur de Bethune which told him that he despaired of getting any reason from the enemy by those ways which he had till then tried so that now he must have recourse to Nostre Dame de Frappe Fort who as soon as he had received this piece of Rallary he resolved forthwith to take the field concluding there was no reason any longer to defer it and that if he could surprize the places unexpectedly without giving them leave to provide themselves he should strike a great stroke in the businesse without any great trouble He had long before given order to 3 Swiss and 3 Grisons Collonels to raise each of them a Regiment of a 1000 men so that he had nothing else to do but to send them word to be ready on the other side the Residents of Venice and Savoy being come to him they had agreed upon all things together The Sieur de Mesnil had order to make a Magazine of Ammunition at Zurich for the Swisses and Grisons forces and the Resident of Venice undertook that the Common-wealth should make another at Bergamo for such forces as should march into the Republick that which was most troublesome was there being a necessity of discovering the design to several persons it would be impossible to keep it from being known and to hide their intentions of the time when they would enter upon the Valtoline The Popes Nuntio called Scapy and the Marquesse d' Ogliani the Spanish Embassadour had notice of it who made strong indeavours to pervent any Levies amongst the Swisses or the marching of any Troops which the King should send but all would not serve the Levy could not be obstructed for the Cantons of Berne and Zurich where they were to be made had given too particular an assurance of it by means of the money and the promises which were made them that they should be seconded with a puissant succour against any who should attempt any thing against them upon that accompt But their Contrivances and Cabals were so powerfull that the Catholick Cantons resolved to stop their Passages upon them so the Marquesse was forced to his shifts that his Majesties Commands might not be ineffectual His remedy was to cause his Horse to march four by four that is all such as were sent him from Bresse and to secure the Canton of Bern for the conduct of Vaubecourt's Regiment seeming after he was once entred as if he would force his way either by Fair or Foul means to the Grisons It was enough that these Cantons were by several Treaties bound to open their Passages to his Majesties Forces upon so just an occasion as this was and it made no great matter whether they refused it or not seeing if they should they might be forced to it without breaking the Laws of Equity Thus he being well informed of the resolution which the Nuntio and the Marquess de Ogliani had induced them to take resolved not to demand it untill he were upon the very point of passing because they should be better advised then to deny him when they find him in a condition not to be hindred they not having the least time to prepare themselves against it All things being thus in a readinesse for the beginning of the design he sent the Sieur de Lande to Zurich to discourse with the chief of the banished Grisons and to perswade them to rise and then he commanded the Sieur de Harcourt Marshal of the Field and the Sieur du Lande to joyn with Collonel Salis to enter into the Grisons to seize
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
for the Country where they live so that they do not heartily embrace the Interests of it and in case a war should break out none would be so ready as they to entertain intelligence and give advices to the enemies They are also easily provoked against the natural inhabitants of the Country upon any suspition that they are lesse esteemed by them then others which induceth them to stick close together and to raise Factions against the State withal their bodies may not be punished though there be some kind of reason for it least they should generally resent it and raise up a thousand Broyles These are the chief reasons why it is impossible to preserve a Family of Officers Strangers in a Queens Court This was it which did oblige those of Sparta as Xenophon reporteth it not to suffer any strangers to live in their Commonwealth which made the Athenians take the same resolution as Plutarch observeth in the life of Pericles and which made Suetonius commend Augustus that he would rarely grant to any the being free or naturals of his Kingdome and which induced Polydore Virgil to say in his History of England That it was not the custome of English to admit of many strangers amongst them least the difference of their customes and fashions might cause them not to live in a good intelligence with the natives of the Country The King sends the Marshal de Bassompierre into England THe Queen Mother having been acquainted with the disorder which had hapened in the Queen of Englands Family first sent the Sieur de Barre to her to testifie to her that she was sorry for her and took part in her discontents and shortly after there being no reason to put up such an injurie the Cardinal advised his Majesty to dispatch the Marshal de Bassompierre as extraordinary Ambassador to the King of England for a redresse in the business Amongst divers others he was more particularly made choise of for that employment because there had been many of his near kindred retained near the Queen who were now all sent back again So that it was thought considering the near Interest of his family that he would be the more zealously affectionate in dispatching such instructions as should from time to time be sent to him He was but coldly entertained in England because audience had been denied to the Lord Montague who was sent into France upon the return of those Officers however he was no whit discouraged at it knowing that any Ambassador ought to shut his eyes at all little difficulties and obstructions so he may carry on his Masters work to a good issue The King of England appointed Commissioners to treat with him upon that affair who being met together he represented to them in order to his instructions that amongst other things comprehended in the Articles of Marriage it had been concluded and agreed on That the Queen of England should have free excercise of her Religion that she should have a Bishop and a certain number of Priests to exercise the Offices of her Religion That all her houshold should be Catholiques and French and that all the English Catholiques should in general receive greater priviledges then had been granted them if the Treaty with Spain had been effected That the late King James and the present King Charls his son then Prince of Wales had confirmed it by oath and that King James had commanded his Officers not to trouble or molest the Catholiques any more whereupon that the King his Master had conceived great hopes of prosperity and happiness for the Queen his Sister neither could he believe that the King of England his Brother in Law would break his word given upon the consideration of Royal Marriage who until then had amongst other virtues the reputation of being Just to his promises That this new Alliance instead of reuniting their persons and Interests would now rather breed great divisions between them and at such a time when they had most need of being in amity with one another both for assisting of their Allyes and their own particular preservation And that notwithstanding all these premises the King of England had sent back all those Officers of the Queen contrarie to the Treaty which had been confirmed by oath that he placed about her Officers who were English and of a Religion contrary to hers and besides all this that the Catholiques in General were every where troubled and ill treated for their Religion sake So that the King his Master unable to abandon the Queen his Sisters Interest had sent him to his Majesty of Great Britain to put him in mind of his promises and to perswade him That her Majesties Catholique Officers might be re-admitted to her as also that his Catholique subjects might be more favourably dealt withal The English Commissioners could not deny what had been concluded in the Treaty but they would lay the fault of the Officers return upon their own shoulders pretending that they had raised troubles in the Kingdome in his Majesties own Family and that of his dear consort the Queen but they did not produce any sufficient proofs upon the business And as to that which concerned the English Catholiques they pleaded that it had only been granted for formalities sake and to satisfie the Pope But the Marshal producing before them the late Kings Oaths confirmed too by another of the present King then Prince of Wales they could no longer tell what to say to the business but fled to other complaints not material or any wayes relating to the matter in question The Marshal replyed and that very tartly that he could not sufficiently admire that the Articles of Marriage and confirmed by Oath were not observed That the Queens Officers were sent back under pretence that they troubled the State without giving the King his Master any notice of it and without acquainting him in the least with those crimes which were presented to be committed That presently thereupon English Officers and those Protestants should be placed in their rooms That indeed those accusations were to be esteemed as frivolous and admitting them for just yet ought they to be chastised only and others French and Catholique put into their places by the rules of the Treaty But that indeed those pretended quarrels or Jarrs raised by the Queens French Officers were so far from being the true cause of their return that on the contrary the Lord Moâ—ntague had been at Nantes not many dayes before their being sent over to congratulate the King and Queen Mother concerning the good understanding which was between their Majesties of Great Britain and concerning the great satisfaction which the King received at the Queen his wifes behaviour That of the suddain and unlookt for discharge of her Officers happening so immediately upon the neck of this joy could not but appear strange and that as it did much wound the King of Englands Reputation so it likewise injured the King his Masters Generosity who was
by the Treaty of Monpellier Fort Lewis ought to have been demollished but with all That they had made themselves unworthy of it by their refusal to execute several Articles of the Treaty and amongst others to establish the excercise of the Catholique Religion in their Citty as they had engaged to his Majesty and moreover that the Honest's men of the Citty the most sufficient and such as had most to loose having represented to his Majesty that in case the Fort were slighted They should be exposed to the mercy of the Rascality who would put a thousand outrages and affronts upon them he could not deny their so just a request Besides the sixth Article of Peace granted them in February last year did expresly say that his Majesty would not assent to the destroying of that Fort They were also told That being subjects of his Majesty they had no cause to complain of the Commissaries being there especially seeing one of them too was of their own Religion and that they had not been then there but for those delayes which were by them made in the execution of the Treaty As to the quartering of Troops about their City and the adjacent Isles it was answered That they had no reason at all to complain of it for that they gave the occasion by their daily mutenies by their slow proceedings in the demolishing of Fort Tadon and which they did so slightly too that it was an easie matter to repair it and that last of all those Troops living very civilly they enjoyed the self same liberty which his Majesties subjects did many other Town where there was a garison and that they could not think it strange his Majesty should so watch them who had so often revolted after several protestations of obedience to procure his pardon for their faults But nothing would satisfie them so that finding they could not procure their desiers they concluded to prosecute it with Arms and to form themselves into a Commonwealth Politique Observation JT is neither safe nor Just for a City born under a Regal power to shake off that obedience and become a Commonwealth The injustice of them who should attempt so to do cannot be defended seeing Kings are the Lively Images of the God head Livenants of his power and that he hath subjected people in such dependancies that no one but himself alone can revoke their Commission I advise thee saith the Wiseman to have a care of the Kings mouth and to keep the oath that thou hast sworn unto him beware that thou withdraw not thy self from his power or slight his commands for otherwise he will deal with thee as he listeth and no one can say unto him What doest thou And as this Procedure is very unjust so it is not safe for them who would ingage in it for that no Government is so bad as a Popular There is indeed a certain kind of apparent liberty which charmeth and worketh upon the Souls of them who do not under stand it but it is most sure that it is a liberty which exposeth a City to the greatest misfortunes that can befall to it All Kings propose Honour and the Publique good for the end of their Government knowing all their glory depends thereupon whereas in a Popular State every one proposeth his own particular advantage and by that he measureth the Weal Publique and then comes Honour in the very rear of all other thoughts Wise discreet Counsels are so little esteemed in Popular States that they cannot remedie any inconvenience though accompanied with a very little difficulty For though in State affairs most voyces ought to be considered yet it is not to be thought in point of number but the Prudence of them who Judge whereas admitting the people to be Master most voyces carrieth it clear from the rest though better grounded by far The Senate of Rome chose rather to allot Tribunes to the people by whose mouths they might deliver their opinion then to leave them in a Licentions power concluding that though the Authority of those Tribunes would be in some sort superlative yet that it would be much more supportable then that of the people that many headed beast which having no Judgment loveth change and mooveth more by impetuosity then reason This Beast nourisheth it self with a thousand vain hopes its designs are accompanied with fury when the danger is farthest off but soon looseth his courage when brought upon peril and as it hath but a small portion of abilities so it knoweth not who are men of understanding or who do them good service Whence it doeth ordinarily well reward such as do them ill service and ill reward such as do them good service Was it not heretofore seen that the Athenian banished Miltiades ordered him to pay a great fine and kept him in durance until he had paid it as a reward for having with ten thousand men saved their City from a dangerous siedge and beaten one hundred and ten thousand Persians by his good Conduct The like they did to Themistocles Aristâ—der Alcibiades and divers other Captains who had served them very eminently without any regard had to their services He that would esteem a Popular Authority ought not to know what it is And Agesilaus did wisely answer one who would have changed the Goverment of Parthia into a democracy when he advised him only to set up a Demoraty in his own Dominion which would discover to him the rashness and disorder of a Popular Government The Designs of the Duke of Rohan in Languedoc THe Duke of Rohan discontented for that he had made no advantage by the Peace at least to render himself the more considerable did not a little foment those Mutinies of the Rochelois to which end he under hand sowed divisions among the Consuls of the Chief Hugonot Towns in Languedoc and some he made for his own party that they might lead the people to rebel when ever he should hold up his finger but finding that his design did not absolutely take in those parts he resolved to accept of those proffers which the King of Great Britain had made to the Duke of Sonbize his Brother and the deputies of those of his party presently after the Treaty of Peace which had been then newly concluded about the end of the last year They could not away with the putting off the Treaty in execution as to many particular Articles which the discreerest men among them had perswaded them to agree unto They dispatched certain Deputies towards the King of England to beseech him that he would use his power and Authority with the King his Brother in Law to perswade him to demolish Fort St. Lewis which kept them in a wonderful subjection who being presented to him by the Duke de Sonbize who retired himself into England in the year one thousand six hundred twenty and five they were well received and had promises given them of a strong assistance Now the Duke of Rohan not
Baron de Lignieres Monsieurs de Vantadours Guards and on the right by the Comte de Bioule and the Sieur de Enox who led on Monsieur de Montmorency's Company and the Sieur de la Croix who commanded his Guards seconded by the Comte de Bioules Regiment he was at last constrained to give ground yet he maintained the fight above two hours and saw about one hundred six score Souldiers fifteen men of his guard and seven or eight Captains of his Troops killed and divers others wounded And in conclusion he found to the mis-fortune of his Rebellion this other added of being beaten in the Field and saw at the years end that he had very little or not at all advanced his design Politique Observation TRue Religion giveth a very great advantage to them who fight for the defence of it He hath Justice for his second which is the Bulwark of strong place the Rampard of Towns the upholder of Crowns the Pillar of Authority and the Chain of obedience an Engine it is much stronger then any of Archimedes seeing it brings down God himself upon Earth to assist it The Divine Providence ordained that the first Assises of Justice should be kept under Palms to teach them who make any enterprises as Philo observeth That Justice is the most assured pledge of victory What can that Prince fear then who fighteth to uphold it seeing God fighteth for him No power can resist that of God who hath alwayes overthrown the designs of them that rise up against him unlesse when he hath designed a people to be the Instruments of his Justice for punishing the wicked In the old Testament he causeth himself to be called the God of Battails and the Lord of Hosts to teach the people that he is Master of them and that he it is who turneth the victory where he pleaseth What did ever the greatest Souldiers bring to passe who have risen up against him They have only felt his power and seen their own weakness And every one may observe in History that their Counsels have not only been vain and ridiculous but have likewise precipitated them into great ruins They are like Icarus who designing to counterfeit wings by joyning certain Fethers together with wax melted them at the Sun Beams just thus their rising up and soaring a lost only serveth to make their â—â—ls the greater and their ruins the more certain And who knoweth not that the cause of true Religion maketh Souldiers couragious Hence it happens that valour being the ground-work of victorie is in this particular infallible Machiavel in his discourses upon T. Livy sheweth us That Religion is a wonderfull Foundation and Instrument of great Actions That the Romans made use of it to govern their City in the carrying on of their designs anâ— in pacifing all tumults and seditions which did at any time happen in their Commonwealth Now if the false Imagination of a false deity which this people did believe were the punishers of Crimes and Rewarders of good Actions by a quiet repose in the Elysian fields could make such great impressions upon their courages what may not the true Religion cause us to hope for which promiseth unto us the infinite rewards of Heaven when the belief of it is truely imprinted in the Soul The Souldier who fighteth for Religion obeyeth his Prince as the Image of the God head he will never spare this life which passeth away in confidence of another which shall be eternal If the Champions who heretofore fought in the Olympique Games were delighted to see their skins flayed off their bloud run down and their bones broken before a Laurel Crown the reward of their pains what would they not have done into with dangers would they not have cheerfully run had they but apprehended with the Eyes of faith the Saviour of the World at the end of the course the Gate of Heaven open and a Crown which shall never fade as a reward of their Loyalty and Vallour We have at all times seen that those Emperours who have been most Pious have had the greatest victories Constantine became great by his embracing of the Christian Religion It served Pepin for a Stair-case to lead him up to the Throan It bestowed the Empire on Charlemaine and the Turkish Nation which seemeth to have been born for Armes feareth nothing so much as Christians Ensigns Anno 1628. The Rochelois send to the King of England to demand Succour THE Heathenish Antiquities relate That Pandora going to meet the Rebel Epimetheus in behalf of the God's carried him a Box filled with all sorts of Evils amongst which he had only hope left him It is a Fiction yet may it be aptly applyed to the Dutchesse of Rohan the Mother who being come to Rochel to encourage the Rebellion brought all sorts of misfortune with her insomuch that there was not any kind of misery which the inhabitants did not undergo and without any other hopes but only of relief from the English which they retained to the very last In order to which hope they finding his Majesties resolved to force them to live in the rules of obedience had sent their Deputies to England with full and ample Power to treat with his Majesty of Great Brittain To beseech him to take them into his protection and that he would assist them with a second Army which might force the King of France to raise the siedge Their Deputies were received with great kindness The King of Buckingham being much exasperated against France for the late repulse given to the English at Ree They had audience granted and after examination of their Proposals The King made a Treaty with them by which he obliged himself to assist them with such a number of Souldiers as should be sufficient for their defence To send them all sorts of Provision and to permit a Collection to be made in his Countries for their present relief The Deputies obliged themself in the name of the Rochelois to give an happy successe to the English Army promising they would rigg out the greatest number of Ships they could possibly procure that they would provide Pilats and places for Magazins for all sorts of provision in the Town that if occasion were their Port should be a place of retreat for their Fleet that they would not hearken to any accomodation with the King their Lord and Master but by and with consent of the King of great Brittain and also that before France should attempt any thing against England they should declare themselves for the English and should divert to the utmost of the power all designs tending to their prejudice The King of Great Brittain was not absolute enough to conclude upon great enterprises his power somewhat depending on the Parliament so he was forced to call one to authorize this and to consent to such levies of mony as would be needfull for this business The anger which every one there bore against France and the desire
the King of Kings and Governour of all Kingdomes His Majesty departeth from Suze towards Languedoc after Cazal and the strong Towns in Montferrat were revictualled HIS Majesty having stayed at Suze as long as was needfull for the securing of those advantages which he had got as also for the conveying of Wheat and all other necessaries into Cazal and the places of Montferrat in case they should be again set upon after his with drawing back he at last resolved to passe through Languedoc His design was onely to bring the revolted Heretiques under obedience who had of late shewed their teeth against him upon all occasions and opportunities whatever Notwithstanding his Majesties Declaration made at Paris as hath heretofore been observed they had made an Assembly at Nisms where they published a sedition manifest by which they indeavoured to represent his Majesties gracious proffers for so many snares to intrap them and that notwithstanding his Kingly word he intended to put them all to the Sword whereupon it was resolved not to lay down their Arms but by and with the consent of the King of England to which effect all they of the Town and Party were to bind themselves by oath which was as much as to say they peremptorily resolved to continue the War as long as ever they could The King of England being troubled for the affront which had been given his forces both at Ree and before Rochel desired nothing more then to see France divided and at War amongst themselves which would be a great dimunition of his Majesties strength and power Monsieur de Rohan had likewise been with the King of England in the behalf of the Assembly to implore his Protection and to let him know that they of his party having built all their hopes upon the expectation of his succours did humbly beseech him not to defer any longer his assisting of them Were not these so many evident signs and tokens of an intended bloudy War for the securing of themselves in those Towns which were strong and in their own powers did they not hope his Majesty would find work enough to be diverted in Italy and that he might neither have time nor power to fall on them or oppose their designs And after all this what reason was there to give any longer way to this rebellious people to fix and root themselves any more in their obstinacies and willfull perversenesse Must not his Majesty in so doing have been defective both in Prudence and Courage But the Cardinal was too industrious to suffer any such blemishes to lie upon his Masters glory so that he perswaded his Majesty that it was now high time to call them to accompt and that he should forthwith set forward to curb in their insolencies and to set bounds to their unlimited Pride and Rebellion Politique Observation REvolts are the most dangerous Convulsions in a State and as in mans body there are Symptoms which are as so many Prognosticks to tell us the event of them so those of States are most commonly accompanied with certain circumstances which give a just cause to fear lest they may end in the ruine of the Kingdomes where they are first born without present remedy to prevent it The wise Pilot when he fore-sees any storms as usually he doth by some secret Winds and I know not what tremblings upon the surface of the Waters provideth himself against they happen and a wise Minister discovering by a revolt such signs which may make him suspect their consequence ought no longer to defer the imploying of his utmost power to divert those mis-fortunes which are threatned Now among â—ll such Prognostications none are more apparently evident then manifest Declaâ—ations unlawfull Assemblies Levies of men keeping of watch in Towns and Ciâ—ies against their natural Prince For these things are indeed the fore-runners of â—aying aside all respect and duty and in some sence the dividing their Kings Authority and his Kingdom too These are manifest Symptomes of a mortal disease which threatneth the State Now as a wise Physitian when once he discovers in his Patient any one or more signs of death doth no longer delay his applying of all necessary preventions So a Minister when he finds any people either resolved or inclined to it is obliged to make use of his masters forces to prevent it and allay such storms in their first growth which if delayed would perchance in danger the whole structure In such occasions he ought to use an extraordinary diligence for if vigilance and care be necessary in such enterprises as are made abroad much more is it in those nearer home especially when it concerneth the keeping of a people inclined to Rebel within the limits of their duty By this means was it that Alexander prevented that general insurrection which was intended in Greece for he appeared there in the head of his Army before there was a word heard of his being upon his march And how much recommended was that vigilance of Rhodoginus King of the Persians who being one day told whilest he was washing of his head of a certain rebellion newly began amongst his people had not the patience to sit until he had made an end but tying up his hair mounted on horse-back to go and take care about it well knowing that Rebellion is like a Viper easily killed in the Birth but much more difficultly overcome if let alone until it gain force and strength The King of Spain treateth with the Duke of Rohan for the raising of more troubles in France THey who have once delivered themselves up to a revolt are easily led into all extremities upon hopes of a good successe Thus was it with the Duke of Rohan he had so much forgot himself as to demand assistance from the King of Spain who glad of any opportunity to trouble the Waters in France caused his Agent de Clauset to be received with honour and assured him of all assistance for which he could reasonably hope A Treaty not long after was concâ—uded in which the Duke of Roâ—an obliged himself to continue in the War in France so long as his Majesty of Spain should think fit and generally to further and defend all the interests and affairs of Spain And lastly that he should not treat or conclude of any League or Peace without his Majestie of Spain's consent and approbation and the King of Spain did reciprocally promise him all manner of assistance particularly that he would pay him down at two payments six hundred thousand Duckets of Gold towards defraying of the charge of the War and to make a diversion in Provence Languedoc Dauphine and other such places as his Catholick Majesty should think most convenient for his interests and designs and besides did grant unto him a Pension of forty thousand Duckets yearly and eight thousand to his Brother the Sieur de Soubize and ten thousand more to be yearly distributed amongst his Officers as he should think fit O most blind
of bringing his Master into such trouble as he wil have somewhat to do ere he get clear of them The Athenians did heretofore think this to be a business of so great importance that they condemned their Embassadours to die whom they had sent into Arcadia for onely returning home by another Coast then that which they were commanded though they had well dispatched the Affair they were imployed on as it is reported by Elian It is true the face of things may alter after an Embassadours departure and if so he must have his eyes in his head it being permitted him to vary the means which are prescribed to him for the easier obtaining the end of his Affair But in case Affairs be not altered he is bound to stick close to his Instructions under penalty of being very faulty Manlius did not spare his own son for fighting with the Enemy contrary to his order though he got the better of them for a Captain never ought to assault an Enemy contrary to his Generals command though he be assured to overcome him And that Embassador deserveth severely to be chastised who shall propose things contrary to those which are commanded him for the management of a Treaty is sometimes not a jot less considerable to the good of a State then the Conduct of a War Those spirits which are most acute and subtle are most subject to slip into this defect because they are more wedded to their own opinions and will ever be refining of things more then need requires esteeming more their own thoughts then all the orders which shall be given to them and this is it which made Thucydides say Those Souls which are a little more steady are propperer for negotiations then those which are so full of mettle and sprightfulness The difficulties which did arise in pursuance of the dispence for the Match with England THE Dispensation was sent to the Nuntio with expresse order not to deliver it untill the King of England should ingage himself by Oath to observe those Conditions which his Holiness had inserted and untill the King of France had given it under his hand that he would undertake and promise to see all the Articles to which the King of England should ingage to be fully accomplished The Nuntio gave notice of this order which the Pope had sent him to the King and his Majesty was not a little surprized at it to find himself reduced to the making of new conditions with the King of England and to seek for a new dispence from Rome when some moneths had been passed over in the soliciting for the former Indeed it was so much the more troublesome in respect that these obstructions might totally break it off which might not onely breed quarrels between the two Crowns but divers mis-fortunes upon the Catholicks in England A Conference was at last had with the Nuntio and it was there represented to him of how little importance these new Articles â—ere in comparison of the danger of a total breach to which it did expose things especially seeing that the Children were to be brought up by the Princess that is by her Domestiques and servants and by those of the Princess were to be Catholicks which did tacitely imply that the Children should be brought up by Catholicks This was easie to be demonstrated but the Nuntio being of an impertinent nature in affairs as also obliged to follow his Holinesses Interests beseeched the Ministers to find out some expedient to satisfie his Holiness without imbroyling the business with the King of England promising that he would write to him very effectually about the necessity that did appear for the taking away all obstructions and difficulties which might bring any delay to the marriage In prosecution whereof the Earls of Carlisle and Holland were consulted with and the King writ to his Majesty of England to desire him to condiscend to those alterations which the Pope had made letting him see how frivolous they were The King of England did not receive the news without much wonder but however seeing it had been agreed that the children who should be born of this match were to be educated by the Princesse untill their respective ages of thirteen years and that her servants were to be Catholicks and to have all freedome for the exercise of their Religion hee consented to all that was desired as that the Officers of those Children should be Catholick and should have no trouble in their Religion accordingly hee sent all manner of assurances to the King but not a word of swearing to it which was enough without urging him to take his oath for performance The King gave all those assurances in writing which his Holiness expected the Princess also writ a Letter to the Pope wherein she promised upon her Parol not to chuse any Officers for those Children which God should hestow upon her but such as should be Catholicks All Conditions being thus resolved on it was verily beleeved there could be no further difficulties raised at Rome There were two extraordinary Courtiers dispatched one by Sea the other by Land to the Sieur de Bethune with Orders to procure the dispense to bee amended withall expedition and to beseech the Pope in his Majesties name to dispatch it according to the Articles which had been newly agreed on without exacting a new Oath The Sieur de Bethune having received one of these Dispatches acquitted himself of his duty with all kind of Prudence and did not forget to use his very utmost diligence to procure that satisfaction for his Majesty he spake to the People with a great deal of affection by re-presenting to him those great blessings which heaven had bestowed on the Church since his Majesty came to the Crown and with what zeal his Majesty had imployed his Arms against the Hereticks all which ought to make him be much esteemed by the holy Chair in regard his demands could not be refused without some kind of injustice both in relation to the acknowledgements which are due to him as also because his Actions gave great assurance that he would never omit any occasion which might tend to the advantage of the Church He forgot not to represent to him the dangers that would ensue from a total breach by the longer retardment of concluding the marriage and the severe usage that the Catholiques in England would consequentially lie under That what his Holiness had thought fit to adde to the Articles already concluded on was in a manner included in them already and that the chief executing of them would rest upon the discretion of those who should have the honour to be neer the Princess however that his Master the King that he might testifie the respect which he bore his Holiness had written to the King of Great Brittain who had consented to it excepting onely in the point of taking a new Oath which he would no more press him upon in regard of that Oath which he had
to fight gave the signal and fell upon them the Seamen were so dexterous that they got the wind of them in lesse then two hours there were above two thousand shot made and though the night came on yet the Fight ended not for the Duke perceiving nine of the greatest Ships retiring towards Rochel pursued them with such good successe that hee came up with them about day break and two others of their biggest Ships were not able to get off for want of water and so stuck on ground but long they did not so continue before they were taken It is true those of the Army who were got upon the Orelop and having killed all they met with the Souldiers who were in the Hold set fire to the Powder and blew up all above with such force that the Splinters of it were carried a quarter of a League off three of the Kings Ships were burned with it and above three hundred men lost amongst which were the Count of Vauvert the Sieur de Ville Neufeu and Veilon a Captain of Holland This accident did much take off from the content of the Victory yet it cannot be denied but that it was glorious enough for the happinesse of France in reducing the Rebels to that passe that they could not any more make any attempts by Sea Thus the rest of their Vessels which were of no great consequence retired some to Rochel and some into other places according as the Wind did drive them but never durst afterwards appear any more These things thus ended the Duke of Montmorancy landed at Oleron where he met with no resistance the Sieur de Soubize having withdrawn himself into England so that the whole Province was setled in quiet both by Sea and Land of all which his Majesty was very certainly informed who received the newes with much joy Politick Observation WHatever joys or delights Fortune insinuateth into those who revolt yet it is usually seen that all their designs end in ill success Experience hath made it often manifest that such Crimes seldome go unpunished and that Heaven hath used to sacrifice them to example They cannot more properly bee likened to any thing then to those high Mountains the points of whose Rocks seem to hreaten Heaven and which sending forth store of Clouds out of their Bosomes seem to obscure the light of the Sun though at last they are all dissipated by that fair Planet of the day who making those very same Clouds into Thunder-bolts causeth them to fall down upon them for to chastise their Insolency And is it not the same thing with Grandees who revolt and Rebell After they have made some attempts upon the Authority of their Soveraign are they not in fine ruined and brought into extremities by the Power of his Armes who takes occasion to crush them to peeces with that Power which they would have usurped themselves and did not of right belong unto them History abounds with exemplary Proofs of this Truth the many that are would spoil the design of quoting two or three onely But for the greater illustration of it I shall say thus much the injustice of a Cause is almost an infallible sign of an ill successe seeing Heaven doth commonly confound what Man hath wickedly built If at any time they shall become so powerfull as to secure themselves from the hazards of Battels yet they can never obtain a remission from Heaven They who attempt to grow great by unjust means will in fine meet their utter ruine God doth peradventure suffer them for the punishment of States to obtain advantages for some time but at last the violences which they Act fall upon themselves and they become a just subject for their Soveraigns Revenge The Arrival of Cardinal Barbirini in France as Legate from the Holy Chaire for the Affaires of the Valtoline WHilest the Fire of this Civil War was burning up of Languedoc The Cardinal Barbarini Legate from the Pope arrived in France and came to Marseille where he was received with great honour as also at Lyon according to the Orders sent by the King He came to Paris the one and twentieth of May and his Majesty caused his entrance to be made with the most Pomp that hath been seen for a person of his condition I shall not need insist on the relating that he is bound by the Laws of the Kingdome before he Officiate the Function of a Legate to present the Brief which the Pope hath given him for the imployment to the Parliament of Paris which is a Custome so ancient that I shall omit speaking any more of it but I shall observe that the Pope having ommitted in the Brief to give the King the Title of King of Navar which could not be denied to him without Injustice the Parliament refused to acknowledge it and obliged him not to make any further procedure in the businesse untill it were amended The Legate comming to Paris alighted at St. James de Haut-pas where the Clergy of the City the concourse of the Court and other Officers to the number of twelve thousand went to salute him and receive his Benediction After this the Prelates of Paris came to do their respects to him there was a little dispute in what habit they should appear before him the Legate desiring they should be in their Rockets and Camail covered over with a Mantlet as a mark that they had no power in his presence but the Prelates not being able to stoop to this Order by reason it was contrary to the Rules of the French Church it was concluded in the middle way between both to give some satisfaction to the Legate that they should go so habited to salute him and that they should accordingly accompany him in the Cavalcade to Nostre-Dame where being come they were to take off their Mantlets but all was done under a Proviso of saving their ancient right The King sent the Duke of Nemours the Sieur de Bonnevil the Introductor of Embassadours and several other Lords of great quality to receive him at his first arrival At night Monsieur the Kings Brother waited on him with a great number of Lords and saluted him with extraordinary respects and one his entrance accompanying him gave him the right hand The same day he had Audience from the King where nothing passed onely Complements but the next day he proposed what the Pope had given him in charge hee exhorted the King in general terms to Peace he urged his Majesty to restore things in the Valtoline to their former State as they were before the Army of the confederated Princes entred into it and beseeched him to grant a Cessation of Arms in Italy His Majesty answered to these three Propositions that he was ever inclined to Peace and that he would still be induced to it provided it were for the Publick safety and honourable for him and his Allies That as to what concerned the Valtoline the Treaty of Madrid made but a few years before
and in Italy were onely to make sure of the out-skirts that they might afterwards with the more ease make themselves Masters of France That he would not enter into any further proof of it seeing he was assured it could not be unknown either to his Majesty or his Ninisters onely he beseeched his Majesty to consider that it was more proper to go find them out in their own Quarters then to stay untill they entred upon theirs That that which gave them so great advantage in their Conquests was because none had attempted any thing on them every one keeping himself upon the defensive posture but that when any thing should be attempted on them the Palms of their Victory would soon be snatched out of their hands that they are not really so potent but onely because they dare affault the whole World and that they have the Courage to fall on others because none fall on them Which was too evident to be doubted That it was impossible to let them any longer follow the course of their Victories without being a Trophee for their Arms. He did excite and stir up his Majesty upon the score of Glory representing to him the lives of Cyrus Hannibal Alexander Caesar and divers illustrious Roman Captains who had been eternized and made famous by invading of their enemies That there was onely this wanâ—ing to add to his Majesties glory whom Heaven had created for the onely good of all Europe and to preserve the Liberties of his neighbours Their Artifices were so great that nothing more could be wished for onely that he would imbrace the design He alledged that England would Potently assist it That Flanders being subjected under the Spanish Yoak would gladly be delivered out of it and would be induced to do any thing which might tend that way and that for the expence there need no great care be taken for it seeing the French Souldiers were not harder to be pleased then those of Hannibal who being asked upon his putting off from Affrica with what he would pay his Army answered with the Army it self for as soon as ever he set foot in Europe the Ayr the Earth the Fire and all the Goods of those who inhabited it should be common to them and in the progress of that affair he made it evident that he was not mistaken for during eighteen years that he maintained War both in Spain and Italy he never received any Supplies from Affrica The most part of these reasons were so true and the rest so specious that the King must needs have wanted Courage had he not been perswaded with them and especially-seeing his Majesty had often spoken to the Cardinal upon this very point and that he was sufficiently convinced of the necessity for the Princes of Europe to assault the Spaniard that they might at last put some limits to his Ambition as also in relation thereunto that he had assaulted him in the Valtoline by stopping the progress of his proceedings But on the other side his Majesty was not ignorant that those enterprizes which he had already commenced were very great considering in what condition France then was and that it would be difficult to undertake any more untill the Hugonots who took advantages of his Wars abroad and who stayed part of his Forces at home to keep them in obedience were totally ruined That withall it were absolutely needfull before any thing could be attempted on Flanders to imploy the Arms of the House of Austria in Germany and to secure the Passages by which releef might be sent to them so that it might be impossible for them to hinder the Conquest of it His Majesty relying on the Advices of the Cardinal kept himself off from ingaging himself in this same offensive League And the Cardinal took upon himself the trouble of making the States Embassadour understand the reasons of it who found them so strong that he had not a word to reply against them but the King desired the State to be assured that he would never be deficient in sending them men and monies according as hee had promised by the Treaty of Alliance as also that when a fit opportunity of Time should present it self for the taking of any advantage he would most certainly ingage in it for that his own glory and their good way interessed in it Politique Observation IT is a small matter though a Soveraign have a generous resolution which leadeth him to make War if he have not discretion to chuse a fit opportunity for the taking of advantages upon his enemies It is not alwaies seasonable to take up Arms and to make Leagues or to break Peace Before a design be attempted it should first be known whether it be sure profitable and honourable and if it may be effected with little or no hazard to the person who adviseth it and whether he runs any part of the danger and above all it would be known and that exactly too of what force the enemy is what succour he doth expect the diversions which he hath in other places the advantages which he may have in Combats by what wayes those Troops must passe which come to defend him from whence he may draw Provisions for his Army and in short all the particular estate of the enemies Affairs A War never ought to be begun but with Prudence that it may be ended with advantage A resolution ought not to be taken but on the present State of Affairs ballancing Reason with hope comparing the present with past and never proposing those things for easie which are seen but by halves otherwise the successe will demonstrate that it was began with too much heat and too little Prudence The French never did so ill as when they broke the Peace with Charles the Fifth in the year one thousand five hundred fifty five in confidence of the Counsels and Promises of Pope Paul the Fourth of the Family of the Caraâ—fi for having done it upon like reason and without consideration of his Power whom they set upon in that conjuncture of time the successe of it proved more to their losse then advantage Hannibal was much to be commended as T. Livy saith that in all his Conduct he was acquainted with his enemies intentions as well as with his own That Prince who ingageth himself in a War without such a knowledge seeks after his own ruine and if there be any affair from which he ought to retain himself certainly it must be when a Proposal is made to him grounded on a League for that offensive Leagues do not alwaies end according to the hopes of them who are Interested in it If the enterprize will be of long continuance then onely the different Interests of several United Princes will force them to break off Besides Time alteration of Affairs and the Artifices of the enemy who is assaulted do commonly work some change In short the difference of things and Nations do breed jealousies and then every one retires
affect his own Kindred deserveth not the affections of any others and will also give more assurance to his Government by defending him from any insurrections which might be made by them And this is the more considerable as Tacitus saith for that it is ordinary with the people to have a particular affection for the Kindred of a Prince when they shall see them hated without any just cause or reason exemplyfying the Love which the people of Rome did bear to Germanicus which increased in them by the hatred which was born to him by Tiberius and it cannot be doubted but that the particular affection with which the people love them may give them great advantages to embroyl the State and may serve for a strong prop to their revolts It cannot be avoyded but that Princes nearly related to a Soveraign must have some hand in the Government of Affairs and must partake with him in the Honours of the State how can it then be done in a good order unless they live in a fair correspondence with one another What way can a vessel goe when as they who guide it do some row towards the Poop and others towards the Prow despising the Pilots orders so that the vessel becomes exposed to be wracked And what may there be expected from a State where the Princes of the Blood Royal who have the Government of the Provinces fall off from his Majesties designs and interests engaging themselves in Factions and Parties Doth it not by this means absolutely expose the State to Civil Wars which being left at random by this disunion becomes a prey to strangers who will be sure to take advantage of it The sending of the Sieur de Blainville into England in the quality of Extraordinary Ambassadour THough the Allyance which had so lately been contracted with England seemed to be indissolvable by the confirming of it with the Mariage of the Princess yet it was not long before some grounds did arise to obstruct their good correspondency The great confidence which the Queen of England had in certain Ladies who had been a long while near and about her as also in certain Ecclesiastiques a little too inconsiderate in their zeal was in part the occasion of it for they giving her advices which were not alwaies accompanied with Prudence did clash with the King her Husbands humour and were upon the point of breeding some differences between them The King did not much wonder at it having of a long time known how little considerable womens counsels ordinarily are and how they commonly end in some broyl unless there be some one near them who may prevent it by the reputation and credit which he hath amongst them But however it did not hinder his Majesty from dispatching the Sieur de Blanville his Extraordinary Ambassador to the King of England that he might take some course before the inconsiderateness of those persons who were about the Queen had caused any more mischiefs which was the easilier to be done in regard the Queen wanted neither Respect nor Love for the King her Husband and was onely to be blamed for having relyed a little too much upon those who were given to her to be her Counsel But this was not all there was another cause of difference between the two Crowns which was this The Sieur de Soubize having fled into England and there saved himself had taken in times of Peace and against the approval too of those of Rochel a small vessel called the little Saint John at the Port of Blavet which he afterwards carried to Plymouth And not long after the English had detained and unladen another Ship at Dover called the Merchant Royal full laden with goods to the value of twelve hundred thousand Liuvers This kind of acting was as strange as unjust and a great noise it made The French Merchants not being able to get a satisfactory answer in it because the Sieur de Blainville's demands were sent to the Council of his Majesty of Great Britain seised upon some English Ships which exasperated them afresh and hindred the resolution of any thing untill the following year Politique Observation ALthough the common end of private Mariages tend to concluding of Peace amongst Families yet it is not alwaies the same thing with Princes They do never make up any Matches but on the score of Interests and if any cause of difference arise amongst them they do not at all value their Alliances but it is well known that those Wars which have been between such Princes have ever been the most bloody It was imagined that those many Contracts which had been made between the Princes of the House of Orleance and those of Burgogne would have extinguished the fire of their Quarrels but the sequel made it apparent they all served to no purpose Lewis the Moor Duke of Milan was near a kin to the Arragonois of Naples yet he undid them by his intreagues And who knoweth not that France never had such great Quarrels either with Spain or England as when they were allyed by some Mariage And indeed it ought not to seem strange for a Soveraign hath no Kinsman so nearly related to him as his State A private man may govern himself according to the Rules of Friendship but it is otherwise with a Soveraign who is obliged to preserve the Rights of his Crown against every one His reputation is of so great concern towards the good of his Affairs that he may not suffer any injury to be offered to it which he is not bound to repell by any wayes whatsoever The Treasuries are better regulated by the Cardinals care THey who have had particular knowledge of things ever since ten years last past could not sufficiently wonder at those vast charges which the State had been put to both by maintaining so many Armies together in Languedoc in Poictu in the Valtoline and Italy as also in the Match with England and defraying of Ambassadors expences together with Alliances with States considering that the Cardinal entring upon the Administration had found the Treasury not onely exhausted but likewise much indebted so that they lived upon the next years Revenues This was an effect of that great Ministers prudence who knowing how necessary it was for a State to have a good mass of Mony in reserve had quickly so setled the Treasuries that there was great plenty succeeded that former want The Secretaries of State were commanded not to seal any more Orders but by express command from the King or his Chief Ministers The Superintendants were also ordered not to authorize those which should be presented from the Secretaries of State but upon good and just consideration There were divers persons removed from Court who attended there to no intent or purpose but only had sometimes the honour to see the King Rewards were kept for those who deserved them by their services There were also new orders taken at the same time concerning the Treasuries which were so
his obedience if he should faile in that which did belong to him or his part but he was hindred by those of his counsel who represented to him that it was unlawful for him to make any such condition The subtil means which the Cardinal used to joyne the Princes of the lower Saxony into a league with the Auseatique towns against the house of Austria THough Peace was very necessary for France yet it was no lesse needfull to prevent the rising of the house of Austria in Germanie which had usurped the Lands of divers Princes there and oppressed their liberties especially since the Treaty of Vlm For the same reason it was that the King of great Brittaine sending Count Mansfeld with an Army to endeavour the restablishment of his Brother in Law the Palatine his Majesty ayded him with two thousand Horse and a good summe of mony but these Forces were not enough to oppose those of the Emperor but it was requisite to send more and greater England would have engaged the King to have joyned in an Offensive league and declared the war against him but it was improbable his Majesty would hearken to such proposals for that affairs were not in a condition fit for such an attempt so they were rejected But the Prudence of Monsieur the Cardinal which is never deficient in the finding out expedients fit for the greatness his Master and did give life and heat to that designe which the Princes of Germany had heretofore resolved on of putting themselves into the field in defence of their liberty and for the restablishing of those who had been forced out of their States The King who hath a most admirable apprehension to Judg of those counsels which are given quickly conceived the goodness of this and in order therunto he sent about the end of the year last part the Sieur de la Picardiere to the King of Denmark the Princes of the Lower Saxany and the Auseatique Citties His instructions were to represent to the King of Denmark and those other Princes that the King his Master did hear with much joy their resolution to take up Arms for the establishing of the Prince Elector and his Brothers and to repel those menaces wherewith they were threatned and the ancient friendship which had alwayes kept their States in good Union obliging his Majesty to be sollicitous of their Interests had induced him to send a proffer unto them of what ever was within his power They had beseeched his Majesty not to engage himself in any league with Germany without giving them notice of it which he had not only order to assure them of but also to promise them the summe of a Million of livures in two years time and French Troops besides He had moreover express order to excite them to a quick dispatch because experience hath made it evident on a thousand occasions that the successe of most enterprises doth usually depend upon the ready and dexterous excecuting of them and that when as much time is taken in deliberation the most favourable oportunities are lost by it But these reasons were needless for by that time that he came to them he found them with their Arms in their hands and the King of Denmark had already sent some Forces by Sea to joyne with those of the other Princes who began to threaten the Empeour and forced him to send Count Tilly to advance towards them for the opposing of their designs Yet he did not a little heighten their resolution setting them on by proposing to them what a glory it would be to them to restablish their Allyes and also by telling them with oportunities of advantage they had against the Emperours Forces who were but weake and much dispersed by reason of the warres in Italy and the Valtoline whereas their Army was fresh and numerous and all their Forces met in a Body together He had particular order not to demand any thing in prejudice of the Catholiques His Majesty having no other end in his intentions but the setling the Liberties of Germany and the restating of those Princes Who had been clapt out of their States And whereas of lower Saxony is composed of several Auseatique Citties as well as Princes which Towns and Citties were no lesse against the war then the Princes were for it by reason their Traffick was into Spain and they much suspected least if they should declare against the house of Aâ—stria the Spaniard would then stop their Ships and break their Trade He was commanded to visit them in his progresse and to perswade them to associate themselves with the Princes in the league as also to contribute toward the maintenance of the Army and to represent to them that in case they should refuse to joyne in the designe they would then run a very great hazard least the King of Denmark fall upon them who had an old grudg to them and only wanted such a pretence to be upon them especially now that he had his Arms in his hand and that if he should be to weak to force them he might however easily enough ruin their Trade particularly that of Danzik and Lubâ—c and of other places too by stopping up the straight of the Zound by which their Ships must necessarily passe and also that of Hambourg and Breme by building some Forts on the Rivers Elve and Vezel which do belong unto him That in case such a misfortune should befal them all their Allyes would undoubtedly abandon them That the King of Spain could not assist them he being to far off that he had not one Ship upon that Sea and that as for himself and the King of great Bâ—ittâ—ige they could not in consideration of the King of â—enâ—ark take care or notice to hinder the Hollanders from seizing on their vessels between Calis and Dover which should make any voyadge into Spain which being so their Commerce would be for ever ruined and decayed so that it would bee much better for them to league themselves with the Princes which if he should do his Majesty would undertake their protection against all their enemies and that the King of England and Hollanders too would give them the same assistance These were the chief Instructions which the Sieur de la Picardier received and all which he effected with so great judgement and good successe that he he went not from them untill he had seen their Army march into the field and perswaded the Auseatique Towns to joyn in League with the Princes This was not a work of small importance for the resolution of this Enterprize was one of the chief motives which induced the Spaniards to conclude the Treaty of Mouson forced them to abandon the Valtolinâ— and to relinquish the designs which they had in Italy and leave all the rest of the Allies of France remain in peace and quiet His Majesty testified to him that he was well pleased with his conduct and management of the businesse for carrying on to that
things to that passe that they might have none above them but God to Pray too The other was to form so powerful a Party amongst the Princes that they might be able to give the Law to his Majesty to constrain him to banish the Cardinal and to compel him to be ruled by their directions This Cabal consisted of a great many persons which as it could not be done but with a multitude so there wanted not some who spake very rashly of it There were divers reports spreadabroad of what they intended which were published though whisperingly with a great deal of insolency and at the same time it was known that a Favourite of Buckingham's said openly in England That there was so great a Faction contriving against the King and carried on by Monsieurs Councellours that all the Catholicks of the Queens house might be driven out without any danger and Heretiques placed in their room though contrary to the Articles of marriage There were some two of the Bourbonnois ingaged in this Combination who talked so openly and confidently that notice being given of it to the King and his Ministers it was adjudged that they intended to carry things to extremity and that it would not be much amiss to give Commission of Enquiry to the Vice-Seneschal of the Bourbonnois to make enquiry of the truth who gave a great light of the whole matter by his informations It was likewise discovered that Madam de Cheâ—â—reuse being discontented that her private intelligences with the English Embassadour were so publickly taken notice of did not a little promote the undertakings by her animating of Monsieur the Grand Prior and Chalais to execute it both which were ingaged by love to her as also that the Colonel de Ornano abusing Monsieurs goodnesse and the credit which his place gave him did absolutely divert him from the marriage which his Majesty had so earnestly desired should be celebrated The Cardinal on the other side having been acquainted that Louvgry who was one of the cabal being deeply in love with a Lady of quality had discovered to her the summe of their design and amongst other things had assured her that Chalais was one of the chief instruments in the enterprise he resolved to go passe away some time at Chailliot in Chalais father in Laws house that he might the better make use of his prudence to discover more particulars of the business His design took effect and as there are few things in his wish which the greatness of his prudence cannot accomplish it is said that he found a device to learn several things from Chalais own mouth and that he assured him both of his own assistance and his Majesties favour in case he should do that which was desired of him in this business of discovery He likewise found out how the Colonel d' Ornano was the Ringleader of the Plot hurried into it by like for fear lest if Mounsieur should marry his Princesse would assume to her self those advantages which he then had over his Spirit That their chief end was to unite all the Princes so close together that they might enforce his Majesty not to remove any of them from the Court and with all to permit them to live in the same licentiousness that they had a long while formerly enjoyed That to this effect they endeavoured the breaking of the match between Monsieur and Madamoiselle de Mâ—ntpensier and to bring on that of Madamoiselle de Bourbon which would more neerly ingage Monsieur to their Interests or else to perswade him to marry some other stranger Princesse which might be a means to shelter and defend their designs by the Forces and assistances which they might reasonably expect from such a family That this once effected they intended the Count de Soissons should marry Madamoiselle de Montpensier that the Houses of Guise and Bourbon might be united together and in this manner they would in a moment huddle up together almost all the leading potent persons of Court It was no small advantage for the Affairs of the State to know that end this Cabal did drive at The Cardinal was not defective in acknowledging the services which Chalais had done in that particular and he might certainly have made very great advantages by it had he not relapsed into former contrivances and designs Politique Observation IT is a very great Imprudence to ingage in any Faction against the Prince of State under hope of not being discovered It cannot be denied but most ill-doers do believe their disorders will lye concealed For who would commit them if he thought he should be detected But who knoweth not that there is a certain blindness which attendeth on sin like a thick curtain spread over the eyes of the Soul which obstructeth the seeing such things as are most in themselves perspicuous and hurrieth the mind into excesse of Rashness Whosoever will suffer himself to be reduced by the Error must of necessity be ignorant of what the Son of God hath said in the Gospel That there is nothing hid which shall not be found out nor nothing how secret soever but time shall discover God who over-ruleth Kingdoms and watcheth for their conservation will not permit that those Plots and conspiraces which are contrived against them by some particular persons should remain concealed and it oftentimes so fals out That Justice being guided by his Providence causeth the very Authour himself to become the discoverer before he be aware of it All great secret is a great Burthen to the Bearer and experience hath often shewed that it is almost impossible for a man to keep it any long time without disburthening his Breast of it If perchance a man hath the power to bridle his tongue from discovering it yet can he never forbear the discovery of it by some Actions which will speak it to those of understanding And truly it seem God permitteth it so to be for the glory of innocence under whose Laws few would enforce themselves to live if Treachery had discretion enough to conceale it self Aristole did judiciously answer him who demanded what was the most difficult thing in the World when he said that it was to conceal that which was not fit to be made known since no man could be thought capable of keeping a secret but he who could indure a burning Coal upon his Tongue Indeed whatever is once known to three persons is quickly after made common to all for that each of them having an itching desire to speak of relateth it to his friend and so from one to another it comes to be published According to which History too hath recoreded many wicked designs closely contrived yet at length brought unto light Plutarch saith that in the Cyprian War one Aristocrates chief of the Messenians was the cause of their being cut in peeces by a notable peece of Treasons into which the desire of rule had ingaged him and that twenty years after it pleased God to permit
hatred into admiration Lucullus finding that the glory of his Triumph had laid him open to the hatred of some leading men in the Common-wealth withdrew himself from the management of Publick affairs to spend the time in studying of Arts but he was instantly intreated by the wiser sort not to follow his own inclinations in that particular and at such a time for it was not unknown that he was only able to curb the ambition of Pompey And Augustus as Suetonius reporteth did often desire to quit the Empire when he found how difficult it was to deal with the people of Rome The Pope St. Gregory the Great in the like manner knowing that the course of his life did offend many persons who could not indure that his example should oblige them to live retiredly and reservedly and had designed to chuse another Pope in his place he declared to them that he for his part should be very much afflicted to find any storms arise in the Church upon his score and that he would much more willingly surrender the Government then see any Schism arise amongst them But this his modesty and humility represented him so venerable a person that those very men who did not resent his Government were obliged to acknowledge the greatnesse of his worth Lastly although it be commendable in a great States man to make shew of such moderation to the end he may silence that Envy to which he is exposed yet a King is bound to make some difficulty in ascenting to his retirement on such an occasion No Counsel can better bee followed then that of the wise man who said he who hath found a faithfull servant ought to cherish him like his Soul and to esteem him as a brother and it cannot be denied but that to deprive a Kingdome of the assistance and guidance of a Soul highly generous and understanding were to take away the Sun from it and to fill it with horrour and confusion The Imprisonment of the Duke de Vendosm and the Grand Prior of France his Brother at Blois IT had been little to the purpose barely to have imprisoned the Marshal de Ornano if some others too of the chief Complices had not been secured and especially the Grand Prior who was much to be feared he being a person of greater abilities to carry on a design then all the rest His Brother too the Duke of Vondosm was not to be neglected considering the intelligence which his Majesty had but newly received of his indeavours to withdraw the people from the obedience which they owe to his Crown That he had caused himself to be called Monsieur the Duke without any other Title That he had commanded this form of Prayer to be used in the Church Pro famulo tuo duce domino nostro That he had sundry times attempted by money to corrupt the Sieur de Cange then Lievtenant of the Castle of Nants That he felt the Pulse of the Nobility the Parliament and Chamber of Accompt that he might the better fortifie himself in the Province an intelligence which ought so much the more to be looked into in regard two brothers do not usually enter upon any great design but by a joynt consent that some pretensions they might have though weak ones upon Britain and that nothing doth sooner ingage great men in the Factions of a Court then Ambition Now although it was very needfull to arrest him yet it was difficult to be done in Brittain by reason of the great Power he held there so it was thought fit to withdraw him and ingage him to wait upon his Majesty upon some pretence or other No way was imagined to be more expedient for it then to work upon the Grand Prior by feeding him with hopes of the Admiralty concerning which he was to treat with the Sieur de Montmorancy or at least by perswading him that in case that charge were taken away as it was then intended he was the onely man who should have the Commission to discharge that Office These Proposals were made to him with so much addresse that they made sure of him and absolutely convinced him that there was not any suspicion in the least of him and the King going to Blois where it was not known that he intended to passe on any further his Majesty told him how glad he should be that the Duke of Vendosm would come to him so hee presently tooke upon himselfe to goe to him and to perswade him to come and pay all signes of obedience â—o his Majesty Some have said that hee being doubtfull lest his Majesty had already conceived some apprehensions against the Duke of Vendosm did demand assurance for his bringing him to his Majesty at Blois and that his Prudence returned such an answer which though it obliged him to nothing yet it gave the Grand Prior satisfaction enough to ingage the Duke to undertake the journey I passe my word to you quoth the King as is reported that he may come to me and that he shall have no more hurt done him then your self though for my part I cannot but much doubt of this particular passage but true it is he went from the Court and shortly after brought the Duke his Brother with him to Blois where his Majesty received them with so many embraces and endearments that they could not in the least suspect the resolution which was taken for securing of their persons Before I proceed to the manner of their being taken I cannot but observe how very recessary it is that the Chief Offices of the administration be supplied with persons of courage as well as of Integrity The King sent for the seal to the Lord Chancelor Haligie the very same day that the Grant Prior went to fetch the Duke of Vendosme The Honestie of his Minister was not unknown to all the world but it could not be denied that his mind was low and full of fear which he did sufficiently make appear wen as upon the taking of the Marshal d'Ornano he had not the courage to justifie his Majesties counsels in that particular before Monsieur although the thing it self were one of the most important accidents that had a long time happened for the good of the State This passion of timerousness is a very improper quality in a supream Minister of Justice who is bound to make head against all wickedness and not only that but also to use courage and force to resist and overcome it this was it which obliged his Majesty to take the seal from him and to intrust it with the Sieur de Marillac superintendent of the treasury whose loyaltie was then in great credit amongst all well affected men and who had testified a great deal of resoluteness in the dispatch of those affairs which presented themselves unto him The super-intendency was bestowed on the Monsieur d'Effiat whose judgment and discret conduct was well known in sundry occasions particularly in the late affair of the Match with England
ALthough it be expedient to detect the chief contrivers of a compiracy either against the Publique quiet or their Kings person yet wise Politicians have not thought it proper to prey too exactly into all the complices or the plot it self if any great number of potent leading men have ingaged in it It being to be feared least either their quality or number might draw others in or that the pretences of their design might be so specious that many persons might be concerned in it who never knew at all the true depth of the business It was upon this accompt that the Senate of Rome condemned Lucius Vectius and Tarquinius for discovering that Caesar and Cressus were parties in Catalines conspiracie it being by them feared and that with reason least a greater number who were admirers of those two eminent persons might betake themselves to the same party A little dissembling upon such an occasion will be more then the strictest inquisition as Pompey made appear upon Sertorius his death for Perpenna having sent him a great chest full of Letters which the Romans had sent to Sertorius ingaging themselves in his quarrel he would not read one of them but cast them all into the fire fearing least instead of one Sertorius twenty might spring up in Rome when they should find themselves discovered and for his part it was not his desire to force or oblige them by violence to unite themselves together for their own defence Thus Alexander having intercepted some of Darius his letters by which he had incouraged certain Grecians of his own Army to kill him was in a great doubt whether he should suppresse or discover them at least to those to whom they were directed but having asked Parmenios advise in the business he was counselled not to speak of it to any one whatever because in a multitude there are never wanting some seditious persons who only lack a head and prop to make the wickednes of their hearts apparent and are naturally so base-minded that the bare report of a Faction is ground enough to ingage them in it Certain Broyles sprung up in the Court of England by the ill Counsel of some of the Queens household THe Court of France was not the only Scean of Factions England was no lesse pestered with imbroyles by those divisions which happened between the King and Queen but ended by the returning into France all the Queens officers though by the Articles of marriage it had been concluded That her Majesty should be attended by officers who were French and Catholiques But it was most certain the English never intended long to keep them which they sufficiently shewed by the entertainment given them at Dover where they could hardly get meat for their mony and soon after their arrival they laid hold on several occasions to put what that had concluded on in execution It is reported that some Ecclesiastiques and women did sow jealousies and discontents between the King and Queen which exasperated the King very much against them whereupon the Duke of Buckingham designed that his Wife Sister and Niece might be her Bed-chamber Women which being contrarie to the Articles of Marriage which did prohibit any to bear office in the Queen's Family who were not Catholiques it was denied him which angered him the more in regard he had used to dispose of all affairs in England with a great deal of Authority It was indeed proposed not long after to do that Honour to his Mother who was a Catholique and to his Wife who was that way inclined but he being unsatisfied with it did from that time forward use his utmost endeavours to foment and revenge it But it is on the other side reported that Madam de Cheuureuse discontented in the French Court and having got a good acquaintance in England blew the Coales of this division only to be revenged and withal that Buckingham was much blamed by the Parliament of England for having admitted of divers Articles the Treaty of Marriage which were prejudicial to the Religion of the Country and threatned to be called to an accompt for a vast summe of mony which was pretended he had diverted to his own use Now to satisfie the Parliament who are of great power in England he made it his business to fall upon the Catholiques especially the Queens officers and all that he might testifie to the Parliament how he would conform himself to their pleasure in every thing But he was vexed most of all when he went into Holland upon some affairs with design to passe to the Court of France and the King gave the King of England to understand that he did not like of the Journy The Earle of Holland too did not a little set on those divisions for that the French who were neer the Queen had hindred him from being over-seer of her Majesties Revenue and had perswaded her to bestow that place upon the Bishop of Mande which exasperated him very much so that he made use of his power both with the King and Bukingham to drive on the business to such a height that it was at last concluded that all her Majesties officers should be returned into France which was accordingly performed and about the beginning of August they were forced to crosse the Sea Politique Observation IT is Common upon the marrying of great Princesses with a Forraign King to give them officers of their own Country but it is seldome seen that they continue any long time neer them It cannot be avoided but that there will jealousies and heart burnings arise between them and the Natives of the Country concerning their enjoying those offices which they believe are due to themselves which jealousie doth usually raise such storms that their ruine is included in it but admit no jealousie did arise yet the meer diversity of their language and Customes were enough to create differences and divisions between them Forraign officers cannot forbear discoursing together in their own language which createth suspitions in those who understand it not By reason of the diversity of their fashions they laugh at one another which commonly breeds quarrels between them and withall let a man be never so complaisant in his humour yet there is alwayes a jealous eye upon them that they contrive some thing against the State Of this there are divers examples in all times as particularly in the raign of Francis the first in which Bellay reporteth that Affairs were very much imbroyled by strangers instancing the Bishop of Liege the Prince of Orange the Marquis of Mantua and Andreas Doria hence Bodin in his Commonwealth doeth much blame the Venetians for admitting of all kind of strangers amongst them Lypsius observeth That as when many crickets come into a house it is one assured sign of their sodaine destruction so when a great multitude of strangers shall live in a Nation it is a certain Index of some revolution neer at hand Indeed they have not usually any great deal of affection
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
but the Duke sent in all hast to demand it of his Holyness When the Marquis de Chaumont came thither It was not as yet arrived but hourly expected and though it was not brought but only a very few minuts before his death yet the Marquis of Strigio who knew how necessary it was for the State of affairs told the Prince de Rethelois and the Princess Maria that they must forthwith marry or else be assured never to enjoy the States of Mantua It was a business of so great importance that it would admit of no longer consultation so that it was concluded and married they were about nine in the night on Christmasse Eve the marriage was consummated and not long after the news of Duke Vincents death was brought unto them This accident was of very great concern to the Duke de Nevers Who without it might perchance never have enjoyned the Dukedom of Mantua At that present he was in France but hearing of it he took post and about the end of January came to Mantua where finding all things according to his own desire he took proffession of the State and the Marquis de Chaumont return'd back to France He passed by Thurin and used new endeavours to perswade the Duke of Savoy to an accommodation but it would not be yet he served the King in this occasion by withdrawing divers of the Nobility of Dauphine from the Duke of Savoy's Army who had ingaged themselves with him not knowing his design was upon Montferrat which the Duke hearing of was much offended and told him it would not be safe for him to stay any longer in Turin Politique Observation THat Prudence which obligeth all Soveraigns to provide against such accidents as may trouble the present State of their affairs doth equaly direct them to make sure of such remedies as may prevent the future disturbance of their Peace and quiety which cannot safely be effected without the assurance of an Hair to succeed Augustus affordeth us a memorable example in this particular who governing an Empire not Hereditary would however joyn with himself some one of his nearest kindred in the conduct of affairs to the end that ingratiating himself with the Senators Souldiers and people he might by that means seem to deserve the Soveraignity For this reason it was according as Tacitus hath well observed that he finding himself destitute of Sons and that Fortune had taken from him first Marcus Agrippa and afterwards Cajus and Lucius his Nephews advanced Tiberus who though he had a Son then grown up he caused to adopt Germanicus to the succession of the Empie and this he did as the Historian observes that the Crown might be assured upon divers supports By this means he cut off the Senators hopes of reforming the State into a Republique and from his Enemies the means of aspiring to the Crowns Adrian in the like manner seeing he had not any Sons which exposed him to the fury of some ambitious mind or other who for the Empires sake might be perswaded to attempt upon his Person adopted Antoninus and also required that Antoninus should in the like manner he having no Sons neither nominate two more successours as Dion hath observed in his life and all this was with intent that they who were to succeed in the Empire might be alwayes ready to receive it and to prevent his Enemies from attempting against his person in hopes to obtain it for themselves To how many misfortunes have they who have been defective in this Care exposed their Countries Jane the second Queen of Napels dying without nominating her successour d' Anâ—ou whom she had once named being deceased before her left her Kingdome cruelly torn in pieces by War and him whom she least of all desired to inherit after her It is very rarely seen that a Kingdome changeth its Family without great wars and that Prince whom God hath not blessed with Children will find many attempts made upon his person whence it follows that he who would secure his Life and State from misfortunes ought betimes to appoint his successour to keep him near to him with Honour to instruct him in all affairs but not to admit him unto the partaking of the Soveraignity for that were to cure one evil by a greater seeing the ambition which usually attendeth young Princes might perchance ingage him in some ill design to be master of it before his time Cabals of the Duke de Rohan in Languedoc and the Succours wrought by means of the Duke de Soubize his brother in England for the Rochelois THE Duke de Rohan was by his brother assured of the English assistance and long before their landing in Ree he did nothing but contrive Cabals in Languedoc that he might place Consuls for his own turn in the Hugonot Towns and engage considerable persons in his private interests Presently after their landing he openly declared himself strengthned his party with Men perswaded some places to rise and sollicited others to do the like He gave them great hopes of high and mighty advantages by the inundation of strangers and he provoked them the more by insinuating into them the ruin of their Religion and divers other imaginary evils That he mâ—â—ht the better strik these Panick fears into them he sent them a Manifest filled with all those specious apparencies mentioned in the beginning of this year But may it not be said that he imitated those Pirates who seeming to instruct the course which Ships ought to keep in the Sea set up Lanthorns upon the tops of Rocks to draw Pirates thither and so to wrack them For thus did he lay before the sight of them who were sufficiently enclined to â—action diverse seemingly fair reasons of the preservation of their party and Religion by which means he drew them into that revolt and engaged them in those misfortunes which have since been the cause of the ruining of their Towns and of levelling their Wals and fortifications with the ground Now that he might the more strictly bind the Hugonot towns to his designs he â—ound means to make an assembly in the Viâ—e d'Vsez where diverse of their Deputies met together and as he had no lesse eloquence then courage he perswaded them to whatever he had a mind to They approved of those succours which he had negotiated in England as just and necessary they commended his prudence and zeal and gave him a thousand thanks for it But this was not all They assured him not to enter into any Treaty of Peace with his Majesty without the King of Englands consent and his own in particular Hereupon they deputed some of the most seditious of their faction to go to the Towns of Languedoc and Guyennâ— withal they writ to those of Dauphine and Vivarez to encourage them to unite with them for the good of the cause They drew up a form of oath to be sworn by the Consuls the Governours of Towns Lords and Gentlemen who would engage with
from all parts and his Majesty had the pleasure to behold with what eagernesse every one desired to be engaged with the Enemies Hereupon the English Fleet seeing the Sea smooth and their Ships mooved with a fair Gale came up toward his Majesties Fleet about Cannon distance turned about their Ships and discharged their Broad-sides the like did the Rochellois and the Kings Ships were not long before they set out to receive them where they behaved themselves with such courage that the English had no reason to believe they had lesse resolution now then they had lately shewen at the I le of Re that which most of all troubled them was they were not ignorant with what obstacles they were to encounter in the Channels that they were to break through three Rayles two of Vessels floating on the Sea and linked together by Chains and Anchors and a third several Vessels filled with stones and sunk before the Bank the Channel too was covered all over with Vessels full of Souldiers and Voluntiers of the Nobility all eager of fighting with them besides they were to avoyd the shot which would thunder in upon them from both sides of the shore by the Bank al these difficulties made them dispair of doing any good upon it and that time the water was too low for their Ships in which their chief strength consisted and their design could not be excused but at high-water because when the Sea began to ebb their Vessels of burden would remain as the mercy of his Majesties great Guns insomuch that all things duely considered they concluded it impossible for them to break thorough On the other side the Rochelois who had promised them to Sally out and do miracles did not appear at all for they had found that it would be impossible to make way thorough to the Bank there being so many Vessels full of Souldiers Volunteers to be fought with insomuch that the Earl of Denbigh what out of anger and what out of despair resolved to draw off many complaints he made against the Rochellois as that they had deceived the King his Master in assuring him that it was easie to passe into their Port and not informing him of those obstacles which he was to provide against and with forces the King of France had a board his Ships Vessels to fight with his Souldiers but yet al his complaints could not secure him from being much blamed all that he did before his going off was he had sent out a Fire-ship with Petards and the like from which he expected great matters as that it would burn all the Ships it came neer but it happene to work sooner then his enginers imagined so that they being unable to get of the Barque which was fastened to it they burnt their Vessels and themselves without any relief or succour Politique Observation IT is unsafe to believe a unrevolted people or to build any designe upon their promises They themselves do commonly ground all their rebellions upon vain hopes of which being despoiled they have present recours to such from whom they can expect assistance without considering into how great disasters and to what little purpose they engage them They want fore-cast to prevent those inconveniencies into which they are throwing of themselves and Friends and they judge of events by their own desires rather then by the rules of War They never misdoubt of a good successe in that which they wish with passion as nothing is so dangerous as rashnesse which carrieth people blindfold into disasters so they frequently fall into those misfortunes which they did not foresee and in it ruine all those whom they have perswaded to become companions of their enterprises Artaxerxes suffered himself to be guided by the fair words of Themistocles who being discontented with his own Countrey perswaded him to a War against Greece where being arrived he soon found Themistocles could not make good his word to him whereby he came exposed to many dangers Themistocles indeed was so ashamed of it that he poisoned himself but what did that advantage Artaxerxes's It neither defended him from the discredit and blame nor saved him those expences which he had bin at In the same manner the Sieur de Chaumont one of our Kings Generals in Italy let himself be guided by Bentivoglio in the assalting of Boulognea from whence he had bin banished upon the hopes he gave him that the Citizens and Nobility would revolt but being come before it he was forced to retire with dishonor all those promises of Bentivoglio which were founded more upon his passionate desire than reason being vanished into that ayr which gave him the first conceipts of them I might add for another reason the facility wherewith a people revolted do submit to their soveraigns when they find themselves reduced to an impossibility of executing their designes For as they have not prudence enough to foresee those dangers into which they run neither have they generousnesse enough to observe their promises made upon any accompt whatever Thus Alexander King of Epire invaded Italy upon some assurances which a revolted people called the Lucani at this day inhabiting the Basilicate of Naples had given him of a speedy subduing the whole Kingdome and that they would never forsake him but he soon found it quite otherwise For they having made their Peace with the rest of their Country-men to enjoy their goods and liberties upon condition that they slew him forthwith fell upon him and by an extream breach of Faith killed him which might serve all Princes to beware how they credit a revolted rebellious people both because they will usually promise more then they can perform feign and pretend several impostures to draw any one in to their assistance and last of all if they find it for their advantage make their own accommodation and leave those whom they engaged with them to shift for themselves The English having attempted their utmost to relieve Rochel resolve to depart THE sodain departure of the English pass'd for a miracle not only amongst the most Religious but the wise too and indeed it was apparent to be seen that Heaven it self did fight against them and would that his Majesty should be victorious over them his thoughts being accompanied with so much Piety and Justice And was it not indeed a miracle to see so great a Fleet set sayl from England with undanted courages resolve to consume whatever should oppose them and on a sodain seized with fear insomuch that their Armes seemed to drop out of their hands and they could not be perswaded to fight was it not indeed a real miracle that on the third night after their arrival in the Road of the Chef de Bay the Wind being favourable for the Rochellois to sally out according as had bin assigned between them should presently turn about and that just as they were at the Oar was it not I pray an absolute miracle that when at another time
the same Rochelois were embarqued after the exhortations of their Ministers and their Captains had solemnly sworn to passe the Bank in dispight of all opposition or die in the attempt just then they should be struck with such faint heartednesse that not a man durst stir his hand and their Minister Vincent who exhorted them could no longer speak unto them as himself confessed in a Letter to a Friend of his was not that a real miracle which hapened two dayes before the English departed when there fell so thick a myst that one could hardly see his hand which opportunity they intended to make use of to force the Bank and on a sudden to see it dissipated though it was thought that it would have lasted three hours at least and the wind which was at that time fair to change about and that into so violent a storm that one of their Vessels was forced on shore neer Pont de la Pierre Was it not miraculous to see the Kings Army clear from all contagious diseases notwithstanding that the Rochelois had often sent out infected persons on purpose to infect others Was it not strange that the Sea should grow so rough at the first laying the foundation for the Bank and break it open without doing any other hurt then enlarging of the ground-work a thing necessary in it self and too narrow to uphold so great a bulk And besides was it not a miracle that whilest the Bank was not yet finished the Sea Floods which yeeld to nothing should not do any hurt to it They who are eye-witnesses of so many wonders could not but confesse that Heaven fought for his Majesty and that the Winds which observe nothing but inconstancy were by God subjected to him to become favourable to his designs Who can refuse to acknowledge these things to be the effects of Gods extraordinary power for his Majesty at the same time did a great and evident miracle upon a child of 12 years old who never having spoke word onely Ay and No spake perfectly as soon as ever the King had touched her She was born at St. Jean de Angely and brought by her Parents who confidently beleeved that she would be well if his Majesty did but touch her Politique Observation THE Piety of a King avails much in the obtaining of Victorie Who can doubt it seeing God is the Authour of them and that Piety is a charm which captivates him as the Royal Prophet hath said To hear the Prayers of them who fear him and to defend them from their enemies Antiquity used to say according to Plutarch that Fortune gave to Demetrius those Towns which he took in Nets of Gold Mercurius Tresmegistus saith that he whose Piety puts him into Gods protection is not easily surprised by any ambush and St. Augustine writeth in his Book de Civit. Dei That the Romans had not been Masters of the Universe by Force and Prudence but by the Virtue and Piety which they practised The Victories they obtained being the rewards of their deserts indeed Justice and Piety are the strongest weapons a Soveraign can imploy to suppresse his enemies And if any one ask the reason of it I shall onely alledge this that Piety renders them worthy to obtain Victories from the hand of God who hath promised in a thousand places of holy Writ to imploy his power in the behalf of those Kings which are righteous And how often hath God made the Winds and Tempests to fight their Battels who have been carefull to walk in his ways How often hath he opened inaccessible places to them and calmed the Sea for their sakes Hath it not been often seen that an handfull of men by his assistance have brought strong Armies to confusion and became Masters of places thought to be impregnable To speak truly nothing is so strong so powerfull so invincible nor so generous as that valour which marching under the Banners of Christian Piety submiteth its self to Gods protection the true strength of all Christian Princes And as it were in vain to seek for Light without the Sun Water without Fountains or Rivers and heat without fire so it would be ridiculous to expect true strength from any other then his protection who is the God of Battels The more a Prince is in favour with him the more courage will he give him especially when he fighteth for his glory and this is a maxime which may serve for a foundation to the happinesse of all Kings and who so observeth it not buildeth his designs upon the sand Alphonsus King of Sicily and Arragon taught his son Ferdinand in such terms as were very proper to be learned by all young Princes in their infancy It was then when he sent him to revenge the injuries which he had received from the Florentines Behold his words My son said he That which I chiefly command you is Trust not so much upon your souldiers courages as upon your hopes of assistance from Heaven learn to day from me Victory is not the effect of the Discipline or industry of men but of Gods power who is the judge of Battels The Military Art can never assure of an happy successe in our designs if we be once defective in making God our friend by the Piety and Innocence of our actions In fine all the maxims of War not link'd with the Laws of God are weak foundations and all the fortunes which are not grounded upon him who turns the Globe of the Earth with his hand are nearer to destruction then advancement The Greeks though brought up in the darknesse of errour did they not design to teach us when in their fables it was said that Mercury who was adored by them for the God of Prudence was nursed by the hours For to what end was it if not to teach their people that all humane wisedome if not regulated nor sustained by the measures of Heaven could not have any nourishment or subsistance The Dissentions amongst the Rochelois upon the Departure of the English THE departure of the English cast the Rochelois into such despair that they had doubtlesse set open the Gates to his Majesty so much were the inferiour sort oppressed with necessity and want had it not been for the Dutchesse of Rohan and the exhortations of their Preachers who never ceased from crying out unto the people that they never ought to despair of assistance from Heaven which never forsaketh them who are the Protectors of the Gospel There presently did arise great dissentions between them but the prevalent party imprisoned some and executed others whom they found disposed to an accommodation insomuch that from that time the poor people were ready to perish by famine and durst not complain of it They were perswaded of a new succour from England for the procuring of which they sent new Deputies to his Majesty of Great Brittain with instructions to incite him upon the score of honour representing to him that he could not suffer their
bodies and some perswaded the mothers to embrew their hands in the blood of their innocent Babes for their present nourishment Had it not been seen it would hardly have been beleeved that after such extremities they should long hold out however they remained obstinate so that his Majesties justice guided by his prudence obliged him to prohibit the coming out of any of them yet how ill soever they were dealt with by his Majesties troops when they came to the trenches diverse of them daily came out which were still beat back again It is true for their greater confusion the men were driven back again naked and the Women in their smocks forcing them with forks and lathes to return as for those who attempted to passe the trenches in the night or by any other devise they were all hanged without mercy if it were their misfortunes to be discovered because some of them hand been taken with Letters and Tickets to hasten on the relief from England and this prudent Severity was at last the true case of their repentance Politick Observation IT is an equitable cruelty to hinder the besieged from running out of a Town when their necessities begin to presse upon them If the War be lawfull their deaths must needs be just It is true in point of sieges the inhabitants are first to be gained by kindnesse but when perswasions will not do force and rigour ought to be made use of and this ought to be done with the lesse difficulty in regard the death of Rebels doth well suit with Justice and the publick good Famine is one of the chief weapons which forceth a Town in a long siege It is that which takes them where the Artillery cannot make breaches or ruines enough to force a surrender Now as this Famine is augmented by their number he who shall suffer them to get out and avoid the necessity which presse upon them acteth against himself and depriveth himself of the most assured means to take them The more people that are in a besieged Town the sooner will their victuals be consumed and they sooner reduced to famine and then follows death in its hideous and deformed visage producing every day spectacles of horrour which they who have any reason and find a necessities of being forced had much rather surrender then behold famine makes the weapons fall out of their hands The Emperour Aurelian speaking of the Roman people said Nothing is so gay as they are when their Bellies are full and their bones at rest and on the contrary nothing so cowardly as when they are reduced to want and penury Who knows not what violences they use upon the Magistrate to free them of this necessity Hath it not been heretofore seen that in a time of Famine the Roman people went after the Emperour Claudius injuriously reviling him and throwing crusts of bread at his head and they of Constantinople did they not in a great dearth throw stones at their Emperour Theodosius the first The people do become so furious by famine that nothing can hold them and as they prefer nothing before life they at last resolve to force their Officers to open their Gates and surrender Indeed they are the more excusable for it in regard necessity is become their reason the power whereof is unsupportable either by one or the other The miseries of Rochel by Famine THE common people of Rochel had indured great miseries from the beginning of May however the hopes they had of succour from England perswaded the best provided amongst them to sow all sorts of little grain as Pease Beans Barley and the like about their Walls in all their spare places it was discretion in the Kings party to let them alone in it but a great imprudence in them to dis-furnish themselves of that whereof they had such present necessity and were likely to have much more in a very little time They had indeed the pleasure to behold what they sowed to spring up and grow but just when they thought to gather the fruits of their labours the Kings Army came up and cut all down and so deprived them of the refreshment which they expected from it Politique Observation THE usual rule in Sieges is to keep the besieged close up and to deprive them of all kind of liberty for by consequence liberty which is one of the most delightfull things in mans life being once stopped becomes very displeasing and is a sufficient reason to perswade those who are under that restraint to do any thing for the inlargement of it However this rule admitteth of some exception and ought not to be used when a besieged people pretend to sow any grain or the like about their City Walls For as the Corn which they put into the earth doth not a little diminish their main stock so the freedome which is permitted them thus to cast it away serveth the sooner to bring them to want and famine and so to surrender The chief end in long sieges is to famish the besieged and as the sowing of their ground doth not a little contribute thereunto so Prudence forbiddeth that they should be hindred in their work and indeed commandeth that they should rather be invited and allured to it by winking at them if they attempt it For this reason it was that Fabius Maximus having depopulated and wasted all the Country of the Campani retired about seed-time that he might give them the liberty of decreasing their store by sowing which he never intended they should reap which happened accordingly for comming upon them before Harvest they were easily famished and forced to surrender The Rochelois Salley out upon his Majesties Forces THough there was but a handfull of men in Rochel compared with his Majesties Army yet the mutinous humour which transported them incouraged the inhabitants to make divers Sallies It is true they made fewer then had been seen in any so great siege in hopes that the English would come and force open the Bank but however some they made and those great ones but were repulsed with losse It was the Sieur de Fouquierres mishap to be taken Prisoner by them in one of their Sallies which they made about the beginning of the year there were divers of theirs too taken which were kept in durance for exchanges if occasion should be and they of the City had notice given unto them that in case they did him any injury his Majesty would cause all his Prisoners of theirs to be hanged without mercy so they dealt civilly with him and when their Victuals began to grow scarce they permitted one of his servants to bring him some every day from the Camp Their insolency likewise carried them to make several Sallies by Sea especially upon the arrival of those ships from Bourdoaux which they attempted to have fired but they had never any good successe in them onely once they took a small Galliot which belonged to the Sieur de Thoyras the Cardinals care and diligence
they had contrived to let them in by a great Tower which stood in the Sea belonging to the Sieur de Briqueville as also into the Town and Haven de Vire in hopes that they of their party who were at Caen Falaise and other adjacent places would rise in a body together and so force the King to leave Rochel that he might retake these places of so great importance Politique Observation REbels at their first rising may perchance get some advantages either by intelligences in strong Towns or surprisal of those which are but ill kept but in fine they do moulter away and are reduced to nothing It were to be wished that before they attempted any thing they did but know what is the true Reason hereof which it this they are to seek for those things which are necessary to continue a War with good successe for the beginning there need little or nothing but those beginnings must of necessity terminate in disasters if he who is the first mover have not store of Forces and power to recruite them if he be not furnished with expert Officers and Treasures if he have not very good intelligences with the Lords Princes bordering upon those places which he pretendeth to assault lastly if himself too be not endewed with a soul courage truly great that he ought of necessity to have Forces and power to recuit himself cannot be doubted because otherwise his soveraign will presently crush him the inconstancie of his Souldiers will by disbanding leave him naked and sicknesses will help to take away some too so that in fine he will be reduced to nothing if he cannot repair his losses by recruits and new fresh Regiments That which gave the Romans such advantage over other Nations was first their discipline of War but secondly their Numbers now the means used to get such great Armies was to exercise those Enemies whom they had overcome in their Militia as Tacitus observeth on the Life of the Emperour Claudian and on the other side the Lacedemonians and Athenians not entertaining any Strangers though by them subjugated never brought any great considerable Armies for number into the field and consequently could never attain unto so great an Empire Next to the great numbers of Souldiers which he ought to have comes Treasures without which it is impossible to prevent an Army from wanting victuals clothes and necessaries and by consequence from disbanding Quintus Flaminius seeing Philopoemon Captain of the Grecians with a great Army both of Horse and Foot but without any mony laughed at him he hath indeed quoth he store of Legs and Arms but no Belly meaning by like that he wanted wherewithal to feed them Caesar how great a Souldier soever and how valiant soever his Souldiers were brake open the Treasure Gate at Rome contrary to Motellus the Tribunes will for he wisely foresaw that it would be impossible to give a good account of the War without he were provided with store of Treasures Next of all I come to expect Officers who are not lesse needful because they are as the soul of the Souldiers and as it is true that a Body cannot move without it's soul neither can any Souldiers do any thing considerable if not conducted by the example of their Commanders and instructed how where and when they ought to fight And then ought he to hold good intelligence too with the Grandees and those places which border upon that part which he designeth to attaque for otherwise his Convoyes will be stopped every day will make some hole in his Coat and they will serve for retreits to his Enemies to contrive Ambushes and designs against him For this Reason it was that James King of Scotland contriving to make War upon Henry the eighth King of England was careful to hold intelligence with the English who else might have endangered and troubled his Forces that Hannibal assaulting the Romans first made sure of the Spaniards French and Africans and that the Romans bending their powers against Philip of Macedon first sent their Ambassadors to make a League with Ptolomei King of Egypt Lastly and most especially he himself ought to be of a genius and courage every way truely extraordinary for every day he must be exposed to new dangers the successe of the greatest part of his affairs will depend upon his own prudence and addresse the least distrust or fear that shall appear in him will drive away whole troops from him extraordinarie designs requiring a proportionate conduct to carrie them on in regard Revolts have the more need of Fortunes assistance because they are the most hazardous exploits in which a man can ingage never any mean Low heart arrived to any good succusse or Fortune by them These are the chief things necessary for a great enterprise and they that engage themselves without these do rashly run the hazard of their own destruction It is only by the want of these supports that so many Authors of Revolt have gone out with shame and confusion Divers Religious persons settled in the Hugonot Provinces by the Cardinal's diligence and industrie THE Cardinal was not idle though he had weakned the Hugonot Towns diminished their power and clipt the wings of their Rebellion but he endenvoured at the same time their conversion To this end his Majesty was perswaded to settle divers Preachers and Religious persons who behaved themselves with great zeal and courage The Cardinal was not indeed lesse expert at Theology then Policy so it was unreasonable but that he should be stil careful as well at this as at his Arms. His Piety let him so seek out occasions for it and having at last found out by divers conferences which he had with the Duke of Trimouille that he was not averse from being instructed he himself would needs take the pains to become the chief instrument of his conversion He bestowed divers houres of his leasure time to that purpose and there being nothing which is equal to his doctrine and the clearnesse of his soul he soon discovered such lights to him as quickly cleared all his doubts and dissipated those mists which error had laid upon his eyes The Duke of Trimouille converted to the Catholique Faith by Monsieur the Cardinal THE Duke of Trimouille was a person very moderate and temperate in all his actions his very youth was without heat and passion neither had he any of the pride and insolency which is too usual with those of his birth and as moderate sober men are more desirous of instruction then the contrary sort so he was contented to be guided by the hand of God yet would he see the truth and first be convinced of certain scruples and difficulties which did arise in which till then he could not be satisfied but having bin so happy as to be instructed by the Cardinal it was the easier for him to see and leave his error in regard the incomparable soul of this grand Minister did so
to their Princes Interests by sure and strong obligations when things are once at this pass there is no danger well may the people grumble and stir but all will soon end in nothing They are then like Ivy which indeed grows close together but yet creeps on the ground or like the Boughs of Trees newly cut off which bear no fruit and in two or three days wither to nothing or like a Ship which though it have a Mast Cords and Sails yet without a skilfull Pilot she runs at randome where-ever the Winds will carry her and at last dashes upon some Rock and is there split in peeces Or I may well compare them to those lofty raging storms which for a time seem to threaten Heaven but at last weary out themselves upon the sides of the Rocks which are not moved at it or to those thick black Clouds which hang in the Ayr and are driven by the Winds this way and that way but are soon dissipated by the weakest Rays of the Summers Sun The Chief is the Head amongst a mutinous rabble who if once he leave them they have no more life or motion then a Carkasse He is the Primum mobile who draweth them after him like so many little Stars and he is called their Head onely in consideration that as the parts of the body are without motion or life if that be â—â—ken off so are they without him unable to go or stand His Majesty entreth into Usez Nismes and other Towns with the Edict of Peace SOon after the accommodation was concluded his Majesty made his entrance into Vsez and Nismes to the great joy of the inhabitants During his stay there he caused an Edict to be published containing that Order which he required to be observed in all the Hugonot Towns who untill that time denied the exercise of the Catholick Religion amongst them He pardoned the Sieurs de Rohan Soubize and all others who had born Arms under them He ordained that the Roman Catholick and Apostolick Religion should be established in every place That the Goods of the Church which had been taken away should be restored to the Ecclesiasticks together with their houses Churches and Monasteries that every Parish should be provided with good and able Curates And in fine that the Religion pretended to be Reformed should be allowed as free exercise But to secure them from all future Revolts the Fortifications of all their Towns and strong Holds were to be rased and thrown down onely leaving them their Walls standing and that for security of their Peace and good behaviour until their works were demolished accordingly they should deliver Hostages unto his Majesty to be by him kept untill the execution of it This Edict being thus finished and according to the Articles and Conditions which had been agreed on gave a great deal of satisfaction to the Hereticks who all of them now thought on nothing else but to live in Peace and Quiet excepting those of Montauban who proud of their strong Walls became so insolent that they refused to accept of those conditions which the rest had with so great joy and gladnesse They imagined themselves able a second time to resist his Majesties forces but considered not how things were altered and that affairs were not now managed as formerly they were how that his Majesty had by a Prudence eternally happy for France committed the Conduct of all things to the Cardinal who had furnished him with all the means of taking Rochel a place lately thought impregnable who had broken all the designs of Spain who had repulsed the English force so often who in one hours discourse had reced the Prince of Piedmonts Spanialized soul to become absolute French wo had perswaded the Duke of Savoy to whatever he had a mind and upon whose onely word all the rest of the Hugonot Towns were resolved to have suffered their Walls and Fortifications to be demolished and thrown down The obstinacy of the Town was such that his Majesty thought himself obliged to go before it that he might overcome it with force seeing no fair means would work upon it But the Cardinal considering how the sicknesse began in the Army and in divers Towns of Languedoc beseeched his Majesty not to hazard his person which was of greater concern to France then any other thing whatever and that he would be pleased to leave him to fight with the rest of this Rebellion with much ado his Majesty was at last overcome and resolved to return to Paris as he did after he had in six moneths time taken Suze saved Cazal forced Privas and reduced the most part of the Hugonot Towns under his obedience Politique Observation HEresie and Obedience are inconsistent with one another whilest there is any hopes left of force The Poets seem to have alluded to it in a Fable which they tell of Juno who being angry that Jupiter had gotten Pallas on himself she would needs breed something on her self too but instead of a Child she brought forth Typhon a mighty ugly Serpent who making War against Jupiter himself was looked on as a Monster of Rebellion just so it is with Heresie who having seperated it self from God who in his Church begetteth children full of respect and obedience would needs have children of its own but what are they Children of revolt and incapable of any subjection never did a perfect Heretick yet love his King And I wonder who can doubt or think it strange that they are such enemies of Temporal seeing they cannot indure any spiritual Monarchy Heresie hath never any sound solid reasons or arguments to defend its beleef and therefore the next thing it flies to is force Besides they finding that Kings have both an Authority and Power to punish them und that they do allow and approve of the true Doctrine in all Schools which is in prejudice to their false Tenents they presently become their mortal enemies and do their utmost to shake off the yoke of their Obedience How many wars and jars have they raised on every hand of us No one but knoweth that the Arians filled all the East with troubles That the Macedonians raised a great party in Greece and that the Donatists put Affrick into confusion How many Revolts and Rebellions have been in processe of time set on foot in the West by the Iconomiques by the Albigeois by the Lutherans by the Calvinists France Germany England and Holland have been theaters where they have played their pranks They pretend that Gods cause and their Religion goeth hand in hand and they do therefore the easilier beleeve that Heaven will protect assist and go along with them and upon this ground-work do they build any insurrection revolt or rebellion But why do they not remember that the Laws of true religion published by the son of God himself do onely permit them to die or flie but never to break the ties of their obedience or to take up Arms against their