entire consent of his Majesty Thirdly If it shall hereafter happen that any Enterprise shall be made on the behalf of France upon the Estates of his Majesty because of the said assistance the which he now offers them they will declare themselves in his favour and will divert with all their power all designs to his prejudice Fourthly For the assurance of this the said Deputies from this time forward do promise it in the name of the said Rochellers and obligeth themselves to cause these Articles to be ratified with a solemn Oath as well by the Mayor Sheriffs and Peers of the Common Hall as also by all the Burgers and Inhabitants extraordinarily assembled to that end Fifthly As to his most Serene Majesty he promiseth 1628. March in the word of a King to succour them at his own proper Cost and Charges both by Sea and Land according to his Royal Puissance until he hath freed them from the Forts that are as well in the Isle of Re as about their City and procured them a Peace and to that end he will henceforward arm puissantly against the Spring to execute something worthy of his Majestie using means to divert the designs that are against the City and oblige the Troops that are about the City to retreat until by the happy success it shall please God to give to his Arms it shall be entirely delivered Sixthly His Majesty during all the time that the War shall continue shall assist the said City with such a number of Souldiers of his Subjects as it shall judge necessary for its Guard the said Souldiers being paid by his Majesty Seventhly His Majesty shall permit as well to his Subjects as to the Inhabitants of the said City to lade in all his Territories all ProvisIons of which it hath need and cause Authentick Patents to be dispatched and sent to all the Ports and Havens to the end that by vertue thereof without any other Pass-Ports Merchants may freely buy in their Cargazons and not be troubled in their transportation of them Eighthly That from this time forward his Majesty shall cause to be sent away with a sufficient Convoy the Corn and other Provisions which by his Command is already laden for to be sent with all speed to the said City to be distributed there at an honest price Ninthly To ease the poverty of the City and to help its most pressing necessities his Majesty 1628. March shall permit a Collection in all his Estates and at present establish such order as is necessary for that Tenthly There having been heretofore certain Articles of Treaty compiled betwixt the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England and the said Rochellers to some of which the said Lord Admiral did agree with the good liking of his Majesty and referred the rest to a more particular Conference From henceforward his Majesty doth agree to and holdetâ— for good and valuable those that the said Admiral hath allowed of and as to the rest he will with the first examine them and give the said Rochellers such just contentment therein as they can expect Eleventhly and lastly In case it happens that his Majesty shall come hereafter to a Treaty of Peace with the most Christian King the said Rochellers shall be thereunto called by his Majesty and no Treaty shall be concluded without stipulation expresly for their Priviledges and Immunities according to the Memorials they shall give in to his Majesty who obligeth himself further to be Garrantee for the said Treaty David Vincent Dehinse With these Articles thus compiled we expected the Secretary of the Duke but he came neither this day nor the next so that the nineteenth we went with them to the Duke who kept them to consider of at leisure and promised that he would confer upon them with the Commissioners and send for us 1628. March Being returned home we found his Secretary there who seemed very sorry for his delay and made multitude of business his excuse but for our parts we were well pleased that he had not seen us desiring rather to communicate with the Master than Servant We waited until the 22th and seeing then that he did not send for us we sought an occasion to present our selves to him but he prevented us by sending us word that he was imployed in the urgent Affairs of the King though the truth was that he avoided Meeting us upon a difficulty that he and the other Commissioners made of the fifth Article of our Treaty which he would have changed but nevertheless desired not to enter thereupon into a contest with us The means that he chose was to send his Secretary to the Duke of Soubize whom he acquainted that the terms upon which we desired that the King would oblige himself to us had something of too much strictness and therefore desired him to be a means of bringing us to qualifie and receive them in these terms viz. That his Majesty being moved with the good affections which he hath always had for the Churches and particularly for the City of Rochel he promised in the Faith and Word of a King to give them all convenient assistance unto the obtaining of a good and firm Peace The Duke of Soubize having hereupon conferred with us we received great displeasure from this change and fearing that he avoided coming from some doubt they had of not being able to obtain a Peace which would deliver us from our Fetters and above all from that Fort for which they had undertaken the War yet nevertheless we 1628. March judged it not fit to shew the least backwardness to the Treaty for we polished our Articles and so carried them the 27th ditto corrected to the Duke who receiving them of us and reading them in our presence made shew of approving them and told us that without further Communication with the Commissioners of whom he stood not in need all being agreed unto carried them to the King presented them to the Council and assured us that we should have all contentment Leaving him it was matter of great joy to us that the Duke took no more notice of Hostages or receiving the Armies into the City and that without being obliged to any debate with the Commissioners our Articles were received The 28th ditto receiving advice that there was a competent quantity of Provisions at Plymouth we waited upon the Duke to beg of him that the Earl of Denby might depart the next day and that the Sieur Dehinse our Collegue might according as it was agreed upon accompany him in his Voyage and have the honour to receive the Commands of the King and his own He carried us immediately to the King who received us with these Expressions I understand that the Earl of Denby will set sail without delay take not that which he carries at present for a succour it is but for a refreshment to the end to give courage to your City until time will permit a more puissant assistance And after a
Pass-ports it is superfluous to desire them such as those as shall go under the Faith of them may be in full assurance of having an entire liberty of going and coming This and all the rest which can concern this Affair we refer to your great care and expect your Answer by the Sieur Farnon for whom we have procured liberty to bring us thither after the delivery of this to you We will not hold you longer than to desire God that it would please him to calm these Storms which hath so long exercised France our dear Country and to establish there a firm Peace by the means of which we may serve it obey our King and Prince and deceive the Enemies of the Crown in the hopes which they may have conceived In our particular we are In the Road at the Head of the Bay Octob. 22. 1628. Monsieur Vos c. The Prisoner was dispatched the two and twentieth with this Letter Captain Forant brought a Ship about two hundred Tun well equipped for War who without resistance was suffered to take him aboard where there commanded one Poyane of the Religion but long suspected and where was also a Gentleman called Beaurepair Having presented these to the General it was found fit to arrest Poyane and as to the other being acquainted that from the beginning he had things of great consequence to impart which required secresie they heard him in particular He declared there that being come from Spain where he was Prisoner for his Religion they had 1628. October stipulated with him to be serviceable to the King upon occasion as his Majesty shall find fit to imploy him that having promised any thing to free himself from danger and the misery he was under they had associated him with Poyane to come into the English Army under pretext of serving the Party and that he had order with the first opportune occasion by night to intangle himself with the Generals Ship or with that of the Duke of Soubize and that saving themselves in a Shalloop should set the Powder on fire and to the end to gain the more credit his order was to offer his service even to carry Letters into Rochel and to bring back Answers in which they would facilitate to him the means of going and coming without taking notice of him until he had acted the design Having well deduced the whole by steps in conclusion he said that the other had the intention of those that sent him and he his own and that his chief Obligation being to his Conscience and his Religion he had been willing to declare from the first what they had stipulated with him and the design of Poyane to the end it might be prevented And further that if they judged it to purpose to manage for their advantage what was designed against them he was ready keeping the thing secret to go into the Kings Camp feigning always to be well intentioned and to gain belief in what he pretended he offered to carry their Letters to Rochel and to bring other back and to execute all faithfully and acquaint those of Rochel with the truth and what they should desire him to impart to them and bring them back again the estate and condition of the City 1628. October Having heard his Propositions though he seemed to the Deputies to speak with ingenuity yet nevertheless they thought there was no reason to confide much in one that had dealt so double and that it might be a triple Treason But notwithstanding all things maturely considered and reducing things to a point they judged it convenient to serve themselves in all Adventures managing things in such sort that if he should cheat them and follow the directions of those who first imployed him their Deputies might make their advantage by it which was to maintain a Communication betwixt them and the City and prepare things for the Accommodation projected Having thus agreed among themselves and having communicated it to the General they gave him two Letters one without Cyphers which he might shew to the Lords the Ministers being accommodated to that which they desired they should know and the other in a most difficult Cypher and such as never any of their intercepted Letters whereof there was many could be deciphered by which they expressed the true Foundation of their Intentions with charge to the Messenger not to shew them at Court but deliver them only to the Mayor And further in the second Letter the Duke of Soubize sent one to the Dutchess of Rohan his Mother of the same Tenure all three which were trusted with this Man are as followeth 1628. October The Letter not in Cyphers from Sieur Vincent to the Messieurs of Rochel Gentlemen SInce the coming of Sieur la Land du Lac whereof we have advertised you by the Signals agreed upon we have not sent any to you because that which Chardeuine delivered you contained all that we had to tell you since that the obstinate Calms and contrary Winds hath hindered us from attempting any thing hut nevertheless they have not slackned their firm resolution of relieving you whatever it cost them If it may be by a Treaty rather than by the Effusion of Blood you and we shall have cause to praise God We hear there are some Reciprocal Inclinations for this and the Conference between the Cardinal and Monsieur Montague and his Voyage with a Pass-port for England seems to promise the effect For our part we endeavour it here we sought yesterday a way for obtaining if it can be a Pass-port to the end that two of us might go to the Camp of his Majesty which if it be granted and that we discover that they will treat freely with us we will endeavour to get leave to visit and confer with you to inform you of all to the end that you may thereupon take your Resolutions In the mean time we will not dissemble the fears we have that by Conferences they may lay snares to surprize you and lull us asleep Your diligence will in the first place remedy it and on this side you may relye upon our care in as much as it is seconded by the good intentions of the General For the rest we refer you to this Gentleman conformable to that above-mentioned and upon the assurance that he hath given us to be able to go and come we hope he will report to us at 1628. October large your condition And now we pray God to continue to you the Miracle of your patience until it shall please him to deliver you altogether Gentlemen your most humble and most obedient Servants in behalf of all your Deputies to the King of Great Britain in the absence of Sieurs Bragneau Dehinse and Gobert who are in another Ship to whom we cannot give advice of this occasion Ph. Vincent from aboard the Duke of Soubize Octob. 13. 1628. Since the writing of this there hath been a Skirmish which you may have seen it cost not
into Rochel the means of taking it which he did at his giving the French King a Visit in his passage to Spain for though the Author of this History will not take from his own Country the credit of the Invention the honour of it doth traly belong to Spinola But that you may the better understand how the Reformed in France have been and still are dealt with contrary to Law I have hereunto annexed the several Declarations of Henry IV. establishing thereby his Edict and supplementary Articles for their Liberty making them perpetual and irrevocable as also the several Declarations of this present French King Louis XIV reciting the substance of the Declarations of his Father Louis XIII with several Decrees of Council owning the perpetuity of the Edict of Nants and confirming them all with this acknowledgment That he remained fully satisfied with his Subjects of the Reformed Religion as having given him certain proofs of their affection and fidelity especially in 1652. the year of his Declaration when they drew the hatred of the Prince of Condé and his Party upon them for their Loyalty in adhering to the King and opposing of the Prince in his then Rebellion But the King by their help had not long got the Ascendant of his enemies before holding the Reformed unnecessary to satisfie the insatiable malice of the Bishops as appears by their actings which will in due time be published he left them to the mercy of the Church whose mercies are cruelties and even suffered the Prince of Condé to revenge himself upon them who the first year he was restored into favour demolished all their Churches in the Pais de Gex near Geneve and under his Government which County wanted then little of being intirely of the Reformed Religion Yet that I may do the former times right I cannot but observe the Candor and Ingenuity acknowledged in this History of the French Ministers of State at the taking of Rochel who when some malicious enough and most likely the Bishop of Mande employed in the Siege and others of his Order in France who never consult truth but worldly advantage would have had it assigned in the Kings Declaration as a reason of his taking up Armes that the Rochellers did not only call in the English but also gave themselves up to them the then Chancellour caused the Registers of the Maior and Council of Rochel the Memorials and Instructions given by them to their Deputies sent into England and the Treaties made by them with that King to be all exactly perused and examined and finding that the said Instructions and Treaties had been always made with a reserve of the fidelity due to the Crown he would not suffer anything of that nature to be inserted in the Kings Declaration because it did not appear to be true a piece of honest Morality little practised in these days in France some Men there having now no other Politicks than little tricks besides lying and dissembling all easily seen thorow for which they would be thought great Statists but Honesty as King James who knew enough used to say is the best Policy And to give Richelieu a Person of vast abilities and clear Parts his due His treating with the Rochellers in their greatest distress seems to have been with more moderation sincerity and plainness than is in this Age common or usual among them And now by comparing the present French Kings Persecution of his Reformed Subjects with his former Declarations confirming and making perpetual and irrrevocable all Edicts and Lawsmade for their Liberty and Security in the exercise of their Religion as a reward for their acknowledged fidelity and good service may and ought to be observed by Protestants how little the Faith and Laws of Popish Princes are to be relied upon especially in matters of Religion The Contents of this Book I. THE Duke of Buckingham's expedition for the Isle of Ree and his taking of it II. The Dukes inviting the Rochellers by his Agent Mr. Baker to accept of his assistance and join Armes with him and his Manifest delivered to them in the Name of the King of England III. The Dukes being forced to quit the Isle of Ree and return for England IV. The Rochellers Negotiations by their Deputies in England with that King sometimes alone and sometime in Council and their several Conferences with the King and Duke V. The King of England and the Rochellers Letters one to another and the Treaty made with the King with several excellent and pressing Harangues made by their Deputies to the King VI. The Earl of Denby's ineffectual Voyage to Rochel with a Naval Fleet and his Return VII The Earl of Lindsey's Voyage with a might Naval Strength to Rochel and returning without attempting any thing as this History saith VIII The miraculous patience in the Rochellers without the least murmuring under a not to be paralleled Famine IX The Treaty for Rendition of the City made with Cardinal Richelieu X. The Edict of Nantes given by Henry IV. of France to those of the Reformed Religion together with his supplementary Articles for their security and equal liberty with the Papists XI The Declarations of Henry IV. and of the present King Louis XIV reciting those of his Father Louis XIII making all the Laws in savour of the Protestants perpetual and irrevocable with several Orders of Council confirming the said Edictrand Arcles 1627. July A JOURNAL OF THE LAST SIEGE of the CITY OF ROCHEL Begun the 20. of July 1627. THe Naval Army of the King of Great Britain commanded by the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England appeared first to us upon Tuesday the 20th of July 1627. betwixt Eight and Nine in the morning to the number of Eighteen or Twenty Sail they were then believed to be Dunkirkers lying in wait for a Fleet of Hollanders laden with Salt which lay in the Road a la Palisse and before S. Martins the Principal Town of the Isle of Ré and ready to set sail for Holland Upon their nearer approach they were suspected to be English and Sixty or Eighty Sail in number but of this we were out of doubt when coming before the Fort La Prée they saluted it 1627. July fiercely with Cannon-shot which they continued that day and the next coming to Anchor a la Palisse before the Point of Sablanceau one of the Extremities in the Isle of Ré on that side next Rochel On Wednesday the 21. the Rochellers kept a Fast and betwixt Sermons there arrived in a Shallop from the Duke of Buckingham at the Chain which is the entrance by Sea into the City an English Gentleman called Baker desiring to speak with the Mayor for so the Chief Magistrate was called and to his Council who having notice thereof sent the Sieur Prou Sheriff and Symond Theuinine Advocate to acquaint him that they were in their Churches at their Devotions in the Celebration of a Fast and could not that day give him Audience upon which
you have formerly been ordered over against the Fort Lewis to the end that it be with all speed in such defence that neither the Rochellers nor the English can hinder the maintaining it with a number of men necessary for its defence I know That for the accomplishing these Designs for conserving your Posts for hindering on the Land-side the going in and out of Rochel and provide against diversions it is necessary to maintain a good Army well paid That which you propose to me to have about Rochel ought to be 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse effective which will be done when the Orders that I have formerly given for the marching and levying of Souldiers have been executed as you may see by the numbers of the Regiments of Foot that I have sent you 1627. Septemb. As to the diversions the Enemy may make on the Coasts of Poictou and Zaintongue I make reckoning that my Naval Army which shall be laiden with a good number of Infantry will serve for succour and security against all the descents which they can make on the Coasts of my Kingdom I cannot believe that the English with the few men that the Siege of the Citadel of Re hath left them dare make a descent having no Cavalry nor undertake a new Fortification at this Season that which is most to be feared is the surprizing of some place for which cause I find it necessary speedily to augment Garrisons Victuals and Ammunition in all those places that you shall inform me have need on the Coasts of Poictou and Zaintongue I will not now answer the several ways that are propounded for shutting up and ruining the Port of Rochel because it is not that which at present is most pressing In reference to the relieving of the Citadel of Re and the Fort of Pree as I have cause to promise my self good success there from the succour of 13 Pinnaces arrived in the Citadel the advice whereof is confirmed to me by your last Letter so I presume to employ the means which have been a long time in several places preparing for the refreshing of the said Forts will I think be sufficient which I refer to the Bishop of Mande to explain more particularly in my Name according to the Charge that I have therein given him Considering that so long as the Citadel of S. Martin can hold there is no fear of the Fort of Pree I see no necessity of sending men thither though there may be of Victuals and Munition after that the Citadel shall be sufficiently provided 1627. Septemb. You may judge better than any one how many of the Regiments designed for the Army are necessary for your guard and the advancement of your work and therefore I desire you to send to them in all places to raise them with all diligence I have well considered the Retinue that you say the Rochellers upon the Declaration of War are resolved to keep and how you acknowledge it to proceed more from fear than love or respect and that you will not spare to act effectually against them as if they had already declared all which I approve since their actions and deportment do sufficiently shew their evil intentions and therefore you may permit those of the Fort Lewis to work upon their Fortifications since you think fit to make some new ones I am pleased that you have sent some Cavalry to my Brother the Duke of Orleance and doubt whether he will be with the Army before this Answer if he be fail not to communicate this to him to the end that he be informed of my intentions Furthermore I commend the care that you have taken to dissipate that Assembly of Nobility at du Parcg's House that you have seized the Houses of de la Rolandiere and Moric and that you have secured the other Gentlemen by good Caution Continue to make my Letters and Declarations of this kind be well observed I hold it fit to give the Fruits which may be gathered in the neighbouring Villages belonging only to them that have gone contrary to my Declaration to my Army viz. to the Captains and Officers which serving in my Troops shall be judged worthy of such gratifications Above all I pray God 1627. Septemb. my Cousin to take you into his holy protection Writ at S. Germaine in Lay the 13th of September 1627. Signed Louys and underneath Philipeaux There was also in this Pacquet the Donation of the Office of Seneschal or Chief Justice of the City of Rochel to the Duke of Angoulesme with the confiscation of all the Goods moveable and immoveable of the Sieurs of Brille Baudet and of Angoulins in form as followeth THIS day being the 11. of September 1627. the King being at S. Germain in Laye taking into consideration the great and commendable services that the Duke of Angoulesme Peer of France hath done him in his Army of Aulins and the great Expence that he is obliged to be at there his Majesty hath granted to him and doth hereby give him the Office of Chief Justice of the City of Rochel being vacant by the forfeiture of the Sieur Loudriere who is in possession thereof but is attainted of High Treason for bearing Arms and joining with the English contrary to the service of his Majesty and this Estate and have also given to the said Duke all the Goods moveable and immoveable belonging to the Sieurs Brille Baudet and Angoulins as confiscated for the same Crime and being at present in the City of Rochel In Witness of which his Majesty hath commanded me to expedite to the said Duke all Letters and Provisions necessary and in the mean time to dispatch this present Brief which he hath signed with 1627. Septemb. his own hard Contre-signed by me Counsellor in his Council of State and Secretary of his Commands LEWYS beneath Philipeaux The 19. the English took a Barque laden with Provisions and Munition for the Citadel where was the Son of the Sieur Saugion as they had some days before taken and sunk many others which steered the same course The 22. there went from Rochel seven sail to go to Re upon whom was made from the Fort Lewis many great shot but without touching them In the one was the Sieurs John Gittou Sheriff formerly Admiral of Rochel and David Foss Advocate Deputies from the Mayor and his Counsel to the Duke of Buckingham to carry him the Articles drawn for their conjunction with him The 22. betwixt two and three before day arrived in the Citadel a Barque of about 30 Tuns laden with all sorts of Provisions Munition and Refreshments upon which the English made many unprofitable Cannon-shot The 23d The Sieur Burrowes Lieutenant General to the Duke of Buckingham was killed in the Trenches which together with the entry of the said Barque did so irritate the said Duke that he shot all the morning long as well from Land as from his Ships upon the Citadel and Barque During this Thundering a fatal
shot carryed out of this World the Sieur Montferrior Brother of Monsieur Thoiras in such sort that this day was a day of great loss to each Party but above all to 1627. Septemb. the English in that Monsieur Burrowes was the only man of experience that they had The 27th The Sieur Ashburneham who was gone to Paris with the Sieur St. Surin arrived at Rochel with St. Surin in their way to Re who immediately after his arrival there was by the Duke sent Prisoner to one of his Frigats where was already the Son of Sieur Saugeon because as he said of the ill usage that Mr. Ashburnham had met with but it was believed in revenge for having been baffled by him The same day about three in the Afternoon they began Prayers in the Temple of S. John to continue every day until the Peace was made The 30th being Thursday the English took in the Evening three Barks laden with Victuals and Munition for the Citadel sunk three others forced ashore two at Aiguillion and put the rest to flight in such sort that at this time there got none into the Citadel OCTOBER The first of October the Sieur Thoiras finding himself pressed with all Extremity and seeing that all his people as well Souldiers as Voluntiers murmured against him and made Cabals for treating with the Duke of Buckingham and to deliver the place to him to the end to content them and to gain time and to amuse the English he sent the Sieur Montault to the Duke to know what Conditions he would offer him The Duke deferring the Treaty until the next morning after many goings and comings it was in the end agreed that if the Citadel was not relieved by the eighth of the Month which was High-water that both it and the Fort de la Pre should be put into his hands 1627. Octob. Thursday night before Fryday the 8th of October designed for the Rendition there went forty Barks and Pinnaces from Ollorne laden with Men and all sorts of Provisions for the Belly as well as war whereof 29 got happily into the Citadel by the favour of a very great North-East-Wind which blew so hard and master'd the English Army in such sort that it could not hinder their passing save that there were four sunk to the ground by Cannon-shot This succour came very seasonably to the Sieur Thoiras because in the morning according to Conditions he ought to have render'd the Citadel The Duke of Buckingham on the contrary was so discontented and discouraged that having discharged his Choler with multitude of Cannon-shot which broke in pieces fifteen or twenty of these Pinnaces but already un-laden two or three days after he took away his Cannon from his Batteries and Shipped them with part of his Men having taken a resolution to raise the Siege and to return for England but the Duke of Soubize who was near to him as also the Deputies of Rochel and the Inhabitants of the Isle intreating him very earnestly not to abandon them and offering him whatever was in their Power which prevailed with him to suspend this Deliberation until the Arrival of Sieur Dolbiere who he had sent into England and who put him in hopes of a succour of 6000 Men which the Earl of Holland would in a few days bring to him which in some kind restored his Courage and made him resolve to continue the Siege The 12th The King arrived before Rochel and took his Quarters at Estre he needed not to enquire 1627. October whether the Cannon and Muskets made not good Musick through all the Quarters of the Army for his welcome The 13th There were read in the Council assembled in the Town-Hall Letters from the Duke of Rohan writ the 9th and 10th of September from Nisines to those at Rochel by which he advised them of the Conjunction made by those of Languedoc with them and the English The 17th Seven Barks laden with Victuals and Munition with some Companies of Souldiers got into the Fort Pree without any Impediment but the same day a Pinace going out from the Cittadel was taken by the English Shalloops who slew the Son of Richardiere who commanded there and most part of his Men. The 18th A Ship laden with dry Fish and some Barks laden with Wine and other things from the Isle of Re came into Rochel there were fired at them from the Forts Lewis Port-Neuf and Coureille 35 Cannon-shot without touching any of them The 19th One called Franc one of the Messengers to the King's Council was brought into Rochel by John Farene a stout and bold Souldier who took him Prisoner near Lusignan as he rid post with many Letters and some even from the King himself writ to several Governours of Provinces by which he gave advice of the besieging of the Citadel commanding them to send all the Ships they could laden with Stones to fill and shut up the Haven of Rochel as also to have his Naval Army in readiness upon the first Command to come before Rochel And this by Letters dated the 14th of October The same day and the day following came from 1627. October Re to Rochel four or five hundred English who were quarter'd in Houses The 24th The Duke of Soubize writ to the Rochellers exhorting them to send Deputies to the King of Great Brittain upon which were named the Sieur Jaques David Sheriff on the behalf of the Common-Hall Sieur John de Hinsse on behalf of the Bourgesses and on behalf of the Church the Sieur Salbert a Minister who was in Re near the Duke of Buckingham The 25th Before day there came into Rochel from England a Ship with 150 Tuns of Corn as also some Barks laiden with Wine and other Commodities and entred without any damage though with the bright of the Moon and had been shot at thirty or forty times with Cannon from the Fort Lewis and the Batteries The 26th The Rochellers published their Manifest by which they gave an Account of the Causes and Reasons which moved them to joyn Arms with the King of Great-Brittain and put at the foot of the same their Kings Letter to the Duke of Angoulesme as also the Oath of Lewis the Eleventh made to Robert Cadiot Mayor of Rochel 1472. In this Manifest they say That one of the Conditions of Peace in 1622 which is recited was the demolishing of the Fort built near the City during the War as also that accordingly the King had given Letters to their Deputies Dated the 18th of December directed to Sieur Arnoult by which he enjoyns him not to delay doing it but that under divers pretexts he did not only elude the obeying him therein but on the contrary continued to fortifie it and after his death the Sieur Thoiras did the same more diligently 1627. Octob. so that neither their Complaints nor the reiterated Complaints of their Deputies to his Majesty of the breach of Agreements could produce any effect That their design in preserving
Peace and without any precedent Denunciation of War was contrary to Justice and the Law of Nations which the King will make them repent in the end That if the Rochellers at first deferred declaring for them and sent Deputies to the Duke of Angoulesme it was in design to gain time and during that delay to make their Harvest for the King was most certainly advertis'd that the coming of the English was agreed upon with them and though they had not yet in words declar'd for them it was done in effect in receiving Deputies from the Duke of Buckingham and sending theirs to him and aiding him every day with Provisions that so the King had just cause to declare them Guilty of High-Treason and make them suffer for their Rebellion and he hopes in the end to make them Examples for it The said day with the Morning-tide the Sieurs David and Dehinsse went to the Isle of Re to joyn with the Sieur Salbret who was with the Duke of Buckingham and from thence to go into England to return that Prince thanks for his Assistance and to beg the continuance of it representing to him their State and Condition with them went to the said Isle of Re to reside near the person of the Duke of Buckingham the Sieurs Desherbiers and Bragneau for the City-Hall and Goyer Junier a good man and experienced Sea-Captain for the 1627. Octob. Burgesses without being prejudic'd by any Cannon-shot though many were made at them The same day with the Morning-tide thirteen Barks with six or seven hundred men got into the Fort la Pree without any Rencounter or Impediment from the English The 27th with the morning-tide there went out from Rochel to Re fifteen Sail as well Pinaces as Barks to the end to hinder the passages of those that would go to the Citadel and Fort la Pree the Enemy made many a Cannon-shot at them from their Batteries but without doing them any harm And the same day in the morning two Capuchins were brought in Prisoners which they sent back after Dinner without offering them any Injury And the Curriers did likewise bring Prisoner a Spanish Jeweller who had several precious Stones by him which caused a Debate in Council whether they should be declared good price some contradicted it and particularly the Sieur Vincent the Minister who having entertained this man and found him one of Sense was for gratifying him and to manage by him the beginning of a Treaty with the King of Spain which he maintained with many Reasons and expressed great diffidence of the Duke of Buckingham and the English but his motion was not relished The 28. those of Rochel sent forth nine other Sail as well Pinnaces as Barks equipped for War with three Companies of Infantry and some Voluntier Gentlemen which passed in spight of their Batteries from whence they played upon them with their Cannon but without effect 1627. October This same day the Sieur Salbert being excused going for England the Sieur Philip Vincent one of the City Ministers was by the Church and City-Hall appointed in his place and went the same day to the Isle of Re to joyn with the other Deputies that were there The 30. about four or five a Clock In the Evening twelve or thirteen hundred men commanded by the Sieur Canaples Master of the Camp to a Regiment of Guards were shipped at the Plomp for the Fort la Pre which passing without any obstruction and having a great Party there on Land endeavoured to make a descent but were at first by the English and French who joyned to hinder their Landing after a long Combat with the loss of fifty or sixty of those that were furthest advanced on shore forced to return to their Barks for saving of themselves in which Retreat many were drowned nevertheless the Night coming on which was so favourable to them that they found themselves very obscure they not only finished their descent to the Fort but even constrained the English to retreat with the loss of ten or twelve men and some wounded NOVEMBER The third of Novemb. there came fifteen Barks from the Isle of Re into Rochel some laden with Wines others with Commodities at which was shot sixty or more Cannon-shot from the Forts and Batteries without touching any of them The same day the Sieur Vincent came from the Isle of Re to Rochel to confer with the Mayor and Council upon some particulars relating to his Voyage for England and desired a commodious and safe 1627. Novemb. Vessel to be ready to sail with the first The Duke of Buckingham considering the supplies which the King sent to the Fort of la Pre and foreseeing that the design was to attack him and that he found himself weak he resolved upon a final Attempt and upon the sixth of Novemb. between seven and eight in the morning he assaulted the Citadel in two places the French making it on one side and the English on another At first they carried all before them gaining the Ditch and planting their Ladders against the Wall and Terraces but their Ladders proving too short and having to do with people who received them with much resolution they were in the end after two hours contest constrained to retreat with the loss of many men besides wounded which were sent the next day to Rochel to be treated and cured The same day about nine and ten a Clock in the Evening a House in Rochel was fired near the Bellfry to the Church S. Saviour where being lodged several combustible Commodities as Hemp Flax and Rosin c. it burnt so suddenly that the people in their Shifts were hard put to it to gain the top of the House and so to save themselves by their next Neighbours House The seventh Ditto there went from Rochel to Re nineteen Pinnaces and Barks in one of which was the Sieur Vincent who went to joyn with the other Deputies for England The eighth the Duke of Buckingham after this last attempt upon the Citadel despairing of gaining it and of being able to stay much longer in the Isle especially seeing there arrived from day to day considerable succours to come into the Field with and that his own Army was diminished more 1627. Novemb. than one third part proceeding from the eating too many Grapes according to Sieur de Comminges Prophesie resolved to raise the Siege and to imbark with the more security ordered his Retreat by the Isle of Lois which a small Channel of the Sea separates from that of Re and having made a Bridge for his passage in case he should be thereunto forced he marched his Troops putting in the Reer one of his best Regiments and Colonel Montjoy with his Cavalry to defend the Infantry if need were This Providence was of great use to him for the Night before his Retreat besides the Troops of the King which were already in the Isle Marshal Scomberg arrived there with three or four thousand Foot and two
remaining under the condition of your Protection When things were well with us we despised the Counsel of our Friends and if we may so express it the Respects of our Native Country even until all is lost let us find at least if you please Sir in your Justice that which we have now no more means of recovering 1628. May. by the Clemency of the King our Soveraign God hath furnished us yet with life and vigour enough though with Wounds altogether fresh and bleeding to expect your relief yet one Month more Let your Majesty second this Miracle and to your Immortal Glory see us raised and the Churches of this Kingdom restored who without your aid cannot expect less than the stroke of the Knife that iss held so near our Throats Behold Sir our most humble and most ardent Supplications or to express it better in one word it is our Testament which we shall leave written upon your Throne before Heaven and Earth for a Memorial to Posterity of the most strange and memorable Desolation that an Innocent people ever suffered the incomparable occasion whereof may ever serve to sum up the Might and Puissance of a great King as you Pardon Sir to Women little Children Mothers and Fathers dragged together to the same punishment if they cannot speak at this time but with cutting words the face of dying persons is always frightful but the anguish of Death shall never make us deny to be for all this your Serene Majesties Rochel May 18. 1628. SIR Most humble and most obedient Servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of Rochel and for all Guitton Mayor 1628. June JVNE The first of June in the night the Rochellers sent out two Shalloops one full of Fire-works and the other a Fire-ship to blow up some of the Vessels of the Pallisade to the end to make way for the Galliots which they were to send into England but having set fire too soon one wherein were the Fire-works flew in pieces before her arrival at the Pallisade and the other run ashore toward Port-Neuf which obliged the Galliots to return into the City The same day about six or seven in the morning the Sieur Tallement came into Rochel as well about some Affairs of his own as to sound the Rochellers if they would come to a Treaty but making no advance in it returned in the Evening The same day the Sieur Grandzy Colonel of a Regiment of light Horse came to the Port Coigne demanding to speak with the Mayor or with some on his behalf Immediately the Sieurs Proâ— Pierre Toupet Defos and Mosquay were nominated by the Council to whom he offered on the behalf of Monsieur Bassompier as having Power from the King to do all he could for procuring them a good Peace they answered him speaking in the Name of all the Body and following their Instructions that they desired to remain under the Obedience they owe the King but that they could do nothing before they had communicated it to their Deputies in England the Duke of Rohan and the Churches so that after returning most humble thanks to Monsieur Bassompier they supplicated him to mediate for them to the King 1628. June for necessary Pass-Ports and in the mean time permission for some competent Provisions to come into the City that during the Negotiation they might spare their Magazines After this Answer he parted promising to return the next day in the morning to bring them an Answer which he also did and declared to them that the King would not receive their Propositions but that his will was that they should submit to an Entire Obedience to which it was told him that the City could not understand that and that they would rather expect such Event as it should please God to give them and so they separated The 7th with the Night-tide betwixt ten and eleven in the Evening the Rochellers sent out a Galliot to cross the Pallisade which he found impossible for him to do because those of the Pollisade kept good Guards with their Galliots and pursued him unto the Haven making a great many Cannon-shot at him The 10th in the morning at the opening of the Port S. Nicholas entred the Sieur de la Land du Lac coming from England bringing a Letter from the King of Great Britain signed Charles Rex dated the 19th of May old stile directed to the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel without having any from their Deputies which caused great jealousie in the Rochellers they not being able to believe that the King had writ because their Deputies who were near his Person did not advise of it by which Letter he gave them an assurance of a puissant succour within a few days and of his good will towards them and concern for them exhorting them to be of good courage and that in a short 1628. June time they should â—eâ— themselves delivered The Letter is as followeth Gentlemen BE not discomforted though my Fleet be returned hold out unto the last for I am resolved that all my Fleet she ll perish rather than you should not be relieved and to this end I have countermanded it and have sâ—nt Ships to make them change their design that they had taken to come back I shall shortly send you some number of Ships to reinforce it and with the help of God the success will be happy for your Deliverance May 19. N. Stile Your good Friend CHARLES R. A Messieurs les Maire Escheuin c. The 15th the Rochellers writ this Letter to their Deputies in England as well to let them understand thâ—ir nâ—cessities as to cause them to hasten the succours A Letter from the Rochellers to their Deputies in England Gentlemen This is the seventh since our last perplexity and is to press you being on our parts strangely pressed and almost oppressed even to that degree that our total loss seems not far off if you come not readily to relieve us We have Provisions but for one Month to reckon 1628. June from this day notwithstanding the best order that we can take there is already many Families in horrible extremity and who live only of Herbs yet nevertheless we hope by the help of God to draw out our lives until the middle of July and do you raise Arguments from hence for your pressing with diligence and importunity without end his Serene Majesty from whom notwithstanding our extreme necessity and the Artifice which men have used it hath not been in any kind possible to divide us Some days passed they made us new Invitations to Treat but having demanded Pass ports for sending to his Majesty and the Duke of Rohan upon the refusal thereof the Treaty is broke Fail not to represent this to him as also the confidence that we put in his Royal Word which next to God is our only support We promise our selves as much his relief as we know the facility to it is
certain and if the Earl of Denby had desired it he had infallibly carried away the Pallisade Now our fear is that if they there delay they will not here be guilty of neglect but finish the Digue by Masons work If the Count had stayed he had famished the Kings Camp and maintained in us a strong hope as also the Affairs of the Duke of Rohan in great Reputation you know how to make your Conjectures To conclude Gentlemen we send you these words of Consolation that God in mercy hath revived us more than ever in this Common Calamity we being all resolved to expect speedily from you an assured Life or to take Death patiently rather than survive the loss of 1628. June our Religion Country and the butchery of our Families These are from Messieurs Your most affectionate servants the Mayor Sheriffs Councellors Peers and Burgers and for all Guitton Mayor Rochel June 5. 1628. This Week some Souldiers killed Horses and sold the Flesh for Beef at ten or eleven Sols the pound but being discovered they were imprisoned for it because they were not then reduced to eat such Meat having yet Beef Mutton and Poultry which they sold publickly The â—1th in the morning there came to Rochel from England a Souldier called la Paillette bringing a Letter from the King of Great Britain dated the â—7th of May old stile sealed with the Arms of England subscribed Your good Friend Charles R. and another from our Deputies writ at Plymouth the ninth of June the tenure of which confirmed that of Sieur de la Land du Lac as also did that brought by another Gentleman called S. Martin who arrived the 24th about eleven or twelve in the Evening sealed with the Kings Seal and red Wax subscribed your good Friend Charles R. which is as followeth Gentlemen I Have been troubled to hear that my Fleet was upon the point of returning without answering my Commands which was to force the entry of your Provisions 1628. June whatever came of it and have given new Orders to return into your Road and not stir until it hath relieved you with Victuals or that I have sent them an additional strength for which I have caused men to work with all diligence Be assured that I will never abandon you and that I will imploy all the force of my Kingdom for your deliverance until it please God to bless me with giving you an assured Peace Given at our Palace of Westminster May 27. 1628. old stile Gentlemen Your good Friend CHARLES R. During this time the Digue was made by Stone-work every day stronger than other and was advanced in such sort on both sides that there remained but a little Channel to shut where passed the Current of the Tide and this Channel was filled from one end to the other with Vessels and Engines besides that there was before the Digue a Pallisade of floating Vessels anchored and tyed one to another by great Cables and Chains of Iron which rose and fell with the Sea as it came in and went out with many Engines and Candlesticks an Engine called so because made in the form of a Candlestick to the end that their intanglement might render the access more difficult and perilous for those that would undertake to force it and enter Rochel At this time died in the City the Sieur de Loudriere of a Burning Fever and was honourably interred according as his Rank and Quality of Chief Justice required 1628. July JVLY About the end of this Month and beginning of July they began to kill Horses Asses Mules Dogs Cats and other such Creatures the Fâ—â—â—h of which was sold for ten and eleven Sols the pound that of Horse-flesh was above all savoury there being little difference betwixt it and Seâ—f In the mean time the Famine so increased every one reserving to themselves their Provisions that the greatest part were in great want and Bread failing they had recourse to Brazil Sugar Dregs Colworts Frigased with a little Tallow and such other nourishment A little before and above aâ— when the English shewed themselves at the Head of the Bay in the Month of May the Mayor and hâ—s Council caused more than two hundred Hogsheads of Pilchers which were a little spoiled â—o be cast away for fear they should bring a Contagion in the City believing they should have â—o need of them succours being at their Gates but in this necessity they would have been of â—reat use for want of other Victuals the people scattered themselves upon the Fens where tâ—e Salt-pans were to make War with Eels and other little Fishes and on the Coast to fish for Cockles and after that eat all sorts of Herbs as Puâ—slain Savage Sampire water Caltrops good and bad boiling them in two or three waters to take away the bitterness and ill taste and filled themselves with them In the end they sell on Leather Hides and every thing that they could steep and boil and cutting them into little morsels they sold them in the Tripe-Market making Frigases of them with a little Tallow and Water in the 1628. July Stewing-pan others did it with Gelly and Sugar from this time the Famine increased exceedingly Besides other Evils with which the City found it self pressed ill Diet begot in many a Disease in the Mouth which caused the Gums to rot a shortness of breath the Jaws black and by little and little kill'd those that were infected with it being such or very near it as they call the Scurvy which is but too well known to those that make long Voyages by Sea when their Victuals corrupt At first there was many died of this Disease but a Physitian of the City called Matthias Goyer a knowing and experienced man in his Art advised a Remedy which they had used in another sickness succesfully and found the same as to this It was Mustard in Herbs of which the Hillocks in the Fens afforded as great quantities as was needful the which they bruised in a Mortar and mingled it with White-Wine and gave the quantity of an ordinary Glass thereof in the morning fasting and though this Medicine neither wrought by Stool or Urin or caused any other effects which appeared it nevertheless healed infallibly in eight or ten days At first some would have concealed this Remedy for the Physitians profit as indeed it was enough to have made him rich but he said he would not make the Publick Calamity the means of his inrichment and that since God as by Inspiration had discovered this secret to him he would give the Receipt of it gratis to every one as he also did and therein merited much from the Publick and saved the lives of a multitude of people As to the Gout Gravel and other such sicknesses there was then none heard of The second of July was seen on the side of Estre 1628. July and from de la Lieu many Horse and Foot in Battel which troubled much the Rochellers but in the
Mould It was published thorough all the parts of the City that all those that had Bullets proper for the said Pieces should bring them to the Master of the Artillery who should pay for them seven Livres ten Scus per quintal which furnished the said Pieces in some small kind because those that had any brought them to him The same day divers Seamen of the City went over to the Camp being debauched and had been sent into the City to pervert them This caused the Mayor to proclaim thorough the several quarters of the City that all Seamen that should be taken going to the Camp should be immediately hanged upon the place and after this we heard not of any that went away The ninth of August the Sieur Ferriere Councellor who commanded that day as Captain at the Port of Coigne as also with him Sieur Desmartes went very early in the morning as if they walked out and rendered themselves to the Fort Beaulieu Those that were on the Guard at the said 1628. Aug. Port perceiving them near the Fort could not do other than make some shot at them but did not touch them The cause of their retreat was this the Sieur de la Tourvert Son of Sieur de Fleura a Gentleman of Augoumois was killed in a particular Quarrel in the Castle yard as he walked there The Lieutenant Criminal upon the complaint made to him thereof decreed the taking of the Body and judging the case but the Mayor and Council of War being advertised thereof would have the Cognisance of the business because both the Murthered and Murtherer were people drawn thither by the War and Siege Upon this they contested and each made their Party but the Mayor prevailing the Assistant of the Judge Criminal with three or four others of the Seat of Justice gave a secret Sentence against him and the Council of War condemned them in twelve thousand Livres penalty payable by any one of them for the whole his remedy reserved against the others Of this Sentence there were four Exemplifications to remain by each one of them shut up and hid in a place the most secret they could devise reserving the execution unto the relief or change of the condition of the City It came to pass some time after that the Assistant upon some suspition though nevertheless could not be proved was made Prisoner and his Papers seized among which was found this Sentence which was the thing that moved these two Councellors to leave the City but it wanted little of bringing them into a Burning Fever for being presented to the Kings Council it made ill for them for that being Officers they remained in the City from whence it was concluded 1628. Aug. that they came away from necessity and not from affection to the service of the King so that they ran a great hazard of not having the relief that Monsieur Thoiras had promised them but having a great kindness for Monsieur Desmartes he obtained of Cardinal Richelieu the referring of them to the Marshal Schomberg who some time after took their Parol As to the fourth Judge who was John Ogier Sieur of Moriniers he left not the City finding himself supported by a number of Friends and Souldiers whom he had commanded as Camp-Master of a Regiment insomuch that without difficulty he made his agreement and as to the Assistant Criminal he remained in Prison until the reduction of the City This following Narrative is taken out of the Relation of Sieur Veronneau THe tenth of August the Sieur de la Fitte Serjeant-Major to Meilleraye's Regiment together with Sieur de Delon Lieutenant of a Company in the same Regiment sent out between eight and nine in the morning a Drum who demanded on the behalf of two Gentlemen without naming them if they might have half an hours discourse with Sieur de la Goute Honorary Advocate to the King and Sieur Peter Toupet The Guard of Maubec who received the Drum brought him to the Mayors House where the Council was assembled and the Drummer having told them the cause of his coming they demanded of the Sieur de la Goute and Toupet who those were that enquired after them and if they knew 1628. Aug. what they desired of them The one and the other finding themselves surprised by this question asked leave to go and see who it was and speak to them and to the end that the Council might be informed of all that might be said and done during their discourse they chose from among themselves of the Council Benjamin Veronneau Advocate to assist at the said Conference which being begun with imbracements made particularly by the said Sieur de la Fitte of the said de la Goute and Toupet with whom he had had long acquaintance Sieur de la Fitte began to speak in this sort Gentlemen the King being most well informed of your Fidelity towards him and that you have the Flower de Luces so impressed upon your hearts that you have rejected all the Propositions that men could make you for shaking off his Dominion to serve another Prince is the sole subject of our Message Cardinal Richelieu who knoweth that I have some Acquaintance in your City hath commanded me to endeavour to confer with some of you upon the subject of your misery to the end to prevent your ruine which you seem to affect by not seeking to your Prince who is altogether good for his Grace when he would never refuse it you if you humble your selves to him He knows that your Famine is great that your Houses are already full of dead Bodies for want of Bread that the voice of dying persons sounds in your Streets and that those that have been most provident are not furnished until the first of September it is your duty to save rather those that are remaining than to loose them because they which remain are the most considerable scarcity begun with the lowest sort most subject to Rebellion he had rather have your Hearts than your Walls and be assured that if you are once reduced to his 1628. Aug. service you will not any more depart from it You believe or suspect that the King will take away your Religion and that the Cardinal will perswade the banishing it the Kingdom you are mistaken the King would be most easie would you have confidence in him and desires to win you with sweetness without using violence The experience of times passed doth sufficiently demonstrate to France that Religion is not to be planted with the Sword and that it 's God alone that inclines the Heart and illuminates the Vnderstanding with his knowledge Think of it then whilst there is time and perish not expecting Bread from England those People think not of you and if they should have a desire to succour you they will not now be able to do it The King hath a powerful Sea-Army to destroy all the force they can bring and the Digue is in such a condition that the
The last FAMOUS SIEGE OF THE CITY OF ROCHEL TOGETHER WITH THE Edict of Nantes WRITTEN In French by Peter Meruault a Citizen of Rochel who was in the City from the beginning of the Siege until the Rendition of it LONDON Printed for John Wickins at the White Hart over against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet-street 1680. THE AUTHOURS PREFACE WHEN the Siege of Rochel had its first beginning I was but in the 20th year of my Age and having been bred to commerce wanted the advantage and ornament of Scholarship yet nevertheless my curiosity prompting me I made it my business to take notice of what then passed and my Father being a Member of the Common Council and as Master of the Artillery exercised the second Charge or Office in the City I learned from him divers Particulars which I carefully committed to writing And though I had at that time nothing less in my thoughts than to compose a Narrative for the Publick yet being cloistred up until the Rendition of the City I find this Journal compleat even until the end of the Siege which I kept only for my own particular use in case the Lord in his mercy should suffer me to survive from whence it is that this Collection hath ever since lain dormant in my Cabinet and nothing but the importunity of friends could have carried me beyond my own resolution in exposing it to publick view Neither my Age my Profession nor yet the little care I then took in digesting of things intending them only for my self can beget in any an expectation of exactness in Form or Style worthy perusal having nothing more to recommend it than integrity as to matter of Fact of which those at a distance as well as those at home must bear witness it being a plain Narrative of Counsels and Transactions during the Siege without any Inferences of my own In the collecting of which neither Interest Affection or Hatred had any influence upon me As this Age is fruitful in great Wits so these Memoirs may be useful to the Writers of the Historie of our Times However some may haply be glad to understand the Particulars which I have here given an Account of PETER MERUAULT For some Reasons the Authour could not publish this Journal sooner though he had Licence for doing it many years since A PREFACE TO THE READER Reader IT is now fifty one years since the Reformed Religion and Liberty received its great wound in the loss of Rochel a City in France once famous for its constant opposition of Rome and being a safe refuge for the Protestants of that Kingdom in the frequent Massacres practised by the more than cruel and bruitish Papists Whoever shall read D' Aubignie's History not D' Avila's against which the Reformed excepts as partial of the Civil Wars of France writ in or near the time of King Henry IV. Grandfather to the present King of England will find that this City was of great service to that King in all his troubles as being a Sanctuary to him upon several occasions constantly taking his part against his Enemies the Popish and Spanish League and Faction This Henry IV. like a magnanimous and generous Soul excelling in gratitude and good Nature tyranny and oppression being the Badges and effects of dissoluteness and cowardise when by the assistance of the Reformed he was restored to the Crown and Dignity of France did not unthankfully forget his friends and persecute them but as a heroick Prince made them participate of the mercies of God towards him by giving them as their Magna Charta the Edict or Law Called that of Nantes with supplementary Articles by which they are restored in all cases to equal Priviledges with the Romanists for though to do the like by Papists in a Protestant Country would be the certain ruine of that Nation their faithless bloody Principles and owning of a Foreign Head being inconsistent with such liberty yet he knew that nothing could be of more security to his Crown than to cherish those that owned no other Sovereign than their Native Prince and could have no other Interest than his as his Successors have since experienced both of them being indebted to the Reformed for keeping their Crowns upon their heads After several former Edicts or Laws had been no sooner made for the security of the Religion than broke the reformed Party who had for their Heads the King of Navarre and Prince of Condée besides a multitude of other Grandees refusing to rely any longer upon Paper Edicts and the word of a King demanded Cautionary Towns and had amongst others the City of Rochel given them for one Whilst this excellent Prince Henry IV. lived his Edict and supplementary Articles hereunto annexed declarative of many former Edicts were faithfully observed but he was no sooner gone than his Successours losing all gratitude chose rather to follow the vicious examples of his Predecessors than the vertuous Precedent that he left them of being true and faithful to Laws and Engagements for at the importunity of their Bishops enemies to true piety setting aside all faith and reverence due to Laws made perpetual and irrevocable they took up a severe persecution of the Reformed from whence arose several Wars and as many reconciliations for the innocent Protestants thirsting after nothing but Peace in the enjoyment of their Laws were always deluded out of their advantages to rely upon fair promises and the insignificant word of their King Until Lewis XIII having first prepared all Matters took his opportunity to fall upon this City the chief Bulwark of the Reformed which resisted upon the account of their Priviledges as a Cautionary Town thinking it as lawful to defend their Rights as for the King to invade them and how the place was lost appears by the ensuing Journal or History which shews I. A Miracle and perhaps beyond example of Unity Courage Constancy and Resolution to die rather than outlive their Liberty II. In all the Managers of their defence as well at home as abroad during the Siege more of faithfulness diligence prudence readiness of Wit and Parts than peradventure will be found in any History especially of its bigness The loss of this City was the first decay of the Protestant Cause and Interest in Christendome and the Original Rise and Foundation of that Greatness in the French Monarchy which threatens at this day the Liberty of Europe for so long as Rochel remained in freedom under a Maior his Council and the Common Council of forty eight annually chosen by themselves they were so formidable under that Government that the French could never get forward in suppressing those of the Religion nor oppressing of their Neighbours which renders the Spaniard guilty of a great Solecism in Politicks in being assistant in the reducing of this City as well as Spinola the Great Spanish General but a Native of Genoua was in contriving the Digue a Bank which blocked up the Passage by Sea
he returned not a little discontented The 22. between Nine and Ten in the morning the Duke of Soubize followed by Mr. Baker Agent for the Duke of Buckingham came to the Gate of S. Nicholas desiring entrance into the City The Guard before the admitting of him acquainting the Mayor therewith he immediately repaired thither and sinding him betwixt the two Gates remonstrated to him the consequence of his coming into the City intreating of him if he desired the good and Conservation of Rochel and the Church of France to return to the Duke of Buckingham but the old Dutchess of Rohan his Mother who was some Months before retired hither coming to meet her Son after Salutations and Imbraces took him by the hand saying with a loud voice that she might be heard by the Mayor and the multitude that were there My Son come 1627. July see your Sister who is very sick At which words without demanding leave of the Mayor who found himself surprized and durst not openly and by force oppose him he went into the City with her as did also Mr. Baker who demanding to be heard in Council which was held after Dinner he made this Speech as followeth Gentlemen I am sent by my Lord the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral of England to declare to you the Reasons for which by the Command of the King my Master he is come to the place where he now is and in sight of you accompanied with a Fleet of Ships laden with Souldiers Artillery and Ammunition ready to make a descent if occasion require It is sufficiently known to the World how the King of Great Britain our Master having Personally by an Adventure very rare and by a Prudence exceeding much his Age discovered before and since his coming to the Crown the danger ready to fall upon him and the rest of Christendom by the Ambition Fraud and Power of the House of Austria hath used all industry to prevent this danger and that not only by his own Forces but also by those of his Allies to which Resolution as he hath been pressed by almost all Princes and Estates of Christendom so none hath done it with more vehemency and efficacy than the French King his Brother-in-law and his Ministers not only by Arguments but also by Promises of Union and Assistance in that Common Cause And to conserve this Mutual Interest against a Common Enemy or suspected Friend was the reason why the King our Master hath more desired 1627. July the Amity and Alliance of France than of all the World besides hoping by this means to have the Power to divert the thoughts of this Great King from the ruine of his best Subjects those of the Reformed Religion and humbling the true Enemies of his Estate who keeps from him so many brave Provinces and Kingdoms possessed by his Predecessors In the prosecution of which Design he was willing to have sacrificed all his Interest for Common Good and securing of Christendom But his Majesty hath found by too dear experience that being ingaged in a War with Spain he did not only not receive the favour and assistance of France which with reason he might have expected but by expecting it received more prejudice and hinderances than from Spain it self and the reason hereof is most apparent for the grand design of this Estate is to take the advantage of the Ingagement of the King our Master with Spain to ruine and extirpate at the same time those of the Reformed Religion in France not that his Majesty will believe that this proceeds from the French King his Brother-in-law or the Queen his Mother being so great Princes and so nearly Allied to him but you Gentlemen know better than we the Powerful Influences that the Jesuits and Spanish Faction have upon the Councils of France which are said to be so strong that even with a high-hand Affairs are often carried against the King himself and by the force of this Faction proceeded the refusal of a passage to Mansfields Army raised and furnished in England 1624. at the very instant of their departure contrary to a Solemn Article 1627. July agreed upon with the French King for their passage by which refusal the Liberty of Germany hath been betrayed and twelve thousand English near totally destroyed The King our Master having interposed his Ambassadours for appeasing the last Wars against those of the Religion and with the consent of the French King himself becoming Guarrantee for the Peace and that those of the Religion were willing to submit to harder terms than at that time their Condition considered they needed to have done in hopes that the designs of this Estate would turn against their Common Enemies in Italy by the Power of this Faction it is nevertheless come to pass that not only the Confederates of the King in Italy have been abandoned but the Arms imployed there have since been made use of to reduce you to the extremity of Poverty and Famine of which I need not say more than that the Complaints of this City and all the Body of the Reformed Religion do still continue the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize having represented them to the King our Master Finally when this Faction perceived that all was to no purpose without prohibiting this City all Trade to Sea under pretext of an Imaginary Society of Commerce they have built a number of Ships of War but doubting that it would be sufficient to their design to fortifie themselves at Sea without at the same time weakning there the King our Master by an unexampled and unheard of Injustice in the midst of a full and perfect Peace and at a time when the King our Master was deeply ingaged in War by whch the Assurance and Riches of France increased they 1627. July made seizure of 120 Ships of his Subjects with Artillery Merchandize and Marriners and what other design could they have in it than to assure themselves of the ruine of this City For these Reasons alledged and many other of the same nature the King our Master the most Religious and Pious Prince in the World setting aside all other Respects than that of his Conscience hath a Sympathy of your Sufferings and his own Honour and finding himself obliged by Promise to procure the accomplishment of the Articles agreed upon especially being invited thereunto by my Lords the Dukes of Rohan and Soubize in the Name of the whole Body of the Reformed Religion he hath therefore sent hither my Lord the Duke of Buckingham who hath given me in Charge to make you an Offer in his Name of a powerful assistance as well by Land as Sea in case you resolve to accept of it for redeeming your Liberty by joyning with you in an actual War which he will do upon such Conditions as you your selves Gentlemen and all the World shall acknowledge that the King our Master hath no Eye to his own advantage but vour good the vindication of his Honour and discharge
of his Conscience for his Majesty is far from pursuing any Demands or Pretensions of his own or to invade the Territories of the French King his Brother with whom he desires to come to a perfect Union so it may be accompanied with the assurance of those in France who make Profession of the same Religion with himself If it be demanded how it comes that the King of Great Britain offers at this time Succours to 1627. July those of the Reformed Religion and this City when being formerly earnestly solicited to it he would not hearken thereunto I answer that the King at that time was not obliged by Promise to take care that the Articles agreed upon by the last Peace were observed besides that then the Treaties between these two Kingdoms were in their Vigour and Reputation and that the King our Master had hopes to be as beneficial to you by his Intercession as by his Arms for he well understands that the Church of God is our true Common Country and therefore hath been very careful in all his Seizures by Sea and Land to preserve those of the Reformed Religion and especially this City from all damage But at present the proceedings of this Estate hath put his Majesty out of doubt as to their designs and left him at liberty by having trodden under feet the Reverence due to Publick Treaties and therefore if you refuse this opportunity you will hereafter seek it in vain and in such case my Lord the Duke of Buckingham hath commanded me to make a Solemn Protestation before God and Man that he holds the King his Master in Honour and Conscience fully acquitted from all Engagements and his Excellency will dispose himself to execute the other Commands which he hath in Charge God hath in mercy given you the opportunity of making choice of Good or Evil and I have it in Command to press you to a ready Answer and Declaration as to which of the two you will make choice of You ought to consider that you may at present resolve clearly hereof as well as with suspention and that as to us each hour of delay will be very prejudicial 1627. July After this he presented the Duke of Buckgham's own Manifest Signed by himself containing a Declaration of the King of Great Britain's Intentions as followeth WHat share the Kings of Great Britain have always taken in the Affairs of the Reformed Church of this Kingdom and with how much Zeal and Care they have laboured their good is most eminently known to all the Examples thereof having been as ordinary as the occasions The present King my most honoured Lord and Master had not come therein behind his Predecessors if his honest and laudable designs for their good and advantage had not been perverted to their ruine by those whose interest it was to have accomplished them What Advantages hath he refused what Parties hath he not pursued that by his Alliance with France he might work the more profitably and powerfully for the restitution of the Churches to their Antient Liberty and Splendour And how could we have expected less from so strict an Alliance and so many reiterated Promises from the Mouth of a Great Prince than Effects truly Royal and suitable to his Grandure but the Issue is so far short of that that his Majesty instead of obtaining freedom and security for the Churches and a general Peace to France by the reconciliation of those who breathe after nothing but all sort of obedience to their King under the enjoyment of Edicts hath met with nothing but the contrary some having prevailed by the interest they had in those of the Religion to the deceiving of them and that not only by dividing them from him but also by rendering him if not odious at least under suspect with them in perverting the means that he ordained for 1627. July their good to an end wholly contrary Witness the English Vessels not designed for the extirpation of those of the Religion express promises having been given not to make use of them to their prejudice and yet nevertheless they were carried to Rochel and imployed â—n the last Naval Fight against them What can any expect from so puissant a King as the King my Master for being publickly illuded than a Resentment equal and proportionable to the injury done him But he hath had Patience beyond Patience and whilest he could hope to relieve the Churches by other means he hath not had recourse to Arms until being made instrumental of the last Peace upon Conditions disadvantagious enough which had never been accepted of without the intercession of His Majesty who interposed His Credit and Interest with the Churches even with Menaces for procuring their agreeing to them for salving the honour of the most Christian King and giving him assurance not only of the observance of them but also of the melioration of the said Conditions whilest he should remain Caution towards the Churches but what hath been the issue of all this nothing but the abuse of his Bounty and that which His Majesty thought would have been a Remedy to all their Evils hath it not carried the Churches to almost the last point of ruine So little it fails that by the continuation of the Fort before Rochel the demolishing whereof was promised by the violence of the Soldiers and Garrisons in the said Fort and Isles as well towards the Inhabitants of the said City as Strangers who instead of being intirely with-drawn have been dayly augmented and other Forts built and by the Commissioners remaining in the said City beyond the time agreed Cabals have been held by the means of which Divisions have crept in amongst the Inhabitants to 1627. July the opening the Gates to Neighbour Troops and byother breaches of the Peace the said City and in it the whole Church hath wanted little of drawing its last Breath and nevertheless his Majesty hath contained himself and not opposed such great Injuries and Violations of Faith more than by Complaints and Intercessions until having had certain advise confirmed by intercepted Letters of the great preparations that the most Christian King made for falling upon Rochel and then his Majesty could not do less than vindicate his honour by a ready taking Arms against those that had rendered him as a Confederate in their Fraudes and Treachery and to give Testimony of the Integrity and Zeal which he hath always had to the establishment of the Churches which shall ever be most dear and pretious to him above all other things and that if any shall question whether this is the only end of his Arms and not rather some particular interest let him consider the Circumstances of time and dispositions of his Affairs and they cannot believe that the King my Master hath any design upon France or can have thoughts of Conquest in a time so disadvantagious That he hath at present for Enemy one of the most puissant Princes in the World and that if that
this Fort and furnishing it so much appeared sufficiently by the several Enterprises that had been made upon the City This was the occasion which moved the Duke of Rohan with whom the Peace of 1622 had been Treated to take Arms and give cause to the Duke of Soubize to make an Enterprize upon Blavet and to assure himself of the Isle of Re and the City and to joyn with them because that though they had not declar'd but sent Deputies to the King to obtain the justice of having this Fort demolished instead of the King 's effectual agreeing thereunto the Marshal Praslin was come against them in Arms committing Acts of Hostility That the following Peace having been made by the Intercession of the Ambassadors of the King of Great Brittain and of the States of Holland under divers Articles and above all apon the word of a King even given to the said Ambassadours in writing that within six Months the Fort should be demolished yet nothing of it had been observed That instead of suffering them to bring back their Goods the Sieur Thoiras had seized them and carryed away all their Salt and built a Citadel in the Isle of Re. That instead of reducing the Garrisons to the number agreed upon they had been increased in such sort that there was alwayes near eight or ten thousand men round the City That upon the passages to Maran and other places they had built new Forts which blocked the City and hindred the bringing in of Corn and Provisions That the Sieur Thoiras did 1627. Octob. the same by Sea by the help of Vessels which he contrary to the Treaty had lying in the Road at the head of the Bay That the Sieur Briel sent as Intendant of the Court of Justice had committed unheard of Injustice as the putting a Souldier to death upon suspicion of having broken a Crucifix in time of War which afterwards was proved false the Crucifix being found That contrary to the priviledges agreed to with the City by the King which was not of Grace but under Covenant given to France That they charged the City as belonging to the Domane establishing Offices for taxing the Corn and Wine of the Government sent Commands to Sieur Thoiras Governour of the City to build the said Fort and Citadel That besides these Injuries done them in particular those of the Religion in general were ill used thorough the whole Kingdom and their Edicts violated in all the heads That hereupon the King of England who on behalf of the King was to them Garrantee of the Peace which was so little observed having ineffectually imployed his Intercession resolved upon taking Arms and having sent his Army into these Quarters they sent Deputies to the Duke of Angoulesm who was in Arms so near to them as Maran to satisfie him by protestation That they desired to remain inviolable in their Fidelity and Obedience to the King and to beseech him to intercede with the King for their enjoyment of the last Treaty of Peace That instead of hearkening thereunto he declar'd War against them plundering their Houses building of Forts too near to them and committing openly all acts of Hostlity whilst they yet held themselves 1627. October in suspence In the end there fell into their hands the Kings Letters to the said Duke of the 13th of September where they found the Map of their ruine and the Order for besieging them both by Sea and Land That being reduced to this point they saw themselves forced to take Arms and to joyn with the English praying all their good Country-men and all good Kings and Princes to approve of their Design and to assist them therein under protestation nevertheless to remain alwayes in the duty of Subjection and Fidelity due to the King and that they should be ready to submit themselves to him when it should please him to receive them into his favour and cause the breach which had been made upon the Edicts to be repaired and to establish them in their ancient Liberties and Priviledges To this Manifest was published an ample Answer the sum of which was That if the Treaty aâ— Montpelier had not in all points been executed the Rochellers were the cause of it they having first broken it in that the Exercise of the Romish Religion ought to have been re-established fully and peaceably in their City which they would not suffer when the Commissioners of the King were sent nor suffer the publick practise of the Popish Ceremonies besides that the King by the same Treaty having ordered the dissolving of the new Order of forty eight Burgesses they would not do it adding that to their other disobedience which made his Majesty believe that it behoved him to stop that demolishment which they pressed so much for that they might be at the more liberty for a new Insurrection That the Armies levyed afterwards by the Duke of Rohan in Languedoc and the King's Vessels seized by the Duke of Soubize 1627. October at Blavet were Rebellious Attempts without Example and that the whole had been agreed with them who nevertheless was willing to amuse the King with feigned pretences of Loyalty but he did not think it reasonable to suffer himself to be so deceived by them As to the Treaty of Peace which followed it was false that Strangers had acted therein as Mediators that the King had given his word to them or consented to that Injury of their Master's being Garrantees to his Subjects as the Ambassadors of England have since told him That if after this Treaty the King thought good to build a Citadel in the Isle of Re and Forts in the Passages from the Isle of Maran it was no more than what was too apparently necessary for bridling a Rebellious City who then tampered with the English and further that it was contrary to truth that on that side they had committed any act of Hostility as all France knows but that the Passages for going and coming and bringing all sorts of Commodities was free to all As to the Offices established contrary to their pretended Priviledges and the Commands of the Governour given to the Sieur Thoiras that as these Priviledges were from the King's Grace and not as they say by Covenant so when they were fallen from their Duty it was most just to revoke them as in the time of Francis the First who dissolv'd their Common-Hall and gave them a Governour and never received them to Mercy until upon their Knees and with Tears they all made supplication for Mercy That the Judgment given against him who broke a Crucifix was judiciously done upon sufficient Informations That the Complaints of 1627. Octob. the generality of their Religion in the rest of the Kingdom was without Vouchers and refuted by the free and entire Exercise the King granted them and his protection under which they lived peaceably That the Invasions of the English and their descent in Arms in the Isle of Re made in full
shot cross the City without doing any harm to any person But receiving advice that the Rochellers would go to Coureille to take it or burn it they returned in the night to Brovage The 25th a part of the Kings Naval Army to the number of ten or twelve great Ships some Pinnaces and the Gally of Brovage came to Anchor in the Road at the Head of the Bay and at their arrival discharged all their Cannon as did 1627. Decemb. also the Fort Lewis and the Royal Battery to which the Rochellers answered at the same time from theirs The 26th betwixt three and four in the Evening a shot coming from the Royal Battery killed three Beggars and hurt two or three more as they were playing at Cards in a Shop of Planks upon the Key of the great River over against the opening of the Chain The next day these Shops were pulled down that they might not serve any more as a mark nor cause in the future any more such murders At this time the Bank which is hereafter called the Digue advanced much on both sides of the Head of the Bay and of Coureille to the end to shut up the going in and out of the Rochellers by Sea at which they at first laughed believing that Storms and ill Weather would undo more in one Tide than they could do in six Months The 28th men was seen working between Ronsay and Beaulieu a good Cannon shot from the City upon a Fort they were making there The 30th with the Morning-tide came into the City a Bark laden with Bourdeaux Wine at which many shot was made from the Fort Lewis and the Royal Battery but without touching her JANVARY The 3d of January 1628. there was seen working at the little Festille for making another Fort there which obliged the City to play upon them with their Cannon but without any great success The 6th there was so great a Storm at South-East that the Bank was almost overturned and 1628. January the Kings Ships which were in the Road at the Head of the Bay so incommoded that three of them were cast upon the Coast of the Head of the Bay and of Coureille where one wanted little of being totally broken in pieces The 8th Ditto forty Cavaliers being gone from Rochel by the new Gate to clear the Street to the new Festille and thereabouts met with some Horse of the Assiegers and worsted them but Monsieur de Bassompier with a great Party of Cavalry and Infantry coming in to their assistance made them retreat though without other loss than of some wounded in exchange of which they brought with them three Prisoners into the City The same day was discovered by a Souldier sent from the Camp into the City an Enterprise upon the Fort Tadon contrived by the Ensign to Captain Salle who was immediately taken racked and hanged the 10th and his Head set up at the Head or utmost part of the Fort half a Musket shot from Bongrenne where for the same cause had three Weeks or a Month before been hanged two Souldiers and one condemned for the Executioner The 12th some Souldiers brought into Rochel sixty Oxen and Cows and at the same time saw men working at Miroeil making of a Fort there The 13th the Rochellers having in the Morning seen some Barques arrive at Coureille under the Convoy of some Gallies and believing they were with Cannon and Warlike Ammunition having had advice some dayes before of their coming made a Sally by Sea to intercept them and at the same time another by Land for diverting 1628. January of Succours and to this end they did with all diligence equip twelve Shalloops who finding themselves ready by eight of the Clock in the Evening furnished with Men Stones Granado's and Fire-works went out of the Chain and went by the Coasts of Port-Neuf to prevent discovery and having left two of their Shalloops in the midst of the Channel as well to hinder succours as to snap those that would escape they fell unexpected upon these Vessels which were at Anchor under the Fort of Marellac and at first made themselves Masters of two Gallies forced the others and also the Barques to run a-Shore and kill'd many of those that were in them and others to save themselves leaped into the Water but seeing Succours hasting from all parts and fearing also that if they should stay longer it being an Ebbing-tide they should lye dry upon the Sands they return'd with two Gallies to Rochel having lost in all the Action but four men and eight wounded At the same time whilst this was in execution at Sea those at Land assaulted the Redoubt of Beautriel betwixt Bongrenne and the House of Coureille where there was a Squadron of thirty of John Sac's Regiment who after some resistance were forced and cut in pieces especially by the English in Revenge for their Companions which had been killed in the Isle of Re in such sort that not above two or three of them were saved and with the loss of no more than one killed and three wounded of the Rochellers and returned to the City with all their Arms which were given to them that took them The 14th very early in the morning there was â—â—ot from the Royal Battery fifteen or twenty 1628. January Cannon shot cross the City without killing or hurting any person save one rash Souldier who mocking those that bowed down and put themselves under the Covert of the Parrapet tog avoid the danger of the dreadful Thunderings stood upon the Wall until his Head was carried away by a great shot The 15th the Sieur Fequiere was brought Prisoner to Rochel and put in the Tower of Monreille near the old Gate Maubec having been taken as he was crossing from Coureille to another Quarter accompanied by the Sieur Forest Lieutenant of Cardinal Richelieu's Guards who was slain refusing to render himself Prisoner or take Quarter This night about two a Clock in the morning of the 19th Ditto went out of Rochel the Sieurs Daniel Bragneau on behalf of the City-Hall and John Gobert for the Burgers to go for England to hasten succours and to buy Corn and other Provisions for the City and departed with Ten Sail viz. three Men of War five Pinnaces and two Fire-ships and passed all the Forts without receiving any damage from the Forts Batteries or Men of War which lay at Anchor at the Head of the Bay but going out from the Chain one of the Fire-ships thorough the carelesness of those in her was so intangled with one of the Men of War that they were forced to cut her Masts and Cordage and in that condition turn her a drift who with the Current was carried to Port-Neuf where she gave them a great Alarm and made them spend many Cannon and Musket shot upon her until not being answered no person being aboard they boarded her with their Shalloops 1628. January and run her a-shore in the Creek of Port-Neuf Besides
was sent from Rochel to England to hasten the succours and passed without any obstruction MARCH The 3d of March the Rochellers received a Letter by Land from Sieur David Vincent and Dehinse dated the 4th of February writ in Cyphers which imported that in the Month of March or April at farthest the Fleet would be ready to carry them succours of Men Victuals and necessary Munitions which rejoyced much the City thoroughout the Letter was as followeth Gentlemen HAving received yours by Sieur de Bausay we have so pressed the sending Provisions that Monsieur Dâ—hinse was gone for Plymouth to have managed them but meeting by the way the Sieur Gorribon who in his passage towards Britain having met the Kings Navy Royal they believed that the Convoy being weak they would indubitably be all taken whereupon returning we have represented to his Majesty your Condition and obtained a Promise of a Puissant Naval Army for your succour in March or April for certain 1628. March and in the interim they will run the adventure of some small Vessels with Corn. Have good courage for without delay you will be supplied with Men and all Provisions Keep in order and make provisions of Shalloops Messieurs Your most humble and obedient Servants David Vincent London Feb. 4. 1628. At this same time were fixed many Ships in several places of the Digue besides those there before and were fastened one to another by great Cables to hinder the passing of any thing The 6th there was a skirmish between the Besiegants and those of the Fort Tadon without any great loss on one or the other side The 11th Cardinal Richelieu the Kings Lieutenant General having as is said secret Intelligence with some of Rochel environed it with 8000 Horse and Foot bringing a great number of Ladders Bridges Petars a quantity of Cordage and Timber which were carried in ten Chariots unto Plessis a ruined House five or six hundred paces distant from the City the Night being favourable to him for making his approaches in that it was very dark and windy his principal design and Enterprise was to Petar the crasie Port of Salines which is Maubec to scale the Bastions of Gabal to essay by Petars Port-Neuf and that of S. Nicholas to attempt in good earnest the opening of the Chain to break in betwixt the two Forts of Tadon whilst divers Parties should give false Allarms in 1628. March divers places for to divert and divide the Forces of the City and in this great Expedition the Marshals Schomberg and Bassompier assisted him exhorting the Infantry and giving them assurance that never any Design had less Adventure in it that his Majesty had in the City eight or nine hundred Confidents all good men and that by the opening the Draw-bridges by the Petars and the help of the Ladders means all well ordered they should with ease render themselves and almost in Battaillia in the middle of the Streets and places of Arms that they should presently imbrace an entire Felicity and Fortune with her most precious moveables and that after such a Glory there would not be any thing more for them to wish But whilst these fine words flowed with facility and the Souldiers hearts leapt for joy all of a sudden they found the Wheel of their design nailed and pinned without knowing who to attribute it to except to the Night which the Cardinal with reason had chosen as most dark had brought the Troops and Executors into confusion or that the variety of so many several parts of the design might bring an intanglement or some ill understanding in the Army whatever it was that night was spent until day-light without enterprising any thing except the viewing the Ports by some bold Souldiers who knocked there and at the first Draw-bridge the Centinels of the City who were watchful enough in their places not hearing any thing of it Cardinal Richelieu seeing his design upon Rochel to fail the twelfth Ditto in the night he undertook another upon the Fort Tadon to try if he could succeed better there and to that end he 1628. March chose the Flower of his Army which he divideâ— into three Battalions In the first were Gentlemen of Companies as the Forelorn-Hope which were betwixt 150 and 200 commanded by the Sieurs Marilac and Surdis Capt. in the Regimentâ— of Guards The second made the Body of the Battaille where Marshal Schomberg commanded in his own Person and had about eight hundred of the most sprightful bold and vigorous Souldiers in the Army with the Flower of the Gentry The third which was the greatest was the Reserve winged with the Cavalry without ingaging with the others Thus ordered they marched without making any noise unto the Head of the Fort Tadon each Musqueteer having a Cover that they might not be discovered but before any thing was enterprised they sent thirty Souldiers to pass the Sands of the Channel to see if the Tide were at the lowest being willing to vex the Court of Guard of Tevaille and Port of two Mills and by giving an Allarm on that side to assure so much the more their Enterprise upon the Fort Tadon which are almost opposites they sent a cunning Souldier to the Port of S. Nicholas to hallow to those that were upon the guard of the Gate in the name of those of the Fort that they should not shoot for some reasons known to him and advised the same all along the Curtain of the said Fort that they had a contrary design to act upon the Assiegants who would come to them all along by the Sea and that they could not shoot in the confusion of that mixture but with more prejudice to those of the Fort than to the Assailants which advice they received and was the cause that they fired nâ—â—t understanding that shooting would 1628. March give an Allarm to the City This Evening commanded in the Fort by lot the Sieur Pontlevain a Gentleman of Xaintonge who besides his Company had five others with him four French and one English The Centinel heard a noise upon the Beech of the Sea-shore but the Wind being North hindering his hearing occasioned him to hearken more attentively on that side and perceived as he thought a great Shadow which floated the height of a man before him without being able to discern what it should be nevertheless he shot his Musquet and by the light of it discovered the Battalions and saw them already in their approaches Their Captain seeing himself discovered marched two of his first Troops by the Sea as if he would go to the Port S. Nicholas and advanced betwixt the City and the Fort over against Gabut to have the Wind on their backs which blew impetuously in the eyes of those of the said Fort and afterwards having discovered their Match commanded them with a loud voice the first Attack to which they submitted without disputing and above all the Gentlemen in the Forelorn-Hope but they found the Garrison in good
retreat not to the hearkening to a Peace which will be ruinous as without doubt it will be such 1628. March if his Majesty intercede not in it whereas if it please God to bless the good intentions from this side we shall have wherewith to do well and such as will not leave more leaven for a following War There remains yet one thing more to advise you of that when the first Corn is arriv'd that you would be pleased to give order for the ready payment for it for you cannot but judge of what consequence that will in the future be and therefore we cannot cease recommending the advantage to you We will not write you any thing of the price for having spoken to the Duke about that he told us that he intended that your selves should set it but possibly these are words of Complements upon which we ought not to depend He reiterated his desire of having you send him Pilots you may please therefore to advise thereof as also to keep your promise of sending frequently Pinnaces to us to inform us of your necessities and thereby render our Instances the more powerful by grounding them upon fresh advice which is so necessary that we cannot recommend it pressingly enough We beg it of you again and refer you to Sieur Faux the Bearer hereof to communicate to you what we may have omitted We will not add more at present than to address our prayers to him who hath been hitherto your Keeper that he will still incompass you with his Protection We are Gentlemen Your most humble and most obedient Servants David Vincent Dehinse Plymouth Novemb. 25. 1627. 1628. March When it shall please you to write be pleased to direct your Letters to Monsieur Host Another Letter of the Deputies of Rochel to their Superiours Gentlemen THis is our third since our arrival in this Isle We writ from Plymouth the 24th past and from Bristol eight or ten days after without troubling you with the repetition of what we have desired for you We shall now give you an account of what we have since done here where we arrived the sixth Current we addressed our selves to the Duke who received us with demonstration of most particular good-will and kindness and the same hour he was the means of our Audience by his Majesty to whom having had the Honour to pay our Respects Monsieur David returned him most humble thanks for concerning himself upon the account of our Oppression representing to him how much it was aggravated since he had shewed his kindness to us adding then a most earnest Supplication for a ready and powerful assistance of you We read in the Countenance of his Majesty the gracious Answer which he made us amounting in sum to assure us that though the success had not answered his good Intentions he would nevertheless continue to assist us to the making our Cause his own adding that he should make the Errours committed in what had been done Advertisements to him for the time to come The Duke being present and hearing what the King 1628. March said to us as he had inâ—â—oduced us so in like manner he brought us back Some days following we spent in waiting upon the Privy Council amongst whom there were some that received us with great humanity and assured us that the Inclinations of his Majesty were so carried out for us that we needed no Intercessors and amongst the rest one said that his Discourses by day and Dreams in the Night were nothing but of our Affairs and another Principal Person added that he would rather lose his Crown than not to make good his word to us These Complemental Visits did not so take up our time but we applied our selves to the most Essential of our Affairs and judging that the sending of Corn was most to be pressed we addressed our selves for that to the Duke especially for that we understood that the Order given at Plymouth was to our great grief revoked but thereunto he answered that since his arrival in this place they had found Corn much cheaper here and in far greater quantity than in other places which had made him change his Order saying further that from that time they had with diligence industriously applied themselves to the buying of it and by our continual solicitation since it is in such forwardness that a great quantity of Corn is ready wanting nothing but Vessels which we must hire and agree for the Fraight but we know not yet what Convoy they will give us the Wind being contrary hath kept some in Plymouth which they did design to that purpose Nevertheless we are assured of some and in all appearance will be ready in a few days to set sail if God give an opportunity With the 1628. March Corn you will receive besides French four or five hundred English Souldiers which we have procured with order for paying of them as also of those that you have already both for the time passed and to come So soon as we are over this business we shall press the other Heads contained in the Memorials which you gave us in Charge but the importance of this would not suffer us to traverse any other Proposition Moreover it is the good pleasure of his Majesty not to limit himself in his assistance with Provisions but gives us hope of a plentiful supply which is preparing and for which the City of London hath lately furnished him with 12000 l. but we cannot think that they will be ready before the Spring The Duke of Soubize who arrived here a day after us improves all his power being exceeding well received by his Majesty and in singular good intelligence with the Duke so that he contributes not a little to our Affairs in which we also interest him with us as in a Cause which is common to us all That which confirms us in the hopes that they will in good earnest imbrace our defence is the Answer that they have given lately to the King of Denmark's Ambassador who offers a Mediation for the Accommodation of the two Crowns particularly desires a more puissant assistance at Sea but without in any kind touching this Proposition they gave him only for answer that his Majesty would continue to him as he hath hitherto done all the assistance promised and when he hath need of Ships he can be accommodated therewith by the King of Swede and the States who have their Commerce in the Baltick You see Sirs the present condition of 1628. March your Affairs and we shall not be wanting in advertising you of the Progress as we also beseech you frequently to impart to us the particulars of your Condition even by Express Pinnaces it being so absolutely necessary that we cannot forbear reiterating our Supplications herein We have received yours of the 24th passed and do perceive what order you say you have given for payment of the English with you which we have made use of according to what you
was of a very ill relish to us and fearing that a sudden Answer could not be so well framed as that it would not prejudice us whether in being too reserved which might disgust them and retard the sending of succours or in yielding too much beyond our Instructions in such sort as we should be disowned We told him in general that we could give all assurance that Rochel would never deny any reasonable Overtures for giving all just contentment to his Majesty therein but as to that which was upon particulars we most humbly besought him that as it had pleased him to command us to couch our desires in writing that it would likewise please him to let us be answered in the same manner to the end that agreeing among our selves upon that which hath been proposed to us that which we have to say may be the better digested Having testified his approbation hereof he led us from thence into the Guilded Chamber where the King was in full Council before whom having kneeled and by his Command standing up Monsieur David represented in brief that which we had more at large done in writing which accordingly he presented The King having taken it gave it us again and commanded us to read it to him which we did with a loud and distinct voice to the end that all might hear it and was of this Tenure The Deputies of the City of Rochel to his moâ—t Serene Majesty having had formerly some advice that he silently treated for an Accommodation betwixt the two Crowns in which the Ambassadours of the King of Denmark laboured and finding 1628. March themselves confirmed in this belief by the sending a Gentleman as Envoy from France under pretext of conducting some Prisoners who hath divers times had conference thereupon with the Lords of the Council and hath also had close Conferences with the Ambassadours of Denmark and that in prosecution thereof they went readily to Paris they have thought it their duty most humbly to supplicate his Majesty to give them Audience to the end they may give him and the Lords of the Council to understand what they believe is their necessary duty to represent upon this occasion First they find themselves obliged to acknowledge they have already had the Honour to render to his Majesty their most humble thanks and desire now to reiterate the same for that it hath pleased him from his own good and proper motion to hold it incumbent upon him to make good to them his Royal Word in reference to the Articles of Peace which the King their Soveraign had agreed with him concerning them in the year 1626. and for the execution of the same had sent upon their Coasts a puissant Army under the Conduct of his great Admiral in the Month of July 1 st Aâ— his Majesty in this assistance hath made his Piety and Geneâ—osity appear to all the World and thâ— entire confidence that may be put in his Royal Word by all those to whom he gives it so we hold it indubitable that he will be pleased to make it seen by us how happily they are protected whom he undertakes to defend with his Arms and that as they are invincible so his Prudence cannot be circumvented by any Artifice 1628. March Hereupon they supplicate him in all humility to consider what is the true end that those propose to themselves who manage these Overtures and bring in debate the Propositions for a Treaty It is true that Peace is desirable above all things and the City for which they act have an ardent passion for it especially being but newly delivered from the miseries of two Wars successively But the question is whether the present conjuncture considered that which is proposed is the true means to arrive at it and whether in the contrary there is not cause to fear that it is a snare extended for their ruine which if it please not his Majesty to provide against they see it most inevitable making no doubt but this Negotiation draws with it these necessary consequences First That though it may not slacken the true and good affection of his Majesty whereof they have an entire confidence yet it may at least the diligence of my Lords his Ministers in their preparations for their succours considering that the Treaty coming towards a conclusion the intercessors for it will not without doubt be wanting in designingly giving all imaginable hopes which out of frugality may retard preparations and now the least delay will be their ruine considering the condition in which they find themselves Secondly The news of Treating being noised will certainly keep at home those who prepare themselves to take Horse so soon as the Spring appears there being nothing more imprudent than to put on Harness when Peace is ready to be made Thirdly The bruit of a Treaty will indanger 1628. March the dissipating the Duke of Rohan's Troops Experience having always shewed that Forces of the nature of his composed of Volunteers without pay are easily scattered by any hopes of Accommodation every one being impatient of returning home to his own house Fourthly The worst is that during this delay those who besiege their City will with ease build all their Forts and finish their Line on the Land side assemble their Naval Army which is not yet in a good condition they will work at the Digue or Bank which they have begun without loosing one moment and at shutting the passage by Sea and inaccessibly imbarrass their Haven The Provisions which remained in the City after their furnishing his Majesties Army will be presently consumed In brief the Affairs are in such a state that the opportunity of relieving them being passed all the Forces of Europe will not be able to do any thing and then consequently the Treaty now proposed will vanish his Majesty will be derided and the City which hath ingaged with him will necessarily be forced to render and submit to the rage of a Victorious and irritated Master As his Majesty knows well how to judge of the validity of these Reasons and Consequences so they supplicate him in all humility that notwithstanding all the practices that may have been used to the contrary he will provide that there may be no slackning in any kind of the necessary diligence for preparing the relief which it hath pleased him to promise them And since the Convoy of Men and Victuals is almost ready by the great care that the Duke of Buckingham High-Admiral hath taken it would please him to command the whole Navy 1628. March to set sail with the very first in expectation 〈◊〉 his Majesty may by his Forces do some 〈◊〉 worthy of the puissance of so great a 〈◊〉 and oblige those to think seriously of a good 〈◊〉 who at present have no intentions 〈◊〉 it This is word for word as we read it and we 〈◊〉 that the King at the word 〈◊〉 smiled looking upon the President of the 〈◊〉 who was on his right
hand and the Duke 〈◊〉 was next to him and said something to them 〈◊〉 English which we could not hear but by his 〈◊〉 we apprehended that he declared his 〈◊〉 to it As to all the rest both he and the 〈◊〉 heard it very attentively and commanded us 〈◊〉 deliver our Writing to my Lord Conway Seâ—â—etary of State the King promising us to 〈◊〉 of it Then we took our leave with a Serene â—ountenance without having any of the Proposiâ—â—ons made at that time to us which the Duke had 〈◊〉 of The 16th which was the Lords day we devoted 〈◊〉 his service and the next morning waited upon 〈◊〉 Duke as he rise who told us that he and 〈◊〉 more of the Council were nominated for â—ommissioners to make a Formal Treaty with us 〈◊〉 the Name of his Majesty which would serve to publish to all the World such a Union between â—im and us as would put them out of hopes of his â—bandoning us or that we should leave him by a separate Accommodation But after this he came again to the Proposition that he had before made 〈◊〉 and told us that we were to consider what we could on our parts propound the better to secure his Majesty and to oblige him to the great expence 1628. March that he must be at by undertaking in goâ— earnest our defence To this demand we judged it safer to interrâ—gate than to answer and told him that the inâ—nite disproportion betwixt us and so great anâ— puissant a Monarch considered we could not haâ—â— so much temerity as to believe that we had aâ—â— thing to offer worthy of him or to put in balancâ— with the glory of so great and generous an actioâ— as that will be of relieving us that great Kingâ— are in this the Image of God who doth good to them from whom he can receive nothing Nevertheless if there were any thing wherein we could testifie to him our entire acknowledgment and to assure him of the sincerity of our intentions in never making a separate Treaty we should hearkeâ— to it with all respect Upon this with difficulty enough and in words sufficiently confused as a man who had something to say which he would not express he touched upon two things First that which he had before opened touching some Children to send hither as Hostages Secondly that in case of necessity we would ingage our selves to give retreat to the Kings Sea Forces as well as Land and added that he had desired to confer with us hereupon before our Conference with the Commissioners to the end that before them there might be nothing to debate of which might be of prejudice to us We answered that since his Majesty had freely offered that we should draw a Conceipt for a Treaty we would thereupon discourse the matter among our selves frame the Articles and communicate them to him with all speed which he approved 1628. March of and promised to send to us after Dinner Monsieur de Vie his Secretary When we were withdrawn to commune among our selves we all agreed that the Dukes two Oâ—ertures were dangerous and a snare extended against our liberty and as to the Hostages that that would be grievous to our Fellow-Citizens to see themselves bereaved of their Children sent to breath in a strange Air and to be bound by such dear Pledges And as to the other that the consequence of that seemed more great and the danger more eminent since that if they had any thoughts of seizing us they will have no more to do than under a colour of seeking retreat enter the Forts and so force the City to return to their Ancient Yoak and that if such an unhappiness should befall us our City would be an eternal Theater of War in that the King would never receive us into his favour But that which was most to be feared was that the Yoak of their Domination would be too hard to submit willingly unto and therefore if we must lose our Liberty right Reason obliges us to remain under our true and legitimate Master and seek whilst we may to make our Conditions with him but since this was the last remedy we ought in prudence to prevent the reducing us to such a Condition and at present to temporize and avoid these Propositions so far as was possible without discontenting them but if they insisted upon it at a time so important as was the present relieving of the City we must not retard it by rejecting what they demanded but agree to all referring it to the City who afterwards will ratifie so much thereof as they shall judge necessary for their security 1628. March Being all three of this Sentiment accordingâ— in all our actions we have been most unanimouâ— we took Pen and Ink and framed the Project foâ— a Treaty to the end that the Articles for thâ— same being agreed on by us and put in writingâ— we might barter more securely in our Communication whether with the Dukes Secretary or with the Commissioners and having long enough conferred together on the matter we gave him this Conceipt The Treaty between the most glorious Prince Charles by the Grace of God King of Great Britain and the Mayor Sheriffs Peers Burgers and Inhabitants of the City of Rochel their Deputies subscribing for them THe Deputies of the City of Rochel provided with full and ample Power being at present with his most Serene Majesty and having most humbly supplicated him to take and receive those of the City of Rochel under his Protection and Safeguard and to make them sensible of the effects by an assistance worthy of his Majesty by the means of which they may be delivered from the oppression they now lie under and be restored to the favour of their Prince the most Christian King and to the enjoyment of an assured Peace and his most Serene Majesty inclining favourably to this Request hath granted them his Protection and accordingly the Articles following have been reciprocally stipulated First As to the said Rochellers they promise all the aid and favour that is to them possible for the advancement and happy success of the Arms of 1628. March his most Serene Majesty in equipping as many Men of War as is possible for them for favouring the Sea Army of his Majesty in all their undertakings as in furnishing experienced Pilots for their Neighbour Coasts and the blocking up of Rivers in providing for those in their City his Majesty shall give orders to appointing Magazines and proper places for Store-houses for all sort of Provisions if it be judged necessary in receiving Vessels which Storms may constrain to put into their Harbour or shall be thrust thither by some other necessity that even in case all the Army of his Majesty should be thereunto pressed to give them retreat and shelter and provide for their security Secondly The said Rochellers will not hearken to any particular Accommodation nor imbrace any Treaty of Peace whatsoever save with the good liking and
Army should return into England The 15th the English sent a Fire-ship full of Fire-works in the fashion of Petars into the Kings Fleet to set fire on them but taking fire before its time the Fire-Ship and those that were in it perished miserably without any being saved The 18th betwixt two and three a Clock Afternoon the English Fleet set sail for England having been eight days in the Road at the Head of the Bay without making any attempt or Essaying to send any relief into Rochel which greatly dejected the Rochellers and put them in great pain and perplexity nevertheless they resolved to suffer the greatest Extremity before they would render and to that end bought one of another all sorts of Provisions and that they might hold out the longer retrenched their Ordinary to the moyety of that which they had accustomed to eat 1628. May. and above all the Bread which they began now to weigh This following is a Relation composed by the Sieur Gobert THe same day that the English Army set sail the Sieur Bragneau and Gobert 〈◊〉 â—n the morning the assembling of all the French Captains aboard Sieur Bragneau and upon the resoâ—â—tion that the English Fleet had taken to set sail foâ— Eâ—gland without being prevailed with to the contrary by all the Remonstrances Prayers and Supplications that they could make to give thâ—m their assistance for facilitating the entry of the Ships into Rochel with relief it was judged necessary and was agreed upon with the unanimous consent of all that the Sieur Gobert should prâ—sently take the Pinnace of Captain Guillet to carry him with all diligence into England to represent un oâ— the King the small endeavours that his Naval Army had made and the eminent danger that it lâ—ft Rochel in to the end that it might please his Majâ—sty to remedy it Sieur Gobert accepted of it and the Wind being favourable arrived the 22th present at the Isle of Wight from thence he went to Portsmouth and took Post for London where being arrived he immediately waited upon the Duke of Soubize to whom having given an account of what had passed in his Voyage and of the return of the English Fleet without having done any thing they went together to carry the ill news to the Duke of Buckingham who seemed to resent it very much and carried them presently to the King to whom Sieur Gobert giving a particular Relation of all 1628. May. he was thereat very much concerned and enquired what was the cause of his Fleet making so speedy a return before having first fought and relieved Rochel And then taking Sieur Gobert by the hand â—ed him to a Window and leaning upon his shoulder weeping reiterated to him the same demand in these words What cause have my people had to retreat and to abandon this poor City To which he answered that he knew none save a Panick Fear which seized them upon an uncertain noise of a Spanish Naval Fleet ready to come to those Coasts of France and the fear they had of running the adventure of losing their Ships His Majesty at this being moved more than before stepping three or four paces back said What are my Ships made to fear and not to hazard themselves in Fight and immediately commanded the Duke of Buckingham to call the â—ouncil which was presently done where Sieur Gobert being called and enquired of what day the Fleâ—t arrived before Rochel what Fight it had been constrained to make how many slain and what damage it had received there He declared that the Fleet arrived before the City the Eleventh and for Fights they had had none the King of Frances Fleet retreating near the Digue but that only from the Land and the Points which advanceth the Admiral had received from the Batteries which are there a Cannon-shot without so much as hurting any Person Upon which the King and Council resolved to dispatch a Gentleman with Sieur Gobert in the same Vessel that brought him to the English Fleet where-ever it should be with express Command to the Earl of Denby to return and come to Anchor in the Road of Rochel and to expect there the Aid that he was 1628. May. further preparing for the City and at the same time commanded the Sieur Gobert to write a Letter to those of Rochel advising them not to be astonished at the retreat of his Fleet without doing any thing for that he would prepare them a puissant succour which he assured them would relieve them In brief that he would lose the Moiety of his Kingdom rather than suffer them to perish which Sieur Gobert did write in the presence of all the Council and the King having signed it it was sent by an Express to those of the City After which the above-said Gentleman and Gobert took Post for Portsmouth where being arrived they imbarked in the said Pinnace endeavouring to meet the English Fleet as they did the fourth day after their departure from Portsmouth on the Coast of Cornwal but for the most part already dissipated there not being more than four or five Men of War with the Admiral all the rest being retired to the nearest Harbours in England nevertheless they went aboard the Admiral and presented to the Earl of Denby the Packet they had to him from the King and Council and the Commands of his Majesty to return to the Coast of France To which he answered that that was altogether impossible for him to do because his Fleet was dissipated and his Victuals for the most part consumed and continuing his course he came to Anchor betwixt the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth The English Fleet thus retreated and the Rochellers notwithstanding resolving to stand out they made choice of Sieur Grosetiere a Gentleman of Poictue to go into England to advertise the King of Great Britain and their Deputies of their condition 1628. May. and necessities and hasten relief He parted the 21th and was the Messenger of this Letter The Rochellers Letter to the King of Great Britain dated the 28th of May 1628. SIR WE are assured that the Image of our Miseries have prevented our Complaints and that your Serene Majesty having a sensible impression of them in your Spirit these cannot fail of a favourable Audience from a Heart so generous and great as yours Sir you have vowed us your Grace and promised us Deliverance you have also taken Arms to force them to keep the Publick Faith of Treaties that they have deposited with you but your People Sir have abandoned us contrary to your Magnanimous and most faithful Instructions your General not daring to breathe near nor look upon the danger of the glorious execution of your Sacred Word What sort of Excess or Prodigy can it be that hath â—o conspired against the Dignity of your Name and the Condition of our poor Country Sir we speak to you with Tears in our Eyes glaspâ—d Hands Hearts struck thorough with many Wounds whilst we have the Honour of
Evening they knew it was the mustering of the Army The eighth there came to the Port of Coigne a Drum which brought a Letter to the Mayor from Cardinal Richelieu demanding the Rendition of the City Those that were at the Guard made scruple of receiving it but having advertised the Mayor of it he came accompanied with those of his Council to whom he read the Letter and then said with a loud voice to the Drummer to the end that all those that were there might understand the Answer he gave That they were not upon the point of Rendering or Treating and that they had Provisions beyond what they were made believe besides that within eight or fifteen days they hoped to be relieved both by Sea and Land from England and that they had no other Answer to give The 10th John du Mont called la Rose a Native of Bourdeaux being well known in the City where he had a long time sojourned but had been gone from thence some years for ill behaviour being come from the Camp was Convicted of a Conspiracy and besides that he had been suspected from his arrival there was a Letter writ from Mantaubon to the Dutchess of Rohan giving advice to seize his Person which being done they found about him a Table-Book which Convicted him They stuck not to give him the ordinary and extraordinary Rack to know if he had not Complices but he accused no body yet upon the Gibbet exhorted the Rochellers very much not to relie upon any Promises or Capitulations that might be proposed to them telling them that he knew they 1628. July would not be kept and that their ruine was determined whatever it cost which occasioned the death of many people The 14th with the Evening-tide and betwixt two and three after Dinner the Digue was beat upon with a very great and impetuous South-East-wind in such sort as it was almost totally overturned the Ships walled up removed from their place the Engines and Bridges broken to pieces and part of the Wrack drive within the Chain with a Bark of 25 or 30 Tun which greatly rejoyced the Rochellers and kept them in good hopes that thence forward the like Storms and ill weather would undo more in one Tide than they could remake in many Months The same day an Artisan called Pierre du Bourg fled hither some years since for refuge was hanged in the Castle-yard for holding Intelligence with the Besiegers and was discovered by his own Son of eleven or twelve years old whose Innocency he made use of to carry his Letters to a certain place whither those without came for them Upon the Rack he accused divers Inhabitants but at the Gibbet confessed that the torment of the Rack made him say more than he knew and that they were Innocent of that which he had laid to their Charge This saved them otherwise they had run the same Adventure as he their Process being already well advanced The 24th the Deputies in England seeing that the preparations that were made for the relief of Rochel went but slowly forward made to the King sitting in his Council a free and pressing Harangue by Sieur Vincent as followeth 1628. July The Harangue of Sieur Vincent to the King of Great Britain drawn out of Sieur Vincent's own Journal JVLY SIR THe griefs and sorrows which oblige us to â—o â—ll the Ears of your Majesty and to reiterate them so often ought to be most extreme Behold us now Sir at your Feet to wash them with our Tears and we wish we do not in a little time come to sigh out our last breath with the news of the dissolution of our poor City We know not Sir how to conceal it the sense we have of its being at its last gasp puts us into dispair seeing that the succours which your Majesty hath made us hope would be ready hath been deferred from day to day for many Weeks together Sir the City of Rochel did by us beg of you to receive them into your Protection and you as solemnly agreed to it and since that they have had at divers times all the assurances possible as well from your own mouth as the Hand of your Majesty that you would never abandon them and accordingly by a Miracle of Constancy they have held out hitherto a whole year contending with the horrours of a most ghastful Famine that they might thereby give leisure to your Majesty to send them the succours you pleased to promise them and thus constant were they even when all Europe believed they ought to have despaired in that after having had relief as they thought several days in their sight it returned without effecting or attempting any thing and though our Enemies 1628. July have taken occasion from thence to make them divers Propositions of Accommodation which the extremity of their necessities seemed to counsel the hearkening unto yet they chose rather to run the hazard of their perpetual destruction than to be wanting in the least to the promises that we had sworn for them to your Majesty or to shew the least diffidence of yours After all this Sir shall it be recorded in the History of your Reign that they perished in your hands without reaping any other fruit of the good will your Majesty hath professed towards them or of the assurance they have therein relied upon than the rendering them irreconcileable to their King from whom otherwise they might have found Grace Pardon Sir this from a People that finds themselves upon the Threshold of their Sepulchres if they cannot avoid sighs that may be undecent in your presence It is ordinary with those that are near their end to finish their lives with groans and such will be our case if after the precedent neglects there follows the least delay In the Name of God Sir whilst there is yet resting to us any Breath and before we totally expire command that your succours be hastened to our assistance and provided that diligence be yet used we will remain Caution to your Majesty with the peril of our Heads that they will arrive time enough to save us And as to the impossibility that some will suggest to be in it permit us we beseech you Sir to tell you freely that that Opinion proceeds either from fear or want of affection and that besides the contrary Report that some unsuspected have made thereof to your Majesty It is not tobe thought that our City 1628. July who is within sight of the Digue and Pallisade and Carriage of her Cannon would send time after time to beg your assistance if they knew it would be unprofitable to them and having every day offers of advantageous Conditions to Treat upon if they would hearken to it for themselves alone they could be so imprudent as to neglect the opportunity But we are ready if it please your Majesty to permit it to take upon us the first Adventure of the execution to the end to justifie the sincerity of our
proceedings to all the World and that it may not be imputed to us that we are prodigal of the blood of your Majesties Subjects to ill purpose or that we will spare our own No Sir there is no impossibility in the case as is feigned but the only cause of our fears proceeds from the continual neglects from one day to another and from one Week to the next which make our hopes recoil After thereturn of your Fleet we comforted our selves with the promise that was made us from your Majesty that it should set sail again within fifteen days and when more than twenty were past they added thereunto fourteen After that divers other neglects in such sort as make up now two Months compleat Good God Sir time seems long with them that have not Bread we know well the good Inclinations that your Majesty hath for us as also we have had most certain proofs of the Duke of Buckingham your High-Admiral passionate applying himself for us and the same of the Lords of your Council but shall we not be excusable if seeing the effects crossed by delays we entertain jealousies that your Majesty is not well served and that there is some hidden 1628. July hand which obstructs that which the zeal of others endeavour to advance It is ordinary with men in misery to be suspitious and possibly we are injuriously so and indeed we do not know any person upon whom to determine our diffidence nor do we intend the calling to mind any thing that is passed for for ever Sir may that remain buried in perpetual Oblivion and as for the time to come let those at least to whom your Majesty shall give your Commands answer your kindness to us with their affection and diligence in putting your Fleet to Sea without any more delay for delivering us out of the Jaws of Death If upon this occasion Sir you discern those that serve you faithfully from others if there be any such let your Majesty hold it indisputable if it please you that all those who under any pretext whatsoever shall counsel the least neglect do it from an evil intention there being none that are ignorant of the horrible necessities of our City and that one day of delay may be its ruine Have consideration thereof Sir we beseech you by the tears and pitiful cryes of more than twelve thousand languishing Souls whom Hunger devours and who are all ready to perish by the interest of more than a Million of others who without doubt will see themselves buried under our Ruines and will find the Knife at their Throats the next day after we are lost By the glory of your Scepter under the Sanctuary of which we are come to put our selves and which it hath pleased you to tender us for our security by the Magnificent Title of Defender of the Faith which obligeth your Majesty to relieve those that are oppressed out of a hatred to it In â—ine by the Faith and Word of a King which it 1628. July hath pleased you in grace and favour to ingage to us Permit not Sir our Innocent Blood to reflect upon your Crown to stain it to Ages that shall succeed you and at present to cry against your Majesty before God and Men. This is that Sir which our Consciences and the duty we owe to our afflicted Fellow-Citizens obligeth us to represent again unto your Majesty in whose Charity Magnanimity Piety and inviolable Fidelity we have such confidence that we assure our selves you will take this in good part and into convenient consideration And now seeing that all our supplications tend to the making your Fleet without delay set sail and that to that end your presence at Portsmouth is so absolutely necessary that without it we can scarce hope for any success we are forced to take the boldness to supplicate in all humility the putting in execution the resolution you have taken to go thither And now Sir we fall upon our knees before your Majesty with most ardent prayers and cryes to God that it will please him to make us find more and more favour in your sight and that even we who now supplicate you and are come to render to you our most humble acknowledgment as our Great Deliverer from whom after God we hold our goods honours and lives may have cause to leave the memory of our Deliverance to our Children to the end they may Celebrate it after us The 27th of July the Dutchess of Rohan caused two of her Coach-Horses to be killed as well for her own eating as for the nourishment of her Family besides her necessity whereof she was sensible it was an example to others to suffer the utmost extremity rather than to render the City 1628. July At this time the necessity which was horrible obliged divers to seek ways and means to pass the Line others to scatter themselves in Vineyards to gather even but Verges Grapes and some to render themselves willingly It was now published in the Camp upon pain of death not to suffer them to approach the Line nor to take Prisoners any that should come out of Rochel but by Musquet-shot force them to return within their Counterscarp and Ports from whence many were killed chusing rather to finish their lives by a Musquet-Bullet than to return home to die there miserably of Famine And many Women and Maids of the common people going into the Vineyards were violated and beaten with Forks and shafts of Halberts then stripped as naked as when they came from the Wombs of their Mothers and so sent back to the City and in this sort I have seen some return But to meet them other Women went to carry them Gard-robes and Cloaks to cover their nakedness AVGUST The third of August the Sieur Fequiere who had been Prisoner in the Tower of Moureil seven or eight Months acquainted the Mayor by his Guards that he desired to speak with him or some from him to the end to see if there were no way for coming to an Accommodation or Treaty of Peace He immediately sent the Sieurs Viette and Defos who having heard his Propositions made presently report thereof to the Mayor and his Council but they found it in many things very difficult and above all who they should depute towards the King which they judged of too great 1628. Aug. consequence for fear that the noise of a Treaty being spread it should hinder their relief besides that la Rose's words at his death for not trusting to Articles had made great impressions upon the spirits of men and so the thing went no further The eighth of August upon a Remonstrance made the day before by Sieur Paul Mervault Master of the Artillery to the Mayor and Council of War that he found no Bullets in the Magazine for Culverines and Bastards and that to undertake to cast more as they had done three Months before was time and money lost for that they knew not the secret of the
English will not dare to hazard the breaking of it with their Ships I pray you Gentlemen have pity of your selves This Discourse being received with Applause by the aforesaid Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau after a short Discourse full of Thanks they acknowledged their desire of entering into the favour of their Prince and that they were come thither to hear the Propositions and Overtures that would be made that they might report them to the Council and of their own good Intentions they might assure his Majesty the Cardinal and the Lords of the Council and most earnestly intreated the said Sieurs de la Fitte and de Delon to impart to them the Propositions To which they answered they could not do that having no order therein but if the Inhabitants of the City would enter into a Treaty it behoved them to do it with the Cardinal who would be at the Fort de la Fons 1628. Aug. when they should desire it and that he might be near at hand if they would give security for his coming within the Percullis of the Port Coigne he would not refuse it provided that as caution for his Person they would give a competent number of the most qualified Citizens to remain as Hostages during the said Treaty And after this the said Sieurs de la Fitte and de Delon delivered divers Propositions but as they said without Commission The first was that since the Rochellers would not upon any account whatever renounce their obedience to France according as they had testified to those that would have drawn them to it they ought to cherish the Honour of their Prince and treating with him give some marks of their submission to his Majesty That Subjects ought not in any time to think to treat with their King as Equals especially when he sees them at the last gasp You ought to think of some Overtures which may content both Parties such as may evidence the humility of the Rochellers and advance the glory of their Prince they should of themselves demolish the Bastion of the Port Coigne which being done the King will retire without entering the City with any of his Army either by that way or any other To which was replied by Messieur de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau that if all the inhabitants of the City would have as much confidence as they in the bounty of the King and word of his Principal Ministers their Proposition might be received but that the City being composed of persons timerous and fearful they had no hopes of perswading them that they could be in security against the Army that besieged them after there should be such a breach in their Walls 1628. Aug. and begged of them not to believe that they could be so simple as to make such a Proposition and much less to make it valid and strengthen it by alledging their reasons After this the said Sieurs came to a second Overture which was that the King should enter the City with two hundred persons by the Port Coigne without going into the Streets and going along the Ramparts return by the Port S. Nicholas This second as more sweet was better hearkened unto yet nevertheless not received by the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau who relying upon the knowledge they had of the said Inhabitants replied that to demand the entry of the King alone were as much as to demand the entry of all his Army for that there is not one in the City who seeing his Majesty in it would not think rather to humble themselves before him and to beg his pardon than to give order that there should but two hundred persons come in when upon such an occasion there may be some Lords with the King who against his good intentions exceeding the promise given would do that which he in no wise would have done perswading the people that they could not have any security in their diffidence of him This Exception being also judged reasonable they came to a third Overture which was that in all cases to shew as well to the Kingdom as to Strangers that the King had the advantage of his Subjects of Rochel they would demolish one of the three Towers upon the Haven of the City unto the height only of the Walls This Proposition was found so moderate that the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau answered that if his Majesty would be content with the demolishing of all the three Towers 1628. Aug. and would solely depend thereupon they would submit thereunto without expecting more After this Conference which was three hours at least both Parties retired resolving to report each to their Principals what had passed in this Interview endeavouring to bring things to an Accommodation and to ingage in a Treaty And indeed the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau having in general made report to the Council who continued sitting expecting them they approved of what had passed and appointed after Dinner to consider thereof when after having heard more particularly from the Sieurs de la Goute Toupet and Veronneau what had been propounded and their Answers they resolved of ingaging in a Treaty but the manner of it was found so greatly difficult that in the end by plurality of Voices they deferred it some days to give every one time to consider with himself of the best and convenientest method and means The day after by order of the Council of War Sieur Paul Mervalt caused to be put upon the Ports and the Detachments from the Port Coigne and upon the Casements of the said Ports upon the Port and Herse or Portcullis of Maubec upon the Ports and Bridge of S. Nicholas and of the two Mills 230 great Bullets of Battery that in case of any attempts to scale the Walls to cast down upon them that should storm them The 16th of August betwixt two and three a Clock in the Afternoon came within a Musquet-shot of the Port Coigne a Herald with two Trumpets to summon the Rochellers to render themselves to the King to whom no answer was given 1628. Aug. The 21th ditto in the night the Rochellers sent out by Land a Messenger with this Letter to their Deputies in England as followeth Gentlemen WE earnestly intreat you not to lose any time for Famine presseth us You know we have been long without receiving any relief the Digue is the most facile in the middle having nothing there but floating Vessels and some Engines The Enemies Navy consists but in thirty great Ships the others being small they have also one Gally and about thirty Shalloops but ill equipped not having in all six hundred Seamen To facilitate the passage our Fire-ships are good and the others for the Mire are better some men with Hatchets to cut are necessary We believe you will be courageous in undertaking the execution of the Commands of the King of Great Britain after God all depends upon you Be assured that for
the wise gave no heed to this but the common people comforted themselves with it whatever it was this night had something extraordinary which caused the inflammation of the Air in such a manner as occasioned a great Allarum in the City and that all run to the places of Arms and Court of Guards where they remained until day upon the fear of those Fantasmes which the Watch took for men 1628. Septemb. The 28th of August an Inhabitant called John Mattin came into Rochel from England bringing a Letter from the Deputies advising that the Army was put to Sea and was on this side the Channel and that it had come sooner had not the death of the Duke of Buckingham who was killed at Portsmouth by a Lieutenant hindered it the History of whose Death because he was a great Lord and the first Author of this War I have inserted here with the circumstances of it having extracted it from the Journals of one of the Deputies who was in England and since his return hath given me a Narrative of it An Extract of the Journal of Sieur Vincent THe 26th of September 1628. being at Portsmouth where the preparations for the Naval Army were preparing with all diligence the Duke of Buckingham sent for us early in the morning and communicated to us some Letters received from the Kings Camp before Rochel by which they gave him advice that the City had then received a notable refreshment of Victuals and particularly fifty or sixty Oxen We answered that these reports were scattered artificially to retard our relief and that except Oxen could fly it was impossible that the News could be true The Duke of Soubize came in at the very instant of time and confirmed the same that I had said beseeching him not to slacken upon this noise his good affections and diligence in our Affairs He promised us that there should not be one moment of delay but however he continued the news and intended himself to carry it to the King who 1628. Septemb. was four miles from thence and thereupon he got a slight Breakfast and going from the Table he was presented with a certain Plat-form for a Building by a Captain of a very little stature and viewing of it went towards the door where the Tapistry being held up for him he stayed some time looking upon and considering the Platform In this place and at this instant there came up a certain young man a Lieutenant of a Company who over the shoulder of the said Captain stabbed him with a Knife at one blow in the Stomach and so retired into the Croud The Duke laid presently his hand upon his Sword and pursued him the length of the Antichamber pronouncing these words Ha Dog thou hast killed me Then finding himself to faint let fall his Sword and pulled out the Knife himself which he who stabbed him had left in his Body As soon as it had taken wind he fell upon the ground and being lifted up by his Servants was laid along upon a Table to make the blood come from him which came out at his mouth and then he gave no more any sign of life This was so sudden as one can scarce imagine We being in the Chamber at the door where he was stabbed there rise a report that the French had killed the Duke The noise and confusion which was in the Croud being amongst his Train put us into a most great Allarm every one laying their hands upon their Swords crying and demanding who it was and we had assuredly run a great Adventure had not he who committed the Murther seeing others wrongfully accused accused himself declaring with a loud voice that it was he Whereupon being seized and interrogated upon the cause which 1628. Septemb. had moved him to this action he answered that they would find it in the Crown of his Hat where presuming that he should be killed upon the place he had hid them and there they found a Writing the substance whereof was that the Duke having been declared by Vote of Parliament a Copy of which he recited an Enemy to the State his Life by the Laws of the Kingdom was exposed as a prey and to this publick injury he joyned another as to his own particular viz. in that for advancing his own Favourites he had twice prevented him of a Captains Command when it was his due so that he believed he had a right to revenge by that Stab both himself and the Publick And as he had committed this to writing he continued afterwards to declare the same by word of mouth that having killed a Publick Enemy he was authorised therein by the Laws of the Land and other Confession than this they had no way to draw from him the Rack not being permitted in England But to return to the Duke so soon as he was expired all the great Croud which filled his House went away by little and little and returning thither two hours after I found the Body extended in a Corner of the Room upon a miserable old Mat and guarded solely by one Valet de Chambre And this opposed to the splendour in which we saw him in the morning having about him all the gallantest Nobility of the Kingdom and the Principal Captains of the Army presenteth to us a sad document of the vanity and inconstancy of the fading things of this World The News was carried presently to the King who was in his Chappel at that days service When they told it him in his Ear he stirred 1628. Septemb. not from his place nor enquired after any particulars of it which was taken for a Testimony of the great Reverence he carried to the Place and Action which he would not trouble only as a mark of a grand Emotion they observed the blood to come into his face which became as black as a Hat Prayers being ended he enquired after the Fact sent to condole the Widdow and assured her that the Offices of the Father should be preserved for the Son and sent us word also that this accident should not in any kind divert his good will and kindness giving us order to acquaint our City with the same This was the end of this great Lord raised by King James and had all the Power under the present King his Son who having put him upon amplifying the Rights of his Royalty beyond what the Laws of England seem to permit he had drawn upon him the hatred of all the Kingdom as appeared during his life and much more after his death in that they would at a great rate have redeemed the life of him that had assassinated him The 27th of Septemb. new Stile about seven or eight in the Evening the Land-Forces and all the Batteries made a Consort with Cannon and Musquet-shot mixed with an infinite number of Fire-works and cryes of Vive le Roy which continued above an hour and a half in Celebration of the Kings Nativity The 28th of Septemb. arrived in Rochel
strength left them not so much as to traverse their Cannon or to Toll their Great Bell for the Sermon and when they set their Guards they found often half of them dead in the morning and the like by their Centinels in so much that many Nights passed without 1628. October having any persons in the greatest part of the Courts of Guard so that the least attempt had carried the City but God looked upon us in mercy and prepared the King to exercise towards us the Wonders and Miracles of his Mercy and Clemency During the horrour of this Famine as there was Examples of Cruelty there was also many of great Charity in a free and voluntary distribution of their Over-plus as others had done of their Plenty for inriching of themselves and especially Sieur Thinault a Merchant and one of my Uncles called Sieur Duprat who having in their House a most great quantity of Wheat and other Corn sold not one grain but distributed it to those whom they judged to be in want for to repay them only when God should restore them to peace and ability Others there were who distributed Charity so in secret as the Authors thereof were never discovered and amongst others I had knowledge of one which seems to me most remarkable Le Sieur de la Goute a Honorary Advocate to the King had a Sister Widow to a Merchant called Prosni who being a very religious and charitable Woman when the Famine begun to be more sharp than ordinary assisted freely the Poor her Sister-in-law Wife to the Sieur de la Goute being of another humour reproved her for it asking her in choler what she would do when she had given all away to which she answered My Sister the Lord will provide for me The Famine increasing and the Siege continuing this poor Widow who had four Children finding her self in a streight having no Provisions at all left went to 1628. October her Sister for relief but instead of comforting her she reproached her telling her she had provided well to be so reduced with all her great Faith and fair words that the Lord will provide for me and that in good time he would provide for her This poor Womans Heart was wounded with these words and returning to her House much troubled resolved to take death patiently Being come home her Children met her with great joy as formerly they used to do but now told her that a Man whom they did not know it being late knocked at the door and as soon as it was opened threw in a Sack of Wheat of about a Bushel which is near two English Bushels and then went readily away without saying any thing to them This poor Woman though hardly able to believe her own eyes went presently out of doors and with the greatest speed she could in her famished condition run to her Sister-in-law and told her with a strong voice as soon as she saw her My Sister the Lord hath provided for me and then returned without discoursing further with her By the means of this unexpected relief coming so opportunely she spun out the time until the Kings entrance and never knew to whom she was obliged for this good and merciful act The 21th ditto betwixt seven and eight a Clock in the Evening the Kings Naval Army sent four Fire-ships against the English Fleet which obliged some Ships to cut their Cables but others defended themselves and turned them aside by the help of their Dragontins and Shalloops The 23th ditto with the morning-tide the English Army set sail coming to the Pallisade and 1628. October behind the Point of Coureille but without making any attempt contented themselves with making some unprofitable Cannon-shot The 25th in the night the Mayors House was again set on fire with dry branches cut from Fir-trees well prepared with Sulphur Pitch Turpentine and other combustible things but it was presently discovered and as soon extinguished And further the same night two hours before day twenty or thirty Souldiers set fire on the Port of Coigne but those that were on the Guard at the said Port put it out immediately The 26th there came by Land into Rochel a Gentleman from the English Army who brought three Letters one from the Duke of Soubize to the Dutchess of Rohan his Mother the other two from Sieur Vincent the one to the Mayor in particular and the other to the Body of the City in general by which they gave advice of all that passed in the said English Army and above all that my Lord Montague having communicated with Cardinal Richelieu for a Treaty of Peace was gone Post for England from whence they expected him every day and intimated that in the mean time they would procure a Pass-port for two of themselves their Deputies to go to the Kings Camp to communicate with them and from thence to go to them in the City to the end that at the arrival of the said Montague all things might be disposed to a good Peace and that the General charged them to give this advice and that in the mean time he was resolved to attempt against the Digue if the weather would serve The same day this Gentleman was sent back to the English Army with Letters in Cyphers which 1628. October expressed the great and last extremity of the City conjuring them if they would relieve it to do it within a Week at furthest otherwise they should be forced to render to any conditions Immediatly after this Gent. was sent back with his dispatch to the English Army the Mayor assembled the Council in the Town House to consider of what was necessary to be done and after mature consideration of the matter contained in the abovesaid Letters the report of the said Gentleman the miserable condition to which they were reduced the great and extreme necessities which pressed them their great feebleness such as they were not sufficient nor capable to resist the least assault their Enemies should make and the little or no appearance of being relieved by the English who had been there a Month with folded Arms they concluded that it was in vain to expect any longer relief from the English or also from their Treaty for that they should be all dead before their Negotiator would return and therefore upon the whole they resolved to apply themselves to the King for his grace and mercy For that end they took occasion from a Letter that the Sieur Arnault had writ that day to the Sieur Fequiere by the Drummer who brought him his Victuals which represented to them the strength of the Digue and the little hopes they had of relief from the English and that a good Peace would be better for them got by sending to the King to receive them into his Grace The said Sieur Fequiere having communicated his Letter to the Mayor they prayed him in his Answer to Sieur Arnault to advise him to come the next morning to the City and they would confer with
him 1628. October The said Sieur Fequiere accepted most willingly this Commission and presently writ accordingly Now I hold my self obliged in duty to impart unto the Publick a Narrative which came from Cardinal Richelieu's own particular Family a little after the rendition which is believed to have been composed either by one of his Secretaries or possibly by himself which may very well serve to illustrate that which follows touching the Conditions granted the Rochellers and shew the manner and grounds upon which they were granted the Tenour of which is as followeth Cardinal Richelieu understanding by Letters from Sieur Fequiere to Sieur Arnault his Brother-in-law that the Rochellers desired Pass-ports to seek his Majesties Grace which he was pleased with his first care was to give the King ready advice thereof who received it with great joy and immediately did the Cardinal the Honour to go to him to Sousay where he assembled the Council for to deliberate upon some Conditions under which they would receive the City notwithstanding their obstinacy in their Rebellion All agreed that they had merited a most rigorous Chastisement and that they ought to make them a Signal Example to all those of the Kingdom which might for the time to come have a thought of opposing the will of the King and making Revolts or Commotions in the Estate But when it came to be debated though all agreed that the King might in Justice take the severest way yet whether that would be most for his Grandeur and Glory and most agreeable to the true Maxims of State they were divided into 1628. October three different Opinions some for the â—igour of Justice others that the King should take this occasion to signalize his Clemency and a tâ—â—â—d sort were for a middle way betwixt both that after the punishing some of the greatest Mâ—tâ—â—â—ers to shew Grace to the rest The Cardinal gathering the sense of one and the other without giving his Opinion represented all to the King to the end that he should make a decision thereof yet nevertheless tempered his discourse so as his inclinations might thereby appear Beginning with those who were for making the City an Example of Justice he said their advice was very well fortified and possible that none can be rendered more deserving punishment considering her obstinacy the trouble it hath a long time given his Majesty and that the Ruines of no place which the King hath demolished to the Foundations cry higher for teaching the people obedience to their Soveraigns that this and that there is no Ramparts secure against Rebellion As to those which held the middle Opinion he extolled their Reasons and said that in such Rencounters the punishment of the most Culpable was an awe upon Mutineers and the pardoning others shewed the bounty of the Prince and hindered the obstinacy of a Community in like cases as is ordinary with those that despair not of mercy of which the Rochellers was even then an Example But when he came to the advice of those that concluded for a General Pardon he inlarged and insisted very much upon their Reasons And first he represented as most considerable that which 1628. October they had supposed that possibly there was never so Illustrious an occasion as this presented to any Prince to signalize his Clemency which is the vertue by which Kings approach nearest to God whose Image they are most in well doing giving life and not in destroying and exterminating it Further that the more culpable that Rochel was and had given the King cause of great irritation the more it would make his Magnanimity appear in after overcoming the City with his Invincible Arms reducing it to a naked submission to him to surmount himself in pardoning it in doing of which the Celebrated Name of this City would proclaim his Glory thoroughout the World and transmit it to Posterity shewing him thoroughout as an incomparable Prince be it in conquering or in the moderate use of his Victories In the second place he weighed the Reasons they had alledged drawn from Rochel it self who though it was culpable beyond what they could say nevertheless the lives of so many thousands as their faults had cost were sufficient Victims to the Justice of his Majesty and interceded for the remainder of the miserable People which might be left which may be judged of by those that are every day seen as Anatomies and Fantasmes about the Line and indeed true Images of Death the sight only whereof doth suffice to disarm his Majesty of all revenge and though he had had a design to triumph over and consume them to change all his Irritation and Thundering into pity He added that it seemed good that they should also consider of what had been alledged and that though their Crimes were most great and without 1628. October excuse yet they had not committed that offence which ought to exclude the people from all hopes of mercy as if they had shaken off the Authority of their Soveraign and submitted to another Scepter Indeed factious spirits made use of the danger of his Majesties forcing their Religion to deceive them into the adhering to the Arms of England for the preserving of their Priviledges but his Majesty knows that the Rochellers made use only of that pretence to the English and that there were other reasons which carried them to the undertaking of this War for that he was perfectly informed that the Rochellers never intended to give themselves up to them which he knew as well by divers of his Servants which he had secretly in the City as from his Confidents which he maintained in England who had constantly writ him that though they had every way assaulted the Fidelity of their Deputies and deferred relief to oblige them to offer themselves to them they would never hearken to it and the perfect Confirmation of this they received by the Packet which one of their Pinnaces coming from England threw into the water when at the passing of the Digue they thought they should be taken Their Treaty made with the King of England and all their Negotiations being deciphered it appeared that though the English had highly Courted them for getting Conditions to the prejudice of this Crown they would never be brought to it and defended themselves therein with all the constancy and firmness that their condition could bear And therefore though they are most Culpable yet since they have preserved their hearts and affections for France it seems to invite his 1628. October Majesty to mercy and not to use them as such who would have shaken off the Yoke of the Monarchy and offered the hand to another Master In the third place he insisted much upon reason of State upon which this advice was founded and pressed the present Constitution of Affairs to require that his Majesty by a Signal example of Clemency and an exact Capitulation mutually agreed upon should endeavour to overcome the Arms of the Duke of Rohan and
the life of any of our men but the liberty of many Captains for not having carried themselves others being substituted in their places to do better Be not discouraged but be assured that if God please they will labour with all affection and diligence to relieve you and that the Errours passed are of Learning to them for the time to come The other Letter in Cypher from Sieur Vincent to the Mayor in particular was as followeth Monsieur BEsides the general Letter I write this to you in particular to which though it is not signed by any but my self you may please nevertheless to give an entire belief to it because that what the Duke of Soubize writeth to the Dutchess of Rohan his Mother will confirm to you the Contents The one and the other is to testifie to you our extreme fears from the Voyage of Sieur Montague to England there being great appearance that he hath agreed upon some things with the Cardinal to our prejudice and that he is 1628. October gone thither to get the King of Great Britains consent thereunto Besides this we find our selves under another trouble which is greater to wit that we observe too visibly a great coldness in many from a belief which they would impress upon themselves that it is impossible to force the Digue Against these two Evils which are extreme we would with all our might provide some Remedies And as to the first the Duke of Soubize hath writ effectually to the said King and I most particularly to Monsieur David and that which gives us hope that they will not advance any thing against us on that side is that knowing the true generous Inclinations of that Prince we cannot think that any thing is capable to turn him from that which he hath so often promised us except that Montague officiously foretelling that if we do not relieve you before his return your extremities cannot wait for him so that we must either save you speedily or you will be for ever lost Our greatest labour is to keep up the spirits of the people from fainting among whom there are many who for to palliate their Cowardice alledgeth the fear of want of Victuals as also the Sickness that is begun in several Ships Contrary to this we endeavour all we can to fortifie the General who as to himself is most well disposed and promiseth us always that with the first favourable Wind he will do what is possible to finish the Enterprise In like manner the Earl of Morton who is Vice-Admiral and the Principal Captains promise us marvels and there passeth not an hour that we do not sollicit them especially the Duke of Soubize applies himself therein with an extraordinary affection and assiduity nevertheless he and we fear that those upon whom depends the next execution will not second the good intentions of their Captains but do as ill as they did in the second attacque 1628. October and that whilst time slips away it will cost us our ruine And thus thinking it entirely necessary to have two Cords to our Ark and seeing that Montague hath opened the way to a Treaty it is adviseable to try what is to be done on that side and therefore after having ingaged the General by a most solemn promise that he will keep his word for giving way to it when God shall present the occasion we dispatched yesterday a Prisoner to Monsieur Treillebois who had heretofore invited us to seek the King assuring us that he would receive you into favour to whom we have writ that if he will procure for us a Pass port two of us will go to the Camp to confer with such as his Majesty shall appoint and contribute what in us lies for the gaining a good Accommodation We expect an Answer to our Letter and if this Pass-port be granted us our design is to hear what will be proposed to us and without rejecting or approving any thing carry our selves so that they may give us Pass-ports for to go and confer with you This is the true condition of our Affairs which I assure my self will cause great perplexity in you but in my Opinion all that you can do at present is to write pressingly to the General and represent the indignity it will be to him if after you have so long languished and seen the greatest part of your Fellow-Citizens die of famine in the expectation of so often reiterated promises from his Majesty which he was come to execute he should either return without having imployed the Power that he was furnished with for relieving you or be a means of an Accommodation when they have put the Knife to your Throats When you shall please to write us I beseech you to express very particularly your state and condition and above all how long you can yet hold out we assuring you that we will manage it with all imaginable discretion 1628. October and omit nothing that is possible for conducting this affair to a happy end notwithstanding the difficulties that is found in it The Lord bless all to us the grief that I have for your miseries will testifie for me the endeavours that I have made for preventing them and if my life would serve to remedy them I should most chearfully lay it down I hope nevertheless that in the end the Divine Bounty will look upon us in pity and that I shall have the comfort to return thanks with you and to assure you of the affection that I have for you who am From aboard the Duke of Soubize Octob. 23. 1628. Monsieur Your most humble and most obedient Servant Ph. Vincent The Letter in Cyphers from the Duke of Soubize to the Dutchess of Rohan his Mother My Dear Mother THe Inclosed expresseth particularly our whole and true state and condition it is addressed to you to the end that having deciphered it you may please to deliver it to the Mayor and confer with him upon the Contents and management of them as much as the importance of the thing requireth Remain still Madam if you please assured that we shall leave nothing unattempted and that we hope however it is at present with us that the Lord will in his mercy save us I believe you make no doubt of the extreme displeasure I am cast under by the difficulties we have here met with from him who hath ingaged us in so prodigious negligence or lingering but it behoves us to bend under that which 1628. October God hath ordained and to move him by our prayers who I assure my self will hear them and that he will yet in mercy give me the opportunity to imbrace you as being My Dear Mother Your most humble and most obedient Son Soubize This Gentleman being dispatched with these Letters and necessary Instructions went to the Kings Camp where they debated whether he should go to Rochel or no but in the end it was carried for going and the 26th he went thither where according as he
had promised he delivered all the Letters which he was trusted with and the 27th carried an Answer back to the English Army where he remained till after the reduction of the City and hath not since returned into France at least that any knows of from whence one may gather that he had some doubt with himself whether he had not served the Deputies more faithfully than those to whom he was first ingaged What effects these Letters produced when delivered belongs to the History of the carriage of the Citizens within the Town whatever it was the same day they were communicated with the Sieur de Fequiere who they kept Prisoner to manage the Treaty of Peace which a little after was brought to perfection and signed the 29th following The Deputies which were in the English Army seeing the weather favourable after which they 1628. October had so long groaned was at last come the Wind being fair and that the English were contented to make shew of setting sail and yet but at a distance to fire their Cannon they were more and more confirmed in their thoughts that it was high time to save the City if by a Treaty they could do it and besides the above-named of whom they were in diffidence dispatched two others to carry the same advice The 24th ditto they received Pass-ports under the Faith of which Sieur Vincent and Bragneau went the next morning in a Shalloop to the half way to de la Palice to confer with the Sieurs Treillebois and Lisle with whom they spoke in conformity to the Letter written at first and promised if it pleased his Majesty to give them Passports for Rochel they would do what was possible for them to dispose their Fellow-Citizens to seek his Grace rather than to come to extremity and told them in their ear that though the English would not consent unto a Treaty except by their Intercession they should not be wanting by inducements to perswade their Fellow-Citizens to have recourse rather to his Majesty directly as judging it would be more agreeable to him than by ingaging Strangers in it The Pass-ports from the Kings Camp being arrived for two of their Deputies the English General and Duke of Soubize judged it most convenient to commit that Imployment the 26th ditto to the Sieurs Vincent and Gobert to whom the General gave this Pass-port WE have permitted to the Sieurs Vincent and Gobert Deputies for Rochel to go by 1628. October Shalloop to confer with the French and in case that they have brought them a Pass port to transport themselves to the French Kings Camp From aboard our Ship the Admiral Octob. 26. 1628. LINDSEY By Vertue of this Pass-port the above-named Vincent and Cobert went to confer with the same persons with whom they had already communicated who waited for them in the same place and the same Evening conducted them aboard of Monsieur de Valencey Admiral who received them very kindly and treated them very splendidly The 27th being next day early in the morning a Carroâ—s met them and carried them to Sausay accompanied by the abovesaid persons who presented them at eight in the morning to Monsieur the Cardinal They told him at their Entry that having the Honour to present themselves before him it was not without confusion to see those with whom they were Parties nevertheless they were imboldened in it by their Consciences bearing them witness that they had kept their hearts firm and true to France though amongst Strangers for even as the Fish keeps their sweetness in a salt Element upon which they swim to give witness of themselves in the like kind as soon as they understood that there was an Overture to treat amicably they rather than by effusion of blood sought means to communicate with his Grandeur and to offer themselves to his Majesty to be imployed to their Fellow-Citizens for bringing them to give him contentment in acknowledging their Errours supplicating him the Cardinal to procure 1628. October them his Majesties Grace as well as them who had the honour to speak to him and believe that they walked herein with all candour and clearness and possibly not unprofitably for the service of his Majesty He answered that what they said for themselves did not surmount theirs or their Fellow-Citizens faults which they confessed to be great but the bounty of the King was yet greater for pardoning of them to whom he would freely imploy his Intercession if on their part they would return to their duty and thereupon he demanded of them what assurance they had of those of Rochel which gave them hopes of being able to bring them to a submission They replied that they had not yet communicated with them thereupon but if it would please his Majesty to suffer them to go to confer with them they believed they should be able to lay before them such pertinent Reasons as they durst confidently hope would bring them to the consideration thereof The Cardinal desiring that they would give him some light they told him that not having any subtilty but to proceed with all simplicity they would speak to him with all freedom and to him above all others as to one not to be imposed upon and on whom all our hope or fear depended and would therefore tell him that having followed the Instructions of those that sent them they had not been any way wanting in endeavouring relief in the greatest measure and readiness that was possible for them but that in their Solicitations they had found it a misery to expect it from Strangers who lay not to heart the interest 1628. October of those that they ingage except their own be equally in it and are seldom faithful to them that having studied more than a year the intentions the English had for them they were still as ignorant of it as the first day It is true they gave us abundance of good words but as to effects they had found them all such as if their design was to lose Rochel and in this an infinite of Circumstances concurred that the reason of their ingaging in Arms was for the gathering in their Harvest having then put their Sickles into the Corn and that which made the want of their Harvest the more bitter was that the English had drawn from them great quantities of their Provisions when they were in Re which seemed a second means to come infallibly to their end that having so often promised to send them Corn in way of returns they would never do it although their Deputies sollicited them Evening and Morning for it and that it was most easie for them to have done it that having sent a Relief in the Month of May last it came to no other end than to make a shew returning without making the least attempt and without even suffering the French which they had in their Ships to do it who offered to run the Adventure and give Hostages as caution for payment for their Ships Indeed
the King your Soveraign Parting thus from him they hoped that a permission 1628. October for going into the City would have been given them but the same day in the Afternoon â—hey were surprised with the news brought them â—hat there was arrived at Sausay the same place where they were Deputies from Rochel to treat of Conditions for surrendry of the City This made them the Deputies from the English Army presume that the City having received their Letters of the twenty third they agreed with them that it was to no purpose to expect any thing from the English by force of Arms and for what was of Treaty that they had the same consideration as they had had that it would be of more advantage and security to them to seek by themselves the favour of his Majesty than by the Intercession of any so little agreeable as one might judge that of the English would be and approving altogether their Counsels they regretted only that having writ them that they would endeavour a Pass-port for going to them they had not expected the effect for that it had been better that they should have sought it for them rather than themselves which administred jealousie of a great extremity As these Deputies reasoned thus one with another the other Deputies from the City were with the Cardinal and other Ministers of State treating for Conditions who to obtain the better endeavoured to give jealousie of the English succours upon which it was told them that they abused themselves in relying upon them and that the English having lost all hopes of doing any thing for their relief had sent their own Deputies to manage a particular Treaty for them without speaking of Rochel And when they made difficulty 1628. October of believing that the Deputies from the English Army were there they were sent for and shewed to them in the Council-Chamber where they saluted and imbraced one another but without being permitted to confer together only the Cardinal told the new Deputies that he could not but observe how greatly their City was obliged to their old Deputies their Fellow-Citizens which he had shewed to them for their abundant affection for that in treating for them they could not come upon their Condition without tears interceding for them with excessive earnestness and after this he obliged them to withdraw When they were a-part they all agreed that the Cardinal had dealt with them with more Art than was common in making them the several Deputies from the City and English Army to see one another without suffering them to speak together that so he might make use of their several Discourses to each Party as might best serve his turn But however finding that their last Letters to the City had been delivered by which they had acquainted them how they had managed a Passport for going to them they concluded that the Council of the City could not be wanting in advertising their Deputies sent to Court with the Effects of their Letters that they might thereby apprehend the cause of their coming thither Besides there were some of their Company who upon all occasions came to see them and particularly they found means to speak with Sieur de Lisle who without making shew of it had always had his Eye upon them and coming to them told them That the City-Deputies were advised that they were there upon their Accounts to endeavour 1628. October the Conclusion of a Treaty for the City and that by the inducement of the English themselves who though they were frequent in continual promises for attempting what was possible for their relief they nevertheless saw no reason to expect much from them nor upon that account to interrupt the Treaty only it behoved them to manage it with setting as good a Face on the matter as they could for obtaining the better Conditions These Deputies from the City being returned thither the same day went again the next day and concluded the Rendition under the Articles which they esteemed good or to express it better such as they could obtain without that the other come from the English Army having any part in them or that it was then possible for them to know the truth of what they were agreed upon The Deputies from the English Army knowing in general that the Treaty was concluded without making any mention of them because the King would not suffer it they supplicated the Cardinal to procure them also the Grace of his Majesty and to the French in the English Army and in general to all those which the Commotions had forced either into England or other Countries which he promised them and having ordered them to treat thereof with Monsieur Chateauneuf in the end they obtained the Declaration of 29. Octob. importing That the King pardoned them for all things passed permitting them to come again into their Havens even with the Prizes that they had taken for that they should enjoy the same Grace as his other Subjects with free exercise of their Religion giving them all their Goods except the Fruits received and Debts confiscated 1628. October and actually payed allowing three months to those of Re and Rochel who were in England for returning to enjoy the same Grace The Keys of the City being brought to the King the 29. and his Troops entering the 30. it was agreed among the said Deputies That the Sieur Gobert should go to the City and Sieur Vincent to the English to whom having carried this ill news the General expressed his great dislike of it and the more because Montague having used the diligence he promised was returned and had brought all necessary Orders for the Treaty to which the English had very willingly consented but were desirous to have had all to pass thorough their hands Montague upon the whole was very angry that his runnings had been unprofitable and fell upon Sieur Vincent in full Council for rendering of the City blaming their impatience and accusing them of having ill requited the King of England's good will towards them The Sieur Vincent answered him That he would force a man wounded with grief to tear it from his Bosom and told him That as to his poor Country in behalf of which he durst so unjustly accuse him it was he and such as he that by their secret Conspiracies had reduced it to the miserable condition wherein it now was That he did not speak of his serene Majesty of England whose Intentions he knew had always been for saving of this poor City nor did he intend the present General of whose sincerity and good-will he desired to be very cautious but as to Montague and others of his Faction who underhand had been nourished by him they had always 1628. October crossed the best and most generous designs and that by their delayes from day to day in England they hindered the Succours from parting in time and have continued the same Practises since the departure and arrival of the Fleet by spreading
though our frequent relapses into the same Crimes can give us no hopes other than by the sole consideration of our present resentment and our extreme passion for giving testimony to your Majesty that you shall not have henceforward any Subjects more faithful and obedient than we This Protestation that we now make you is from your City of Rochel in which King Henry the Great your Father the honour of whose amity and kindness we can never loose the memory did always find a great affection to his service they having had the honour to serve him at other times in his Retreats and Residence The City protesteth to your Majesty all Fidelity and Obedience the execution whereof taking away the remembrance of our Rebellions they hope your Bounty after you have given them your pardon will in grace and favour 1628. October lose the memory thereof since we are resolved to live and die henceforward in the obedience that we acknowledge to owe you and do vow to your Majesty there shall not be hereafter any Subjects and Servants more faithful and affectionate to your service than those of the City of Rochel The King made answer in these words I pray God that what you say be from your hearts and not from the necessity you are reduced unto I am not ignorant that you have been always very malicious and mutinous and have deserved a severe Chastisement but I will return good for evil I pardon you your Rebellions be for the time to come good and faithful Subjects to me and I will be to you a good Prince and if your actions be conformable to the Protestations you make me I will keep my Promise with you They excused to him the Mayors not coming with them to render to him in Person his most humble submission and homage saying that according to Custom he was to remain in the City to receive his Majesty there and either cause a piece of the Wall to be beaten down or take down one of the Gates according as it should please his Majesty to order his Entry All which being pleasing to the King he sent them back well content Being returned into the City the same Evening they delivered the Articles sealed with the Great Seal to the Mayor and Council and told them that the King had assured them that all that he had granted them should be effectually kept and that the would not do wrong to any person nor sâ—ffer the Hâ—nour of Women or Maids to be violated 1628. October and that he would cause to be observed so good order among the Souldiers that they should be therewith content And further commanded that they should assemble in the morning the Nobless Captains Officers and Souldiers as well French as English to be ready at eight in the morning to go out of the City according to the Capitulations because at nine a Clock the Regiment of Guards and that of Swisses should enter and said further that he understood that every one of the City was to carry their Arms into the Town-Hall The thirtieth in the morning all was without delay executed but it was a great astonishment to the Kings Troops to see the remainder of twelve Companies of French Souldiers which they raised in the beginning of the Siege reduced to sixty and betwixt four and five hundred which the Duke of Buckingham left reduced to sixty two men the first took part where they pleased without being blamed and the others were conducted to the English Army The same day about nine in the morning the Duke of Angoulesme the Marshal Schomberg and the Sieur Marillac entred with a moyety of the Regiment of Guards and that of Swisses by the Gate de Coigne of which they took possession as also of all the other Ports places of Arms Towers Ramparts Cannons Magazins and Munition placing Guards and Centinels in all the Corners and principal Streets and at the same time as had been done in the Camp made Proclamation thoroughout the City by the King and the Duke of Espernon Colonel of the French Infantry 1628. October prohibiting all Souldiers for quitting their Ranks Posts and Courts of Guard to go into any House or touch the Honour of any Woman or Maid upon pain of being hanged and strangled They possessed themselves also of the Fort Tadon into which was put two Regiments to guard it The same day all the Quarters being marked in the City Cardinal Richelieu accompanied with many Lords and Nobless made his Entry about two a Clock after Dinner and having caused a quantity of Victuals and Ammunition-Bread to be brought he distributed them gratis and published thorough the Streets by sound of Drum that every one that was in want should fetch them for he had so much pity and compassion towards the Souldiers in seeing the Inhabitants Anatomies and half dead that in passing thorough the Streets they cast into their Arms Ammunition-Bread whose Throats they would the day before have cut indeed there was so good order established that there was no abuse committed or offence given to any person At the Cardinals entrance the Mayor would have saluted him but he would not permit it and commanded to have those discharged who marched before him with Halberts and to lay down the Function of Mayor The 31th the Cardinal commanded from the Camp some Pioners to inter the Dead which were in Houses and other places of the City 1628. Novemb. NOVEMBER The first of November betwixt two and three a Clock after Dinner the King made his Entry by the Port de Coigne mounted upon a brave Horse accompanied by the Cardinal and many Lords and Nobless with the Gens d' Arms and Musqueteeâ—s of his Guard and the remaining Companies of the Regiment of Guards and that of Switz and without the Gate there was fifty or sixty of the principal of the City who observing the directions of the Marshal Schomberg fell on their knees as he passed crying Vive le Roy Misericord the people doing the same in the City whilst all the Guns from the Forts and Ships as also from the City made themselves to be heard The Kings descent was at S. Margarets Church where after hearing Vespers and the Sermon of Father Souffran he retired in the Evening to la Leu but returning the next morning laid in the City It was observed that the King at his Entry seeing the poor Inhabitants as Anatomies who with pain and trouble for want of strength had done him honour he had compassion for them even to the shedding of tears The third of November profession was made in Rochel the King with all the Court assisting the Windows being full of people and above all of Rochellers desirous to see his Majesty of whose Entry being very jealous they found him contrary to what they feared and considered him as a good Angel come to deliver them from the deep Abyss of their misery and from the Jaws of Death The King after his entry
into the City commanded 1628. Novemb. the last Mayor the Sieurs Salbert and Polinier Ministers and about ten others as well of the Corps of the City as Burgers to leave the City and to absent for six Months which was done by a meer Verbal Command The fourth and fifth they ranged in the Castle-yard all the Cannon of the City as also of the Forts and Digue and Quarters of the Camp in order to the conveying them from thence to Brouage and other places as was done some days after The same day about four in the Evening the English Fleet after having been a Month and six days in the Road and seen from thence the reduction of Rochel to the obedience of the King set sail to carry the news of it for England and carried with them a great Party of French The sixth seventh and eighth of this Month was so great a Storm at South-East and with such violence that the Digue in many places and above all upon the Coast of Portneuf was so shaken the Engines and Candlesticks so broken and removed that a Flemish Ship of two hundred Tuns laden with Victuals for the relief of the City which had stayed at the Head of the Bay being driven by the impetuosity of the Storm ruâ— on shore having passed the Digue with little difficulty which we observed as the Lords particular protection of the affairs of his Majesty since had this Storm come eight days sooner the City had been relieved Some days after the King went to Port de Coigne to see a Mine sprung which they had made at a Peece detached from the said Port to the end that according as this should succeed they might 1628. Novemb. deal with the new as well as ancient Walls of the City having ordered the demolishing of all its fortifications and this Mine succeeded well The sixteenth the Keeper of the Seal sent for the Registers of the Council and made a strict search into the Memoires and Instructions given the Deputies the City had sent to the King of England and of the Treaties made by them with the said Prince and found that the said Instructions and Treaty had always been with the reservation of their Fidelity which they ought to the Crown It was said that this search was made that they might the better know how to frame the Kings Declaration which was soon after published and that some were of opinion that in the Preamble of it the King should alledge for cause of his Arms that Rochel had not only called in the English but also given themselves up to them but the said Keeper of the Seal refused it not judging it honest or convenient except they could make the truth of it appear whereas by all the Inquest that they could make as well as by those Publick Records finding the contrary the Declaration touched not at all thereupon But he gave order that as well the said Registers as all the other Instruments should be carried to Paris to the Chamber of Accounts where they still are The eighteenth was published thorough the ordinary Quarters of the City the Declaration of the King establishing the Order which he would have observed by the same he dissolves and abolisheth the Common-Councel of the City and all her Priviledges as the Dignity of Mayor the Prevote or ordinary Jurisdiction of the City uniting 1628. Novemb. them to the Chief Justiceship with an Intendant of Justice reducing the five Parishes to three assigning to every Cure three hundred Livers upon the Revenue of the Town-House the said Hall together with all other Edifices and common places being united to the Kings Demain discharged those of the City in general of all acts of Hostility whatever Negotiations in Forreign Countries and of all other acts without being liable to prosecution for the same saving in cases execrable excepted by the Edicts or Laws and such as may concern the Person of the King and in like manner discharge them for casting of Guns and Cannon Minting of Money seising and taking of Money as well belonging to the Ecclesiasticks as the King together with the levying of Souldiers and constraint used against the absent even by demolishing of their Houses willing that the exercise of the Religion to the Inhabitants which make profession thereof be left free to them within the City with prohibition nâ—vertheless to all others of the said Religion for coming to live there if they had not dwelt there before the descent of the English that the Taxes of the City shall in favour of Trade be limited to four thousand Livers that the fortifications both new and old shall be demolished and razed even with the ground except from the Port of S. Nicholas to the Tower of the Lanthorn joyning to the Port of two Mills which is on the side of the Sea and that the Policy be administred by two Councellors and four Burgesses which the King shall every year make This Order being established the King with all 1628. Novemb. his Court and a great number of Lords and Nobless took Horse the nineteenth for Paris betwixt seven and eight in the morning and left Monsieur de Vignolles with four Regiments to wit those de Chappes du Plessis Praulin Castlebayrd and la Meilleraye to remain there until the demolition of the fortifications were finished The Kings second Residence here was six Months twenty five days he held the City besieged from the fourteenth of August 1627. when the Duke of Angoulesme took up his Quarters at Estre until the thirtieth of October 1628. that the Marshal Schomberg and Marilac made their Entry being one year two months and sixteen days And thus ended the Siege of this so long Celebrated City of Rochel which for the space of about seventy years had given France so much exercise and drawn the Eyes of the greatest part of Christendom upon them THE EDICT OR STATUTE Granted by Henry the Fourth of France to those of the Reformed Religion of that Kingdom for the free Exercise of their Consciences in matters of their Religion c. called the Edict of Nantes because Enacted at that City with the Kings Declaration upon the precedent Edicts of Pacification HENRY by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all present and to come Greeteth Among the infinite mercies that God hath pleased to bestow upon us that most signal and remarkable is his having given us power and strength not to yield to the dreadful Troubles Confusions and Disorders which were found at our coming to this Kingdom divided into so many Parties and Factions that the most legitimate was almost the least enabling us with constancy in such manner to oppose the storm as in the end to surmount it reducing this Estate to peace and rest for which to him alone be given the honour and glory and us the grace to acknowledge our obligation in having our labours made use of for the accomplishing so good a work in which it hath
no effect and value XC The Acquisitions that those of the Reformed Religion and others which have followed their Party have made by the Authority of the deceased Kings our Predecessors or others for the Immoveables belonging to the Church shall not have any place or effect but we Ordain and our pleasure is That the Ecclesiasticks re-enter immediately and without delay be conserved in the possession and injoyment really and actually of the said Goods so alienated without being obliged to pay the Purchase-money which to this effect we have cancelled and revoked as null without remedy for the Purchasers to have against the Generals c. by the authority of which the said Goods have been sold Yet nevertheless for the re-imbursement of the Money by them truly and without fraud disbursed our Letters Patents of permission shall be dispatched to those of the Religion to interpose and equalize the bare Sums that the said Purchases cost the Purchasers not being allowed to bring any Action for their damages and interest for want of injoyment but shall content themselves with the re-imbursement of the Money by them furnished for the price of the Acquisitions accounting for the price of the fruits received in case that the said Sale should be found to be made at an under rate XCI To the end that as well our Justices and Officers as our other Subjects be clearly and with all certainty advertised of our will and intentions and for taking away all ambiguity and doubt which may arise from the variety of former Edicts Articles secret Letters Patents Declarations Modifications Restrictions Interpretations Decrees and Registers as also all secrets as well as other deliberations heretofore by us or the Kings our Predecessors made in our Courts of Parliaments or other ways concerning the said Reformed Religion and the troubles happening in our said Kingdom we have declared and do hereby declare them to be of no value and effect And as to the derogatory part therein contained we have by this our Edict abrogated and we do abrogate and from henceforward we cancel revoke and annul them Declaring expresly that our will and pleasure is That this our Edict be firmly and inviolably kept and observed as well by our Justices and Officers as other Subjects without hesitation or having any regard at all to that which may be contrary or derogatory to the same XCII And for the greater assurance of the keeping and observing what we herein desire We will and ordain and it is our pleasure That all the Governors and Lieutenants General of our Provinces Bailiffs Chief Justices and other ordinary Judges of the Cities of our said Kingdom immediately after the receipt of this same Edict do bind themselves by Oath to keep and cause to be kept and observed each in their district as shall also the Majors Sheriffs principal Magistrates Consuls and Jurates of Cities either annual or perpetual Enjoyning likewise our Bailiffs Chief Justices or their Lieutenants and other Judges to make the principal Inhabitants of the said Cities as well of the one Religion as the other to swear to the keeping and observing of this present Edict immediately after the Publication thereof And taking all those of the said Cities under our protection command that one and the other respectively shall either answer for the opposition that shall be made to this our said Edict within the said Cities by the inhabitants thereof or else to present and deliver over to Justice the said opposers We Will and Command our well-beloved the People holding our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of Accompts and Courts of Aids that immediately after the receipt of this present Eâ—ict they cause all things to cease and upon penalty of Nullity of the Acts which they shall otherwise do to take the like Oath as above and to publish and register our said Edict in our said Courts according to the form and tenour of the same purely and simply without using any Modifications Restrictions Declarations or secret Registers or expecting any other Order or Command from us and we do require our Procurators General to pursue immediately and without delay the said Publication hereof We give in Command to the said People of our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of our Courts and Courts of our Aids Bailiffs Chief Justices Provosts and other our Justices and Officers to whom it appertains and to their Lieutenants that they cause to be read published and inregistred this our present Edict and Ordinance in their Courts and Jurisdictions and the same keep and observe punctually and the Contents of the same to cause to be injoyed and used fully and peaceably by all those to whom it shall belong ceasing and making to cease all troubles and obstructions to the contrary For such is our pleasure And in Witness hereof we have signed these Presents with our own Hand and to the end to make it a thing firm and stable for ever we have caused to put and indorse our Seal to the same Given at Nantes in the month of April in the Year of Grace 1598. and of our Reign the ninth Signed HENRY And underneath the King being in Council FORGET And on the side VISA This VISA signifies the Lord Chancellors perusal Sealed with the Great Seal of green Wax upon a red and green String of Silk Read published and registred the Kings Procurator or Atturney General hearing and consenting to it in the Parliament of Paris the 25th of February 1599. Signed VOYSIN Read published and inregistred in the Chamber of Accompts the Kings Procurator General hearing and consenting the last day of March 1599. Signed DE LA FONTAINE Read published and registred the Kings Procurator General hearing and consenting at Paris in the Court of Aids the 30th of April 1599. Signed BERNARD PARTICULAR ARTICLES Extracted from the General which the King hath granted to those of the Reformed Religion and which his Majesty would not have comprised in the said General nor in the Edict which hath been made and framed for the same Given at Nantes in the Month of April 1598. And yet nevertheless His Majesty hath agreed that they shall be entirely accomplished and observed altogether as fully as the Contents of the said Edict And to that end they shall be registred in his Courts of Parliament and in other places where it shall be needful and all necessary Declarations Provisions and Patents shall be therefore dispatched THE FIRST ARTICLE THE sixth Article of the said Edict touching Liberty of Conscience and permission to all the Subjects of his Majesty to live and dwell in this Kingdom and the Countries under his obedience shall have place and be observed according to its form and tenor and as well for the Ministers and Pedagogues as all other Professors and Masters of School and generally for those who are and shall be of the said Religion whether Inhabitants only or others so long as they comport themselves according as is contained in the said Edict
therefore be any search or prosecution for the same and it shall be enjoyned to his Officers to defend them in it and in reference to the City of Paris besides the two Churchyards that those of the said Religion have there at present to wit that of the Trinity and that of St. Germains there shall be given them a third place commodious for the said Sepulchres in the Suburbs of St. Honoré or St. Denys XLVII The Presidents and Catholick Councellors who shall serve in the Chamber ordained for the Parliament of Paris shall be chosen by his Majesty upon the Register of the Officers of Parliament and there shall be therein employed Persons just peaceable and moderate XLVIII The Councellors of the said Reformed Religion who shall serve in the said Chambers shall assist if it please them in the process which shall be decided by Commissioners and shall have there a deliberative Voice without having part of the Money consigned except when by Order and Prerogative of their reception they ought to assist therein XLIX The ancientest President of the Chambers Myparties shall preside at the hearing of Causes and in his absence the Second and shall make distribution of the process of the two Presidents conjunctively or alternatively by month or by week L. Upon the Vacation of Offices whereof those of the Religion are or should be provided in the said Chambers of Edict they shall be furnished with persons capable who shall have attestations from the Synod or Assembly whereunto they belong that they are honest men and of the same Religion LI. The abolition agreed to with those of the said Reformed Religion by the 74 Article of the said Edict shall be valid for the taking the Monies belonging to the King be it by breaking open of Chests or otherwise even in reference to those who took it away upon the River of Charente though it had been destinated and assigned to particular uses LII The 46 Article of the secret Articles made in the Year 1577. touching the City and Archbishoprick of Avinion and County of Veniss together with the Treaty made at Nismes shall be observed according to form and tenour and there shall not be any Letters of Mart by virtue of the said Article and Treaties given then by Letters Patents from the King sealed with his great Seal Nevertheless those who desire it may obtain them by virtue of the present Article and without other Commission by the Kings Judges who shall inform of the Breach of Covenants denying of Justice and the iniquity of Judgments proposed by those who shall desire to obtain the said Letters and shall send them with their advice inclosed and sealed to his Majesty for him to order therein as shall seem reasonable to him LIII His Majesty willeth and agreeth that Master Nicholas Grimoult be re-established and maintained in the title and possession of the Offices of Lieutenant General Civil and Ancient and Lieutenant General Criminal in the Bailiwick of Alençon notwithstanding the resignation by him made to Master John Marguerit reception of the same and the provision obtained by Master William Bernard of the Office of Lieutenant General Civil and Criminal in the Court of Justice at Exmes and the Decrees in the Privy-Council against the said Marguerit the Resignee during the troubles in the Years 1586 1587 1588 by which Master Nicholas Barbier is maintained in the Rights and Prerogatives of Lieutenant General ancient in the said Bailiwick and the said Bernard in the said Office of Lieutenant at Exmes the which his Majesty hath cancelled and annulled and all others to the contrary And besides his said Majesty for certain good Considerations hath agreed and ordained That the said Grimoult shall reimburse within three months the said Barbier the money that he is out to the parties casually for the Office of Lieutenant General Civil and Criminal in the Viscounty of Alençon and of fifty Crowns for Charges Enjoyining to this end the Bailly of Perche or his Lieutenant at Montaigne to make the reimbursement or else that the said Barbier refusing or delaying to receive it his said Majesty hath forbidden the said Barbier as also the said Bernard after the presentation of this present Article to act more in the exercise of the said Offices upon penalty of Forgery and to send this same Grimoult to the enjoyment of those Offices and Rights appertaining thereunto And in so doing the processes which were depending in his Majesties Privy-Council betwixt the said Grimoult Barbier and Bernard shall remain terminated and extinguished his Majesty prohibiting the Parliaments and all other Courts to take Cognizance thereof and the said parties any further prosecution therein And besides his Majesty chargeth himself to reimburse the said Bernard a thousand Crowns casually paid to the parties for the same Office and with sixty Crowns for the Gold Mark and Charges Having for this effect presently ordained good and sufficient assignation for recovering of the same which shall be speedily done at the Charges of the said Grimoult LIV. His said Majesty will write to his Ambassadours to sollicite and treat for all his Subjects even for those of the Reformed Religion that they may not be prosecuted for their Consciences nor subject to the Inquisition in going coming sojourning negotiating and trafficking through all Foreign Countries of the Allies and Confederates of this Crown provided they offend not against the polity of the Country where they shall be LV. All those of the Reformed Religion who remain titular of Benefices shall be obliged to resign them within six months to Catholick Persons And those who have promises of Pensions upon the said Benefices shall have them paid and the payment of the said Pensions continued and those that owe the said Pensions shall be constrained to pay them the Arrears if there be any provided that they have actually enjoyed the profits of the same Benefices except nevertheless the Arrears which fell due during the troubles LVI His Majesty will not that there be any search made after the Receits of any Impositions which have been levyed at Royan by virtue of any Contract made with the Sieur of Kendal and other Acts for continuation of the same his Majesty approving and making valid the said Contract for the time that it was in force according to its contents untill the 8th of May next LVII The excesses happening in the person of Armand Courtines in the City of Millan in the year 1587. and of John Rames and Peter Singuret together with the proceedings against them by the Consuls of the said Millan shall remain abolished and extinguished by the benefit of the Edict without being lawful for their Widows Heirs or the Procurators General of his Majesty their Substitutes or other persons whatsoever to mention the same make inquirie thereof or prosecute notwithstanding the Decree given in the Chamber at Castres the tenth of March last to which there shall be no regard for that they shall remain null
and of none effect as also all the Informations and Proceedings made on one part and the other LVIII All Prosecutions Proceedings Sentences Judgments and Decrees given as well against the deceased Sieur de la Nove as against the Steur Odet de la Nove his Son since their restraints and imprisonments in Flanders happening in the months of May 1580. and of November 1584. during their continual imployment in the Wars and service of the King shall remain cancelled and annulled and all that consequently followed the same shall be received in defence of them and the said de la Nove's shall be restored to the same condition as they were in before the said Judgments and Decrees without being obliged to refund the expences or assign the payment of the Penalty or Fines if they have incurred any nor shall men alledge against them any Non-suit or Prescription during the said time Done by the King being in his Council at Nantes the last day of April 1598. Signed HENRY And below FORGET And Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax HENRY by the grace of God King of France and Navar To our trusty and well-beloved the members of our Court of Parliament at Paris Greeteth Besides and above the Articles contained in our Edict made and granted in the present month concerning the Reformed Religion we have yet farther Granted some Particulars which we did not esteem necessary to comprehend in the said Edict and which nevertheless we will and require that they be observed and have the same effect as if they were therein comprised and to that end that they be Read and Inregistred in the Offices of our Court of Parliament to have recourse thereunto when it shall be needful and the Case require it For this Cause we Will Command and most expressly Injoyn That these Articles Signed by our own Hand hereunto annexed under the Counter-Seal of our Chancery you shall enter in the Registers of our said Court and cause the same to be observed in all poynts in the same manner as it is and ought to be in our said Edict For such is our will and pleasure Given at Nantes the last of April 1598. and of our Reign the ninth Signed by the King in Council FORGET And Sealed with the great Seal of yellow Wax with a single Label A DECLARATION By the present French King Lewis the XIV in favour of his Subjects of the Reformed Religion confirming the Edicts of Pacification Declaration Reglements and Articles heretofore granted them Dated at Paris the 8th of July 1643. and Verified in Parliament the 3d of August 1643. Printed at Paris 1644. with the Kings Licence LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom these presents shall come greeting The deceased King our most honoured Lord and Father acknowledging that the most necessary and effectual means for the preservation of peace in this Kingdom consisted in suffering his Subjects of the Reformed Religion to live under the benefit of his Edicts and defending them in the free exercise of their Religion he had a particular care to prevent by such wayes as he judged suitable to his Authority the troubling or disquieting of them in the said Exercise Having to that effect immediately after his coming to the Crown confirmed the said Edicts by his Letters Patents in form of a Declaration dated the 22th of May 1610. to the end that he might thereby so much the more oblige his Subjects of the said Religion to a dutiful obedience And to follow his example and imitate him in his bounty we will give them a testimony of ours and treat them as favourably as is possible if they shall render themselves worthy thereof by the continuation of their fidelity and obedience towards us as they have protested they will and never withdraw from us This makes us to hope that comporting as good and Loyal Subjects and living in that Union and Concord which is requisite for the good of our Service we may as it is our greatest desire with Divine assistance and under the prudent and wise administration of the Queen Regent our most honoured Dame and Mother whose good and sincere intentions are known to every one make all our Subjects as well Catholicks as of the said Reformed Religion to be sensible of our affection towards them and of our desire of maintaining them in a firm and assured peace We do therefore hereby give you to understand That we for these reasons and upon the most humble supplication on the behalf of our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion after having brought this affair into deliberation in the presence of our most honoured Dame and Mother the Queen Regent We by her advice together with that of our most dear and beloved Uncle the Duke of Orleance and of our most dear and beloved Cousin the Prince of Conde first Prince of our blood Dukes Peers and Officers of our Crown and many eminent persons of our Council have said and declared and we do say and declare by these presents signed with our Hand that it is our will and pleasure That our Subjects making profession of the Reformed Religion enjoy and have the free and entire exercise of the said Religion according to the said Edicts Declarations and Rules made upon this account without being troubled or inquieted in any sort or manner whatsoever The which Edicts remaining as well good as perpetual we have de novo so far as is or shall be needful confirmed them and we do by these presents confirm them willing and commanding the opposers of the same to be punished and chastised as disturbers of the publick Peace And we command our well beloved the members of our Courts of Parliament Chambers or Courts of Edict Bailiffs Chief Justices their Lieutenants and other our Officers to whom it shall belong each in his place that he cause these presents to be Inregistred Read and Published where need shall be and all the contents thereof to be received kept and observed according to their form and tenour and inasmuch as there may be need of these presents in many and sundry places we will and require that two Copies duly examined by one of our well beloved Counsellors and Secretaries faith be given to them as to the Original For such is our pleasure In witness of which we have caused our Seal to be put to these presents Given at Paris the 8th day of July 1643. and of our Raign the first Signed LOVIS And upon the fold the King and Queen Regent his Mother being present Signed PHILIPPEAVX And Sealed with a double Label with the great Seal of yellow wax Read published and inregistred in the Registers of the same requiring the Procurator General of the King to execute it according to its form and tenour and to send examined Copies to the Bailiwicks Chief Jurisdictions of this Circuit to be there in like manner read published Registred and executed with diligence by the
Substitutes of the said Procurator General who are injoyned and obliged to the execution of the same and to certifie the Court within a month of having done it At Paris in Parliament the 3d of August 1643. Signed GVYET THE DECLARATION Of King Louis XIV of France confirming the Priviledges granted to his Subjects of the Reformed Religion Given at St. Germain in Laye the 21th of May 1652. LOUIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To all to whom these Present shall come greeting The deceased King our most honoured Lord and Father acknowledging that one of the most necessary things for conserving Peace in this Kingdom consisted in maintaining his Subjects of the Reformed Religion in the full and intire enjoyment of the Edicts or Laws made in their favour and to suffer them to enjoy the free exercise of their Religion He had a most particular care to prevent by all convenient means the troubling them in the enjoyment of the Liberties Prerogatives and Priviledges granted them by the said Edicts Having to that effect immediately after his coming to the Crown by Letters Patents of the 22th of May 1610. and since his Majority by his Declaration of the 10th of November 1615. declared and required that the said Edicts should be executed to the end to give to his said Subjects so much the more reason to keep within the bounds of their duty and after the example of so great a Prince and to imitate him in his Bounty we have resolved to do the like having from the same motives and Considerations by our Declaration of the 8th of July 1643. willed and ordained that our Subjects of the Reformed Religion shall enjoy all the Concessions Priviledges and Advantages especially of the free and intire exercise of their said Religion according to the Edicts Declarations and Reglements made in favour of them upon that Subject And forasmuch as our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion have given us certain testimonies of their affection and fidelity especially in our present Affairs from whence we remain most satisfied We therefore give you to understand That We for these reasons and upon the most humble supplications which have been made us in behalf of our Subjects of the Reformed Religion and after having brought this Affair into deliberation in our Council We being present We from the advice of the same and from Our certain Knowledg and Royal Authority have said declared ordained saying declaring and ordaining that our Will and Pleasure is That our said Subjects of the Reformed Religion be maintained and kept as certainly we will maintain and keep them in the full and intire enjoyment of the said Edict of Nantes other Edicts Declarations Decrees Rules Articles and Breviats expedited dispatched in their favour registred in Parliaments Chambers of Edict especially in the free and publick exercise of the said Religion in all the places where it hath been granted by the same notwithstanding all Patents and Decrees as well of our Council as by our Soveraign Courts or other Judicatures to the contrary willing and requiring that the Opposers of our said Edicts be punished and chastised as Disturbers of the publick Quiet And therefore we command and require our well beloved the members of our Courts of Parliaments Chambers of Edicts Bailiffs Chief Justices their Lieutenants and other our Officers each in his place as it belongeth to him That they cause the said Presents to be inregistred read and published where it shall be needful and all the Contents to be kept observed and maintained according to their Form and Tenour And forasmuch as there may be need of these Presents in many and sundry places We will and require That to the Copies thereof duly examined by one of our well-beloved Councellours and Secretaries faith be as well given as to the present Original for such is our Will and Pleasure In testimony of which we have caused our Seal to be put to these Presents Given at St. Germain in Laye the 21th day of May in the Year of Grace 1652 and of our Reign the tenth Signed LOVIS And under the King PHILIPPEAVX And sealed with the Great Seal EXTRACT OF THE Registers of the Council of State UPon that which is represented to the King being in Council by the General Deputy of his Subjects of the Reformed Relion because of the poverty of the Inhabitants of divers places making profession of the said Religion and of the want of the money which hath formerly been granted them for the maintenance of their Ministers in Consideration of the Tenths which they pay to the Ecclesiasticks they are constrained to cause one and the same Minister to preach in several places where the exercise of the said Reformed Religion is permitted which they call annexed places Now though they do not any thing herein which is not permitted them by the Edicts So it is that divers Decrees in the Council of his Majesty have been made which prohibite the said Ministers to preach in other places than those of their habitation which causeth great trouble and vexation to them for which it being necessary to provide his Majesty being in Council hath ordained and doth ordain That the exercise of the said Reformed Religion may be publickly practised by one and the same Minister in divers places in which the said exercise is permitted by the Edicts and no where else nothwithstanding all Decrees given to the contrary which his Majesty hath cancelled and revoked as contrary to the Edicts And his Majesty prohibits all his Officers and Subjects even to the Ecclesiasticks to trouble those of the Reformed Religion in their injoyments of the said Edicts Done in the Council of State of the King his Majesty being there Held at St Germains in Laye the 21th of May 1652. Signed PHILIPPEAVX LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our first messenger or Sergeant upon this request greeteth We command thee and do command thee by these Presents signed with our hand That the Decrees of our Council of State whereof the Extract is here annexed under the Contra-Seal of our Chancellour thou signifie to all to whom it shall belong to the end they may not pretend ignorance thereof and defer obedience thereunto and further cause them to defend the Contents hereof and all other acts and things requisite and necessary for the execution of the said Decree and we give thee power Commission and especial Command herein without demanding other permission Willing that to the Copies examined of the said Decree and of the said Presents faith be given as to the Originals for such is our pleasure Given at St Germains in Laye May 21. 1652 and of our Reign the tenth Signed LOVIS PHILIPPEAVX by the King in Council Examined with the Original by me Councellor Secretary of the King and of his Finances EXTRACT OF THE Registers of the Council of State THE King being willing that his Subjects of the Reformed
Religion should enjoy what his Majesty had granted them by his answer to the Fourth Fifth and Sixth Aticles of the Paper presented to him the 17th of this present month of May by the Deputy General of his said Subjects concerning the Consulship and Charges or Offices Politick of the Cities and Places there named His Majesty being in his Council conformable to the answer of the said Paper hath ordained and doth ordain That the Decrees of the abovesaid Council of the 18th of March and 11th of April last for an equal Division of the Charges of the Consuls and others thereupon depending given in favour of his Subjects of the City of Montpellier making profession of the Reformed Religion shall be executed according to their Form and Tenour And as to Sommieres Ginac Luncâ— Montagnac Bariac Bagnols Bedarrieux Florensac Vendemain Pignan St. Andre Aimarguâ—s and Mogmo It his Majesties Will and Pleasure that in the next Elections and others following upon the days accustomed the Consulships and Offices thereon depending shall in like manner be equally divided in the said places provided there is no immemorial possession or Capitulations to the contrary according to the Declaration of the 19. of October 1631. and conformable to the same His Majesty ordaineth That there shall be no alteration at Alles nor at any other places for the second Consul which shall be of the Reformed Religion no more than for the first which shall always be a Catholick And for the City of Nismes His Majesty also willeth That the Council Politick be augmented with one Councellor of the Reformed Religion which shall abstain from going into the said Council when the Bishop of the said City or his chief Vicar shall not be there and this shall be executed notwithstanding any oppositions or appellations whatsoever which shall not be made use of for deferring it and if any things intervene they shall be judged in the Chamber of Edict at Castres to which his Majesty gives therein all power Jurisdiction and Cognizance and prohibits the same to the Court of Parliament of Tholouse until his Majesty shall otherwise ordain His Majesty enjoining That all Patents and Declarations herein necessary be dispatched acted and done in the Council of State of the King his Majesty being there Held at St. Germains in Laye the 21th of May 1652. Signed PHILIPPEAVX LOVIS by the Grace of God King of France and Navarre To our Chief Messenger or Sergeant in this Case required greeteth We command thee and thou art commanded by these Presents signed with our hand That thou signifie the Decree of our Council of State the Extract of which is hereâ—nto annexed under the Counter-Seal of our Chaâ—â—â—ry to all to whom it shall appertain to the end they may not pretend ignorance for deferring obedience and further to cause them to defend the Contents hereof and to do this and all other acts and matters requisite and necessary for the execution of the said Decree giving thee Power Commission and especial Command without need of other permission And we will that to the Copies of the said Decrees and of these said Presents faith be as well given as to the Originals For such is our pleasure Given at St. Germains in Layâ— the 21th of May 1652. and of our Reign the 10th Signed LOVIS By the King in his Council PHILIPPEAVX Examined with the Originals by me Councellour Secretary to the King and of his Finances FINIS Books Sold by John Wickins at the White Hart over against St. Dunftans Church in Fleetstreet ROyal Pharmacopoeia Galenical and Chymical according to the Practice of the most eminent and learned Physicians of France and published with their several approbations By Moses Charras the Kings Operator in his Royal Garden of Plants Faithfully Englished Illustrated with several Copper Plates fol. Resuscitatio or Bringing into publick Light several Pieces of the Works Civil Historical Philosophical and Theological hitherto sleeping of the Right Honourable Francis Bacon Baron of Verulam Viscount Saint Albans In two Parts The Third Edition According to the best corrected Copies together with his Lordship's Life By William Rawley D. D. his Lordships Chaplain and lately his Majesties Chaplain in Ordinary fol. The History of the Affairs of Europe in this Present Age but more particularly of the Republick of Venice Written in Italian by Battista Nani Cavalier and Procurator of St. Mark Englished by Sir Robert Honywood fol. The History of Barbados St Christophers Mevis St Vincent Antego Martinico Monserrat and the rest of the Caribby Islands in all 28. In Two Books The First containing the Natural the Second the Moral History of those Islands Illustrated with several Pieces of Sculpture representing the most considerable Rarities therein described fol. The Chirurgions Store-house furnished with forty three Tables cut in Brass in which are all sorts of Instruments both Ancient and Modern useful to the performance of all Manual Operations with an exact Description of every Instrument together with an hundred choise Observations of famous Cures performed with the Indexes First Of the Instruments Secondly Of Cures performed and Thirdly Of things remarkable Written by Johannes Scultetus a famous Physician and Chirurgion of Vlme in Suevia Octavo The Memoirs of Philip de Comines Lord of Argenton Containing the History of Lewis XI and Charles VIII Kings of France with the most remarkable Occurrences in their particular Reigns from the Year 1464 to 1498 Revised and corrected from divers manuscripts and ancient Impressions By Denis Godefroy Councellour and Historiographer to the French King and from his new Edition of it Printed at Paris faithfully translated into English Octavo The History of the Present State of the Ottoman Empire Containing the maxims of the Turkish Polity the most material Points of the Mahometan Religion their Sects and Heresies their Covents and religious Votaries their military Discipline with an exact Computation of their Forces both by Land and Sea Illustrated with divers Pieces of Sculpture representing the variety of Habits amongst the Turks In Three Books By Paul Rycaut Esq In Octavo The History of France under the Ministry of Cardinal Mazarine Containing all the remarkable and curious Passages in the Government of that State from the Death of King Lewis XIII which happened in the Year 1643 to the death of the Cardinal which was in the Year 1664. Done into English by Christopher Wase 8o. The History of the twelve Caesars Emperours of Rome Written in Latine by Caius Suetonius Tranquillus Newly translated into English and illustrated with all their Heads in Copper Plates oct A Relation of three Embassies from his Sacred Majesty Charles II. to the Great Duke of Muscovy the King of Sweden and the King of Denmark Performed by the Right Honourable the Earl of Carliste in the Year 1663 and 1664. Written by an Attendant on the Embassies and published with his Lordships approbation Octavo The Art of Chymistry as it is now practised Written in French by P. Thibaut Chymist to the French King And now translated into English by a Fellow of the Royal Society Octavo The Annals of Love Containing secret Histories of the Amours of divers Princes Courts Pleasantly related In Octavo The Loves of sundry Philosophers and other Great Men. Translated out of French Octavo The Voyage of Italy or a Compleat Journy through Italy In two Parts With the Character of the People and the description of the Chief Towns Churches Monasteries Tombs Libraries Palaces Villa's Gardens Pictures Statues and Antiquities As also of the Interest Government Riches Force c. of all the Princes with Instructions concerning Travel By Richard Lassels Gent. who travelled through Italy five times as Tutor to several of the English Nobility and Gentry Duod The Present State of Holland Duod The Art of Complaisance or the Means to oblige in Conversation Duod The Present State of Italy Duod