spoke ill of Father Chanteloube the Queen was not behind-hand with him in railing at the Cardinal and by the means of the Abbot of S. Germain her Secretary she publish'd every day bitter Satyrs against him several Volumes of which are still extant Towards the end of the year * the Cardinal of Lorrain came to Paris about his Brother's Affairs and to Treat of his own Marriage with the Neice of Cardinal Richlieu †Siri Ibid. P. 103. The Prince of Lorrain show'd a mighty desire to come to a speedy conclusion because the Interest of his Family requir'd it He obtain'd permission of the Unkle to visit his Neice whom he found to be extreamly agreeable So that now nothing more was left to doe than to come to Conditions on both sides Richlieu positively stuck to it That the Cardinal of Lorrain shou'd have a Hundred thousand Crowns per Annum settled upon him and the Cardinal of Lorrain Articled That in consideration of this Marriage they shou'd restore all the Places that had been taken from his Brother and leave every thing in the same condition as they found it The House of Lorrain hoped by this Match to be able to engage the King to own the Marriage of Monsieur with the Princess Margaret as good and valid But upon these Matters great difficulties arose on both sides The Duke of Lorrain had an inexpressible aversion to France and to the Cardinal which was the reason why they treated him so severely and was not of a temper to embrace any Party merely upon the account of its being the safest He had likewise great Disputes about the Confines of his Country with France which did her self Justice by force of Arms. The Cardinal of Lorrain had been Promis'd long before to a Princess of his own Family and Sister to the Durchess who if the other March went forward must be sent to a Monastery On the other side it was not very reputable for the King after he had been at so prodigious an Expence and had made so great a bustle to surrender all back again to the Duke of Lorrain only in consideration of making an Advantageous Marriage for the Neice of his Chief Minister Besides the Cardinal had reason to fear that the World wou'd surmise that he concluded his own Affairs at the King's Expence and that His Majesty wou'd entertain some jealous thoughts at his designing the Grandeur of his Family The Marriage too of the Duke of Orleans was no small obstacle since it was not probable that they wou'd wholly reconcile themselves to the House of Lorrain and at the same time continue to carry on the total destruction of it However this Alliance seemed so advantageous to the Cardinal that 't was generally believ'd he desir'd it although he answer'd the Prince of Lorrain coldly enough That his Neice was obstinately resolv'd to embrace a Religious Life and that it was not possible for him to alter her Inclinations But this was only an Artifice to secure himself the more of the Princes of Lorrain whom he looked upon not to be so cordial in this Affair as he desired to endeavour if he cou'd obtain of them more Advantageous Conditions but above all to see whether the House of Lorrain wou'd yield to deposite their best Places in the King's hands The Cardinal of Lorrain perceiving Richlieu's design resolved to use the same Policy and seem'd to be indifferent on his side by pretending to go to Lorrain to know his final Resolution there though at the same time he did not discontinue to sollicit this Affair privately at Court If they came to a conclusion he hoped by that means to procure better Conditions and if the Negotiation happen'd to be wholly broke off the Cardinal cou'd not complain of the House of Lorrain which had done him the honour to ask his Neice in Marriage As he was ready to depart the Cardinal-Duke sent him word That in a Months time he shou'd receive a Positive Answer whether Madam de Combalet resolved to Marry the second time or no. All the World was sensible that if her Unkle had thought it expedient for her to Marry again and especially one that was a Prince she wou'd never have wanted much entreaty but the Reasons above-mention'd stood in the way and hindred this Marriage from being concluded so hastily The Cardinal of Lorrain * The 20th of December parted at last without coming to any determination as to the Marriage he onely carried to the Duke his Brother the Restitution of the Revenues of the Dutchy of Bar and a Prorogation of Two Months for him to do Homage to the King for them All this while the Queen-Mother lived in no great amity with the Duke of Orleans through the indiscreet management of Father Chanteloube and Puilaurens who in stead of reconciling them made the breach wider and set them at a greater distance Thus the Mother and the Son who were incapable of finding out of themselves what was their true Interest became the sport of their Favourites who engaged them in all their quarrels and caprices But it happen'd unfortunately for the Queen-Mother and Gaston that the Persons that manag'd them fell infinitely short of Lewis's Minister in Politicks although perhaps they were not inferiour to him in Malice The Queen-Mother who had consented to the Match of the Princess Margaret prevail'd with her to perswade her Husband to Discard Puilaurens whom this Lady for her part did not love because he had talked of getting her Marriage dissolved But the Duke of Orleans wou'd not hear any mention of it although they represented to him That the Cardinal had half-gained him over to his Party 'T is certain that Minister had promised him one of his Relations to secure him against all dangers he might apprehend upon condition he wou'd influence Monsieur absolutely to throw himself upon the King's Bounty of which they promis'd he should find very surprising effects But they chiefly desired that he wou'd submit to His Majesty's good Pleasure in relation to his Marriage either by delivering his Spouse into his hands conformable to what her Brothers had Promised or by leaving her in Flanders if she wou'd not follow him into France It was likewise insisted upon That Puilaurens shou'd wholly disengage him from the Interests of the Queen-Mother as well as of the Spaniards Puilaurens had in a great measure brought over the Duke of Orleans to what was demanded of him but as this Prince was not able to conceal it from his Wife and his Mother the Queen reproached him with so scandalous a Treaty wherein Puilaurens onely consider'd how to obtain the Cardinal's Favour to the great prejudice of his Master Puilaurens perceiving that the Duke had changed his opinion attributed this Alteration to Father Chanteloube and the Queen-Mother with whom he talked about it with that Insolence which was peculiar to him but they requited his Language as he deserved The Spaniards openly espoused
received no manner of Answer from him and that no Promises had been ever made her but upon such hard Conditions that she could not comply with them The Ambassadour interrupted her and desired her Majesty to remember that the King had sent him in the Character of Ambassadour to the King of England but that he had not the Honour to be sent to her He added that if her Discourse tended to command him to write about her to France he desired her not to charge him with that Commission because he had no Order to meddle with any thing whatever it was that concerned her Majesty The Queen replied that then they had not forbidden him to do it and the Ambassadour made Answer That he had no Orders To this the Queen rejoyn'd That it signified nothing at all and that she requested him to listen to her That the Afflictions she had sustained since her Departure out of France had inspired her with quite different Sentiments from what she had when she quitted that Kingdom That she should think her self infinitely obliged if he would acquaint the Cardinal that she conjur'd him to deliver her out of this Misery and the necessity of begging her Bread That she long'd exceedingly to be near the King not to concern her self in the least with any Affairs but to pass the Remainder of her Life in Repose and Tranquillity and employ it in serving of God and thinking how to die well That if the Cardinal cou'd not obtain leave of the King for her to return to Court he wou'd at least get permission for her to live in some part of France where His Majesty thought convenient and there to provide for her Maintenance That she wou'd turn away all such out of her Service that were either hated or suspected by him and That she was ready to do all that the King order'd and the Cardinal counsell'd her to do That this was all she desir'd him to communicate to the Cardinal because she believed that some Persons who had undertaken to do it had not acquitted themselves faithfully in this Affair The Ambassadour answer'd that he wou'd never give her the same occasion to complain of him because he would not concern himself in her Business Upon this the Queen told him that this was the Stile of all Ambassadours who nevertheless were obliged to write all that was said to them and that she wou'd not fail to expect his Answer The Queen of England afterwards gave Belliévre to understand that they had pitch'd upon this way because the King had declared that he wou'd not have any Strangers interpose to accommodate Matters between him and his Mother The Ambassadour still continued to say as before that he had no Authority to concern himself in this Affair but for all that * By a Letter dated the 25. of December writ to the Cardinal to inform him what the Queen-Mother had said to him The End of the Fifth Book THE HISTORY Of the FAMOUS Cardinal de RICHLIEV VOL. II. BOOK VI. Containing the most Remarkable Passages of his Life from the Year 1639. till his Death year 1639 THE Cardinal having received Belliévre's Letters was no more mov'd with pity towards his old Benefactress than by the other Steps she had formerly made to reconcile her self to him * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 640. The natural Inclination that Women have to Revenge the Humour of the Queen-Mother in particular who dissembled her Indignation so much the more as she appeared to humble herself before the Minister and who if she were in France wou'd not fail to discover to the King all that he conceal'd from him and lastly the implacable Malice of the Cardinal himself who seldom quitted what had once fully possess'd him determin'd him to reject all Offers which this afflicted Princess caused to be made to him and as for the King he had not of a long while thought fit to deliberate upon any thing which he saw was not approved by this Minister Thus the Cardinal having dictated a Letter in the King's Name to Cheré his Secretary his Majesty signed it He pretended that before he had read an Extract of Belliévre's Dispatches concerning the Propositions which the Queen-Mother had made to him he had told the Council of his own proper motion that he believed there was no longer room to rely upon the fair Words of the Queen his Mother who had always been accustomed to dissemble that her unquiet Temper hinder'd her from being able to live peaceably in any place since she cou'd never bear her Prosperity when she was in France nor agree in Flanders with the Duke of Orleans after she had obliged him to leave the Kingdom to go thither no more than with the Princess to whom she had married him that it was not without some Design that she went to Holland and that she was already disgusted with England that if she was not able to content her self with the extraordinary Authority which she enjoyed before her Departure out of France much less wou'd she rest satisfied with what they cou'd give her at present and which wou'd be nothing near so great as what she formerly had that considering her aspiring Humour she wou'd be no sooner in France but she wou'd oblige the Malecontents to occasion new Disorders and that the more easily because the greatest part of them had been formerly engaged in her Interests that the Spaniards who had despised her in their own Country wou'd not fail to influence her to excite Commotions in France as soon as she was arrived there and that merely for this Consideration they desired her Return that within 7 or 8 Months she had endeavour'd to form a new Party at Sedan with the Duke of Bouillon and the Count de Soissons though she cou'd draw nothing but bare Words from them that the King of England having in vain interceded for her design'd to send her elsewhere that all these Reasons obliged him to stick firm to the Proposal he had made to the Queen his Mother that she shou'd retire to Florence where she should receive what was sufficient to maintain her according to her Quality that lastly his Conscience was satisfied and that he shou'd be justified before God and before Men since he had done all that in him lay to satisfie the Queen without exposing his Kingdom to new Broils and Troubles Upon this Answer which was wholly founded upon this Supposition That the Queen-Mother wou'd embroil the Kingdom in case she came back as if they had been certainly assur'd of it and that there was no way to hinder it but by sending her home to Florence the Queen of England touched for her Mothers Affliction writ several Letters to the King and Cardinal with her own Hand and sent them by my Lord Jermyn to confirm them by Word of Mouth The King answered these Letters by others which Chavigny composed and were corrected by the Cardinal wherein he commends the
to serve the Count who was a high spirited but imprudent Prince he should humble the D. of Orleans and the Prince of Conde but the inflexible constancy of the Count defeated all his projects which appeared to be so much the more Chimerical after the King had Sons to succeed him Whatever he pretended in public 't is certain that the Cardinal had an unconquerable aversion to the Count for besides that t was impossible to commit small faults against him contempt was the thing in the world that most disgusted him and which he took care to revenge in the severest manner To this we may add that the Cabals of the Count which opposed the grandeur of the Minister rais'd his hatred to the highest extremity and it received no diminution by the retirement of the Count to Sedan who had engaged the King to pay the Garrison of that City pursuant to the Treaty against the opinion of the Cardinal who had advised that this Money should be paid to the Duke of Bouillon 'T is reported that his design was to oblige that Prince to sell that place to him for which he had offer'd him in vain great summs of Money and Lands in another place Nay some persons confidently affirm that the Minister had a mind to erect a small Soveraignty for himself upon the Meuse to retreat thither in case of necessity However it was 't is certain he loved the Duke of Bouillon at the bottom no more than he did the Count of Soissons Besides he was disgusted with the * See Siri Meâ— T. 1. l. 2. p. 352. Archbishop of Rheims Son to the Duke of Guise who had likewise retir'd to Sedan some years before because the Cardinal would not give him leave to resign good part of his Benefices to his Brothers as designing to marry Ann de Gonzaga Daughter to the late Duteness of Mantua The Cardinal would have had him renounce all his Benefices and surrender them into the Kings hands after which his Majesty was to grant him a Brevet by which he should be enabled to dispose of part of them in favour of his Brothers But the Archbishop searing they would laugh at him as soon as he had nâ—â—â— this renunciation withdrew to Sedan Upon this the King under pretence of repairing some buildiâ—â— which the Archbishop ought to have done sequesâ—erd his whole revenue and nominated an Aâ—m â—â—trator in his absence This Prince did all he coâ—â—d to be reconciled to the Cardinal but some difficulties arose which hindered them from coming to any conclusion But in the mean time the Prince de Joinville his eldest Brother and the Duke of Guise his Father happened to dye which made him take upon him the title of the Duke of Guise About this * Towards the end of the year 1641. Siri ib. p. 359. time a Gentleman was apprehended in Poiton belonging to the Duke of Soubise his name La Richerie just come from England who as they reported brought Letters from the Dukes of Soubise and la Valette to the Duke of Espernon and the Marquis de la Force wherein they perswaded them to raise the Hugonots in Guienne It was pretended thâ—â—â—â—e Quâ—en Mother and Madam la Chevreuse had a hand in the design The Marquis de la Force had received his Letters and sent them to the Cardinal but it was allâ—edged that he had kept them by hi◠〈…〉 this rendered him suspected Whether â—â—ese â—etters were real or no and whether la Richerie depâ—s'd what he knew or said what they would have him in the Bastile where he was imprison'd the report ran that the Count de Soissons was concerned in this conspiracy and that he was to enter Campagne with an Army while the Duke of Espernon and his Son acted in Brittany During the whole Ministry of the Cardinal there were so many true Plots and so many lies published that often 't is impossible to distinguish truth from falshood For as his Creatures took the depositions of the Prisoners and thâ—se â—â—at were acâ—us'd were not allowed to defend themselves according to the ordinary forms one cannot certainly know whether these prisoners deposed the truth or whether they did not swear as they were commanded However it 〈◊〉 the Count de Soissons positively denyed that he had any concern in this affair and 〈◊〉 Campion to Court to make protestations of his innocence The Cardinal without troubling himself to prove that he was guilty pretended to be partly satisfied with these assurances and answered 〈◊〉 â—ololy enough This Prince notwithstanding his absâ—â—â—e from Court still kept his place of Grand Master of his Majesty's house and sent sâ—me orders which the King would not suffer to be executed As this nearly concern'd him he tryed to confirm his orders but he was obliged to give way and ever since out time as 't is said meditated a revenge The Fâ—â—â— would not allow him to nominate to the 〈◊〉 Offices of his house which were in his dispoâ—â—d nor that any one should go to Sedam to beg them of him as till now they were accustomed to do He likewise stopt his pensions and revenues my he forbid any provisions to be brought to Sedan under a pretence that they were carried from thence into the Country of Luxemburg The Duke of Guise had not as yet quitted his Archbishoprick of Rheims and yet he enjoyed none of the revenues belonging to it altho he engaged Corraro the Venetian Ambassador to speak in his behalf All the answer that the Cardinal made was that he should deliver all his Benefices into the King's hands and after that they knew how to deal with him About the * Siri Mer. Vâ—t T. 1. l. 1. p. â—â—3 same time it was discovered that certain persons in the habits of Pilgrims had conspir'd against the Minister who being apprehended and sent to Prison accused the Duke of Vendome who was enlarged out of confinement after they had turn'd him out of all his places and who lived at a distance from Court with having engaged them in this enterprize As soon as the Duke was informed of it he sent the Duke of Beaufort his second Son in all haâ—â—e to Parts to demand of his Majesty that he would be pleased to permit his Father to come to Court to justify himself The Duke arrived almost at the same time at Paris where he was Incognito and sent to desire of the King that he might confront these Witnesses His demand was granted but instead of making his appearance he retired into England with the Duke of Beaufort preâ—ending that it was scandalous for a person of his Quality to be confronted with profligate mercenary scoundrels He was generally blamed for demanding an appearance and going off after he had obtained it and whether he was guilty or innocent there was without doubt great indiscretion in this management However it was the Dukes of Vendome and Beaufort served by this means to augment the number of the
another way The Cardinal of Richlieu was so strongly of opinion that this Place was necessary to the Crown that he could not resolve to have it restored to the Duke of Savoy whatsoever inconveniences might arise from the contrary Most part of the Italian Princes confirmed him in these Sentiments by the secret Sollicitations of their Ministers to that purpose They were glad that France should have a Door open to enter Italy when occasion should require to have a Foreign Army to Counter-ballance the excessive Power of the Spaniards By complying thus with their desires France would recover their Friendship lost by the Peace of Lions in 1601. by which they quitted to the Duke of Savoy the Marquisate of Saluces and consequently gave up the Passes of the Alpes and the French King's Authority grew so much the greater as the Power of the Spaniards was more lessen'd Besides the Cardinal could not leave behind him a more Illustrious Monument of his good Conduct than a place of this Importance which was formerly quitted by Henry the III. to the Dukes of Savoy The Difficulty was how to find a way to keep it without breaking the Peace of Italy but it could not be done against the Duke of Savoy's Consent Therefore the Cardinal who had already a great Esteem for Mazarine and knew that he was likewise well-accepted by the Duke of Savoy charged him with this Negotiation which he perform'd to his Satisfaction The Duke of Savoy having consented to leave Pignerol in the hands of France they got him besides what was promised to him the Possession of Canaves which was dismembred from Montferrat by the Treaty of Querasque to the prejudice of the Duke of Mantua Both the Spaniards and the Imperialists who knew nothing of the Negotiation concerning Pignerol which was kept secret were surprised that France should spoil the Duke of Mantua their Ally to serve the Duke of Savoy who had taken Arms against them but time discovered the Mystery No noise was to be made about it before Mantua was Restored the Passages of the Country of the Grisons remitted to their Ancient Masters and the Hostages released for the Spaniards who had a visible Interest in keeping the French on the other side of the Mountains would certainly have broken the Treaty rather than permitted Pignerol to remain in their hands It was therefore necessary so to order Affairs that if the French quitted the Place in Compliance to the Treaty they should be secure of returning into it again The Duke of Savoy promised to do it after the Execution of the Treaty and for a Pledge of his Word sent the Cardinal of Savoy and Prince Thomas his Brothers into France under pretence that they were to pass into Flanders But the Cardinal feared least this Prince to whom this Place was at least as Important as it was to France would not be as good as his Word since the Spaniards would infallibly be ready to assist him in this occasion with all their Forces Therefore they labour'd to find out some Stratagem or other to secure themselves of continuing still in the Possession of Pignerol though at the same time they made a shew of quitting it so that no body should perceive it This difficult business was committed to the Marquess of Villeroy who carried it on in such a manner that he deceived not onely the Spaniards and the Piedmontois but the French themselves He pick'd out Three hundred Men whom he pretended to trust with a Secret Order he had lately received from the King which was to send them with all speed to the Cittadel of Casal and commanded them to send away their Baggage with the rest of the Garrison who were disposing themselves to clear the Place at the time prefixt being about Three thousand Men in number and to take their way to Dauphine In the mean time he caused them to hide themselves in several secret holes of the Castle and particularly in an old Garret where was a long time ago a Door Wall'd up adjoyning to the Dungeon Villeroy caused this Garret to be divided by a Partition of Boards and at one side Corn to be laid up and on the other side where the Wall'd-door was lay part of his Men. But because this would have met with very much difficulty in the Execution if many Piedmontois had been in the Place he caused a Report to be spread abroad That the Plague was at Pignerol and particularly in the Cittadel which put a stop to the curiosity of the People from flocking thither and also to the speedy Levies which the Duke of Savoy intended to make there for the Garrison The Count of Verrue sent by the Duke to Receive the Place was acquainted with the Secret but the Imperial and Spanish Commissioners had not the least suspicion of it As soon as they were arriv'd they saw the French Troops go out in a File towards Dauphine and Villeroy took care himself to Conduct them to all the Magazines affecting in this an extraordinary Punctuality to tire them and get time which succeeded so much the easier because the Commissioners were unwilling to enter any place that had not been before purifi'd with Fire and Sweet Odours for fear of catching the Plague Being entred the Cittadel where the Three hundred Souldiers were hid the Marquess deliver'd up the Gate to the Count of Verrue who committed it to Fifty or Threescore Souldiers under the Command of an Officer after which he drew the Garrison out and led the Commissioners to every part of it The Count had with him a Colonel of the Duke of Savoy named Porporati who knowing nothing of the Secret looked into every Corner with a great deal of Care so that Villeroy fearing least he should discover the place where most part of his Men were hid gave a Jog to the Count and turning himself to the Commissioners told them That it being already pretty late they would do well to send some body to visit the Fort of St. Bridget and this Commission was given to Porporati The Cardinal was so entirely resolv'd not to abandon the Cittadel of Pignerol that Villeroy had Orders to Imprison the Commissioners in case they should discover the Cheat and for this effect he had along with him Ten or Twelve of the most strong and resolute Fellows to put his Orders in Execution at the first sign This Resolution which could not be put in execution without a Scandalous Violation of the Treaty of Querasque and even of the Law of Nations sufficiently shewed how willing the Cardinal was to keep this Place By good hap the Commissioners were not aware of the Cheat and Villeroy got the very same day an Attestation from them by which they acknowledg'd That Pignerol was faithfully deliver'd again into the hands of the Savoyards He sent it Post to Ferrara to have the Hostages released Not above four or five Persons were in the Cittadel to look after the Magazines and the Piedmontois
consequently obliged in point of Interest to preserve an Amity both with one and the other That this caution which they proposed wou'd so highly provoke the Emperour upon whom the Dukedom of Lorrain depended that he wou'd confiscate it and put it under the Imperial Ban which might happen at a juncture when the King of France being employ'd elsewhere wou'd not be in a condition to support him These Reasons however specious they were made no Impression upon the Cardinal-Duke who was resolved to ruine the House of Lorrain And so the Cardinal of Lorrain went in all hast the very same day to carry this ill News to his Brother and the King advanced with his Forces as he had given this Prince to understand In the mean time the Cardinal-Duke advised the King not to lose this Opportunity of Conquering Lorrain in case the Duke made the least difficulty to deliver up those places which they demanded The Cardinal arrived with the King at St. Dizier the 23d of August upon the Frontiers of Champagne where the Cardinal of Lorrain sent him word That if he wou'd give him his Niece Combalet in Marriage his Brother and he wou'd consent to leave Nancy in the King's hand because they should be then secure of its Restitution Whether the Cardinal of Richlieu thought that this was onely a pretence or that he had some other reason not to give his Assent to this Proposal he thanked the Cardinal of Lorrain for the great honour he did him and made Answer That he should be sorry to have the World believe that he had made the King go into Lorrain for his particular interest as it wou'd be apt to believe if he accepted the Honour which they did his Neice That the Duke of Lorrain ought before all things to give the King satisfaction and after that His Majesty wou'd see whether this Marriage wou'd be advantageous for His Service and take his Measures accordingly In this juncture the Cardinal-Duke represented to the King That if he did not suddenly surprize the Duke of Lorrain there wou'd be no likelihood of reducing him in a long time That Nancy was a considerable place regularly Fortifi'd and not to be taken by force this Campagne That it wou'd take up seven or eight Months to reduce it by a Blockade and that abundance of things might happen in that interval That a Peace might be made in Germany and a Truce in Flanders and that if it were so the Spaniards wou'd be in a condition to make a powerful diversion That to Block up Nancy it wou'd require Twenty thousand Foot and Three thousand Horse besides that there must be a small Army to attend the King's Person which wou'd demand a prodigious expence That on the other hand to suffer tamely an Affront in State-matters was the ready way to occasion a greater That Money was of no use to His Majesty if he did not employ it for his Necessities that is to say to support his Reputation or to enlarge his Dominions That a Million of Gold was sufficient to bear the extraordinary Expences of this Enterprise That he cou'd never expect a fairer opportunity and that the War which raged in all pâ—râ—s of Germany made it impossible for her to prevent the total ruine of the Duke of Lorrain especially since in all appearance it seemed to be long-lived That the Affairs of the Low-Countries were not any more inclined to a Truce That all great Enterprises have their Difficulties but that this was attended with very few the Duke not being able to make head with his Forces against those of His Majesty and the Allies were so much busied for themselves that they cou'd not come to his Relief That the Duke wou'd be always in the same mind he was then that is devoted to the House of Austria from which no considerations cou'd disengage him and that he onely wanted an opportunity to joyn with it to the detriment of France That if the Duke was not ruin'd the Marriage of the Duke of Orleans wou'd infallibly hold good which wou'd be the occasion of an everlasting War That a Man ought always to be upon his Guard to protect himself not onely from open violence but from the secret practises of others That on the other hand if the Duke was once ruin'd the Marriage of Monsieur wou'd break of course and that Puilaurens had told the Abbot of Elbene That he should not be sorry to see him reduced to such a pass That Puilaurens was too much an humble Servant to his Interest and Monsieur had too little Resolution to stick to a Woman by whom he should gain no advantage and who besides wou'd be a charge to him That by this means Monsieur wou'd be brought to a necessity to find out a way to get himself reconciled to the King by offering to take another Wife whereas so long as the Duke of Lorrain subsisted Monsieur wou'd never think of an Accommodation That Nancy was the best Rampart which France cou'd oppose on that side to the Attempts of the House of Austria and that she wou'd be deliver'd from all that she had reason to apprehend from the Implacable hatred of the Duke of Lorrain by taking this place The King relishing the Cardinal's Reasons for the Conquest of Lorrain advanced as far as Bar where he left the Queen and the other Ladies of the Court. From thence he Marched to Pont-a-Mousson where he arrived on the 28th of August In this Interval the Lorrain Regiment of Florenville which wou'd have thrown it self into to Nancy was defeated by the Marquiss de S. Chamond whom the King sent before with part of the Army to Block up that place The Cardinal of Lorrain also came to Pont-a-Mousson where he offer'd the King to put into his hands for Security Saverne Dachstein and la Mothe with the Person of the Princess Margaret The King accepted the latter but instead of the Places that were offer'd him he still demanded Nancy which was infinitely of greater importance At last the Cardinal of Lorrain told Richlieu That the Duke of Lorrain was so unfortunate that he cou'd not engage His Majesty to repose any confidence in him he was resolv'd to Resign his Dominions to him the Cardinal of Lorrain in case the King approved of it Richlieu Answer'd That he did not believe the King wou'd oppose this Resignation if the Duke was fully resolved to put it in Execution and that he for his part had reason to wish it might be so his past-conduct giving them hopes that he wou'd be better affected towards France but the Mischief on 't was that this remedy was uneffectual because as the Duke was of a wavering and fickle temper he might take a Fancy to reasume his Dominions which wou'd be an easie matter for him to effect by recovering Nancy at a juncture when the King happened to be employ'd elsewhere The Cardinal of Lorrain found by this that it was not possible to save
Nancy It was some time ago since he had demanded a Passport of the King to come and go and fetch his Domesticks and Equipage out of the City The King had granted it him and the Duke his Brother and he having consider'd that the Princess Margaret being the principal occasion of the War might be in danger if Nancy was taken while he was there they resolved to contrive her escape out of the City and afterwards out of Lerrain to send her into Flanders to her Husband The Cardinal of Lorrain got her disguis'd in Man's Apparel and carried her in his Coach out of the Town At last an old Gentleman and two Soldiers drest up like Lacqueys conducted her through several Quarters of the Royal Army without meeting any stop by the way and after they had Travell'd a Dozen Leagues in the Night they arriv'd by break of day at Thionville a place belonging to the King of Spain From thence she Writ to the Infanta to the Queen-Mother and to Monsieur to demand a Guard and an Equipage she had occasion for to come to Brussels The Duke of Orleans received this News with wonderful joy and the Queen-Mother was no less pleas'd although she lived in no very good understanding with him because she imagin'd that having a Daughter-in-Law wholly opposite to the Cardinal's Party she should at last Triumph over all his Artifices They sent to this Princess all she demanded and Monsieur went to meet her as far as Namur The King being at S. Nicholas where he arrived tho 24th of that Month received Advice That the Princess Margaret had made her escape into Flanders in the manner as I have already related it This News exceedingly displeased him as well as the Cardinal whether for the consequences which might attend the flight of this Princess or because it vexed them to be Tricked by the Cardinal of Lorrain in whose Integrity they had reposed a Confidence 'T is true S. Chamond had been ordered to examine all the Cardinal's Coaches but that wherein the Princess was passed by one Morning before he was up and was not at all Examin'd The King being angry at this Trick that was play'd him sent Word to the Cardinal of Lorrain That since the Negotiation was broke he design'd that the Passports he had given him shou'd be Revoked and that if he tarried in the City he must expect to be made a Prisoner of War However the King gave him leave to come to Neufville where the Cardinal of Lorrain confessed to him That he had contributed to his Sister's Escape but then he assured him That she was still in the Dominions of the Duke his Brother and that he might dispose of her Person Next day they learnt the quite contrary News and Nancy being Invested on all sides they began to Work on the Lines of Circumvallation and Contravallation because they were afraid the Siege wou'd last a long while and that the Duke of Feria and Aldringuen wou'd come to releve the place But the Duke of Lorrain who was of a light and changeable disposition had not provided for the Defence of this City though the preservation or loss of his Dominions absolutely depended upon it Thus after some Proposals to no purpose the Cardinal his Brother was obliged to Sign a Treaty on the 6th of September by which he promis'd to deliver Nancy within three days into the King's hands to keep such a Garrison there as he shou'd think fitting till such time as his own good Behaviour or the Peace of Germany should convince His Majesty that he had nothing to apprehend on that side He consented besides That the Marriage age of the Princess Margaret should be declared null in all the Forms and that within Fifteen days she should be put into His Majesty's hands who had agreed that she shou'd tarry at Nancy that he might inform himself upon the place of all the Circumstances of her Marriage The Cardinal of Lorrain desir'd permission of the King to goe and find out the Duke his Brother that he might Ratifie this Treaty In the mean time the King took Charmes and the Duke retired to Remiremont from which place he sent his Brother back again to the King to endeavour to gain as much time as he cou'd But the Succours he expected not coming he had a mind to go and Treat in Person with the King an Indiscretion scarce to be parallel'd in History To this end having demanded a Passport which was immediately granted him he arrived at Charmes on the 18th of September with 800 Horse There he Negotiated for the space of Three days with the Cardinals of Richlieu and Bich who manag'd him so dexterously that on the Third he Ratifi'd the Treaty in the form they desired It was agreed that Nancy should continue in the King's hands for Four years however with this proviso That if the Duke deliver'd up the Princess Margaret to the King in Three Months and consented that her Marriage was Null from that very moment and besides if he observed the rest of the Treaty which confirmed that of Vic the King should then surrender Nancy without farther delay after he had demolish'd the Fortifications of the place if he should so think fit The Duke promis'd that he wou'd do all that lay in his power to get his Sister out of Monsieur's hands and deliver her to the King In the mean time this short-sighted * Poâ—tis Mem. T. 2. p. 38. Prince imagin'd That after he had paid the Cardinal thus with fine words he might retire without putting Nancy actually into the hands of the King He had forbidden the Marquiss de Mauy who Commanded in that place for him to open the Gates whatever Letters he might Write to him unless he saw a certain Mark which they had agreed upon Thus although he Writ to have the Gates open'd to the King's People yet since the Mark was not in the Letter the Governour refus'd to obey The Cardinal who was more cunning than he had at first some Suspicion of him that he design'd to withdraw and under a pretence of Treating him like a Great Prince the King set his own Guards upon the House where he Lodg'd The Duke was sensible of it and they made no difficulty to tell him the Reason of it so that having no hopes to escape he Writ to Nancy and sent the Mark in the Letter The King's Garrison enter'd the Town on the 24th of September seized all the considerable Posts built a sort of a Fort upon the Bastions of the old City and disarm'd the Inhabitants who were too well-affected to the Duke It was of the highest importance for the King to have Nancy in his hands as to the Affairs of Germany and the Duke of Lorrain was forced by this Surrendry to comply for the future with whatever France Proposed While the Cardinal-Duke stay'd at Charmes he was desirous to see whether the offer which the Cardinal of Lorrain had
Cardinal-Duke gave out that he hoped a General Peace wou'd be soon concluded yet in order to it there was no prospect of a Treaty set a-foot and the Court of Rome whose Proceedings are always very slow did not leave its usual pace to perswade the Crowns to a Peace The Fancy which had possessed the Cardinal-Duke not to acknowledge Ferdinand III. for Emperour hinder'd them from entring into any Negotiation Therefore among several Orders that were sent to the Mareschal d' Estrees The 1st of Jâ—nuâ—ry Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 8. p. 542. relating to the manner he was to treat of a Peace or a Cessation of Arms at Rome he was ordered to find out a way to acquaint the Emperour's Ambassadour without letting him know that this Advice came from him that if a Negotiation was begun the Crown of France wou'd own Ferdinand III. Above all the Ambassadour was so to manage Matters that the Ministers of the House of Austria shou'd by no means perceive that the King had the least desire either for a Peace or a Truce lest any Advantage shou'd be made of such a Confession They seem'd to be mightily displeased with Count Ludovico Ambassadour of Savoy at Rome for that having proposed a Cessation of Arms in Italy he shou'd affirm that he knew it from very good hands that France wou'd not oppose it The Dutchess of Savoy * Aubery's Life of the Card. Lib. 6. Cap. 17. Siri Mem. Rec. Tom. 8. p. 574. had one Father Monod a Jesuit for her Confessor who had a great Ascendant over the Mind of that Princess He seem'd to be mighty zealous for the House of Savoy and had been so far considered by Victor Amadeo that he concerned himself as much in Affairs of State as he did in those that regarded the Conscience It came into this Man's Head whether of his own proper Motion or by the Orders of Madam of Savoy to procure the Queen-Mother's Return into France For this end he took a Journey to Paris where he contracted an Acquaintance with Father Claussin the Jesuit and as he was a Man of extraordinary Address he engaged him easily in this Design They looked upon the Queen-Mother's Return to be as good as impossible so long as the Cardinal-Duke continued in favour and therefore they concerted Matters together to ruin his Reputation with the King To effect this Father Caussin as has been already observed began to insinuate into his Majesty that he cou'd not with a good Conscience suffer his Mother to be any longer out of the Kingdom The Cardinal coming to know that it was by Father Monod's Instigation that Father Caussin had embarked in this Affair after he had caused the former to be turned away endeavoured to remove Father Monod from the Dutchess of Savoy under a pretence that he secretly favoured the Spaniards The Cardinal caused d' Emery the Ambassadour to tell Madam of Savoy as from his Majesty that having several just Occasions to suspect Father Monod he desired her to dismiss him from Court The Dutchess having no reason to part with her Confessor whatever Stories were told against him wou'd by no means give her Consent to it and endeavour'd to disabuse the Cardinal But the latter who never hated any man by halves press'd her to turn him away with more Obstinacy than ever as if it had been impossible for the King to live peaceably with his Sister and to protect her so long as she kept this Jesuit about her Person He was so incens'd against him that he cou'd not forbear talking of him to the Ambassadour of Savoy though this Subject had no relation to the Discourse then in hand †Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 575. * As the latter was one day telling the Minister how zealous Madam of Savoy was for the Interests of the Crown and what care she took that the Spaniards might not be able to attempt any considerable Enterprize which carried the least probability of Success he afterwards added that if any thing had happen'd disadvantageous to the Crown as for instance the Taking of Ponzone it was through the fault of his Majesty's Ministers in Italy The Cardinal answer'd That the Negligence of the Mareschal de Crequi and d' Emery was not to be excused but that as long as the Dutchess kept Father Monod near her they must expect the like Disorders since the King distrusted him and consequently his Ministers cou'd speak of nothing to Her Royal Highness with any Confidence The Ambassadour replied That Father Monod's living at Turin had not hinder'd the King's Ministers from executing his Orders The Cardinal persisted That he told him nothing but the truth and that his Majesty cou'd communicate none of his Designs to Madam of Savoy for fear lest she should tell him of them again At last under a pretence that Father Monod favour'd Cardinal Maurice and Prince Thomas although the Dutchess had evident proofs of the contrary she was forc'd to give her consent to have him †About the End of the Year apprehended The Jesuit being inform'd of it endeavour'd to prevent this blow but was taken upon the Frontiers and put in Prison at Montmelian In the mean time the Spaniards and the Princes of Savoy sent word to the Dutchess that if she observed the Neutrality they wou'd not make the least Attempt upon Piedmont On the other hand France sollicited her to renew the Treaty of a League offensive and defensive made with Victor Amadco in 1635 and which was to expire in the Month of July 1638. Most People were of opinion that this Treaty was actually broke by the Death of the Duke who concluded it as well as that of the Duke of Mantua and by the Agreement which the Duke of Parma had lately made with Spain The Dutchess was willing enough to make a defensive League as the Treaty of Pignerol had been by which France was obliged to defend Piedmont in case it was invaded by the Spaniards Upon this several tedious Contests happen'd and all that the Dutchess said she cou'd consent to concerning the War they wou'd have her continue against the Spaniards came to this That she wou'd attack the Places that had been taken in Montferrat As for the rest the Council of Savoy was clearly of opinion that she ought to keep the Neutrality to preserve her own Country without disengaging her self however from France or making any new Treaty with other Princes But it was insisted upon in France that she should renew the Treaty of Rivoli without having any regard to the Welfare of her State or the Power of a Regent which does not go so far as to declare a War unless there be urgent necessity for it Although she represented all this by her Ambassadour yet it signified nothing and they daily talked of sending a considerable Army into Piedmont to attack the Milaneze and to defend Piedmont against the Designs of the Cardinal of Savoy and Prince Thomas It
to fall into the Cardinal's Hands in case this young Prince should die This obliged her to unite her Self more closely to France than ever and in spight of her own Inclinations to resign her Self wholly to the Cardinal's Advices without whose good Affections it was of no Service to her that she was the Daughter of Henry the Fourth and Mary de Medicis as well as Sister of Lewis the XIII The Cardinal of Savoy parting secretly from Rome came incognito to Tortone where he made some attempts upon Turin and Carmagnole but miscarried in them several Persons that had a Hand in this Affair were sent to Prison and the Cardinal interceeded for them in a * The 10th of December See it in T. 2. of Aubery 's Mem. p. 230. Letter which he writ to the Regent wherein he tells her that no Authority could hinder him from coming to his Father's House In the mean time he narrowly escaped being taken which had he not done they had certainly sent him into France In this Conjuncture the Cardinal Duke writ frequently into Piedmont to the Dutchess or to the Ministers of France to assist her with their Counsels He represented to her in a long Letter That at last she ought to awake her out of that Lethargy which had so long possessed her since if she did not do it suddenly The 10th of November Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 613. her Condition wou'd be helpless His meaning was that she must turn Father Monod away otherwise the King wou'd support her no longer That perhaps God Almighty had permitted by an extraordinary Providence that her Enemies shou'd force her to do what her natural inclination to Peace wou'd have disswaded her from to sign the offensive League and to put French Troops into her Garrisons against which Reason and her Interests seemed to advise her that God wou'd not always work such Miracles as he had done upon this occasion to preserve her That in humane Affairs he wou'd have every one make the best use of that understanding he had given them and that her Highness for that reason ought to examine her Mind and see what it advised her to That Nature invited her to it since otherwise she was unable to preserve her Son as well as secure her own Preservation and Honour That he wou'd not conceal from her that the Calumnies of her Enemies from which she might easily defend herself as long as she lived would pass for so many Truths when she came to die That to be plain with her her Subjects did not love her as they were obliged to do whether because the Government of Women is never so well liked as that of Men or for some other particular malignity that her Highness very well knew what it was to pretend to a Sovereignty in Italy and that the weakness of the Cardinal of Savoy might be perswaded to Evil as well as to good That in suffering Father Monod to continue in his present Post and Passer that savoured the Cardinal of Savoy to be let out of Prison she kept the worst Councellors that she cou'd have against her That since 't was to no purpose to represent to her the Evil that press'd her without giving her the due Remedy he assured her she might soon put her self in a condition to despise all the World if she wou'd follow his Majesty's advice which wou'd never be different from what Nature and Reason inspired That she ought therefore without any farther difficulty to secure her self of Father Monod's Person and severely to chastise all such as had conspired in favour of Prince Maurice That such Governours ought to be put into places as depended absolutely upon her That her Army was to be reinforced with Troops that she cou'd rely upon and that for the guard of her Person and that of her Son she should choose none but her own Creatures and endeavour to encrease the number of them by her Kindnesses That if she took this Conduct he durst with the assistance of Heaven be answerable to her for the happy success of it towards which he would freely contribute his own Life but that if on the other Hand her easiness and indulgence led her the contrary way she would fall into inevitable Calamities That he beseech'd her to dispense with him from concerning himself any longer with her Affairs because if any misfortunes happen'd to her they might not be laid to his Door by his seeming to Countenance her Irresolutions The plain English of all these Lessons was to make her turn away Father Monod and to become the Oracle of the Dutchess of Savoy himself as he was of her Brother Thus he seemed to be born to be the Pedagogue or the scourge of the whole Family of Henry IV. To come now to the most remarkable Occurrences in other places the Cardinal ordered the Duke of Rohan who was at Geneva to retire to Venice least out of revenge for his base usage he might carry on some Designs against him But the Duke pretending it was impossible for him to go to Venice the ways being all stopp'd he went to confer with the Duke of Weimar in Switzerland and afterwards came to him at his Army They had frequent Conferences together which made the Cardinal very uneasie and it was reported that the Duke of Weimar was to marry the Daughter of the Duke of Rohan The former after he had taken some few places went to besiege Rhinfeld the Capital of the four Forrest Cities Jean de Werth Duke of Savelli and the other Generals of the Emperour marched to the relief of it with Ten Thousand Men. The Duke of Weimar being informed of their March went to meet them by the Duke of Rohan's Advice and the latter who refused to have any share in the command of the Army putting himself at the head of the Left Wing * The 28th of Febr. was one of the first that began the onset and fought like a common Soldier The Imperialists were beaten after the dispute had lasted a long while but the Duke of Rohan was wounded by two Musquet-shots of which he died on the 23d of April although the King sent him an obliging Letter to thank him for the great Services he had done the Crown yet he was not sorry for his Death for his great qualities and the past Wars had long drawn upon him the displeasure of the Court which was never heartily reconciled to him but only in outward Appearance The Cardinal who by his good Will employ'd none in his Majesty's Service but such as were ready to do every thing he commanded them and who had used him ill more than once looked upon himself to be now delivered from a dangerous Enemy Rhinfeld afterwards fell * The 23d of March into the hands of the Duke of Weimar after which Friburg and the Country of Brisgow submitted to him as well as several Towns of Swabia His design was to block up Brisac
which Place he had a great desire to get into his own Hands He performed it at last but beat the Imperialists twice before he cou'd lock up this place at a convenient distance After this the Enemy endeavour'd to throw Succours into the Town and were repulsed with Loss At last Weimar forced Brisac to surrender for want of Provisions on the 19th of December This Place wou'd have been of mighty importance to France but the great Services which the Duke of Weimar had done those he might still do and the promise which his Majesty had given him to make him Landtgrave of Alsatia were the Reasons why they suffered him to enjoy this Conquest In short he put himself in possession of it and the Court connived at it that they might not disoblige him at a time when he might do them as much Mischief as Good till they found an occasion to get it into their own Hands as we shall find in the Series of the History This was the greatest Advantage which France obtain'd this Year against the House of Austria The * See the Champaign of Prince Thomas in Emanuel Tesauro ' s St. Omero Assediato Mareschal de Châtillon at the first opening of the Campaign enter'd Artois and after he had ravaged the Country all about for what design no Body knew he went at last to besiege St. Omers on the 26th of May and as the place was not in an extraordinary good Condition he did not question but he shou'd carry it in a very short time But Prince Thomas having put some Succours into the Place this retarded his Hopes somewhat but he still fansied he should accomplish his Design But at last the aforesaid Prince Thomas and Piccolomini obliged him to * The 16th of July raise the Siege after they had reliev'd the Town the second time although the Mareschal de la Force had joyn'd him with a Body of Men. This ill Success was partly attributed to the over-sight of the Mareschal de Châtillon who had not made his Lines of Circumvallation strong enough and had carried on the Siege too slowly and partly to the mis-understanding between the Generals However they drew off in very good Order and Prince Thomas not following them took the way to Terwin to cover the Country and throw some Forces into Hedin which was threatned The Cardinal was extreamly concerned at the raising of this Siege not only for the Interest of the Crown but because he had flatter'd himself with the taking of ir upon the score of a pretended Revelation of a certain Nun in the Convent of Mount-Calvary in le Maréts * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 668. Father Joseph who had consulted her it seems told him that this Nun had continued three Days in Prayer that God would be pleased to reveal to her the Success of the next Campaign and that at last she fell into an Extasie wherein she had seen two Armies fighting near St. Omers and the Victory remain'd on the King's Side Upon this impertinent Vision which either might be wholly invented or else was the effect of a disordered imagination in the Nun the Cardinal consented to the Siege of St. Omer rather than of any other place because he was in hopes that the King's Army wou'd obtain a Victory near that City The Cardinal Infanta had the good Fortune that very Champaign to ‡ Siri ibid. p. 476. The 21st of June defeat Seven Thousand Men belonging to the States-General who had made themselves Masters of the Fort of Kalloo upon the Dyke of Antwerp under the Command of Count William of Nassau He likewise forced the Prince of Orange * The 25th of August See Relation of Em. Tesauro to raise the Siege of Gueldre so that he might justly boast that he had made a very glorious Champaign However he sustained some Losses since the French took from him the Fort of Renty which * The 9th of August See the Description of this siegâ— by Em. Tesauro surrendred after a Siege of eight Days and retook †The 14th of September See the Description in the same Author Catelet the only place remaining in the Hands of the Spaniards since their Invasion in the Year 1636. The Mareschals de Châtillon and de la Force took Renty and rased it to the Ground Du Hallier Mareschal de Camp took Catelet by assault with a small Body of Men who had been commanded by the Mareschal de Brezé who being indisposed obtained permission of the King to go to the Waters These were all the Advantages which the French obtained in the Low-Countries who at the beginning of the Champaign had put the Cardinal Infanta into a great Consternation by the great Preparations they had made The King provoked at the Mareschal de Châtillon's want of fore-sight who had writ word to Court several times that it was impossible for St. Omers to miss him * By a Letter the 4th of Sept. See Aubery's Life of the Cardinal sent word to him to leave the Command of the Army to the Mareschal de la Force and to retire to his House of Châtillon without coming to Court. However he went to wait upon the Cardinal as St. Quintin and was not ill received by him the Minister judging that it wou'd be by no means adviseable to drive this General to despair who might be useful to them upon another occasion He had a fresh Subject to employ the same * Siri Mem. Râ—c T. 8. p. 632. moderation towards the Prince of Conde who met with worse success at the Siege of Fontarabia than the Mareschal de Châtillon had done before St. Omers The Count-Duke having in the Year 1637 carried one Invasion into Guienne and another into Languedoc the Cardinal-Duke who was jealous of every thing that Olivarez did resolved to quit Scores with him whatever it cost him He propos'd to go and attack Fontarabia The Life of the Duke of Espornon to carry the War into Spain It was a long while since he had caused that place to be observed by the Duke de la Valette who disswaded him from this Attempt by reason of the insuperable Difficulties that attended it However the Cardinal took it into hand again and offered to trust the management of it with the Duke of Espernon and la Valette upon Condition that they wou'd advance one part of the expences of the War and find a way to make the Province of Guienne bear it If they refused to accept this Employ they were to be told that the Prince of Conde wou'd be sent down to command in the Province and all the neighbourhood Being afraid the Cardinal put them upon this enterprise to carry on their Destruction they rather chose that the Prince of Conde shou'd take it The Prince accepted it and arrived in Guienne in May to get every thing in readiness that was necessary to this Design As for the Duke of Espernon he had
all his Troops in Italy to the Cardinal de la Valette who had excellent Officers under him to supply the defects of his own incapacity The Dutchess writ to the Cardinal Duke with the greatest submission imaginable because she saw he had foretold what since happen'd to her and the Cardinal de la Valette excus'd the Cessation of Arms which he had lately made by alledging that the Cittadel of Turin was utterly unprovided of every thing and that all the other places which the King held in Piedmont except Chivas were in so bad a conâ—â—tâ—â—â— that it would be a difficult matter to keep them Nevertheless if the Cardinal Duke disapproved of it the Cardinal de la Valette consented that he shouâ—d dâ—sâ—wn it provided he still preservâ—d for him the honour of his good graces Upon the news of this last insurrection of Piedmont Chavigny who was upon his return to Parts was sent back to the Dutchess of Savoy to paswade her to put Nice and Villa Franca into his Majâ—sty's hands Some of the instructions he receiv'd were none of the most honourable for that Princess whose conduct was extreamly blamed because she seemâ—d to distrust the King's Ministers In the mean time they receiv'd advice that the Generals had concluded a Cessation of Arms with Prince Thomas which made them change the Orders they had given to Chavigny He was only commanded to inform the Dutchess how much the King was concern'd tosâ— her affairs in so bad a posture and to tell her that his Majesty would come as far as Lyons that so he might be nearer at hand to give necessary Orders for the defence of those places which still remain'd in her possession She was likewise given to understand that she ought to place a French Garrison and French Commanders in Susa and in Avelliane and to provide those places with every thing that was necessary otherwise she would run the hazard of losing all the rest In this Interval the French and Spanish Generals had an interview at Piedmont where the Marquis de Leganez spokâ— of a general Peace and Prince Thomas of reconciling himself in particular with France being weary to continue longer in the service of the Spaniards of whom he imagined he had just occasion to complâ—â—â— But this conference produced no effect at this time The Dutchess being desirous to discourse the King her Brother about her affairs dispatch'd the Marquâ—â— de St. Germain to him to know where he would 〈◊〉 pleased she should meet him Grenoble was the placâ—â— appointed and the Marquis had Orders to represent to the Dutchess how extreamly she prejudicâ—d her sâ—lf by expressing a distrust of the King her Brother's Ministers and taking no care for the preservation of her State and that there was no other expedient for her to defend herself against the enterprizes of her Brothers-in-law but by throwing herself intirely upon his Majesty The Cardinal principally desired that the Dutchess would put the Castle of Montmemelian into the King's hands where Father Monod was for which end it was propos'd to this Jesuit to leave it if he pleas'd but he could not be prevail'd with to agree to it fearing that he should be still in greater danger if he departed out of it than if he continued there In the mean time Cardinal Maurice found means to gain the Governors of Nice and Villa Franca and the fear of losing all influenced the Dutchess to put Susa Avelliane Gelasse and Taillon into the King's power but she would not hear the least mention of surrendring Montmelian The King arrived with the Cardinal at Grenoble whither the Dutchess likewise came but before they enter'd into any Negotiation the Cardinal told her what he thought would be most advanâ—â—geous for herself and the Duke her Son and had some conversation with the principal Ministers of the Dutchess He endeavour'd to perswade her to trust the King at least in appearance with the administration of Savoy and to put the Duke her Son into his hands The Dutchess could not bring herself to give her consent to it for fear lest this apparent trust as the Cardinal call'd it should become but too real if the King gained the Governor of Montmelian or made himself Master of it any other way It came to be discover'd that Count Philip d' Aglie advised the Dutchess to continue firm to this resolution but whatever artifices they used it was not possible for them to draw any thing more from the Princess but that she would deliver two or three small places more to the King And in truth it was a strange thing that the King wou'd not vigorously assist his Sister upon cheaper terms than by being absolute master of all her dominions and of the person of her Son But this was the Cardinal's Maxim who did not pretend to be a Counsellor or Friend to the Dutchess but to be supream Arbitrator of her Will To effect which the Duke of Savoy and all his Country must be put into his hands and then his advices would not be properly Counsels but Commands Besides tho the Duke of Savoy was Nephew to the King yet it was not safe to repose too much confidence in the Cardinal whose ambition had no bounds and whose dark designs 't was impossible for any one to foresee 'T was to no purpose to talk of the great affection which Lewis XIII had for his Sister and of the obligations both of conscience and honour to protect her as well as his Nephew All this served for nothing without the Cardinal's concurrence of which 't was impossible to be secure The Cardinal upon the point of his parting from Grenoble with the King went to take his leave of the Dutchess and * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p 749. told her That he left her involved in greater dangers than those he had found her in because her Enemies seeing that she was uncapable to employ the only remedies which could preserve her from all the difficulties that threatned her would be sure to push on their designs with greater vigour at a juncture when they saw her abandon'd by her Subjects and not able to procure the assistance of the King her Brother That she imitated those persons that obey God's Commandments but in part which however would be ineffectual to their Salvation That those that wanted prudence to give her good advice wanted courage also to defend her and that those that disswaded her from following the King's Counsel found it was their interest to manage her after this rate and intended to redeem their own losses by hers The Cardinal preached a great deal of this cajoling doctrine to her and left it with her in writing that she might make more reflexions upon it at leisure But the Dutchess held fast to her resolutions not to divest herself of Savoy and as this did not hinder the King from acting vigorously in Piedmont if he were so minded which was sufficient to preserve his Sister and
good intentions of his Sister but desired her not to interpose in this Affair that he intended on his Side to give his Mother all reasonable Satisfaction but that she had ingag'd her Self in so many Cabals against him that he cou'd come to no other Resolution about her till a Peace was concluded that as for the Maintenance they demanded for her he was afraid she was abused by her own Evil Councellors as if there was no Medium between granting her all and refusing his Mother a Dowry which lawfully belonged to her and yet Lewis the Just refus'd it her Thus my Lord Jermyn's Negotiation came to nothing and though he offer'd in the Name of the King and Queen of England to ingage for the good Conduct of the Queen-Mother and promised every thing which cou'd in reason be expected yet they would talk of nothing less than sending this unfortunate Princess to Florence where they promised to settle an Appointment upon her which perhaps they wou'd have stopt afterwards No one durst speak a word to the King upon this occasion and the good Prince could not bethink himself of any middle Expedient between treating his Mother with this excessive Rigour only to please the Cardinal and restoring her to her first Authority He cou'd without jealousie behold his chief Minister assume a Power infinitely greater than the Queen-Mother had ever pretended to and abuse it in a more notorious manner and yet it never disturbed him but the Cardinal had gain'd that absolute Ascendant over him and had so far possessed him that without him both he and his Kingdom wou'd be intirely ruin'd and that none but he had honest intentions towards him that he perceived nothing of the Cardinal's Designs However to secure himself in some measure from the Inhumanity which the World wou'd be apt to charge him with in refusing to let the Queen-Mother return since she desir'd it with so much Submission he wou'd not declare his own Opinion in the Council upon this Affair But he ingag'd the other Ministers to give their Sentiments in Writing which he drew up for them himself and they afterwards sign'd They are still to be seen in the Memoirs of * Page 340. Montresor and they take two things for granted first that it was impossible for the Queen-Mother to come back without embroiling the Kingdom and that there was no other way to preserve it in Tranquility but by suffering her to want even Necessaries out of France unless she wou'd go to Tuscany Secondly that as Princes are design'd more for their State than for themselves so they are also more nearly related to that than to their Father or Mother and are not obliged to show them any marks of the respect they owe them but as far as they agree with a more publick and noble Duty According to these Slaves of the Cardinal France wou'd be undone if the King made any Provision for his Mother and this Action of the King resembled the Separation of Jesus Christ from the Virgin-Mary They gave this Advice to his Majesty in the Month of March and their Names that sign'd are as follow Leguier Bullion Bouthillier Chavigny and Sablet At the same time the Cardinal-Duke order'd a Process against the Duke de la Valette who had been received very honourably in England * Siri Mem. Rec. T. 8. p. 781. According to the usual Forms it belonged to the Parliament of Paris to judge of it but according to a custom establish'd by this Minister the King nominated some Commissioners of Parliament and of the Privy-Council although the Parliament had remonstrated to him that it was an Infraction of their Privileges and that these Causes belonged to them The Duke de la Valette was accused of Cowardice and Treason besides that he had left France without Permission which he cou'd not do as being Colonel-General of the French Infantry Governour of Guienne and Duke and Peer of France The King order'd the Judges to come before him at St. Germains and commanding them to give their Opinions the chief President humbly begg'd of his Majesty to dispense with him from giving his Opinion in that place being obliged to give it in Parliament if the King wou'd be pleased to send back the Cause to be there tried conformable to the Laws as he was going to prove But the King took him up short and told him That the Councellors of Parliament started difficulties of their own making and had a mind to keep him in Tutelage but he wou'd have them know that he was their Master He addâ—d That it was a great mistake to say that he cou'd not order a process against a Peer of France after what Manner he saw most convenient and forbad them to speak of it The * So they call those Judges in France that make a Report of the Case to the Parliament Rapporteurs de la Posterie and Machaut concluded after a long reasoning that his Body was to be apprehended and then the King spoke to the rest to give their Opinion Pinon began his Harangue with observing that in all the Fifty Years he had been a Councellour of Parliament he never remembred a thing of so vast an importance to have come before them that he consider'd the Duke de la Valette as a Person that had the Honour to be married to the King 's Natural Sister and as a Duke and a Peer and that therefore his Judgment was That this Cause ought to be brought before the Parliament The King told him that this was not giving his Opinion and that he did not take it as such But Pinon answer'd That in the Order of Justice a Reference was a lawful Vote The King reply'd in great Anger That he wou'd have them give their opinion of the Merits of the Cause and Pinon made answer That since his Majesty commanded him he was of the same Opinion with the former The Presidents Nesmond and Leguier said the same thing seeing the King positively bent to have it so The President de Bailleal who had heard at his coming into the Hall that the Cardinal shou'd say That the King wou'd make the Duke de la Valette taste of his Mercy once more said that he approved of the Overture which the Cardinal had made but the latter reply'd That he needed only to cover himself with his Robe to give his Opinion so he was constrain'd by the King's Command to do as those before him had done The President de Meme thought of his Bonnet without saying a Word The President de Novion after a long Discourse wherein he remark'd that no mention was made neither of the Name nor Age of the Witnesses that swore against the Duke and that the process was against the usual Forms as the King himself confess'd declar'd that he thought the Duke ought personally to appear and besides that he cou'd not in Conscience give his Opinion in the place where he was He added that if