1611. of Parents whose Birth was not only Eminent but ev'n recommendable among Sovereigns He was the Son of Henry de la Tour D'Auvergne and of Elizabeth of Nassaw These two Houses are so blaz'd throughout Europe nay and i' th Other Parts of the World that it wou'd be needless in me to Enlarge much upon their Grandeur That of Nassaw has giv'n an Emperour to Germany and continu'd his Posterity in Severall Branches equally Illustrious and particularly in that of the Princes of Orange That of La Tour D'Auvergne has possest the County of Boulogne and severall other Lands in Sovereignty and for a top of Greatness matcht one of it's Daughters to a Majesty of France Not but there are those who are of Opinion that this Ancient House of Boulogne and that of Bouillon are very Different Nay and I have heard it affirm'd by the present Duke of Elboeuf tho' he had marry'd a Daughter of this Family and that his Interest led him to take that Part But it is not for me to decide these sorts of things and tho' I were better informed than I am I should circumscribe my relation to what is commonly said upon this Point I shall leave then to others to judge of the Case as they think fit and content my self to say that it is however a most Illustrious House Consider we it either as issu'd from the Counts of Boulogne or from a House of Limosin from whence some derive it's Original Such as are of this sentiment affirm it's Name to be La Tour of which there are many Gentlemen setled in the Kingdom and that they have thereto added the name D'Auvergne Mrs de Gouvernet de Montauban de la Chartre are of that House and some of 'em have told me the House of Bouillon and theirs to be one and the same thing But one would willingly have more than bare words for it for no doubt but they would be very glad to be look'd on as Relations of Monsieur de Bouillon who hold'st not only an Eminent rank in France but are likewise very considerable in Germany on the score of the Allyances they have there with several Princes As for the rest the Principality of Sedan had not been long in this House when the Viscount de Turenne came into the World His Father was oblig'd for it to Henry the 4th Who had match'd him to the Heiress But we may assure it to be in acknowledgement for the Services he had receiv'd from him For during the Civil Wars of France he brought him sundry Succours from Germany and spar'd neither his Estate nor Person to help him to Subdue his Enemies For this Reason did Henry the fourth prefer him before many Others when the Marrying that Princess was the point in Agitation and it 's believ'd he did it too that he might not remit her Territories into the hands of a Person less affectionate to him than this Lord For as they border with France on the side of Germany it was that Great Kings Interest to be carefull on whom he bestow'd the Heiress But be it as it will the new Duke of Bouillon on his very Wedding night endeavour'd to acquit himself of that Obligation for leaving his Brides Bed he put on his Armour and went and Surpriz'd the City of Stenay which acquired him Great Reputation Nevertheless tho' Henry the 4th Esteem'd him dayly more and more yet he did not long entertain him with the same favour which I shall attribute to what I am going to relate This Great King was obliged to turn Catholique so to appease the troubles of his Kingdom and the Duke of Bouillon a Protestant not being of a humour to follow his Masters Example he became suspected to the King for the kindness born him by those of his Religion The Jealousy conceiv'd by the King on this Occasion was so Great that the Duke of Bouillon found himself oblig'd to withdraw into Germany from whence he Writ to the King and procur'd other Letters from Divers Princes his Relations The King sent to him to return and trust in his Royall Word but he was loath to obey as knowing he had Enemies at Court who endeavour'd to render him answearable for Sundry Complaints made by People of the Religion in great pow'r at that time Moreover accus'd he was of having endeavour'd to draw into the Kingdom the Army of Mansfeld a famous General who without being in any Bodies Pay had found the Secret to keep on foot an Army of thirty thousand men and make himself feared by all Europe At length time having appeas'd all things the Duke of Bouillon went to kisse the Kings hand and then retired to Sedan where his main Care was to educate his Children sutably to their Condition God having given him as I have already sayd the Viscount de Turenne whose Life I here delineate he was brought up in the Protestant Religion to which his Mother shew'd her self as zealous as his Father As soon as he was come to an age ripe for Instruction he had Masters given him accordingly some appointed to teach him the Exercizes befitting a Person of his Quality 't is inconceivable how easily he learnt every thing which sufficiently Testify'd the Vivacity of his Wit Nevertheless as some things he apply'd himself more willingly to than others his Inclination lay for those that concern'd Arms For as for Sciences he set himself slightly to them or as I may say for fashions sake which sometimes put Monsieur de Bouillon out of humour because he would have render'd him accomplisht in all things When he had attain'd fifteen years of Age Monsieur de Bouillon resolv'd to send him into Holland at that time the School of War for all Persons of Quality and where was already his Eldest Brother For the States after having brought Spain to demand a Truce saw themselves upon the point of renewing Hostilities for ascertaining their freedom He gave him Letters for Prince Maurice his Brother in Law the Greatest Captain of his Age and the Person to whom the Hollanders are most endebted for their Establishment For tho' they began to cast off the Spaniards yoak under William Prince of Orange and that they acquir'd their freedom under the Government of Frederick Henry We may say that without Maurice they would have found it difficult to compass their Designs This Prince being the Person who began not only to restore Discipline in Armies but likewise put in Practice a world of things till then unknown by Judges He had the Love of his Souldiers beyond Imagination was fear'd by his Enemies and esteem'd by all his Neighbours Worthy in short of Commanding the Greatest States but happy in having been only the Head of a rising Commonwealth since so many Great events can only be imputed to his virtue The Viscount de Turenne had had Order at his Departure from Sedan to apply himself to all that Prince should do as to a Perfect Model
Mareschal de la Meillerare who notwithstanding the Hâ—tred born his Uncle was generally acknowledg'd a man Skillfull in the trade of War For he had newly taken Aire a strong place in Aâ—â—ois and tho' the Cardinal Infant had recover'd it yet had he not the less repute The Viscount de Turenne having ever been desirous to fight in the Kings Presence was overjoy'd at his being Chosen to serve in his Army and thinking he lay under an Obligation of making his acknowledgments for it to the Cardinal of whom he had several times begg'd this favour he mention'd it so handsomely to him that this still the more redoubl'd the kindness that Minister had for him In the mean while the rumour which ran of the Kings journey prov'd true and the Viscount de Turenne his having kiss'd Majesties Hand this Prince took him aside and confirm'd to him by word of Mouth what he had Written to him several times namely that he had much regard for him and that on his account he had so soon forgot the Offence of his Brother the Duke of Bouillon The Viscount de Turenne not knowing what thanks and humilities to pay his Majesty for his Grace and Bounty and as the Duke of Bouillon had been newly nominated to go Command in Italy under the Authority of Prince Thomas so many favours at a time seem'd to incapacitate him of being ever able to acknowledge such great obligations He testify'd to the King the Sentiments he entertain'd but the King Embracing him tenderly told him that he was too well satisfy'd with him that he had it from good hands all possible Endeavours had been us'd to Embark him in the affair of the Count de Soissons but that before he knew his answer he had rightly judg'd he would do nothing contrary to his Duty The Viscount de Turenne begg'd his Majesty to believe he had never had that matter mention'd to him but if they had he wou'd not have fail'd of informing his Majesty But the King taking him up short told him that he ought to be content he was satisfy'd with his Conduct and that as so near a Relation of his had been concern'd in that occasion he had been the first to excuse him In the Interim the Army assembl'd around Perpignan and as we had not been able to hinder Provisions from being convey'd into that place from Couilloure which was continually supply'd by Sea the French resolv'd to attack Couilloure and to shut up Perpignan so close as should barr all Entrance and Conveyance into 't for the future The Mareschal de la Meilleraye directing his Maâ—â—h to Couilloure with the Viscount de Turenne attack'd it on the Land side while the Kings Fleet batter'd it from Sea The Marquis of Montarre was in the Town with a strong Garrison and had built several Forts around to hinder the Approaches The Mareschal de la Meilleraye having thereupon judg'd convenient first of all to take in those Forts sent thither the Viscount de Turenne who carry'd them by dint of Sword but before he cou'd render himself Master of the Town the Spaniards seeing Perpignan lost unless they reliev'd Couilloure they entred Cani with a Body of Horse and Reformed Officers while la Motte Houdancourt who had an eye to their Motions took the Field on his side The Spaniards who had their Design wou'd have declin'd fighting but la Motte having overtaken them at a Pass made 'em face about against their wills and after having defeated their Rear press'd 'em so close that he forc'd 'em to a second Engagement The success now was as little to their advantage as before and they lost full Eight Hundred men more However la Motte not being yet satisfy'd pursu'd 'em Night and Day into the Mountains of the Copsi and having overtaken them near Villa-franca he so compleated their Defeat that what remain'd of 'em were either slain upon the spot or taken Prisoners The King whom this Army had giv'n some Disquiet was overjoy'd to see it so happily defeated and as he had already receiv'd great Services from la Motte and that his last actions recall'd others into his mind he sent him the Staff of Mareschal of France Couilloure was quickly forc'd after so signal a Victory Yet as the Marquis de Montarre had fulfill'd the Duty of a Good Captain and of a Brave Souldier the Mareschal de la Meilleraye wou'd not refuse him the three days he still required before he surrendred rather to save his Honour than in hopes of any Succours The three days being Expired the Garrison march'd out and was found still Eighteen Hundred men strong This Conquest having much facilitated the Reduction of the rest of Roussillon the Blocade of Perpignan was converted into a Siege and the King meaning to be there in Person leâ—t Langue doc where he had staid some time and arriv'd at Pia whither came the Mareschal de la Meilleraye to give him an account of all his Actions In the mean while this Town lay under all sorts of wants except Mâ—n of whom it had a sufficient number but as they had no Provisions the French resolv'd not to Press it but to husband the Souldiers as much as they cou'd The Marquis de Flores d'Avila perceiving after what manner we design'd to have him distributed his Victualls in such small parcels that he made them last much longer than was expected and in the interim had hopes of Succours or of some Change in our Affairs for the Kings health rather impair'd than augmented and besides that of the Cardinal was in so bad a Condition as had oblig'd him to stay at Narbonne where he suffer'd inconceivable pains But what troubl'd him most was the account he had of the Cabals then on foot against him which so topsy-turvy'd the King's mind that he was contriving to rid himself of this Great Man whose exalted Genius was nevertheless the Cause of all his Prosperities Cinqmars the Mareschal d'Essiaâ—'s Son whom the Cardinal had been the means to introduce very far into the King's Favour but whose Destruction he endeavour'd for a Recompence was the most Dangerous of his Enemies This Young Man being not content with his Favour nor with the Charge of Master of Horse which he possess'd pretended himself to the Ministry and as he fancy'd the King near his end he enter'd into so particular an Engagement with the Duke of Orleans that he promis'd him not only to Kill the Cardinal but also to do all he requir'd The Duke of Orleans being naturally fearfull and dreading least after the Cardinals Death his Relations and friends might take up Arms he engag'd Cinqmars to send into Spain for Succours so as while the King endeavour'd to ruine that Crown his Brother did his utmost to uphold it The King of Spain seeing no other ressource but this to save Roussillon Entertain'd with great Caresses the Person sent him by Cinqmars and promis'd him all his Demands as well as to the
Closet and it was believ'd this wouâ—d have Occasion'd his Disgrace But the King having pardon'd him upon the Account of the Services he had done him in Other Occasions the Chevalier de Rohan was Committed to the Bastille with the Chevalier de Preaux the Marchioness de Villars and a School-Master that were impeach'd of the same Crime Commissioners were forthwith appointed for their Tryal who were much to seek for there was not any Proof against any of the Parties for which reason the Chevalier de Rohan's friends went Every Night around the Bastille crying out aloud La Treaumont is Dead that so as he only cou'd Charge him he might thereby apprehend that he shou'd retrench himself to and stand upon the Negative but being too far off to hear any thing he cou'd not make use of this Advertisement as might have been wished for his Good In the mean while the Commissioners who were Counsellors of State having represented to him at sundry times that the only means to soften and prevail with the King was to have recourse to his Mercy that they brought him insensibly to fall into the Snare under the Assurances nevertheless which one of those Commissioners gave him of his Pardon but he had no sooner got his Secret than that he went to tell it to the King who commanded the Proceeding on to the Judgment of his Process He was Condemn'd to lose his Head as well as his Accomplices bating however the School-Master who was Hang'd As soon as the Sentence was pass'd he had a Glass taken from him wherein he drunk as also a Knife he made use of at Table and asking the Reason of it perceiving that instead of giving him an answer his Guards cast down their heads he suspected his Misfortune and inquir'd into the matter He was but too soon inform'd how the Case stood However having receiv'd this Blow with much Constancy he desir'd he might have sent him Father Bourdaloue the Jesuite who brought him to think of dying Tho' his Relations were of the first Persons about the Court not one durst ask his Pardon of the King so true it is that real friends are only to be known at a pinch and in Necessity Thus being by all the World forsaken he was led to Execution which instead of being perform'd in the usuall Place was done in the Bastille where three Scaffolds were rais'd with a Gallows Thus dyâ—d the Chevalier de Rohan who had been Grand Veneur and had spent part of his Youth in Debauchery but his misfortune that happen'd in the slow'r of his Age joyn'd to a Majestique Deportment and some other good Qualities he had in him having caus'd his Infiâ—mities to be forgotten he was unquestionably more pitty'd than he wou'd have been had he dy'd in his Bed The King had formerly shewn him some good Will but had hated him Extremely of late years because that upon playing with him and winning his Majesties Money the Chevalier de Rohan threw four or five hundred Pistols out of the Window upon the Kings having return'd 'em upon his hands saying they had agreed before they had begun to play to pay one another only in Golden Lewisses Since that time the Chevalier de Rohan without being retain'd by the Respect he ow'd the King had held such Insolent Discourses of his Majesty that they merited Punishment for this Reason did many People believe that Naturally he was not over-Wise wherein he resembled his Eldest Brother for he had been Cag'd for his Extravagancy and thus the Younger Bother's Behaviour was attributed only to an Infirmity of Nature tho' for the most part it ought to have been attributed only to his Resentment In the Interim the Enemies who upon the Account of this Intrigue had sooth'd themselves with some happy Events having found how far they were from this hopes turn'd their Arms as I have said before against Brittany where after having made a Descent they were forc'd to retire In the mean while His Most Christian Majesty notwithstanding the King of England had Abandon'd him and that his Other Allies not content with having done the same had likewise sided against him he nevertheless harbour'd new Conquests in his Mind For this purpose he march'd against the Franch-Comté a Province from whence the Enemies might have derived Great Advantages wou'd they have taken the Duke of Lorrains Advice who Counsell'd 'em to fix there the Seat of the War He represented to them that they might from thence easily enter into Burgundy and pass perhaps into the Remotest Provinces of France where there were Malecontents enough to Expect they wou'd rather favour the Success of their Arms than oppose them The King thro' the fear he was under this Advice wou'd be follow'd had propos'd by the Suisses Intercession the Neutrality for that Province but the Enemies by no means agreeing to it the King improv'd this Refusal to the gaining o're the Suisses among whom he Insinuated that the Hostilities would spread themselves to their very Doors if the War once drew near la Comté Having thus prepossess'd their minds he gain'd o're their Principal Men by the means of his Money and these having brought the Others to a Complyance to bar the Enemies the Passages the King repair'd into the Comté where he laid Siege to the Principal Places The Duke of Lorrain who had taken upon himself to have an Eye to the Conservation of that Province did what he could to make the Suizzars Change their Opinion to whom he plainly demonstraâ—ed that if they suffer'd this Conquest it was themselves labouring to the loss of their Liberty but not being able in any wise to bring them to his Bow he was oblig'd to stop so much the more as that the Viscount de Turenne was got near him to oppose his Passage Thus the King having not found any Difficulty in his Enterprize finisht it in a short time and without undergoing any Considerable loss The taking of la Comté had wherewithall to startle the Enemies however as they built great hopes on their Army in Germany which was to be Composs'd of the Emperours forces of those of the Marquis of Brandenbourg of those of the Princes of the House of Brunswick and of sundry Others they were not the more inclin'd to make Peace The King to oppose so formidable an Army sent some Succours to the Viscount de Turenne but as he had not Troups sufficient to resist on all sides the King Summon'd the Bar Arrier-bar of his Realm which quite ruin'd the nobles that were already much distress'd the service he deriv'd from them was so inconsiderable that the year following he chose rather they shou'd give mony than serve themselves for which reason the fiefs were tax'd in proportion to the Revenue which made many Gentlemen Clamour but they were all so Low that whatever Disposition they had to Revolt Indigency was the Cause that not one durst give any tokens of his ill-will In the mean
THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE and ACTIONS of that Great Captain of his Age the Viscount de TVRENNE Written in French by Monsieur du Buisson Eldest Captain Major of the Regiment de Verdelin And Translated into English By Ferrand Spence Licensed Feb. 17. 1685 6. Roger L'Estrange London Printed by J. B. for Dorman Newman R. Bentley at the Kings-Arms in the Poultrey and at the Post-House in Russel-Street in Covent-Garden 1686. To His Grace Christopher Duke of Albemarle Earl of Torrington Baron Monck of Potheridge Beauchamp Teyes Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and One of the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council My LORD IT is not long since that History seem'd a Province so peculiar to the Greeks and Romans that the Actions of any other Part of this Globe were look'd upon as unworthy the Recording as if Homer and Plutarch's Heroes were only fit to be produc'd and that it were not only Barbarous but Impious to offer at measuring them with the Moderns But we are at length made sensible that all Regions and Ages afford Valour Ability and Politeness We are grown weary of talking ever of Alexander and Caesar and dayly discover New Conquerour◠as much to be Valued and possibly to all intents their Equalls In this File we may place the late Monsieur de Turenne whose Life I do not a little glory in the Occasion of laying at Your Graces feet A more than ordinary Analogy of Circumstances Authorizes this Dedication The Viscount's Partizans boast him to have Barrier'd France more than once from Inundations of its formidable as well as Numerous Enemies Your Grace's Illustrious Father may well be stil'd the Restorer of England in bringing back the Defender of its Faith and re-establishing him upon the Throne of his Ancestors and this is what does unquestionably give him the Preheminence o'er that so very Eminent French Captain But as the Glory of this Personages Life rather requires my Shadowing the Piece I may well be tax'd with a Design of lessening his Merit by producing him into a greater Light For tho' the Viscount had the Superiority of Conduct over most of the other Generals of his time yet must we needs o 〈◊〉 that all his consummated Prudence and Experience in the business of Bonn receiv'd a foil from Montecuculi's finess whereas the Lord General of England thro' all Disadvantages and Difficulties gloriously and untarnish'd carry'd the Honour of that Character to the last Wherefore Sir a Passion for the Credit of my Subject withholds my hand from pushing on the Parallel Nevertheless I have urg'd sufficient to Entitle this Piece fit to challenge your Princely Patronage Besides as your own Constant Magnificence and Magnanimity on all Occasions in the Service of the Crown Vigilance Bravery Successfull Conduct speak you in every thing the Heir of your Fathers Virtues so do they render so great an affinity between Yours and the Viscounts Life that tho' the Laters long Experience may Weigh down a little on the one hand your unspotted Loyalty does again more than Ballance it on the other and stamps Merit on this Oblation and renders it a Duty And here My Lord I might value my self upon resisting the Temptation of improving the Pompous matter I have before me into a Panegyrique A thing indeed unnecessary since the World is satisfy'd your Grace has with Devotion made Your Fathers Great Actions the Model of Your Own which is sufficient to Chronicle you to all Eternity in the first Ranck of the Illustrious Men and Princes of this Age and Nation and to make me proud of the passion I had to Subscribe my self May it please your Grace Your most Obedient and most Humble Servant F. SPENCE The LIFE of the Viscount of Turenne Marechal General of the Kings Camps and Arms Colonell General of the Light Horse of France and Governor of High and Low Limosin IF Men Writ only for their Contemporaries very Cautious shou'd I be of undertaking here the Relation of the Viscount de Turenne's Life seeing all I can say of him will in no wise come near the Idea left Us of him in his Great Actions In effect when I shall have urg'd many instances of his Goodness Wisdom Justice Prudence Courage and all the Other Virtues he in a Soveraign Degree possess'd have I not reason to fear that this will rather Weaken than augment the Opinion we have of Him For tho' a Book may seem sufficient to acquaint us with the Vices and Virtues of a Man yet We have seen such Great things of this Prince both for Manners and for Actions as require a man's having been an Eye-Witness of 'em to have an Idea of him proportionable to the Truth But as we willingly admit the Pleasure of hearing such Persons as have been Dear to Us made the Subject of the Discourse I hope this Work far from Displeasing will be acceptable to all such as shall peruse it Very willing will they be to be re-minded of a Prince for whom they had as I may say a kind of Adoration and whose Death they could not refrain Solemnizing with their tears tho' attended with such Glorious Circumstances As for those that come after us I also hope this Piece will afford them a Delightfull Entertainment For if they are pleas'd in Reading the History of Alexander the Great and Other the famous Captains of Antiquity whose Virtues were tarnish'd with many Vices with much more Reason must they needs take some satisfaction in Reading the Life of a Prince who having been no less Wise or Expert than those Great men in the Trade of War was Exempt from all their Imperfections But besides I hope something more will be found than Pleasure in the Life of so virtuous a Personage and that it will raise both Admiration and Emulation And if it be true that manners are commonly fashion'd after the example of the Company People usually frequent may we not believe that Reading another sort of conversation is capable of producing the same effect I will add to all these Considerations that have enduc'd me to enter upon this work the Desire I had to hand down truth to Posterity a Virtue not much known to the greater part of our modern Historians who suffer themselves to be led on by their Interest or their Passions All mankind are Unanimous in This that Greatness of Birth is a Present of Fortune nay I have not yet met with any Person but reckons it to give a Great Lustre to virtue We value indeed Virtuous Persons in whatever Rank it has pleased God to place them but 't is Clear we rate those much higher that are equally Virtuous born with the Advantage of Extraction 'T is a lustre that dazzels all men and for which let People talk what they will Every man has Naturally a respect Henry de la Tour d'Auvergne whose Life I now undertake to Write was born at Sedan the 11th of September
man had more joy than the Viscount de Turenne who had often discourst the King and discover'd in his Conversation many great things which Others knew not so well as he yet as he cou'd not testify it to him orally he testify'd it to him by Letters to which the King made a most obliging Answer signifying to him among other things that what he dayly perform'd for his Service persuaded him sufficiently of his good will without its being necessary for his confirming it to him by Letters This having giv'n him still the more desire to Sacrifice himself for his Majesty he pursu'd his Conquests which be still augmented with that ef Bergues Furnes and Dixmuyden But when he was preparing to push things further several Seditions broke out in the Provinces of France which occasion'd the sending Troups thither As there were no considerable Persons that buoy'd-up the Rebells they were quickly reduc'd to Obedience by the punishment of some Bonneson was Beheaded some others were hang'd all this having requir'd only the time of going and coming there remain'd still enow to terminate this Campagne as it had been begun Whereupon Orders were dispatcht to the Mareschal de la Ferté to Advance with the Troups that had Winter'd in his Government and the Viscount de Terenne having promis'd to make head against the Enemies La Ferté Besieg'd Gravelines which we had lost again in the time of our Civil Wars The Mareschal de la Ferté having accomplisht this Enterprize the Viscount de Turenne took Oudenarde and Menin after which he march'd against City of Ypres The Prince de Ligne who Commanded the Spanish Cavalry knowing we were coming to invest it quitted the Neighbourhood of that Place under which he was Encamp'd and advanc'd as far as a Defilé where he not only disputed the pass but allso repuls'd two or three thousand House The Viscount de Turenne was strangely amaz'd to see 'em come back in Disorder and having Commanded the Count de Roye to march with the Regiment Royale Aranger of which he was Colonel he retriev'd the Others Reputation and oblig'd the Prince de Ligne to retreat whereupon the Place having been invested by this Count who was the Viscount de Turenne's Nephew the Siege was quickly form'd and had the Success as so many Others had had This startl'd the Spaniards who saw so many good Towns wrested out of their hands without being able to use any Prevention for as their Dominions are divided from one another the Succours they might draw thence were reduc'd to a small matter before they arriv'd where they were necessary In the mean while little more prosperous were they in Italy where the Neighbourhood of so many Principalities and Kingdoms seem'd to shelter them from such like Disgraces for they had not been wanting to lose allso that Campagne the City of Trin which they had kept at least Six or Seaven Years that is to say since our Domestique Divisions had render'd our Allys unprovided of all sort of Defence They endeavour'd to repair this Loss by the taking of Valence which they pretended to Surprize by Scalado but they were so well repell'd that they lost three or four hundred men in that Action Besides this we took Mortare and having made Inroads as far as the Gates of Milan the Inhabitants of that Town thought themselves irrecoverably lost tho' the Spaniards had put their Principal Forces into that Plâ—ce We were not alltogether so Successfull in Catalonia where having Beleaguer'd Campredon we were compell'd to raise the Siege However as this was a small matter in Comparison of what had happen'd in Flanders and Italy all the Neighbouring Potentates were wonderfully Surpriz'd to see so great an Alteration in the Spanish Monarchy which gave as I may say the Law to all Europe not above fifteen or sixteen years afore Yet it self was startled and as it saw no Remedy iâ— held divers Councels to stop the Course of our good fortune Many were of Opinion to conclude the Infanta's Marriage with the King but the Difficulty mention'd a little afore still subsisted the King of Spain cou'd not resolve upon 't so as that recourse was to be had to other means The Court of France knowing the Repugnance the Spaniards had to this Match set their thoughts to work to provide for the King on another side and there being not a more agreeable Princess in Europe nor that better suted his Majesty than the Daughter of the Duke of Savoy Her Picture was sent for which so pleas'd the King that he resolv'd to go see the Original whereupon the Court took a Progress to Lion whither the Dutchess of Savoy repair'd with her Children The Princess of Savoy did not by her Presence deface the agreeable Ideas the King had form'd of her and as he was susceptible of Amorous Impressions he was in a great Disposition to Love her when the Spaniards seeing the War Eternal if this Match came to be consummated sent Pimentel to Lions to break it off His coming Extremely pleas'd the Queen Mother who above all this wish'd that the King her Son might not Engage in any Allyance with any other than the Infanta of Spain Mr. de Lionne was commissionated to Conferr with him and these two Ministers having agreed most of the points the rest was remitted to the Discretion of Cardinal Mazarin and of Don Lewis de Haro the two Crowns two Principal Ministers In the mean while the Spaniards fearing lest the Rest of Flanders wou'd be â—on in the following Campâ—gne demanded a Truce which was graâ—â—â—d them and the two Ministers repairing to the Frontier agreed upon what remain'd â—o regulate Insomuch that after a War of so long a 〈◊〉 ance the people began to tast the fruits of Peace The King knowing that all things were regulated made Preparations to go receive his Bride who was to be brought him as far as the Entrance of his Dominions He wou'd needs have the Viscount de Turenne to attend him in this journey and sent for him on purpose from the Army whither he had sent him to have an Eye to all things For as in Truces a Surprize is more particularly to be apprehended the Viscount de Turenne himself had been of Opinion to repair to the Army The King being come to St. Jean de Luz was very willing to see the Infanta without making himself known but the King of Spain who wou'd needs conduct his Daughter himself and had often seen the Kings Picture easily knew him the King being discover'd no longer conceal'd himself The two Kings Embrac'd with great Cordiality after which they presented to one another the Principal Lords of their Court The Viscount de Turenne not advancing one of the first the King of Spain ask'd to see him saying he was very willing to make his Peace with him that he franckly confess'd he had often born him an ill will considering he had been several times the Cause that he had
declared the taking up Arms to be necessary for the Publique Security so as that the Generality having so fair a Pretext to Cover their jealousy resolv'd to declare War against us Thus the Palzgrave and the Duke of Newbourg prepar'd to turn their Backs upon us the Electour of Cologne and the Bishop of Munster being threatned with being put into the Ban of the Empire if they persisted in our Allyances had also the same Design But as they could not Execute it without hazarding much by reason of the Dependancy they were under they Surceas'd it till a more favourable time serv'd The Spaniards by reason of the bad Success they had had had rejected all that had hitherto occurr'd upon the Governour of the Low-Countreys seeing we were going to have a good part of Europe upon our hands no longer feign'd to declare open War against us and after having drawn up a Manifest they put Troups into Mastricht with which Place in all likelihood the King wou'd begin his Campagn The King seeing so much Business on all sides endeavour'd to remedy it with his wonted Prudence he caus'd New Troups forthwith to march with orders to the Officers to repair with all possible haste to the Rendezvouze And having held a Council of War with the Prince of Conde and the Viscount de Turenne he made five or six Bodys of Armies which he caus'd to march where there was Occasion The Marquis de Louvoy thro whose fault all this Perplexity happen'd was oblig'd to caress the Principal Officers in whose hands he saw his fortune for he had reason to fear that upon the least Reverse the King wou'd make him Expiate by his Disgrace so many bad Councils he had giv'n his Majesty Among those he did not forget the Viscount de Turenne who was intrusted with the Conduct of the Army that was to march into Germany This Prince receiv'd his Compliments without manifesting to him either too much Arrogance or too much Baseness and having listen'd to all he was minded to tell him he made him answer that he knew as well as any Other to acknowledge the Zeal wherewith he serv'd the King but that he ought to be persuaded that others had no less than himself that he told him this to mind him that he ought not to make his Court sometimes at the Expence of those that were Absent because they had to do with so Sagacious a Prince as not to be easily impos'd upon He made him this Reproach on the score of some Discourses he had held to the King by which he had endeavour'd to do him a Disservice with his Majesty But the Marquis de Louvoy having feign'd he did not apprehend with what Design he spoke in this manner the Rest of their Conversation pass'd in Assurances of Service on his Part and in some Civilities from the Viscount de Turenne In the mean while the Hollanders seeing the King made Great Preparations for a Siege and not doubting but that his Aim lay upon Mastricht they were at a loss to find out one to put into the Governours Room who was Dead after a fit of sickness The Spaniards offer'd them Fariaâ— a Brave Man that had been all his Life long in their Service wherein he had acquired some fame And his Person was so much the more agreeable to them in that he was of a Religion conformable to that of most of the Inhabitants they sent him his Commission with Orders to the Garrison to own him Fariaâ— being in the Town found it Convenient to make some New Fortifications but having converted to his own Profit part of the Money he receiv'd for that purpose the Inhabitants lost the Esteem they conceiv'd from his Reputation Insomuch that they began to desire the Kings coming under whose Sway they hop'd to enjoy the free Exercise of their Religion as well as of several other Advantages For besides a thousand advantageous things they had heard of his Person wherein certainly fame was no Liar they were invited to be under his Obedience by the Lustre that had appear'd in all his Court when that he came into their Neighbourhood Thus they hop'd to partake in that Greatness which is nevertheless but imaginary in the mind of the People since certain it is that this Grandeur being only Atchiev'd at their Costs 't is rather the means to render them Unhappy than to make them find the felicity wherewith they sooth this Phancies Be it as it will such was the Disposition of the Inhabitants of Mastricht when the King arriv'd before its Walls For as it was a Siege of Renown he wou'd perform it himself The Prince of Orange was far from suffering such an Occasion as that to Slip without endeavouring to signalize his Bravery and Conduct but thinking it Expedient to suffer the Kings Army to consume he press'd not much hoping that the Place would hold out time sufficient to afford him that of relieving it The Generality were of the same Opinion which they built on the strength of the Outworks and the Governours Repute The King being not Ignorant of his Highness's hopes took in the mean while all his Precautions and as he was perfectly well serv'd the Lines of Circumvallation and Contravallation were not only quickly finisht but Batteries were also rais'd of which that of Montal having Eighteen pieces of Canon did much incommode the Besieged for according as they made Sallys it batter'd them in the flank made such a Disorder in their Ranks that they knew not where to put themselves under shelter In the mean while the Trenches were open'd and the Works having been push'd-on with a wonderfull diligence the King caus'd the Out-works to be attack'd by his Musketiers who carry'd a Work with ease enough but these Youths being more proper to fall-on than Defend they were in like manner repuls'd Artagnan who Commanded them was kill'd in this occasion whom the King very much lamented fot besides that his Services merited that a great regard shou'd be had for his Person he was one of the best-bred men living The Duke of Monmouth having charg'd himself with this Attacque and in it Conspicuously distinguisht his Gallantry being resolv'd to perish in 't or to come off with Honour demanded new Troups of the King and his Majesty having granted his request the Musquetiers represented to his Majesty that it was blasting their Honour to Command others in their room that if he wou'd Command them again to the Assault they were absolutely resolv'd to take the Work again or Dye in the Attempt but the King being minded to preserve them for a better occasion being not to be wrought upon the Commanded men march'd and effected their Design This Success was quickly follow'd with the taking of another Work wherein Fariau having thro' overmuch Precipitation caus'd a Mine to play his own Men were blown-up instead of ours This lessen'd his esteem among his own Party and particularly among the Inhabitants who held divers