what Natural Civility Dexterity and Wit inspires into those that are to make use of their Parts Only you must observe That for avoiding all manner of Jealousie there needs no other Order in the Visits that are to be made to Princes and Imperial Cities then what your Journey shall prescribe And that one of the most important things to persuade 'em is that we put a high Value upon their Alliance and that we have an unexpressible Care to preserve 'em and that upon all Occasions they shall receive our Assistance This is that which will slide into their Minds greatly to our Benefit if dexterously insinuated into the Compliments that shall be made 'em if in order to make 'em believe what we promise 'em for the future you artificially lay before 'em what we have formerly done for 'em and how that Henry II. carried his Arms into Germany in Defence of Princes prosecuted to the utmost Extremity How that Henry the Great always protected and favour'd em was strictly united with 'em by the Treaty of Hall and a little before his Death set a powerful Army on foot upon the Supplications of some of the Princes As to the Particular Means they are various according to the various Interests of Princes who have any thing of Quarrel with us The Memoirs presented by their Agents will inform yee of their Pretensions and our Answers annex'd to 'em will let yee know how far we can now go in order to treat 'em civilly upon their Demands After the execrable Parricide committed upon Henry the Great of immortal Memory upon the 14th of May 1610. the Queen being declar'd Regent by the King her Son sitting in Parliament upon his Seat of Justice and being as soon acknowledg'd by the common Consent of the Princes and Lords the Sovereign Courts of the Kingdom and in a Word by all France the first thing she set before her Eyes was the maintaining of Peace and keeping the King's Subjects fix'd to his Person by the Ties of Favours and Benefits To attain this End she renew'd the Edict of Nantes and by that means removes all manner of Jealousie out of the Minds of her Subjects She re-calls Monsieur the Prince of Conde and retrieves him out of the Arms of the King of Spain into which he had thrown himself enlarges his Pensions upon his Arrival makes him great Presents and heaps her Favours upon him opens her Hand of Bounty to all the rest of the Princes and Lords and engages 'em by great Sums of Money Considering that the â—trength of a Prince lies as much in his Counsel as in his Arms and being desirous in all things as much as possibly might be to follow the Steps of the deceased King his Lord and Father she makes use of those whom she finds to have been employ'd by him in the Management of Affairs Things being thus settl'd as she thought to have enjoy'd the Repose which France enjoy'd a Repose so entire that we may truly say she had no other Trouble but that of her Sorrow and her Tears her next Business was to take care of Foreign Affairs The Death of the Duke of Cleves and Juliers being attended with a great Dispute about the Succession the Competitors had Recourse to Arms upon which she takes the same Resolution which the deceased King had taken to interpose her Authority She sends Forces thither to render the Reasons for her composing that Difference more prevalent and powerful Having accomplish'd her Design to the great Reputation of this Crown she preserves the glorious Title which that great Monarch had acquir'd of Arbitratrix of Christendom This Foreign Tempest was no sooner calm'd but a Storm threatens France However she immediately procur'd fair Weather by dissipating the evil Designs of several factious Spirits who to take the Advantage of our Misfortunes would fain in the Assembly of Saumur have engag'd the Kingdom in a War Having warded off this Blow she maintains all things in Peace till the Troubles began at Mavieres in the fourth Year of her Regency Troubles which she stifl'd in the Birth by the Treaty of Monehould Following her Inclination which persuaded her to Clemency she pardons all the King her Son's Enemies and despoils him of some of his Towns to deliver 'em into their Hands opens his Treasure imitating in so doing that same ancient Prince who thought it behoov'd him to give away for the Good of the People what had been hoarded up to that End She endeavours to hold fast those turbulent Spirits with Chains of Gold But her Hands were no sooner empty'd of the Treasure which she had given away to purchase Peace but the Clouds began to thicken again presaging a new â—torm And now the Tempest pouring down she is not daunted but because she did not think fitting to avoid the Tempest by giving way to the Waves she resolves to resist the Weather and make head against the Whirl-wind And indeed her Resolution was attended with such good Success that marching against her Enemies she reduc'd 'em by Force to what she could not bring 'em by Reason Poictou and Bretagne being swept clean she returns in Glory with her Son to Paris The Peace of France being more firmly settl'd by this Progress a War broke out in Italy Thither she sends to quench it and she prov'd so successful that she accomplish'd what she undertook At the same time she declares her Son to be of Age causes the Edicts of Pacification to be re-publish'd and having a little before summon'd together the States of the Kingdom to regulate the Disorders of the Realm and remedy the Oppressions of the Subjects she most industriously labours to render the Fruit of that Assembly conformable to her Designs and being disturb'd in her Design by Branglings Factions and a Thousand Artifices she disappointed 'em all as much as possibly she could That Assembly applauded and thank'd His Majesty for that after he came of Age he had unloaded the Burthen of his Affairs upon her Vigilancy Presently to preserve the King's Dignity she re-demands the City and Castle of Amboise which had been granted to Monsieur the Prince and has 'em surrender'd She importunes the King to consummate tâ—… Marriage projected by the deceased King his Father and decreed by the Queen-Mother and all the Princes and Lords of the Council The King consents to her Request and resolves to accomplish it All those that wish'd him ill oppos'd it and to attain their Ends make use of all manner of Artifices The King departs that he might not perform what he had resolv'd upon with the Consent of the whole Kingdom Monsieur the Prince betakes himself to Arms and some Hugâ—nâ—… and some Catholicks forgetful of their Duty join with him Foreigners are also introduc'd into the Kingdom and nothing but Acts of Hostility firing of Houses Rapes and other Cruelties and Inhumanities are discours'd of The King's Journey is cross'd by the Sickness of Madam his Sister which gave
be pleas'd to favour His Majesty's good Intentions there is great Reason to hope that he may obtain those Ends which he has always propos'd to himself for the common Good My Assurance that you will leave nothing omitted that depends upon your Prudence and Care to persuade him to obliges me to say no more but that I am c. A Memoir sent to M. de Berhune after the taking of the Cittadel of Pignerol MOnsieur Bethune will see by the Answers of Monsieurs Spinola and Colalto to the Proposals contain'd in the Rough Draught of the Peace which Monsieur the Cardinal has sent to M. Pancirollo how unreasonable the said Answer is and the little Likelihood that we can be satisfied with it in order to the procuring a solid Peace to the end that after he has consider'd it he may take his time to inform the Pope of it Which done he shall beseech His Holiness to let the Spanish Ambassador know his Sentiments upon it which according to Equity cannot be otherwise then conformable to His Majesty's to the end that the Spaniards being out of hopes of concealing any longer their Artifices from His Holiness may be constrain'd to agree in things that are just and which may as well for the present as for the future remove all Occasions of any farther Troubles The said Sieur de Bethune shall represent to His Holiness That one of the principal Reasons why the King sent his Forces into Italy having been the often re-iterated Instances of His Holiness it would be an extream Grief to him should His Holiness testifie any Coldness to favour a Design to which he was induc'd with so much the more Zeal because His Holiness approv'd the Justice of it and rightly apprehended how much the Success of it would conduce to the Liberty of Italy to establish the Dignity of the Holy See and to the Security of the Pope's Person which were the most forcible Arguments that could move His Majesty That although His Holiness is desirous to preserve the Name and Effect of Common Father that ought not to hinder him but oblige him rather to make use of his Authority to chastise those who trouble the Family and reduce 'em to their Duty instead of assisting 'em in the Execution of their wicked Intentions And this was apparently done by His Holiness's Ministers in the State of Ferrara where they reliev'd the Germans with Corn when all Italy knows that without that Relief they could not have subsisted though they made use of it only to commit with more Leisure and Convevenience the greatest Prophanations of holy Things and the most horrid Cruelties upon all sorts of Persons that are not to be imagin'd Moreover the said Corn was set at so high a Rate that we have Reason to think it was done on purpose to scare the Venetians from buying it which the Germans were willing to do considering the Extremity they were in and not wanting Money after they had plunder'd the State of Mantua and all the neighbouring Princes for which they may thank the Pope's Officers M. de Bethune is also to complain of His Holiness's granting Passage several times to the Troops in their March from Naples into Milanols and so desire him to let the French have the same Privilege when they shall have an Occasion to march through his Fortresses to aid the Venetians and the Duke of Mantua The said Sieur de Bethune shall tell him The King cannot believe though he be well assur'd of it that His Holiness or his Nephew the Legate have within this little while been very importunate with the Duke of Mantua to agree these Differences without giving any notice of it to the King As also to beg the Emperor's Pardon which would suppose that he and his Confederates had been too blame in upholding a Cause so just and of which His Holiness all along declar'd his Approbation M. de Bethune must have receiv'd a Letter which the Cardinal wrote him about Fifteen Days ago wherein he sends him word that the King would be extreamly pleas'd if His Holiness would but lay his Commands upon Bagni to reside in his Army in Italy that so he might be a Testimony of His Majesty's good Intentions and his just proceeding upon this Occasion And that he would do well to be very importunate with His Holiness in the very Terms of the Letter But if the Letter be not come to his hands and he finds the Pope is not inclin'd to what is desir'd M. de Bethune shall renew his Instances in that Particular and use such Arguments as he shall think most proper to persuade His Holiness to condescend to His Majesty's Desire considering that he knows the Prudence the Probity and Affection of the said Cardinal to His Holiness and the common Good Nevertheless avoiding to give the Pope any Occasion to believe that this proceeds from any Distrust of those whom he employs or that the King seeks after a Peace but only because the said Cardinal Bagni having been a long time vers'd in this Affair can be no Prejudice to His Holiness's Design for the publick Repose more especially seeing the Decease of Don Carlo his Brother may render the Presence of the said Cardinal most useful in those Quarters LETTER LXXXVI From Card. Richlieu to the said Sieur de Bethune I Send you the Memoir annex'd which I desire you carefully to peruse and then to acquaint His Holiness with it I promise my self that you will omit nothing that depends upon your Care and Prudence to make the Pope clearly sensible that all the Proposals of these Gentlemen tend to no other End then to compleat the Ruin of the Duke of Mantua and to deprive Italy of that little Liberty she has left her by the Words of a Peace under which they hatch the Seeds of a perpetual War if the Authority of His Holiness and the Princes of Italy who are principally concern'd therein being assisted by His Majesty's good Intentions and Puissance do not apply a speedy Remedy This is all I have to say to yee in this Letter expecting to hear from yee LETTER LXXXVII To Cardinal Lodovisio after the Taking of Pignerol I am here at the Gate of Italy with a Design to do what lies in my power under the King's Commands and Authority to settle a safe and solid Peace I have so good an Opinion of your Judgment that I make no question but that you clearly see into His Majesty's good Intentions who following the Example of his Predecessors has propos'd to himself as the principal End of his Actions to support the Honour and settle the Security of the Holy See and establish the Repose of Christendom I presume to hope from the Goodness of God who is a Witness of this Truth that he will vouchsafe his Blessing upon the Care His Majesty takes in the Defence of so just a Cause LETTER LXXXVIII To M. de Bethune I was very glad to find by the
Obedience without any Conditions but their Fidelity and his Majesty's Goodness And he is so well satisfied with their Service and Assistance at present that he promises to himself by their good Advice and Counsel together with that of those whom the late King had always imployed with Success in his most important Affairs and were removed by the Malice of that pernicious Man to reign by the Grace of the Almighty the inspirer of the Hearts of Kings and their Director to Justice and to his Glory in all Equity and Goodness over his Subjects in Peace and Amity with his Neighbours and in all Reverence towards the Holy See and his Beatitude on all occasions If our Holy Father enquires ' Why then his Majesty did not rather chuse the common Methods of Justice in punishing him for his notorious Crimes that he might serve as an Example to Posterity the said Archbishop is to answer That it was his Majesty's Intention so to do and that it was so ordered But that the Persons commanded to apprehend him perceiving that he was guarded and preparing to defend himself were obliged to have recourse to this Extremity for fear of missing an Opportunity of such consequence for his Majesty's Service who is an Enemy to Blood and to such extraordinary Proceedings tho' just on such occasions This Accident falling out the King took particular care to send an ample account thereof to the Queen his Mother whose Goodness and Favours he had too much abus'd She was soon sensible that His Majesty had been forc'd to it for no other consideration but the welfare of his Affairs for which she has always shew'd her self very affectionate since the Death of the late King her Lord cherish'd and cheerfully embrac'd every Occasion to promote the Good Honour and Advantage of the State to His Majesty's Satisfaction and Glory who was very desirous that according to her affection and experience in the affairs of his State she would have been pleas'd still to continue that Care and to ease and assist him with her assiduity and prudent Councils But she desired to be excused of so great a Burthen have Leave to remove from Court and the hurry of affairs to apply her self with more Freedom to the Service of God and a quiet Life So that the King preferring her Desire and Satisfaction to that of her Presence and the advantage of her assistance yielded tho with great regret to her Entreaties and reiterated Instances to retire causing his Guards to accompany her honourably with her own to the place which she her self had made choice of and desired for her abode and the King endeavours to alleviate the Trouble of her absence by frequent Messages and Visits to enquire after her Health This she answers with the like care and affection which is a Subject of great Joy and Comfort to all those who observe this Royal Correspondence and his Majesty's Filial Respect with that natural and reciprocal affection which the said Queen contributes towards it And this His Majesty is resolved to continue on all occasions more by real effects than by any outward formal appearances to acquit himself of his Duty and Obligations to her for the constant care she has had of his Royal Person and for the Welfare of his Kingdom As to the present Difference between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy every body knows and particularly his Holiness to whom a particular account has been given from time to time of those Transactions the earnest Endeavours used by His Majesty at the very beginning to prevent the misfortunes and accidents which arise at present to His Majesty's great Sorrow who has not only represented the same to the Emperor King of Spain and the said Duke of Savoy and where-ever else it was necessary but has also sent three Embassies extraordinary at the Desire and Entreaty of the said King of Spain the second of which produced the Treaty of Ast not observed since by the said King and his Ministers employ'd in the Government of the Dutchy of Milan This obliged the Duke of Savoy again to provide for his Defence and Safety and his Majesty to â—enew his good Offices on both sides by the Sieur de Bethane to mediate and resume the said accommodation But the Treaty has been since removed into Spain without consulting the Marquis de Senescey his Majesty's Ambassador in ordinary there any wise about it or ever acquainting his Majesty with the Cause of this sudden removal and alteration notwithstanding he had been so zealous in promoting it at the earnest Entreaty of the said Catholick King without any prospect but that of the Publick Good However the King is not so much concerned at their Endeavours to deprive him of the Honour of the Agreement after his having taken the mediation thereof upon him at their Entreaty as he is to find that the said Negotiation has not succeeded to the satisfaction of the Parties neither does he any wise envy any body the honour and satisfaction thereof provided so good a Work be done no matter by whose means But he has a just cause of Displeasure and to complain that notwithstanding such good Offices and Demonstrations of Friendship made in all Candor and Sincerity for their common satisfaction the said King has all of a sudden unexpectedly and without acquainting his Majesty therewith attack'd the said Duke with open Force even besieging his chief Cities and Fortresses contrary to his often reiterated Promises and Assurances that it was his Desire to compose this Difference amicably and that he would attempt nothing to the disadvantage of the said Duke or of his Dominions This Proceeding has no less surprized his Majesty than enflamed his Courage and obliged him to take Resolutions which he all-along endeavoured to avoid by mildness and treaties his Honour and the Interest of France not permitting him to suffer the Duke of Savor's being opprest especially he not refusing to submit to reasonable Conditions when offered to him which on his part has not been done hitherto in which case he would be the first to blame his Highness and to compel him to condescend by force as he will always be against those that shall molest him or invade his Territories against Justice and Reason This His Majesty has declared to the said King's Ambassador residing at his Court and has caused the same to be represented to the King himself by his Minister in Spain That comparing the just Causes and reasons thereof with the perils and misfortunes that may arise and are to be expected from the sequel of such a resolution he might rather chuse a Treaty to compose all things amicably than to prosecute a Design attended with many Inconveniences very prejudicial to the general Peace and to the particular Repose of Italy that will be made the Theatre on which this bloody Tragedy will be acted to the disadvantage of the Princes and States thereof And besides the sensible Displeasure his
LETTERS OF THE Cardinal Duke De RICHELIEU Great Minister of State TO LEWIS XIII of France Faithfully Translated from the Original By T. B. In Two Volumes VOL. I. LONDON Printed for A. Roper A. Bosvile and T. Leigh in Fleetstreet 1698. EMINENTISSâ—…â—…DVS IOANNES DV PLESSIS CARDINALIS RICHELEVS etc To his Excellency Sir Joseph Williamson Knight one of His Majesty's most Honorable Privy-Council Keeper of the Records of State a Member of the Honorable House of Commons and one of His Majesty's Embassadors-Extraordinary and Plenepotentiaries for the Treaty of a General Peace SIR THis having been esteem'd one of the best Pieces of the Ablest Minister of State in the Age wherein he liv'd I thought I cou'd not do a greater Justice to his Memory than to address these Remains of his to a Person whom the Greatest Wisest and Best of Monarchs has made Choice of to be imploy'd in the most Important Treaty that ever concern'd Europe as one who by a Consummated Experience in Negotiations of this Nature has approv'd himself an Able and Faithful Minister Nor can such a Work as this be Dedicated to any Person more properly than to your Excellency since it consists of Letters of State and some of the Choicest and most Useful Instructions relating both to War and Peace during that Great Man's Administration and which may be of Publick Benefit at this Time May the Success of Your present Negotiation answer the Expectation which Your Country has of Your Great Abilities such as may establish Christendom in a firm Peace and lasting Tranquillity This I conceive is the best Apology can be made for the Presumption of Your Excellency's most Humble and most Obedient Servant T. B. THE PREFACE OF THE PUBLISHER THE very Name of Cardinal Richelieu is enough to set a Value upon the Collection of Letters that are here published The least Productions of so great a Man cannot but find an Universal Esteem This Illustrious Minister not only signaliz'd himself by his extraordinary Address in the Management of Affairs but reduc'd that difficult and mysterious Art into certain Maxims He was not only acquainted with the most refin'd Politicks but he likewise writ concerning them with a Penetration and Exactness that are admirable His Politic Testament sufficiently confirms the Truth of this Assertion That incomparable Piece has been deservedly looked upon as the best in its kind and * In his Speech to the Gentlemen of the Academy Monsieur de la Bruyere who as he is one of the most profound Authors of this Age is Master of the greatest Politeness thought himself oblig'd to take Notice of that everlasting Monument of his great Abilities and considers it as a Work that deserves to live for ever If these Praises are due to the Politic Testament of Cardinal Richelieu as must be acknowledged on all hands it may safely be affirm'd that they belong as justly to the following Collection of Letters We may in them discover the same Genius and the same Solidity with this difference however that whereas in the above-mention'd Book Matters of State are barely deliver'd in Rules and Precepts we behold the Cardinal in these Letters acting by those Rules and Precepts upon all emergent Occasions Here we behold his incomparable Address in the happy managing of the nicest and the most perplext Negotiations his indefatigable Activity his great Foresight which extended it self as well to small as to great Affairs his prodigious Intrepidity that engag'd him in the boldest Undertakings which generally succeeded with mighty Glory to him In short That Superiority of Genius which elevated him even above the Prince he served and made him formidable to the Grandees of his own Country nay to all the Princes of Europe These Letters are written upon different Subjects and are addressed to several Persons however they all along preserve the Character which is suitable to them That Simplicity of Style which is perpetually visible in them is so far from being Disadvantageous to them that it only makes them more grave and more proper for the Person that composed them Every one knows that it would look with a very ill Grace for a Minister of State to affect that scrupulous Nicety and Politeness of Language in his Dispatches which sits well upon none but one that is a Bel-Esprit by Profession Here the whole is accommodated to the Subject The Reader will all along discover abundance of pretty Maxims and judicious Reflexions but they are every where imploy'd to the Purpose and without the least Spice of Affectation Besides these things which are without doubt sufficient of themselves to raise the Curiosity of the Reader he will meet with a world of Remarkable Passages that fell out under the Reign of Lewis XIII and are to be found no where else I mean some particular Circumstances that have escaped the Diligence of the Historians of those Times and cou'd never have been known but for Cardinal Richelieu or other Persons that were actually in the Bottom of those Affairs Since the World receiv'd the Letters of Cardinal Mazarin so favourably I may without Presumption dare to say That they will read these with greater Pleasure and Profit for there is much more of Action more particular Things and a greater Variety of Matter than the former do contain The Reader need only compare these two Collections to be convinced of the truth of what I have advanc'd ERRATA VOL. I. Page 169. Line 31. for Monsieur de Nesmes read the Bishop of Nesmes p. 174. l. 23. for Plat r. Plan. p 248. l. 1. for the Count r. the Count de Soissons p. 253. l. 30. where the Reader meets the Word Madam put by it self there and in several other places he must read the Dutchess of Savoy p. 307. l. 4. for her Son's States r. her Son's Country Vol. II. p. 1. l. 11. for Monsieur of Savoy r. the Duke of Savoy So Monsieur of Lorrain in any other place for the Duke of Lorrain p. 89. l. 1. for Monsieur de Bourdeaux r. the Archbishop LETTERS OF THE Cardinal de Richelieu VOL. I. LETTER I. To *** SIR 'T IS an unspeakable Joy to me to find by your Letter that his Holiness has condescended to grant me that Dignity which the King was willing to have me honoured with since so authentick an Approbation will without question cover those Defects that I may be guilty of I shall think my self extremely happy if while I serve the King and State he gives me as frequent opportunities of serving the Church as I do and ever shall desire to have so long as I live In the mean time I give you a thousand Thanks for the great Satisfaction you have express'd upon this Occasion humbly begging you to believe that it will be a most particular one to my self when I shall have an Opportunity to convince you by the Effects rather than by Words that I am SIR Your most affectionate Brother to serve you The
of defence We know the reasons that the Governour will alledge in his own Justification but he has utterly forfeited the Expectation which the World had conceiv'd of him As this is but a very small place and of little importance the loss of it is not considerable Therefore let not this Matter give you any Pain at all for I can assure you that the Forces we have in these parts are more than sufficient not only to hinder our Enemies from doing us any mischief but likewise to take our Revenge upon them if a fit Opportunity presents it self The King will not change his Designs of making the Army of the Franche-Comté act in these Quarters but not yours or that of the Duke of Weymar pursuant to the first Resolutions that were taken in these Matters Only perhaps a thousand Horse may be order'd to come from the Army in Burgundy into Picardy as soon as Dole is taken that we may be in a better condition to oppose the Enemy whose greatest Efforts seems to be upon the Frontiers of Picardy I cannot conclude this Letter without testifying to you once more my great regret for Monsieur Hebron I am likewise sorry to hear that Monsieur de Turenne is wounded Pray assure him of the continuance of my Affection and as for your own particular rest satisfy'd that no Man esteems you more or is more really than my self My Lord Your c. Charonne July 20 1636. LETTER LIV. To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Have receiv'd your Letter which you were pleased to write to me upon the occasion of the taking of Saverne and have consider'd the Contents of it We shou'd be willing to put that place into the Hands of the Duke of Weymar to testifie the great Confidence we repose in him But certain it is that the Catholicks wou'd lay hold of such an Opportunity to raise great Clamours against us this place being the Seat of the Bishop of Strasburg whither the Catholicks have retir'd The Nuncio has already inquired very particularly how we design to dispose of it and his Holiness whom the Spaniards perpetually instigate against France as you know well enough wou'd carry himself wholly against us upon this occasion Pray give the Duke of Weymar to understand so much and to convince him how much we relie upon his Integrity and that no other reason in the World shou'd hinder the King from delivering the place up to him his Majesty is content if he desires it that you shou'd restore the Castle of Aubar to him and if he takes any other place in Alsatia or upon the Sarre which he thinks worthy of Consideration the King is well satisfy'd that it shou'd be consign'd over to him This My Lord is all that we have to say upon this Subject his Majesty referring the rest to your Prudence As for the rest when ever the Duke of Weymar thinks fit to make any stay in Alsatia the King is well enough content it shou'd be at Saverne provided he likes the place and will give Orders to those that he puts into the place to receive him with as much Honour and Deference as if the aforesaid place were absolutely in his Hands You must remember to chuse a Governour for it of a different Temper from the Wretch that had it last that if it happens to be attack'd he may follow the Example of those that defended and acquired it with so great Trouble and Expence since poor Colonel Hebron died there It belongs to your Discretion to consider whether you cannot re-inforce the Grand Provost with some Troops in Lorrain to make opposition against the Enemy that is there which is conformable to a Design I have seen in a Letter of the Duke of Weymar by approaching near the Sarre To conclude the King gives you full power to attempt whatever you shall judge worth the while As it is of the last importance that Saverne be fortify'd strongly I am persuaded you will take particular care about it When you were here I often heard you discoursing of how great Consequence it wou'd be if you cou'd get good advanced Quarters this next Winter inconvenient to the Enemy and advantageous for your selves It will concern you in point of Prudence to consider of this in good time As far as we are able to judge of the Designs of Spain particularly by a Dispatch of a fresh Date that was surprized by Monsieur de Grammont their intention is to induce Galasse and the King of Hungary to make an Effort to enter France in August It concerns you and the Duke of Weymar to oppose this Attempt and frustrate the Execution of it If you cou'd possibly disengage your self from putting the Castle of Aubar into the hands of the Hugonots it wou'd be much better for us Besides I don't look upon it to be in the least necessary to the Duke of Weymar since Saverne is already comprehended in Alsatia which the King has quitted to him pursuant to the Articles of the Treaty between them and that in consideration of this his Majesty will command the Person whom you shall establish in it to acknowledge him as much as he can desire You are Master of so much Address that I am confident you can bring over the Duke to any Terms that you judge most advantageous for the King's Service for which reason I shall speak to you no more upon this Head assuring you that I am and always will be My Lord Your c. Chaliot July 23 1636. LETTER LV. To the Pope Out of Monsieur du Puy's Cabinet MS. 363. Most Holy Father I Don't address these Lines to you as being Privy-Counseller to the greatest of all those Princes that have the happiness to be under the Conduct of your Holiness but as a Cardinal of the Holy See zealous for the Interests of the Church and for every thing that concerns the Person and House of Beatitude Now what happen'd lately in relation to the Mareschal d'Estreés being of such a nature that it may draw very ill Consequences along with it I shou'd plainly be wanting to my Duty if I did not make my humble Supplications to you to employ your Prudence upon this Occasion As the Mareschal has done nothing but what the King commanded him to do if any of his Actions have been disagreeable to your Holiness you ought to complain of his Majesty and not of him However I persuade my self that your Goodness and Justice will induce you to acknowledge that it never was the intention of that great Prince to displease you in whatever has happen'd but rather to serve you and hinder those who formerly have executed their Designs against the Holy See from putting themselves in such a condition during his Reign as to give the World any just Apprehensions of their playing the same Game over again Your Holiness about two Years ago sent a Nuncio Extraordinary to France upon an occasion as contrary to the Interests
which you design to employ at Maubeuge No diligence shall be wanting on our side to assist you and pray give me leave as your hearty Friend and Servant to beg of you that nothing be wanting on yours I confess I was astonish'd when I found that your Fortifications at Maubeuge were not begun and that Beaumont and Solre were not as yet taken This is all we have to represent to you from these parts it belongs to you to do all that lies in your power My Cosen de la Meilleraye and the Conclusion of this Letter will assure you of my Affection and that I shall always be My Lord Your c. Royaumont Aug. 20 1637. LETTER XCVI To the same My Lord I Have dispatch'd the Bearer hereof to you to bring you four thousand Pistoles to begin your Works Before this Summ is half spent you shall have the remainder of what you desir'd Thus nothing shall be wanting to you that may serve to carry on your Designs The two Swiss Companies that the King sends begin their march to day and the six Companies of French Guards that are quarter'd near Compeigne are to march to morrow The Duke of Weymar has passed the Rhine and since that has twice beaten John de Wert who came to attack him in his own Retrenchments He has by this time quitted them and advances forward as he sends me word The last time that John de Wert attacked him he left a thousand of his own Men upon the Spot This is all I have to say to you at present who am and always will be My Lord Your c. Paris Aug. 22 1637. LETTER XCVII To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord I Have received your Letter dated the 23d of this Month. In answer to which I must take the freedom to tell you that if you imagine the King is not satisfy'd with your Services you wrong him and if in consequence of that you think some ill Offices have been done you here you are much mistaken This I can assure you that no one has mention'd your Name without doing you that Justice which you deserve but indeed if to extol a Man's Merits as high as 't is possible be a Trespass a world of People here have trespassed against you who I am afraid will never repent or beg your pardon for doing it In the mean time I think you cannot take it amiss if as you have managed his Majesty's Affairs extremely well we are so vain as to wish you had managed them better and that having receiv'd certain Informations two Months ago of the Enemy's weakness during all that time we desire you had made a farther Progress in their Country if we cou'd have done it which we have not Such Desires are always reasonable when they don't exceed the Bounds of possibility and to say the truth I don't believe there is any place in the World where this Decorum is better observ'd than here where you must know you have such extraordinary Friends that tho' they shou'd sometimes dispense with this Rule yet they wou'd never do it where you are concerned I must therefore beg of you to quit these unjust Opinions protesting to you by that Sincerity of which I always made profession that what I have told you is true And since Diligence is one of the most requisite Qualifications in a Person that possesseth your Post continue I beseech you to employ the remainder of the Campagne to as much advantage as you hitherto have done since the opening of it The Siege of Breda goes on very well The Advices you receiv'd that the Enemy had taken Nimmeguen are false The Hollanders don't seem to apprehend the least danger from the Spaniards Monsieur de Chastillon has defeated seven or eight hundred of the Enemy's Horse in Luxemburg who came with a Design to beat up one of his Quarters and three hundred of them lost their Lives upon the place He is now employ'd in the Siege of Damvilliers where there are seven hundred Soldiers in Garrison and about the same number of the Country Militia He expects to reduce it by the 8th of October at the farthest by which time I don't question but that you 'll have try'd every thing that carries any Face of Success To which I shall contribute on my part all that lies in my power since no Man honours you more or is with greater sincerity than my self My Lord Your c. Ruel Aug. 29 1637. LETTER XCVIII To the Duke of Hallwin SIR HAving receiv'd certain advice that the Spaniards who design to make a Descent upon Languedoc maintain a private intelligence in some places of that Province upon which they ground their principal Designs I thought my self obliged to inform you of this with all expedition that you might take such a Course to prevent it as you shall think necessary Above all you must keep a careful Eye upon Narbonne Leucate and other frontier places to which it may be presum'd the Enemies design their first Onsets or upon those Towns that are situate near the Sea where they may land with the Vessels they have built for that purpose I am satisfy'd that upon this and all other occasions wherein his Majesty's Service is concern'd you 'll behave your self with all the Care Affection and Diligence that can be expected from you Upon which Assurance I shall trouble you with no more Lines but only add that I am and always will be Sir Your c. Paris Sept. 7 1637. LETTER XCIX To the Cardinal de la Valette My Lord SInce some unexpected Difficulties that cou'd not be foreseen have knocked your design upon Avenes in the Head I can say nothing to it We can only make our selves some amends by taking Capelle I cou'd wish that we had known this Resolution four Days ago having sent an Express to the Prince of Orange that you had laid Siege to Avenes and Monsieur de Chastillon to Damvilliers We must dispatch another Messenger to him to acquaint him with the reason of this Alteration however I am afraid that this will make him judge ill of our intentions although you know well enough there is no reason for it Since the Situation of Avenes is such that it cannot well be attack'd at this Season of the Year we must so contrive matters as to make it fall into our Hands this Winter by the Difficulties they 'll find to subsist a numerous Garrison wholly by Convoys which we may render in a manner impracticable to them since we have Royaumont and Solre already in our Hands and you design to make your self Master of Chimay All which Garrisons if they do but watch their opportunities will soon ruine the Trade of the aforesaid Convoys One of the most important things is to fortifie Maubeuge strongly and that with speed Finding by the Letter you sent to me by the Sieur Arnaud d' Andilly that you reckon the fortifying of it will cost fourscore thousand Franks I
'em and so concluded that his Retreat must be the end of this Affair This he grounded upon two Reasons First The Queen not being pleas'd to give an Account of the Occasion of her Anger and Indignation the Effect might be delayed for some time but the Cause not being taken away she could never be thoroughly appeased Secondly That not resolving to make known the Jealousies and Suspicions she might have of her Servants they might be convicted in her Thoughts of a Crime they were never guilty of without having any Means to prove their Innocence The Law never reputes a Man guilty till he is convicted and is always ready to receive a Justification where there is no positive Proof to prevent it If he had been allowed this Justice he had even esteemed himself happy in his Misfortune but on the contrary he had no such Liberty granted but bare Suspicions were both his Witnesses and Judges The evident Falseness of their Calumnies made his Accusers cautious not to make known their Informations nor their Persons As they were assured they could never maintain their Allegations they thought it best to repose their Security in their being conceal'd They perswaded the Queen that if she should discover herself to him there would be no Security for them for he would not only know 'em by their Names but also guess at 'em by the least Circumstance of the matter They added farther That his Wit was so piercing that if he had but the least knowledge of what they accused him he would immediately disguise himself so that black should seem white and that consequently she could never be able to find out the Truth By these Means all the Avenues and Ways he might make use of to shew his Innocence were stopt up and these Precautions had that Power over the Queen that whatever he could say in his behalf appear'd rather to be the Industry of his Wit than an innocent Truth She made as much of them that told her a Falshood as who discovered a Truth She kept all secret from one and the other and both were treated alike Which occasion'd every one to lend his Money freely without fear of its being enquired into the false Alloy She put as great Trust in her Jealousies as Oracles and flatter'd herself like Magicians who are bewitch'd with their false Science and which deceives 'em in most Points for one that may happen to be true The truth of one trifling Suspicion made her conclude fifty of greater Consequence infallible All these Considerations tormented the Cardinal's Mind more than is possible to be express'd He would freely have given his Life to have undeceived the Queen in the Designs and Artifices of his Enemies and has a hundred times begg'd of God to take him out of the World in her good Opinion He found himself attacked by a Disease and saw no Remedy to free him which made him resolve upon a Retreat as the only way to cure On the other side he considered That he who quits a Party loses it and who turns his Back upon the Court gives opportunity to them that are arm'd with Hatred and Envy to injure him unreveng'd He knew there were some that wish'd him ill for no other Reason but that they could not endure the Prosperity of the State and the Establishment of the King and consequently endeavoured to weaken both by prejudicing him He considered also that being once retreated they would endeavour to make his most signal Services not only false Steps but Crimes He thought further that if he should continue at Court and endeavour to regain the Queen's good Opinion by doing her all the Service he was capable of he could not prevent ill Men from representing to her that he tarry'd only to oppose her Pleasure He reflected that when he had formerly been in her Favour he found it difficult to preserve himself against the ill Advice was given her but now he thought it almost impossible to perswade her he serv'd her well tho' he should kill himself in the Endeavours He thought whilst he was in Place he could have no other Power than to injure himself it being certain that if God should give him any Opportunities to do his Country Service it would be to no purpose because he should be with held by so many Considerations fearing to do amiss and displease that it would be almost impossible to put any of 'em in Execution He saw plainly that tho' the Queen herself might be well affected to the State yet there were a great many People that sought to please her otherwise contributing to some ill Event the Blame of which might possibly be imputed to him so that he could not hope to have any Success from the best Design This he has often been sensible of by the Crosses he has met with in the greatest Affairs that have been concerted for these three Years He easily perceives his Afflictions do so enervate the Vigour of his Body and weaken his Mind in such manner that he shall not be able much longer to support any Publick Employment Also that he has so much to do to defend himself from those that torture him within that he shall not be capable any longer to resist his Enemies that assault him without He considered moreover that as he has been hitherto able to resist the Enemies of the State by the Queen's Favour he shall for the future be altogether incapable to oppose them being in Disgrace He also saw well that the Queen being once possessed against him she could not want malicious Spirits to foment and augment her Prejudice especially when they found she had so great a Disposition to it Whereas he formerly had been a Comfort to the Queen in her Afflictions he considered that her Jealousies and their Designs against him might now make him the Cause Thus having thoroughly weigh'd all these Reasons he resolved upon his Retreat as the only means to justifie his Fidelity and convince her Majesty that his Business at Court has always been hers and the King's Interest which as their Respect for him oblig'd him to it so that for them made him quit it Assoon as the Queen was inform'd of his Resolutions she did what she could to disswade him from it But her Jealousies preventing him to think himself secure he persisted in his Design He represented to her further that during his late Persecutions though those that sway'd the King aim'd at nothing but his Ruine yet he fear'd neither their Power nor their ill Will so long as he had her to speak in his Defence and that she would hear nothing to his Prejudice But now matters were in such a plight that her Heart is shut up her Mouth clos'd and her Ears open to every body against him So that finding himself slighted by her Majesty he determined to retire from the World But the King hearing of it would by no means suffer it and endeavoured all that was in his Power
to your Majesty for the favour you have been pleas'd to do me in sending me the Portraiture of Monseigneur the Dauphin whose Image I Reverence as I shall his Person as long as I live I pray to God that they who shall come after me may serve him as faithfully as I have always endeavour'd to serve the King his Father and your Majesty to whom I shall ever be c. LETTER XI To the Archbishop of Bourdeaux YOu will do me an Injury to believe that any Alliance is capable to hinder me from assisting and serving yee when you have aâ— occasion for it My Humour is so far from any such manner of proceeding that I believe that such a thought can never enter into the mind of any person whatsoever I most earnestly desire to see a good Correspondence betwen M. d' Espernon and you I dare promise it between my Lords his Sons And though I am not ignorant that it is a difficult thing for them that are harden'd in their Humour by Age to alter it yet I am not out of hopes to see a good issue of what I desire I beg of you to contribute towards it what lies in your power assuring you that whoever shall have most Reason and Justice on his side in the Differences which after this time may happen between yee shall be the person whom I will serve most candidly I believe that my assistance will not be very necessary to any body but I find my self oblig'd to offer it to him that has the better cause Assure your self of my Friendship for ever and be convinc'd that nothing can alter the Quality of c. LETTER XII To the same Person I Am extreamly glad that M. d' Espernon has made Restitution to the Church of what is her due in order to repair the Injury which she receiv'd in your Person and that it is now known to all the World that there is no consideration that can hinder me from favouring so just a Cause as yours was according to the intentions of a King so Pious as his Majesty is known to be The Abbot of Coursan acquainted me with every particular that past in that Affair if that be true of which I have not had the leisure yet to ascertain my self that you have not pursu'd his Holiness's intentions signify'd to you by his Briefs I must needs tell you that you would have done better had you done otherwise In the Name of God regulate your Actions and your Words in such a manner that there may be no objection to be made against your Behaviour You know how many times I have admonish'd you to be careful of the quickness of your Wit and the nimbleness of your Tongue As it was always my fear that those two Enemies were the greatest you had I must confess that I am more affraid of 'em now then ever and conjure yee to be more reserv'd for the love of your self assuring you that I give so little heed to what the said Abbot inform'd me of your being transported in your passion to reflect upon me that 't is no consideration of my self which enclines me to give you this Advice The Justice that has been done you in your Business makes the King's Piety so clearly manifest and the assistance of my Friends that he must have lost his Judgment who thinks there can be any bad impression made either of the one or the other Never were Sentences more Authentick then those which his Holiness and the King's Council pronounc'd upon this Difference and he cannot be master of himself who says that they were ever chang'd Therefore seeing such Discourses would but do you an Injury many others which you are said to give out sometimes would bring a Reproach upon your Gratitude which in my Opinion ought not to permit you to complain of Fortune who has done for you from your early Youth what she does not usually do for others till after long Time spent in tedious Services Were I not really your Friend I would not talk to you in this manner But being desirous to continue the same as I have always been I find my self oblig'd to what I do because that several Persons not knowing yee so well as I do will not so easily excuse what I believe proceeds from Vanity rather then from any other evil Cause I promise my self therefore that your Carriage will be such as your Friends ought to desire it and as I particularly wish it may be As being c. LETTER XIII To the same Person YOU will know more News by the Abbot of Coursaâ— then I can write to yee He brings yee all the Satisfaction you can desire M. d'Espernon will receive Absolution at your hands will visit yee will give yee the Right Hand at his own House when you repay him his Visits He will engage himself to build the Chappel within the Time limited by Cardinal Bichi You shall have your Decree which you have so earnestly desired as a Mark of the Satisfaction which the King has order'd to be given yee So that there is nothing more in Reason for yee to desire I am willing to believe that M. d'Espernon will very honestly perform whatever is requisite upon this Occasion But tho' he should not I desire yee so to demean your self that the World may be convinc'd there is no Fault on your part I conjure yee also for the future to take such Care of your Actions that whatever happens the Wrong may not be laid at your Door assuring you provided that Equity and Right be on your side that you shall have no less Assistance from me then hitherto you have had Of this you may be convinc'd and that I shall always be unalterably c. LETTER XIV To the same Person I know not how to testifie my Sorrow to you for that there is nothing as yet done in order to the Attack which ought to have been made upon the Islands after the Waste of so much Time and Money The Mischief is that they who have no Kindness for you lay the greatest part of the Blame upon your self which afflicts me beyond what I am able to express as well in respect of the Interest of the King's Service as for the Share which I take in all your Concerns For this Reason as your Friend I cannot forbear telling you that as Relapses render Sicknesses more grievous so if after having fail'd to attack the Islands you neglect the Relief of Parma now that that there is no body who is able as you pretend to obstruct your Enterprize all your Friends together will not be able to defend you from the Blame that will be imputed to you upon this second Default For this Reason it is that I conjure you as much as in me lies to attempt Impossibilities upon this Occasion to the end you may repair what has been done amiss assuring you that I will make the best of this Action to the King as
upon the place I hope through the goodness of God that he will continue his Blessings upon the King's designs and that so good a Beginning will be attended with answerable Successes I heartily beg both Him and You Madam to believe that there is no Man who Honours you more or who is more then I am c. LETTER XXXIX To the Baroness of Alais I Cannot but signifie to your Ladiship my extraordinary Contentment for that your Son has acknowledg'd the Truth of our Religion has abjur'd his Errors and is return'd to the Bosom of the Church In regard I was present at the Ceremony I was desirous to give you an accompt of it and at the same time to assure yee that when I shall have an opportunity to shew my Affection both to your self and him you shall both find that I am c. LETTER XL. To the Abbess of Ronceray THE knowledge which for a long time you have had of my Neice de Brezè who is with you and her Inclination always to remain in your House causes me to Write you these Lines wherein I desire yee that you would be pleas'd to let her take the Habit so soon as you shall judge it convenient not doubting but that as she grows in Years she will be capable of the Profession to which God has call'd her I forbear recommending her to the Continuance of your Care promising my self that you will shew her all the Marks that she can expect both of the natural Goodness of your Disposition and of the particular Affection You have for Her so that you may rest assur'd of mine and that no opportunity shall offer it self for giving you proof of it either as to your own person or the advantage of your House wherein I shall not let you know how much I am c. LETTER XLI To the Dutchess of Bouillon ALL the Answer I can give to the Letter which you sent me concerning your Husband is to let you know that if he be innocent of what he is accus'd as you seem to believe he is in a palce and in a condition to be seen by the King who is too much a Lover of Justice to deny him the utmost benefit of it As I have done all that lies in my power to serve him when I thought his Intentions upright you will have the same Opinion of mine if I do not now what the new Act of Infidelity which he has committed obliges me to Truth not permitting me to speak otherwise you must excuse me Madam for making use of these Expressions which however do not hinder me from giving you upon all just Opportunities that shall present themselves assured Testimonies that I am c. LETTER LXII To the Dutchess Dowager of Bouillon WHile I thought Monsieur your Son a grateful acknowledger of the Favours done him by the King and full of Affection and Fidelity to his Service I omitted nothing that lay in my power wherein I might be useful to him and procure his Advantages at his Majesty's Hands But now that he has rendred himself unworthy by a new Act of Infidelity committed against the King and the Realm at the same time that he had the means put into his hands to make amends for past Miscarriages by serving both the one and the other you would blame me Madam should I not contribute to the Discovery of his ill Conduct and the prevention of the ill Consequences of it As for your perticular Madam you shall always find me full of desire to testifie by real proofs the esteem which I have of your person and how sincerely I am c. LETTER XLIII To Madam d'Essiat IF your Son were only guilty of no more then the many Designs which he has laid to ruin me I could willingly forget my self to assist him according to your Desire But being beyond Imagination unfaithful to the King and engag'd in a Party which he has united to trouble the Prosperity of his Reign in favour of the Kingdom 's Enemies I cannot in any manner whatever intercede for him according to your Desire I beseech God to comfort yee and beg of you to believe that I am c. LETTER XLIV To Madam de Blerancourt THE Letter which you have been pleas'd to write me by this Gentleman has fill'd me with so much the greater Joy because it gives me to understand that you are not displeas'd with my long Stay at Blerancourt no more then with the Liberty I took to encourage yee to sinish it So fair a Beginning deserves to receive its Perfection from your Hands And if I desire that there may be nothing to repair in your House I beg of God that the Condition of your Health may be the same which I wish you the same and durable As being c. LETTER XLV To the Prioress of the Carmelites of St. Denis I Could not make a more worthy choice then of your House to be the place of Retirement for Madam d' Anguien my Neice in the absence of her Husband as well for the good Qualities that enrich your Person and with which I have been long acquainted as for the Piety of those Souls whom God has committed to your care I cannot return you sufficient thanks for receiving her with so much joy as also for the easiness which you observ'd in her to follow the Sentiments of those who desire her good as much as her self and the Prudence you take notice of in in a Person who has a particular care of her Demeanour I make no question but that in following those Examples which you and your Nuns set every day before her Eyes she will in time become a Disciple such a one as we have reason to hope Conjuring you therefore that you will contribute to that End all that I can promise my self from your Charity and your particular Affection and to believe I shall not sail of any acknowledgement that you can expect from him who begging the succour of your Prayers and of those of your Society is really c. LETTER XLVI To M. d' Iveteaux YOUR Merit is such that I cannot but have a particular value for your Affection and the Esteem which you testify for my Person If God had endowed me with those Qualities which you imagin to be in me I should congratulate my self as much for the Honour which it has pleas'd the King to do me as I receive it with Humility and Distrust of my self Not but that I must acknowledge my self to have some strength of Wit and Courage proper to serve his Majesty upon occasions and Opportunities that may present themselves but so many Conditions are requisite that I cannot but be affraid of wanting some one the defect of which renders my services much inferiour to my desires You are so experienc'd in the Navigations of this World that I receiv'd what you sent me concerning 'em as from a Person who can certainly judge of the future by what is past
whereas the continuance of that coldness which has been between you will produce the contrary Effects LETTER LXXXIII To the Duke of Bouillon I Make no question but that in the Places where you are you contribute toward the King's Service whatever His Majesty can expect from your Zeal and Affection for his Affairs M. de Noyers will give you such a particular accompt of what M. de Thou remonstrated to him on your behalf that having nothing farther to add I shall say no more then only this that His Majesty's desire to see the Count in that Condition that becomes him near his Person has enclin'd him to send M. de Bautru to him in order to give him all the satisfaction he can desire I promise my self that this News will please you so much the more because I am confidently assur'd that there is nothing that lies in your power which you would not contribute toward so good an End For my own part such is the esteem I have for yee that it will be no small Satisfaction to me to have an Opportunity to let you see by real Effects that no body has more Sincerity then my self c. LETTER LXXXIV To M. de Bethune during the Siege of Pignerol by Father Joseph I Have delay'd to let you hear from us as being desirous to give you certain Information of what Resolutions are to be taken upon the Uncertainties wherewith the Duke of Savoy still amnses us For though his Carriage in these present Affairs gave us Cause enough to believe what now we see I thought it convenient however that we should shut our Eyes and practise Patience in several things that we might not omit any Means to close with the King 's just Intentions for the Defence of the Duke of Mantua's Territories as he is oblig'd by the Treaty of Suza wherein every body knows that His Majesty had no other Aim than the Repose of Italy and the Preservation of the publick Liberty But at last the said Duke made it so manifestly appear that there was no Reason to relie upon what might be reasonably expected from him that all those Persons who together with my self were intrusted with the Conduct of that Army were of Opinion that the King's Service the Reputation of his Arms and the Welfare of his Confederates requir'd that we should seek for more certain Assurances then Words from the said Duke Instead of furnishing us with Provisions as he had solemnly promis'd the King and causing Twenty Thousand Sacks of Corn to be deliver'd on this side for the like Quantity which the King had put into Nice after he had deliver'd us a small Quantity and reduc'd us to Necessity he by a general Prohibition forbade all his Subjects to assist us any manner of way shew'd all the Marks of Jealousie and exercis'd all the Acts of Hostility that a declar'd Enemy could have done For when we came to Veillana though there were a River between him and us he put all his Men into that place and caus'd 'em to advance as we march'd He seiz'd upon all the Passes through which Provisions could come to us and at length declar'd that he would not stand to what he had promis'd by the Treaty of Suza which was to join with France to procure the Duke of Mantua the peaceable Enjoyment of his Territories and pacifie the Troubles of Italy if the King would not assure him to lay down Arms till after the Conquest of Milanois and Genoua By this 't is easie to judge whether the said Duke's Designs could be conformable to His Majesty's who had not been persuaded to this War but only to succour his Confederates and settle the Repose of Christendom These new Propositions of the Duke of Savoy and the Extremities which the King's Army suffer'd in Cazeletta where he seem'd to have lodg'd us on purpose caus'd us to quit that place and march to Rivola where we arriv'd the 18th of this Month. But before we set forward I sent a Gentleman to the Duke who was then at Rivola to desire him that we might have a little more Room for the Convenience of the Army which could not pass forward without being more certain of his Intentions But the Duke being gone before Day he could not meet with him The next Day I sent to him the Sieur Servien to let him understand the same Reasons and to give the Nuncio Pancirollo an Account of 'em But the Duke would neither see the said Sieur Servien nor permit him to speak with the Nuncio nor with Signior Sorenze the Venetian Ambassador who were both at that time in Turin The same day I dispatch'd away the Sieur de L'Isles that at least he might pay his Respect to Monsieur and Madam the Princess of Piemont and declare to them how great a Grief it would be to me that the Duke of Savoy should give the King any Cause by his ill Conduct to complain of him and to seek Assurances otherwhere then in his Promises Put the Gates of Turin being shut against that Gentleman he return'd without being able to deliver his Message Upon which the Mareschals of France and other Principal Officers of the Army prudently judg'd that he was resolv'd no longer to hearken to any thing on the King's Behalf that he was extreamly averse from the King's Intentions and that he rather chose to have a War in his own Country then to quit his Design of engaging the King in a continual War against the King of Spain and the Genoneses and caus'd em together with my self to conclude upon this Extremity That we were to make use of that Force which His Majesty had put into our Hands to do what was most advantageous for the Good of his Service We all agreed to march to Pignerol because it afforded us a more easie Passage of Provisions from France which the Duke of Savoy deny'd us We arriv'd there the 21th of this Month and this Day the Town surrender'd with great probability that the Cittadel will do the like in few Days Perousa and the Fort adjoining to it which His Highness built about a Year ago to give a Jealousie to the Inhabitants of Pragelas who adhere to the King made no Resistance against our Men So that from this place where we now are there is a free Passage into France I cannot express the People's Joy in the midst of the Calamities of the War to find that the King is now their Sovereign such is their Veneration for his Justice and Clemency You may be pleas'd to acquaint His Holiness of this Success and to let him know the Reasons of our Proceedings which I make no question but he will approve and judge 'em to be of great Importance and Benefit to put a stop in some measure to the Oppressions and Violences that afflict or threaten to afflict all Italy to which all the Remedies apply'd by the Care and Admonitions of His Holiness have been hitherto fruitless If he will
de la Valette And crave that all things may be resolv'd on by a common Advice and Consent As to what relates to their particular Body they desire to be commanded by a Chief of their Nation X. They also crave that the Quarter of May be paid to them in ready Money and that of August which is already due in good Assignments in order to their being speedily paid to put themselves in a Condition to serve The Answer of the Deputies to the Directors I. AS His Majesty's only Intention is to re-establish the Princes and States that are oppress'd in Germany and to promote the Advantage of the common Cause the Army which was commanded by His late Highness being maintain'd and paid by His Majesty he never question'd but that the Officers thereof would freely promise to serve him faithfully and constantly towards and against all and to lead the said Army in all the Plates and Enterprizes he shall desire according as His Highness was oblig'd to do by the Treaty of the 27th of October 1635. For the Performance of which they are to administer an Oath to all the Forces II. And though some hints have been given that it would be more proper to pay the Army with a certain number of Musters the King taking all the other expences upon himself than to agree about a summ for the whole as his Majesty did with his Highness We hope the Officers will do us more justice than to believe that it did proceed from the least apprehension that the distribution of the said summs would not be well and duly perform'd by their order but on the contrary that they will rather consider the reasons which have been alledg'd to them and are most true They will also be pleas'd to consider that the four Musters they desire far exceeding together with the Ammunitions and Provisions and other extraordinary Expences the summ his Majesty did allow to his late Highness as also that which they themselves have desir'd of his Majesty by their Deputies they do reduce us to the impossibility of granting them since our Instructions limit our Power within the bounds of the demands which the said Officers have made to his Majesty Nevertheless in order to shew them what confidence we repose in the particular esteem the King has for them and for the whole Army we are willing to allow them three Musters and a half yearly the said half Muster to be imploy'd for the recruits and re-establishment of the Forces this is all we can do and upwards of a Hundred Thousand Dollers more than what they have desir'd of his Majesty The whole will be paid them in weighty Pistols at the rate of four Rix Dollers a piece or in Equivalent Money III. The Artillery will be paid at the rate of Eight Musters yearly and the Officers shall be oblig'd to follow the Orders of the * Master of the Ordnance Mareschal de la Meilleraye Grand Master of the Artillery of France who will take care to provide all the necesfary Warlike Ammunitions of that Army as well as the Generality of all the extraordinary Expences IV. His Majesty will furnish the German Foot with Bread like the French as well as the Officers of the Artillery as it is practis'd in his other Armies V. His Majesty is more desirous than the Officers themselves to see the Army in good Winter-Quarters and will use his best Endeavours to get them the most advantageous that can be VI. His Majesty being also more concern'd than any body in the Preservation and Augmentation of the Army the Officers may assure themselves that he will give them Means to râ—astablish their Forces in case they should meet with any Disaster of War or other inevitable Accident which God forbid VII This Article seems to be superfluous the King being only engag'd in this War to procure the Restoration of the said Princes and States who can do no less than to hold that directly from His Majesty which his Armies shall have taken of theirs from the common Enemies VIII The King will never make the least distinction between the Forces that are in his Service but according to their Affection and Valour And therefore you need not doubt but that he will take the same Care to procure the Liberty of such among you as shall be taken Prisoners as he does in his other Armies And as to the Exchange you propose to us though we are not inform'd of His Majesty's Will in that particular yet we dare assure you that he has so great a Value for General Dobald and Schafalischy that he will refuse no fair and honourable Means to set them at liberty and among you again IX The King having pitch'd upon His Highness of Longueville to Command his Forces in these Parts and to shew you more and more the Value he has for your Troops haying recall'd him to that End from a Place where his Presence was absolutely necessary His Majesty in so doing was and is still persuaded that you will make no difficulty to acknowledge and receive Orders from a Prince of his Birth and Merit and from whom His Majesty is very well satisfy'd that you will receive a very favourable Treatment as also that he will make use of your good Counsels and Advice for the Resolution of all things without your insisting over and above to have some other Chief over you besides those His Highness has left you by his Will X. As for the Quarter of May and that of August we must first agree when His late Highness's Treaty will cease and when that of the Musters will begin in order to make a just Account with the Officers of His late Highness of what has been furnish'd to them this Year as well for the King's Interest as for that of the whole Army Articles and Demands of the King's Deputies To the Directors of the late Duke of Weymar 's Army THE King will yearly cause to be paid into the hands of the Sieur Haeuff in Paris the Summ of ...... in four Terms and equal Payments of which the first will be due on the First of January next coming to be employ'd for the Maintenance of the Army commanded by His late Highness of Saxony of Weymar for the Payment of the Loans for the German Garisons that are to remain in the Places that are already and are to be conquer'd for the Equipages of the Artillery Provisions Furnishing of Ammunition-Bread and all other Warlike Ammunitions that will be necessary as well as for the Payments of the Works that are to be done in Sieges and other Enterprizes that shall be thought necessary His Majesty will also immediately pay for the Quarter of May due to His late Highness in performance of the Treaties made with him the Summ of 550000 Livres only the 50000 Livres remaining of the 600000 Livres granted for every Quarter not being allow'd according to the said Treaties for the Army but for the particular
be concern'd to be for the future and during the Course of the War and in time of Peace inviolably link'd to the Interest of this Crown and to hold no Intelligence with those of the House of Austria and other Enemies of this State nor with any whatever that would disturb the Happiness and Prosperity of His Majesty's Affairs Also after the said Duke's having renounc'd all the Treaties he may have made any wise contrary to the Tenour of this His Majesty consents to restore him the Possession of the Dutchy of Lorrain and of the Dutchy of Bar held from the Crown for which he is immediately to pay Faith and Homage to the King As also into the Possession of all the Territories he enjoy'd for the time past excepting such as follow First The County and Town of Clermont and all their Appurtenances and Dependencies which are to remain for ever united to the Crown Secondly The Garisons Provostships and Lands of Stâ—nay and of Janets which are likewise to remain to His Majesty and his Successors Kings for ever in Propriety with all the Revenues thereof and all the Villages and Territories thereunto belonging Thirdly The City of Dun and the Suburbs thereof which is also to remain in Propriety to His Majesty and to his Successors Fourthly The City of Nancy which is to remain also in His Majesty's Hands as a Pledge only during the War and to be restor'd to the said Duke the same Year a Peace shall be concluded with the Villages within the Liberties of the said City of Nancy which are to remain in the Hands and Dispositions of His Majesty for the Convenience and Subsistence of the City of Nancy as long as it shall remain as a Pledge It is agreed that the Town of Marsal is to be demolish'd before it be deliver'd to the said Duke and that no Fortifications are ever to be made there again It is also agreed upon That Trade shall be as free between the Territories the King restores to the said Duke and those that remain to His Majesty either in Propriety or as Pledges only as if they did actually belong to him And that whatever shall be necessary for their Subsistence shall not be deny'd them by the said Duke and his Subjects at the rate the said Commodities shall go at in the said Duke's Territories Moreover That the said Duke shall give a free Passage in his Country to all the Forces His Majesty shall think fit to send that way either into Alsatia or other Parts of Germany into the Country of Luxemburg or into the Franche-Comte and shall furnish them with Provisions the King paying for the same at the common Market-price of the Country It has been farther agreed That the said Duke shall presently join the Forces he has with him at this time as well as all those he may have for the future with the King 's That they shall take an Oath well and faithfully to serve His Majesty under the said Duke's Authority towards and against all those he is at present in War with in such places and in such a manner as he shall think fit And that for the future they shall receive the same Pay in the Field as His Majesty's do on Condition however that they shall not be allow'd to take Winter-Quarters in France but only in the said Duke's Territories or Enemies Country It has also been agreed That the said Duke shall not be allow'd to lodge any of the said Troops nearer than within five Leagues of Nancy whilst the said City shall remain as a Pledge And whereas notwithstanding His Majesty's restoring the said Duke's Tervitories as abovesaid there still remain several Differences that were undecided before the War in relation to the said Territories which are still to be disputed with France it is agreed that they shall be determin'd amicably as soon as can be Moreover Whereas since His Majesty's having conquer'd Lorrain by Force of Arms a great Number of the Subjects of the said Dutchy have serv'd His Majesty after having taken the Oath of Allegiance he has exacted from them it is also agreed that the said Duke shall bear them no Ill Will for the same but on the contrary shall use them like his good and real Subjects and shall pay them the Debts and Rents the State is oblig'd to pay Which His Majesty desires so particularly that unless he had repos'd an absolute Confidence in the Faith which the said Duke has engag'd on that Subject he would never have granted what he does by this Treaty to the said Duke It is also agreed That it shall not be in the power of the said Duke to make the least Alterations in the Benefices given by His Majesty to the very Day of this present Treaty That those who have been invested with them shall remain in the peaceable Possession and Enjoyment thereof without the least Disturbance or Trouble from the said Duke or being dis-possess'd of the same And that His Majesty shall continue to have the Disposition of the Benefices of the City of Nancy as long as the said City remains for a Pledge in his hands without changing the Settlement of the said Benefices And as for the Offices of the Criminal Justice that are in the said City of Nancy they shall also remain in His Majesty's Gift to the end that such as are invested with the same may perform the Function thereof independently within the said City and the Liberties thereof His Majesty giving his Consent to the said Duke to transferr the Bayliwick of Nancy into such a place as he shall think fit there to decide all the Differences which were formerly judg'd in the said Court of Justice of Nancy excepting only such as are above specify'd It is also agreed That the said Duke shall not be allow'd to send any Person into Nancy there to reside in his Name unless it be to receive the Duties of his Demesne for which he shall be oblig'd to employ a French-man approv'd by the King It is moreover agreed That the Consiscations that have been given by His Majesty of the Estates of such as did bear Arms against him shall remain valid as to the Employment of the Revenues of the said Estates until the Day of the present Treaty provided those whose Estates have been confiscated quit the Service of His Majesty's Enemies In which Case they shall be restor'd to the Possession and Enjoyment of their Estates but without being allow'd to profecute or trouble those who have enjoy'd them by virtue of the said Gifts in any manner or upon any pretence whatever No mention is made in this Treaty of the Difference between the said Duke and the Dutchess Nicolla of Lorrain Daughter to the late Duke Henry about their Marriage by reason that the Decision thereof belongs only to the Ecclesiastical Tribunal and that His Holiness before whom the Parties have brought their Cause will do them Right according to the Justice of the