with the assistance of the Spaniards and Imperialists to oppose the designes of the French Mazarine had his eye continually on the Liberty of Italy and on the Conservation of Mantua at that time besieged which was one of his principal Instructions and seeing the maintaining Duke Charles of Nevers in the possession of his Hereditary Countreys in Italy depended on the Protection of the French he advertised the Ministers of the most Christian King of the powerful Forces of the Confederate enemies that Cardinal Richlieu might opportunely provide against them and shun the approaching danger To this and to the easier Acquist of Pignerol Spinola's clashing with the Duke of Savoy and refusing to assist him in such manner as he desired did not a little conduce and was cause that he died afterward with discontent and that the Imperialists missed of obtaining their designes The Duke sent the Abbot Scaglia into Spain to represent to the Catholick King that Spinola giving ear to the Propositions of the Cardinal Legate for an Accommodation occasion'd all the ill success and that the French through his fault were got on this side the Mountains for which the King being full of indignation against Spinola in opposition to whom there wanted not the Suggestions and Arts of those that envied his Employment resolved to take from him all Authority and Command of the Army which through so great experience of his worth he had conferr'd upon him Mazarine continuing a Mediator between each party demean'd himself with such exquisite Sagacity and with so sweet a manner Negotiating sometimes with one sometimes with another that he rendred himself equally beloved and confided in by all and continuing by Play and Familiarity to acquire every ones Friendship he came at length to penetrate into the most hidden Caballs and to discover the most secret Designs He by this means seasonably advised the Duke of Mantua's General of the Surprisal the Imperiallists were plotting against that City on the side of the Mincio not over carefully guarded by the Besieged Spinola in the mean while had laid siege to Casal with a most flourishing Army and had begun very much to streighten it Mazarine brought on new Treaties and persuaded Spinola to condescend to some honourable and honest Accommodation He formed a Writing to the satisfaction of the Duke of Savoy of Spinola and of Colalto and immediately went to find the King of France at St. John di Moriana who staid there expecting the yielding up of Montmelian attaqu'd by his Forces and brought back from the King what he desired He returned into Piemont but in those few days of his absence the face of Affairs being changed by the surprize of Mantua as also by the death of the Duke of Savoy and that Spinola was far advanc'd in the siege of Casal his first Projects were confounded and he was forced to mould new ones with which he went back to the most Christian King at Paris by order of his Patron Cardinal Antonio He was received there with great Honour and demonstrations of high Esteem for his Person and obtained His Majesty's assent to the Agreement with which he hastened to find Vittorio Amadeo the new Duke of Savoy and Collalto He demonstrated to them the good inclination of the King to the accord and left them satisfied and inclined to the Peace But because Spinola longing to take Casal seemed likely to withdraw himself from the Treaty Mazarine went again to find him at the Camp and with convincing Reasons disposed him to the Agreement He requested that for the Honour of the King and himself the City and Castle of Casal might be deposited in his hands the French retaining still the Cittadel promising to resign up the said City and Castle within the term of 15 days and that Mantua should likewise be delivered up to that Duke for the performance of which he offered in Hostage his own Son The King of France condescended to the Proposals of Spinola and gave order to his Lieutenants Generals to conclude the Treaty but in the very point of effecting it the King of Spain sent an Express depriving Spinola of all Authority At which he was so much cast down and struck with grief that when Mazarine returned to give him an account of his Negotiation and how he had accomplished what Spinola had desired and proposed he could get no other Answer from him then these two words V. S. es hombre da bien pero jo tambien Your Lordship is an honest man and I am so too And thus walking to and fro and stamping he shewed himself to be agitated by a most fierce and secret grief Wherefore temporizing with artificial Excuses he gave no other Answer then the former words often reiterated Finally Cardinal Antonio resolving to see the end of it with the approbation of the Duke of Savoy and Collalto sent back Mazarine to Spinola who was sick in bed and prevailed so much that Spinola in the end not being able to resist the force of the Reasons produced by Mazarine broke out into a grievous lamentation in defence of his Honour saying M' hanno levato l' honore They have taken away my Honour Then calling one of his Servants he ordered the King of Spains Letter to be brought by which all his Power was taken from him and shewed it to Mazarine that he might know the true cause of his Irresolution and said again M' hanno levato l' honore They have taken away my Honour Afterwards turning himself to the other side of the bed with the Letter in his hand he aggravated his Misfortune and the injury done to his Reputation and the Merit of so many Services performed by him to the Crown of Spain for 40 years together The business being in this posture Mazarine by order of Cardinal Antonio entered upon new Negotiations and proposed a Suspension of Arms but Spinola being dead and the Marquess di Sante Croce entering upon his Command who found all things in disorder by the death of the General underwrit the Truce which was already subscribed to by the Duke of Savoy and Collalto In the mean while the French Army descended into Piemont to relieve Casal and each Party hoping to win by their Arms the business was in a ready way to be decided by them To that purpose the French Army advance within sight of the place The Legat made use of Mazarine also in this occasion who flying like Lightening now to one side now to the other behaved himself with such dexterity that in the very instant that both Armies were ranged in Battalia ready to engage he concluded the Peace to the general satisfaction of all and with so great applause for himself that by this action the way was open'd to those Grandeurs which afterwards he arrived at becoming in a manner absolute Moderator of the greatest Affairs of the World Upon putting the Peace in execution the Spaniards by their slow departure out of the Territories of
when that unfortunate accident happened of the Gentleman of the Horse to the Mareschal d'Estree the French Embassadour But as the best qualified and ablest men are most envied and most liable to Persecution and Malice so he being watch'd on every side could not advance himself to those Honours which the Malignity and Emulation of others hindered him from Whence the King of France perceiving that this Person for being well affectionated to his Crown was persecuted by the Spaniards and esteeming it a dishonourable thing to keep idle and depress an Understanding so sublime took him near himself with profession of great esteem and with offers of support honour and assistance Many other Princes of Italy proffered him considerable advantages in their Courts Vittorio Amadeo Duke of Savoy a very intelligent Prince particularly invited him with much benignity to his Court. Resolving finally to pass into France he went thither in the beginning of the year 1639. and arrived just at the time when Father Joseph the Capucine died one for his great Parts and Experience in the Affairs of State imployed with great assurance by Cardinal Richlieu in the Intrigues of the Kingdom The King had nominated him to a Cardinalship and his Promotion was with all earnestness sollicited by Mazarine whose Fortune it was not to obtain the Scarlet for Father Joseph seeing that the King named him instead of the other declaring by this the great esteem he had for him in preferring him before any other of his Kingdom qualifying him besides with the Title of his Plenipotentiary at the Treaty of the General Peace which Mazarine valued more then his Recommendation to the Cardinalship Few days after his Arrival in France His Majesty sent him Extraordinary Embassadour into Piemont upon business of Importance and particularly to win to the French fide Prince Thomas and to reunite those Princes to the chief of their House He dexterously atchieved them both though that which concerned the first with Prince Thomas had not then its effect for some impediments which he could not suddenly surmount but he fixed the second in such manner that France thereby received many advantages Returned from Piemont he waited upon Cardinal Richlieu into Languedoc honoured by that great Politician with an entire Confidence and his Zele for the Kings Service was succesful not onely in the Affairs of that Voyage but also in remoter parts for at the same time by his Negotiations he reduced the strong Town of Sedan into the Kings power which was a receptacle of Male-contents He was the man that designed the Attempt of Tortona in the State of Milan and took upon him to provide all things necessary for the gaining of that City and it was he likewise that drew the Prince of Monaco to the French Party Finally on the 16th of December 1641. with universal Applause he was promoted to the purple robe to the particular satisfaction of the King and of Richlieu who was pleased to see him his Companion in the Ecclesiastical Function whom he already presaged his Successor in his Ministery He prepared for his journey to Rome to receive the Hat and to perfect many important Commissions But Richlieu's indisposition of body increasing and the machinations of his enemies growing stronger to justle him out of the Kings favour he thought fit to cause him stop his journey to make use of his help and councel of which he had so good experience very useful in that rugged conjuncture The King perfectly knowing Mazarines abilities in the foreseen failing of Richlieu had oftentimes thoughts to make use of him in direction of the Affairs of the Crown and had also discovered this his intent to some of his Confidents extolling him for the most able he knew to undergo this burden which gave much trouble to Mazarine doubting with himself that such manifestation of his Majestie might give Richlieu some jealousie it being for the most part the humour of Courtiers to look with a scouling brow on those they deem able to sustain the same charge with themselves and therefore he urged anew for leave to go to Rome which was still denied him by the King and opposed by Richlieu himself quite contrary to Mazarines expectation besides Richlieu before his death assured His Majestie that he could not better trust the Management of his weighty Affairs to any then to Mazarine Richlieu dying the King immediately began to make use of Mazarines Advice and Councel with open shew of the value and confidence he had of his ableness and fidelity and to qualifie him higher caused him one day to sit in his Presence an honour that was never bestowed on Cardinal Richlieu in so many years of his Attendance The King desirous he should take notice that the Choice he had made proceeded solely from himself assured him that of his own proper inclination he had chosen him out from amongst so many excellent men of his Kingdom The Cardinal being very wary in his demeanour conformed himself so well to the humour of his Majestie that he did not give him the least doubt of that odious power that he had abhorred in his Predecessor from whence it hapned that he became in a short time disposer of the Kings Will and Trust By how much the more he saw himself advanced in his Princes favour so much the more did he reflect on his tottering Fortune for while the King lay under a languishing condition he began to weigh what a difficult passage it would be from a firme to a wavering Government by the disorders changes and turbulencies commonly hapning in Minorities especially the Queen-Mother being of a Nation so much exposed to the jealousie of that Countrey The first trial the King made under the direction of Mazarine was to render his Armies victorious the next Campania to the intent that the world might not attribute his past Victories totally to the Government of Richlieu Mazarine in this occasion gave great proof of his dexterous abilities by obtaining that the Command of the Army in Flanders might be conferred on the Duke d' Anguien eldest son of the Prince of Conde notwithstanding his Majestie had some aversion against it The Kings sickness increasing with little hope of recovery calling for Mazarine he communicated to him his intent of forming a Councel without the Princes of the blood of which he intended to make him President The Cardinal though astonish'd at so great honour was not at all dazled with the ambition but with great reverence demonstrated to his Majestie the disorders such a form might cause and with convincing reasons framed his answer in favour of the Queen comprehending also the Princes of the blood as for what concerned his own person he beseech'd his Majestie that others might share in that honour which he thought too far exceeding his merit and too probable to excite envy against him being a stranger The King notwithstanding continued resolute in his purpose to limit at least the Regency of the Queen
Body of the Spanish Army under the Command of the Prince of Ligne should advance into the Kingdom which Forces were designed to keep Paris in that servitude under which it now suffered and to hinder His Majesties Return So soon as the Colonels before-mention'd were departed it was variously debated at the Counsel whether the Court according as they had resolved should return to Paris or no. They who apprehended some danger of receiving affronts by reason that there were still divers ill-affected persons said that there was no trusting to the people who being always inconstant are apt to be led away with every Novelty and to forget all Promises and therefore they ought to walk cautiously to secure themselves from falling into new inconveniences The greater part of the Counsel was of this opinion adding that they ought not to trust those who had deceived them so often or to think to finde faith amongst persons who with such bruitish insolence had shewn themselves unfaithful that to forsake the King and now again to forsake their friends whom they had so often protested never to leave was an Argument of an inconstancy which was as easie to promise as not to perform That this City by its out-rages committed against His Majesty and his Officers had rendred it self unworthy of the Presence of the King and his Court neither would it be well thus by the easiness of the Pardon to encourage subjects to commit new misdemeanors But Prince Thomas of Savoy who had the chief Management of Affairs and who being a Stranger examined matters with no other passion then that of serving their Majesties discreetly weighing the prejudice they might receive by letting slip out of their hands such favourable opportunities proposed and maintained yet with the Advice of the Cardinal that they ought to enter into the City without loss of time and drive from thence the principal Leaders of the sedition and as the Princes had made use of the favour of the people to strengthen their party so the King ought to do the same to overthrow their Faction Mareschal Turenne was also of this opinion who considering that the Countrey about Paris was wasted and the Kings Army not well provided for represented to them the necessity of making themselves Masters of Paris in respect of the abundance of all things there and that the King might be said to be without his Crown so long as he was deprived of that potent City The opinion of these Princes of so great reputation and experience overcoming all Arguments produced by others to the contrary was at length unanimously received and the rather because both of them assured their Majesties upon their words and lives that they should be received with all testimonies of affection and that the Citizens to wash off that spot they had contracted by what was past would with so much the more readiness procure the satisfaction of the Court as they had before acted to its displeasure In order to this the Mareschal of the Hospital the Prevost of the Merchants and the Sheriffs being restored to their places followed the Collonels to Paris those of the contrary party endeavored to hinder their entrance into the City perswading them that there could be no security for their persons amongst those people who had their very names in abomination The Duke of Orleans in particular told them that not being able to promise them any security they ought to consider to what danger they exposed themselves but these threatnings took no effect for they being informed of the good intention of the people to receive the King doubted not but to be welcom also and therefore freely entred The Mareschal of the Hospital took presently possession of the Bastille and the Arsenal which the Sieur de Louvieres son to Counsellour Brussell quitted and Orders were given through all the streets and quarters of the City to keep the people quiet and in obedience to the King After this His Majestie ordered the Parliament of Pontoise to be at Paris upon the 22. following in the Palace of the Lovure where he designed to lodge for his greater security the King of England who lodged there removing to the Palace-Royal he wrote also to the Communalty to advertise them that his Entrance should be on the same day and that therefore they ought to take away the Guards from the Gates and all the Inhabitants fall to the exercise of their several Professions and traffick which was presently done To Mademoiselle d' Orleans it was signified that the Kings Brother intending to lodge in her Apartment in the Lovure was therefore to be left free which she submitted to with some displeasure and removed into the Hostel of the Embassadors extraordinary in the suburbs of St. Germain On Munday morning the Parliament met where the President Nesmond declared that he had received a Letter with the Kings Seal and that His Majesty had sent the like to each Counsellour in particular in which they were appointed to meet on the morrow Morning at the Lovure there to understand His Majesties pleasure concerning the present Affairs The Duke of Orleans replied that he knew nothing of it and some other Counsellours about twelve in number said that they had received no such Letters with much resentment and paleness of face perceiving that all their designs were totally ruined and those of the Kings Party being called to give in their opinions they gave their voices for the adjourning of the Parliament to the Gallery of the Lovure although those who had received no Letters from His Majesty as the others had and that knew themselves not to be in favour endeavoured to oppose it representing the prejudice the Priviledges of Parliament might receive from this unaccustomed Novelty The President Nesmond made it appear that the King was Master to hold it in what part of Paris he pleased alledging that formerly in the Reign of Henry the second and Henry the third it was held in the Tournelle and in the house of Saint Paul and that the Chamber of Vacations had ordered the Canopy of the Kings Seat of Justice to be removed into the said Gallery and they ought to obey to this the major part consenting they determined to meet the next morning by Sun-rise in their Scarlet at the place appointed Upon the 22. of October the King departed from St. Germains dined at Ruel and from thence sent the Count of Nogent to the Duke of Orleans to give him notice of the Kings journey and to exhort him as from himself to come and meet the King and do his respects to him assuring him of His Majesties favour and kinde reception The Duke of Orleans was surprized not thinking that the King would in earnest come and trust himself in Paris where the inquietude of those spirits who had so highly out-raged him was not yet appeased but the effect confirmed how fallacious those designes are which are founded upon the inconstancy of the
he esteem him faithful who had not shewn himself so to him that these offers might be like those Gifts sent exchangeably between Hector and Ajax That we ought to give least credit to things which seem most credible and to consider that the more any one offers and promiseth out of Necessity the sooner he will fail when his turn is served that he knew sufficiently the Cardinal to be a person as ready to promise much as industrious afterwards not to observe more then what he thought convenient for his interest and protested finally that he would not consent to any Agreement but wherein the Catholick King should be included to whom he profess'd himself highly obliged The Envoy laboured to draw him from these sinister opinions putting him in minde that he was a French-man and of the Blood-Royal of Bourbon and that he had too much honour and glory not to be hereafter made the object of the Envy and Jealousie of a Nation so emulous of the French That to lay foundations on the Promises of those who built upon the hopes of others was no sure structure That friends follow the fortune and not the persons of their friends That he abandoning France the French abandon'd him That to a prudent man his Countrey ought to be as dear to him as the shell to the Tortoise and that as he was sincerely his faithful servant he declared freely that it was much more honourable for a Peace as he was to bear the Title of Cousin to His Christian Majesty then that of Servant to the King of Spain He used also many other urgent Reasons but all in vain for the hatred and contempt which he had for the Cardinal did at that time turn away the minde of the Prince so that the Cardinal not being able to prevail with him he endeavour'd to disengage his brother the Prince of Conty from his party and caused to be proposed to him very advantageous conditions and such as were worthy his consideration thinking that if he could gain Conty he might by that means reduce Bourdeaux and Guienne to their former obedience seeing that this Prince had a powerful party in that City and Province The Cardinal thought to draw from hence great advantages to the Kings service by ihe Jealousies which the Spaniards might have of Conde and by the treatment he might receive from them which would be slender enough when they should see him deprived of those supports which rendred him so considerable but although Conty was no great friend to his brother and had a mind much more pliable yet he was fixed to satisfie his Sister the Dutchess of Longueville that without her he would resolve of nothing and she not being able to disengage her self from that intimacy she held with Conde nor from the hopes which were suggested to her by the generosity of his mind the attempts on this side were also rendred fruitless and by consequence all those Practices weakned which were made by the well-affected to the Kings Party in Bourdeaux while it was evident that that City was resolved to follow the resolutions of the Prince of Conty and Dutchess of Longueville But the Cardinal had recourse to other Expedients and because the design of gaining the Princes failed him he went about by new Stratagems to take away from the Princes and those of Bourdeaux the assistance of those people and places which fomented their pretensions He ordered therefore the Duke of Vaxdosme to carry his Fleet into the Garonne and sent to the Duke of Candale who was already upon his march with all the forces that he could gather out of the Neighboring Provinces He treated also with the Count d' Ognon and others to disengage them from the Union and to render the Kings party more strong in that Province as it afterwards succeeded In the mean time the Prince of Conde was in Champagne with his Army where his designs upon Reims Soissons and other great Cities full of Warlike people and faithful to the King proving little successful he went to Vervins where leaving two Regiments of Foot and one of Horse he went with the Body of his Army towards Rhetel which in a short time was surrendred to him by the Governour the Sieur de Rale by reason of the weakness of the place and for want of Necessaries to defend it he took also Chasteau Porcien not far distant from it he attaqued afterwards St. Menhand another walled Town which was yielded up to him upon the 13 of November by the Sieur de St Mor. and because this place was being situated between the Mose and the Marne upon the river Aisne and between Verdun and Chalon was some what considerable he left there a strong Garrison under the Command of the Sieur de Montalt and ordered it to be fortified hoping by maintaining this place and Rhetel to winter his forces in France From hence having dismissed the Troops of the Duke of Orleans he went speedily into Barre where he took Barleduc the Castle of Lagny and Voet but not being able to attempt any thing more by reason the season was too far advanced and his Troops wearied he sent away the Spanish and Lorain forces and put his own into Winter-Quarters about the Mose The Cardinal on the other side indefatigably exercising his minde in intricate and dangerous affairs considered that it was absolutely necessary before the Army went into Winter Quarters to dislodge the Princes forces and drive them out of the places which they held he therefore reinforc'd the Kings Camp with two thousand Souldiers which the Duke of Elboeuf had gathered together in Picardy and with others drawn out of Normandy and the Neighbouring Provinces and in stead of coming to Paris he stayed in the Camp to redress by his Presence the Affairs of the Army much diminished and weakned which the Generals would scarce been able to have done without him he drew after Him many friends and dependents and confirmed those who wearied out with long travel and pain thought rather of retiring home then of continuing the Warre at that season of the year and encouraged every one to continue in the Kings service being in great veneration and high esteem amongst the Souldiery by whom he was as much loved and respected as he was abhorred and hated by some seditious and contemptible people of Paris He was not a jot deceived in the hopes he had to draw profit from these opportune endeavours for the souldiery awakened by his gracious aspect and the military Affairs enlivened by his Counsel he gained those advantages that made him in a short time return gloriously and as it were triumphant into Paris more then ever in his Majesties favour and setled him in the Authority of his Ministry The Marquess of Chasteauneuf in the mean-while remained in Paris without employ deprived of his Offices and not being able to refrain from bewailing his ill fortune and the miserable estate of the Kingdom he was also banished
is despised As an example they alledged Cardinal Richlieu who by his extravigant greatness was become so odious to Lewis the 13th that without doubt had they lived longer together that Minister must of necessity have fallen That it would be better therfore to settle his Alliance further off to secure a retreat if any accident should happen without exposing himself to the inconstancy of that Nation who are friends to none but their own fortune But the Cardinal esteeming the advantage to be reciprocal his inclination to his own interest prevail'd above all other Advice so that the Contract was at last agreed on and the Marriage concluded by their Majesties to whose determination the Cardinal left the whole disposure of that Affair submitting his will to their pleasure as he said he had sacrificed all the rest of his faculties to their service but the consummation was put off because the Prince was unwilling to be present in the Parliament of Paris whilst they were forming a Process of High Treason against his Brother the Prince of Condy. He obtein'd therefore to protract his coming to the Court till the latter end of the Carnevale about which time he arrived and was received with all applause and satisfaction imaginable The first Saturday in Lent the Ceremony of touching the hand and signing the Articles of Marriage was perform'd The Princess had a Dowry of 200000 Crowns given her by her Uncle and 50000 by the Kings bounty besides a Pension to the Prince equivalent to his Ecclesiastical Revenue which he resign'd into his Majesties hands after this followed the Espousals and the Nuptials which were honoured by the continual Presence of their Majesties the Duke of Anjou and all the Princes and great Lords of the Court where there was not any one found so stimulated with envy or overwhelm'd with rancour no mind so enraged or corrupted that durst cavil at this Alliance since the deserts of the Uncle towards the Crown were unparallel'd and the Beauty of the Bride such an entire Compendium of the most conspicuous qualities in a woman which were able to excite the praises and commendations of the greatest Emulators and Detractors The Queen her self would needs do her the honour to see her in bed by which incomparable Civility her Majesty made appear how much she was pleased with this Wedding The King afterwards made a Present to the new married Prince of all the Estate and Offices belonging to his Brother the Prince of Condy but he out of an exemplary Grandeur of mind refused that grace as despising the riches which came from that spoil To express the content and joy every one conceiv'd for the reuniting this Branch to the Royal Stock The days following were spent in Balls Feasting Musick and other Recreations and Divertisements becoming a Royal and Majestick Court as is that of the most Christian King The HISTORY of the Managements of CARDINAL MAZARINE Lib. II. Part III WHilst Paris was thus full of joy and festivity at Brussels all was in sadness and confusion for the Imprisonment of Duke Charles of Lorrain who was Arrested Prisoner in that City as shall be related in the ensuing Narrative The Spanish Troops were retiring into their Winter-quarters and the Count de Fuensaldagna considering that by reason of the Numbers of great Officers and the Generals of the three Armies it would be impossible to quarter them all in the Low Countreys he treated with the Duke of Lorrain and paid him a sum of money upon condition he would quarter his Troops and some of the Prince of Condy's out of the Countreys belonging to his most Catholick Majesty as he was accustomed to do at other times under pretence of being General of the Empire by which he made bold with several Neutral Countreys in those Provinces and other Principalities of the Empire as were most expos'd to that inconvenience The Duke began to take up his quarters accordingly and about the middle of Winter marched with his Army into the Countrey of Liege pretending the Elector of Colen had given Sanctuary to Cardinal Mazarine in his State permitting him to make levies there and giving him other assistances against the Prince of Condy. The Elector desir'd help of the King of France against the Troops of the Prince and take Duke Immediately Orders were sent to Faber the Governour of Sedan to draw a Body of an Army together and march to the assistance of the Elector He executed the Orders with all possible expedition marching with the French Troops directly towards Liege The Duke of Lorrain so soon as he had notice hereof in stead of meeting and engaging them as he might easily have done being much stronger then Faber retired into the Territories of the King of Spain took up quarters there for his men and came himself to Brussels The proximity of these Troops of the enemie being as it were in the heart of the Countrey and the Dukes retreat without attempting in the least to oppose them The various Advices they received from several parts that what was acted by the Duke of Lorrain was done by private Intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine gave no small trouble to the Arch-Duke and the Count of Fuensaldagne and so much the more because these Advertisements did quadrate with the Treaty the Duke made with the King of France near Paris deserting the Princes in their greatest need With the withdrawing of his Troops from the siege of Rocroy with the Negotiations which were lately discover'd he had held with the Crown of Swedeland and other Princes to hinder the New Election of the King of the Romans hoping himself by the help of his money and the assistance of the King of France and the Protestant Princes in Germany to be able to pretend to that dignity This jealousie was not a little fomented by the strait correspondence he held at that time with the Elector Palatines Family with the Swedes and with other Princes of Germany to whom he had sent Ronselot his Secretary having sent likewise for the Prince Palatine of Sultzbach in the place of his Brother killed at the battel of Rhetel with design to marry him to his daughter By the displeasure he expressâ—d for the assistance granted to the Prince of Condy by whose Treaty with the Court of Spain he pretended to be very much prejudiced by reason that all the acquisitions made in France being to be deliver'd into his hands there remain'd no place in the power of the Spaniards to exchange afterward for those of Lorrain at the General Peace He began therefore to doubt that the bare Protection of Spain would not be sufficient to restore him to the Sovereignty of his Dominions This was one of the principal Reasons that renewed in the Duke the ancient emulation betwixt the Houses of Lorrain and Bourbon not being able to endure that the Prince of Condy should be Master not only of Stenay Clermont and other places belonging to Lorrain but of the Conquests
Vincennes which was in his Government whether the Duke came accompanied by many followers with design to murder him the Cardinal Advertized of it forbore to appear to the Treat saved himself in the Louvre where the day following he caused Beaufort to be arrested and sent him with a strong Guard to the said Castle of Vincennes With admirable subtilty he raised a glorious Envy betwixt the Dukes of Orleans and Anguien enticing the former to the Incommodities of Warre as well by the Allurements of Glory as by the diligent furnishing him with all things necessary to make it less irksom to him by this means making use of the Triumphs of the one to moderate the haughtiness of the other which was one of his greatest Artifices to enjoy the benefit of a well-concerted Union Hereupon the Duke of Orleans marched into Flanders at the head of a most puissant Army and after the taking of Graveling Mardike and Dunkirk by all men esteemed impossible he opened a way into the heart of Flanders passed the River Colma and brought in a short time under the French Dominion Lens Bourbourg Merville Bettunes St. Venant Armentieres Bergues Courtray Ypres la Bassee Dixmude Landresy Furnes and other places He put them upon few Undertakings that did not succeed and though he failed in that of Cambray attempted by the Count d' Harcourt yet it cannot be said but that he merited great praise for the most accurate diligence that he shewed they ought to use in those Conjunctures which in all probability would have rendred the defence of that place more difficult then the taking it if his Orders had been put in execution according as he directed He caused to be sent to the Catalonians a considerable assistance with which they got Tortosa Roses and other places and to give that people a fuller assurance of the firm Protection of France he made his brother the Cardinal of Sancta Cicilia Governour of that Province In Italy after the Kings death many enterprizes were begun by his directions and Counsel and many things done to the great benefit of the Crown The Town and Cittadel of Aste were suddenly recovered they gained great advantages in the Siege of Turin in the Enterprize of Pontestura and Vigevano and many other Expeditions prudently undertaken although some were unsuccessful whether for the ill fortune of Prince Thomas of Savoy in the Warre of Italy or for the variable Accidents of War Considering moreover how beneficial the friendship of the Princes of Este would be to the French in their Affairs of Italy and making use of the happy Conjuncture when by the phlegme of some Ministers of Spain those Princes thought themselves not treated according to their merit He bent his thoughts to draw them to the French party beginning luckily with the Acquisition of Cardinal Rinaldo d' Este a Prince in earnest very worthy of that high esteem which he enjoys in the opinion of all the World causing him to be honoured by the King of France with the Protection of that Crown in the Court of Rome and afterward obliging Duke Francesco his brother by giving him the charge of General of the Army of his most Christian Majesty in Lombardy Both these by their generous actions have always upheld the one in Rome the other in the Army the Reputation of the Crown of France to their eternal glory and merit Mazarine well knowing that to attaque the Spaniards in their holds of Italy would touch them to the quick caused to be set out to Sea a very potent Fleet and aiming to gain some Poste on the Shore of Tuscany caused Orbitello to be beleagured by the Army under Prince Thomas of Savoy by Land and by the Navy commanded by the Duke of Bresé by Sea But the Duke of Bresé being slain at the very first by a Cannon-shot and the Prince probably ill served by his Officers the Action succeeded not which otherwise was well designed by the Cardinal intending by the gaining of this place to facilitate the Enterprise which he had plotted against Naples and to hinder the communication betwixt that Kingdom and the State of Milan Likewise in the other attempts made upon the same Kingdom by the Duke of Guise they found no better fortune for the sinister correspondencies of those giddy headed Napolitans with the Crown of France together with the contrariety of their humours that hindred all good operations yet whether they succeeded or not Mazarine gave not over to make his advantage of them as potent diversions for the Enterprizes of Flanders which were of greatest concernes being nearest to the heart of the Kingdom Mazarine desirous to recover the Glory of the French which the ill success in Italy had much eclipsed with an incredible and unexpected resolution that Navy which was supposed incapable to appear in the Mediterranean for a long time was seen to return again the year following more formidable then ever under the Command of the Mareschals de la Milleray and Plessis Pralin with which in a few days they possest themselves of Piombino and Porto Longone in the Isle of Elba half belonging to the King of Spain and half to the Duke of Tuscany by which Victories the Reputation of the French was much recovered the Applauses and Fame of the Victors echoing every where to the great advantage of the Neighboring Princes especially of the Cardinals Barbarini who flying the indignation of Innocent the tenth had sheltered themselves under the Protection of the King of France by the efficacious and powerful Offices of Cardinal Mazarine who by a noble Example of Gratitude upheld that Family which newly fallen from a potent and long Dominion a warning to elective Princes knew not whether to turn themselves for a friendly Sanctuary Thus by the help of Mazarine they saw themselves honoured with the Protection of the most Christian King by which means they were in a short time re-established by the Pope himself and with a strange Metamorphosis embraced again The Comedy of their wandring ending in a strict Union and Alliance by the Marriage of one of the Popes Nieces Daughters to Don Maffeo Barberino to whom Don Carlo Prince of Pellestrina renounced his Titles and Honours himself being promoted to the Scarlet whereby he had a fair pretence to free himself from the engagement wherein he had promised to wed no other then the Countess Martinozzi Mazarines Niece who finding in this as in all other occasions the usual experiment of working good out of evil saw afterward his said Niece more highly matched in the Family of Este and Dutchess of Modona It will not be amiss since we are entred upon the discourse of this Family to give a touch of what Cardinal Mazarine being chief Minister of State did in favour of the Barbarini in the War with the Duke of Parma with whom most of the Princes of Italy were joyned in League for the aversion that they bore to Cardinal Barbarini with whom they
imprisonment of the Princes were taken out of the Monastery and brought to live in the Palace Royal with the Dukes of Mercure and Candale only son of the Duke of Espernon so that they plotted all they could to hinder the chastisement of those of Bourdeaux and to reconcile themselves to the Princes and to release them with design to fall altogether upon the Cardinal and having ruined him to fall upon the Princes and remain sole in the Government To this end they flattered the Dutchess of Chevreuse with hopes of marrying her daughter to the Prince of Conty and she being in great credit and esteem with the Duke of Orleans by her means they gained the good-will of that Duke and with various Artifices perswaded him to press the Queen that the Princes might be brought from Vincennes to the Bastile of which place the Councellour Brussel one of the chief of the Frondeurs being Governour they thought by this means to get the Princes into their custody and to unite themselves with them to confound the Cardinal or if they should be able to ruine the Cardinal of themselves then to detain the Princes still prisoners and keep the dominion in their own power They joyned themselves thereupon in a stricter union and diligently laboured to hinder the King from going into Guienne using innumerable devices to frustrate this intention of the Cardinal who for all that mock'd at all the tricks of his enemies and with more discerning and wise Counterplots deluded them Their endeavors to hinder the Voiage into Guienne not succeeding they found out another pretext to stir up the people giving out that Mazarine was the only Obstructer of the Peace and that they ought to consider of the means to force him to conclude it the the Duke of Beaufort with like pretexts endeavored to regain his credit with the people from which he was much fallen ever since the Cardinals Visit The Court at this time went into Guienne The Duke of Orleans remained in Paris in quality of Lieutenant General of the Crown The Cardinal though he found himself strong enough in forces to chastise the Bourdelese yet did not omit according to his wonted custom to seek by fair means and by treaty to quiet these differences knowing the ill consequences that follow the bloody remedies of Arms against ones own Subjects But the Bourdelese that were back'd by the Parliament of Paris by the Faction of the Princes by the Frondeurs and by the very Spaniards obstinately prepared themselves to a defence The Spaniards making advantage of this diversion recovered Piombino and Portolongone in Italy And in Flanders joyning with Mareschal Turenne they took Rhetel and la Chappelle over-running the Countrey within ten Leagues of Paris The Frondeurs rejoycing at this Progress of the enemy thought of nothing more then of the delivery of the Princes to counterballance the Cardinal hoping that the Obligation in freeing them from Prison would cancel the demerit of making them Prisoners None was more zealous to serve the Dutchess of Chevreuse then the Coadjutor who by means of Letters reciprocally convey'd to and from the Princes had gained a promise from the Prince of Conty to marry her Daughter Hereupon the Dutchess pressed the Duke of Orleans that he would likewise set his helping hand to their liberty But the Persuasions of Monsieur Tillier Secretary of State left by the King at Paris to assist the Duke of Orleans prevailing with the Duke and knowing the danger that if the Spaniards should advance as far as the Castle of Vincennes they might set the Princes at liberty consented that they should be remove to the Castle of Marcoussy to keep them still in the Kings Power The Spaniards making use of this favourable conjuncture for their interests thought to increase the animosities of the Parisiens by sending a Trumpet from the Arch-Duke with Letters to the Duke of Orleans inviting him to a Treaty for a General Peace with a shew of sincere intentions The Duke willingly lent an ear to this invitation hoping thereby to acquire no less glory abroad then credit and good-will amongst the French wherefore dispatching several Courriers to Court they to please him sent him Power and Authority to Treat the Cardinal not doubting but that quickly as it afterwards happened he should discover the Arts by which this Engine was levell'd The Princes friends in the mean time did not let slip this opportunity to instigate the people so much the more against Mazarine affixing several papers in divers parts of the City in the Mareschal de Turenne's name containing in substance that there being in the Cardinal as great a reluctancy to the peace as in the Archduke and the Spaniards there was a readiness and inclination for it they ought by no means to lose this opportunity of enjoying again so great a happiness aggravating withall the miseries and ruine that by the continuation of the war hovered over all France To this effect the Marquess de Bagni Apostolical Nuntio with the Count dâ— Avaux went to Soissons to confer with the Archduke about the first Overtures Where they not onely found none on the part of the Catholick King but also were slightly answered by Don Gabriel di Toledo that it behoved them to expect Orders from Spain whilest the Archduke made account he had been Plenipotentiary having made the invitation with such earnestness and importunity Those of Bourdeaux in the mean while were reduced to great streights by the assault made upon the Town by the Kings Army so that they inclined to an Accommodation nor did the Court shew much aversion thereunto for the apprehension they had of the commotions of Paris wherefore the King granted them a general Amnesty without giving ear to their importunities for the delivery of the Princes but giving them the satisfaction in the removal of the Duke of Espernon from that Government the rest remaining in the same state This Peace of Bourdeaux was received with unexpressible bitterness by the Frondeurs who jealous that the Cardinal would set the Princes at liberty without acquainting them they united themselves afresh with the Duke of Orleans and sought by all means to set him at odds with Mazarine whom they gave to understand that the Court should return Paris and this with intent to hinder him of those advantages that he might reap by the Voyage of Tholouse and Provence which was of the Cardinal for many weighty reasons who preferring the urging desire of the Duke of Orleans for the Kings return to Paris and the necessity of providing for the securing of the Princes in causing them to be transported to a safer place then Marcousy before any other consideration he brought back their Majesties towards Paris and they remained at Fountainbleau whither the Queen invited the Duke of Orleans to consult Affairs of great importance but in effect it was onely to win him to the removal of the Princes a thing dreaded by the Frondeurs who foreseeing
it had made the Duke promise them never to consent to it but the easie nature of that Prince submitting after his accustomed manner to the Genius of the Queen and to her Caresses he could not deny to give his assent for the transport of the Princess to Havre de Grace which was done the 15th of November following the Count d' Harcourt being their Convoy This blow much confounded the Frondeurs and therefore they sought anew to possess the Dukes mind with fears and suspicions and joyned themeselves again with all the Princes Kindred Friends and Partakers with the Dutchess of Chevreuse the Marquess of Chasteauneuf the Dutchess of Orleans and Madamoiselle and imployed all their thoughts on the liberty of the Princes But they doubted by what course to attempt it Some were of opinion that they should gain the Cardinal for the Prisoners once delivered and la Fronda uniting himself with them they might ruine him at pleasure But the major part concluded that they ought to make use of la Fronda's power The first way was tried but proved in vain Mazarine opining that for the safety of the Kingdom they ought not to trust them at liberty till the Kings Majority wherefore they had recourse to the second making the Duke of Orleans Head of the Caball who at length having by his intreaty won the Queen to remove to Paris gained a great step to the designs of the Frondeurs By these intestine distractions France continued to feel in divers parts more and more the effects of the present calamities losing at the same time Flix Miravet and Tortosa in Catalonia and Mouzon in France The Cardinal to recover these losses and to clear Champagne from the enemy who was fortified there upon the gaining of the Rhetel resolved to go in person to regain that place which he accordingly did about the end of November with 12000 Souldiers and recovered it within the space of five days to the great glory of the Mareschal du Plessis Pralin who commanded the Army The Opinions were various whether they should prosecute the Victory by giving battel to Turenne who was drawn near to succour it the Cardinal concluded contrary to the rest that they ought to fight him which they did and gained a remarkable Victory with the total rout of Turenne taking prisoner Don Stephano di Gammara a Cavalier of considerable condition and General of the Spanish Troops that were united with Turenne The Cardinals enemies considering that notwithstanding all their Machinations he had the hap in a few moneths and in the heat of the greatest troubles to imprison the Princes to secure their Towns to relieve Guise to conserve Havre de Grace to recover the Castle of Dijon the Towns of Danvillers Bellegarde Clermont St. John de l'Ausne Verdun Caen Diepe to confirm Rouen in the Kings obedience which had began to rebell to quiet Bourdeaux and put an end to the commotions of Guienne and lastly driven the Spaniards from Rhetel Successes able to bring his enemies to the greatest despair but which quite contrary gave occasion to his friends to do him that mischief by their flatteries which the others could not do by their persecutions for while he was resolved to continue yet some time with the Army those that had an affection for him invited him with great importunity to return to triumph in Paris to the end that as they said by the splendour of his glory he might dim the eyes of his Maligners which so awakened their envy rancour and jealousie that minding nothing else but his ruine judged there could be no better way to compass it then to free the Princes so that all uniting themselves with the Duke of Orleans and the Parlement they caused this last to make a Remonstrance to the Queen for the Princes liberty Her Majesty very prudently endeavoured to gain time hoping by these means to effectuate her designs but the Combiners continued their Assemblies and after divers Treaties they concluded with the Duke of Orleans and by engagements of Alliances and other ways took the boldness whatsoever came on 't to have the Princes out of prison The Cardinal was not well served in the management of these Treaties not having those Advertisements that were necessary for if he had been thoroughly inform'd of their designs there is no doubt but he would have found ways to have frustrated them The Coadjutor appeared in Parliament the first of February 1651 and enlarged himself in an eloquent speech in favour of the Princes giving weight to his discourse by shewing that it was wholly conformable to the sentiment of the Duke of Orleans whereby he more and more disposed the minds of the Parliamentarians in favour of the Prisoners and confirmed the Duke in his resolution perswading him openly to avow to the Court not to appear any more at Council so long as the Cardinal came there with whom he shewed himself extreamly offended The Court was much perplexed at the found of so many Alarms and knowing that the present constitution of Affairs disabled them to shun the blow they resolved to prevent it by setting the Princes free before it came to force of Arms wherfore the Mareschal de Gramont the Marquess de Lionne and Secretary Goulas were dispatched away secretly to treat with them The Coadjutor in the mean-while was much afflicted that the Parliament could not be induced to decree against the Cardinal whose innocency appeared so much the more clear that notwithstanding the most diligent Inquisition of his very enemies they could not find any proofs of the accusations laid to his charge Finally another invention was found out to incense the Parliament more highly which was to make them believe that the Cardinal had publickly communicated those Counsels with Fairfax and Cromwell which so exasperated even those that had yet some kindness for him that they not only voted the innocency of the Princes but also the Cardinals Condemnation aggravating that he had dissipated the Treasure hindred the Peace and aspersed the Parliament with injurious and dishonourable words propounding in conclusion to supplicate the Queen to send him away from Court and accompanied this their deliberation with publick cries and clamours against Mazarine The Duke of Orleans went after to the Parlement to confirm what the Coadjutor had delivered in his name and sollicited for the effectual removal of the Cardinal and for setting the Princes at liberty earnestly speaking in their behalf and with great sharpness against the Cardinal which emboldened the Parlement to persist in their deliberations against him although the first President Mollé a well-meaning man did seek to allay those too licentious discourses but he himself was constrained to go to the Queen to remember Her Majesty of her promise to free the Princes to whom the Queen answered that she did continue in the mind to set them at liberty and to that purpose had dispatched Gramont and Lionne to Havre de Grace to treat with them about it
complaining publickly of this reception The Duke of Mercoeur in the mean while remaining in Paris after the departure of the Cardinal was every night with the Queen when all others were retired conferring with Her Majesty about those Expedients that were most urgent and seeing his own Affairs but in an ill condition by reason of the dissatisfaction of those of his Family for his Interest with the Cardinal he supplicated the Queen for the Government of Auvergne Her Majesty before she would gratifie him asked the opinion of one of her Ministers of State in whom she confided who represented to her that the Duke obtaining what he desired might perhaps take an occasion to withdraw himself from the Marriage with Madamoiselle Mancini and therefore judged rather to defer it to gain time which ripens all things Which counsel being imbraced by the Queen caused Mercoeur aware of this artificial delay to protest with much frankness that his intent was to consummate the Marriage and that there was no reason to doubt of his word shewing all readiness to complete every thing agreed upon Upon this they writ to the Cardinal who though he did not recede from the terms agreed on yet knowing that this Parentage would give new occasion to his Enemies to foment the disturbances he resolved by any means to prefer the Kings service before his own private Interest wherefore he answered the Advocate Bluet that he did not approve that the Duke should stir from Paris as well to avoid the dangers that might happen in such a journy and for the alterations that might follow in that City under this pretext as also by reason there was none else at that time nigh His Majesty with whom the Queen might discourse freely and confide in except himself and the Mareschal de Plessis Pralin But the Duke seeing his Word and Honour engaged admitted not of this repulse esteeming that to expose himself in so turbulent a time and in the greatest heat of the persecutions to a journy full of danger would give a more clear testimony of his Fidelity and more oblige the Cardinal and the Spouse to effectuate the Marriage so that having represented to the Queen several times his determined resolution he disposed her at last to grant him leave to depart receiving besides a thousand Pistols to help to defray his charges Having thus established his departure and resolved to take his journy with all secresie to shun the Ambushes that might be laid for him on the way he sent his Gentlemen into the Country of Vendosme with semblance that he would make a journy thither and feigning himself a Servant of the Sieur de Siron a Domestick of the Cardinals in the beginning of July 1651 issuing out of the Queens Cabinet and descending all alone by a private stairs in the dusk of the Evening he took Post and with the Sieur de Siron rode to Peronne and from thence with a Spanish Pass-port passed to Brules where on the 12th of the same Moneth the Marriage was celebrated and solemnized by the Archbishop the Elector of Colen after which with the same celerity he returned to Paris where it being understood that there was an Ambush laid for him on the way the Marchioness d'Ampoux by an express Courrier borrow'd of the Venetian Embassadour advertized him of the danger whereupon he returned to Paris another way and remained there hid for some time in the house of the said Marchioness At the news of this Match a great rumour was spred in Paris arguing probably from this that Mazarine's return was no more covertly but publickly endeavoured but because by their Majesties Declaration and by the Decrees of the Parlement not onely the Cardinal but also his Kindred were condemn'd they persuaded themselves that the Marriage ought to be held invalid since that as they said a Prince of France could not marry without the Kings consent and much less with an exiled person and an enemy of the State not reflecting that if this Contract was not valid neither ought the Decrees of Parlement to be esteem'd valid which were made without the Kings assent and not ratified by his Authority Upon the account of this Invalidity the Parlement met often and the business would have run a greater Praecipice notwithstanding the Duke was not wanting in his own concern if for the change that followed and that obliged the Parlement to think of something else this Affair had not been laid aside for the which Mercoeur being call'd as Duke and Peer of France went to the Parlement accompanied with so great a number of Friends that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde arrived not till two hours after retarded by putting their Followers in order to appear full as strong as Mercoeur He being there very much pressed to clear this Affair Answered that he was not obliged to say any thing else then that he had not in the least transgressed their Ordinances and justified to their faces that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde were the persons that had persuaded him and engaged him in the aforesaid Marriage and if afterward the consideration of their Interestâ— had made them change their Opinion he for his part knew what was to be expected from a Cavalier and a Prince born in maintaining his Faith and Word This notwithstanding his Father the Duke of Vendosme was call'd who appearing in Parlement and being demanded if he had given his Assent could not deny but that he had formerly consented to it and withall said that he had done it by the counsel and assistance of the Duke of Orleans but after the Cardinals departure there was no more said of it there being no occasion for it so that the Affair rested in this manner without passing further For these Controversies Paris being in a great commotion every one cast their eyes on the proceedings of the Court and of the Princes and their curiosity was grown to that pass that whensoever the Parlement assembled to treat of publick Affairs and against the Cardinal and infinite number as well of the People as of the Nobility ran to the Palace with all sorts of Weapons to assist some the one some the other Party by which the dangers daily increasing for the variety of Interests which divided and incensed their minds the Parlement decreed that every one should retire upon pain of death and the Kings Officers were charged to see the Decree observed The Queen courted the Duke of Orleans at this time to concur with her for the Election of a Council to assist the King the Duke answered that he would speak with the Prince of Conde but Her Majesty would not consent that he should communicate any thing to him holding him for one of her bitterest Enemies The Parlement met again and went on to treat about the Marriage of the Duke de Mercoeur to whom it was given in charge that within the space of three days he should put into the
hands of the Secretary of the Parlement the Circumstances of his Espousals with the Avouchment of them to be communicated to his Father the Duke of Vendosme that all the Decrees against the Cardinal his Domesticks and Kindred should be renewed and particularly against Madamoiselle Mancini who especially was prohibited to return into France and if she were there to depart within 8 days The Declaration that the King was to set forth against the Cardinal was likewise read and the Duke of Orleans made them adde The damage which ensued upon his hindering the General Peace as also for undertaking the War against Bourdeaux without his consent The Prince of Conde obtained to be added That his imprisonment was for no other cause but that he would not consent to the Marriage of the Cardinals two Nieces with the Dukes of Mercoeur and Candale Upon the retirement of Servient Tillier and Lionne the Regent saw it necessary to elect a new Council to which the Duke of Orleans assenting counselled thereunto by the Dutchess of Chevreuse and the Coadjutor who had pressed him a great while before they could prevail it was resolved on to call the Marquess de Chasteauneuf to exercise the charge of Chief Minister the Marquess of Vieville to be Superintendent of the Finances and to confirm the Chief President Keeper of the Seal and the Coadjutor was nominated to be Cardinal Chasteauneuf taking upon him the Management of Affairs began immediately to think upon those means that might hinder the Cardinals return which were to make the King to go into Berry and from thence towards Poictu for the further off he was the more difficult and impracticable it would be for the Cardinal to return as well for the Animosities of the Parlement as for the ill season of the year being to pass 14 Rivers and by keeping the King absent he should put the Duke of Orleans into the Government of Affairs which was his principal end These designs of Chasteauneuf being suspected by the Cardinals Confidents who discovering that there were but few in the Council which delivered their mind cordially the rest onely in appearance and to gratifie the Queen professed themselves good friends concluded that there was no better Expedient for their Majesties and for the Cardinal himself then to make use of their power and to get that by force which they could not obtain by reason and fair means To this intent the Abbot Ondedei by the Kings Order who with reiterated Letters had recall'd the Cardinal to Court hasted to Brules to let Mazarine understand the necessity of taking this course and to inform him really of what past assuring him of their Majesties good intentions for whose service it was absolutely necessary he should return to his Charge it being manifest that there was no person served them with more readiness and cordiality The Cardinal hearkened to what the Abbot delivered for having found him in all occasions of an ingenious free and sincere nature he much confided in him but he rested somwhat doubtful in his resolution for fear of making a greater alteration in Affairs and of giving new matter to the Male-contents and to his Enemies to raise pretexts for Seditions and Tumults to quiet which he thought it best to remain in exile with the loss of all he had gained hitherto But in the end the reasons alledged by the Abbot prevailing who with an equal zele to his hearty affection laboured to make him comprehend the necessity of his return he determined with his own mony to make without delay a Levy of four or five thousand Souldiers giving the command of them to the Mareschals at la Ferté Seneterre and d'Hoquincourt the Counts de Novailles and Broglio his intimate friends and persons of great integrity who took upon them the command and with all diligence applied themselves to serve him desiring earnestly to see him readmitted to his former State to his Enemies shame and reproach This being resolved on the Cardinal desired a Pass-port of the Spaniards to return to Bovillon which was by them delay'd foreseeing perhaps of what prejudice his return to Court might prove Wherefore departing suddenly from Brules instead of going to Juliers without drawing bit he rode to Duren a City belonging to the Duke of Newbourg from thence to Aix la Chapelle and so to Liege to Huy and lastly to Dinan whither the Counts of Novailles and Iroglio came to him to agree on the Levies for which he there disbursed the Moneys and in 40 days time that he staid there they raised their whole number of Souldiers Upon this news the Parlement renewed the Decree against the Cardinal laying to his charge that he had infringed their Order by levying of Souldiers to enter again into France and did what they could to hinder his return but he continuing at Dinan hastened with all diligence the new Levies that he might accompany them to reinforce the King and the time of his motion drawing nigh he renewed his request to the Spaniards for a Passport but it not appearing one night unexpectedly in 18 hours riding without drawing bit he came to Bovillon not without danger of being snapt by the Prince of Conde's Troops who watched diligently to intercept him skirting ever and anon the adjacent Campagne From hence he sent word to advertise the Spanish Commanders that he was gone and since they had not favoured him to with the desired Pass for himself desired that they would at least vouchsafe one for his Nieces which was immediately granted and with much Honour they were served and convey'd to Bovillon by Don Antonio Primentelli and from hence arose the good correspondence betwixt him and the Cardinal which afterward so much conduc'd to the Peace of the two Crowns to which the Elector of Colen contributed much by encouraging Mazarine to so pious and holy a work He went on to Sedan and determined as soon as might be to advance with his levied Souldiers and with those the Mareschal d' Hoquincourt had gathered who had Order from the King to joyn with him and with one Body to enter into France This novelty made a great noise in Paris but alarm'd most the Frondeurs the Parlement and the Dukes of Orleans and Beaufort who being surprised when they least imagined with clamorous complaints gave out that it was a thing not to be endured that the Court should so notoriously infringe their Promise and Word so often given and that the contempt was too remarkable to see themselves so palpably deluded The Parlement therefore decreed that in prosecution of the Judgment concluded four days before against the Cardinal to depute some with a Message to their Majesties to complain of what was acting on the Frontiers against their service by levying of Souldiers distributing of Mony and bruit of Mazarine's return all contrary to the Kings Declaration and his Royal Word for the maintaining of which they should beseech him with all earnestness that the
Agreement and to let him know the reason why they brought the Army against him while he was in Treaty with the Court. Turenne returned him answer that he supposed there was no more Treaty with him he having failed of his word or at least retarded to perform his promise yet if he would stand to the Treaty in good earnest he would advance no further and granted him four hours to consider on it which being past he was acquit of his word The term expired without any Answer and without any effect and therefore without delay the Kings Army marched hastily leaving their baggage behind against a Castle upon the River held by the Duke half a League distant from his quarters and took it upon discretion and casting a Bridge over the River passed it with the greatest part of the Foot and Cannon making the rest of the Troops foard it a little above and came within Cannon-shot of the Lorrainers which the Duke seeing and being resolved not to fight and hazard the defeat of his people which was all he had to trust to he sent my Lord Germain a principal Officer of the King of England's who was one that mediated in the said Agreement with the Mareschal to let him understand that he was reayd to fulfill the Treaty concluded Turenne told him that this was good the day before but that then being upon the point of fighting and having drawn back his word they ought to speak no more of preceding Treaties matters being now changed and dispatch'd the Sieur de Varennes to let him understand that he would not defer any longer to attaque him if he did not suddenly yield up the Bridge of Boats which he had upon the Sene if he did not forbear to fortifie himself and if he did not immediately depart out of France within 15 days by the way he should appoint him giving responsible Hostages for the performance The Duke after he had made some difficulty and sought to prolong the Affair being press'd anew with positive threatnings determin'd to assent to all that was requir'd him conditionally though that Turenne should not make use of the Bridge which he put into his hands to march against the Army of the Princes and that the Troops that he had with them of theirs should have Pass-ports to go to Paris that they should give him Billetings for his March and 15 days time to get out of the Kingdom All was concluded The Duke gave for Hostage the Count de Linville and the General of the Ordnance On the Kings part were given to the Duke the Chevalier of Marcoussé and the Sieur de Vaubecourt In this manner the Treaty with Turenne being agreed on to his great glory at the head of the Armies the Lorrainers began without delay to file off towards Brie Comte Robert The Duke having in this manner deluded the Princes and the Spaniard they were thereat highly disgusted and this was one of the chief motives that caused the Court of Spain to resolve his imprisonment as shall be related in its due place The Parlement of Paris believed by the coming of the Lorrainers that they had won the Game and therefore raising more and more their pretensions they deputed again to Court the President Nesmond to insist upon sending away the Cardinal who coming with the other Deputies to Melun they made their Remonstrance on the same subject adding that it was a small matter for the King to deprive himself of one Statesman to gain the obedience of all who for that one reason had withdrawn themselves from him The King returned answer in writing that having divers times heard the Remonstrances made him by his Parlement he let them understand that he had always in his thoughts what they represented to him being assured that as the Parlement were very much concerned for the maintaining of the Royal Authority so he should have no other thought then to contribute all his power for the advantage of his service wherefore perceiving that the wound would prove incurable without present remedy desired that the Deputies or others that were chosen should joyn with those of his Royal Council and together procure to find a remedy for the threatning inconveniences to ward his Subjects from the evident ruine into which for the caprice of a few disturb'd by their own Ambition they were ready to cast themselves His Majesty having nothing nearer his heart then the desire of Peace and Union and to restore his Kingdom to its pristine splendour Nesmond having read this Answer replied the onely means to quiet all was the putting further off the Cardinal The King instantly interrupted him and with a serious grave brow told him You have understood my Will and so brake off The Deputies returned to Paris where they rendred a distinct account to the rest of their Members of what had past they differ'd in their Opinions whether they should accept of the Conference propos'd and many assented to it but Brussel with a pretence of Zele for the publick good stood firm that there was no need of other Conference nor of other Treaties seeing that all was reduced to this one point which was the departure of Mazarine who being the onely occasion of all the distastes they ought to stand upon that which being obtain'd all the other Controversies would be at an end And the more they perceived the King averse to deprive himself of that Statesman the more clamour they made about it not that they really much desired it but because they saw it was the way to nourish the distrusts and keep alive the differences It being manifest enough that if the Parlement had believed that the King by sending away Mazarine would unite the Princes to his service they would never have wished it but rather underhand have endeavoured his stay it not being for their advantage that the Princes joyning with the King should so much the more strengthen his Authority and by consequence weaken their pretensions Holding therefore to the Opinion of Brussel it was decreed that without any delay the Deputies should return to declare anew to His Majesty that they had nothing to adde nor to propose then the effective removal of the Cardinal conformable to the Decrees and Declarations of His Majesty and the Protests of the Princes who replied in full Assembly that they were ready to lay down their Arms so soon as Mazarine should be out of the Kingdom To the same Deputies were consigned also the Queen of Swedeland's Letters to the Parlement brought expresly by one of her Gentlemen to deliver to the King the Contents of which contained an offer of her Mediation to bring them to an Agreement as a Friend and Confederate of the Crown of France whose troubles did much grieve her The Deputies appeared at Melun where the Court was the 12th of June they had Audience two days after and represented the desolation of the State to proceed from the return of Mazarine who was the
in the minds of the good Frenchmen for the affronts and abuses offered them by the Seditious and for the little safety that was for them at that time in Paris where the burning of the Town-house had let them see how violent the designs were of the Male-contents whereupon Cardinal Mazarine who continually studied all opportunities for the service of the Crown perceived at last that the surest remedy was to call the Parlements from Paris of which although he had often thought and for some doubt of opposition omitted At this time he found it necessary not to defer it any longer The Cardinal and Monsieur Fouquet the Attorney General keeping correspondence with each other and taking the opportunity Fouquet propounded and maintained that the Parlement ought to remove to Pontoise which was done by His Majesty's Decree the 6th of August containing first a long discourse upon the Reasons that moved him to it annulling and abolishing all the Decrees and Arrests made as well in the Parlement as in the Town-house and particularly those of the 20th and 24th of the same August prohibiting all persons not to acknowledge the Duke of Orleans of Lieutenant of the Crown nor the Prince of Conde for General of the Army who made use of these Attributes for scandalous intents and of dangerous consequence forcing the Subjects to execute Orders and Designs tending to the subversion of the Kingdom He commanded moreover all the Counsellours and Officers of the Parlement to appear at Pontoise under the penalty of losing their Offices and with express prohibition to all not to take notice of nor obey other Orders then those of His Majesty's nor other Decrees then those of the Parlement removed to Pontoise In order to this the major part of the Presidents went thither five of six Masters of Requests and about twenty Counsellours to whom divers Counsellours of State joyn'd themselves with the Dukes and Peers that were at Court these formed a Party strong enough to precipitate the whole Faction of the Princes This new Parlement then beginning to act that they might acquire Authority and to let the people understand that they desired the publick good they proposed to the Cardinal that now he would do well to retire himself since his stay was the onely pretext of the Princes and of the Frondeurs so that he being gone they would either lay down their Arms and return to their duty by which means the King would remain absolute Master or persevering in their disobedience the world would plainly perceive their evil intention the honest people would be a weary of following them and the Parlement of Pontoise now acknowledged by the other Parlements for lawful would give out Decrees against the Princes and the Rebels and the King having made it clearly appears that the Cardinal served merely for a pretext to the Enemies of the Common wealth might the people remaining convinc'd and satisfied recall him at his pleasure The Cardinal declared that he desired nothing more then the service of His Majesty and with much readiness and zele resolved to depart against the sentiment of most of his friends and the King himself who knew not how to dispose himself to give him leave which he had so often requested This the Parlement did not only for the Reasons abovesaid but to surprise the Opinions that went about concerning the Kings breach of his Word given heretofore both in Speech and Writing for the assuring of the Cardinals departure Since that not seeing it accomplished they branded the Court with falsness and the Princes set a fair colour and strengthened their contumacy with that pretext they added moreover that this retirement of the Cardinal would greatly facilitate the Negotiation which was carrying on in Paris for receiving the King and expelling of Condé In the managing of this Affair Father Forz Bishop of Amiens and Father Bertaut a Franciscan and Monsieur Prevost a Counsellour of the great Chamber with others devoted to the King did interest themselves with much affection and fidelity who found the way more open after the departure of the Cardinal The wisdom of this Council quickly manifested it self because the People who pierce not so far took it for granted he should return no more With these considerations therefore the King gave the Cardinal leave to be gone although at that time there was more need of his presence then of his departure But before we proceed any further it must not be omitted that the Kings Council being greatly disturbed at the resolution of the Parlement of Paris in choosing the Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the Crown and in declaring the King the Cardinals Prisoner they proclaimed invalid not only what the Parliament had done till that time but all other deliberations for the future as unlawful insufficient and void of all Prerogative and that no other Parlement ought to be acknowledged then that which was lawfully called to Pontoise The major part of the Counsellors that remain'd in Paris amongst whom were divers of the most seditious contesting about this matter several Declarations were pass'd in opposition to that of His Majestie that the translating of the Parlement to Pontoise was invalid and unlawful protesting against it and maintaining that the Parlement was never kept out of Paris though Charles the VII once removed it for certain Affairs to Montargis They annull'd besides all that was done in the Kings Council about Prohibiting the levy of the imposition upon the gates of Paris ordering on the contrary that none should be exempt from paying it They decreed moreover that the Farmers of the Salt should pay the dues of their Farmes to the Deputies of the Parlement and that the Goods of those Counsellours and Presidents that were gone to Pontoise should be confiscated if they did not suddenly return to Paris to the exercise of their places and further would they have proceeded if force had been coupled to their will which failing all those determinations proved vain and ridiculous The Cardinal making haste for his departure the day before he went he procured the Kings Grant for a Brevet of Duke and Peer of France to Monsieur de Crequy first Gentleman of the Chamber to the King to the Marquesses de Mortmar also first Gentleman of the Chamber and de Roquelaure Great Master of the Wardrobe The Cardinal afterward consigned into the Kings hands particulars Instructions of all things concerning his Government Though his Majestie had given express Order to all the Counsellors of the Parliament to assemble at Pontoise yet many of them refusing to give their Consents the thing seemed to many to have something of impossibility in it which proved to be the safety of the Kings party since those that remain'd in Paris not having means to maintain the War and to hinder this removal to Pontoise they were constrain'd to yield to all the conditions that were prescribed them by the Court. The Cardinal left in the exercise of his Charge of
to the Parlement and the Court were not sincere while at the same time that he profess'd himself ready for the Peace he protested at Madrid and Brussels that he would always adhere to the Crown of Spain and hold on the War negotiating likewise in England to get assistance to carry on his designes and therefore it concern'd them to take away his Helps and Associates in France without which he would remain only a bare Captain of the King of Spain and be able to do little against a Kingdom more potent then any other when united and obedient to its King In the mean time the Troops of the Princes remain'd encamp'd on the other side the River Sene betwixt Surenne and St. Cloud expecting the supplies which were sent him from Flanders but those fruitful hills being full of Vineyards and the Grapes beginning to ripen the damage which the Souldiers did to the people was very grievous by whose Sollicitation they were drawn out to the end of the Suburbs of St. Victor where in quartering themselves they fell to blows with the Citizens that were upon the Guard at the street end where four or five inhabitants ans◠fifteen or twenty Souldiers were slain which help'd so much the more to augment the discord amongst them But the Cardinal knowing that the safety of the Royal party consisted in reducing the Parisiens to seek their quiet which began to be wish'd for by them The people the Merchants and all persons generally being weary of the calamities they sustain'd and tired out by the continual Guards which without pay and with abandoning their traffick they were constrained to keep he advised the King to stay at Compiegne and not to be prevail'd on by intreaties to return to Paris without unquestion'd security that he should not be detain'd again and this was one of the Maxims especially recommended to the Queen in his absence and which he particularly gave in charge to the Abbot Ondedei He added that the Kings Army ought to go to oppose the troops of Flanders which were marching to assist the Princes and if they were too weak so that enterprize they should remove to Ville neufve S. George on the North-side the Sene four leagues from Paris and fortifying themselvs with good trenches live upon the provisions that from Corbeil Melun and other neighboring places they should get in abundance by means of the River where making a stay the Enemies troops by consequence must lodge themselves thereabouts so that the Souldiers sacking and pillaging the Country and robbing and killing all that should pass that way without coming to a rupture of shewing any such intention Paris would be involv'd in a very troublesome siege and the Princes rendred odious as being reputed the principal occasion of all those disasters and thus carrying on their intelligence with their loyal friends in the City the Parisiens would be brought with greater facility to take fit resolutions to free them from their miseries which could not be done so long as they were deprived of the King This was the greatest stroak the Cardinal could give and it is certain that this Maxim duly observed promoted the ruine of his opposite Party for Paris could not free it self from the hovering ruine without sending away the Prince of Condé whose fall was most certain because staying there with the Army he increased their miseries which stirred up the peoples hatred against him and by retiring himself he lost the support of so rich and powerful a City with so much the more prejudice as that he would be forc'd to retire to his places upon the Mose quit the Realm and throw himself into the arms of the Spaniards Upon the news of the Cardinals departure out of the Kingdom the Ministers of Spain were not a little troubled because they perceived by his removal the Male-contents had no more pretext for what they did Taking their measures therefore to assist but not to strengthen too much the Party of the Princes two things were propos'd One was to advance with their whole Army and forcing the Kings Army from about Paris keep those Citizens faithful and united to the Princes The other to amuse that Party and the people of Paris with great hopes but little effects that by their seeming assistance they might hold firm in their pretensions and redoubling their disobedience and injuries against the Court be finally necessitated to declare against the King so that rendering themselves unworthy of favour and affrighted with the thoughts of chastisement they would endeavour to preserve their Usurped Authority To the first Proposition were opposed the imminent dangers that the Court seeing themselves reduc'd to should be forc'd to grant to the Princes those Points which with much fervency were insisted on by their friends and partakers Neither did the other seem convenient in that present conjuncture for when the Princes and the Parlement should perceive themselves depriv'd of the hopes and promises made them by the Spaniards knowing they were not able to subsist by Paris alone which was wavering even in the beginning of the Union they would be constrain'd to regulate themselves as Necessity should counsel them and accept those conditions that had been already offer'd them upon the Accommodation so that by either of these ways they apprehended they should not much help forward their Designs which they had proposed to themselves upon the continuance of the civil troubles in France Embracing therefore a third counsel they resolved to cause their Troops to advance knowing that if the Parisiens did not continue firm they should at least encourage the Martial and haughty thoughts of the Prince of Condé who making war in France as first Prince of the Bloud and esteemed one of the Valiantest of the Age he could not but much trouble and annoy the contrary Party Wherefore the Spanish and Lorein Troops began to move towards the Sene to the number of 3000 Horse under Prince Ulderick of Wirtemberg 6 other Regiments of Horse conducted by the Chevalier de Guise and 6000 Lorrainers with their Duke who all together formed an Army of about 11000 combatents These thought to put themselves into the Post of Villeneuf S. George but were prevented by the Mareschal Turenne who according to the Instruction of Cardinal Mazarine had already possessed it and intrenched himself there with the Kings Army and cast two Bridges over the River The Spaniards the Lorrainers and the Troops of the Princes quartered round about the Country so that the Souldiers of both Parties scouring the Campania on all sides Paris remained besieg'd by their own friends wherefore the Citizens daily pressed the King to return to Paris who answered he was ready so to do if the Duke of Orleans would cause the Prince of Conde to retire to his Government of Guienne the Duke of Beaufort to his Castle of Anet and the strangers out of the Kingdom The Cardinal de Retz took the advantage of these favourable accidents and with
multitude naturally inclined to follow what flies them and flie from that which follows them He answered Nogent coldly and desired eight days time to consider of it for he could not nor would not do any thing without the Prince of Conde with whom he was bound in a strict League of Friendship The King being come to St. Clou hearing nothing of the Duke of Orleans his coming to meet him but rather that there was little appearance of it he sent the Duke d' Anville for the same purpose to him whereat the Duke was much perplexed with two great Considerations On the one side he was touched with remorse that he should deny his Affection and due respect to the King his Nephew on the other side his faith fair dealing with his friend the Prince of Conde would be called in question by all the world should he proceed in this perplexity therefore at last he resolved not to stir and it is thought that he took this resolution by the Counsel of Cardinal de Retz who promised to himself that if the Duke were resolved to stay in Paris he might make his party strong enough against the Court by the great number of people his dependents and followers but whether the Duke could not or would not enter upon this design the Proposition was rejected as shall be related A great number of Persons of the better sort besides all the Officers and Magistrates went out to meet the King and returned with him the same night to Paris His Majesty came in late by reason of his staying by the way expecting the Duke of Orleans his Answer not thinking it convenient to come into the City if the Duke did not go out or promise to do so the next Morning At the Gate of the Louvre the King was received by the Cardinal de Retz with a great number of Prelates and other Persons of Quality The Sieur de Sevin was sent the same Evening to the Duke in His Majestie 's Name to give him notice that he should retire to his dwelling at Lemours he made Answer with some resenting words They consulted again what expedient to take some insisted not to obey but that the Duke should defend himself in his Palace in St. Germains suburbs from whence it was no easie matter for the Kings Guards alone to drive him out for they judged that the People would never take Arms against the Kings Uncle especially seeing that a great number of the Parisiens were dependent upon him and on other Lords of his party amongst these was the Cardinal de Retz who was in favour with a great part of the people as well in respect that he was their Pastour as for his liberality in all things and chiefly to the poor He insisted that if the Inhabitants that were affectionate to their party were united with the help that they might receive from those of the Suburbs of Saint Germain they should be able to contest with the Court if in case they should set upon them and upon occasion they might call the Prince of Conde back again with the Army by which means it might so happen that their Majesties to avoid living in the midst of such confusions upon the confidence of the Inhabitants so much given to change would return to St Germains or else the business being brought to a Treaty and this Cardinal entring as Mediatour he should by this means set himself right again at Court and perhaps partake in the Management of Affairs of State which was thought to be the scope of all his Actions The Duke would not embrace this Counsel but resolved to obey and give way retiring the next Morning to Limours with the Dukes of Beaufort and Rohan and other Lords of his party Mademoiselle went to Fargeaux a house of hers near the Loire It was very fortunate for Mazarine that Orleans refused to agree for if after the Agreement he had remained at Paris the people would have thought that all this was brought about by his contriving whereby he would have increased his reputation with the Parisiens and maintained his former Authority so that Mazarine would not have dared to return to Court whilst there was a strong party in Paris against him and especially the Cardinal de Retz who for his generosity was more generally beloved then Mazarine who in his Actions shew'd somewhat of covetousness and was more sparing both in his expences and in gratifying his friends and servants The King therefore being absolutely restored to his full Authority and the Duke deprived of all obedience and a great way from Paris with all his Adherents those happy events which succeeded afterwards were more easily brought to pass The next Morning being the 23. all the Courts of Parliament met in the Gallery of the Louvre except those persons who had not received particular Letters from the King as the President le Bailleul son of the late Chancellour to the Queen and Surintendant of the Finances De Thou and Viole the Counsellours Brussell Genou Portail Brisac Croyssi Foquet Machault and Martineau At this Meeting they made four Declarations the first was for the reuniting of the two Parliaments the second the General Amnesty the third was a Prohibition to the Parliament not to meddle in any matters but civil and criminal according to the Laws and the fourth was to nominate those who were by the Kings ordet to retire viz. the forementioned and Counsellour Bitaut to whom a Letter had been sent by a mistake The Duke of Beaufort of Rohan of Rochefoucaut Frontailles le Bollay Penis the Domesticks of the Prince of Conde of the Dutchess of Longueville the Wives and Children of all those who were then in the service of the Princes and in the places which they held as well in Guienne as elsewhere had order to be gone from Paris and not to return upon any pretence soever without express leave from his Majesty these being the persons accused who always perverted the Parliament and made the people discontent and seditious there were also express orders made against all things contained in the third Declaration The same day the Queen of England and the Dutchess of Chevreuse went to visit the Dutchess of Orleans who remained in Paris by reason of her being great with Childe and the Dutchess of Chevreuse told her from the Queen that she had liberty to stay in her Palace The Dutchess was very much surprised at the Novelty of it and answered in modest expressions that she could not leave the Duke her husband and seeing that she could not take a journey any otherwise in the condition she was in she would be carried in mens arms and prepared for it but she received express Orders from the Duke to stay and not to hazard her life being so near her tâ—â—e which she did and was brought to bed of a Daughter a few days after Prince Thomas went also to visit her and assured her that it was never his opinion at
he had the will there might perhaps have followed considerable disturbances His Holiness called divers Congregations of the most learned Cardinals and in whom he most confided and although there were not some wanting who were more moderate to represent to them how circumspectly they ought to proceed in so nice an Affair yet Monsignor Marini was ordered to go to Paris and there to forme a pleading of what was imputed to the Criminal and to sollicit that the Judgment of it might be left to the Holy See which was the only Court and Tribunal for the Causes of Cardinals But as they were very certain at Rome that if they would not receive in France Monsignor Corsini in quality of Legat to that Court because there was not Advice first given of it to the King or his Ministers of State much less would they admit of the Arch-Bishop Marini with the like Commissions and consequently they determined a thing which could have no effect so they at Paris did verily apprehend that this proceeded from the Counsel of them who desired to arm the Pope with pretences to blame France for bearing so little respect to the Apostolick See giving him occasion to joyn with their enemies it being certainly believed in Rome as also in Paris that the King would never have venture to thwart the Pope in those unhappy Conjunctures so that by this bold Resolution of sending the Arch-Bishop Marini into France they should uphold the Pontifical decorum and make the Ecclesiastical Authority very glorious The Cardinal Prince Trivultio who was at that time in Rome to take care of the Spanish Interest and supplied the place of Ordinary Embassador for His Catholick Majesty wisely foresaw the bad success of this deliberation which fell out exactly as he had foretold for those that were concerned judging presently that these Maxims of the Court of Rome had no other foundation then a flattering opinion of their own wishes they quickly applied themselves to overthrow them Cardinal Mazarine convinced of the nature of the French as easie to give way to Novelties that bring their delight as inflexible to those things that threaten them he was constrained to minde nothing else but the maintaining of the Kings Authority and therefore Marini was not permitted to enter into the Kingdom the French were unsatisfied with the Court of Rome taxing them of great partiality For the Affronts and Abuses having been oftentimes represented to them that were put upon Cardinal Mazarine a year before by the Parlement of Paris against all Law divine and humane without drawing up his Indictment without lawful Authority and contrary to the Kings minde who defended him and acknowledged himself faithfully served by him and what was worse although the Parlement proceeded so far as to set a Tax of fifty thousand Crowns on his Head besides the Confiscation of all his estate yet for all this the Pope never concern'd himself for defence of the said Cardinal who had no other support left him then that of his Holiness the Kings Authority being at that time contemn'd and trampled on where on the contrary for the only detention of Retz which was done out of meer necessity for the publick good and for maintaining of the Royal Dignity against which he was accused to have a long time plotted they made so much noise They added moreover that the Pope had the less reason to find himself aggrieved seeing the most Christian King had no other intent then to stop the imprisoned Cardinal from going on in his Instigations and not to bring him to trial much less to judge him knowing very well that this did belong to the sole Vicar of Christ although the Parlement passing all respects due to the Holy See and to a Prince of the Holy Church had arrogated to themselves the Authority to do it against Mazarine These and the like Reasons were deduced by the French alledging likewise the example of Lewis the 13. who caused Cardinal Ballua to be imprisoned and detained many years for holding correspondence with the Kings Brother and the Duke of Burgundy and yet the Pope resented it only with fatherly Admonitions and good Offices for his freedom and his errours were not to be parallel'd with those wherewith de Retz was charged They said moreover that the King had caused to be conferr'd upon him the dignity of the Scarlet Robe to oblige him to serve him with the greater affection and not to make use on 't to the prejudice of the Crown That to Sovereign Princes all things were permitted for the security of their States And as the most Christian Kings did justly boast to have alwayes defended and protected the Holy See and to have also reverently and piously obey'd it assisting them in all occasions with their forces and power so His Majestie should glory to follow the footsteps of his Ancestours But that he ought likewise to take care for the benefit and quiet of his loving subjects of whom the King was the Common Father The Imprisonment of this Cardinal who was one of the principal Supports of the Faction of la Fronda compleated their total ruine and destruction for though there remained in Paris some Reliques of this Fire the Sparks were so weak that of themselves they were not able to raise the least Flame and therefore the Royal Authority being more and more setled the Ministers of State proceeded in those deliberations which they judged most proper for the re-establishing the Kingdom in its ancient splendour By these troubles the Kings Revenues were much diminished and the necessity of having money was very urgent great debts being contracted and the credit of the Court reduced to last extremity notwithstanding that the King enjoys a yearly Revenue of above eight millions of Pistols so that to raise money His Majesty made divers Decrees which upon the last day of December were ratified and registred in Parliament in Presence of His Majesty with all readiness although they amounted to the number of thirteen but to please them it was declared that the money raised should be employed upon the most urgent Affairs of the Kingdom and particularly in paying the Souldiery These Edicts were also ratified upon the 7. of January following in the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids in Presence of the Duke of Anjon who to that purpose was sent thither by the King with these Redresses of the Political Affairs the Military also took vigour in the Managements of the War with good success in regard of the ruines and losses suffered by the King and the whole Kingdom not only in those parts towards Flanders and in Guienne but also in Italy and Gatalonia Cardinal Mazarine was resolved to keep the War on foot in this last Countrey to divert the Spaniards from employing their forces more powerfully in other parts and therefore he opportunely reliev'd Roses with some barks of Provisions which he ordered to be sent out of Provence by the Duke of Mercoeur The
fail to act vigorously in Champagne to ease the Countrey of the enemies Troops where they lay quartered He went to the Army which was reinforced with divers troops took Barleduc and having passed the River of Aisne attached Chasteau-Porcien where the Sieur de Brisson commanded with a strong Garrison of old souldiers which rendred the place very considerable especially it being then the midst of Winter a season improper far Armies to lie in the field This difficulty was surmounted by the affectionate and accurat assistance of the Cardinal so that all labour and hardship seemed light to the souldiery who endured it with as great resolution as they served and followed him with affection In seven dayes he took Chasteau-Porcien had also taken Rhetel and Saint Menhaut if the season had been less sharp and if the Prince of Conde had not opportunely reinforced them with a great number of Souldiers wherfore the Cardinal gave over the thought of them and having put the army into winter quarters made towards Paris being often importuned by their Majesties He was met by the King himself and the Duke of Anjou two leagues out of the City His Majesty received him with extraordinary tenderness and affection took him into his own Coach and coming in at St. Denis Gate conducted him through a great throng of people to the Louvre The Cardinal took up his Lodgings there to be nearer as first Minister of State to His Majesty he was presently visited by the Body of the Town-house and by all the other Orders and Magistrates who declared their acknowledgment for many singular advantages received through his care and that all France was obliged to the conduct of so great a Minister expressing their joy for his happy return Though many thought that how much the more kind they were in outward appearance so much the more corrupted they were in reality there being no greater malice then that which is hid under the mask of dissimulation Yet I who have procured with much accurateness and long experience to instruct my self in the knowledge of â—he nature of those persons of whom I write can say to the glory of France not to have found any Nation less addicted to dissimulation then this which being free and frank of speech thinks little of what is to come and nothing of what is past Whosoever shall consider the contempts and abuses done in Paris to the name of the Cardinal in the month of September 1652. and shall compare them with the honours and welcome he received in the moneth of February 1653. will perceive that the Fine of fifty thousand Crowns which was set upon his head with all the reproches ignominies with which his reputation was wounded were nothing else but the effect of passion which being prudently dissembled by Mazarine served him afterwards to fortifie his right and good intentions and rendred him triumphant over his persecutions making his Ministry still more glorious The same Evening the King caused him to sup with him in the Apartment of the Mareschal de Villeroy and that night was signalized with a great number of Bonefires in the City the next morning as he came from Mass he cast a quantity of money amongst the people as he had done the day before in those places where he passed and after he had received the Visits of the chief of the Court and of other persons of all sorts and conditions he applied himself to the most important Affairs of the Crown On the 3. of February being the same day which he entred Paris he brought with him his three Nieces which were met out of the gate of St. Honoré by the Pincesse of Carignan Louise her daughter by the Mareschall de Guebrian's Lady by the Marchionesse of Ampous and many other ladies of quality These Ladies were lodged also in the Louvre in an apartment by themselves over the Queens Lodgings The King had not conferred any Office or Charge either Ecclesiastical or Secular since his Return although there were many vacant and a great number of Pretenders willing to stay for the Cardinal and give him the honour of confering them He was exactly informed of the deservings of each particular person so that keeping every one in hopes to receive rewards proportionably to their worth he rendred them more ready and zealous to the Kings service The King had passed the Edicts of the new Impositions and dispatched all other things which might sound less grateful in the ears of the people lest that doing them after the Cardinals return they should seem to be suggested by the Minister of State against whom they might renew the pretences of those fault which formerly though wrongfully they had laid to his change so that the Cardinal by His Majesties special favour having the disposal of the Benefices of the Church and divers other offices of the Court and Kingdom he began presently to distribute them to those he judged most deserving and most fit to be employed in His Majesties service detaining a considerable part vacant to keep those that remained at that time excluded in hopes and obedience knowing by experience that the French are as ready to serve when they hope to be recompensed as negligent to performe when they have obtained their desires He conferred the office of Superintendant of the Finances vacant by the death of the Marquis of Vieville upon the a count de Servient Minister of State who had deserved well of the Crown being very cordiall in the Kings service and grown aged in the course of many useful negotiations to whom he joined the Sieur de Fouquet Procurator General who was also made Minister of state a person of great worth for his constant fidelity towards the King whom in all things but particularly in the removall of the Parliament to Pontoise he had served with great zeale so that at this time there was two Super-intendants of the Finances in France as also a Chancellour and a Keeper of the Seal which though it seemed strange yet had been practised at other times and namely under the ministery of Cardinal Richelieu To these Superintendants were joyned four Intendants of the same Finances who were the Sieurs de Paget de Boisleve de Hausset and de Brisaciers besides this he gave good orders for the payment of the Kings revenues to the relief and satisfaction of the Farmers and Cardinal Antonio Barberin coming to Paris at this time the dignity of great Almoner of France was conferred upon him Vacant by the death of Cardinal Richilieu Archbishop of Lions This was done by Mazarin to make his gratitude the more conspicuous and to oblige him he conferred it on more streightly to the Crown esteeming his assistance in Rome necessary for the Interest of France since that Cardinal Francesco his brother had given som jealousie of his intentions having lately done some ill offices in his tart Letters to His Majestie touching the direction of the Government It was discours'd
at Court that Barbarin had changed his first inclinations having been gained by the Pope and the Spaniards upon the hopes of having the Ecclesiastical Revenues of Naples and Sicily restored to him and the money seized upon in Rome by the Chamberlains when the Pope pretended to ruine the family of the Barberines by forcing them to an account The Pope was inclined to a reconciliation with the Barberines because having not long to live he thought it not convenient to leave his Kindred at variance with these great persons who were still very powerful in Rome the Spaniards also concurred herein thereby to disengage this Family from their dependence on France that they might not oppose them in the Election of a New Pope Cardinal Francesco cherishing himself as was supposed with these hopes complain'd having no other pretence that they made little account of him in France seeing that Cardinal Mazarine had married his Neece to the Duke of Mercoeur without concerning himself to finde out a Match for the Princess Lucretia Barberini at which he manifested so much displeasure that he sent his Nephew the Abbot Don Maffeo to Lions to bring away privately the said Princess and the Prince Don Carlo Praefect of Rome into the Countrey of Vicenza in Italy which was done while Cardinal Antonio was at Paris without his having the least inckling of it This resolution seemed strange in France and the more because the same Cardinal Barbarine had sent his Cousin Colonel Vaini a Person of great value and esteem some years before into France to ratifie the Espousals betwixt that Prince and his said Neece After this uniting of Cardinal Barberin with the Pope to engage that family to him by a streighter Tye a Marriage was concluded between Don Maffeo Barbarine at that time Abbot and a Grand Neece of his Holiness in consideration of which the Prince Governour was promoted to the Cardinalship who renounced his Primogeniture to his Brother Bride-groom as hereafter shall be said FINIS THE TABLE A. Anger 's in Armes page 155 Archbishop of Rouen deputed to Court page 157 Assembly of the Citizens of Paris page 172 Army of the Princes at Estampes page 175 Encamped betwixt St. Clou and Furenne page 218 Assembly at the Palace-Royal page 349. Gives great disturbance to the Princes page 347 B. Brisac put into the Kings hands page 326 The Battel in the Surburbs of St. Anthony page 230 Barcelona rendered to the Spaniards page 415 C. Cardinal Mazarine his Birth 1 His Voyage into Spain 2. He betakes himself to the Wars 3. Makes a Relation of the Affairs of the Valtoline 5. Endeavors to put himself in the Barberins service ib. Returns to his Studies 6. Goes to Milan with Sacchetti ib. Returns to Rome 8. is sent back to Cardinal Antonio 9. treats with the Count de Collalto ib. He captivates the affection of the Duke of Savoy 11. Chasteauneuf banished Paris 433 Chavigny endeavours to make his Peace with Mazarine 380 his death 383 Counsellor Brussel lays down his office of Prevost of Merchants 346. Cardinal de Retz deputed to the King 328 The City begins to treat with the Court 338 Casal delivered to the Duke of Mantua 416 Cardinal Mazarine his Advice to the King 318 His return to Paris 477 His Artifices to render the Princes odious to the Parisiens 292 his Plots to to reduce Bourdeaux 451 Contrives the Imprisonment of Cardinal de Retz 435 He goes to the Camp 432 Endeavors to gain those of the contrary party 423 Cardinal Antonio Barbarin Legate à Latere for the Peace 8 Protector of France 27 Sends Mazarine to Spinola 16 Cardinal Francesco Barberine complains of Mazarine 21 Grows jealous of him 27 Cardinal Richlieu takes an affection to Mazarine 12 Conspiracy of the Duke of Beaufort against Mazarine 45 Cardinal de Sancta Cicilia Vice-Roy of Catalonia 48 The Coadjutor of Paris and the Count de Chavigny envy Mazarins fortune 60 Commotions at Bourdeaux quieted 87 Cardinal Mazarine sent to the Court of France 11 treats with Cardinal Richlieu ib. He begins to render good Offices to the French treats with Spinola ib. passes into Savoy to the King of France 14 after the death of Spinola he propounds a Suspension of Arms 18 Concludes the Peace 19 treats secretly with the Duke of Savoy to deliver Pignerol to the French 20 Enters into the service of Cardinal Antonio 23 is made his Auditor ib. is sent Nuntio Extraordinary into France ib. gains the Affections of the French Ministers of State 24 is recall'd to Rome 25 the King of France recalls him to Paris 28 Nominates him to the Cardinalship 29 Flempotentiary for France at the Treaty of Munster 30 Extraordinary Embassador into Savoy ib. is made Cardinal 32 Extraordinary Honour conferrâ—d on him he causes the Command of the Army to be conferr'd to the Duke'd Anguien 35 Godfather to the Dolphin 38 He endeavours to confirm the Alliance with the foreign Princes 40 He draws the Princes of Este to the French Faction 49 His good Offices to the Barberins 52 Endeavours to preserve the friendship of England 61 His dissimulation with Conde 72 His Art to draw the three Princess together ib. He endeavors to quiet Bourdeux 78 He leaves Paris 103 Arrives at Havre de Grace 102 Departs the Kingdom 105 He is complemented by several Princes 112 endeavors to divide the Princes and the Frondeurs 113 Recall'd by the King 126 Returns into France with an Army 142 is kindly received by the King 151 Endeavors to gain the Duke of Lorain 187 Raises discord among those at Bourdeaux 414 He encourageth the Court of Savoy to persist in their Union with France 421 Great commotions in Paris 130 Chafteauneuf chief Minister 132 retires from Court 156 The Count de Servient recalled to Court 158 the Count de Chavigny and others dispatched to Court 177 consternation of the Parisiens upon the retreat of the Duke of Lorain 217 The Cardinal de Retz hinders the Peace 242 The Court resolves to destroy the Army of the Princes 228 The Court of Aids assemble at Pontoise 338 The Colonels of Paris go to the King page 386 D. The Duke of Angoulesm imprisoned 311 Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the Crown 286 The death of the Duke of Bouillon 226 Designes of the Cardinal the Retz 324 The Duke of Nemours slain by the Duke de Beaufort 295 Duke of Beaufort invites the people to assemble at the Place-Royal 208 Made Governour of Paris 258 renounces his Government 385 The Duke of Savoy complains of Spinola 14 the Duke of Lorain stopt going out of Paris 387 Dutchess of Chevreuse disgusted with the Prince of Conde 68 Divers Lords banish'd Paris 406 Disturbances in divers parts of the Kingdom 76 Duke of Wittenbergs baggage plundred 359 Dutchess of Chevreuse undertakes to free the Princes 81 Duke de Mercoeur marries the Cardinals Neece 126 His Marriage questioned in Parlement 127 Decrees of the Parlement against the Cardinal 132 Death
Preparations for War the Cardinal in the first place caused several sums of money to be paid to the Colonels and Captains of the old Troops for their Recruits and Commissions to be given out for new Levies he thought it necessary likewise to entertain a Squadron of German Horse as Persons very proper for his Incampments and constant to the Party in which they engage to that end he dispatch'd the Count de Nantueil Monsieur Milet Monsieur Gontier Monsieur Gravelle and others into Germany with ready money as likewise the Counts de Grandprè and Beaujeu into the Countrey of Liege And because of the loss of Casal and the Preparations for War which the Spaniards made in the State of Milan where great Recruits were expected as well from Naples as Germany Piedmont was so dangerously threatned that the Duke of Savoy by his rieterated solicitations prest hard for considerable supplies or else to be permitted to enter into a Neutrality with Spain the Court of France dispatch'd into Piedmont 4500 Foot and 1500 Horse which arrived happily in the Month of May at Anone as an insorcement to the French Troops already in those parts under the Command of Count de Quincy till the Arrival of a Mareschal of France who was expected every day And because the Spaniard continued the Negotiations which were begun long before with the Duke of Savoy to gain him to their party or at least reduce him to a Neutrality by their advantageous Exhibitions to which a Minister of that Court appear'd to be inclin'd The King sent Monsieur de Plessis Besanzon his Lieutenant General with the Title of one of his Gentlemen to all the Princes of Italy to Negotiate about the present Affairs of those parts In execution therefore of his Orders Besanzon advanced with great diligence to Turin from whence Having assured the Duke that his Majesty would maintain the Treaty of Chirasco that he would defend Piedmont always protect that State and cause an Army with considerable Commanders to march immediately thither to that purpose he proceeded to Casal where he found the Duke of Mantua at that time and being receiv'd with the honours usually exhibited to the Kings Embassador he contracted his business into two Points One was that His Majesty should be satisfy'd about the interest of Casal and that that place should be put into a condition not to be surprized exchanged or fall any other way into the hands of the Spaniard The other was about the pretences the Ministers of Spain might make under the name of the said Duke of Mantua to Montferrat which was then in possession of Savoy forasmuch as His most Christian Majesty waâ— ready to deposit the sum contained in the Treaty of Chirasco for thâ— discharge of the House of Savo To these two Propositions the Duke replyâ—d That he esteem'd the coming of the said Monsieur du Plessis as a particular favour not doubting but he as a prudent person would apprehend the necessity which obliged him to possess himself of those places and be perswaded that by no accident whatever he should be alienated from that devotion which upon so many reasons and obligations his Highness profess'd to His most Christian Majesty so he hoped also on the Other side he would shew himself so courteous as to convince His said Majesty that he was resolved to hazard his own life and estate and the lives and estates of all his subjects before he would suffer the Spaniards or any other to make themselves Master of the said places That it might possibly be the money for the payment of the Garrison might come out of the Coffers of the King of Spain which yet was more then he knew but however he protested he receiv'd it as coming from the Empress his Aunt and her Sister under whose Authority that Treaty was concluded That whenever he should be repossess'd of that part of the estate which the House of Savoy with manifest injustice detein'd from him and might freely make use of those Rents as he had formerly done and as he had often protested against the Treaties which were never consented to by the House of Mantua as being too much to its prejudice he would maintain that Garrison himself without the assistance of any one and therefore he conceived in that respect it would have been more proper for him to have been sent to the Court of Savoy to have interpos'd his Majesties Authority there and caus'd them without further expostulation to have restor'd what so unjustly they detein'd then to address himself to his Highness who would be more ready to embrace ways of Amity and Peace then of Violence and War which he knew would disturb the quiet of all Italy so much desired and endeavoured by the House of Mantua which would clearly appear to whoever would impartially look back and consider who they were which did really interrupt it and at length he told him that he could not in reason accept of the sum he was offer'd seeing he had not only not consented to but oppos'd the aforesaid Treaties and besides the said sums would fall much short of what was due by reason of the advantages had been made of the rents of it since the House of Savoy had it in their hands Du Plessis had declar'd before both to the Duke and the Marquess de la Val his Highnesses prime Minister that they could not satisfie France any other way but by putting the affairs of Casal and Monferrat in the same condition they were in before his Highness made use of the Spaniards to cause the French to march out But perceiving by their Answers both by word of mouth and in writing that that instance was in vain and believing it would be sufficient for His Majesty considering the importance of the place if it were well fortified and provided with a Garrison independent on the Spaniards and able to keep them out upon any pretence whatsoever he propos'd that to satisfie those ends if it were possible That half the Garrison should consist of the subjects of the said Duke and the other half of Swisses raised in the Catholick Cantons That all of them should remain under the Command and Authority of his Highness That one half of them should be paid by His most Christian Majesty and the other half by the Princes and Potentates of Italy his Allies and such as were most interested in that Affair He considered this Expedient would be a great ease to the Dukes Treasures till a General Peace could be concluded betwixt the two Crowns upon such conditions as should be proper to draw his Highness out of the necessity in which he was at that time of taking money of the Spaniards which was a thing much to the dishonor of those who had so often defended that place against them and might at length produce inconveniences absolutely repugnant to the quiet and security of the said Duke and his subjects John Coexens Secretary to the Emperess
had already beaten off the Princes Troops from several Posts upon which it was resolv'd in His Majesties Councel to transmit a new Amnesty to the Citizens of that Town to let them understand that notwithstanding the advantages the King had which rendred affairs almost secure and infallible yet such was his gracious clemency that he stood always with his Arms open to receive them again into his favour who had so ungratefully offended him This Amnesty was published and registred in the Parliament transferr'd to Agen upon which divers Assemblies were held in Bourdeaux in which the most moderate declar'd themselves very sensibly for their Countrey making it plain and palpable in what damages and dangers those subjects would finde themselves involved who establish't the Fabrick of their contumacy and disobedience upon the foundation of foreign assistance but the incentives oâ— ambition and the temerity of thâ— multitude were too potent to be capable of Reason so that they â—mmerged themselves over head and ears in their former presumption and more particularly those of the Olmiera who perverting the Counsels of the good Citizens and calling them unfaithful who with more fidelity and reason prosecuted the advantage of the Publick they rejected all their Counsels and Advice threatning those who spake any thing to the contrary insulting the more by how much they would have them perswaded that the said Propositions were rather an effect of the weakness of the Kings Power then of the sincerity of his heart They believ'd their best support was that which was promis'd â—hem by the Spaniard who with their money and their insinuations gain'd daily upon the Principals of â—hat Counsel and Faction They presumed likewise that the Engâ—ish would not neglect so favourable an occasion of improving their interests in the divisions of France and assisting that City which was upon the point of establishing it self into a Commonwealth like another Rochel They hoped the Prince of Condy with his Flanders Army would be able to force his way to the very gates of Paris and give them so strong a diversion in those parts that the Kings forces would not be strong enough to do any thing there where the Princess the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess of Longueville with their presence gave so great lustre to the darkness which overspread the Town These Considerations were very plausible and their fair Shew had a great power to effacinate the eyes even of Prudence it self so that the spirits of the people were become so obstinately perverse that the reestablishment of the Kings Authority in those parts was esteemed a very difficult if not an impossible thing so strangely were they possest of the irresistable assistance of the Spaniard who with a vast Profusion of money omitted no provision that might quicken that party which was so likely to contribute to his Grandeur But as private interest for the most part prevails over the publick and hopes that are only grounded upon appearance produce the least fruit so the Bourdelots in time found it true to their Costs For though they dispatcht their Deputies to London to that Parliament and Cromwell to represent of what importance it was to England to assist them at that time and to foment the divisions in France and though the English understood their interest well enough and were likewise inclined to their assistance yet those inclinations were overweighed by other reflexions relating more to their future then to their present advantage The English at that time were at Wars with the Hollander and their new Government stood upon too tottering a foundation to embark in such mighty designes The consideration that the ruine of France would be the aggrandishment of Spain which was always a more implacable enemy to their Religion made them recollect that a rupture with France at that time would not suit with their present affairs in respect that the French accommodating as probably in that case they would do with the Crown of Spain they would be able by a Conjunction afterwards with Holland and by the intelligence they had with the English who for the most part submitted to that new Government for want of power to dispute it any longer they might bring King Charles once more into that Kingdom and pull that slautry and confusion upon their own backs which they design'd upon their Neighbours whereupon their resolution being to foment the differences betwixt the two Crowns equally and with such Artifice that should harrase and weaken one another and not engage themselves wholly with one which would be the way to drive them to a Peace the people of Bourdeaux had but small hopes of expectation of assistance from England Besides these there was another reason more secret and intrinsick then the rest and that was a private design which Cromwell had to reform that Government which he knew well enough not suiting with his designs to be of no long duration so that it was not convenient for him to engage in any foreign troubles whilst the discontents and emulations at home gave him such employment both for his Counsels and Armes Yet though President Bourdeaux the French Embassador at London assur'd his Master that the English would conserve the Peace and continue their intelligence with that Crown nevertheless the people of Bourdeaux did not absolutely despair but that at length some resolution would be taken for their relief flattering themselves that when the peace with the Hollander at that time in Agitation should be concluded and those differences compos'd they would apply themselves to their interests and support In the mean time the Spaniard used all possible Art to propagate their troubles and make his advantage thereby But his Indian Fleet being insufficient and his Treasure at home too small to satisfie all sollicitations and maintain War in so many places besides the Kingdoms and States under the dominion of that Monarchy being almost depopulate with long Wars and by consequence unable to afford them sufficient supplies of men they were forc't to address themselves to the English for a certain number out of Ireland which were immediately rais'd and transported to evacuate that Countrey of such persons as were Catholicks and ill-affected to the new Commonwealth In Germany and other parts they could make no levies at all insomuch than being uncapable of making any benefit of so benigne a Conjuncture it made the weakness of the Spaniard more then ordinarily conspicuous To the reinforcement of the Princes party 2000 Irish were sent at several times into Guienne The Marquess of Santa Croce had Orders to refit the Navy in the Bay of Biscay the Baron Batteville to beat up his drums for men and to provide Ammunition and all Accommodation for their speedy return into the Garonne besides which large Promises and a considerable sum of ready money was sent to Bourdeaux and into Flanders to hasten new Levies and reinforce those Armies that by the assistance of the Prince of Condy and his
time betwixt them and the English to whom they were profest enemies But Marsin foreseeing the danger had provided very politickly against it by confirming the Officers of their Tertia's to put Hostages into his hands The loss of Lermont was a cooling Card to the Bordelots it being of such importance that by the taking of it the Kings Army intercepted the benefit of the River in the dominion of which their loss of security consisted Notwithstanding all these advantages the King desisted not from his Overtures of Peace with the milder sort of his Rebels and that in such manner as gave them more assurance of his Pardon then suspicion of his revenge so that in the Month of May he publish'd another General Amnesty in such terms as demonstrated his inclination to be less vindicative then merciful Upon this Proclamation the Bonrdelots call'd a General Assembly in the Town-Hall where it was consulted Whether it was better to accept of this Act of Oblivion and put an end to their miseries or persist in their Contumacy The sober part was of opinion it was more expedient for subjects to live in obedience to their natural Prince then in the shadow of liberty under a stranger The fear of the Olmiera made every body startle yet in private things were largely debated by some of the Olmiesti but the obstinacy of the Populacy could not be over-ruled by any politick considerations As if they had been all bewitch'd by the Spaniards they were possest with an opinion that they should be set at liberty immediately they perswaded themselves they should have whatever they desir'd they believ'd nothing but what agreed with their own imaginations and concluding they had that sure in their own hands which was but the false reflexion of the Artifice of the Princes they resolv'd That no Amnesty should be propos'd or accepted but such in which the consent and satisfaction of the Prince of Condy should concur for whose sake they had taken Arms and brought the War home to their own doors and if any should be so audacious to deliver his opinion to the contrary as a Traitor to his Countrey he was to be thrown headlong into the River They argued that the Offers made them by the Court was but the effect of their weakness and the product of necessity rather then any Compassion to them and in that mind they suppos'd themselves able to justify their disobedience to the King especially if by their sollicitations in England they could prevail with Cromwell to undertake their defence they doubted not in that case but under his protection they should be able to vindicate their liberty and shake off their Dependance upon their natural Prince But these being the dictates of fury and passion rather then rational deductions it was not long before they found themselves deceived by the vanity of their imaginations The Court of France perceiving therefore all the ways they had taken to sweeten the obstinacy and fierceness of the people to be absolutely ineffectual they gave themselves over to a resolution of acting with all severity and vigor against that Rebellious City Orders were sent to that end that by streightning it on all sides it should be necessitated to return to its duty seeing no other way was like to succeed Above all they were to secure the River against whatever attempt should be made by the Spaniard for if they could cut off the benefit of that from them the City would be desperate in a short time especially if they could keep things in that posture till the Vintage was over for that being in the power of the Kings Army and to be destroyd or intercepted by them as they pleas'd there could be no greater loss nor punishment befal them the Estates of the chiefest Citizens in the Town consisting principally in the plenty and excellence of their Wines which they selling yearly to the English Hollander and other Northern Nations afforded them very considerable profit But because it was necessary likewise to provide for the Frontiers towards Flanders where the Prince of Condy joyn'd with the Spaniards made Extraordinary preparations boasting of what he would do that Campagne by means of the places he held in the Province of Champania and the intelligence he had settled with his friends in Paris towards which City he gave out he would march directly The Cardinal with no less dililigence provided to prevent him making all provisions to oppose him he consider'd that all consisted in the unity of the forces of that Kingdom That his greatest difficulty would be to preserve himself against his enemies at home That if he could not reduce the Prince of Condy to his Allegiance whose mind was elated with high hopes and advantages he expected from Spaine it would be his best way by all possible means to lessen his party and reputation in France so as he might be left as it were a bare Commander of Spaniards who being to recompence him for the losses he received in France and to maintain him in the Quality of first Prince of the blood would be weary of him by degrees and he become a greater burden to that Crown then a Compleat and intire Army Two things therefore were more especially under the Cardinals consideration one to reduce what places he had in his possession in France the other was to debauch his friends away from him in pursuance of this design a General Pardon was publish't to all such as should before a prefix'd time return to their obedience The Count de Tavanes who had been very zealously engaged with the said Prince upon some particular dissatisfaction return'd to his house upon whose example several others of the Princes Adherents fell off likewise In the mean time the Prince of Condy seem'd to be unconcern'd at what past though to speak truth he wanted wherewithal to recompence or repair the losses his friends receiv'd in their own Countrey the supplies he had from Spain being too small for his own private expences much less to remunerate those who had served him He would have complied notwithstanding if the King's Council could have been brought to condescend to his termes which in that case it is possible he would have moderated but as when he had a numerous train of discontented persons attending him it was then of importance to reconcile him so now when he was as it were alone and abandoned by all of them it was not thought necessary to continue their applications forasmuch as in that condition he would be rather a trouble and expence to the Spaniards then of any use and advantage so that according to the Cardinals Judgment there was less danger in remaining abroad then in his return for being a Prince ambitious of honour and reputation he supposed he could hardly comport with the Spaniards who were no less ambitious then himself and that the frankness and liberty of the French would not accommodate with their gravity and reservedness The Prince was of
from the walls so that in spight of all the impediment they gave them l' Estrades men made this Progress without any assistance from their Battery which by the negligence of the Cannoneers and quality of the Guns they were shot off but twice The besieged was so amazed at this so extraordinary boldness of the French and so dazled with the lustre of their Armes and the Gallantry of their clothes which were most gloriously trimm'd according to the new Mode at that time that they could not but admire and pay a respect to the very splendour of their Apparel Whereupon Don Joseph Osorio without further Consultation then for his own security capitulated on the third of June and on the 5th march'd out with 800 men with bag and baggage and two Pieces of Cannon but with the imputation of a base fellow and a Coward for by express Order of the King of Spain he was clap'd up afterward at Saint Sebastian though he insisted very much upon his want of Victuals and Ammunition This important Town being in five days time lost in this manner for the keeping of which the Spaniard had parted with great sums of money and fortifi'd and wall'd it about very strongly the Spanish Generals and Commanders were not only dismayed at this misfortune but the whole Princes party were sorely afflicted as knowing the loss of that Town was as it were the Prologue to their future ruine On the other side the Kings Army encouraged by their fortune and success were excited to greater attempts and resolv'd without any delay to fall upon Libourn so that while the Duke of Vendosm continued at Bourg to give out Orders there and dispatch the Artillery and such provisions as were necessary for so considerable an Enterprise Monsieur d' Estrades after two days repose advanc'd that way with 2200 Foot and four hundred Horse by the way he took the Castles of Chavignac and Laubardemont and on the 9th of July passed the River Liste his Foot at Guistres in Boats and his Horse a League higher fording the River at Goustres a Village belonging to the Princess of Conde The next day he took a view of Libourne and having setled his Quarters On the 11th at night the Duke of Vendosm arrived with the Cannon and Ammunition having got happily up the River Dordogne and pass'd all the Enemies fire which was not above Pistol-shot from them by the assistance of the Guns from the Galleys which Convoy'd them under the Command of the Sieur de la Monnery Commissary-General at Sea upon Arrival of the Cannon the Trenches were opened near the said River where the Duke took up his quarters The care of that Post was committed to the Count of Montesson Mareschal de Camp with the Regiment of Britain and a Battery of two Pieces of Cannon d' Estrades commanded the Approaches on the other side of the River Liste by the assistance of the Sieur de Saint Romein with the Regiment of Douglas and another Battery The besieged made a stout Sally on this side but being repuls'd as couragiously they thought it not convenient to sally any more The two Approaches were so vigorously carried on that on the second day the French possest themselves of two Half-Moons in one of which they took 17 prisoners not long after a breach being open'd on the Dukes side and the Mines ready to spring on Monsieur d' Estrades the 17. of July in the Morning the Town beat a Parly and desir'd the same Conditions had been given to Bourg but the French not thinking fit that Libourne should be equall'd with Bourg refus'd their Proposals at length it was concluded the French and Irish Souldiers should be Prisoners of War the Officers should have liberty to return to their own Houses and that twelve of them only should be allow'd to march away with their Baggage The Town being surrendred the Soldiers both Horse and Foot to the number of about 800 took up Arms voluntarily and listed themselves in the Kings service The Justice of the Kings Cause was most remarkably visible in the facility wherewith these two strong places were reduc'd by his Majesties forces Where the diligence and Conduct of his Officers were no less conspicuous especially in the taking of Libourne which though there were 800 select men in the Town was attaqu'd and taken by 2200 Foot and four hundred Horse The rest of the Troops being imploy'd part about the Posts of Castillon and Montreal and part in Parties sent out by the Generals Order upon advice received in a Letter of Marsins intercepted and disciphered importing that supplies were sending from Perigort and Quercy under the Command of his Lieutenants for that Place which being of great importance for the supporting of Bourdeaux was fortify'd and provided with all things necessary for a long Siege This second loss succeeding as it were upon the Neck of the former put the inhabitants of Bourdeaux into great apprehensions The Princes party began to lose much of their former reputation the people perceiving that instead of the promis'd releif they were to expect nothing now but misery and destruction The Townsmen had several Assemblies and having examin'd Affairs they found clearly that without present supplies there would be no possibility of holding out long and forasmuch as these supplies could not be expected any way but from Spain or England they dispatch'd their solicitations to the Court of Spain for their promis'd and seasonable relief nor did they forget their Addresses to Cromwell to implore his assistance to open a Passage into the River and preserve that City which might recompence his Compassion with so many advantages to the English Nation But the Spaniards who were willing enough to have gratify'd their desires wanted forces to give them any vigorous assistance in so many several places The English who were better able were not so well inclin'd for Cromwell being to establish the Authority he had usurped thought it not suitable to his interest to engage in any quarrel against France and besides the Cardinal ceas'd not in the mean time to puff him up with other thoughts of more advantage to his Person The Cardinal well-knowing that Expedition is the Mother of success and foreseeing that in time either the Spaniard might be strong enough or the English willing enough to attempt its relief sent Directions to the Generals to apply themselves with all imaginable industry to the reducing of Bourdeaux and therefore having taken Libourne the Royallists took up their Quarters as near the Town as they could to cut off all Communication with the Countrey The Duke of Vendosme kept the Castle of Lermont commanded all the Countrey betwixt the two Seas and with the Fleet block'd up the River The Duke of Candale with his Troops dispos'd into the principal Passes was Master of all the Avenues back'd by Caesars Fort the Town of Blanqufort and a strong quarter at Begle by which means he cut off all supplies on that
above 2000 persons they assaulted the house of Bleru who was at that time an Agent in England that by this means the tumult which they noised abroad to be much increased might dispose the Prince and the Assembly to satisfie the Petition of the City but the unstable Rout soon gave a proof of their inconstancy deserting their Leaders in the very height of the Action who did what they could to keep them together but to no purpose and in the mean time night coming on and nothing done Virlada resolv'd to give some money to his Kinsman Cabanieux if with other of his Companions he would go and take down a red Standard which had been set up by the Olmeisti upon Saint Michaels Steeple and in stead of that funest and bloody colours put up a white one the Kings colours in its place which being done and another of the fame in like manner advanc'd on the Steeples of St. Remy and St. Peters by the well-affected of those parishes as also on the Gate next the Exchange the appearance of these colours had so great an influence that Marsin himself who did all he could to divert the Propositions for Peace condescended to all the Deputies of the Merchants desired upon a suspicion of some unavoidable surprize Twelve Deputies therefore were chosen to consult with the Princes Counsel upon such terms and expedients as should be most proper for the Conclusion of the Peace but Marsin perceiving that their fear was without any foundation the same night coming to the Town-house where the Prince of Conty lodg'd with all the Officers of the Army and the chief of the Olmiera they consulted how to disturb and prevent the designes of the well-affected to the King The Olmeisti propos'd to fall upon those that were assembled in the Burse Marsin and Fiesco were for standing upon their defence and bringing in their Troops to place them in the street before the Town-house as far as the quarter of Santa Eulalia towards the Archbishops Palace and the Castle of Ha where the inhabitants had not declared against them it was resolv'd also to make use of an Arrest of Parliament offer'd by the Frondeurs which under pretence of Remonstrating for Peace forbade all Assemblies as unlawfull and seditious to the end that the Olimiera might unite with the remainder of the Parliament against the other Citizens The Prince of Canty did not approve of bringing in the Troops as a thing which would make the Citizens disperate and and force them to open a Gate to the Dukes of Vandosm and Candal which would prove the utter desolation and ruine of the whole City so that the result was that they should only make use of the Ordinances of Parliament The next day the Counsellors of Parliament going to meet were hindred by a party of Citizens telling them the Parliament was at Agen and not at Bourdeaux Virlade clap'd a Court of Guard before the Palace of Judicature to hinder the Entrance of the Counsellors and upon the Exchange ordered the Sieur de Lovergnac one of the Advocates to reade a Letter publickly from the Duke of Candale in which he offered the Citizens his Mediation and a General Amnesty The people though they did not accept thereof yet they desired Virlade and Baccalan that they would be present as their Tribunes at the Counsels held for publick business in the Archbishops Palace This being the posture of Affairs in Bourdeaux and the greater part of the Citizens dispos'd for Peace the Kings Generals thought it not amiss to encourage these Proceedings and to hinder the seditious spirits of the Olmiera from interrupting them to cause their Troops to advance from their Quarters about Begle towards the Gate of Saint Julian and at the same time to bring the Fleet above Lormont This Council was immediately put in execution the Duke of Candale's Troops marching forward by Land to the number of about 4000 Foot and 200 Horse The Clouds of dust which the trampling of the Horses rais'd in the Air and the noise of the Artillery from the Ships against the Post of Bacalan was seen and heard with so much confusion and terrour that the Frondeurs and some Counsellours of the Parliament who were met in the Burse or Exchange dissolv'd the Assembly suddenly in great fear upbraiding the others that under the colour of Peace they had plotted the surprize and desolation of the Town Virlada did his utmost endeavor to change the Officers that had the Command of the Gates which were all of them Olmiesti but being yet all alone with the Advocate Dalon advising what was to be done their design being discover'd and seeing the people incens'd against them he resolv'd to repair to the Town-house and there with the help of some of his friends attempt the nomination of new Captains Here he found the Prince of Conty and represented to him that in respect of the confusions within the City and the approach of the enemy without the Citizens also being refractory and unwilling to follow their old Officers not so much as their Serjeant-Major Periera it was better as he did most humbly intreat for his own proper security to accept of those few Captains which in the name of the Citizens he tendred to him insinuating withal a jealousy of the pretension of the Jurates of the City against his Authority if it should happen into their power to choose them as they desired The Prince to rid himself of him quickly fearing to be surprized having taken their Oaths they took possession of their places in the Council held in the Arch-Bishops Palace and fell into debate immediately about the most probable Expedients to obtain a Peace to which end Virlade offred himself to go forthwith and negotiate with the Duke of Candale without expecting a Passport not to lose time Marsin thought to elude him appointing him for his Companion Baz a Mareschal de Camp and his very great Confident But Virlade departed at Midnight with the single Permission of the Prince without the said Baz Bacalan was nominated also to go to Vandosme with Calapian another Mareschal de Camp Brother to the Marquess de Lasignan and strictly engaged in Marsin's interest Virlade represented to the Duke of Candale the intention the City had to submit themselves to the obedience of the King and shewed him the full power they had given him to treat as also a Letter of credit from the Prince of Conty who to prevent the fatal effects of a Conspiracy contrived against his life by certain persons which had been banish'd and were return'd again into the Town condescended to treat with the said Duke his particular friend in the behalf and for the security of his Nephew the Duke de Enguien the Princesses and the rest of his Party and he entreated him most earnestly to interpose his Authority that the good Citizens might receive the effects of the Kings Clemency rather then of his justice The Duke receiv'd these Overtures
Catholique Majesty That Baltasser with his Troops might retire to Tartas The Article concerning the Passport into Spain was disputed and at length altered by the Prince of Conty it being agreed on that only notice should be given to the Generals of the Spanish Fleet But with order not to come near Bourdeaux for if they did they should neither be received nor assisted All these Transactions being highly displeasing to Marsin and all such as were enemies to the peace they raised new murmures and divisions in the City and plotted all ways to break or disturb the Treaty They assured the people that there was Corn enough in the Magazines for three Months That the want of provisions and sickness encreasing daily in the Kings Army they could not long subsist nor be able to make the least opposition against the Spanish Fleet which was expected every moment with ample supplies both of Victuals Money and men so that holding out but a few days longer they should obtain a Peace much more advantageous That the Prince of Condy was in Flanders with a powerful Army able to march to Paris without any obstruction by reason of the weaknes of the Kings Forces and the peoples disaffection to the Cardinal Marsin continued to declaim aganst the Propositions of the peace as dishonourable to the name of their Union and to their Promises and oaths so often reiterated not to abandon the Prince of Condy That it was nothing but the effect of a Conspiracy of a few persons corrupted by the flatteries of Mazarine and inveigled with the thoughts of bettering their own fortune by the ruine of the publick interest That their Offers were to be shunn'd as the singing of a Sirene That having offended a Prince to the quick the best Counsel was to see him no more except in a Picture But on the contrary those who understood the Artifices and machinations of seditious persons were of another judgement and declar'd That things were reduc'd now to such an extremity they must fall inevitably into the hands of the Spaniard and live under their yoke and dominion or become miserable sacrifices to the armes and vengeance of their own King That the State could never fall under greater Tyranny then what they then suffered under the Officers of the Princes who had no other aim then to satisfie their insatiable desire of robbing them both of their honour and estates leaving them in a miserable and languishing condition That the City not being to be brought to a worse plight ought to embrace so happy an opportunity of redeeming it self from such imminent dangers whilst the Generals with unexpected Courtesie distributed every where his Majesties grace and favours full of clemency and pity and thought it greater honour to be the instruments of his mercy then revenge That now was the time to wipe off all the unworthy stains of rebellion by making it appear they were rather the effects of a few peoples violence then any universal disgust That Marsin as a stranger was manifestly more solicitous for his own private interest for the Princes and therefore he ran things to Extremity with false and pretended promises of releif which if soberly consider'd was rather to be abhorr'd then receiv'd seeing by prolonging the War all the people must of necessity be precipitated into an eternal and inextricable confusion and their revenues brought to nothing consisting principally in trade with strangers and in the fruits of the field the one absolutely precluded and interrupted and the other like to be destroy'd by the spoiling of their Vintage They further added that the Princes professing the ease of the people to whom they had so many Obligations it was to be suppos'd they would not consent that for the advantage of a few of their party so many innocents should be ruin'd and that themselves being of so high a birth by returning to their obedience they might restore themselves to their pristine Authority and Grandeur in the Kingdom of France where no true Frenchman by reason of their natural antipathy could willingly brook the Spaniards who sought to advantage themselves by these troubles alluring the uncautious by the lustre of their Gold and deluding the people more with false hopes then really assisting them with any formidable and effectual force Finally they concluded that having for their own Sovereign a King given them by God they ought not to doubt of his being endowed with so Noble and Generous a mind as to forget injuries and pardon Offences These Reasons with the Engagement into which most of the Citizens had publikely entred and the fear of falling again under the outrages of the Olmeira in case they should recover their former Authority by the means of foreign force was the cause that the Assembly of the Olmeisti was expresly forbidden and the Captains of the quarters renewed with all diligence and strict Guards placed at the Gates to hinder the entrance of forreign Soldiers They treated also privately with Colonel Baltasser to gain him to their side as a valiant and generous person and one that was capable of doing much mischeif were he united with Marsin with whom by reason of several disgusts past betwixt them he held no very good correspondence Virlade being in the mean time return'd to Begle to accompany the Duke of Candale to Lormont and assist at the General Truce receiv'd an express from the Duke of Vandosme at Mid-night that 33 Sail of Spanish Ships were arriv'd within sight of Blay Whereupon the three days Truce being expir'd the Duke of Candale thought it expedient to give them another indefinite till the conclusion of the peace and the publication of the Amnesty which he did to engage the Citizens in a Treaty before the news of the approach of the Spanish Armada lest they should change their resolutions and concurr with the contrary party It being concluded therefore and establish'd as firm as was possible Virlade was dispatch'd back to Bourdeux to draw the Prince of Conty to a peremptory resolution to declare puplickly for the service of the King where being arriv'd he found the City much altered by the Artifices of Marsin who having been at the Burse to clear himself and Lenet of the machinations wherewith they were charg'd he had in some measure mollifi'd the hearts of those who had been exasperated against him and by the distribution of Money amongst the Plebeians captivated a good part of them particularly those of the Fraternity of Saint John which are so numerous they seldome appear less then 1500 in their procession upon that Saints day so that he caus'd them to fasten peeces of Red Ribbon to their Procession-staffs and to cry up and down the streets and in their very Procession Viva i Principi Long live the Princes Virlada astonish'd at this change rid amongst them with a Trumpet of the Duke of Candales before him snatching from some of them their Red Ribbons giving them white and casting some Moneys amongst
he would not engage himself far in France with so many strong Towns at his back and an Army in his flanck in stead of following him as seemed requisite by the Rules of War On the 9. of August he marched to Magny where they made Bonefires and rejoycings in the Camp for the happy news of the reduction of Bourdeaux which much encouraged the Army so that speedily passing the River he dispatch'd the Comte de Schomberg with 400 Horse and 200 Foot to reinforce the Garrison of Corbie and prevent the Princes design At the same time the whole French Army march'd towards Ham pass'd the River in the night and lodg'd on the other side where Turenne having intelligence that the Count de Maille with a large Convoy of Ammunition and 4000 Pioneers was departed from Cambray to reinforce the Spanish Army in case they should invest any place Incontinently with the greatest part of his Horse and a commanded party of Foot the the next morning at break of day he clap'd himself in the way that the Convoy was to pass with resolution to set upon them But the Prince having smelt his design as being no less acquainted with the Practices of Turenne and the greatest part of his Commanders most of them having serv'd under him and that there was nothing to be done at that time turning head with his light Horse and marching with all diligence towards the Somme sent advice by Polenet Groom of his Chamber to the Count de Maille to return again with his Convoy to Cambray Polinet returning back the same day was taken Prisoner by a Party of the Royallists who understanding by him and afterwards by the Scouts which had been at the very Gates of Cambray that Maille was retreated and that the Prince having cast two Bridges of Boats over the Somme had pass'd it and lodg'd himself upon the banck of it betwixt Corbie and Bre Turenne return'd with great dexterity towards his Camp which was already advancing towards him and having joyn'd with the Mareschal la Ferte they secured their Baggage under the walls of Peronne and encamp'd at a Village not far from that Town and at no great distance from the Spanish Army taking possession of a convenient place to sustain a battel if occasion offered it The Prince in the mean time believ'd he should catch Turenne unprovided and constrain him to fight and in this confidence he march'd all night long and with so much expedition that the next morning in sight of Peronne he found the enemies baggage with its Guards who having no Alarm thought his coming impossible But his men being very weary with the tediousness of their March he forbore falling upon them Turenne in the mean time having drawn his Army to Mont St. Quintin which is an Abby upon a Hill The Prince found him in so good Order he had no minde to provoke him at such a disadvantage However Condy made as if he was come on purpose to attaque him thereby to hold him in suspence till he could receive the Convoy from Cambray without which there was no probability of being able to lay Siedge to any place But in the mean-time while he endeavored by small skirmishes to amuse them with the expectation of a Battel he caus'd his Vauntguard to march directly towards Saint Quintin leaving the Kings Camp on the right hand and a great Wood betwixt both Armies Turenne having his eyes open upon all occasions and not willing the enemie should march directly before him as the Prince of Condy did design he advanc'd with equal diligence and prevented him at a Post which the Prince thought to have possest Condy was hereupon obliged to make a halt by which means the Armies were once again brought to face one another there being nothing betwixt them but a little valley and that very easie and accessible above which the French placed a strong Guard over against a Wood which ran up almost to the Enemies Camp not above a Musquet-shot distant Here both Armies stood their ground facing one another three or four days with great wariness the Prince and the Spanish Generals being unwilling to come to an Engagement in a place the Mareschals had chosen so much to their advantage On the 14. of August there happen'd a smart skirmish in which the two Counts brothers of Russy ingaged themselves too far and Turenne's Lieutenant-Collonel was slain The same day the Prince of Taranto the Marquess de Bouteville and the Count de Duraz being upon the Prince of Condy's out-Guards and curious of seeing and saluting the Mareschal Turenne who at the same time was by accedent at his they sent a Trumpet to desire they might have the honour to kiss his hands which being granted they were received by Turenne with his usual kindness and affability and discours'd together with reciprocal Complements Some Gentlemen also ftom the Kings Camp went to pay their respects to the Prince of Condy who drew near within 200 Paces of Turenne and possibly with a desire to speak with him but Turenne being aware of it pretending some business he departed from that place without staying for the Invitation which as was supposed the Prince was about to send him by one of his Gentlemen Two houres before day upon the 25. of August the Prince raised his Camp and march'd towards St. Quintin of which Turenne having advertisement and suspecting the attaque of some of those places he caused the Count de Beaujen to repass the Somme with 1200 Horse and 600 Foot with Orders to keep nigh Ham and Saint Quintin to be ready to succour which of those places he should fall upon The French Generals repass'd the River at Peronne marching all Night and the next day directing their way towards Ham. Beaujeu being arriv'd at Saint Quintin he had news that the Count de Duraz was with 2000. Horse commanded out of the Enemies Army and advanc'd to invest Guise whereupon with all diligence crossing the Fere he put a good supply of men very seasonably into that place of which the Prince of Condy having notice he commanded the said Count back to the Army after he had fac'd the Town 12 houres together The Prince perceiving his designes hitherto ineffectual and much troubled to find so much Conduct and Courage in the Kings Captains he resolv'd to try another way advancing his Army within a League of Ham distending it along a little River which there dischargeth it self into the Somme with a resolution to attaque that place or if the Kings Army appear'd to relieve it to fall desperately upon them and with his sword in his hand in that field to determine all differences and emulations He was no sooner arrived at his appointed Post but he saw the French Army on the other side ready to flanck him and at his back the Count de Beaujeu who having repass'd the Oyse had placed himself at Fargny to take such resolutions as the accidents of Affairs should direct
Julio Mazarin THE HISTORY OF THE MANAGEMENTS OF Cardinal JVLIO MAZARINE Chief Minister of State of the CROWN of FRANCE Written in Italian by Count Galeazzo Gualdo Priorate And Translated according to the Original In the which Are Related the Principal Successes Happened from the Beginning of His Management of Affairs till His Death Tom. I. Part I. LONDON Printed by H. L. and R. B. in the Year 1671. To their most Serene HIGHNESSES the Duke and Dutchess Regent of Modena and Regio c. CArdinal JULIO MAZARINE'S Government of Affairs hath deserved all the Applauses that Fame can give The World hath admired him as the Product of a Phoenix I have writ his History And as he hath been the Splendour of our times I think it proper to bring him to the Feet of your Highnesses of Este who are the most splendid Ornaments of all Italy In the Heroick Actions of so great a Minister your most Serene Highnesses may behold your own proper Glory take therefore as I most humbly supplicate this testimony of my observance with that benignity which is proper to the Greatness of your most Serene Family known for thousands of years to be the true Seminary of Heroes There is no room for Panegyricks in this short Dedication neither ought your Modesty to be wronged by my weak Pen with inferiour Praises to your unexpressible Merits and therefore with a most humble submission asking Pardon for this my boldness I rest Your most Serene Highnesses most humble and most obsequious Servant Galeazzo Gualdo Priorato TO THE Reader THE HISTORY of the Managements of Cardinal Julio Mazarine is a matter most proper and most curious for Posterity The Rules this man went by wil serve for a most profitable Example to whomsoever shall have the Fortune to pass thorough the degrees of the like Sphere Histories do mention many Statesmen with Applause and Veneration and the Managements of the late Cardinal Richlieu are Celebrated with more then humane Attributes as if Nature had given him the preeminence of all her Graces Without doubt Richlieu was a great Politician a great Minister of State and a man may truly say that for Humane Prudence France never had his equal He knew loved and had in so much esteem the vivacity of Mazarine that oftentimes he has been heard to say that this man by his ability and his fortune would surpass not only his Master but the most sublime Wits that have guided States and Monarchies Richlieu was not at all deceived for whoever compares their Actions shall not finde them equal Richlieu was a Frenchman Minister of State to a King in his Majority strengthned by Kindred Friends and Parties Mazarine an Italian Minister to a King in his Minority and to a Regent of an emulous and suspected Nation without Relations and no other friends but his own spritely Wit Richlieu was at the Helm when France was assisted by the Conjunctions of Swedeland Holland the Protestant Princes of Germany the Royal House of Savoy and many others and enjoyed an entire obedience of its subjects When England naturally emulous of the Greatness of France was embroiled by Intestine troubles and when there was a perfect Correspondency with Pope Urban VIII Mazarine governed in a time that Holland was reconciled to Spain that the major part of the Princes of the Empire had deserted the Cause the Swedes abated in their Power the English become formidable by their Victories In the heat of the Revolutions of the Kingdom Persecuted by the Princes of the blood by the major part of the Grandees by the Parliaments and by the People and under the Pontificate of Innocent X. little affecting his Person Richlieu acted with Rigour and with too high Pretensions ending his life in no good opinion with the King his Master disgusted with his vast Aims and left the Warre unquenched Mazarine deported himself with Affability and kindness and exercised Humanity more then Austerity He died in compleat favour with their Majesties who lamented his loss with tears and was he wailed by his very Enemies He gave his King a great Queen for his Wife and with her the Peace so longed for by the Kingdom with so great advantages and so much Reputation that the most Christian King Lewis XIV may rightly be instyled the Great being that France hath never had greater strength in Forces nor a greater King for Valour and all other Eminent Vertues The Reader will pardon the feebleness of my Pen if it hath not sufficiently expressed the merits of so great a man for his Actions having brought forth Effects above the order of Nature would require a Style Supernatural not to say Divine to celebrate them The HISTORY of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE Lib. I. HE was born in the Year 1602 at Piscina in Abruzzo the 14th day of July son of Peter Mazarine and Hortensia Buffalini In his Infancy he was instructed in the Rudiments of that tender Age and by little and little in all those Exercises befitting a Gentleman In the Jesuits Colledge at Rome he so cultivated his Understanding that the vivacity of his Wit and the sublimity of his elevated Mind shined forth even to Admiration He compleated his course in Philosophy at the Age of 17. maintaining Conclusions in the most subtile Points to the Wonder of all men His courageous heart began to be inflamed with desire of new things and to see and be informed of the Manners and Qualities of forein Nations for that purpose he accompanied Don Girolamo Colonna now a Cardinal into Spain and together with him studied the Law in the University of Alcalà and in a short time he became perfect in the Spanish Tongue While he was intent upon his Studies it hapned that his father being accused of a certain Homicide was in some trouble and having no other sons for Alexander the younger brother was become a Dominican so that he was obliged to return to assist his father in his troubles where he arrived with all diligence and bestirred himself in his Defence so efficaciously that he was clear'd from his accusations He had no sooner Accomplished the Age of 20 years when as his Heroick Genius excited him to the desire of Armes and being favoured by the House of Colonna he obtained to be chosen Captain Lieutenant of the Colonels Company in the Regiment of the Prince of Palestrina he led his Company to Milan where he came acquainted with Giovanni Francesco Sacchetti Commissary General of the Popes Souldiers sent to take possession of the Valtoline and in the management of divers smaller Affairs he made appear so much Ability that he was soon employed in matters of greater moment performing them to the entire satisfaction of those who employed him and of the parties with whom he Negotiated He made a Relation of the Occurrences in the Valtoline full of such exquisite Observations that Torquato Conti General of the Popes Forces sent them to his Holiness that perused them with
Monferat giving some apprehension to the French they presently conveyed several Troops into the Cittadel of Casal contrary to the Articles of the Stipulation whereat the Duke of Feria taking Alarm advanced part of the Army to fall upon the French in their disorderly return into Piemont Cardinal Antonio having advice thereof so order'd the matter that Mazarine not only gave notice to the chief Commanders of the French Army but likewise by gentle means delayed Galasso and Piccolomini who were advancing to fight them so that the French had time to retreat without any disturbance With new windings and Negotations he finally adjusted every thing and by his means the Peace was fully concluded at the Treaty at Chirasco in which Mazarine was the person that by the Popes order negotiated secretly with the Duke of Savoy and caused him to deliver up Pignerol to the King of France whereat the Spaniards took so great distaste that calling him Traytor made bitter complaints against him to the Pope and Cardinal Barbarine who ignorant of the private Orders given to Mazarine by His Holiness and believing that he had gone beyond those of his Patron began to favour the Spaniards complaints denied to give him Audience and sollicited the Pope that he would appoint that a Process might be drawn up against him The Pope to please the Cardinal his Nephew gives way to it but underhand encouraged Mazarine not to fear any thing who was shunn'd and murmurr'd against on all sides by the wicked and hollow-hearted Courtiers Truth lying hid and Lies taking place to please those on whom they had dependance At length being admitted to the Audience of Cardinal Barbarine with sweetness of language and much respect he lamented the wrong done him and the slender Acknowledgments he had received in recompence of all his pains and eminent services performed to the Holy Church and all Italy and so efficacious were his Reasons that the Cardinal was much mollified but as there was an Antipathy between their Genius and his malignant Enviers never ceasing to torment him the aversion he had conceived against him could never be eradicated out of his heart Mazarine in the mean time by his courteous carriage and affability made it his business to gain Friends and Acquaintance declaring that mens Fortunes did depend on their good Friends who are preserved by means of Services and Civilities the most proper Instruments to captivate mens Affections And therefore putting in practice this Maxime he began to gain the good will of many that were ambitious of his Friendship by which means having at last overcome all oppositions and abated the bitterness of Barbarine That Preferment was offered him both by this Cardinal and his brother Cardinal Antonio that at other times he had sought after and could never obtain and the Election being in his own power he chose rather to serve Cardinal Antonio then Francesco their Humours suiting better together for Antonio was of a magnanimous spirit and generous in the highest degree The Place he gave him was Vice-Treasurer with an Assignment of 800 Crowns a year but His Eminence afterwards having changed the Office of Treasurer to be Legat of Avignon declar'd him his Auditor setting a high value on him for those Affairs And a little after the Pope willing to give him some sign of his not-forgotten thankfulness made him his Houshold Chaplain and Vice-Legat of Avignon and afterward sent him Nuntio Extraordinary into France to sollicite the most Christian King for the Restitution of Lorrain to that Duke as also to endeavour to prevent the War which began to break out betwixt the two Crowns by the surprisal of Philipsbourg and afterward of Treves with the imprisonment of that Elector But before he went from Rome he married two of his Sisters Marguerit the Elder to Count Girolamo Martinozzi of Fano and Girolama the younger to Lorenzo Mancini both of them of ancient Families Monsignor Mazarine taking his Voyage towards France in the Quality of Apostolical Nuntio Extraordinary was kindly received and splendidly treated by all the Princes thorough whose Dominions he passed but especially he found an extraordinary kind Reception in the Royal Court of Savoy No sooner arrived at Paris but he revived his Friendship with his former Acquaintance and suddenly gained a Sympathetical correspondence with all the Statesmen and Grandees of that Court and particularly contracted an intimate Friendship with the Count de Chavigny principal Secretary of State Cardinal Richlieu's greatest Confident and most imployed by him The King the Queen and Richlieu himself esteemed him highly and the Cardinal was never better pleased then when any occasion offered it self to discourse with the Nuntio in whom he admired the Acuteness Eloquence and handsom way of representing of business Chancing once to fall sick the King himself honoured him with a Visit The Popes Mediation for Peace proving ineffectual by reason of the too high Pretensions of both Parties at the end of two years His Holiness recalled Mazarine who notwithstanding in his Nuntiature did not omit to perform many important Services for the Holy See He went directly to Avignon where he staid about six Moneths demeaning himself with seemly decorum and with all affability He finished and adjusted many things and did not neglect to cultivate a most intimate correspondence with Cardinal Richlieu oftentimes presenting him with divers choice things from Italy Finally having obtained leave to return to Rome he went by Sea and having given the Pope and the Cardinal Nephew an account of his Negotiations he was received by them with all demonstrations of Esteem The Pope who was a Prince of a deep understanding taking delight to discourse with a person of so lively a Wit enrich'd with the knowledge of the Affairs of the world admitted him often to Audience entertaining him for many hours together Cardinal Barbarine growing jealous of so great esteem and familiarity and not enduring that any one should insinuate himself so far in his Uncles favour rigorously forbid him his so frequent Visits and cajoling His Holiness with his Discourses by which he had wrought upon him to be content that Cardinal Antonio might be honoured by the most Christian King with the Protectorship of that Crown to the great disgust of the Spaniards and their Party who encreasing their disdain against Mazarine as the Contriver of this blow they began to study by what means they might lessen him and avoid those prejudices to their Interests which they did prognosticate by his professed Devotion to France Though he did not enjoy the good Graces of him that was prevalent in the Popes affections yet by his extraordinary ability he still maintained the Reputation he had merited for his good Services towards the Holy See and continued his Protection under Cardinal Antonio Some differences happening betwixt the House of Medici and Don Filippo Colonna by his Mediation they were composed And it was no small matter he did in hindering greater disorders
with Restriction of the Council to the plurality of Voices he was confirmed in this determination by the Prince of Conde who by the Authority he had above the other Counsellors imagined to turn and wind all at his pleasure wherefore the Councel of Mazarine for the uncontrolled Authority of the Queen conformable to the examples of former Regencies remained fruitless That which only remained to settle the Kings minde was to have an assurance that the Cardinal would not return into Italy after his death wherefore having earnestly besought him never to abandon his sons importun'd him to a direct promise as likewise the Queen not to permit him upon any pretext whatsoever to quit the Affairs and to engage him the more he was pleased that he should answer for the Dauphine at the Holy Font in Quality of Godfather together with the Princess of Conde confessing that he did it more straitly to oblige him to his sons service His Majestie well knowing the need he should have of him in his unripe years The King dead it seemed not convenient to the Queen to suffer that Authority to be retrenched in such manner which other Queens had enjoyed freely wherefore she permitted her self to be perswaded against the sense and counsel of the Cardinal to make the Parliament annul the Will of her late husband which Mazarine foreseeing would prove a mortal blow to the State and highly prejudicial to the Regent her self did not only forbear to appear in Parliament but likewise prepared himself to retire which was by no means assented to by the Queen who having the Authority of the Regency confirmed to her not only assured him of an entire confidence but engaged him also to remain minding him of his promise made to the King never to depart from his children and notwithstanding the great oppositions made against Mazarine by the enemies of Richlieu and by the disaffected he carried himself so well that in a short time he engrossed all Affairs The Bishop of Beauvais whom the Queen had added to the Councel where in those few days of his direction all things were fallen into disorder being excluded On the contrary Mazarine entred upon the business of the Kingdom with very lucky beginnings when many important considerations would have been enough to have discomposed the stoutest mind in so dangerous a condition of so Infantine a Minority The unquiet nature of the French desirous of Novelties easie to be drawn into sedition the Court full of turbulent spirits many prisoners set free many returned from their exile others who before for their rebellious attempts durst not so much as shew their heads now so arrogant as to pretend a share in the Government The Parliament depressed and discontented desirous to recover their lustre and dilate their power The Provinces oppressed by the grievances of a long War more inclined to disloyalty then obedience the Princes disposed to the most desperate attempts to make their advantage of these Conjunctures the people animated to shake off so weighty a yoke The apprehension not ill grounded that the Confederates of France fearing the unstable Resolution in a womans Regency and for their own proper Interests were ready to relinquish their former Union And lastly all the Concerns of the Crown threatning on all hands fear and terror Yet nothing could dismay the courage of the Cardinal resolved to despise all danger for the Royal service He applied himself suddenly to strengthen and conserve the external and internal vigour of the Kingdom And procured in the first place to confirm the Confederates in their Adherence to the Crown writing to all with such assuredness of the stability of the Regency in the established mutual Union and with such motives of honour and profit to themselves that he easily confirmed them in their Confederations thus in that beginning was established to the Crown the Amity of the Swedes of the Duke of Savoy of the Langrave of Hesse of the States of Holland of the Catalonians and of the Portugals a League which rendred the Power of France so much the stronger and feared and which at last did so much cooperate to the Conclusion of the Peace And secondly considering that intestine evils are most dangerous and aptest to destroy the Individual and foreseeing how much Civil discords do indamage a State he placed all his care to preserve the Peace of the Kingdom by uniting the Royal Family which was easily brought to pass for some years To handsel the Regency with some egregious deed he propounded and against the opinion of every one undertook the Siege of Teonville a place of great importance which happily succeeding he gained great commendation Frieburg afterward being attacqued by the Army of the Elector of Baviere with manifest danger to be lost he opportunely provided to relieve it causing the Queen to command the Duke of Anguien to joyn speedily his Troops to those of Mareschal Turenne and to bring timely succours which succeeded prosperously by which means not only the possession of that City was kept which had already capitulated but also other considerable Conquests were acquired The French Armies passing beyond the Rhine the Danube and the Lech and the Duke d' Anguien having gained a singular victory they over-ran Spire Ghermensain Landau Bindemo Cronach and Magonza By like advantages in those parts the Confederates were got in a condition to lend their helping hand at any time of need who by making themselves Master of a great part of Franconia and Suevia they became much stronger then their enemies but chiefly by the taking of Hoilbrun yet an Imperial City of very grear importance confirmed to them by the Treaty of the Truce concluded at Ulme with the Elector of Bavaria He cooperated afterward to the Peace of Munster and quickly saw it concluded with notable advantages to the Crown of France to which he establish'd the possession of both the Alsatia's and the two very strong places of Brijac and Phillipsburg near the Rhine opening a Pass into Germany at their pleasure By this Peace there did accrew to France the three Bishopricks of Metz Tul and Verdun and by the creating Metz a Parliament heretofore found a matter of much difficulty firmly established the controverted Jurisdiction of them with an absolute and perpetual possession ratified by the Emperor and the several Orders of the Empire The cares of the Cardinal were not restrained to these Expeditions only but at the same time he was likewise intent upon the Caballs of the Cabinet finding himself compelled by the Court-Intrigues to apply himself to extinguish in the beginning every spark of Civil trouble and oft-times to ward his own life from the treacheries of his enemies By this his care he saved himself from the Conspiracy contrived against him by the Duke of Beaufort who thinking the Cardinal an obstacle against his high designes by the occasion of a certain Collation which the Count of Chavigny had prepared for the Queen at the Castle of
were generally dis-satisfied The Warre being kindled the Fire seemed unextinguishable not only because it chiefly arose as the common report went from private passion and particular envy and the flames daily encreasing from those puffs of anger the discontents grew still higher which according to the Contingencies of Warre administred new matter of rancour But also on the Popes Account that he being the Common Father should with a constant resentment pretend a just title to disturb the quiet of Italy by armes when all Christendom groaning so long time under the weight of innumerable miseries thought they might expect from his Piety a paternal and serious application to compose the inveterate motions of War and not to excite new ones On the other side the interessed Confederates longing to abate the temporal power of the Ecclesiastical Princedom and to give a wholesom Admonishment to those that being destin'd by God to enjoy it for a season are oftentimes unmindful of returning again to their private condition were resolved to maintain with all perseverance the reputation of their Armes For this cause the mediation or the Spaniards and the Emperor for a pacification proved a long time ineffectual the King of France not omitting to interpose his his Authority for the service of her to whose Assistance his Ancestors had so often passed the Mountains dispatched by the Counsel and dictates of Mazarine the Marquess of Lionne to the Confederate Princes to whom he delivered his Message with such vigour and reputation that by his prudent Negotiations he ripened that fruit which Cardinal Bichi who was ordered by the King to manage the Treaty afterward had the good fortune to gather by the Conclusion of the Peace as acceptable and advantageous to the Barberines as afterward the memory of that War proved prejudicial to them The Cardinal likewise got no small reputation by composing the differences between the Kings of Swedeland and Denmark who were entring into a most cruel War He shewed himself also very constant in overcoming all the difficulties which hapned upon the Marriage of the Princess Maria Gonzago with Uladislao King of Poland brought to an end by his great Prudence While the Affairs of France went thus prosperously on and that all Europe had their eyes fixed on the greatness and power of that Crown admiring the Ascendant Fortune of the most Christian King with the same Reflexions wherewith heretofore were admired that of the most victorious Emperour Charles the Fifth on a sudden she saw her self overwhelmed by those Civil broils which have always been the most powerful mischiefs to depress her The first ground from whence these turbulent Revolutions arose was from the Treasurer Emery who was the Person that disposed the minds of the Parlementarians of Paris to Commotions by troubling them in their places hereby to raise money not without the opinion of many that he did this with an intent to overthrow the Cardinal who vigorously opposed such his dangerous Undertakings knowing the nature of the French to be most extremely violent for their particular benefit For this cause therefore the Parlement of Paris having declared against the Kings Government the Queen thought to destroy this growing Hydra by punishing three of her Heads giving order for the Imprisonment of the Counsellour Brussel and the Presidents Blamenil and Charton though Mazarine did greatly impugn it well perceiving that it was not yet time to stir the Humours when there was no likelihood to dissipate them and it succeeded just so as he foresaw for the People having taken Arms and chained the streets compell'd the Court to set free the prisoners and to turn out Emery to the great prejudice of the Royal Authority and to the emboldening of the Seditious to undertake new Villanies The Cardinal on this occasion maintained but it did not help him that by the rule of good Government they ought constantly to adhere to their resolutions once taken although they were not assumed with their due precautions it being always hurtful to Princes to recede from that which they have once pretended to be observed by their Subjects From the like beginnings the Alterations plotted by the restless minds of those who hoped to advance their private Fortunes greatly increased These disorders were fomented by the Coadjutor of Paris allured by the hopes of Mazarines ruine to enter into his place of Chief Minister being a person of an high spirit and very intelligent in the Affairs and by the Count de Chavigny likewise exasperated seeing himself by the Queens aversion to him not in that full Credit and Authority which he had in the Consultations in the time of Richlieu's Government So that all things being in a confusion and impossible to provide against the disorders without That flourishing and potent Kingdom at the height of its greatest glory became a Scene of most lamentable miseries losing in one Campania the fruits of many others purchased with so much sweat with so much bloud and with so great expence of money The Cardinal sought nevertheless to hinder what he could the growth of these disorders and knowing how dangerous it would be to France if England should declare for Spain as it was by all Arts endeavoured by the Spanish Agents he knew so wisely to manage the business that he frustrated the Enemy's design and preserved the friendship of the English though ever emulous and no well-willers to the French The Events that after these commotions rent in pieces the Regency and all France were infinite and deplorable for although Mazarine with all sweetness and gentleness did endeavour to smooth their minds by temporizing till the Kings Majority but the more he endeavoured by these means to appease the Animosities of the Seditious the more they were hardened in their insolence and by open violence opposed the Orders of the Regent whereupon by his advice the Queen resolved to remove from Paris with the King which she did on Twelveth-night 1649. For this cause the City was in a great commotion and the Court in a state to recover its due regard but hereupon their Animosities against the Cardinal grew higher suspecting him to be as indeed he was the Author of this Retreat whence the fury of the People and Parlement breaking out against him he was by the later order'd to depart within eight days The Court stoutly supporting the Cardinal resolved to block up Paris with the Army as it was forthwith done by the Prince of Conde who though he had his Brother his Sister and his Brother in Law on the Parlements side yet held himself always united with the Regent and Mazarine who failed not in the mean while accurately to watch how to compose the differences In this occasion Cardinal Mazarine made manifest the height of his Intellectuals the excellency of his Skill his Wit and his Craft joyning himself now with the one now with the other Party and finally crushing them both remained Conquerour in the field and obtained the
he went to Dorlans a Town in Picardy under the Government of the Sieur de Bar who was one of those that followed him being received with great honour and civility in all those Provinces He stayed there some time to resolve where he might best retire out of the Kingdom The Parisiens renewing their clamours to the Queen constrained her to write to the Cardinal that for the good of the State he would speedily go out of the Kingdom inducing her moreover to make a Declaration that all strangers though naturalized should not for the future be capable of being admitted into the Council of State some insisting that even the French Cardinals should be comprehended and this chiefly to keep off the Coadjutor from being Chief Minister of State to which he aspired together with the Cardinalship who was really more hated then loved being held to be a man very violent and hardy in his resolutions though he was doubtless one of the bravest Persons of France This Declaration was passed in Parliament but by reason of the contrariety of opinions in the particular of the French Cardinals according to the inclination of those Counsellors thought it passed also in this particular it was moderated and had not its full force and was put in execution only against Mazarine who staying still in France expecting his Pass-port from the Spaniard gave new occasion to his adversaries to murmur who induced the Queen again to sollicit his departure out of the Kingdom to which the Cardinal shewed himself most ready though his friends offered him 10000 fighting men to defend him against the persecution of his enemies and even the Spaniards themselves promised him all vigorous assistance with a Pension not inferiour to what he had in France The Cardinal rejected all most generously into whose Heart the French his Enemies with all their injurious dealings could never introduce the least sense of revenge to the damage of France since that the sense of gratitude towards their Majesties and his Cordial affection for those that were Loyal were too prevalent in his Noble Soul He departed therefore speedily from Dorlans from whence he wrote two very handsom Letters which were seen in Print on to the Queen and the other to the Count de Brienne at that time chief Secretary of State full of cordial expressions of his constant fidelity to their Majesties and of prudent counsel for the good of the State the tenour of which Letters moved a tender compassion in the minds of his Friends and inwardly convinced and staggered his Enemies From thence he went to Perone not without some inconvenience where he found his Nieces conducted thither in safety by the Abbot Ondedei He went with them to la Fere and thence to Rhetel from whence Generel Rosa with 300 Horse conducted him to Barleduc Where in sequence of the Honours done him in every place in this his Retirement by an express Courrier he received the most courteous proffers of the Elector of Colen who sent to invite him offering him his whole State to be at his service with all the kind expressions that could possibly be expected from a generous Prince and a true Friend For which having given to that Prince most affectionate thanks he proceeded on to Clermont by the assistance of the Mareschal de la Ferté Seneterre who in that Rencounter gave him many authentick proofs of a loyal and faithful friendship which he made more particularly appear in refusing to put the Town into the hands of two Gentlemen of the Prince of Conde's who had brought him the Kings Order the Mareschal excusing himself by telling them that he had too much cause to believe that that Order was extorted by violence and that therefore he would not give credit to it unless he were commanded by him that intrusted it with him which was as much as to say the Cardinal who understanding this notwithstanding the foresaid reflexions to shew how much a Kings Order ought to be respected prayed the Mareschal to obey it which immediately he did From Clermont he went to Sedan where once more by the importunity of his enemies receiving the Queens Orders to depart quite out of the Kingdom he went to Boullon in the State of Liege convoyed by Don Antonio Pimentelli Major General of the Spanish Army with 500 Horse the Spaniards themselves concurring to demonstrate to the world that they understood the Merits of the Cardinal and the Honours due to the Sacred Purple better then the French From Liege he continued his journey towards Aix la Chapelle and from thence he passed to Brul a place belonging to the Elector of Colen who sent immediately to complement him offering him all manner of courtesie and being Royally received in the Electoral Palace he was first visited by all the Cannons of the Archbishoprick of Colen the principal Gentlemen of the Country and afterward by the Elector himself who came expresly from Bona place of his residence The Cardinal went to return his Visit where he was received with all the Honours that could be done to the greatest Prince and came back to Brul infinitely obliged to the Elector for his civilities Here he fixed his abode and the concourse of all sorts of people that came to see him was such that that place seemed a great Court He was complemented here by Expresses from the King and Queen of Poland from the Queen of Swedeland from the Electors of the Empire and finally from most of the Princes of Europe who sent to offer him their Dominions to the great mortification of his enemies who the more they sought to abase him by their passionate resolutions the more they saw him honoured and extolled by all the world The Princes in the interim arriving at Paris and the Queen with the King remaining in a manner prisoners in the Palace Royal where they were begirt on all sides by the armed Parisiens all the concourse of the Cavaliers was at the Prince of Conde's and of the Ladies at the Dutchess of Longueville's so that there seemed to be no such thing as a King But although the Cardinal was absent in person yet he was virtually present applying himself continually with the greatest artifice to divide the minds of the Frondeurs from the Union of the Princes and the Dutchess of Chevreuse being the person that together with the Coadjutor governed the whole Caball he applied himself to those means that might draw her from the Prince's party or indeed make her their enemy for which he knew no better way then to frustrate the Match betwixt the Prince of Conty and her daughter Taking this business in hand he suggested to his Confidents at Paris such items which being by them punctually observed they made Conty believe that the Princess of Chevreuse was not of that Quality besitting his birth and they intimated to the Prince of Conde that if the Prince his brother should marry it would much prejudice the Revenue of his Family by the
division of the common Patrimony Besides the Prince of Conty being of a bleak complexion and tender Marriage would shorten his days These discourses did so far prevail with both the Princes that Conty declared that he would not marry Upon this repenting and going off from their word the Dutchess of Chevreuse swell'd with such disdain against the Princes that she soon withdrew her self from the Union together with the Coadjutor who was likewise much nettled at it They joyned themselves with the Duke of Orleans and endeavoured which at length they accomplished to reunite him to the Court reconciling themselves to the Cardinal all things being agreed on as hereafter shall be declared The Duke of Espernon in the mean while foreseeing the disorders inevitable in a Province against which he had shewn himself so opposite and drawn upon himself the general odium of those people he made a Proposal to the Prince of Conde to exchange his Government of Guienne for that of Burgundy where the Prince was Governour who at first did not shew any inclination to it but afterward understanding that Mazarine having an inkling of it with strong reasons had dissuaded the Queen from it he was more earnestly bent upon it And although most of the Statesmen were of Mazarine's Opinion not to permit such an Exchange nevertheless the politick Reasons alledged by the Count de Servient prevailed for it who soon after perceived his errour in believing to gain the Prince by satisfying him in this particular which clean contrary rather proved an incitement to him to pretend to greater things for he had no sooner obtained the Government of Guienne but he immediately requested to make an Exchange of Champagne under the Government of the Prince of Conty that of Provence but in this it being of greater importance then the other he met with a general opposition of all the other Ministers of State and of Servient himself The Cardinal though absent was nevertheless secretly inform'd of all the Affairs of the Crown as if he had been present he highly aggravated the concession of Guienne and reproved those that unadvisedly had given ear to the other pretensions for Provence it being a business too prejudicial to the Kings service and the Commonwealth for the consequences that might follow The King on all occasions experimenting the refined prudence of Mazarine thought on nothing more then his return continually giving him notice and assuring him of this his fixed resolution The Prince of Conde himself cooperated to this desire of the King who being disgusted with the Dutchess of Chevreuse about the Marriage of her daughter with the Prince of Conty as also with the Princess Palatine for many dissatisfactions past betwixt them by reason that the Princess having interposed for the reconcilement of the Prince with the Court and having received some promise upon the effecting it she complained that she had been mock'd These two Princesses therefore were united with the Queen for the depression of the Prince who permitted himself in this occasion to be led away by the Male-contents of this Court and in particular by the Count de Chavigny who had been thorough Mazarine's counsel at his departure out of the Kingdom recalled by the Queen to oblige him in that manner to depend on her lest if Conde should have caused his return it was to be doubted that he would not hearken to the Proposals that were made him on the Kings behalf to alienate him from the Frondeurs and the other Male-contents These two mettled Princesses thus joyning with the Queen and the Cardinal drew along with them the Coadjutor promising him a Nomination to a Cardinalship and to cause the Marquess of Chasteauneuf a great Confident of the Dutchess and the Prince's Enemy to be recall'd to the Council upon the gaining of these persons intimate friends of the Duke of Orleans the Court resolved what e're came on 't to recall the Cardinal who was wish'd for at that time by his very Adversaries for their particular Interests men of spirit laying hold on all occasions that seem opportune to them for obtaining that which is not to be had by other means To which end Bertet a Confident of Chasteuneuf's was dispatched with this Negotiation to find the Cardinal who the better to establish the business and to assure himself thoroughly of the Queens mind sent the Abbot Ondedei privately to Paris who having run many dangers in his Voyage arrived there safe and without being discovered lying hid in the House of the Marchioness of Ampoux he negotiated all this Affair succesfully He assured Chasteauneuf that at the Kings Majority he should be made chief Minister of State that the Chief President of the Parlement Mole should have the Seal the Marquess of Vieville should be made Superintendant of the Finances and the Coadjutor nominated to the Cardinalate The Prince having sented these proceedings began to suspect that the Court was musing to imprison him anew and these doubts were fomented by those that sought to revive the dissentions wherefore he resolved without saying any thing to retire to his Seat of S. Maur whither the Queen dispatch'd divers Lords to assure him of her sincerity towards him but all her diligence proved in vain the Prince justifying his suspitions to be founded upon good grounds and that having been once cousen'd he durst trust himself no more nevertheless he might easily have been pacified being naturally of a good disposition But all his Kindred and Friends threatening to abandon him if he agreed with the Cardinal and he considering that losing these he should remain too much expos'd to the Arbitrement of the Court he resolved though against his will to stand firm declaring nevertheless openly to his Relations and Friends that he began a dance that he should not so easily finish and that all of them afterward would forsake him He endeavoured then to engage the Parlement of Paris in his behalf and pretended to have the Count de Servient and the Sieurs de Tellier and Lionne removed from Court taxing them for being Mazarine's Creatures To this removal the Coadjutor also underhand assisted hoping that these being sent away who were esteemed the wisest Heads of the Cabinet he should with more ease introduce himself into the management of Affairs The Prince concerting with the Duke of Orleans for the expelling of these three persons they endeavoured to draw likewise the Parlement to their Party who refused to interest themselves in this affair The Sieurs de Servient Tillier and Lionne to take away all pretexts of new disturbances resolved to ask leave of the Queen to retire to which Her Majesty consented though very unwillingly Hereupon the Prince of Conde returned immediately to Paris and going first to the Parlement to give them thanks for their Protection of him went afterwards to visit their Majesties who received him somewhat coldly which moved him to utter these words That he would return thither no more
commotions likely suddenly to arise to the destruction of the Peace and the publick good might be avoided and the Duke of Orleans was intreated to joyn some of his with the said Deputies mutually to importune that the Cardinal might be kept at distance By a publick command they did prohibit all Cities Towns and all those who were in Authority on the Frontiers not to receive him nor give him any assistance upon pain of High Treason Though they reaped small benefit from these deliberations because every one laugh'd at it reputing it mere madness and folly to pretend to controle with scribling and papers where the Kings lawful power was predominant back'd with the strength of Arms nevertheless they were so intoxicated with a most sottish pretension of Authority and so instigated by their Passion that they persuaded themselves that an Order of Parlement was sufficient to bring the whole Kingdom under obedience and so passing from one absurdity to anothet to end this year 1651 the 29th of December in virtue of the aforesaid Declarations of the 7th and 9th of February the 11th of March the 2d and 8th of August last past and of those and some other Parlements against the Cardinal he was by the Parlement of Paris declared guilty of High Treason for returning to Sedan contrary to the Prohibition and for putting himself in a posture to return into France ordering moreover to finish the selling his Library and all the Furniture of his House with the Confiscation of all his Ecclesiastical Emoluments depositing 50000 Crowns to be given to him that should kill him or deliver him alive to Justice petitioning His Majesty in such case to give his Grace to the Assassine who if by his misfortune in giving the blow should not escape but be kill'd himself that his Heirs should be capable of the reward making their account that so great a recompence would invite some desperate Villain to take away his Life a thing never heard of and unworthy to be decreed nay not to be propos'd in a Catholick Parlement the bounds of whose Authority extended no further then to judge of Civil and Criminal causes and not in the least to interest themselves in the Affairs of State It was therefore looked upon with detestation that they should proceed to the condemnation of so conspicuous a Statesman so dear to the King and by His Majesty's Council known to be so advantageous to the good of France and adorned with the Dignity of Cardinal All Europe abhorr'd this Action and every good Catholick was scandaliz'd that the Life of a Prince of Holy Church should be expos'd to sale so acceptable to the King by whose express Order onely he acted And many foresaw that the Authors of these execrable doings though Humane Revenge should fail would find in their season no less then those English who condemn'd their King to death the chastisements of Heaven for the little respect that they bore not only to the Cardinal but also to the King and the Holy Church This Decree as far as could be guess'd pass'd not without the secret intelligence of the Count de Chavigny who believed by such means to hinder the Cardinals return supposing that if the Order had but issued out a little before he would not have enter'd again into the Kingdom The Count was the first that tasted Gods judgment dying a while after in despair conscious of betraying the Court and the Prince of Conde his greatest Confident in one and the same time All this was represented to the Court of Rome supposing that the Sacred College would not allow that such an Example should remain in the memory of the present Age much less be transferred to posterity without those remedies and punishments which belong to the Popes Authority But the Romanists considering that if the success should not answer the attempt the reputation and dignity of the Apostolical See would be too far engaged wherefore they passed it over palliating it with dissimulation for Mazarine had his back-friends in Rome as well as in France and the Pope himself was his Enemy These news coming to the Court they rejoyced at the seditious Parisiens and valued little their words and inconsiderable strength and had frequent Consultations about this business and although few pressed the return of Mazarine yet finding the King was resolved to have him near about him according to the Court custom where they flatter more the Fortune then the Person they began with an affected ostentation to shew that they desired as much some of them persuading the Queen to hasten his return constraining their own inclination that they might appear to be his most cordial friends But Prince Thomas being a little before come out of Piemont into France the Mareschal de Plessis Pralin the Sieurs de la Ferté and Seneterre the Count de Servient the Sieur de Lionne and other Noblemen of a clear Fidelity ingenuous Disposition and true Friends deliver'd their minds with affection and sincerity as also the Princess Palatine the Secretary Tillier recalled to Court by the means of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf and of the Mareschal de Villeroy which vexed those at heart who persuaded themselves that they might be useful in that charge and beheld with an evil eye that Mazarine's Affairs proceeded so smoothly on to his re-establishment They that chiefly opposed his return in the Council were the Marquess de Chasteauneuf who exercised the charge of first Minister of State and deliciously relished the Applauses and the Honours which to it paid Tribute as Rivers to the Sea but he vailed his thoughts with the pretext that yet the conjuncture of Affairs was not ripe for his return because the unseasonableness of it would colour the pretences of the Prince of Conde and of the other Male-contents with the face of Justice and would ferment new grievances and revolutions not only in Paris but in other parts of the Kingdom and said it would be better counsel to seek first to remove out of the way the Prince and his Party that he might return with more security The Proposition truly in it self look'd well and if at that time nothing had been innovated about Mazarine's coming back the Prince had been totally ruined the whole Kingdom standing firm for the King but when it was considered that if while the Cardinals return was delay'd the business of the Kingdom and the present state of Affairs should be mitigated and the Prince destroyed the reasons for his return as a necessary Minister would not have so much vigour as when it might be averred that the King had no person about him sufficient to undergo so weighty a Charge For this reason Chasteauneuf's Opinion did not take place and their counsel was imbraced who supported the Cardinals Interest alledging that his presence was of great importance for the better carrying on the Affairs besides the recruit of a Body of old Souldiers levied by him to hasten the depression
of Conde it not seeming decent to the Greatness of the King who was Master not to be able to have near him such as he liked best And albeit any other consideration might require that the Cardinal should continue out of the Kingdom the pretensions of the Parlement and the Frondeurs were sufficient that to confound them the contrary should be done by which means the Soveraign Authority independant from all other might shine with greater lustre and not to permit so scandalous an Example that the Servants should impudently give Law to their Master These Reasons were fomented by the first President more then any other being no friend to Chasteauneuf and alienated from the Prince for having no greater passion then that of his service to his King He had a principal part in this resolve sufficiently knowing the need that they had in Court of a prime Minister thoroughly inform'd of all the Affairs of the Kingdom The President was called to Poictiers with the Marquess of Vieville The Parisiens and the Parlement regretted their departure so much the more by how much they knew it prejudicial to their Party that a person of so high estimation had totally given himself up to the Kings Interest and the Cardinals Chasteauneuf for this cause not being able to make good his Maxim he took himself to those Arts which were suggested to him by his many years experience in the Affairs and Interests of the Court. To disturb then Mazarine's return he writ to the Sieur de Fremont Secretary to the Duke of Orleans to dispose his Master to come to Court because by his presence giving countenance and support to them that opposed the Cardinal he should easily prevail to hinder the designs of those that adhered to him But the Coadjutor on the contrary foreseeing that the Duke would be quickly brought about to the Queen and instead of opposing would condescend to her satisfaction he opposed the counsel of Chasteauneuf and with great sagacity diverted the journy of His Royal Highness who had undertaken it if instead of writing to Fremont he had writ to the Count of Chavigny and the Secretary Goulas In that interim the Mareschal de Hoquincourt had rendezvouz'd his Troops about Laon to joyn with the Cardinal who was ready with others under his pay to enter into France wherefore having agreed to meet about Derlans and Espernay upon the Marne in the beginning of January the Mareschal began to move the 18th of December and the Cardinal leaving his Nieces at Sedan advanced likewise toward Espernay with 5000 chosen fighting men and there calling a Council of War it was concluded that the Mareschal with 1000 Horse should secure the Passes on the Rivers Aube and Sene which he accordingly did passing luckily without any opposition by l' Anglure and l' Aube and crossed the Sene at Mery where the Regiments of Horse and Foot under the command of the Sieur de St. Mor joyned with him and receiving intelligence that the Duke of Orleans had sent out four Companies to Pont sur Sonne Hoquincourt charged them routed some Horse which infested the road to Sens and compelled the Sieur de Morandiere Commander of the Dukes men to quit his Post and retire It was thought that the Princes did not do all their endeavour to hinder this return for perceiving that their Affairs were in a most desperate condition the whole Kingdom concurring in favour of the King they knew that nothing could keep them from their last tottering but some new pretext that might give an honest colour to their Cause and retard the Subjects from the assistance which they contributed to their Soveraign And it was suspected that instead of providing to defend the Passes with some competent Forces which they might sooner have gathered together they delayed so long till the Cardinal was far advanced into the Kingdom and it was believed that not onely the Princes that were in Paris promoted this design but that it was also secretly fomented by the Prince of Conde it being known that he had made Gourville and others to sollicit the Cardinal to undertake his return to Court hoping that this would serve him either for a pretext to justifie his proceedings or for an occasion to piece with him because he had rather have to do with Mazarine then with Chasteauneuf The thoughts in the mean time of the Coadjutor were to induce the Duke of Orleans to frame a third Party of Male-contents and Enemies to Mazarine which perhaps might be seconded by the Courtiers that were averse to him and therefore he used all industry to make the plot succeed imagining that the Queen being intimidated by the Duke more firmly adhering to Conde she would be necessitated to keep the Cardinal further off in which case Orleans uniting himself to the Interest of the Court and fortifying himself with the Troops of Lorrain he should totally ruine the Prince But the Count of Chavigny and the rest of Conde's friends kept Orleans firm making him understand that he could not sustain himself but by uniting with the Prince and though they should not fully make sure of him they hoped at least to prevent him by closing with the Court in which case he would hardly be able to uphold himself In the interim the Duke of Nemours coming to Paris confirmed in the name of the Prince of Conde the Treaty with Orleans and the result was for the keeping out of the Cardinal and to make peace with Spain The news being spread in Paris of Orders given out by the King different to his former Declarations it is not to be imagined how the contrary Spirits were enraged yet they could do no more then make a noise so long as the Kings Authority was prevalent in the Kingdom but however the Cardinal was thwarted by the one side yet he was animated by the other for the Parlement of Brittain being sollicited by that of Paris to frame a like Ordinance in favour of the Princes against the Cardinal they ordered quite contrary that all Proceedings against him should be suspended till the Prince returned to his duty and the Spanish Troops were departed the Kingdom The Tumults of the Frondeurs continuing the Parlement decreed to proceed to the sale of the Cardinals goods and not to ratifie the Kings Declaration against the Prince till that against the Cardinal had first taken effect from whence it behoved that he should again quit the Kingdom if they meant that the Parlement should pass the Declaration They had many Consultations great in appearance but weak in substance and some Overtures to the King succeeded them The Court talked in ambiguous terms and amused them still with hopes because Time which ripens all things they hoped would also maturate the bitterness of the turbulent minds The Queen afterward sent to exhort the Duke of Orleans to retire from Paris to remove the umbrage that they had of him but the design succeeded not and increased the distrust
whereat the others taking Alarm became much more audacious and undertaking The Parlement added to the Instructions given to their Deputies dispatched to the Court to urge the release of the Counsellour Bitant and that the Mareschal de la Milleray could be advanced to the Dignity of Duke and Peer if first he did not give the pretended satisfaction to the Parlement of Brittain Moreover that no Duke Mareschal of France or other Officer of the Crown should hence forward be admitted to their Function if the Cardinal were not first withdrawn out of the Kingdom It was thought that this was done to lessen the Interest that he had by disposing of the Offices of the Crown thereby to gain those Officers to their Party But of this the Gentry and Nobility of the Kingdom made no reckoning but by how much the more the Parlement shewed themselves eager against the Court so much the more contemptible they render'd themselves no body regarding their Decrees so long as the Authority of the King could annul them and render them invalid and therefore they who sounded the Affairs to the bottom found it better counsel to keep the streight way of Obedience then to walk in rugged paths and praecipices In this manner the Princess Palatine Anna Gonzaga from being first Conde's Friend became the Queens greatest Confident and the Cardinals to which the King corresponding called her to Court to foment by her ready and smart Wit the Parties proper to destroy the Caballs of the Male-contents She arrived there as likewise divers other Lords did who openly condemned the Opinion of those which could not but in the end be losers yet obstinately follow'd the Game In the mean while the Cardinal at the Head of the Army departing from Pont sur Saone came to Chasteaurenart and from thence advanced to Gien upon the River Loire The Souldiers of the Marquess of Sordis who were enter'd into the Town upon news of his March quitted it The Cardinal pass'd the River over the Bridge and was civilly receiv'd by those Inhabitants He went thence to Vierron where he left the Army under the command of the Count Broglio to continue their March towards Guienne and His Eminence accompanied with Hoquincourt and Grançay Mareschals of France with a great number of other principal Officers and Persons of Quality went in diligence towards Poitiers where the King was and drawing near was met by His Majesty without the City The King light out of his Coach and imbraced him with so much affection that the Honours were greater which the Cardinal received by that benign Reception then his misusage by so many Decrees of the Parlement His Majesty took him into his Coach and conducted him to kiss the Queens hand where the joy of the Court was redoubled By how much the more splendent the Applauses and Contentments were in this part by so much the more the hatred was dismal and cloudy in other parts and in no City greater threatnings appeared then in Bourdeux whose Parlement after the example of that of Paris persevering in their Assemblings and unlawful and seditious Decrees drove from the City the persons and whole Families of those who were esteemed faithful to the King and did all that Rebells and Enemies of their lawful Soveraign could do THE HISTORY Of the Managements of Cardinal MAZARINE Lib. II. MAZARINE being enter'd into France the 16th of January 1652 the King cancell'd and annull'd the Decree of the Parlement of Paris of the 29 September 1651 with express prohibition to put it in execution and not to attempt any thing against him upon pain of death He forbad also not to proceed to the sale of his Goods nor Books the Transgressors in this case being to lose what they had paid and â—0000 Livres penalty declaring â—â—at the said Decree was contrary to His Majesty's intention to the ordinary Forms of Justice to the Customs of the Kingdom and injurious to the Sacred College of Cardinals to the Head of the Church and to the Holy Apostolick See towards which he protested following the example of the Kings his predecessours always to observe an unalterable devotion and reverence that the Cardinal was entered into the Kingdom by his express Order to conduct a good Body of an Army levied at his own proper charges to serve him in the present Emergencies and that he being a Soveraign King and absolute Master of all he ought to be obey'd by his Subjects without any limitation In Poitiers after the arrival of the Cardinal divers Consultations of War were held which were reduced to the examinations of two points The one to go with all the Forces into Guienne to bring under Bourdeaux and totally to suppress the Prince of Conde's Party the Queen and the Cardinal were of the same judgment The other was to go towards Paris with the greatest part of the Forces to disperse those of the Duke of Orleans encourage the well-affected Citizens and hinder the passage of the Duke of Nemours Souldiers who were about to enter into France Divers Reasons were alledged for both these Opinions and it was resolved on to pass into Guienne but the City of Anger 's being up in Arms by means of the Duke de Rohan Chabot Governour of Anjou the Cardinal judged it more opportune to direct their course that way so that unexpectedly on the 6th of February the Court hasted to Saumeur to the great resentment of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf who seeing that in the Kings Council it was resolved on to march into Guienne and afterward without consulting him they changed their resolution for Anjou He thought they made little Account of him and that the Cardinal was become again the sole Disposer of all Affairs wherefore he took free leave of the Court and retired to live privately at Tours whereby Mazarine remain'd to direct all as before without any companion but not without the envy and jealousie of some of his friends who could not brook the preeminency of a stranger The Court having finished the Enterprize of Anger 's which was reduced to the Kings obedience possessed themselves also of Pont de Cé and secured the Provinces beyond the Loire the News coming of the Duke of Nemours Arrival in France with some Troops out of Flanders the Cardinal thought fit not to defer time but to provide carefully for the Affairs of those parts where all their friends desired the Kings Presence The Court then departed from Saumeur the 7. of March 1652 and settled at Tours whether from divers Provinces and Cities came several Persons of Quality deputed to confirm to the King their fidelity and obedience and amongst others the Archbishop of Rouen Chamvallon Primate of Normandy deputed by a great Assembly of Prelates met at Paris upon the Decree against the Cardinal to demonstrate to his Majestie the wrong that was done to the Church of Rome and the injury she received in the person of one of her Members out-raged The Archbishop
had a favourable Audience This Deputation was very famous not only for the quality and importance of the matter but for the merit and prerogative of the said Prelate who exaggerated highly the Ptoceedings of the Parliament in treating with so much rigour and such unusual courses a Prince of the Holy Church without considering that these were formes prohibited by divine and humane laws and that which appeared admirable in his discourse was that openly praising and yet oblikely touching the Parliament he obliged the whole Ecclesiastical Order While the Court was at Tours the Count de Servient was restored by the King to his Charge of Minister of State who being a very able and experienc'd person it turn'd too much to the damage of the publick interest to keep him at such a distance but the Sieur de Lionne his Nephew was not recall'd by the prevailing of his particular enemies to whom the Court was willing at that time to give that satisfaction From Tours the Court removed to Blois and made some stay there which was very prejudicial to it since those of the contrary party had time to provide for the Conservation of Orleans into which City Madamoiselle entred and for the defence of Chartres proposed and considered by the Cardinal for the shortest way to approach near Paris Not being able therefore neither to pass to Orleans nor to go to Chartres it was determin'd to take the way of Gergeau because the Bridge of Beaugency was broken by the swelling of the River hapning a little before with very great floods but that of Gergeau being likewise spoil'd the only Pass that remain'd was that of Gien whereupon the Court went to Sully and the Army to Sandilon a little distant According as this moved toward Gien that of the Princes went continually coasting on the other side the river to dispute their passage and interrupt their design They muster'd in the Princes Camp betwixt nine and ten thousand four thousand chosen and old Souldiers most part of them Infantry of the Duke of Orleans under the Command of the Duke of Beaufort and the rest under the Duke of Nemours and these were partly French of the Prince of Conde's and partly high Germans and other Nations levied by the King of Spain The Dukes of Beaufort and Nemours did not agree together though they were Kinsmen and should have fought a Duell near Orleans if it had not been prevented by Madamoiselle who by her interposing made them friends wherefore the Prince of Conde who was in Guienne thought fit to convey himself to this Army not only moved thereunto for this cause but for divers other reasons amongst which were the following First that by making this diversion all the Kings Forces would be drawn that way where the Prince was and by that means Bourdeaux would be out of danger Secondly because the condition of Paris stood in need to be strengthned by his Presence chiefly suspecting that the King would come thither and to oppose himself to cross the designes of the Coadjutor who used all his endeavour to disjoyn the Duke of Orleans from him And what obliged him most to go was to see whether it would turn to best Account to reunite himself to the Court or to adjust with the Coadjutor or at least to render his Intrigues with the Duke of Orleans unuseful With these considerations and with thoughts of piecing with the Coadjutor he took a journey the most difficult and most dangerous that could possibly have come into his thought being like to have been taken Prisoner by the Sieur de Saint Mor dispatcht from Court with 300 horse to track him and seize on his person nevertheless he came safe thither and the News of his coming being spred abroad the Army was as much joy'd and pleas'd as the Prince confounded and troubled at the dissention of his Generals From hence he gave advice to the Duke of Orleans and to the Parliament of his welfare and had thoughts of passing thither to resolve what was to be done to encourage his party and to settle the peoples inconstancy accustomed to vary according as the Accidents that nourish it do alter But having afterwards understood that by the Arrival of the Duke of Bovillon and many Cavaliers and Souldiers from divers parts the Mareschal of Turenne was constituted their General by the King and by this means the Court was recruited no less in courage then in forces He stayd with the Army not a little discompos'd by the differences amongst the Commanders wherefore the Court was not a little troubled seeing that their designs of their Generals upon the ill-ordered Camp of the Princes were vanish'd The Discipline being establish'd in the Army by Conde and their minds reincouraged upon the confidence that every body had of his valour he caused Montargis to be be attaqued and took it by which Post he opened a Passage into Burgundy and made feasible his designes The Royallists lodged betwixt the River Loire and the Canal of Briare The Quarters of the Mareschal d' Hoquincourt were a little distant and exposed to the enemy The Prince made semblance to march toward Chasteau-renard to go into Burgundy but altering his March he went towards Blenau Hoquincourts quarters and unawares surprized him in the night in such sort that he routed him and took all the Baggage At this News the Mareschal de Turenne caused sound to horse throughout all his quarters and speedily drawing the Troops together advanc'd towards the Posts assaulted to succour them but having notice of those that fled of the disorder and disaster wont always to be increased by Fame being confirm'd to him by divers Officers with the foresight of a great Captain he thought it not fit to hazard a new Engagement wherefore he took the way of Osoy on this side the Canal where was the quarters of Novailles with design to put himself into a safe Post they had divers skirmishes marches and counter-marches and all day the Armies faced one another without engaging otherwise then by the Exchange of many Cannon-shot The Cardinal being inform'd of the suceess gave sudden account to the King how things stood moderating the vapourings which were cunningly spred abroad His Majesty with a generous heart and courage of a great King leaping out of his bed said that himself would be at the head of his Army All mounted on Horseback and no man that had a sword by his side stayd in Gien The Cardinal very undauntedly gave all expedient Orders and dispatch'd the Duke of Bovillon to the Camp with a Squadron of Gentlemen Voluntiers and afterward advanc'd with the King to the Army of Turenne by whose means not only the disperst troops of Hoquincourt were rallied but also the Princes were constrained to retire into Estampes which afterward was attaqued by the Royallists The Prince of Conde went to Paris where the number of Male-contents daily increased heightned by the hopes that they had of the coming
of the Duke of Lorain's Army Every one desired to establish his own interest by diminishing the Royal Authority supporting themselves with the pretext that Mazarine was the ruine of the Kingdom and all Paris was full of seditious Libells Satyrical Verses lying Stories and Politick Discourses which tearing the name of the Cardinal and other Ministers of State did redound to the contempt and disgrace of their Royal Majesties and with such formes those seditious did seek to make sinister impressions in the people ignorant of the Mysteries of State On the contrary all the streets and corners of the City did echo forth the Praises of the Princes and of the Arch-Duke himself celebrated in prose and verse by a number of Writers with the Title of Deliverers of the oppressed people and many Preachers getting into the Pulpits wearied themselves with no less liberty speaking detractingly of the present Affairs and all this to imprint sinister apprehensions in the people which redounded more to the blame of the Superiours which tolerated them then of those that recited them The Parlement continuing still in their purpose to reduce Mazarine to the last extremity dispatch'd the President Nesmond with other Counsellours to Sully to represent to the King what they thought necessary for his removal from Court in conformity to their first Deliberations and His Majesty's Word but the Court was not at all moved for any of these instances judging it a petulancy and too great an impudence of the Parlementarians in pretending to give Law to their Master In the mean while the Spaniards making use of these favourable conjunctures which the discord in the Kingdom of France gave them they possess'd themselves of Trino in Italy taken by the Marquess of Caracena and in Flanders of Graveling gained by the conduct of the Count of Fuensaldagna who commanded under the Archduke The Cardinal did his utmost to succour Graveling a place of great importance but the remedies are too weak in a time that the Court was miserably distracted by domestick broyls when the Foreign enemy from many parts assailed her with powerful Forces and in a conjuncture that the Seditious of the Parlement to render the Malady more incurable diverted the Kings revenues in such manner that oftentimes he was reduced to great necessity not having wherewithall to provide even for the Court it self In Paris the disorders continued more then in any other part The Prince of Conde being come thither it is impossible to relate with what Applauses he was received whereat the Kings faithful servants and the Cardinals friends were so much astonish'd that they durst not set their foot out of doors These sent Dispatches to Court supplicating their Majesties to draw near the City with all speed otherwise the Faction of Conde growing stronger they should be constrained to abandon it and let all their consultations fall to the ground The Kings Council being moved by these Sollicitations and much more persuaded by reason to preserve by all means that great and potent City determin'd to approach nigh it In order hereunto their Majesties came to Auxerre from thence to Sens to Montreul to Melun and other places near and in the Kings Council it was debated to famish Paris by taking away the commerce of the River but this was not assented to by the Cardinal who knowing well that these Extravagancies of the Citizens proceeded from the Arts of a few Seditious people more covetous to advance their particular Interests then desirous as they gave out of the publick good and that suddenly they would perceive their errour and put themselves again in their due obedience to their King adding that it was not good by rigour to exasperate the people of that City further and precipitate them by despair to declare for the Princes which was the Card they call'd for without which their Party was weak and declining That the people ofttimes changed their minds and sometimes for the better as there was some hopes they would do now when they continually invited His Majesty to return to his Royal Palace having to that purpose sent the Sieur de Lerygue But the Cardinal was not for embracing that counsel it not behoving to trust the Kings Person on the word of the people and la Fronda without good caution he consented nevertheless to hold the Parisiens in hand with hopes and fair words without coming to any particular Declaration And thus by Mazarines dexterity Paris was in effect kept Neutral though in outward appearance it seemed the contrary by which they gain'd time to perfectionate those things which afterward followed to the Kings advantage The Court departed from Melun and came to Corbeil and thence by the way of Chily to St. Germains still under covert of the Army Though Paris was not in open breach with the Court they nevertheless continued to keep a good correspondence with the Princes the Inhabitants took Armes and began to keep guard held consultations and made preparations for Warre And among other Assemblies they held a General one of the Body of the Citizens assisted by the Deputies of the Parliament in which was decreed that when the Cardinal should be driven out of the Kingdom with security not to return again they would presently lay down their arms but as they made use of this pretext only to make their actions appear innocent to the people and that they directed their intentions to no other end then to the publick relief by sending farther off that Minister to whom they imputed all their grievance and continuance of the Warre so the Court admitting they did deprive themselves of the Cardinal by licensing him to depart knew that they should be at the same pass that they were the last time he left the Kingdom And by yielding to the pretensions of subjects they sensibly wounded the Royal Authority which ought to be kept absolute and independent wherefore they pretended on the contrary that it did not belong to any one to give laws but to receive them from their Sovereign and that the sole pretension that the King should serve himself of Ministers of their appointing deserved as much blame and correction as it was contrary to the Maxims of good Government to permit that any body of His Majesty's Council should depend on any other then on the King himself so that they cried Out on 't as too great an impertinency to require that one should be driven away of whom his Patron did profess himself well served to put in another that probably would not please him and who might perhaps study more the Interest of particular persons then the publick good and the Crown 's it manifestly appearing that to deprive the King of the Cardinal was to take away from him all satisfaction and to make him depend on their pleasure And therefore not to give so pernicious an example though he had had a mind for other causes to put him away he ought not to do it but to uphold
him that the world might know that he was Master The Parisiens the day following had another general Assembly and selected some Deputies to desire their Majesties to remove the Cardinal further off and to return to Paris but it was to no purpose the Court standing firm in their resolution not to sully the Royal Authority endeavouring to gain time and to keep Paris Neutral that they might not supply the contrary Party with Men and Money of which they stood in need enough The Princes and the Parlement on the other side studying to maintain themselves in the Peoples favour did not omit to imploy all their industry to stir up the people against the Kings Ministers and because it was necessary to keep afoot the commerce of Paris to hinder the Kings Army from passing the Sene they made some Levies which joyn'd with some other Troops of the Princes to scower the neighbouring Campania The Army of the Princes possest themselves of the Country of Estampes situated betwixt Orleans and Paris where they found a great quantity of Corn and here they intended to abide and fortifie themselves with hopes by maintaining this Post to keep Paris and Orleans faithful which was the main scope of all While the Kings Army lay quarter'd at Chartres and thereabouts they cast themselves into Estampes with their Lieutenants Generals for the Prince and the Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort were gone to Paris where they staid to make sure of the Frondeurs and their Party a good part of whom desiring the Kings return hearkened willingly to the Treaties that thereupon were had about the entry and reception of His Majesty who if at that instant he had frankly shewn himself he would have been received with all joyfulness and applause and the Princes and their Party chased away since the Citizens were at last weary of these hurly-burlies but nothing was done the King not daring to venture himself on the peoples instability nor willing to let the Cardinal depart as he often pressed to take away all pretext from the Male-contents The Kings Army besieged that of the Princes in Estampes where followed divers skirmishes and amongst the rest a very bloudy one in possessing themselves of the Suburbs The Court fixed at St. Germains and here the first Deputation which was sent was in the name of the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde who dispatched thither the Count de Chavigny the Secretary Goulas and the Duke de Rohan Chabot Chavigny was for the Prince Goulas for Orleans and Chabot for both At first they declared that they would not treat with the Cardinal but this was only a shew for they had secret order to see him and to seek all ways to come to an Agreement with him with a firm resolution to gain him to their particular interests supposing that he to continue in France and in his Ministry would easily condescend to their pretensions They were secretly in the Cardinals Cabinet treated with him and Chavigny a person of great worth propounded to the Cardinal to make an entire Agreement with the Prince by granting him four Demands One was to make the Count d' Ognon Duke and Peer the Count de Marsin a Mareschal of France the Prince of Conty Governour of Provence and the Prince himself Plenipotentiary for the General Peace To the two first the Cardinal did comply because they simply concerned only honourable titles But the Government of Provence and the Plenipotentiary of the Peace he did wholly reject declaring he would never consent that for his particular interest the Kings Authority and Service should be prejudic'd This Deputation was of huge prejudice to the Princes because it was made in a time that the Parliament and the Parisiens were more incensed against the Cardinal and when all the Sovereign Courts had deliberated to require his removal and that the Commonalty of Paris were of the same mind in a time that the Duke of Orleans and the Prince had declared in Parliament that for a general satisfaction they desired nothing but the banishment of the Cardinal so that the people seeing them act against such express Declarations from thence forward they were not a little jealous of their carriage and many that were very well inclined towards them began to be more wary in their proceedings which was afterward one of the principal causes of their fall In the neck of this Deputation the Deputies of the Parliament appear'd at St. Germains with their Remonstrances to their Majesties about giving the Cardinal his Congé against whom the President Nesmond spake with great liberty The King heard them with much civility and afterward told them that he was very well informed of the good intentions of the Parliament and wish'd that they were as well perswaded of his That he would confer with his Privy Council and in three days they should understand his will with such words and general termes concluding nothing the Deputies return'd to Paris The same day those sent from the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids had Audience and the Answer was the same he gave the Parliament also the Provost of Merchants the Sheriffs the Attorney-General the City-Notary and others deputed from the Communalty presented themselves before his Majestie representing to him the unhappy state of his Subjects and of the necessity of dismissing the Cardinal the sole cause of all the distasts and differences The Keeper of the Seals answer'd that his Majestie was assured of the good affection of the City of Paris and to satisfie them he intended to return thither so soon as the Passes should be open and this he said to give them a wipe that in the same time they made these Addresses they endeavored to hinder his coming cutting off the Bridges of the Sene and Marne The King therefore not yielding to condescend to such licentious demands the Male-contents took occasion to exclaim against his Council who on the other side complaining of the Subjects Proceedings every thing went more and more into confusion and all the faults which indeed did concern onely a few interessed people and Male-contents were charged upon Mazarine against whom their hatred and fury not abating he was commonly called The root of all evil and The cause of all the miseries of that flourishing Kingdom which would have been more unhappy wanting the protection of the Cardinal and the power of the Princes and of the Parlement increasing if the Kings Authority had been diminished which the more independent and absolute the more profitable to Subjects who are always most miserable where there are most Masters The Parliament Assembled to hear the Answers that the Deputies brought from Court where were present the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde with all the chief of the Faction when the News came that the Royallists were assaulting the Bridge of St. Cloud defended by a little Fort whereupon the Prince of Condé mounting suddenly on Horseback with several Gentlemen and above eight
thousand Parisiens made them retire and from thence marching towards St. Denis where were 200 Swisses of the Kings Guards in Garrison and assailing those old and rotten walls they made themselves Masters of it taking those souldiers prisoners which were led to Paris in triumph But this City was soon recover'd by the Kings Forces commanded by the Sieur de Renville Colonel of Horse after which a Neutrality was granted to the Town of St. Denis upon condition that the Princes should also leave free the Passes of St. Cloud Neully Charenton and St. Maur. After these divers successes the Parliament assembled again and having heard the Relation made by the President Nesmond they determined to send him back to St. Germains to receive the Kings Answer which he had promised in three days But it being to the advantage of the Court to gain time Mazarine with great subtilty prolong'd the Resolutions keeping still the Treaties on foot not to put the people in despair and necessitate them when they should have no more hopes to declare for the Princes and for that cause the Duke d' Anville made divers journeys from Court to Paris on the Kings behalf managing dexterously the Treaty with the Princes who pressed more and more the Cardinals departure The Prince of Conde who by a particular gift of Nature was no less endowed with a most prudent faculty of discerning then with a marvellous and unparallel'd valor in Arms observing the instability of his Party grounded on uncertain and wavering designs he inclined to an agreement in any manner even without the removal of the Cardinal from the Ministry considering it better to treat with him who was of a sweet and gentle nature then others of a violent Genius as the Cardinal de Retz was reputed to be But the good intention of the Prince was diverted by his Kindred and Friends who declared that in such case they would forsake him and lastly by the Duke of Orleans sollicited thereunto by the Cardinal de Retz who was accused that for his private advantage he equally desired the ruine of the Prince and of Mazarine so that His Royal Highness vigorously opposed it and was cause that this Overture took no effect From S. Germain the Court removed to Melun for this City being upon the Sene and nearer to Estampes they might from hence with more ease send Supplies and Recruits to the Kings Camp stopping in the same time the Provisions which are wont to be brought down the River from those fertile Fields to Paris and here the King gave Order to Mareschal Turenne to endeavour what er'e came on 't to expugn Estampes and defeat the Army of the Princes who defending themselves bravely there followed many hot Skirmishes with no small slaughter of Souldiers and considerable Captains on either side wherefore the Princes perceiving that their Army would subsist a long time in Estampes sollicited the Spaniards that the Army of Duke Charles of Lorrain might advance to their succour The Ministers of Spain chearfully assenting to uphold the Party of the Princes and keep afoot the Civil War in France presently set themselves about it The Duke of Lorrain was wont every year to make a bargain with the Spaniards for the next Campania by which they obliged him for a certain summe of money to serve them with his Troops This year therefore 1652 they engaged him to pass into France to succour the Princes In pursuance of which accord he marched with his Army of 4000 Foot and about 5000 Horse with some Pieces of Artillery thorough Champagne towards the Sene to raise the Siege of Estampes leaving his Forces at Lagny he went to Paris where he was received with all the Honours wont to be given to a Prince of whom they stood in need At this news the Cardinal began to set his Wits at work and to give necessary Orders for securing the most important places He sought to gain Duke Charles by the mediation of the Dutchess of Chevreuse his Ally and of the same House She being a Lady of great sense and full of Intrigues making use of the natural jealousie wont to be betwixt the Princes of the Bloud and the Dukes of Lorrain and especially betwixt Conde and them who was much esteemed amongst the Spaniards she gave the Duke to understand that it would not turn to his benefit to assist them The Duke was convinc'd by her Reasons and inclin'd to imbrace her counsel so he could find a sufficient pretext to disingage himself from the Spaniards to whom he had promised to succour Estampes Mazarine sent the Marquess de Chasteauneuf to negotiate secretly with the Duke and they agreed together that to disingage his word and to keep himself from the blame he might incur he should raise the Siege of Estampes and the morning following that Turenne should retire from thence the Duke promis'd to retreat to the Frontier of the Kingdom to make a shew that it was not by compact but by reason of the State of the Kings Army that obliged him to take this course to which purpose they should furnish him with all necessary provisions The Princes knew him by his Conduct and by the difficulty he made in passing the Sene that he had intelligence with the Court wherefore they went to find him at his Camp and oblige him to pass the River but he represented to them that they ought to rest satisfied if so be he raised the Siege of Estampes and having some hopes that the Court would take the same resolution it was not necessary to engage himself further The Prince of Conde gave him to understand it was a small matter to cause the Siege to be raised if he did not give them the opportunity to put their Troops in safety because they could no longer subsist in a ruinated place so that after many Discourses the Duke permitted himself to be engaged before he was aware to give in writing a Declaration to the Princes by which he obliged himself to stay yet some days in the same Post upon the River Sene that in the mean while the Princes might withdraw their Troops from Estampes and come nearer Paris The Kings Army being retired from the Siege of Estampes and the Court seeing he failed in performing the private Treaty concluded with Chasteauneuf the Mareschal de Turenne by advice of Mazarine moved his Camp with expedition toward Corbeil with design to fight the Lorrainers before they should pass the River to joyn with the Princes Forces and they faced the Enemy so opportunely that being surprised and astonished doubting they should be engaged in fight they presently retired taking the advantage of the high Hills of Ville nieufve and S. George and putting themselves under covert of a little River that dischargeth it self into the Sene. The Kings Party advancing towards Corbeil took several prisoners which obliged Duke Charles to desire the Sieur de Beaulieu who was present with him to procure the fulfilling of the
against the Complices of these proceedings And the Provost of Merchants the Consuls the Sheriffs with the other Heads of the Citizens being assembled they order'd that the Colonels and Captains of the several Wards should have their Companies ready and a Court of Guard placed about the Palace to hinder greater insolencies and conserve the Liberty of the Parlement whose power was too weak to preserve the Peace since the number that followed the Party of the Princes was greater then those who adhered to the Parlement and the Common Council of the City It was concluded on to have a general Meeting of all the Inhabitants the 4th of July to resolve on the most convenient Expedients for the Indemnity of Paris and of the Parlement In the mean while the Duke of Lorrain was discamp'd from Ville neufue St. George the 17th of June and already out of the Kingdom Which unexpected News greatly surprised the Parisiens fearing that the said Duke had abandon'd and betray'd the Princes from which arose great rumours and no ordinary Trepidation in all those that were against the Court-Faction suspecting that the Kings Army apprehending nothing from the Lorrainers should beleaguer Paris and the Princes be necessitated to comply with force Wherefore the Prince of Conde caused his Troops that came out of Estampes to march towards Paris and encamp betwixt S. Clou and Surenne upon the Sene two Leagues from Paris and hither also were sent those few Souldiers that the Princes had about them in Paris with the which they formed a Body of about five or six thousand men and were provided of all necessaries from the City but all with the Princes own Money for they never could draw from the Parisiens neither Money nor other sustenance but onely free commerce popular affection and shelter in time of need Wherefore the Prince knowing that he could not long subsist without an open Declaration of the City and the Parlement in his behalf he sought all ways to oblige the one and the other to second his designs but all was thwarted by the address of Mazarine who in these fastidious Emergencies shewed in a more extraordinary manner the refinedness of his Wit And because the Castle of Vincennes in these conjunctures was of no little importance it was reinforced with 100 Souldiers by the Count de Chavigny Governour of the said place who was then in Paris and in good intelligence with the Prince of Conde although as the same went he held private correspondence with Cardinal Mazarine and by his dexterous carriage his Enemies were by little and little won over Divers other provisions were likewise made for maintaining their common Interest to which end by reiterated Carriers and by dispatching away several Gentlemen they sollicited the Spaniards in Flanders for their promised assistance and to enter into France with a powerful Army to drive away the Kings Forces from about Paris who held the Male-contents in continual jealousie and fear and fill'd the Kings Party with hopes and confidence But the Count de Fuensaldagna a sage Politician and a Cavalier of a very acute understanding consented not to give any larger help then what might suffice to uphold them in their pretensions thereby to keep afoot the civil disturbances in France and be able by such means to advance the Interest of His Catholick Majesty in Flanders Italy and Catalogne where it was more behoveful to imploy the Armies then in France where by the instability of that Nation he foresaw that if the Princes by the assistance of Spain should be made more powerful then the Kings Party His Majesty would upon easier terms agree with the Parlement and the Princes themselves who afterwards would turn with greater zele against those that had helped them He continued nevertheless to feed them with hopes and now and then with some returns of Money things not seeming to him to be reduc'd as yet to such straits to require so great aid and that they should neglect their own business to attend onely that of others The Princes and the Frondeurs were not wanting to instigate in Bourdeaux the minds of those who were desirous of novelties where many of the Citizens being more and more inclined to Sedition Ambition and Avarice added more fuel to the fire And here it will not happen amiss to understand how among those of the same Party by means of Mazarine many divisions did arise while in all reason they ought to have been united as well in Affection as Interest It is a common Maxim that One Absurdity begets another and he that cannot submit to a lawful Government much less will he endure an unlawful Usurpation The Frondeurs of Bourdeaux were divided into two Factions one was call'd the little and the other the great Fronda each compos'd of various persons as well of the Parlement as of the Citizens These divided the Province betwixt them to levy Contributions Those of the great Fronda had a strong pretext to accuse them of the losser for causers of all the disorders From these two Factions there sprang another callâ—d the Ormiere which in a short space being become more potent then the others because follow'd by the people there happen'd divers dangerous Seditions The Princes endeavour'd to weaken the Ormiere by the Authority of the Parlement but this occasion'd greater disorders and made them more insolent And the distempers grew so high that there followed divers fierce Conflicts and greater would have happened without the pretence of the Prince of Conty who interposing his Authority many times quieted the fury of the people and endeavoured to divert those Innovations which were plotted by some of the most insolent and seditious In several Cities of Provence there arose likewise some disorders but having none of Reputation to head them nor sufficient means to support themselves they signified little and by the vigilance of the Duke of Mercoeur who acted according as the Cardinal his Uncle who loved him extremely advised him with a few people and with little ado they were suppressed maintaining that Province in its due obedience The Court in the interim did not lay aside the endeavours for adjusting with the Princes and in particular with Conde upon whom they bottom'd their greatest foundation as of most repute in respect of his Followers and the esteem he had gain'd by his valour Nor was it difficult to bring him to an Agreement he being very much inclin'd and very willing to it but by the means of the Cardinal de Retz and others to whose Interest the Peace did not sute all the Negotiations were interrupted the Cardinal of Retz prevailing still with the Duke of Orleans to oppose it and Conde resolving not to abandon Orleans having so many times declar'd always to stand by him so that all the proposals were obstructed Cardinal Mazarine trying all means to render these Machinations unuseful the aptest was found to be to make the people of Paris see their own error which if he
could make them comprehend he thought it not difficult to disjoyn them from the rest for when the support of Paris should be taken from them all their fabrick would moulder away and be ruined Upon these considerations the Court departed from Melun towards the end of May and came to S. Denis a League or two distant from Paris to countenance the Managements undertaken by the Kings Party in that City towards which place by the Cardinals counsel His Majesty us'd as great clemency as if it had been Loyal that they might see it was far from the Kings mind to block them up as the Princes divulg'd abroad He caused moreover the commerce to be kept free and order'd so much as the Bread to be convoy'd by his own Guards which in great abundance is brought thither twice a week The Kings Army led by Turenne follow'd the Court and being reinforc'd with 3000 men of the Mareschal de la Ferté Seneterre who together with Turenne was left to command the Army they incamped near S. Denis on the left hand upon the River towards Paris which was in this manner every where beyond the Sene on the West side inviron'd by the Kings Forces who at their pleasure could shut up the Passes on the River and reduce the City to greater straits for provisions then it was though they paid at that time an excessive price for bread and every thing else not only in Paris but in S. Denis and the Camp it self This Expedient was thought by Mazarine to be the best foreseeing that the people not being able to endure the scantness of Victuals nor the Citizens to see their Trade interrupted by which they have their subsistence and lastly wearied out by the desolations which they daily felt in their Territories round about equally ill-treated by Friends and Foes they would resolve to deliver themselves from such tedious mischiefs but notwithstanding they suffered so many miseries and incommodities yet the obstinacy of the people was such by reason of the credit of the Princes and the Frondeurs that feeding themselves with hopes to hear suddenly of the ruine of all the Mazarines for so they call'd those of the Kings Party they did not mind their own destruction and this served to render their grievous sufferings tollerable which they experimented very considerably as well for the continual dammages to which they were daily expos'd as for the interruption of their rest being obliged to keep in that vast City 10000 upon the Guards day and night the Kings Party then not being able to reduce into a streight path that people back'd by the Army and encouraged with hopes given them by the Princes They endeavour'd to destroy as soon as might be their Troops the attempt not seeming difficult their Camp being neither fortified nor advantaged by the Situation and inferiour by more then the half to that of the Kings The Cardinal provided what was necessary for the execution of this Enterprise before the Spaniards should appear with their promis'd Supplies and which were continually sollicited for by the Princes The 29th of June then the Mareschal de Turenne drew near to the River to make a Bridge of Boats beneath Espinay and there passing the Sene to assault the Camp at S. Cloud which having allarm'd the Army of the Princes the Count of Tavannes sent 150 Foot and as many Horse and he with the rest of the Troops followed thither In the same time advertizing the Prince of Conde at Paris who suddenly issuing forth put himself at the head of them and hindered the Royallists from framing the Bridge as likewise their Passage down lower at Poissy but suspecting that Turenne should pass at Espinay and come upon their backs he resolved to raise the Camp from St. Cloud and pass over to Charenton as a more safe Post having the Marne on their backs and flank'd by the Sene. In pursuance of this rising from S. Cloud the first of July two hours before Sun-set he pass'd the Sene over the Stone-bridge and another of Boats and march'd thorough the Wood of Bologne and Chaliot directly to Paris But finding that Order had been given to the Captains that were in Guard with their City-companies at the Gate of the Conference and all the other Gates to permit no Souldiers to pass whatsoever he caused his Army to advance along the Town-ditch towards the Gate of Richlieu continuing his March towards Charenton About an hour after Mid-night Cardinal Mazarine had advice of it by one of his Confidents hid in Paris who made his Servant pass over the Wall to give notice to Turenne who without losing time mounted his Cavalry with such diligence that at 5 a clock the morning following he encounter'd the Rere of the Prince at the entrance of the Suburbs of St. Denis street The Count de Novailles charg'd them so briskly that the Regiment of Conty was greatly endamag'd and another Squadron which was drawn up in Battalia with him near the Gate of the Temple was no less ill-handled The Prince entering into Paris went to confer with the Duke of Orleans and issued out afresh at S. Martins Gate flying like Lightening from the Van to the Rere of his Army which was marching to the designed Post All the Royal Camp and Court was got on Horse-back being confident that day to conquer and put an end to the War not only for the superiority in Number but also for the length of the Way which the Prince was forc'd to take in regard of the Baggage The Cardinal upon this confidence leaving fit Orders with Turenne conducted the King to the hill of Saronne that he might be Spectator of so famous an action in which they discoursed to have the Prince dead or a prisoner his Army destroyed and the War ended Mazarine sent to his party in Paris to be of good courage and to use all their industry to hinder that the Gates might not be opened to the Enemies Troops nor to the succour that might be sent them from the City The Kings Army being arrived at Villette half a League from Paris and having notice that the Forces of the Princes were already past those places in which if they could have set upon them they would without doubt have been defeated Turenne taking to the left hand passed the hills of Saronne and came into the Plain between the Suburbs of S. Anthony and Charenton putting his men in order while the other part of the Army remained on the right hand with the Mareschal de la Penté Seneterre and although the Prince being in the Suburbs and under the Walls of Paris had the advantage of the Post nevertheless the Kings Generals knowing that they could not in the end be able to defend themselves against their Attaque and being assured by the Court that they would not be received into Paris having been denied the Evening before they resolved to advance boldly and fall upon some Squadrons that were entered into
the Suburbs it self which they did and pursued them into the very houses Here the Prince who with an unmatchable valour bore all the brunt of this hot Conflict though he declar'd aloud that the danger was great and inevitable using his Wit where Force fail'd galloping from Squadron to Squadron put his men into very good order The Royallists press'd on with marvellous courage and fury assaulting vigorously the Enemies Posts in two several places where they were courageously resisted and beat back for some while But the Regiments of Languedoc Valois and Langeron not being able to resist any longer and retreating with some loss as far as the Market-place of the Suburbs the Prince himself came speedily to their assistance at the head of his Regiment of Horse and that of Anguien and here the Fight was renewed afresh so hotly that the Prince gave high proofs of his skill in the art of War and of his undaunted Courage never shewing greater boldness nor more hazarding his Life then in this perillous Rencounter engaging himself as a common Souldier amongst the Enemies Ranks killing many with his own hands and repelling others so that to his eternal glory those Regiments assumed new courage and regained their Posts from whence they had been chased But in the other Posts commanded by the Count de Tavannes they had not the like fortune for the Marquess de St. Magrin a Cavalier of great courage with divers noble Voluntiers the Light Horse and Cuirassiers of the Kings Guards sustained by a Battalion of Suissers fell on with such fury that the Princes Troops were much shattered and near being totally routed if by the death of St. Magrin the heat of that Onset which by his boldness was fomented with an extravagant not to say bizzarre temerity had not been abated for he being in the Skirmish mortally hurt and unhors'd was miserably slaughter'd by some Freebooters who were mingled amongst them so that the Kings Troops in this part also were beaten and repulsed by those of the Princes though with the expence of much bloud for here happened their greatest loss many of the principal Gentlemen of the Army being slain or wounded In the mean while the Royallists had possessed themselves of the street Rambovillet with some Houses and Barricadoes notwithstanding the obstinate defence of the Assailed to whose succour a Regiment of Germans advancing they fail'd not to perform their parts manfully The Prince kept the street from the Gate of Paris to a large place upon the same street environ'd about with Houses and Garden-walls here the Royallists had made holes in the Houses and Walls and from thence they gall'd with shot the Princes people The Dukes of Nemours and Beaufort joyn'd both at the same instant with the Prince and although betwixt these two Brother-in-Laws there was no good intelligence they agreed very well in this Emergency and were cause that the resolution was taken to attempt the recovery of the lost Barricado The Prince though he suddenly foresaw the ill success it being difficult with people weary and worsted to vanquish those who were under shelter and fresh yet for all this his Generous Heart never refusing the most dangerous and difficult bickering he submitted to this reason that though the attempt succeeded not according to their intent he should by such a bold and extraordinary an action give his Enemies cause to look about them and lengthen the Dispute which would be the onely remedy for his safety They were thereupon attaqued by these two Dukes together with the Duke de Rochefoucaut and the Prince of Marsillac followed by a Body of Musquettiers who refusing to advance further they dismounted from their Horses run on without fear of death with so much courage not to say rashness that the Royallists being surprised and amazed they abandon'd the Barricadoes and those four Princes alone recovered them with admirable Gallantry and would have maintained them if the Enemies flank'd on both sides the streets and thundering in continually Volleys of shot against the Assailants had not made them see it impossible to make a stay in that open place where the Duke of Nemours received 13 Musquet shot in his Cuirace and two in his right hand The Duke de la Rochefoucaut was wounded in the face betwixt his Eyes and the Duke of Beaufort and the Prince of Marsillac being oblig'd to help the wounded were necessitated to abandon the Post which being observed by the Royallists they issued out of the houses in all haste to take them prisoners which they had done if the Prince of Condé with his wonted courage had not pressed forward thorough the cloud of smoke and fire with some few Gentlemen that followed him giving by this means time and opportunity to the wounded Princes to retire Many were slain and hurt on the Princes side in this Skirmish and the rest would have very hardly escaped if with the same care as the Royallists attaqued this side they had assailed that part behind the Suburbs putting themselves betwixt it and the City gate which was not done it being not thought fit to put themselves under the mercy of the shot from the Ramparts of Paris full of armed Inhabitants doubting lest they might have been persuaded to discharge upon them or as it was whisper'd though upon what grounds is not known that some persons did not desire the loss of the Prince with so many brave French Gentlemen against whom the Victory could not be but damageable it being probable that they finally perceiving their own errour would return to their duty and serve His Majesty with as much Fidelity as now they express'd Affection for the Party that oppos'd Mazarine In the same time that without the Walls they were fighting with their weapons the contest was no less in words within amongst the Citizens some pretended that they should not onely issue out to help the Princes but that opening the Gates they should give them a favourable reception Others insisted that letting the Prince be destroyed the occasion of all their misfortunes thereby they should put an end to those miseries and settle the City in its former tranquillity and be freed from those sad accidents wont to accompany the confusion of War Finally upon these differences that concluded nothing in favour of the Princes Madamoiselle d'Orleans came into the streets went to the Town-house told the Citizens that without loss of time the Inhabitants ought to go out to assist the Princes allowing the Baggage and Troops of their friends to enter the City which she urged with such efficacy that adding hereunto the lamentable and horrid spectacle of so many Noblemen of high condition gasping wounded and besmear'd with bloud they concluded to open their Gates and receive them and many crying in the streets they ought to help the Prince who with so much valour put his own Life and the Lives of so many good Frenchmen in evident and almost inevitable peril for the publick cause
of the Disturbances of the Kingdom hath been the taking up of Arms the Union of the Princes with the Spaniards the introducing them into His Majesties Fortresses and the ruines and desolations caused by the Souldiers of the Princes and by consequence the peace can never be re-established till the Hostilities be forborn their Arms laid down the Spaniards driven out of the Kingdom and the Leagues made with them intirely broken It is therefore necessary for all these reasons that the Princes do agree upon the time the manner and the security for performance of the Conditions that they seem to have accepted And although His Majesty may in reason insist as well for the conservation of his Dignity as for Interest of State to have all the said Conditions performed by the Princes before he advance a step further on his part yet nevertheless the King persisting in his Declaration gives his Word again upon their continued instances to permit the Cardinal to retire so soon as the Duke of Orleans and the Prince shall agree not in general and obscure Declarations but clearly and in good form as is wont to be practised in occurrences of that importance and in the manner as above-mentioned for putting in execution the Articles included in His Majesties Answer of the 16th of June last past there being no likelihood that onely general Declarations inserted in a Register are of sufficient force to annul the Princes Treaty concluded and ratified with Spain for the performance of which he seemed very much concern'd and from which there is no probability he will depart if the Spaniards continue to make good their promise in sending Souldiers and Money and when he really should have a mind to break off the said Treaty he must necessarily give notice of it to the Spaniards to the end that they forbear to execute their Promise That which the King desires therefore of the Prince is that he agree of the time and manner how to declare to the Ministers of Spain that he intends to be no longer engaged with them And this His Majesty finds himself obliged the more earnestly to insist on knowing by divers Letters intercepted which were shewn and verified to the Deputies that the said Prince after the Declaration made in Parlement hath sollicited the Spanish Generals as he still continues to do that they will enter into France with all their Forces and it is very hard to believe that his intention is to establish Peace in the Kingdom which he gives out to depend on the Cardinals removal making use of the Spanish Forces for the obtaining thereof That nothing can be more for the interest and designes of the Ministers of Spain then to continue the divisions wherefore his Majesties pleasure is that the said Deputies do give notice of all this to the Duke of Orleans and the Prince to the end that they may know the Reasons for which they are obliged to send some one to Court in their name sufficiently impowered to declare more particularly their will for the real effecting every thing contain'd in the Articles and that in the mean time they remain at Court to expect the Answer and to be eye-Witnesses of His Majesties sincerity in condescending to whatever may conduce to settle the Kingdom in quiet the retarding of which can be imputed to none but the Princes if they refuse to agree to what hath been delivered with His Majesties accustomed Clemency which shines forth the more brightly and ought to be the more valu'd considering that he hath the absolute power to give Law to whom he please without condition The Court not well satisfied with the Pricâ—s for sending their â—â—pâ—ties to receive orders and adjust businesses which they had declar'd were agreed upon they used all art and diligence to inform the people that not the Cardinal but the pretension of the Princes was the sole obstacle of the Peace and the principal cause of all the miseries of the poor subjects not omitting by the help of their party and those servants who had stuck to them to keep Intelligence and put in practice all fit means for the establishment of the Royal Authority and for the ruine of the lawless and inconsistent party seeing moreover the little effect the Kings near approach to Paris had produced in all this time the great scarcity of Provisions which more and more incommoded them the Infection in the Royal Camp which destroyed many and the fear lest that the Spanish Army keeping along the Oyse should advance towards Pontoise a very important place at that time By the Council of the Cardinal His Majestie resolved the 16. of July to dislodge from St. Denis and go to Pontoise fix leagues distant the Cardianal continuing still in his Ministry by His Majesties express Command though he continually press'd for leave to depart All the Affairs therefore being regulated as he saw fit they were so well ordered that those good effects ensued which were seen afterwards but the Princes and their Favourers continually quarrelling at the doings of the Court taxing them that they studied only tricks to delude the people and had very little inclination for the Peace which depended on the sending away of the Cardinal they redoubled their detractions with so much heat malice that it is not to be imagined the conceits spread in publick and in private against the Cardinal and other Officers of Court continually slandered with opprobrious language The Court removing from St. Denis left there the Deputies with orders to expect what Answer his Majestie should think fit to return them since they had refused to follow him upon pretence that they had not their Equipage and that it was necessary they should return to Paris to exercise their charge The King lay at Pontoise and the Army in the adjacent places upon the River to watch the motion of the Spaniards who made excursions into those Territories to the great damage of the Inhabitants The News of the Kings and Armies departure from St. Denis being spread abroad it was divulged in Paris according to the nature of same which always makes things appear more then they are that the Deputies were detained prisoners wherefore the Prince of Conde with 400 Horse posted thither to inform himself of the business found there the Deputies at liberty and offered eo conduct them to Paris They excused themselves that they had engaged their word to Monsieur de Saintot to stay at St. Denys till further Order from the King but the Parlement meeting the day following and determining to call them back Oleans Conde and Beaufort went out again with above 2000 persons and bringing them to Paris conducted them to the Parlement with such universal applause as if they had return'd from some glorious conquest albeit the King by express Order had call'd them to Pontoise for Affairs of great concern that hapned unexpectedly after his departure from St. Denis Yet the Male-contents divulged that this was an
artificial reach of the Court to weary them out by delays in stead of giving consolation in good earnest and to protract time by which Mazarine hoped to be able at last to gain the Parisiens by force of sufferings accustomed to enjoy peaceably their rich Traffick and to make extraordinarily advantage of those commodities that they send to all the parts of the world To take order for all these things the King with advice of his Council the 18th of July after a long rehearsal of all things past and of the principal causes of those ill events decreed that Information should be taken of the horrible and scandalous attempt upon the Town-house the 14th of the present moneth seeking and finding out the circumstances and dependencies also by way of Monitory and to proceed against the Authors and Complices of the Massacres and Violences committed according to the Statutes and rigour of the Laws and in the mean time annull'd and revoked the pretended Election of the Counsellour Brussel into the place of Provost of Merchands whom His Majesty expresly prohibited to act in that Function upon pain of Death and he and all his posterity to be accountable for the disorders happened or that should happen since his pretended administration He declared moreover all the Resolves made from the first of July as well in the Parlement as in the Town-house touching the publick affairs null and invalid till the Governour and the Provost of Merchands and the other Magistrates that were constrained to absent themselves were restored and that sufficient Provision were made for securing of the due Administration of Justice and safety of the City according to the tenure of that Decree The King expresly prohibited all the other Cities of the Kingdom and all his Subjects and Servants not to take any cognizance of any Orders or Decrees from Paris so long as it remain'd under the Tyrannical power of Rebels And to the end that the Money destin'd for the publick Uses of the City should not remain at the Enemies disposal to make use of it for the Warre and to pay the Spanish troops that they had call'd in His Majestie ordered it to be brought to the place where he should establish his abode to be put into Hands of the Pay-Masters of the publick Rents who were commanded to repair to Court with all the other Consuls and Sheriffs of the Cities within the term of three days after the publication of the Decree in the usual manner The Princes the Parlement and the Frondeurs were greatly disturb'd at this departure believing that the Court did but mock at their licentious and extravagant Pretences The Count de Servient had signified to the Deputies in His Majesties Name that if the Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde not willing to nominate Commissioners of their own should rather desire to make use of the Parlements Deputies that the King was content and would adjust the Propositions with them contain'd in the foresaid Answer promising to send away the Cardinal and that before the Articles should be performed on their part provided they could come to an Agreement with their Deputies or with those of the Parlement when they should be impowered but the Princes in stead of accepting this offer and staying the Deputies at St. Denis to expect there the Kings Answer or to go and find him at Pontoise as he had ordered they were conducted as hath been said to Paris where continuing their Complaints of their being slighted by the Court they stood firm to have the Cardinal expell'd before any thing else was done flattering themselves in their own opinions and esteeming every thing easie arising from an overweening sufficiency The Parlement ambitious to usurp a greater Authority then what became them fell at last upon the resolution to chuse the Duke of Orleans Lieutenant General of the Crown and the Prince of Conde General of the Army under Orleans and supplicated His Royal Highness to take upon him this Quality under pretence of freeing the King from the hands of the Cardinal who had snatcht him from his people and kept him in constraint But this determination profitted them little as well because it was not imbraced by the other Parlements of the Kingdom but rather refused and reprehended as also because Orleans being of a disposition absolutely contrary to violent courses would not imbroil himself in that attempt but especially because he and the Cardinal de Retz the Contriver of all the Plots promised to themselves that without their ruining the Court Mazarine would be gone of himself The Cardinal de Retz put this into the Dukes head for fear that the Court being too much depressed the Prince of Conde his irreconcilable Enemy should rise too high Retz thus endeavouring to arrive at the Ministry first with the expulsion of Mazarine and afterward with the ruine of the Prince through the re-uniting the Queen with the Duke of Orleans was supposed the onely and true cause of the total downfall of that Party and afterward of his own imprisonment The Parlement moreover decreed that should go in the sale of the Moveables and other things belonging to the Cardinal The fond was likewise laid for the 50000 crowns the price of the Cardinals Head upon a years tax on Cattel But whether it was lukewarmness or the policy of those who endeavoured with like arts to bring to an advantageous conclusion the secret Treaties still managed in the Princes name by Monsieur de Goucourt with the assistance of the Duke of Bovillon who insisted earnestly for bringing the Prince of Conde and the Cardinal to an Agreement excluding Orleans or for what other secret respects the money was never deposited and many other things were passed by by reason of the concerns of the parties that interven'd The day following Orleans went to the Parlement and after many Complements declared that he would accept the charge of Lieutenant-General of the Crown so long as the King should be retained by the Cardinal but desired to have a Council about him establish'd by the Parlement The Chambers return'd Answer that they referr'd themselves to what his Royal Highness should determine He went in the same manner to the Chamber of Accounts where he declared the same thing and made the same request to have some of their Members in his Council and here again he had the like Answer that all was left to his own choice in pursuance whereof he took into his new Council of State the major part of the Male-contents and the first Consultation that was held was the third of August But these Proceedings so prejudicial to the Crown were carried on with as much coldness as they were embraced with eagerness And although in appearance these Decrees of the Parlement and Actions of the Princes looked like some great matter of importance in reality they were only shadows which in a short time vanished of themselves for by the cunning contrivances of Mazarine by little
chief Minister of State with the Kings good liking Prince Thomas of Savoy as one who besides being his great Confident was of an incomparable Integrity in whom the King might wholly confide without any suspicion he left also the Count de Servient a Person no less Politick then versed in all the Affairs of the Kingdom Tillier the Secretary of State a man of great wit and understanding ready to execute the Court-orders with faithfulness and zeal and these three for the Negotiations of the State and the War he left besides with the Queen for the directions of the most important and most secret Affairs the Abbot Ondedei who was afterwards Bishop of Fregius Counsellor of State to Her Majestie of whose known and experienc'd fidelity and practice in managements he had full assurance This being done he took leave of their Majesties with that tenderness which his ardent affection urged him to and the 19. of August 1652. departed from Pontoise for Sedan passing first to the Mareschal de Turenne's Camp to view the Army which from Lagny was already advancing into Brie to oppose the March that the Duke of Lorain was taking after the Prince of Wirtemberg had sent back the Count of Fuensaldagna's Spaniards into Flanders and proceeding in his journey with a good Convoy he came to Sedan and from thence went to Bouillon where he staid expecting from time the fruits of his truth and innocency The Prince of Conde understanding that the Cardinal was going and by consequence the Pretext of the War ceasing He sent the Marquess de Jersé to the Army of Lorain to which were joyn'd the Troops that Wirtemberg conducted to the Princes with direction to take his time and set upon the Cardinal in his journey and take him prisoner But the Spaniards upon this becoming diffident he was by their means advertized and shunn'd the danger seeing the Ministry of Spain knew that it was for their interest that the Cardinal should subsist for under this colour the civil dissentions in France were kept afoot from which they drew much profit The same day the King the Queen and all the Court went to Compeigne and the better to dispose the minds of the Parisiens to joyn themselves to their party the King so soon as he was arrived at Compeigne put forth a General Act of Oblivion the Contents whereof imported after a summary Rehearsal of all things past from the year 1648. till that time a General Pardon and abollition of all that had been done against his Royal Service making void and of no effect all the Informations Decrees Sequestrations and other Proceedings following thereupon by occasion of the disorders from the first of February 1651. till this time as also His Majesties Declarations of the month of September and the 8. of October in the same year upon this Condition that the Duke of Orleans the Princes of Conde and Conty and all others of their party should lay down their Arms within three days after the Publication of this Act. To this end the Duke of Orleans should send to His Majestie within the term of three days an Act subscribed with his own Hand by which he renounced all Treaties Leagues and Confederations made with what Prince soever without his Majesties Approbation the like was enjoyn'd the Prince of Conde and Conty who were also at the same time to put into the Kings Hands necessary Orders as well to send the Spanish Souldiers out of Stenay and Burg in Guienne and other places wheresoever as also to cause the Enemies Ships to draw off from the Coasts of France That the said Duke of Orleans and Prince of Conde should cause the foreign Troops that were about Paris to march directly to the Frontiers of Flanders and unite their Souldiery to the Army of Turenne and la Ferté Seneterre and all those who were further off within the space of fifteen days declaring that those who should fail to perform in the space of three days the Contents of this Amnesty should reap no benefit by it from which his Majestie only excepted the Crimes committed betwixt particular persons which were to remain as before without other alteration This Amnesty with such an Exception at the end of it was esteemed only as an Artifice by those that did not desire it though for that time it took no effect for it was publish'd abroad that not including those that had fought in duel and assaulted the Town-house the 4. of July it rested in the Will of the King to chastise whom he pleased under colour of this Delinquency yet it ceased not to leave an impression in many who understanding the cavil introduc'd by the Princes and the Frondeurs were much offended having always believed that when the Cardinal should be gone the Princes and the Parlement would have cast themselves at the Kings feet But although those with the Frondeurs had no thought to receive the said Amnesty though it should be made in the forme they desired nevertheless they feined themselves zealous for the publick good shewing themselves very well pleased at the Cardinals departure The Duke of Orleans and the Prince of Conde went afterward to the Parlement where it was concluded to present the King their thanks for sending away the Cardinal and the Sovereign Courts and the body of the City send Deputies to the King to the same effect and to compleat all that was necessary for the welfare and repose of the State A little after the Parlement resolved to desire the King again to return to Paris and the Princes declared that they were ready to lay down their Armes so an Amnesty were granted them in good forme making the same Protests in the Chamber of Accounts and Court of Aids The Duke of Orleans dispatch'd a Courier to the Duke d' Anville his Friend and a Minister of State very dear to the King and most faithful to the Queen to obtain of his Majestie Passports for the Deputies that were appointed to negotiate the final Peace But d' Anville having kept the Courier a while sent him back empty because it did not seem decent for the King to enter into other Treaties since by the Amnesty he had perfected every thing and expected that the Princes should suddenly lay down their Armes as they had formerly declared to do so soon as the Cardinal was gone from Court D' Anville writ withal another Letter to the Duke of Orleans importing that he believed the Passports would be granted if they renewed their requests directly to the King himself which being done a Passport was granted to the Mareschal d' Estampes to come to Court not as a Deputy but as a meer Courtier and at the same time some secret Negotiations were renewed betwixt the Secretary Goulas the Marquess de Chasteauneuf and the Dutchess of Aiguillon the drift of which was to take off the Duke of Orleans from the Union with Conde they clearly perceiving that the Declarations that he made
were banished the Governour the Prevost of the Merchants the Deputy and others compell'd to flie away to secure their own lives in whose room the Authors of these attempts for their recompence were placed new Sheriffs were made contrary to the Kings Prohibition Taxes laid upon the goods of the Citizens and people whilst those of the Villages and Countrey were sack'd and plundred with all temerity and insolence That his Majesty had done all things possible even to the prejudice of his own honour to restore them to their former liberty and to preserve them from the miseries of the War granting the Princes leave honourably to lay down their Armes and return to their obedience but they instead of resting quiet had called together an Assembly of the Body of the City the chief of which were without title or legal character this to delude the people with a pretence of desiring peace at the same time that themselves refused it declaring that they could not accept of the Conditions offered them whenas there were no others then the very same they had demanded that far from any thoughts of laying down their Arms they had caused a part of the Spanish Army to draw near to Paris to which they had joyned their own troops with design to maintain their usurped Authority and to share betwixt the enemy and themselves the goods of the poor subject That they had put a sinister interpretation upon those deliberations which the King had made and did still make to preserve the lives of his Officers and Magistrates by getting them out of their hands That he lived in greatest impatiency till he saw a possibility of restoring that Noble City to her ancient splendour to that plenty enjoy'd in the first years of his Reign the Trade there and the Parliament re-establish'd and to honour it with His Royal Presence not only for his own content but also for the satisfaction of all his obedient subjects That in the mean time His Majesty would be much satisfied that a good number of Officers and Inhabitants did come to him but considering that the Body of the City was over-powered guided and compos'd by the Adherents to the Princes who came contrary to the ordinary custom into the Assembly held on the fifth of that moneth to hinder that nothing else should be concluded on but what contributed fewel to the War having by such designs turned away all good resolutions which might have been taken there to oblige the Princes to lay down their Arms and return to their duty he neither could nor ought to authorize that which was determin'd in their Presence particularly in the presence of the Duke of Beaufort and Counsellor Brussell principal Authors of all these disorders without offending for ever the publick liberty and security He did therefore declare the aforesaid Assembly null invalid and unlawful and consequently could not grant the Passports which were demanded for them whom they had deputed but free leave should be given to any particular men which were dispos'd to come and see him whether they were Magistrates lawfully established in their Charges or other publick Officers Citizens Companies of Merchants or Inhabitants of the City who should be courteously heard upon all matters which they would represent De Pietre who had been sent by the Assembly being return'd with this Answer to Paris where the troubles daily more and more encreasing not only by the Commerce being interrupted but also by the damage done to the countrey round about which was made a spoil to both Armies with insupportable licentiousness especially of the Lorrainers and Germans who because they were strangers thought they might do any thing though never so extravigant the Parisiens understood how nigh their total and irrecoverable ruine did approach Especially considering that the time of sowing and the Vintage was very near wherefore they began more openly and with greater heat fomented continually by the ingenious Artifices of Mazarine to renew the Negotiation with the Court by the means of Cardinal de Retz of the Marquess de Chasteauneuf and other persons who desired no less the fall of Mazarine then the destruction of Conde The Duke of Orleans shewing himself of the same opinion and wearied with these disorders being a Prince of a very good disposition and an enemy to violence beside the often repeated Promises of his good intention to the Peace promoted by the endeavours of the Duke d' Anville and others he wrote to the Queen the 20. of September in these terms That having understood with great comfort by the Marquess Joyeuse Lambert the favourable inclination of her Majesty towards the peace he thought himself obliged to assure her by these lines that he also together with the Prince of Conde did passionately desire it and although the first subject of their Requests which they made to Heaven ought to be the good of the State yet he did protest with sincerity that the inclination which he hath always had to honour her Majesty which was one of the principal Reasons and that there could never any thing happen which should upon any account ever alter that zeal any respect with which he declared himself her most obedient Servant At the same time the Court of Aids through the secret management of Mazarine found an expedient to assemble at Pontoise in conformity to the Kings order The Kings good subjects in the mean-while did not cease to contrive how to draw themselves out of these troublesom disturbances The Bishop of Amiens and others having made palpably evident to their friends and those that knew the state of Affairs the necessity of some ready and fit resolution to restore to Paris the splendour of the Kings Authority obscured and damaged by the pretensions of the Princes and the artifices of the Enemies to the publick good the 24th of September they held an Assembly of between four and five hundred persons in the Palace Royal where the Counsellour Prevost appeared who was in perfect intelligence with Cardinal Mazarine and consequently with the Court he presented them a Letter of the Kings in which he declared that His Majesty had a very great desire to come to Paris but that he ought not to return so long as there were Seditious Governours he proposed therefore that all those who were faithful Citizens should take Arms throw away the Straw stick Paper in their Hats go out into the Streets and cry Vivele Roy and with one accord seise upon the principal places of the City drive out the disturbers and fall upon as many as should oppose this design this being done the King would then soon return The chief Heads and principal Authors of this Company after the aforementioned Bishop of Amiens Father Bertaut and the Counsellour Prevost who had all the secret and ordering of this Affair in their hands were the Sieur Barby Controller of the Kings Houshold who drew after him many of the people about the Gates of Monmartre and
Richlieu the Sieur de Luynes Counsellour of the Parlement of Metz followed by divers Inhabitants of the streets of S. Opportune and S. Innocent the Sieur Borgon accompanied by many from place Maubert the Sieur de Fay Keeper General of the Artillery strengthened by a multitude of followers from the Suburbs of S. Anthony and S. Marcellus and with a number of Bargemen and Workers of Saltpeter and Gunpowder the Sieurs de Bidal and de Villais both principal Silk-merchants in the Street de Fer who drew after them the Young men and the Silk-workers thereabouts and being esteemed gallant men and liberal were seconded by a great number of those of that Profession le Sieur Brun a Merchant of Tapistry in S. Denis Street followed by the greater part of the Neighbourhood and from the places about the Grand Chastelet a man of a ready Elocution the same who was deputed afterwards to make a Speech to their Majesties and who did it with so general a satisfaction the Sieur Farin the Kings Secretary a Confident of the aforementioned Counsellour Prevost and of esteem amongst the Watermen the Sieur de Mare Lieutenant to the Sieur Reghenlt Perfumer in the Street of S. Honeré Head of a great Faction of people in those quarters and who was afterwards Author of those insolencies committed in seising the Prince of Wirtenbergs Baggage as we shall relate hereafter the Sieur le Michel Lieutenant Colonel to Signior Thibul who caused his Company to take Arms and rais'd a great number of people about the Palace Royal. All these declared that they met together upon no other design then to search out means most expedient to procure the Kings return to his former residence which place was now upon the brink of its total ruine without His Majesty's Presence They made therefore joyntly a Solemn Protestation to observe perfectly those Resolutions which were taken and to spend their Lives and Fortunes in maintaining them to defend all in general and every one in particular that should be injured by the contrary Party and concluded this Engagement in protesting that their assembling together was to no other end but the Glory of God and the Re-establishment of the King in his Lawful Authority after the manner of his Predecessours In this Assembly although there met no more then between four and five hundred persons yet the Adherents were 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—rous The â— Companies of Merchants did concur with them and the greatest part of the Colonels and almost all The Deputies of the Town-house The true and secret end of this was to let the People see that there was a powerful Party in Paris for the King and to oblige the Duke of Orleans to grant Pasports to those who were deputed by the six Companies of Merchants and by the Colonels to go to the Court and Negotiate with their Majesties which was refused by the said Duke as hurtful to the Interest of his Party This Engagement being taken some propos'd for Head of this new Faction the Cardinal de Retz a person very fit both in respect of his own Accomplishments and of the great esteem which every one had of him but they who considered that this might be done to no other end but to bring him into favour again at Court which if it succeeded there would be no further hope of ever seeing Mazarine return did oppose it with forcible Reasons demonstrating that it would not be convenient to receive any other Head but one who was chosen and sent by His Majesty himself seeing also that for the most part the Actions of those men are suspicious who sollicit with much artifice for those Offices which they desire At this news the Princes and all their Party were extremely troubled foreseeing those Events which must needs prove destructive to their designs they considered therefore of the most proper means to redress these disorders and stop that torrent which was coming in upon them The Mareschal d' Estampes went presently with Orders from the Duke of Orleans to the Palace Royal to endeavour to dissolve the Meeting but all in vain Madamoiselle d' Orleans thought also to go thither to interrupt by her Presence and Authority those undertakings as fortunately as she had formerly done others upon the like occasion but when upon second thoughts she considered that she might thereby very much hazard her Reputation she let it alone and advisedly for they had prepar'd in the Assembly a white Riband for her instead of the Straw which the wore The whole morning of the 24th of September was spent in these and the like deliberations and the Assembly adjourning till the next day every man was ordered to bring as great a number of his Friends with him as he could The same day they sent to the Court to give an account of the good disposition of the Loyal Inhabitants for His Majesty's return to Paris The good effect which this Assembly produced was this That the Counsellour Brussel knowing that the Office of Provost of the Merchants conferred upon him by the violence and fury of the people was insubsistent resolved to lay it down voluntarily to avoid the being constrain'd to do it by force but declared that he did it because his keeping it was look'd upon as one of the causes which hindered His Majesty's return to Paris The two Sheriffs Gervas and Orry who were put in in the places of the other two turned out by the Duke of Orleans although they were counselled to follow the example of Brussel would not consent to it maintaining that their Election was lawful being unwilling to lose that Honour but when they had better thought on 't and consider'd that they should be in the end constrained to withdraw they declar'd themselves ready to submit so soon as they should know that the Kings will and pleasure was such So that the Town-house in this manner was at the Courts devotion and a great part of the Inhabitants followed them bewailing the miseries and losses that so many innocent persons had suffered by the extravagancies of some few who were guilty of all these disorders The day following le Sieur de Vieux Upper Sheriff and le Sieur de Pierre abovementioned were deputed to Court to keep on the Negotiation supplicating earnestly in the name of the People for the Kings return To render what they did more authentick and to encourage them to proceed the Parlement at Pontoise made an Order in favour of the said Counsellour Prevost and all those who met or should meet at the Assembly under the Protection of the King and his Parlement forbidding every one of what degree or condition soever in any wise to acknowledge the Duke of Beaufort for Governour of Paris Brussel for Provost of the Merchants or Gervas and Orry for Sheriffs commanding these in particular under pain of being declared Rebels not to exercise any longer those Offices He commanded further that they should not receive or grant passage for Victuals or
as to see what was most expedient to be done in this wavering condition of the inconstant people and tired out by the long continuance of these disturbances Mareschal Turenne a no less prudent then valiant Captain stood always vigilant to observe those moments which opportunely taken bring great advantage to those who know how to make use of them in Warre and being advertised of all that past after a short Conference with his Colleague the Mareshal de la Ferte Seneterre he resolved to get out of these streights and bring his Army into a securer place and more proper for their subsistence Having caused therefore the Baggage and Artillery to pass over the Sene October 4. in the night upon the Bridges of Boats which he had there at break of day he discamped with such order and silence that the Army was got over before they were discovered by the Enemies Sentinels There was no other General-Commander left in the other Camp but the Count de Tavannes who perceiving though late the March of Turenne caused presently to sound to Horse and put his Army in order to follow him and fight him But the Mareschal continuing his march under covert of the River quickly arrived at Corbeil a place held by the King where passing the Sene over the Stone-bridge very happily and to his great reputation he withdrew himself from all danger and encamped upon the River Marne between Meaux and Lagny getting provisions for his Army from all the neighbouring Country and observing the motion of the Enemy with so much advantage to His Majesties Interest that this action becoming a great and experienced Commander was acknowledged to be the saving of the Kings Party and one of the most celebrated acts of this Prince and true Master of the art of War This blow brought extraordinary confusion and astonishment to the Princes particularly to the Prince of Condé who shewed himself very much grieved at the negligence of his Officers reproching Tavannes as if he had lost his sense of Hearing saying If he had been well so favourable an occasion should never have escaped his hands but there being no help for things past and Fortune changing being weary of staying in the midst of Confusion and so many different Humours upon the 7th following the whole Army of the Princes drew up at the end of the Suburbs of S. Anthony and encamped near to the Castle of Vincennes to keep Paris in awe The King and Court were already come to Mantes to pass the Sene the Bridges of Poissy and Meulan being broken down and so to go forwards to S. Germain with intent to enter into Paris when Affairs should be brought to that pass to which they seemed to tend every day more and more The Parisiens were resolved to free themselves of these miseries before they were irrecoverable Wherefore following one anothers example and concurring in the same mind as Fortune abandon'd the Princes so they inclin'd more and more to the Kings side The Prince of Conde therefore perceiving that the tempest which threatned him was near at hand and began to provide for his own safety his Armies by withdrawing with all speed from Paris And because by his departure and the Kings return they foresaw the quiet of Paris and the recalling of Mazarine many strove to second the rising fortune of that Minister of State and even among the Princes own friends upon this turn of Fortune some changed their inclinations and in particular the Count de Chavigny Ever since the Cardinals return into France he had thoughts of closing with him considering that if his Enemies were not able to ruine him at a distance they would be less able to do it when he should appear at Court and be Master of all affairs Besides at this time the Coadjutor was made Cardinal his capital Enemy who might he feared be made chief Minister if Mazarine was kept out He resolved therefore to come to an agreement with Mazarine so as to oblige him and that his Authority might be limited He entered therefore upon a secret Treaty for adjusting the Prince with the Cardinal and replacing of Conde there seeming an apparent necessity of making use of him and that he might live quietly at Court they would find means that he should not only preserve his Fortune but increase it But as it is not always easie to walk streight between two Praecipices so in the end he found himself deceived in his Maxims on the one side while he thought himself secure on the other for whether it was that he was resolved to forsake the Prince as he was accused that he was not Loyal to his Interests or whether he would have necessitated him to make peace by persuading him that the Duke of Orleans would otherwise conclude it without him or whether indeed he preferred his own and the Courts Interest before the Princes he made the Abbot Fouquet believe to whom the Cardinal committed the management of this affair that if the Prince did not conclude the peace upon those terms which he thought reasonable he would so order it that the Duke of Orleans should quit his Party The Letter which Fouquet wrote to the Secretary Tillier to inform him of this was taken by one of the Prince's party and presently delivered into his hands who perceiving that his confidence was misplaced in Chavigny complain'd of it to persons who were not much Chavigny's Friends and that in terms injurious to his Reputation yet would not openly fall out with him The noise of this being divulged about Paris and increased by the malice of those who were engaged in the same disorders obliged Chavigny to justifie himself to the Prince at a Conference held between them from whence he came out so mortified and concerned for having dealt with a Prince after this manner from whom he had received such high Honours that returning to his house he threw himself in despair upon his bed and after a Feaver of six days encreased by the passions of his mind he died the 19th of October This was the end of Lion de Bouttilier Count de Chavigny in the 44th year of his age a person who for being related to the deceased Cardinal Richlieu was admitted into His Majesty's Council at 19 years old at 24 he was made Secretary of State and at 34 Minister of State had the care of the most important affairs of the Crown and after the death of Lewis XIII he was nominated Plenipotentiary for the Treaty of Munster a person of a quick Wit a haughty Spirit of a ready Judgment and covetous of Glory and Greatness to procure which he spared no Industry In the mean time the Parlement and the Assemblies at the Town-house met often upon the occurrent emergencies where all the well-wishers to the publick thought themselves obliged to deliver the poor Country people from the insolencies of the Souldiery and especially of the Lorrainers who destroyed and wasted every thing Upon
entred the Town and not the Mantuans But the Marquess of Caracena kept his word punctually with the Duke in all what he had promised in so much that his Highness thinking it convenient for the security of that place to put in a Garrison of German Souldiers he proposed to take in some of those which had served in the Spanish Army after they should be disbanded by the Spaniards and had taken an Oath of Allegiance to him but the Spaniard would not consent to it left there might be some suspicion of deceit in this neither would he suffer any of his to enter into the Town nor would he go himself but in Company of the Duke of Mantua who came thither a few days after The Savoyards not being able to relieve Casale assaulted and took Crescentino and would have obtained their desired intents if those of Montferrat had corresponded with them but they being very faithful to their Prince were assisting towards the Recovery of the Town The Duke of Mantua declared the French Plenipotentiaries that whensoever his Territory of Montferrat should be restored to its former estate and put peaceably into his hands without trouble or injury to the Treaty of Chirasco he would presently renounce the three thousand Crowns a month which the Empress was to give him for the paiment of the Garrison and maintain it at his proper charge without any ones help This his Highness did to take away all jealousie or pretence which the French might have upon this account though this was not his principal motive for it is certain that he had not the least imagination of letting this most noble place go out of his hands again which rendred him conspicuous to all Italy and made him esteemed by both Crowns and this was always the opinion of the Marquess de la Val. But these Declarations of the Dukes and his Agents availed little for things being diversly suggested at the Court of France suspicion had such force that they judged always sinisterly nor could the Kings Ministers of State rest satisfied after the loss of so important a place and which rendred their Authority so considerable to all Italy Most of the other Italian Princes grew jealous also that Casale should at length fall into the hands of the Spaniards and therefore lamented that the French had not provided against it in time which they said they might have done very easily if they had not busied themselves more in persecuting Cardinal Mazarine and overthrowing his Counsels then in taking care for the concerns of the Crown their Jealousies and Suspitions were also much more encreased by the report which went about that the Spaniards after they had driven the French out of Casale were in a close Treaty with the Court of Savoy soothing their chief Ministers with a belief that his Catholick Majesty would restore Vercelli drive the French from Pignerol and the Cittadel of Turin make up the differences with Mantua and perhaps espouse the Infanta to the Duke of Savoy by which insinuations they went about to gain that house and keeping the French beyond the Mountains restore Peace to Italy and their own Authority to its former splendour These Propositions were hearkned to by the Piemontesi who opened their ears with no little attention and the more by reason that they were fearful that whilst his Christian Majesty was involved in Civil Wars and not able to contribute to the defence of Piemont the Spaniards might make some considerable Progress so that if they should defer the remedy to another time it might so happen that they should find neither time nor remedy These Treaties cast a great cloud upon the Affairs of the Court of France The Cardinal particularly considering the Prejudices which the King might receive if the Spaniards after they had setled their Affairs in Italy should employ all their forces in Flanders and Catalonia he endeavored with all industry by the means of the Embassador Servient and the Abbot of Aille to keep the Savoyards in hopes of a speedy and certain care of their Affairs so that Mazarine being in great credit and strict friendship with the house of Savoy his word alone prevailed more then all other means to elude the Artifices of the Ministers of the but because the troubles at home permitted not at that time the effecting of those things which the necessity of affairs required he sought no further at present then to keep Piemont united with the Court by putting them in hopes of restoring into their hands Verva and Villeneufve d' Astinelle and of the Honour of treating their Embassadours for the future equal to those of Kings Besides these Honours the Count de Quincé General of the French Forces in Piemont was sent to them who arrived at Turin in December accompanied with a great number of Officers and Persons of Quality Mazarine who amongst these dangerous storms had saved the Kings Authority from imminent shipwrack made himself known to all the World for one of the most expert and undaunted Pilots that sails in the Ocean of Policy so soon as ever he saw the Whirlwindes of those commotions which had so furiously agitated the whole Kingdom allayed by the Presence of the King in Paris He applied himself with all sollicitousness to search out means proper not only to calm the intestine troubles but to raise up the trampled upon credit and reputation of the Regal Dignity Wherefore he judged it would be easier to render it esteemed and honoured by pardoning then by punishing This being the Cardinals constant Maxime to win upon the generous humour of the French Nation rather by gentle usage then by violence of Arms. He began therefore to treat with those who were most contumacious He was of opinion that the sole love of the King ought to be the Quintessence fit to nourish that Concord amongst subjects which is interrupted by nothing more then by the apprehensions of hatred and revenge He revived new Treaties and Propositions of Peace with the Prince of Conty with the Parlement of Bourdeaux with the Count d' Harcourt the Count d' Ognon and with all the other Princes and great Lords of high spirit He sent also an Intimate of his to negotiate closely with the Prince of Conde to pacifie him and remove him from the Spanish service offering him the Sovereignty of some state out of France but whether the Prince found himself too far engaged with the Catholick King or whether the Nobleness of his minde would not suffer him to be worse then his word without cause or apparent reason or whether he judg'd the dignity offered him inconsistent or moved with other reasons or regards the effect of these Propositions vanish'd The Prince declared that he had no ambition of Sovereignty but was contented with the honour which he had of being first Prince of the blood-Royal that he knew not how to trust him any more who under the pretence of friendship had deceived him nor could
the City in the month of November upon the 13. of the same month the King appeared in Parliament and caused the Decree made in his Counsel of State against the Princes of Conde and Condy the Dutchesse of Longueville the Duke of Rochefoucaut and others to be ratified and registred The Court continued after this to give out convenient Orders for the good Government of the Kingdom but always regulating himself by Mazarines Instructions but above all the Kings counsel applied themselves to settle the minde of the Cardinal de Retz who as he was a person of an eminent judgement and deep understanding so he was considered by Mazarine above all others as the greatest impediment to his designes He hated the greatness of Conde and at the same time the exorbitant Authority of Mazarine he declared himself a good French man and the Kings servant and thought it no offence to procure the ruine of the one and the suppression of the other He sollicited therefore the Parliament to meet to procure the return of their banished Companions to bring his designs to pass Mazarine on the contrary and the other Ministers of State endeavored to remove him from Paris where he was in great esteem and veneration but finding no way to do it by all the Arts they could use and Mazarine not willing to return to Paris so long as he was there so powerful in friends and dependents It was finally concluded to imprison him The difficulty consisted in the manner for it was not to be done in his own house and dangerous in the streets of Paris Besides this was far from the Kings mind who desired it might be without noise as well in respect of his dignity of Cardinal as that his intentions were to do all quietly and without confusion While therefore the Ministers of State were seeking out means to bring about this Affair and discovered every day more and more difficulty in the execution of it there hapned a more favourable Conjuncture then they could have wish'd for His friends represented to him how that the King would now be Master of all and therefore he ought to render His Majesty the accustomed Visits or to abandon Paris shewing him how scandalous it was for him to act in that manner which he did these Reasons sufficiently perswaded the Cardinal and therefore the Feast of Christmass being near at hand he resolved to preach himself in the Church of St. Germain l' Auxerrois of which the Queen being advertised she gave notice to the Parochial that she did intend to be present there her self The Cardinal took this for a favourable occasion and thought himself obliged to go render thanks to her Majestie for so great an Honour and to this intent upon the 20. of December most improvidently and without the least suspicion he went to the Louvre and entring the Court he found that the Queen was not fully dressed wherefore going up the great stairs to visit the King in the mean time he met His Majesty just upon the middle of the stairs as he was coming down who received him courteously and carried him with him into the Queen-Mothers Chamber while the Cardinal was complementing and discoursing with the Queen the King whispered le Tellier the Secretary of State in the ear and ordered the detaining him which was presently done by the Marquess of Villequier Captain of the Guard who arrested him as he was going out of the Anti-chamber The Cardinal was in great confusion and said What me for what reason Villequier with some Souldiers conducted him into the great Gallery and from thence to the Duke of Anjou's Apartment where he stayed about two houres whilst the Coach and the Guards were made ready which carried him through the Gate de la Conference to the Castle of Vincennes without the peoples knowing the least of it and when they afterwards heard the News they discoursed of it without any concern praising the Kings resolution and saying It was well done to imprison the Cardinal de Retz but to do better he should likewise imprison Cardinal Mazarine and give such an example to Ecclesiastical Persons that for the future they should not meddle any more with secular Affairs Upon this accident not ordinary and so fortunately succeeding there were presently various and different discourses Those of the Court said that the King began to shew himself a King and That his Majestie had taken this resoluon on the sudden without any prompting or counsel of his Ministers That the Order was given of his own proper accord and from his own mouth being incensed at the strange proceedings of the Cardinal and induced hereto by the necessity of the publick good and quiet Those of the prisoners party on the contrary gave out that this blow came from Cardinal Mazarin who would not nor could not return and live at Paris with so considerable an Emulatour supported by so many friends that opposed his interest That he on purpose kept himself at some distance from Court that he might not be known to be the contriver of this fact and for fear that the people rising in the defense of the imprisoned Cardinal should vent their inveterat and immortal hatred against him but however it was Mazarin declared that he had no hand in it to confirme which he wrote a letter to the King which was suddainly published very much in favour of the imprisoned wherein he represented to his Majesty that by the title which he bore of most Christian King he was obliged to defend the Ecclesiastical immunities and therefore he humbly beseeched his Majesty that he would in these cases have that regard which was becoming his Royal Piety and the title which he bore of eldest Son of Holy Church recommending to him with all earnestness the concernes of the imprisoned This Letter was diversly censured some were of one opinion and some of another Many other considerable persons of the Clergy of France did very good Offices in favour of the Prisoner But the publick good being more prevalent then the satisfying of particular persons His Majesty openly declared that he had no other intention in this then the quiet and happiness of his subjects and least the Court of Rome should take occasion to resent this action of the French in doing what was so contary to the Ecclesiastical Laws a Courier was dispatched to the Pope to inform him fully of this Affair The friends of the prisoner likewise a few houres after sent another to complain to his Holiness of this violence and to engage him to protect the imprisoned This News arrived in a few days at Rome and the Pope was much troubled at it not only as being obliged to maintain the reputation of the Scarlet Gown and the indemnity of one of his own Creatures but because it was thought he was one of not so entire an Affection to the Court of France nor Mazarine and if he had had means to testifie his resentments as
Arrival of this succour occasion'd the discovery of a notable Conspiracy in that Fortress against the Governour of it the Marquess de la Farre laid by his own familiar friends The Kings forces in Guienne began also to prosper according as those of Bourdeaux began to grow weak by the discord which Mazarine had sown among them The Duke of Candale being sent into this Province as hath been said to command the Kings Forces in the place of Count de Harcourt took the Castle of Poniols and secured Marmende and Aiguillon situated between Bourdeaux and Agen on this side the Garonne set upon and routed some Troops of the Prince seized upon Bastide and other places and by the directions of Mazarine secret Plots were carried on for reducing of Bourdeaux to the Kings obedience But because it was difficult to gain that important and powerful City by force of Armes therefore they made use of Art and Industry Father Faur a Franciscan who was afterwards made Bishop of Glandeves an understanding person and zealous for the Kings service and who had been successfully employed in bringing Paris to its duty proposed the holding of Intelligence in Bourdeaux it self by means of the Fathers of his Order to this effect Father Bertaut Guardian of Brode was sent to consult with Father Itier Superiour of the Franciscans Convent in Bourdeaux who carried with him divers Instructions for the advancement of this design according as they should have opportunity Bertaut being discovered by the Prince of Conty escaped out of his hands with much dexterity having under a dissembling confidence told him many lies to take away from him the true knowledge of their designs and of the Conspiratours But Father Itier was not at all moved at this for knowing himself to be greatly esteemed and loved by the Citizens he hope that in case his Practices were discovered he should be protected by them and the rather because he was assured that many of them were weary of groaning under the Tyranny of the Olmiere which proceeding in precipitous inconsiderate Progresses put their Countrey and Religion upon the point of being ruined by treating with the English to bring them into Guienne it was concluded therefore that there was no means more expedient and more sure them to gain some of the Heads of the Olmiere Mother Angelica Abbess of the Carmelite Nuns gave Father Ityer a fit occasion and discovered to him how that one of the Mothers of her Convent Sister to Villars had communicated to her the good disposition of her Brother to return to his obedience towards the King out of remorse of Conscience and the fear of a miserable end which he had deserved by his great wickedness and therefore he had desired his Sister that she together with the rest of her Companions would pray to God to give him grace to amend his life Father Ityer made no difficulty of confiding in the Nun and procured that she should confirm her Brother in his purpose Villars engaged to restore the City to its obedience if the King would grant a General Act of Oblivion and give him the Office of Procurator and Syndick of the Communalty and the summe of fourty thousand Crowns for himself and those who should be employed in this affair The Court consented to his demands being besought by the said Father they ordered that no injury should be done to the Princes or Princesses This design went forward well and had easily taken effect if Villars unconstant in his resolutions had not discovered the Conâ—piracy which hapned by the vain â—rating of the Sieur de Lenet who making as if he knew although â—ndeed he knew nothing of it at all that there was a new Intrigue carrying on in Bourdeaux in which were many who professed themselves of the Princes Party Villars believing that some of his Companions had revealed the secret to Lenet was in fear of being ruined and therefore sought to save himself by declaring the whole matter to the Prince of Conty saying that he had not engaged in this business but the better to discover it and then to give a more particular account of it to his Highness and that this was the reason that he did not disclose it to him before The Prince answered him that he was well satisfied touching his fidelity and charged him to continue his dissimulation and to observe the whole whole matter that he might learn the Names of the Complices and get sufficient proof against Father Ityer he bound Blerno and Giraut Goldsmiths under a solemn Oath to go and receive the money promised by the King of which there were 1500 Pistols consigned so that upon his examination and deposition Father Ityer was imprisoned and carried before a Counsel where Marsin was President with many of the Olmiere and Officers of the Army and here arose a Contest upon the Point that Laymen had not power to judge Churchmen but they did not long demurre upon it The Prince of Conde and Dutchess of Longueville commanded absolutely that they should not put him to death but that it was sufficient to keep him in prison Marsin and Lenet who sought to inrage people more caused some of the â—abble to cry out Tolle Tolle Cruâ—ifige c. At this rumour some of the Judges were much disorderâ—d and with disdainful countenanâ—es said We are no Jews and â—f you are not Christians you may go and search out some Pilates for we do not intend to dip our hands in innocent blood Marsin was much humbled and composed the difference causing him to be adjudged to an open pennace which Spectacle moved the whole City to Compassion and loaded the Princes party with blame and hatred for the Father being led through the streets with a thousand reproches and insolences from the Rascallity was not at the least disturb'd either at death which they threatned him or at the injuries they did him but walked along with as great an assurance as if he had been going to a glorious triumph This behavior of his so fearless and yet full of humility and patience did so move the Citizens that they were forced quickly to send him back to the prison from whence they had taken him and because they had taken from him the habit of his Order the Dutchess of Longueville detesting such wicked doing gave command that it should be restored to him again and to check the insolence of these people After this they imprisoned a Cousin of the said Fathers a Complice in all his Contrivances whom they put to a strange torture but as if it had been nothing he endured it with an incredible and marvellous constancy nor could they ever draw from him the least word concerning this matter The same morning that Father Ityer was taken the President Dasis Counsellour Bort and Counsellour Castelnaut were also attached and committed to the Castle du Ha and afterwards released upon their words D' Asis withdrew himself from these Intrigues and went
to his Brother the Bishop of Lombes At the same time another Frier called Lande by the means of a Gentlewoman named Laure attempted to gain Colonel Marché who hearkned to the sollicitations of the Friars brother and communicated his design to the said Widow which was to make use of an hundred light horse which he commanded in the City to deliver up a Gate to the Duke of Candale desiring this Window to write him the design and to instruct him the most proper means to execute it This Plot was also communicated to the Jurate Robert But in the end Colonel Marché himself discovered it to Marsin and after a few days Lande revealed it to the Prince of Conty whereupon the Gentlewoman was imprisoned and examined a long while in the Presence of Lande and maintained to his face that he was the Author of all this accusing him of infidelity and treacherousness whereupon he was laid hold on and banished from the Olmiera and the Widow sent back to her Countrey-house In the mean-while the City of Monsegur wherein the Regiment of the Marquess of Monpouillon lay in Garrison was surrendred to the Royallists and the Officers pretending that two thousand Pistols were due to them put themselves into His Majesties service imprisoned the Commissary and took from him a good summe of money which he had levied on the people thereabouts but they sent him free afterwards with some Officers belonging to Marsin who at the same time with the Princes Troops besieged St. Ferme a small Town near by This was a Prelude to the fall of the Princes party being forsaken by their best Troops in a time when they had most need of them not contented to take pains continually for so small profit the hopes of those rewards daily declining which the Princes promised them to soften the labours and sufferances of those of their party Divers other Accidents hapned which rendred this party still more infirm which having no other foundation then the imagination of becoming more happy by the change of fortune in stead of meeting with their desired relief they encountred the most unexpected misfortunes A certain Engineer called Larsigne was imprisoned and 3500 Pistols taken from him set him in the Pillory and banished under pretence that he wrote to Paris the News of what hapned in Bourdeaux They arrested a vessel also and confiscated twenty five thousand Crowns which belonged to Dutch Merchants for corn sold in that City and were carrying to Rochelle declaring it to be counterband goods with these and the like proceedings the foreign Merchants and the better sort of Citizens themselves were sensibly touched and exasperated seeing that without shame or conscience they exempted none from barbarous and unjust punishments The Duke of Vandosme appeared with his Fleet in the Garonne at the beginning of February and presently began to build a Fort in the Isle of Cazaux situated in the middle of the River and therefore of great consequence and which gave no small trouble to the inhabitants of Bourdeaux amongst whom there being many that were affected to the Kings party it behoved the rest to be vigilant against surprises and stratagemms which were easie to be put in practice in such Conjunctures The Curate of St. Peters having exhorted his Parishioners in a publick Sermon to shake off the yoke of their servitude and to withdraw themselves from under the Authothority unlawfully usurped by that wicked counsel of the Olmiere he was taken and put in prison but the people of that parish who were very affectionate to him beginning to rise they were forced to let him go and escape away for fear some greater mischief might follow for those who are admitted to preach the Word of God have great power over the people when they denounce to them peace and quietness for the same cause were banished also the Curates of St. Simon and St. Remi with the Prior and Guardian of the Capucines and the Dominicans divers Counsellors of the Parliament and some Citizens who were contented rather to undergo any persecution then to follow a Faction directly contrary to the service of the King so that the Parliament being at that time by the Advice of Mazarine removed to Agen that at Bourdeaux was so weakned that there remained no more then nine Counsellors and some of them so confused and fearful that they knew not what to resolve on The Parliament at Agen beginning to assemble on the third of March the Sieur de la Lane Second President presided at the opening of the Parliament in the Presence of the Duke of Candale and the Bishop of Agen the Sieur de Pontac President of the Treasurers of France came thither with divers other well-affected persons But in Bourdeaux the suspitions of some new Conspiracy being revived all possible diligence was used to interrupt it and to maintain the Princes Concerns in their vigour Proclamation was made that all strangers who were found in the City without employ should presently depart All Inne-keepers Taverners and those who let lodgings were prohibited to receive any one without express order and billet from the Magistrate appointed for that purpose Meetings were forbidden and going about in the night after such an houre and every where they kept vigilant Guards to watch all surprizes especially because the Neighboring Towns and Provinces were every day more and more incumbred with Souldiers and people of the Kings party And because that by the taking of Sarlaet Sallagnac Terrason and other walled Towns of Perigord by the Princes Troops the Souldiery over-ran all the Countrey to the great damage of that Province The Marquess of Pompodor Lieutenant of the Province of Limosin gathering together some of the Kings Troops and divers Gentlemen encountred the enemies near to the Village St. Robert in the County of Agen defeated and destroyed them and so delivered the Countrey from the continual molestation of these Souldiers who were the more licentious by reason they wanted their pay and were dissatisfied with the Princes themselves whom they served The Town of Montignac maintaining it self in its due obedience to the King did incommodate all they could the Princes forces who lost the Castle of Surin and other places which either rendred voluntarily or were gained by the force of Armes whereby those of their party being reduced to streight termes the greater part of them were perswaded by others example to return to their due obedience To these favourable events in Guienne seconded by other prosperous successes of the Kings party was added the engagement upon the 28. of February in the Narrow Seas between the English and Hollanders each party glorying to have had the advantage but seeing there was no great difference in the loss of Vessels the Victory remained undecided so that the English being busied in this new Warre they were not in a posture to embrace those resolutions which if they had been free they might have taken to encourage the seditious in Bourdeaux and
thereby have notably prejudiced the Crown of France which certainly might have been reduced to great streights if on the one side being assaulted by the powerful forces of the King of Spain and shaken by intestine troubles it had been also on the other side set upon by the English but the propitious fate of France subordinate to the benigne Will of God who disposeth of all things according to the Rule of his divine Providence preserved in these disasters that most Christian Kingdom from the dangerous Enterprizes of that Nation which differing in Religion and manners would have found a fit opportunity of putting France into a very great disorder but they governing themselves by violent means took resolutions very much different from what was suspected so that confounding themselves they gave occasion to the Royal Authority to recover its strength letting the disobedient want forces and those who sought by their Factions and Cabals to disturb and overturn all This was the Warre against the Hollanders to the promoting of which Cardinal Mazarine did so much contribute by his secret Managements and Arts considering the damages the English might do the French without such a diversion Not to interrupt by a digression the thread of our discourse we shall only touch upon the principal motives of this War After the Parliament of England had made themselves Masters of that Kingdom and with their victorious Arms also overcome the Kingdoms of Scotland and Ireland they endeavour'd to keep themselves armed and to exercise themselves with foreign wars now that the Civil were at an end Having learnt this good Maxime of State to keep open in their own body the necessary Preservative of a Cautery whereby to purge out the boyling and malignity of the peccant humours It hapned then that wanting lawful cause to break with France and held back by divers Reasons of State no less then by the Arts of Mazarine who made appear his marvellous parts in dealing so dexterously with a Nation so ill affected to the French they betook themselves to a War with Holland which having a glorious reputation at Sea seemed not a little to obscure the ancient splendour of the redouted and irresistible power of the English Besides the natural emulation of bordering Nations the secret and artificial encouragement of the Neighboring Kingdoms did promote these thoughts who observing with an ill eye two powerful Republicks on each hand they could not but suspect those sudden Growths of States well furnished with Sea-forces The English took their pretext from the Herring-Fishing which the Hollanders used with great gain every year in the Orcades in the North of Scotland They pretended that the Hollanders had usurped this Fishing-trade by the negligence of their King to the great detriment of the publick and therfore not to be tolerated by a Nation that for so many Ages held the principal dominion of the Ocean On the contrary the States of the United Provinces maintain'd that by long possession and ancient custom their right was sufficiently lawful and establish'd with just reason especially it being never known that the English pass'd into those seas to fish This was the motive for which both parties beginning to arme the one to pretend custom the other an exemption from paying custom and to preserve their right they came at length to an open breach to the great prejudice of both their interests for their chiefest subsistence consisting in Trade and Navigation which being interrupted they found the War reciprocally destructive and pernicious but especially to Holland which being confined to a narrow Compass of ground with an infinite of people their greatest wealth depends upon the Sea To these Reasons derived from State-interest and particular profit were added other causes also touching Punctilio's of Reputation the English pretending they had been affronted by the Hollanders in divers occasions and principally in the Massacre of their Embassador Doctor Dorislaws at the Hague killed by the English of the Kings party and by the Adherents of the Prince of Orange To this they joyned other Grievances concerning the death of several of their Nation slain at Amboina where they had setled themselves the Hollanders being jealous of the Commerce of the Indies from which they drew great emoluments The Quarrel began upon the meeting of some English Vessels with some Hollanders about the complement of striking sale The Hollanders sent over Adrian Paw Extraordinary Embassador famous for the Treaty of Munster managed by him with the Spaniards but he in stead of bringing things to a good end rather exasperated the minds of the English so that the business going on to be decided by arms much against the wishes of those of Amsterdam especially who desired to withdraw themselves from the dependence on the House of Orange The States of Holland were much perplexed but nevertheless by their fresh and multiplied Victories obtain'd against the power of Spain having rais'd their fame to that height that they were generally feared and esteemed and having made so advantageous a Peace with the Catholick King they resolved not to prejudice their reputation by yielding to the threats and pretensions of England and therefore made little account of giving satisfaction to that Parlement but providing for the War they set out a numerous Fleet so that every one preparing for Hostility many Merchants were taken and lost on both sides and at length the Fleets meeting of above one hundred Ships a piece there followed divers Battels and Sea-fights with reciprocal damage so that each pretending to the Victory no certain decision could be made on 't the losses and victories consisting in the number of Vessels that were destroyâ—d on either side which never hindred them from returning to Sea again ready for a new Engagement But the Hollanders were very sensible of the loss of their Admiral Trump a Person of great value and of great experience in Maritine Affairs and much troubled that several Vessels had not perform'd their duty by reason they had not the Standard of the Prince of Orange to whom a great part of the Fleet shewed themselves much affected to the particular disgust of those of Amsterdam jealous and no good friends to that House The Court of France taking the opportunity of these differences applied themselves to secure Guienne and Bourdeaux a City above all others disposed to Rebellion for the reduction of which Mazarine made all necessary preparations and therefore besides the sending of the French Fleet into the Garonne and the advancing of forces from all parts into that Province he gave himself to make Overtures of reconciliation with divers persons to see if it were possible to terminate that War rather by fair means then by Arms which being among their own people and subjects wheresoever the Victory fell it would turn to loss The designes of the Cardinal went on prosperously as shall be related hereafter not only in these parts but in others also in the mean time he did not
party they might be able to make a vigorous Inroad upon the French on that side whilst the forces of Bourdeaux gave them strong and considerable diversion on the other The money which was remitted was very welcom to those that had the good fortune to receive it who for the most part misappli'd it and converted to their own what was intended for the publick use by which means the designes and deliberations of the Catholick Court were not only retarded but oftimes precipitated for being so remote from those Provinces in which the War was carried on it could not contribute nor proportion its Recruits according to the suddenness and variety of the Accidents which hapned an inconvenience of great importance to that Crown by which the wisest and most prudent of their resolutions have been many times enervated and lost To these Reasons another may be added and that is that the Royal Council of Spain was from time to time deluded by the successive relations they receiv'd from the French in their service who magnifying the power and interest of their party and villifying that of the Kings fill'd the heads even of the gravest of them with vain and impertinent hopes and they taking their measures accordingly found themselves at last not only mistaken but involv'd in greater difficulties then before On the other side the French being an united and entire body able to derive Orders immediatly to its several members and being animated and directed in their affairs by Cardinal Mazarin a Person of miraculous knowledge in the nature and interest of all Nations no wonder if he knew how to make his advantages and apply remedies to the maladies of that Country which without his Judgment and dilligence would by degrees have grown incurable In the mean time then whilst in the Court of Spain they were contriving expedients to foment the troubles in France and in France the Cardinal was as busie to re-invigorate the declining Grandeur of that Kingdom the Generals of the Armies on both sides omitted no opportunities that might advance the interest of their several Princes The Count Marcin General for the Prince of Conde in Guienne desirous to enlarge his Quarters by the taking in of such places as were most easie to be attaqu'd he commanded out Colonel Baltassar with 800 Irish to fall upon Grenada on the Garonne in the County of Grave as a place which would facilitate his passage into the County's of Armaniack and d' Auches The Sieur Baz endeavor'd to possess himself of a Pass upon the River call'd La douxand hoping to force the Chevalier de Aubeterre to abandon those places that he might enter with great profit and advantage to himself and his Party Bat Monsieur de Aubeterre having intelligence of his design with a Party of 300 Horse and some commanded Musquetiers fell so furiously upon his Forlorn which consisted of some select Horse and Foot drawn out of their Gross that without so much as drawing a sword they betook themselves to their heels part of them being drown'd in the River and part taken Prisoners by the enemy The inhabitants of Sarlat being much infested by the Garrisons belonging to the Princes took heart at this good success and signifi'd to the Marquess of Sovebeuf that if he pleas'd to advance at a certain time with his Troops they would receive him into the Town by a private Water-course which ran under the Town-wall but that design miscarrying the Towns-men attempted to corrupt some of the Officers of the Garrison whom they perceiv'd discontented with their General and having concluded an intelligence with them they gave notice thereof to the Duke of Candale who sending them a party of four hundred men under the Command of the Count Marin On the 23. of May an houre before-day they were receiv'd by the Sieur Boreel Advocate and Counsellor for the City where having joyn'd with what forces could be made in the Town they march'd immediately to the Bishops Palace where Chavagnac was quartered at that time Chavagnac being awak'd with the noise leap'd out of his bed and endeavor'd to escape in his shirt but he was pursued by the Citizens and taken Prisoner The main Guard in the Market-place made some little defence till the Sieur Boismale their Lieutenant Colonel three Captains and other inferiour Officers were slain Chambelloy their Camp-Master della Roche their Field-Marshal and the rest of the Officers who had barricadoed themselves up in the houses surrendred and voluntarily took up Arms for the King This fortunate Acquisition was seconded by the taking in of several other places and walled Towns in which the Princes forces were quartered so that the Kings Army advancing towards Bordeaux on all sides and the City every day streightned more then other the sober and more provident part of them were in no little distraction to consider the consequences which were too likely to follow they foresaw that without a sudden and a vigorous supply the Kings Army encreasing daily as it did all would in a short time be reduc'd to the utmost extremity The City of Bordeaux was at this time capable of relief but two ways either from England or Spain To which end the Sieur de Couppes and Count Marsin's Secretary were dispatch'd to Saint Sebastian and from thence to the Court of Spain to sollicit the performance of their Promises made for the support of those Parts which being the most expos'd of all the Provinces and Cities in France brought Bordeaux into a dilemma of becoming a prey to those that fought against it or those which defended it In the mean time the Sieur de Saint Agolin had not been wanting in his solicitations in Spain to press the dispatch of their Fleet and the supplies of money which had bin promis'd and at last practised in the name of his Master the Prince of Condy that unless a considerable sum was sent before the last of that month which was February he should be constrain'd to depart They had already disburs'd 100000 Crowns which they had sent to Bordeaux but upon the Arrival of de Chouppes who was immediately followed by a Deputy from the Counsel of Olmiera the Court of Spain being fully inform'd of the danger all Guienne was in by the vigilancy of Cardinal Mazarin they immediately dispatch'd 30000 Pistols to Priscay with peremptory Orders to put forth six of their most considerable Ships and four Fireships with all possible diligence that they might force their way into the Garonne and oppose themselves against the French The said Persons were likewise immediatly returned with 150000 Crowns more for the Prince of Conde and because it was conceived that the Sieur Lenet had not observ'd the respect which was due to the Prince of Conty by reason of his particular intimacy and correspondence which he held with Conte Marsin who had no great veneration for the said Prince there were Instructions given by the Spanish Ministers which way they should conduct themselves
for the future in the maintenance and support of the Condean Party But the Count d' Ognon's Accommodation with the King of France did not a little startle Don Lewis de Haro and the rest of the Grandees of the Council the foundation they had laid upon the fidelity of this Cavalier who had franckly undertaken the defence of Guienne being taken away and no grounds left for any future resolution by reason of the inconstancy of the French who would promise the highest fidelity one day and the next day leave them in the lurch So that the Kings party increasing hourly in those parts and the Princes growing every day weaker their apprehensions could not but be very great nevertheless in this very Exigence the Court of Spain fail'd not to send their Orders to suggest their Counsels to transmit Men and Money as far as the utmost of their power and ability would extend Not long after the Baron Batteville represented to the Court the difficulty of getting in to the Garonne unless he were reinforc'd with a much stronger Squadron of Ships Twenty thousand Crowns were immediatly dispatch'd to him with new Orders to ship himself upon the aforesaid six Men of war and to put 500 Irish into Bordeaux But affairs changing daily their face it was necessary to change Counsels as often and Batteuille being unable to execute them without further supplies their Commands were received oftner then put in execution After this the Marquess of Lusignan was dispatch'd in great haste from Bordeaux to Madrid where he Arrived in May. The pretence of this Embassy was to complement his Catholick Majestie upon the recovery of the Queen who had had the small Pox with great danger of her life besides the King himself had been ill five or six days of a Feaver But the intrinsick reason was the soliciting for fresh forces in respect the French had made themselves Masters of the Garonne and fortified it so that it would be no easy matter to remove them and by consequence the Kings Army increasing without interruption as it did it must needs follow that Bourdeaux must be lost Lusignan had many fair Promises 200000 Crowns were deliver'd to him and the Dispatches for the Ships from Port de Passage consigned to him Not long after that design being look'd upon as impossible Battiville had new Instructions if it were possible to get into Bourdeaux by the Lake of Arcazon with all imaginable diligence to keep that people in their fidelity and support as much as in him lay the drooping spirits of the Prince of Conty and the rest of the Officers in his Party He had Orders moreover to propose three things to them viz. Whether they would have the Spanish Fleet force its way up the River Garonne and fight them Whether they would have them clap before the Mouth of the River and lie there Or whether they thought it not more convenient for them to cruse along the Coasts of Britain and Normandy and by alarming them in those parts give them a diversion in Guienne Nine hundred more Irish were dispatch'd into Guienne and Letters sent Post to the Arch-Duke and the Ministers in Flanders that they should take the Field with all Expedition that they should supply the Prince of Condy with 200000 Crowns mere for the reinforcement of his Troops to put him into a Condition to march immediatly for France The Spaniard considering that Mazarine being in all likelihood thereby constrained to draw down what force he could make against that Invasion would not be able to pursue his Enterprizes against Guienne but by consequence give them opportunity to make Provisions for the defence of that Province But neither in this could the Spaniard compass his design for the Ship which carried the 300000 Crowns into Flanders to hasten that Affair falling unluckily into the hands of the English they made no scruple to to seize upon it though the King of Spain was at that time in Amity with that Nation and to stop the Ship likewise for some time it being a Dutch bottom Nor was this Miscarriage to be imputed to the negligence of the Ministers but to the uncertainty of humane accidents which many times run counter though managed and contrived by the best Counsels in the World Besides these sums 30000 Pistols more were sent to the Fleet with express Orders to Batteville to try all ways of introducing himself into the Garonne and open a Passage into the Town to which end and no other that sum was intended At the same time the Count de Fiesco and several other persons went also into Spain to represent the necessities of those parts and to sollicit for relief But some are of opinion the chief end of these journeys was to receive Presents and Gratuities which the King of Spain distributed very liberally to all French-men that came to his Court so that many pretended to joyn with him more to be nibling at his money then out of any true service they intended him and it is believ'd that if the money he in this manner distributed among the French-men were fairly computed it would appear sufficient to have conquered a whole Kingdom and yet either by their treachery or inexperience all these vast sums were utterly lost and these great preparations become entirely ineffectual In the mean time the Duke of Vandosme was employ'd in hastening the building of Caesars Fort upon the Garonne as likewise another in the Countrey betwixt the two Seas beginning above Vallier before the house of Alinet who considering of what importance it would be to interrupt the Communication betwixt the several Posts belonging to the Prince and the Town of Bordeaux if he could possess himself of Lermont which was situate exactly upon the mouth of the River and Garrison'd by 500 Irish under the Command of Colonel Dillon On the 26. of May he caused the Tertia's of Moasieur Milleray and Normandy to be drawn out and ship'd in such Galleys and Brigantines as he had ready under the Command of the Chevalier d' Albret his Camp-Master who with others being embark'd they sally'd forth by the favour of the Tyde against the Galliots which lay under that place Being arriv'd there disbarqu't the Count of Comminges the Lieutenant General the two Brothers the Count and Baron of Montesson the Baron of Croix Camp-Master and Sir George Carteret who as they say perswaded the Governour of the place to take up Arms with his whole Party for the King of France They agreed upon the paiment of 7500 Franks to deliver up the Town and it was done accordingly for the Irish Soldiers being much discontented and looking upon themselves as sold to the Spaniards like so many slaves did not hold themselvs oblig'd to them by any faith or duty in the world The rest indeed had followed their Example out of a temple they had taken up that they could not in conscience serve the Spaniard because of the League and Amity at that
Boda Governour of the Town with his Tertia of French Foot and march'd himself to observe the motions of the Prince of Condy and the Spaniard who during this Leagure were joyn'd at Hayes d' Auvenes having been retarded in their Campagne both by their want of Horses as abovesaid and also by a Negotiation they had with a Citizen of Arras for the surprize of that City But the same Person held Intelligence likewise with the Cardinal as he had done with the Prince to gain money on both sides This Correspondence was began the Year before and continued till the Prince found himself deluded and cheated at several times of about 2000 Pistols The French having notice that the Spaniard had not yet their Forces united to engage the French Army which was then numerous and flourishing till they were reinforc'd which they most sollicitously endeavor'd by express Order from the Cardinal they advanc'd against the Prince with full resolution to attaque him But he had drawn up his Army betwixt two Woods behind a streight Pass by which means he prevented being fallen upon in a disadvantageous place as it might have hapned had it bin but one half houre longer before he had had the News of the French Army The Mareschals him in so good a posture return'd to their Posts and afterwards march'd towards Vervins passing thorough certain Villages not far from the Abby of Tougny they drew near to Vervens about Proussy and thence coasting by Guise they encamp'd at Riblemont to observe the motion of the enemy who being reinforc'd with the Lorrain Troops and other supplies from Flanders did principally design to make an Inroad into France upon presumption that at their first appearance many would declare for them The French Generals being inferiour in number were oblig'd for that reason to be more wary and circumspect and to have a care how they ran the risk of a Battel which if it went cross would be more dangerous in the consequences then in their present loss The Cardinals design was to protract time and to set the Affairs of the Kingdom to rights by the reduction of Bourdeaux to incapacitate the Prince to raise new troubles by the assistance or intelligence of his friends and to let the Spaniards at length see they were mistaken in the opinion they had conceived of that Juncture to ruine France and the confidence they had repos'd in the reputation and interest of the Prince in his own Countrey thâ—t being the principal mark to which all their Councils were directed it seeming unlikely to the Court of Spain that that Crown of it self with its States and Kingdoms so distant and depopulated should act any thing with advantage against France whilst it was entire and unanimous for this cause they spared no money but were many times lavish and profuse in their distributions to the discontented French who always deceived them with vain hopes and pretences endeavoring still to draw more of them into rebellion that by that means they might be able as it were to compel the French to a solid Peace to which his Catholick Majesty was seriously inclin'd but could not hope to obtain any other way But the effects did not answer Expectation for placing their hopes upon particular persons more sollicitous of their own then of other peoples advantage who propos'd only such things as might render themselves necessary to the Spanish affaires founding their principles upon this Maxime That to draw benefit from Princes they ought to make them expect more then they intended to perform forasmuch as their custom is when they are once delivered to regard them no longer who brought them out of their exigence Things being acted in this manner and hastned by the Spaniard in order to the approaching Campagne the Princes and Generals of the Armies held many Counsels what way they were to proceed The chief of of the Spanish Officers and particularly the Count de Fuensaldagna a person of great judgment propos'd to fall upon some of the most considerable of the King of France's Towns by the benefit of which they might be enabled to pass on and upon a solid foundation maintaine the War afterward in the Enemies Country Some propounded to ship 5 or 6000 men under the Command of the most expert Officers could be chosen and to send them into Guienne to reinforce the Princes Troops in that Province and support the courage of the Bourdelots thereby to sustein the War in those parts which was the strongest diversion could be given to the French Armes To that end it was proposed they should sit down before Bayon and the Princes repair thither with their Troops which would be more feasible in respect that Colonel Baltasser had made himself Master of Tarsas But the hopes that the Reliefe from Spain would be sufficient and having no Orders for dividing their Army in Flanders confuted all those Propositions The Count of Fuenseldagne was of opinion that laying all other things aside they should sit down before Arras whilst their Army was fresh and the Alarmes so hot in other parts of the Kingdom for which reason he look'd upon the Enterprise not so difficult as other people might imagine and that the Prince of Condy might consent he offered to give him Mouson But the Prince insisting upon his Intelligence in Paris prest hard and upon very good reason that drawing all their forces together they should pass the Soma march up to Paris and give their party in that City opportunity to rise while the Court growing jealous of them would be easily perswaded to quit the Town and that in these confusions their Army advancing to Mantes might possess themselves of all the Countrey about Pontoise Saint Lis and other adjacent Towns where recruiting themselves with the discontented party which in probability would throng to him daily they should reap extraordinary advantage and foment the Civil War in France This Proposition was in appearance plausible and so well represented by the Prince that the Council were of the same minde and esteemed that his opinion ought really to be followed as was seemingly desired by those who applauded his Actions with their tongue more then by their deeds But there were two considerable difficulties objected The first was that by the loss of Bellegard and Rhetel the minds of many people were much dejected so that there were but few of the opinion but the King of France would be stronger that Campagne then the Prince of Condy who had lost two such considerable places as it were under his Nose to the great diminution of his credit The other was that the French Army being come into the Field much stronger then was imagin'd it was dangerous to pass so many Rivers and put themselves into the Enemies Countrey without any place of Retreat in case of disaster whilst also the Spanish Army was attended by another though less numerous yet superiour in courage being all French bold and experienc'd besides 4000
considering several of the Olmiera were joyned with them and particularly one Cot a Ring-leader of the seditious and another called Chevalier a son of one of the Attourneys of the Palace carried all the Letters which past betwixt the Conspirators and the Commanders in chief for the King The Fleet appear'd at Lermont ready for the Enterprize but the Messenger was taken with his Letters about him hang'd as a Spie before the Town-Hall and the whole Plot interrupted At the same time the Sieur de Chambon who was sent by the Prince of Condy into Guienne to hinder the Count d' Ognon from reconciling himself to the Court by offering him 300000 Crowns in ready money and one of his Mannors with the Title of a Duke ran the same hazard for after he had found all his Negotiations with the Count absolutely ineffectual desiring to pass into Bourdeaux though they had no good opinion of him for having delivered up Xantes to the enemy the year before He was arrested by the people drawn to the Gallows and had doubtless been hang'd if in the time granted him to make his Confession the Prince of Conty had not sent to deliver him and luckily rescued him from that infamous death Yet all this could not discourage Theubon to set on foot new Machinations for the compassing his designes and entring into a correspondence with the Count de Marin Camp-Master under the King he held frequent Intelligence with all such as he thought serviceable upon that occasion in which number having judg'd one of the Treasurers of France called Filiot a proper person in respect of the liberty he had of entring the Town daily and going out at his pleasure he committed the improvement of the correspondence to him which Count Marin held with the two Brothers of Chastein and the Counsellor du Sault Son of the Advocate-General who being offended to see the Authority of that Parliament prostituted to the impertinencies of the Olmiera engaged himself in that Plot and resolv'd to put himself at the Head of a Party of Citizens and open one of the Gates to let in the Kings Army This Scene was very well laid and the success not improbable because all was managed by Persons in whom the people had very great confidence But young Heads especially of the French Nation who are a communicative people keeping their secrets as Water in a Sieve One of the Chasteins having imparted the whole business to the Count de Auteuil the Duke d' Enguins Governour by the means of a Citizens daughter with whom the said Count was in love Filiot and the Counsellor de Sault were both taken and clap'd into prison The other Chastein not knowing the treachery of his Brother was gone out to perswade the Duke of Candale to advance with his Troops towards Bourdeaux as believing all sure The Dukes forces march'd with that diligence and secresie That though the Plot was discover'd and the assistance expected within totally interrupted yet had not the Prince of Conty been in person at the Gate to encourage his men the Duke of Candale had questionless without any Complices entred the Town in that confusion This advance of the Duke of Candale was so strong a confirmation of the truth of the Conspiracy and fill'd the Olmeisti so full of disdain that like mad men they ran up and down the streets with their swords in their hands crying out That it was better to die a thousand deaths fighting valiantly for their liberty then to suffer themselves to be so basely and villainously betray'd They immediately ordered a solemn Procession to be made to give God thanks for their delivery and caused a Franciscan Frier to preach a Sermon to exhort them to unity and fidelity to their Countrey The Frier got up into the Pulpit and though in his affections he had been a Frondeur nevertheless being at that time illuminated by the Divine Wisdom he delivered himself in such a manner before the Prince the Princess the Frondeurs the Olmeisti and the rest and perswaded them so efficaciously to Peace that all of them were touch'd and the people extreamly edified with his extraordinary eloquence and doctrine so that hence we may see that Gods Providence is as active in the confirmation and establishment as in the destruction of Kingdoms Here the innocence and goodness of the King was protected and the wickedness and ingratitude of his subjects chastised by the Justice of Heaven After this a Process was form'd against Filiot and the Evidence being short he was most inhumanely put upon the Rack in the Presence of Duratesta the chief of the Olmeisti and the Advocate Pontelier who took his examination Filiot swooned at first but having implor'd the divine assistance he found himself so strangely encouraged as he reported afterwards himself that he kept firm to his resolution of confessing nothing nor did he discover one man of all his Accomplices For du Sault they proceeded not so violently against him by reason the tears of the father and the former services of the son out-weigh'd the resentment of a Treason which had it succeeded would have left the Princes expos'd to the fury of the Souldiers without any capitulation The Negotiations and Conspiracies for reducing Bourdeaux to its obedience to the King not having the expected success and the Forces under the Dukes of Vandosme and Candale being too weak to reduce so potent and obstinate a City by force the Cardinal dispatch'd his Orders to the Count d' Estrades Lieutenant-General in Rochel to draw what strength he could out of the Neighbouring Towns and lead them with all speed to the Duke of Vendosme Estrades us'd all imaginable diligence and being a good souldier and well-affected to his Majesties service he suddenly appear'd with a considerable body of men before Bourg the Conquest of which Town being judg'd conducive to the reduction of Bourdeaux it was undertaken by his advice And to proceed the more vigorously it was necessary to attaque it in three several places but they having foot enough but for two the Duke of Candale was desired that he would furnish them with men for the third The Duke granted their desire very readily and going immediately to Caesars Fort to discourse the business with the Duke of Vandosme and l' Estrades he caus'd his own Tertia and some other Companies to march and he himself having agreed with the Duke of Vendosme about the Command would needs be of the Party Bourg was beleagured and on the 29. of June their Trenches were opened in three places The first was commanded by the Duke of Vendosme the second by the Duke of Candale and the third by l' Estrades The last Approach was managed so vigorously that the fourth day the Sieur Delus Camp-Mareschal lodg'd himself upon the brow of the ditch cut down a strong Pallisadoe in the middle of it notwithstanding several showers of small shot made against him and the Granadoes and other Fire-works poured upon them
Ministers of the Prince of Condy the Assemblies of the Merchants were upon the Exchange as a place most commodious more frequent then formerly in respect the Town-house was taken up by the Counsel of the Olmiera and the Palace where they keep the Court of Justice by the Frondeurs Lenet went twice to speak with them to sowe division amongst them insinuating that he himself approv'd of what they did so it were without the intervention of the Advocates and other persons of the Courts of Justice who being always for their own interest would ascribe all the honour to themselvs and leave only the trouble for them To others he inculcated their own interest the strength of the Prince of Condy and his affection to the City so that partly by terror partly by diffidence and partly with hopes he endeavor'd to gain them all But all this artifice could not prevent the meeting and concourse of the honest party in this Assembly by which he perceiving all things to run counter to his intention and that the hearts of the Cititizens were set immoveably upon peace instead of confiding in the Prince of Conty who continued still constant to his Brother and his family he suggested certain jealousies of him to the Princess his Sister and with the most pernicous counsel which could be given at that time to make him universally odious he exhibited several charges and accusations against the said Prince to weaken the only support he had left sowing discord in his family and among those of his party and endeavouring with crafty plots to delude them Fiesco took his Lodgings in the New-street among the Merchants to be more ready at hand to perswade them that to establish a secure peace their best way would be to follow the Counsel of Marsin a person of long experience and not be led by the Nose by Conty an unexperienc'd Youth They contrived likewise that certain of the Frondeurs in whom they had greatest confidence should be present at these Assemblies at the Burse among which there were also the Counsellers of the Parliament which remained in Bourdeaux and these to raise differences and distractions amongst them to gain time in which they placed all their hopes They contriv'd moreover that one Ramont standing Sentinel at that time in the Town-house should deny Admission to one Orial though of the Olmira because he did not second their designes as was expected which was resented by their Companions and the whole Olmiera Who commanded him to depart the City Having after this discover'd that Marsin gain'd upon the people every day by common consent they call'd a General Assembly on the 19th of July 1653. on the Exchange in which Assembly there met the Deputies from all the Companies in the City Whilst they were sitting here together the Chevalier Todias a Jurate appear'd unexpectedly amongst them whereupon laying hold on the occasion That the Presence of a Magistrate of the City rendred the Assembly lawful they constrain'd him to accept the deputation they made to the Prince of Conty to signifie to him the resolutions of the good Citizens of the Town and to intreat him to approve of the design they were upon to make an Overture of peace and to consent That the Faction of the Olmiera which was the only obstacle might be abolish'd That the Captains and Officers of the City might be cashier'd it being not reasonable that so many Persons of good quality and birth as went personally to the Guard for the safety of the Publick should be commanded by the seditious and Plebeians and that therefore they might be chang'd and other sober and deserving persons of condition and worth employ'd in their dead It was concluded in like manner that such as were present should be deputed as from the several Fraternities and meete daily as the principal Counsel of the City These to the number of about thirty with several Heads of the Artizans went together towards the house of the Dutchess of Longueville where the Prince then was part of their number remaining behind on the Exchange some thought it necessary to do somthing extraordinary so that whilst their Deputies were attending the Prince they caused all they met in the streets to cry Viva il Re e la Pace Long live the King and the Peace distributing a white Favor to every one of them Upon this noise the Deputies took heart and the Sieur Todias encourag'd by them represented with great franckness to the Prince of Conty the miseries occasioned both by the Kings forces and the Princes which were quartered under the Walls but especially by the tumultuous and insolent Olmeisti who in one year had occasion'd more mischief then many ages would be able to repair That the good Citizens could no longer endure the licentiousness of the Souldiers Wherefore in the Name of the whole Corporation he most humbly besought him to take some speedy course for the Consolation of all parties assuring him of the affection and constancy of the Citizens towards his Highness the Prince of Condy the Duke d' Anguien his Nephew and his Sister the Dutchess of Longueville the Prince told them that they should meet him the next day at the Arch-bishops Palace to agree about the means of procuring a durable Peace The Deputies coming out of the Dutchess of Longueville's house and meeting the people that were crying Peace they took each of them a white Signal and joyning with them in a moment the Cry went thorow the whole Town Viva il Re e la pace e muoia l' Olmiera Long live the King and the Peace and let the Olmiera perish The women the children every body put on white colours and they which had no other made use of their Handkerchiefs or white paper On the other side the Olmeisti and others of the Princes party distinguish'd themselves by Isabella and blew The next Lords day by order of the Prince of Conty there were present at the Council the Counts of Marsin de Mora Fiesco de Mata de Antel the Marquess of Lusignan Coll. Baltasser the Counsellors Ramont Du Duc and Spagnet who had been at the Exchange to desire Peace the President Fresne was also call'd to the Council who had conceal'd himself for two years together under pretence of a fit of sickness real or feigned They argued and discuss'd this Affair with variety of opinions some of the Frondeurs to hinder them from coming to a Conclusion endeavor'd to divert the Resolutions of the Assembly and delay time But this being discover'd by some who were well enough acquainted with the intention of the Frondeurs and understood how much it imported them not to lose time they remained behind in the Exchange with some other of their friends and besides those they had with them the day before getting some other active Persons they heartened their Deputies who at that instant were at the Arch-bishops Palace and startled Marsin their number being encreased to
Dance and not only disposed the mindes of the Inhabitants but observing what pass'd gave intelligence to Father Bertaut who follow'd the business whilst Ythier was sick Besides this another private Treaty was set on Foot with the Irish of that Garrison But the Governour not fully confiding in that Nation disgusted with those that had ordered them thither and not satisfied with those that had receiv'd them kept so vigilant an eye over them that having a suspition of some design he caus'd their Officers to be secur'd and disperst the Soldiers amongst his own companies he most trusted The Duke of Candale who was too Generous to approve of a victory obtain'd by Circumvention or treachery could not endure any such dishonorable ways but resolv'd to besiedge that City and reduce it with his Sword in his hand according to the more Glorious methods of War He had already caus'd the Artillery to be embarqu'd and dispatch'd the Marquess de Sovebeuf with part of his Troops commanded by the Marquess de Cavillac and the Count de St. Germain to invest it But the Citizens knowing how prejudicial it would be to expect a formal Siedge resolv'd after the example of the Bourdelots to betake themselves to their Arms and force the Guard of the Gates out of the hands of the Garrison The Governour having notice of their design and being at that time in Treaty about leaving the Countrey upon condition he might be permitted to march with his Troops to the Prince of Condy his Master he drew up all his men immediatly in the great Market-place and his head being a little hot with wine having been at a Wedding-dinner he went haftily accompanied only with his Page and one of the Consuls of the City to the house of Budan the Kings Attourney to demand the reason how they curst hold such private Assemblies without his cognizance and permission when he came there they repuls'd him very rudely and told him there was no such Assembly but he pressing on to enter by force some of the Attourneys friends discharg'd their Firelocks upon him so that he fell down dead in the place upon which the Inhabitants taking heart they issued into the streets arm'd crying out Viva il Ré e la Pace Long live the King and the Peace and dragging his body about in a most barbarous manner The Soldiers were in no small confusion upon this accident the Officers could not keep them together nor oppose them against the fury of the people they running from their colours some one way some another insomuch that the City remain'd entirely in the Citizens hands without further obstacle who immediately dispatch'd a Messenger to the Marquess de la Douze to desire a Passport for their Deputies to wait upon the Duke of Candale from whom they desired the benefit of the Amnesty and to return to their obedience to his Majesty as they accordingly did one of the most seditious amongst them being hang'd up several others banish'd and the Officers and Captains of the Quarters chang'd Villeneuf d' Agenois proud that they had resisted the Count de Harcourt and defeated his attempts emulating the fury of the Olmiera of Bourdeaux and in imitation of those inhabitants they listed several Companies boasting to defend their liberty To suppress their insolence the Kings forces under the Command of the Marquess d' Aubeterre approach'd the Town at the time when their grain being ripe with which that place does exceedingly abound the Inhabitants were preparing for Harvest so that the Citizens foreseeing the loss of their Revenues and that they could not live happily being deprived of their estates they preferr'd the fear of misery before the ambition of liberty and sent Deputies to the Prince of Conty supplicating him to send them succour or make their Peace But Bourdeaux having already capitulated and the Prince of Conty laid down his Arms and retir'd to Cadillac they began to treat with the Conte de Vaillac and afterwards with the Duke of Candale who sent thither la Ribere a Counsellour of State and Commissary of his Army with whom their Amnesty was concluded upon condition that their walls should be pull'd down their fortifications demolished and the Citizens who had bin too busie and pragmatical to pay 4000 Pistols besides to deliver 20 persons prisoners to be dispos'd of as the Duke pleas'd two of which were hang'd presently Dureteste also arrested by Order from the Count d' Estrade was executed at the same time Whilst the Duke of Vandosme and Candale were proceeding with great sweetness and Moderation towards the settlement of Affairs in Bourdeaux they omitted not to watch over the Actions of some perfidious persons who became more savage and brutal by how much the Generals repleat with all vertue used them with more then ordinary kindness and courtesie Sir George Cartret an English-man had intelligence that one Edwards sent by the Parliament of England lay privately in a certain place in the Town blowing up the coals of Rebellion which were not quite extinct but lay still glowing in the hearts of some seditious people About the same time a small Felucca was taken casually with Letters from Lenet to the said Edwards inviting him to a Counsel which was to be held aboard the Spanish Admiral Two Citizens of Bourdeaux were apprehended likewise with Letters from the said Lenet to several persons in the Town and particularly to certain Ladies By all these Discoveries it being sufficiently clear their design was to reunite with the Spaniards and to revive the hopes of the Frondeurs which were not yet quite extinguish'd the Dukes were more vigilant then before and applied themselves with all imagineable diligence to find out fit remedies for these wounds which were not yet well closed After the Procession of the 15. of August Espagnet was imprisoned and sent with a good Guard to the Castle of Angoulesme Passports were given to several persons suspected to contrive new troubles to remove elsewhere among which were the Counsellors du Duke de Manvesin and la Chese Some Troops were commanded towards Merau to be imbark'd if need were in the Kings Ships in order to the ingaging of the Spanish Fleet which was then at Anchor within sight of Royan a small Town but of great strength and importance having Xaintonge on its right hand and the Country of Medoc on its left Other Souldiers were sent into Xaintonge where the whole Countrey was in Armes apprehending the landing of the Spaniards in those parts And all Inconveniences were with such diligence prevented by the order of Mazarine that the Rebellion could by no wayes take Footing again nor disturb the peace and tranquillity of the Bourdelots Who being grown wise at their owne cost had found that the worth and excellency of good Orders is not to be discern'd without a sence and experience of disorders The HISTORY of the Managements of CARDINAL MAZARINE Part II. Lib. II. AFfairs going on in this manner in Guienne
with such advantage to the King and glory of the Cardinal whose fortune appear'd more and more favourable to him in all his Enterprizes In the other parts on the Frontiers of Flanders the Armies encamp'd themselves with different designes The Spaniards with the Prince of Condy trusting in the greatness of their force which consisted of 30000 fighting men extended their quarters and lay at large seeking to allure the French Army to a Battel because if they obtein'd the victory they hoped to advance to the very Gates of Paris to encourage those as were dispos'd to sedition to create new troubles before the Affairs in Guienne were compos'd to the advantage of the King and by forcing their way into the heart of the Countrey to fill the whole Kingdom with horrour and confusion The number of their Counsellors being great the opinions were various what course they were to steer to bring their designs to a happy issue For though the Prince of Condy stood firm in his opinion of marching to the Seine without engaging in any tedious Leagure yet the Spanish Captains were backward in concurring with the undaunted thoughts of this warlike Prince as being fearful to engage their Army in some desperate Affair or puff up the Prince with too much glory of whose instability as a French-man though their experience since has convinc'd them of his constancy it appear'd they were not a little jealous after various consultations upon the best and most seasonable expedient it was resolv'd all ways should be tried to force the Enemie to a battel and according to the event of that they might proceed afterwards to other resolutions With these designes the Army advanc'd facing the French for several days and parted only by the River Oyse The Mareshal de Turenne though in number inferiour to the Spanish Army out of the greatness of his courage would with all his heart have accepted of the Combate but his generous Spirit was restrain'd by the mature experience he had gain'd to his great glory in 22 Campaigne's in which though young he had always the Principal Command besides he was with-held by express orders from the Cardinal who considering very wisely that the fortune of the whole Kingdom depending upon that Army they ought not to expose their past labours their present condition and their future hopes to the hazard and uncertainty of a Battel with so much disadvantage wherefore in this case following the example of that politick Roman who by his cunctation and delays destroy'd the Army of the Carthaginians He contented himself to Alarm the Enemies Camp now in the slanck now in the Front now in the Rear and by forcing them somtimes to keep close somtimes to hasten somtimes to retard their March reduce them to a scarcity of provisions and finally to frustrate all the designes they had contrived against France But their being in the Mareschal Turenne no less then in the Prince of Condy an ardent and immense desire of glory he could not satisfie the fervour of his mind if in so conspicuous an occasion he gave not some proof or testimony of his valour He past the River therefore one day with 7 or 800 Horse and joyning with his main Guard which was kept on the other side he fell upon the Enimies Guards at the head of the Fens of Fonsomme and charg'd them so briskly that he beat them into their main Body took several Prisoners and return'd with great honour to his quarters In the mean time the King the Cardinal and the whole Court arriv'd at the Army the 24. of July where he was received with extraordinary applause there being drawn up in excellent Order an hundred Squadrons of Horse and 18 Battalions of Foot in all about 16000 old Souldiers well inured to the Warres with a great Number of experienc'd Officers and Reformadoes The Mareschal de Turenne being willing to entertain the King with the sight of a Skirmish very much desired by his Majesty who is naturally Martial He forded the Oyse with his light Horse Gens d' armes and about a Thousand other select Horse and fell again upon the same Guards of the enemie and beat them back The Prince of Condy being confident that upon the arrival of the King the French Generals would dispose themseves for a Battel he put his Troops in Order and stood firm observing their motion till the King was retreated and understanding afterward it was but a party of Horse he was much troubled he had not advanc'd and try'd his fortune in a charge The King remain'd all that day in the Camp animating every body with the Majesty of his presence and filling them with an impatient desire of signalizing themselves in his service He dined at the Mareschal Turenne's with a great number of his principal Officers who had the honour to be called by his Majestie to his own Table He supped with the Mareschal de la Ferte Seneterre in the same order and return'd to lodge in the Mareschal de Turenne's Quarters in the midst of the Army The Cardinal having given the Generals Orders and Instructions how they should regulate themselves that Campagne return'd with the King to Paris Two or three days after the Kings departure the Spanish Army quitted their Posts and took their March directly towards San Simon and at Serocourt pass'd over the Somme The French Army follow'd them by the way of la Fere and quarter'd at Chery and Maiau and pass'd the Oyse at the place where it formes it self into a little Island and a little above Verduel and Trauessy they drew into Battalia from whence they march-to Fargny where they encamp'd observing always the enemy that they might not have time to sit down before any place and entrench themselves which was their design after they found how difficult it was to draw the French to an engagement The Prince of Condy suspecting that Turenne would fall upon his Rear as he was passing St. Simon he march'd through with all speed and lodged within a league of Ham doubting he would attaque that most important place scituate upon the Somme betwixt St. Quintin and Peron This sudden motion obliged the French Generals to advance to Chauny a Town upon the Oyse and from thence to Noyon the chief City of a County upon the same River with a strong wall about it and well-peopled where they made a halt for some days while the Spaniards facing them the Prince of Condy pass'd with six thousand men at Magny and march'd from thence to Roye and approaching it in three several places he forced it to surrender Turenne hearing what had pass'd and suspecting he might surprize some of the Towns upon the Somme he advanc'd to Magny Condy designing against Corbie pretended to march with part of his Army towards Beauvais to draw the French Army from their Post and at the same time to invest Corbie Turenne who by long experience understood the Arts of the Prince and knew very well
nor by the Prince but by a third person Chosen to that purpose by them both The Duke of Lorrain pretending that by the ill Air of that place his Troops were grown sickly and died daily on a sudden without the least intimation to the Arch-Duke he March'd off with his Forces to the great wonder and astonishment of the other Generals for without his forces which made up the third part of the Army if the French should attempt the relief of the Town they might easily effect it and force them to raise the Siege not without great danger of a further disaster wherefore the Count de Fuensaldagne followed the said Duke who was already some leagues off and overtaking him at Mariambourg with much ado perswaded him back to the Leagure The first Salley the besieged made was upon those that were lodged on the Countrescarp towards the point of the Half-Moon by 60 choice men arm'd all of them with a kind of Syths upon strong staves with which having entred the work they cut all in pieces that were advanc'd the most forward after this Salley another Captain issued out with 45 men and two Granadeers and entring into another work advanc'd by the enemy against the Bulwark of Chene under the Pallisadoe to facilitate their passage into the ditch they put all they found within it to the sword Yet notwithstanding such brave opposition the Besiegers ceas'd not to double their strength advancing to the Wall of the Bulwarks to open a breach with their Mines come to an assault In the mean time the besieged made another Sally upon the Spanish quarter doing them great mischief and taking Prisoners a Lieutenant Colonel with a Spanish Captain The besiegers some few days after opening a way into the Foss they pass'd it by the help of two Bridges of Bavins and gave fire to their Mines under the aforesaid Bulwarks one of which prov'd ineffectual by the diligence of those that were within the other took effect at the Bulwark of Chene where the Governour received a wound in the Head by a Musquet-shot who notwithstanding caus'd himself to be carried up and down in a Chair where his Presence was most requisite Two breaches in the mean time were made in the front of these bulwarks and furiously assaulted by the Spaniards and as stoutly defended by the Garrison The same night the besiegers were repuls'd in another assault upon the half-Moon yet not so but that they lodg'd themselves at the point of it carried it afterward for they within not being able to defend it any longer thought best to abandon it especially there being no Port of Communication which made them doubt that if it hapned to be forc'd all those men would be lost of which they stood in need The Governor having taken a review of the remainder of his men fit for service and finding they amounted not to 300 and seeing the breaches open in the bulwarks and another Battery began upon the Courtin which had no defence without nor water in the Ditch That same night the enemy was ready for the assault he resolv'd to capitulate which was concluded on the 30th of September and on the first of October he march'd out with 220 Souldiers with honourable conditions and was convoy'd to Charleville This Town was deliver'd into the hands of the Prince of Condy garrison'd by his souldiers and the Government of it given to the Duke d' Anguien his son which gave some resentment to such as were truly for the interest of his Majesty of Spain who discoursing politickly among themselves said that they had lost Mouson and not gain'd Rocroy for it remaining in the Princes hands would serve rather to foment his pretensions and facilitate his reconcilement with the Court of France then to augment his affection to the service of Spain Rocroy being taken the Spanish Army remain'd there for some days to demolish their lines of Circumvallation and make up the breaches and finding themselves much weakned and harrass'd with that siege they retired into the countrey about Avennes to refresh themselves the Prince remaining at Rocroy being fallen ill of a quartane Ague The Mareschal de Turenne having taken Mouson as hath been related left in it a Garrison of 600 Foot with the Regiment of the Count de Grand Pre giving him the Command of it and passing the Mose march'd directly towards Meziers and whilst he lay there he had News of the Surrender of Rocroy At the same time the Count de Novalles advanc'd to Vervins with 1500 men and having taken it Mareschal Turenne March't to Aubigny to observe more narrowly the motion of the Enemy and obstruct their attempting of any other place and here he rested for some days Whilst he was at Meziers he sent the Marquess d' Uxelles with 1200 men towards the Castle of Bousancy which not being capable of relief from the Garrisons of Stenay and the adjacent Towns by reason they were watch'd with a Party of Horse under the Count de St. Maur it surrendred before the Cannon came up The King was come from Paris the first day of September and after a short stay at Amiens removed to Soissons the 30. of the said month and thence to Laon in order to the relieving of Rocroy which he had a design to have attempted and to that purpose the Duke of Elbeuf was call'd out of Picardy who with 3000 men lay quartered in those parts to which the King joyn'd the greatest part of his Guards but the Surrender hapning before all the Preparations were ready those thoughts were laid aside and chang'd into another resolution taken up by the Cardinal with great undauntedness and courage He judged it very convenient for the King to go to Amiens whilst Affairs were in that posture to cajole the Duke of Chaunes out of that City and Cittadel who had insinuated himself into the possession of that place after the death of his Brother and as was doubted would keep it contrary to the desire of the Kings Counsel and thought the said Duke having a considerable estate in France and his mind well compos'd to the service of the King was suppos'd to have no other intent but to create a jealousie in the Court thereby to addvance his fortune which Arts are no where practised so much as in France nevertheless it was judg'd no ill piece of policy to secure themselves against the least suspicion of a person who by the Variation of his mind might contribute so largely to the prejudice of his Soveraign And though the said Duke had sent to the Court the Letters which were writ him by the Prince of Condy full of invitations and promises if he would engage on his side yet the Cardinal look'd upon it as a Seasonable piece of service to make sure of that important place considering how unstable the minds of men are and particularly of that Nation in whose brains there always boyls a certain vivacity more turbulent
with the desire of Novelty then the Waters with the Wind. All this was managed and effected without noise the said Duke being contented to deliver it up to the Sieur Bar and he in Exhange to enter upon the Government of Dorlans held by the said Bar To which was added the Title of his Majesties Lieutenant General in the parts about Dorlans and a certain sum of Money payd him for such Arms and Ammunition as he had provided at his own Charge in the Cittadel of Amiens But the end of this Voiage was not barely the securing of Amiens but to be more ready at hand to assist the Army with his Counsels and besides the usual Guards of Horse and Foot there being great numbers of the Nobles attending the King with the one and the other to succour the Army in time of need Nevertheless it had not been amiss had their Majesties stay'd in Paris to prevent such accidents as might arise in that City where the sinister intentions of some persons towards the Government were not absolutely dispell'd especially the Archbishop being decrepit and the Cardinal de Retz to succeed him new troubles might arise among the people who would have pretended not to be satisfied without their Pastor he being a person of much esteem amongst them for his Generosity But there being a necessity of the Kings going into the Field the Cardinal thought to evade all accidents that might happen and to remove the said Retz out of Paris as a person of too high and extravigant a spirit to be left behind to offer him his liberty and the Kings favour upon condition he would renounce the hopes of his future succession and retire to Rome with promise to stay there and not return into France in recompence of which he promis'd him an Equivalence to the Archbishoprick though his Uncle was living and other assistance besides to augment his dignity and splendor Cardinal de Retz though under the durance and inconveniences of a Prison preferr'd the glory of his Constancy before all other private considerations and being puff'd up with hopes of seeing in a short time the face of things altered either by the death of the Arch-bishop or by the means of his friends at Rome emulous of Mazarine he stood firm in the Negative not to quit his dignity declaring That for the King he would do this or any thing else to the very effusion of his blood and loss of his whole estate but knowing it to be no other but the Artifice and interest of Mazarine he could not swallow so bitter a potion presented to him by his most irreconcileable enemy The Pope though not much inclin'd to the interest of France declar'd that the Proposition in his judgment was honourable and practicable of this also the Prisoner had notice but it would not sweeten the bitterness of his mind who bearing his adversity with great constancy he gain'd the reputation of an intrepid person and having found a way to write to the Sacred Colledge of Cardinals in Rome Letters full of Lamentation with earnest requests to be assisted with their Protection by whom he did humbly conceive he ought not to be abandon'd for fear of manifest prejudice to the dignity of the Purple One of the Cardinals of principal credit amongst them seeing they were inclined to answer him declar'd in delivering his opinion that he could not see why they should engage in an Affair more likely to prove a detriment to the Church then any benefit to the prisoner seeing they could give him no other assistance then by words which would perswade more by gentleness then by rigour He urged moreover that Cardinal Mazarine was in the same or greater perplexities with the Parliament of Paris and that nothing have been done in his behalf though concurrent with the service of the King his Master much less were they obliged to do any thing for Cardinal de Retz who was at that time in his Majesties displeasure The Counsel of this Cardinal being heared and approved as the best gave occasion to the resolution they took of interceding to his Holiness that out of his paternal care he would exhort his most Christian Majesty to grant Cardinal de Retz his liberty The King shew'd himself very ready and after divers Negotiations the Dutchess of Chevreuse undertook it shuffling in Conditions for the Duke of Lorrain who though he was secured by the Spaniards as we shall hereafter relate Nevertheless the Treaty about the Cardinal was not laid aside but at last was concluded upon Condition he should renounce his Coadjutorship of Paris giving him as many Benefices as were Equivalent to that Arch-bishoprick the revenue of which amounted to a vast sum This affaire was almost brought to a Period all difficulties being reduc'd to two points the one about the value of the Benefices the other about the security for the performance when the death of the Archbishop chang'd the face of Affaires but though the Curates of Paris all the factious party and the friends of the Coajutor had rais'd new tumults in his behalf nevertheless the Cardinal resolv'd to accept of the Conditions offered him Being brought therefore from the Castle of Vincennes he was delivered into the hands of the Mareschal de la Melleray who convey'd him to Nantes where he was to remain till the Articles agreed on were accomplished after which he was to be sent to Rome and money given him for his Voiage and subsistence there but he making his escape from Nantes all things were disordered again as we shall relate in its proper place In the mean time the enemies of Mazarine seeing their Artifices and Cabals to ruine him ineffectual they began to plot and contrive how to take away his life It was divulged that the Prince of Condy had a hand in this business upon a suspicion that the Cardinal had attempted his life It is most certain as was afterwards made manifest that neither the one nor the other were true but that all was plotted and designed by the malice of the common enemies One Recous and Bertau were gain'd and perswaded to do the deed who being resolv'd upon the Enterprize they began to frequent the Louvre and to watch for a place and time to put their design in execution it hapned that Letters were accidentally intercepted which gave such discoveries as were sufficient to cause them to be apprehended upon which they freely declar'd their resolution to have stabb'd the Cardinal with a knife as he was coming down as he was accustomed every night from the Kings Apartment by certain private and strait stairs They were according to their deserts condemn'd to be broken upon the wheel the 11th of October in Paris near the Bastile in the great street of St. Anthony The Cardinal according to the gentleness of his nature and as a true Prince of the Church abhoring such bloody spectacles interceded very earnestly for their Pardon and had certainly obtain'd it if
in so enormous a case it could have bin done without violence to justice which in such accidents ought not to be overpowered by pity and compassion There follow'd several other Executions in Paris upon persons imprison'd for hainous Offences but without doubt the King's Clemency was greater then his Justice they that received grace and pardon being superiour in Number to those that were punish'd We cannot omit in this place the action of a dilinquent who being to loose his Head declar'd his ambition should triumph over his fate and therefore before he was to appear upon the Scaffold as he had been to go to a Feast he put himself in a gay dresse caus'd his face to be Shaved his haire curld and powdered and his Mustaccio's turn'd up boasting with an undaunted boldness That Persons of Honour even in the most ignominious death ought to die like themselves And though clemency and too much indulgence gives but fresh boldness and encouragement to fall into the same crimes again and is therefore look'd upon in many peoples opinions as a very ill Maxime yet that was no impediment to the present Councils for to all generous minds the opportunity of meriting the benedictions of such as received grace being much rather to be chosen then the imprecations of those which were punish'd the Kings Ministers took this course whereby their Charity working upon Heaven has since produc'd those Miracles that have rendred his Government the happiest who bearing the hereditary Title of most Christian has to his everlasting honour added to it the Epithite of most merciful And certainly they may justly be called Miracles which were seen in France in this Year 1653. for whilst it was expected and too probably that that Kingdome could not avoid destruction by so many storms and tempests both at home and from abroad The Heavens cleered up on a sudden and that Clime became quiet sedate which was before so dismally dreadful for by the reduction of Guienne and Bourdeaux being rid of that fastidious diversion they were able to use those Armes in other places which have since secured the Frontiers from daily Alarms and penetrating into Catalonia and Lombardy interrupted those designes which by the favour of their antecedent Victories would have brought extraordinary advantage to thinterest of Spain Whilst the military Affairs in Catalonia Guienne and Champagne were managed in this manner in Piemont also they began to have a better face and those doubts to clear up which by reason of their want of assistance the people of that Province might have reasonably pretended if to evade the calamities of a War they had come to an Agreement with the Spaniards For the Count de Quincè having past into Piemont and by order from Mazarine being enforc'd with fresh Troops from France he advanc'd with 5 or 6000 men into the Enemies Countrey and encamping at Annone upon the Banks of the Tanaro in a months time that he was there he infested the Countrey about Alexandria with continual incursions after which he return'd into the Territory of Montferrat and passing the Po at Verrica he went to encamp above Crescentino to observe the motion of the Marquess of Caracene who having taken the field with 8000 men was come to Foâ—tane and Palazzuolo three miles distant Here the Armies remain'd several days observing one anothers motion in which time the French made several excursions and one in particular with 1500 men as far as Vercelli afterwards before they drew off Quince drew out his Horse into the Fields of Bertola within Cannon-shot of the enemies Camp and challenged the Spaniards to a battel but they holding it as a Maxime to tire out the French fury with the Spanish Phlegme laugh'd at his defiance This Gallantry of the French vanishing in this manner without effect Quincè repass'd the Po in the Month of July and entred a fresh into Montferrat passing the Tanaro upon a Bridge of Boats near Asti and from thence having stay'd two days at Rochetta he encamped at Monbersel At the News of this March the Marquess of Caracene cross'd the Po likewise with his Troops near Pontestura and traversing Montferrat came to Felezzano to pass the Tanaro at Rochetta but discovering the enemy ready to oppose him he went to pass it lower towards Alexandria advancing as far as Nizza de la Paglia Quince stayed observing his motion about 15 days at Castel nuovo Bruzato where hapned daily skirmishes betwixt their Horse But Caracene resolving finally to fall into Piemont and by this diversion oblige the French to quit Monferrat he pass'd the Po at Pontestura and began to scour the Countrey round about which yet was not sufficient to make Quince remove who judging it a thing very prejudicial to transfer the War into the Countrey of his Friends and Allies he took another resolution He sent his baggage to Asti and forded the Tanaro at Rochetta and so passing to Bormida by the way of Novi he came to Serravalla a great Village above Alexandria upon the Confines of the Territories of Genoa betwixt the Rivers Scrivia and Orba and having sack'd it he March'd towards Tortona and Castel nuovo di Scrivia making great Booties in those places where he was not expected Upon this Caracene was constrained to change his designes upon Piedmont and pass with all diligence to Alexandria draining his Garrisons and drawing all the forces together he was able to cut off the retreat of the French to Nizza But Quince having notice both of his motion and design he march'd by Cassino di Stradda by Aicqui and by the vale of Bistagno and Nizza where the Spanish Army was arrived before him The same Night the French retreated to Santo Stephano and hasted away to gain the Pass of la Madonna de Tennello preventing the enemie who arriv'd there at the very instant that the French had made themselves Masters of it with their Vauntguard Here they fell a skirmishing but with reservation on the Spanish side who would not engage themselves in a Battel with the French who though they were inferiour in number yet were too strong for them in respect of the goodness of their Horse Quince past directly towards Alba without any stop and from thence to Govenne betwixt Alba and Asti extending his Troops along the Banks of the River Tanaro where the French made a stay till the Arrival of the Mareschal de Grancè who having pass'd the Mountains with a Recruit of 1200 men on the 18. of September arrived at the Camp where informing himself of the state of the Spanish Army which was likewise encamp'd upon the same Confines endeavouring to penetrate further into Piedmont he had News that Caracene was removed from Montenego and march'd with all diligence to gain the Pass of the Tanaro at a place called Rochetta with design to go to Felezzano Hereupon they held a short Council of War and it was resolv'd not only to hinder his Advance but engage him
in the Enemies Countrey and the Spanâ—ards as much as they could to prevent them upon which several skirmishes hapned with reciprocal successe Afterwards the French Army dislodg'd from Mountemagno and came to Tuline attended still by the Spaniards which at the same time discamp'd from Felezzano and was got in the Enemies front Here Caracena and Grancè had a Conference each of them accompanied with the principal Persons in their Armies discoursing together for two houres with great Complement and Civility the French remaining well satisfied with the humanity and valour of Caracena holding him in the esteem of a most prudent and most generous Captain This Conference being over the French Army kept the Field for some time now in this place and now in that but still according to the Instructions they had receiv'd from Mazarine in the Enemies Countrey where by the vigilance of the Spanish Commanders not being able to gain any Post to subsist in and at length the Weather growing sharp they were forced to retire into Piemont where they winter'd their Foot and sent their Horse over the Mountains into Dauphinè Bress and Dombes and in this manner ended the Campagne in Italy in the Year 1653. Whilst things went thus in Flanders and Italy Letters were brought to Court with the Capitulations of Bourdeaux which being read in the Royal Council and the relation of de Las heard who was sent from the Generals and the Sieur d' Estrades the Amnesty was immediately dispatch'd away conteining an entire abolition of all crimes without exception of any but Francar the Counsellor Blaru and Desert Merchants deputed from the Olmiera into England as also Durateste and Villars Heads of that Faction with Clerat their Agent in Spain It was decreed moreover in the said Amnesty That the Citizens should renew their Oath of Allegiance That they should repair the Castles of Trompet and du Ha as necessary to restrain the unruly turbulencies of the people and support the honest and more honourable fort it being observeable able in all Cities that the Populacie is always an enemy to those who have any thing to lose This Declaration of the Kings being propos'd to La vie the Advocate-General who was at that time at Bourdeaux to draw up a Process against the two Spies which Marsin and Lenet had sent back into the City he promis'd the Duke of Vendosme it should be speedily verified who expected from every one of the Parliament such testimonies of their submission as might be able to cancel and obliterate the memory of their late disobedience But the said La Vie making use of this opportunity to render himself necessary created so many difficulties and ambiguities perplexing it with such intricate Interpretations that gave encouragement to the Counsellors of the Parliament to restrain the Kings pleasure with their Comments Glosses and Modifications that they seem'd not only to be the Intepreters but the Moderators and Disposers of his Majesties Favours as if they had come by their means They stirr'd up the people particularly not to suffer the yoke as they call'd it of the Castles ordering to renew their instances at Court for the demolishing of all the Fortresses in the City and that if it should be the Kings peremptory resolution to force that servitude upon them they should not however consign the said places to the Governour-General of the Province This reflexion was not at all pleasing to the Cardinal and the other Ministers much less the Contion that the Publication of the Amnesty should be deferr'd till the Parliament should be established and resident in Bourdeaux as if that had been deemed necessary for the security of the people and to make valid his Majesties Will and Pleasure which made the Court the more suspicious of them by how much they press'd to have their desires in this Point granted These kinde of Proceedings and Extravagancies of the Parliament were extreamly resented by the Dukes of Vandosme and Candale as looking like manifest demonstrations of their express disobedience wherfore they order'd the Counsellors which were come from Reole to Bourdeaux to return again to their residence The said La vie who was suppos'd to be the Author of this boldness for his own ends was expresly forbidden to abide in Bourdeaux After which having with a wile procured the Original of the Declaration out of the hands of the Clerk of the Parliament it was published by Order of the Generals by the Magistrates of the City The Court was as much surprized at these disorders as disgusted with the Parliament of Guienne the most Loyal of whose Members seem'd by this to be as much Rebels as the rest wherupon by a severe decree of the 26. of September they were prohibited to their great mortification to meddle in any matters pertaining to the State The King Generals observing the inconvenience of their Troops lying so near the Town resolv'd to remove them and by the surrender of Peregueux the war in that Province being at an end the Count de Bougy Lieutenant-General was by Order from the Court sent away with 6000 Horse and Foot towards the Frontiers of Flanders Three Thousand other Horse and 2000 Foot were Commanded into Catalonia there remaining only part of the Duke of Vandosme's Army in the Country called Betwixt the two Seas to be ready to be Ship'd upon the first Order in case the Spaniards should continue to block up the Mouth of the Garonne who landed some men within 12 Leagues of Blaye and set on fire certain stacks of Hay belonging to the Duke of St. Simon and on the other side they fell into the Country of Medoc and burnt all the Neighboring Villages The Duke of Vendosme in the mean time having view'd all his Ships under the Fort Caesar and with those which had been equipped by the Bourdelots during the Siedge he proposed to engage the Spanish Fleet as was earnestly desired by the Duke of Candale and the Count d' Estrades who to that end had brought along with him 700 Seamen from the Isles under his Government of Rochel But the Sea Commanders represented that their force was unequal in respect of their great Ships for though they out-numbred them in the whole yet the French Ships were much less in bulk so that the Spaniards had great advantage by their Galeons full of fresh men with which they would be too hard for the French Fleet which was neither well mann'd nor provided with other things necessary And if the Spaniards should put out to Sea or keep themselves at the Mouth of the River where they then were it was not possible for the Galleys though never so well arm'd nor the small Ships in the French Fleet to do them any mischief But if they should advance higher in the River where the Channel is narrower and full of Sand then they might be able to Attaque them with more advantage To rectify the differences and difficulties the Sea-Commanders objected the Count
new Levies from Germany which had at that time Orders to march arriving they might be able to forme a Leagure and by taking that Town free the whole Countrey of Champagne from their Incursions These Reasons prevailing the Court removed from Laon to Chalons The Marquess de Castelneau with 1500 men Monsieur de Saint Maur with 500 Horse and some Foot provided by the Cardinal on the 21. of October block'd up the Town disposing themselves into four Quarters without any line of Circumvallation because their Camp being secured by the Armies of the aforesaid Mareschals they concluded they should be able to reduce it without any formal siege And though it seem'd ridiculous at first that 3500 men should undertake the reducing of a City and and strong Castle Garrison'd with above 1500 Souldiers under good Commanders which were the Marquess de Forz Governour of the Town and Monsieur de Montal Commander of the Castle and indeed the chief Director as being a particular Confident of the Prince of Conde's yet the siege was undertaken with such briskness and dexterity that the unexpected success did much confirm the great Judgment and Parts of the Cardinal in all mens opinion And certain it is his good fortune in that Enterprize added very much to his honour forasmuch as against the sense of the whole Council of War he alone defended the possibility of it The Marquesses of Castelneau and Uxelles the Count de Novailles and Mounsieur de St. Maur commanded in the Camp before St. Menehaud in quality of Lieutenant Generals The Provisions for the Camp were supply'd from Chalons and because the Countrey being ruin'd by the War could not furnish them with Horses and Carts for the conveying of such things as were necessary for the siege they remedied that defect with those belonging to the baggage of the Court which was never thought on by the enemie who look'd upon that Enterprize as vain being undertaken without conveniencies for carrying on the siege and the rather because Clermont flanck'd them on the left side whose Garrison scour'd the Countrey continually and much molested the Neighbouring villages One day they hapned upon the Court-Waggons carrying Ammunition and Provisions to the Camp and took away their Horses Whilst the Cardinal was employed in promoting this siege the Mareschal de Turenne march'd from Aubigny with five or six thousand men to observe the Enemies motion who made a shew as if they intended towards Rocroy The Mareschal de la Ferte Seneterre put himself with his men betwixt Clermont and the Mose to give encouragement to the Leagure The Count de Beaujeu with 1500 Commanded men march'd further into Picardy to have an eye to the Frontier Towns The Duke de Elbeuf and the Count de Illebonne his son with their Troops kept somtimes at Rosan sometimes at Mon Carnet and somtimes in other stations as Necessity required On the 26. of October the King accompanied by the Cardinal and a great number of the Principal Cavaliers of the Court went to the Camp to see what Posture it was in and to encourage them with his Presence He lodg'd that night in the Abbey of Cicussy belonging to Cardinal Bicchi the next morning he visited the Quarters of Nouailles from thence he went to the top of a Hill under which was the quarter of Castelnau form hence certain Cavaliers to shew their courage pickeer'd within Musquet-shot of the walls the King was very well pleased with their Gallantry which is not unusual among the French Gentlemen the Nobleness of whose blood is for the most part accompanied with undauntedness of mind The King had a Council of War called in his Presence and resolv'd to send Monsieur Villequier to the Town with a summons address'd more particularly to the Marquess de Forz This Marquess by the means of his Father-in-law Monsieur de Vaubecourt Governour of Chalons had treated with the Court and in a manner made his Peace but in the very instant whilst he was in expectation of the Prince of Condy's consent the Town being invested he thought it not consistent with his honour to abandon it and therefore to perform the Punctilio of a generous Cavalier he resolved to defend it and that Montal might have no occasion to suspect him he declar'd he would serve in the siege only in the quality of a private Reformade and leave the care and Government of the whole to him as the accordingly did The 28. of October the King returned to Chalons The 1. of November the Trenches were opened in two places and the French began to batter the Town but with little progress by reason of the brave defence made by the Garrison who by their Salleys and their Counter-batteries gave them more difficulty then was imagin'd Upon the News of this Siege the Prince of Condy who as hath bin said was sick of a Quartan Ague commanded the Counts of Briole and Duraz to draw out what Troops they could out of the nearest quarters and endeavour to relieve the place whilst himself with the Spanish Generals should joyn their Forces not so much to raise the Siege as to quarter in the French Territories The said Counts with the Assistance of the Lorrainers got together 3000 Foot and 2000 Horse and passing the Mose advanced to effect their design which doubtless had succeeded had it not been prevented by the diligence of the Cardinal Who having intelligence of their Motion the 4th of November 1653. at Midnight from Grand-Prè Governour of Mouson he leap'd out of his bed and gave Order immediately He first dispatch'd Mounsieur d' One the Lieutenant of his Guards to Vitry to cause the Count de Bougy with the Troops of Guienne to march with all speed to the Camp He commanded the Gens d' Arms the light Horse of the Kings Guards and his own and all the Gentlemen of his Train to march forthwith He dispatch'd Courriers to all the adjacent parts requiring all souldiers to repair immediately to the Army which he design'd should be commanded by the Mareschal du Plessis Praslin in whose valour and fidelity he had great very great confidence by break of day all the Souldiers and Gentlemen attending the Court appear'd mounted and armed with an alacrity suitable to the greatness of their courage The Mareschal the same day after dinner departed from Chalons and being accompanied by the above-mentioned Guards and a good number of Voluntiers he took his way directly towards the Camp with design to arrive there in the night as privately as he could possibly intending if the enemie appear'd as he expected they would the next morning to fight them but they were too well advised to come on perhaps out of fear of being enclosed by the Mareschal de la Fertè who by Orders from the Cardinal was marching to put himself between Clermont and St. Menehaud a proper place to have fallen upon their Rear in case they should adventure to raise the siege Or else as the
Spaniards pretended afterwards by reason the Duke of Lorrain would not give his consent The next day the Guienne Troops consisting of 12 Regiments of Horse and 10 of Foot all old and well-disciplin'd souldiers arriv'd at the Camp so that the Army being recruited with these and other forces from Germany the Prince of Condy was out of hopes of making any further attempt to relieve it without an entire Army and that with evident danger of being forc'd to a battel which was at that time much desired by the French but not by the Spanish Commanders who would have hazarded too much Wherefore they proceeded very deliberately in seconding the bold Counsels of the Prince of Condy especially the dispute being for a Town belonging to the said Prince so that the more forward he was to engage the more averse they were from venturing their souldiers for another mans advantage besides the Lorrainers pretended they had done enough that Summer and would retire to their VVinter-quarters Upon the Arrival of du Plessis Praslin the siege was carried on with more vigour then before and the Town as bravely defended by Mental with frequent Salleys and reciprocal damages and he would have done much better had not one of his Magazines of Ammunition been fired by a Cannon-shot or some other accident for it was diversly reported The night before the 6th of November the French storm'd the Half-Moon before the Porte du Bois and opened a way into the ditch but the besieged sallying out upon them they not only interrupted their works but took d' Ortis a Lieutenant of a Company in the Kings Guards prisoner and sharply handling several other Officers and Souldiers amongst which Pontet a Captain in the same Guards was wounded The 16th at night they sallied again upon the Guard of Nancre who had then the Command in the Approaches but were repuls'd as they were afterwards in another Sally upon the Trenches guarded by the Regiment of Guards and again two days after they were worsted by Carmon a Captain in the said Regiment but with the loss of la Garde a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Regiment of Burgundy The next day Damon the Serjeant Major of the Town was slain in the ditch as he was viewing which was to convey his men with most security to attaque the enemies works Castelneau in the mean time caus'd a work to be assaulted called the Ferra cavalli and having taken it he descended into the ditch where he prepared a Gallery to shelter their Mines which he happily accomplish'd after he had beat back the besieged and slain several of their men in two considerable Sallies On the other side the Regiments of Uxelles and Dampierre took the Half-Moon on the right hand of the Breach so that the French standing ready to storm on the one side and the Mine ready on the other to blow up the Bastion they within the Garrison wanting Powder the Governour beat a Parley offering to surrender upon good Conditions if they were not reliev'd in 8 days but this was refus'd by the Mareschal who went on with his Works so fast that on the 24. of November 1653. Montal was constrain'd to deliver up the Town marching away to Rocroy on the 27. onely with their Armes and Baggage followed by a few French the most part of those that served under him accepting of the Amnesty entred either into the Kings Pay or retired to their Houses amongst which the Marquess de Forz and others invited by his Majesties clemency and finding by experience that the subjects truest felicity consists in their entire duty to their lawful Sovereign laying aside all bitterness and animosity return'd to their obedience The taking of St. Menehaud concluded the Campagne for that year which in the beginning was likely to have proved very troublesom and dangerous the Kings interest as well for the inequality of their Forces in those parts as for the diversion in Guienne where at that time the Power of the Princes was much greater then the Kings so that by how much the difficulty was the greater to obstruct the progress of the enemy by so much the more did it redound to the Honour of the Cardinal and valour of the Captains who knew how to Mannage their Affaires to the best advantage for having put so happy an end to so many disasters and Misfortunes it was but reasonable to expect the Continuation of their success Seeing the malignity of times can never be so great but at length by the Constant force of policy and prudence it may be overcome The Conquest of this place freed the Neighbouring Country from the Contributions which they most vigorously exacted towards their maintenance During this siege the Cardinal with great vigilance had an eye over all and gave out such Orders as were most convenient for the good Government of the Kingdom He dispatch'd Messengers into Provence with directions for the Galleys to put in all necessary Provision of Victuals into Roses apprehending that after the happy relief of Girona the Spaniards would attempt that place He sent the Captain of his Guards to Brisac to compleat the Negotiations with the Count de Harcourt and put that strong Town once more into the Hands of his Majestie To the turbulent and unquiet spirits of Bourdeaux he apply'd such suitable remedies as made them not only relish the sweetness of Peace but abhor and nauseate their former confusions At length having issued out Orders for disposing the Souldiers into their Winter-quarters upon the Frontiers with the least grievance to the subject as was possible he return'd with the King to Paris where his Majesty made his entry in great triumph and was received with incredible applause and with such admiration of the Cardinals Management that his name became venerable and was immortalized by the very Tongues of those who had formerly traduc'd him By order likewise of the Cardinal Count Harcourt was treated withal for the accommodating his Affairs and to draw him out of Brisac upon a jealousie that he might treat with some foreign Prince and endanger that important place but the business was interrupted upon the very point of Conclusion for whilst he seemed content with the Government of Anjou and the Town of la Fere in lieu of his Government of Alsatia being mischievously informed of a design of seizing the Prince of Armagnac his eldest son who was following his studies in Paris he caus'd him to steal away secretly and come to him to Brisac whereupon the whole Negotiation ceased and their jealousies and diffidences revived It was the general opinion that Count Harcourt being a Person of valour and having such Fortresses in his hand would push on his Affairs to the highest pitch the better to capitulate and make his advantage for his reestablishment at Court but they were mistaken in their Account he had too noble a mind to engage in any Action that might reflect upon his fidelity contenting himself to pay the Garrison and
establish his security in that place without making any new Propositions since the first were interrupted On the other side the Kings Counsel did not much press him for several Reasons The first was because they hoped when once they began to want money the Garrison would revolt for want of their pay The second because they would not engage in a Treaty with him till they were sure he was Master of the Town for Charleroy being also there his Presence was sufficient to create a doubt That the Count's Authority was not absolute The third was that he being a great friend to his own reputation would never be drawn into an Action that might eclipse the glory of his name wherefore they thought it not Prudence to enter into a Treaty with him lest they should be forced to another afterwards with Charleroy So that when Harcourt began to treat with the Court by the mediation of the Baron de Milet and the Abbot of Charente who imparted all to the Duke d' Elbeuf and the rest of his relations and friends the Cardinal did what he could to protract the Affair Monsieur de Besimaux Captain of Mazarins Guards went to Brisac under pretext of finishing the Treaty but in stead of concluding it as he made shew he intended he privately corrupted the Officers of the Garrison of Philipsbourg and prevail'd with them to receive in the Kings Troops publishing a Declaration too injurious to the loyalty of Harcourt as if he had treated to sell that place to the Duke of Lorrain Whereupon Command was given to the Officers of the Kings Stables to receive no future Orders from him as Grand Escuyer of France and Directions dispatch'd to the Mareschal de la Fertè Seneterre to advance with his Troops into Alsatia and make War upon such Towns as held for him that he might be compell'd to accept of such terms as his Majesty should please to grant The Mareschal besieg'd and in a few dayes took the Castle of Betford valiantly defended by the Count della Sufa and sent to Harcourt to deliver up Brisac without further Expostulation and to retire to his Government of Alsatia or to Philipshourg which should be restor'd him The Count shew'd himself very ready to comply with his Majesties Commands entred into a Treaty with the Mareschal and accepted the Articles which both subscribed to by which it was agreed That 40000 Pistols should be deliverâ—d him to pay Charleroy and the Garrison of Brisac and 10000 for himself towards what he had disburs'd in maintaining the Garrisons of Brisac and Philipsbourg The Mareschal dispatch'd away the Sieur de Brinone his Nephew with the Articles to have them ratified at Court But the Cardinal being assur'd that Harcourt could not treat with the Spaniards as not having the Town absolutely at his command much less with the Emperor who would not hearken to any such Proposition as well for the 3 millions which the French were to pay to the Arch-Duke Charles Ferdinand of Inspurg according to the treaty of Munster as also not to give the French occasion to cause the Swedes to return into Germany The Mareschals Agreement was disapprov'd and the Sieurs de Brinon and D' Hautichamp who was sent also to the Court by the Count for the said Ratification were sent back with Orders to revoke what had past wherupon the Sieur de Seneterre writ by Brinon to his son that he should not be disgusted because the Articles were not approv'd but to obey without further dispute The Mareschal observ'd the Orders punctually and sent Brinon to the Count with his Letters of excuse telling him that the King had not approved of his Treaty and that therefore there remained nothing for him to do but to restore all things into their pristine condition putting Brisac immediately into his hands and that he was marching forthwith into Alsatia with his Army to reduce such places as should refuse to submit Harcourt was much troubled at this unexpected News complaining he was deluded and urged that the Mareschal was obliged to make good his Parole for which reason he kept Brinon Prisoner but to no purpose for the Mareschal caused Monsieur D'Hautichamp to be secured and sent away the Sieur de Castelnau Lieutenant-General to reduce Tannes D' Hautichamp perceiving all his instances for his liberty ineffectual he desired the Mareschal to consider him as a Prisoner of War and permit him to go out upon his Parole which being granted he proceeded in his journey towards Brisac and arriving at Tannes at the very instant that Castelnau was about storming the suburbs which were entrench'd he writ suddenly to the Mareschal intreating him to cause them to forbear the assault and assuring him the Count de Harcourt should command the Sieur de Grum Covernour of that place to open the Gates But the Mareschal looking upon this as a delay only to gain time would not condescend to any Protraction Whereupon the suburbs being taken and a Cessation granted by Castelnau till D' Hautichamp returned he departed with all speed and visiting the Mareschal by the way who gave him hopes that the Truce should be continued till the 9th of March in the morning that he might have time to return with an Answer from Brisac but notwithstanding the Truce the Town was sharply assaulted upon intelligence of which Count Harcourt dispatched Orders with all speed to Monsieur Grum to receive the Kings Troops into the Town without further Contest D' Hautichamp sent away the Orders over night by a Souldier of the Kings Guards and was there himself in the Morning early But the Mareschal not willing to receive from Harcourt the thing he knew he could compass himself would not be spoke with and in the mean-while the Town was stormed where Castelnau receiv'd a hurt with a Musquet-shot several other Officers on both sides were wounded The Governour in confidence of the Treaty with the Mareschal coming out of the Town to discourse the business with him was taken Prisoner the Kings forces entred the Town plundred the Governours house and he himself was condemn'd to pay 3000 Pistols to his great regret complaining he had been betray'd under the Publick faith At length Hautichamp obtained liberty to speak with the Mareschal who because the Regiment of Lorrain had been introduced into Tannes whereas at first he demanded only the Town and had promis'd as Count Harcourt affirmed not to meddle with the Castle insisted to have that likewise surrendred allowing the Governour only four days time to expect Orders from the Count. Harcourt again by this last Action resolved to take away all Objections that could be made against his sincerity and at the same time he releas'd Brinon and sent back D'Hautichamp to the Mareschal and thence to the Court to assure his Majesty of his submission without further reserve and that he would retire forthwith to Philipsbourg and there attend his Royall pleasure In this manner this Prince left Brisac at
they should make in France also with the assistance of his forces He complain'd of these things very earnestly urging that Condy might be obliged at least to deliver him one of the Towns in his Possession belonging to Lorrain or otherwise that he might equally participate of the Conquests that should be made with the help of his Army Declaring openly that if they would not consent to one of these Proposition neither would he assist them with his Troops in any Enterprize to be undertaken for the sole profit of the Prince of Condy. Upon these suspicions and jealousies the Spaniard began to think of a remedy for so manifest a danger both present and to come that which imported most was to oppose the French and to pacifie the Elector of Colen with whom it was not convenient at that time to have any dispute Hereupon it was propos'd to the Duke That with his own Troops the Prince of Condy's and some of the Spanish he should make head against the French and the Electors forces the Prince of Condy being unable for that expedition as being sick at that time at Rocroy but the Duke refus'd it nor would so much as stir out of Brussels he was desir'd at least to consign them his Troops but he denied that also which increased their jealousie more and more and gave them greater cause to suspect him It was already three years that the Count of Fuensaldagne had received private Orders from the Court of Spain to secure the Person of Duke when he should see a fit time to effect it but as the success of an Affair which drew so many consequences after it was uncertain and the Count not being able to promise himself whether this Act would be approved or disapproved by the Counsel of Spain when it was done though the King of Spain had every day new Reasons to confirm his resolution without seeking further pretences He address'd himself to the prime Minister to be excus'd from that Commission but could not be dispensed withal On the contrary his Orders were renewed to take the time he should judge most convenient without participating with the Arch-Duke giving him withal the Letter that his Majesty had writ him concerning that Affair and perswaded him to give order about it The Election of the time gave no small trouble to the Count in respect the Dukes comportment rendred the execution of his Orders every day more necessary To secure his Person and not lose his Troops was very difficult For the better execution of his design the Count with great dexterity had gain'd certain of the Dukes chief Officers but without the least discovery of his Plot he made sure of several who promised to stand by him in whatever he attempted The late occasion the Duke gave was of very great importance for the furtherance of this Affair for hereby they should not only pacifie the Elector but satisfie the Emperour who was already informed of all the Dukes Negotiations and had need of the Electors of Colen and Bavaria inseparable in respect of their Parentage and common interest On the one side the securing of the Dukes Person seemed to Fuensaldagne not very difficult he being in Brussels and at a distance from his Army but on the other he saw infinite discouragements for the French Army being within three leagues of Brussels and the Dukes troops united with the Prince of Condy's he knew not though the said Princes had been perpetual enemies how Condy might resent this resolution apprehending perhaps the same fortune himself The Dukes Troops were so near the French they might joyne with them in very few houres the Spanish Army were dispers'd in their Winter-quarters The Count consider'd likewise that the Duke was in good correspondence with the inhabitants of Brussels and that there were many Lorrainers in the town that the Arch-Duke perhaps would not have him taken in the manner as was to be wished for though he had but little friendship for the Duke and was entirely for the interest of the House of Austria yet he was a Prince of so tender a Conscience that he imparted every thing that gave him the least trouble to the Jesuits who being always intent upon the greatness and conservation of their Society would not concern themselves in any thing that might prove a stop or impediment to their common advantage All these Reasons both on the one side and the other kept the Count for three days together in great perplexity of thoughts thinking within himself without daring to communicate it with any one whether he had best conceal his Orders from the Arch-Duke or discover them to him but seeing that danger does always increase with delay he resolv'd to draw the Spanish Army together under pretence of opposing the Enemy and to secure anew the Dukes Troops by Regalio's and Presents of which the said Count was always very liberal He determin'd afterward to impart all to the Arch-Duke to shew him his Orders he had from the King and to present him his Majesties Letter His Imperial Highness concurr'd immediately and the execution of it was disposed in the ensuing manner First they drew 300 Horse about Brussels under another pretence and it was resolved that the Count de Garcies Camp-Master General should go with some particular persons to find out the Duke and conduct him to the Arch-Duke under colour that he must speak with him immediately about urgent Affairs Garcies went and found the Duke with a Father Confessor of the converted Courtizans in their little Church and acquainted him that the Arch-Duke desir'd to speak with him presently about some matters of great consequence that concern'd the interest of the Crown and that he stay'd for him at the Palace The Duke answered Parmi esser l' hora un poco tarda domuttina saro à servirlo I suppose it is too late now I shall wait on him in the morning The Count replied Tengo ordine de condur V.A. alla Corte prima che si faccia notte My Orders are to attend your Highness to the Court before it be night To which the Duke answer'd V. S. vada che la Seguiro If you please to go Sir I shall follow you Being arrived at the broad place before the Palace where the Courtiers use to walk the Count said to him V. A. prenda il cammino verso quell ' altro appartamento tenendo io ordine dal Re mio fignore d' arrestarla Your Highness please to walk towards that other Appartment for I have Orders from the King my Master to Arrest you The Duke stopt immediately and desired to be conducted to the Arch-Duke but was denied leading him hastily to the quarters prepared for him where he was honourably served and guarded by the principal Officers of the Army Assoon as he was entred the Palace the Count de Fuensaldagne sent word to the Burgo-Master to put the inhabitants in Armes and place Guards in all the streets that lead
side from whence they had been formerly reliev'd The Count Marin was sent to possess himself of the Forts of Testa and Certes But though the Cardinal was not insensible that force was the most secure way of reducing that Town to obedience yet considering very prudently it was like to be the longest he began to think of some other way to bring them to a voluntary submission to which end he sent particular instructions The House of Espernon by a long residence in those parts having made many creatures and gain'd much upon the affections of the people contributed exceedingly to the Duke of Candale renewing his Practices with the well-affected Citizens in the Town By the help therefore of their Friends and Confidents there being several others dispos'd also to peace they esteem'd it convenient to take such measures as were most likely to succeed The throng of Countrey-people which were retir'd into the Town increas'd their scarcities very much the corn was conceal'd very dexterously in particular houses the building or repairing of their Mills neglected and the other Machines laid as on purpose out of the way so that their meal failing and the Bakers unable to furnish Bread for such a number of people that coming in great multitudes to receive their distributions began to believe that their necessities would be great and that it was therefore time to think rather of the publick safety then of their private interest Besides this the care and Government of the Hospitals was utterly left off and the poor people sent to their doors who were suppos'd to be the most concern'd in the Continuation of the War and this was done that by their miserable clamours and importunitys they might be brought to consider that not being longer able to contend with those calamities their best way would be to moderate the Obstinacy which caused them The sight of these Troops of poor creatures sighing and begging at their gates who where esteem'd the authors of the War had a wonderfull influence to dispose them to peace whilest they began to feare least those very poor people of whom they had made use for raising those desturbances should fall uppon them and pillage their houses It was also proposed to the Religious orders to expose the Holy Sacrament in all the Churches of the Towne veiled with black to signify that God Almighty was displeas'd with and detested that Rebellion But the Counsellors of Parliament and the Princes suffer'd it to be expos'd in the great Church only to imply that they desired of God a General peace which was the pretence they made vse of to foole and delude the poor people In this kind of destraction they continued till Wednesday the 9th of July 1653. Upon which day after divers private conferences several Marchants mett publickly upon the Exchange and declared it was high time for them to shutt up their Shops seeing they were not like to have any more Trading during the Wars The Prince of Conty having private intelligence of these Murmurs made a publick Cavalcade thorow the City but went no further The next day a certain person call'd de Bas being by his Order apprehended for crying out Peace Peace before the Palace of Judicature all the Neighbouring quarter took up armes and demanded to have him released This de Bas had private Consultations with a conventual Minim call'd Friar Romein who holding correspondence with the Count d' Autenil shew'd a certain writing to several Citizens which he said was from the Prince of Conty wherin he gave them liberty to meet to give him advice of what passed relating to his party but this Affair had another intent for the Friers design was to discover by this means which were the Kings good and bad subjects and the good Citizens perceiving it they proceeded reservedly in communicating things of importance to the Friar The reputation therefore this de Bas had in the common opinion was the cause the Citizens were so obstreporous for his enlargement as to threaten a Commotion without immediate satisfaction The Prince of Conty and Marsin with the greatest part of the Nobility and Officers in the Town got on Horseback forthwith the City-Companies whose Captains for the most part were of the Faction of the Olmiere were commanded to their Arms but the Butchers led up by one Gilbert and Master Isaac arm'd with Musquetoons and other weapons cried out for Peace and that if any one had any particular disgust he should revenge himself with his own hands as he could and not endanger the Lives of the whole City A Hollander that had House and Family in the City told Marsin to his face that they knew how to die but not unreveng'd and that their deaths would not trouble them so they died free-men At this being all amazed it was concluded that all the Olmeisti should meet in the Town-house after dinner where several things were propos'd and the plurality of Voices concurr'd in this to assault the Citizens inhabiting the Quarter towards Rochel and the New-street and to bring down the great Guns against them The Prince of Conty was of a contrary opinion and thought it better to expect the judges and Consuls of the City who were coming to beg of him with great submission that he would not suffer the good Citizens of the Town to be abus'd and ruin'd in compliance with the Olmieri who were about him and had threatned to plunder their houses The Merchants appeared before him and intreated for Peace as the only probable way to prevent greater disorders The Prince reply'd That he would not subject any body by compulsion though it was easie for him to do it but if they would remain constant to the service of his Brother the Prince of Condy and himself he would protect them and their interest and by their unanimity all the difficulties would easily be overcome which their dissentions increased and rendred past Remedy and that he would advise with his Counsel what was best to be done in this Affair During these tumults at Bourdeaux the Count de Fiesco had his Dispatch at the Court of Spain and imbarking in a Frigat at St. Sebastian he arrived at the Port Testa di Bus where at his landing he found all the Citizens in Arms for the Kings and had much ado to escape but his Ship remain'd at the discretion of those Bores who took it and all that was in it making use of their Artillery against the Forts of la Teste de Bus and Sertes which were Garrison'd by the Princes Souldiers to keep open the passage for those that went and came from Spain To these Countrey-men the Count Marin joyn'd with 600 Foot with which recruit in five or six days both those Posts were taken The Count de Fiesco arriving at Bordeaux the twelfth of July went immediatly to the Town-house with the Prince of Conty where with great Rhetorick he magnify'd the power and greatness of the King of Spain and
assured the Olmiera of a speedy and effectual supply of Men Money Ships and all other provisions Affirming he had seen so great and so forward preparations in the Porto di Passage that it could not be long before it would appear Upon this News there was a solemn Assembly appointed by the several Companies in the City where the said Count made the same relation and with so much the more Zeal by how much it was farther from the truth These promises and representations were receiv'd by the honest party with horror but some Counsellors of the Parliament blinded with their own vanity said that the King of Spain's Courtesy was not to be abus'd under whose Protection all things would be happily concluded with absolute quiet and liberty But notwithstanding all this the next day the Presidial Court which is a Magistracy consisting of about 30 persons to whom belongs the administration of ordinary Justice deputed some persons to the Prince of Conty and requested of him in expresse terms that they might have Peace representing that they ought not so easily to beleive the relation of Fiesco who was biass'd by the passion he had for the service of his King by which he drew profit to himself receiving Gifts and Presents from his Catholick Majesty to whom he told as many falsities as he had done there After which all the Religious Orders one after another presented their Addresses for Peace and their publick safety which consisted in their obedience to their natural and lawful King and not in runing vainly after foreign Protectors The same instance was made by the Chapiter of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew But their Deputies were threatned by a Goldsmith called Geraut who was a principal man among the seditious The Ministers of the Huguenots who in all their troubles had shew'd themselves zealous and faithful to the Kings service were likewise check'd by Duratesta The Prince return'd this Answer to them all That he himself was also for Peace provided it might be permanent and safe and when he could be assur'd of obtaining such an one he could be more ready to embrace it then any of them all In the mean time he dispatch'd an Express to the Marquess de Santa Croce General of the Spanish Fleet remonstrating their necessity of of present supplies that the least delay would reduce them to extremities beyond all possible recovery and that he was resolv'd if any thing hapned adverse in attempting their relief to send Baltasser before to scour the ways with a Party of Horse and to follow himself with his Nephew the Duke de Enguien to Tartas and from thence to pass by land to the Frontiers of Spain This was a bold and desperate resolution and as such was oppos'd not only by the Princess but by Marsin and Lenet In the mean time the Citizens being grown weary of the indiscretion and tyranny of the Rascallity of the Olmiera resolved to make themselves Masters of the Gates of the City by surprizing them upon the relieving the Guards which were most of them of the Olmeisti they listed themselves therefore as the common people did to serve in the same manner and forme as the ordinary souldiers Whereupon some of the very Captains of the Olmiera offred to joyn with them in their Petition for Peace Some of the Citizens seeing themselves Masters of the Gates were of opinion their best course would be to bring in the Kings Army and shake off their yoke at a blow But the rest who desir'd no less preservation of the Prince of Conty and his Family then the liberty of their Countrey oppos'd such violent resolutions and endeavor'd to obtain peace by honourable means and not by treachery undertaking the service of his most Christian Majesty with zeal and vigour enough but accompanied with good Order and Decorum reteining still a a duty and respect for the Princes according to the dignity of their Royal Birth designing to reduce all to the Kings obedience by gentle means and upon such termes as might produce most advantage to their Countrey and glory to themselves Whilst these things were in Agitation Marsin and Fiesco had agreed to bring some Troops into the Town to reduce the Citizens to their Will by force of Arms and to vent their whole fury at once they designed to seize upon the Prince of Conty himself and to kill Saracin and the Abbot of Cognac his two principal Confidents The Prince had Intelligence of this Plot from the Jesuits and was desired for his better security to take up his lodging a nights at the Town-house or at their Colledge hard by Virlade also having Advice to the same purpose put his Company immediately in Arms and possess'd himself of the Gate next the Red Chappel by which the aforesaid Troops were to enter They treated also with the Irish who were to have effected the design telling them that Marsin intended to deliver them up to the English their mortal Enemies and Persecutors and that the business was negotiating in England by the means of Francars and de Blaru two Commissioners of the Olmiera The disgusts betwixt the Prince of Conty and Marsin were grounded upon Marsin's presumption and arrogance assuming all the Authority to himself and using the Prince as he had been but an inanimate Statue so that the Prince not being able nor the Princess of Longueville his Sister to endure such insolence they writ to their Brother the Prince of Condy with great resentment desiring that if he intended to preserve the good correspondence which had been hitherto betwixt them that he would contrive some way of giving them satisfaction otherwise they should be forc'd to withdraw The Prince of Condy was two months in returning his Answer and when he did it was different from what they expected being only a general recommendation of unity among them declaring withal that he intended Marsin should have the principal Management of the Military Affairs and Lenet of the Finances and because de Chouppes had writ likewise against Marsin and Lenet he sent them the Original of all the Letters This kind of usage was sufficient to have added new fuell to the generous resentments of the Prince of Conty and the Duchess of Longueville and to have devided them from the Union of their Brother who treated them with so little confidence But those Princes were too moderate and wise dissembling all and continuing firm to the utmost extremity Having besides de Chouppes and the Marquess of Lusignan sent Brequigny to the Court of Spain and Fay to the Marquess of Santa-Croce at that time at Saint Sabastian where the Baron Batteville not at all pleas'd that others should reap the fruit and honour of his labour hindred all he could the deliberations of the Court of Spain who with their accustomed delays kept the Princes and their Partie in perpetual hopes without any considerable releif By vertue of these differences and Emulations betwixt the Prince of Conty and the
with great civility and declaring himself a friend to the Prince of Conty he express'd all the demonstrations of esteem that could be expected from an entire Correspondence it being necessary for the better carrying on of the Treaty first to make a Truce which Viralda earnestly press'd the Duke reply'd he would conclude nothing of himself till he had advised with the Duke of Vendosm with whom he went hand in hand in carrying on the Kings Interest yet they proceeded so far that the Duke prohibited his souldiers under severe penalty to go out of their Quarters or to commit any Acts of Hostility either against the Goods or Lives of the Bourdelots The Duke in the mean time sent the Chevalier de Muns Captain of his Guards to complement the Prince and to assure the inhabitants of his good affection and sincere mediation to his Majesty in their behalf from thence the said Captain repair'd to the Duke of Vendosme to give him an Account of what had passed Bacalan made the same submissions to the Duke of Vendosm who receiv'd him with extraordinary Courtesie answerable to the sweetness and affability of his humour That very same day Gourville arrived from the Court at the Duke of Vendosmes quarters and desiring to pass likewise into the Duke of Candales the next way being thorow the Town he sent thither for a Passport which every one being curious to understand how Affairs went since their separation from the Prince of Condy they presently granted He arrived late in Town and Lenets house being near the Post-house where he alighted he made his first Visit to him and stayed with him all night which gave some jealousie to the Prince of Conty and the Dutchess of Longueville who imagin'd that coming from the Court he had had private Instructions to treat with Marsin and Lenet who were then in no good correspondence with the Prince and the Dutchess The next day he went to pay his Visits to them who were very importunate with him to know what Orders he had brought along with him from the Court and because he assured them that he would not meddle with any thing without communicating with them and desired them that they would look upon him as a Person wholly devoted to the service of the King they look'd upon him with more suspicion then before The Curiosity of the Princes entertain'd him in long Discourse of several things so that the same effect his Conference with Lenet had wrought in the Prince the same did his discourse with the Prince produce in Marsin and Lenet and the rather because not having negotiated any thing with them they concluded his Orders were to treat only with the Prince so that they were all of them equally in the dark Gourville pursued his Voiage in the Company of Baz who was sent by Marsin to the Camp at Begle to have an eye upon Virlade's Proceedings and coming to the Duke of Candale who received him with great kindness he communicated to the Duke all that was to be done for his Majesties service in Bourdeaux according to the Instructions he had received from Cardinal Mazarine Joyning with Viralde they together obtain'd a suspension of Arms for three days in which time the Duke of Candale promised to speak with the Duke of Vendosme to adjust the Articles of the Truce not only for the City but for the whole Province of Guienne In the mean time the Prince of Conty went to the Exchange and put on a white Scarf to the great joy of the people But the inconveniences which might arise from the frequent resort of the Kings Officers and Souldiers to the town being represented to him he prohibited the admitting any of them for the future without a Passport Whilst things were thus in Agitation Virlada return'd to Bourdeaux and inform'd both the Prince and the Citizens of his Negotiations with the Duke of Candale Marsin being enrag'd to see the Conclusion of the Treaty so near which he sought with all Art and Industry to protract and interrupt he would not consent that any Answer should be return'd from the Arch-bishops Palace Whereupon Viralda to animate the people the more and to excite them to Peace produced another Letter from the Duke of Candale by which he permitted the Citizens to go to their Countrey-houses if they pleas'd to get in their Harvest and distributed Passport to those that desired them who came in great throngs The Duke of Vandosm likewise sent Butin his Secretary into Bourdeaux to assure the Citizens of his inclinations to favour them but that he would not admit of any Treaty without the consent and participation of the Duke of Candale and that the Propositions might be the better discuss'd and examin'd they would meet together and not separate till the Treaty was concluded or broke off Butin was receiv'd with extraordinary Acclamation but the Chevalier Todias represented that it was contrary to the Rules of War and against their proper interest to shew such partiality The Secretary was sent back and Vandosmes Letter delivered to the Prince of Conty Marsin came into the Council assembled in the Arch-bishops Palace and sharply reproved Virlade for that in his Presence he had suffered Feran a Huguenot Minister to inveigh against the Princes party before the Duke of Candale adding that this was a clear demonstration that the Huguenots hated the Spaniards which was repugnant to the common interest by reason they could hope for relief from no other Countrey but Spain and that he and Feran both would have but little thanks from the Citizens Marsin hearing the relation of these transactions was not a little disturbed who foreseeing that all would be lost the greatest part of the inhabitants being disposed to return to the obedience of their King A Passport was here demanded for the Duke of Vandosm's Galleys to go and receive the Duke of Candale at Begle Marsin oppos'd it saying it might be a Treachery and proposed that the Duke might be conveyed in the Vessels belonging to the Town whereupon a Contest arose betwixt him and others who maintained that it was not decent for the Kings General to appear in any Ships but what belong'd to His Majesty Marsin insisted that the Deputies might be changed but these being in good esteem with the people that were well-affected they were confirm'd and the Articles of the Truce enlarged The Contents of them were that all Hostilities should cease till the Consummation or Rupture of the Treaty That there should be no communication betwixt the souldiers and inhabitants without passports from the Kings Generals That when the Kings Troops should be removed further off quarters should be granted to the Princes Forces four leagues from Bourdeaux That during the Treaty there should be free entrance for all kind of Provisions into the Town That Passes should be given to certain persons to be sent into Flanders to give advice of what pass'd to the Prince of Condy and into Spain to his