daughter of France for the King of Spain 31 H Lord Hayes after Earl of Carlile Ambassador in Paris 34 The Duke of Halluin beats Serbellon and the Spaniards before Leucato 115 The Pr of Harcour relieves Casal appears before Turin takes it 129 The Hard fortune of Kings daughters 32 Henry the Great slain 3 His treasure his army his burial 4 Henry the third buried 22. yeers after his death 8 M. Hicks now Sir Ellis Hicks the good service he did at Montauban 58 Hesdin taken by the French 126 Twenty Holland men of War come according to article to serve the French King 68 The Lady Henrietta Maria married to the King of Great Britain 66 Humbert Duke of Viennois upon what termes he bequeath'd Dauphiné to Philip of Valois I King Jame's Letter to the French King 63 His passionate speech to his Counsell his complement to her Majesty now Queen 66 The Jacobins hold that in no case the Counsel is above the Pope the question solemnly debated in Paris 12 Inventions to torment Ravaillac 7 The Iesuits have the heart of Henry the Great 8 Jesuits not permitted to open their Colledge in Paris 11 The Imperialists and Spaniards overrun Picardy and Burgundy 113 Insurrection in Diion suppress'd 93 Insurrection in Normandy 126 John Duke of Bragansa made King of Portugal 130 His Letter to the K. of Spain 131 Saint John de Luz taken by the Spaniard 114 The Isles of Saint Margarita and Saint Honorat taken by the Spaniard 112 Repris'd by the French 115 Italian predictions of Henry the Greats death 4 K Kings presence oft-times advantagious 20 Kings of France majors when as high as a sword 21 New Knights of the Holy Spirit 46 L Landrecy taken by the Duke de la Valette 115 Letter of the King of Spain to the Duke of Bragansa 130 Letter of King James to the French King 63 Letter from Richelieu to the Q. Mother 160 Letters interchangeable 'twixt Buckingham and Toiras 83 Letter from Condé to the Queen Mother 18 Letter from the Queen Mother to Condé 19 Letter from the Queen at her first arrivall in France to the King 31 Letters from the King to Monsieur 104 Letters from the King to the Duke of Halluin 116 Letters from the King to Condé 47 Letters to Toiras against the English 82 The Duke of Lerma marrieth the Infanta for the King of France 31 Lewis the Thirteenth his inclination and sports when young 3 His minority 5 His solemn coronation 10 His majority declar'd by Parlement 21 His gracious declaration to the Princes 35 His speech to his Mother after d' Ancres death 39 He beds with the Queen 43 A clash 'twixt him and the Parlement at Paris 47 His exploits in Bearn 50 His Protest to the Assembly of Notables 75 His answer to the Rochelers when they yeelded 86 He crosseth the Alps in Winter 87 Hath a shrewd fit of sicknes 96 His harsh answer to them of the Religion 62 His harsh Declaration against his Mother 99 His Declaration against Spain 100 His speech to the Palsgrave 127 His speech to the D. of Lorain 132 reduc'd to a great straight 32 He protects the Catalan 134 His death with the circumstances thereof 135 Examples of his piety 139 Divers speeches of his 139 His chastity and constancy 140 His exploits run over 142 Did greater things then Henry the Great 143 Divers things objected against him 141 Duke of Longuevill in arms 18 L'esdiguiers made Constable 59 Luynes put first to the King 3 Incenses the K. against d'Ancre 38 Hath Ancres estate given him and made Constable 52 A clash twixt him and Sir Ed. Herbert then Lo Ambassadour now Baron of Cherbery 55 A Dialogue between them 55 How worthily the English Ambassador compos'd himself 56 Luynes dieth of the Plague in the Army 58 His Legend 59 Duke of Lorain meets the King at Metz. 101 Duke of Lorain waves the performance of homage for the Duchy of Bar. 106 His complement to the King 106 He comes to Paris 132 Monsieur de Lien Cour Governor of Paris 29 M Marie de Medici declar'd Queen Regent by Parlement 5 Her speech upon the resignation of the Government 22 Her discours with Marossan about her escape 45 The first war with her son 44 The second war with her son 48 The beginning of her aversenes to the Cardinal 96 The causes of it 98 Her complaint against him 99 She returns to Flanders in discontent 99 Thence to Holland and so to England then to Colen where she died 133 Her high qualities 134 Mariana's opinion touching Kings protested against in Paris 9 Q. Margaret de Valois dieth her Character 26 Moderation the true rule of wisdom 13 Mazarini makes a peace in Italy 96 Monsieur maried to the Duke of Monpensiers daughter 72 His complement to her 73 He falls in love with the Duke of Montava's daughter and being cross'd flies to Lorain 92 Flies again to Lorain 103 He entreth France with an Army of strangers 103 His high propositions to his brother 104 Flies the third time to Lorain 105 Marieth the Lady Margaret the Duke of Lorains sister goes then to Flanders whence at the Infante Cardinals approach he steales away to France 106 Duke of Monmorency joyn's with Monsieur is defeated by Schomberg 104 Is beheaded at Tholouze 105 Morocco Ambassador in Paris his credential Letter 102 Montauban the last Town of them of the Religion which submitted 91 Monpellier capitulats by the Duke of Rohans advice 60 Morgard the Astrologer made Gallislave 14 N Nancy given up to the French 106 The Nature of the Spaniard in adversity 131 The Nonage of Lewis the Thirteenth 5 The Nonage of Lewis the Fourteenth now King 135 O The Oath the Queen of Englands French servants were to take 65 Open hostility 'twixt France and Spain pronounc'd by Herauld 111 Saint Omer besieged by the French who were forc'd to retire 123 Octavio Lassani an Astrologer his prediction of the Duke of Savoy's death 94 Obelisks and triumphant Arches in Rome in joy of the Dauphins Nativity 125 Oxenstern Ambassador in France 112 The Outrages the French committed at Tillemont 112 P Paris in great fear 114 Parlement of England superiour to the Assembly of the three Estates of France in numbers and state 23 Perrons prudent cariage in the great Assembly 24 Pensions of the Crown of France 27 Pasquills upon the Gates of the Louur 40 Pasquill upon the Cardinals gates 168 Pasquill in Rome of the King and the Cardinal 168 The old Parlement of France turn'd now to an Assembly of Notables 74 Peace renew'd by the intervention of the Venetian and proclaim'd at Privas 'twixt England and France 88 Pignerol taken by the Cardinal 94 Pignerol sold to the French King 97 The Parlement of Paris suspends the verification of the Kings Declaration against Monsieur and is sharply rebuk'd 98 The Palsgrave prisoner in France releas'd and the Kings speech unto him 127 Philipsburg taken by the Spaniard 108
mediat a Peace for them of the Religion and in case of refusall to use certain menaces hereupon he coming to the Army and finding the approches to the said Town were almost finish'd he hastned his addresses to the King for an audience The King referring him to Luynes and desiring that what he had to say might be first imparted unto him he went accordingly to Luynes lodgings and deliver'd his Message so that he reserv'd still the latter part which was menace untill he heard how the busines was relish'd Luynes had hid behind the hangings a Gentleman of the Religion who was upon point of turning Roman that being an earwitnes of what had pass'd between the English Ambassador and Luynes he might relate unto them of the Religion what little hopes they were to expect from the intercession of the King of England The Ambassador and Luynes having mingled some Speeches the language of Luynes was very haughty saying What hath your Master to do with our Actions Why doth he meddle with our affairs Sir Edward Herbert replied It is not to you to whom the King my Master owes an account of his Actions and for Me it is enough to obey Him In the mean time I must maintain that the King my Master hath more reason to do what he pleaseth to do then you have to ask why he doth it Nevertheles if you desire me in a gentle fashion I shall acquaint you further Whereupon Luynes bowing a little said very well The Ambassador answer'd That it was not on this occasion only that the King of Great Britain had desir'd the Peace and prosperity of France but upon all other occasions whensoever any troubles were rais'd in that Countrey And this he said was his first Reason The second was That when a Peace was settled there His Majesty of France might be better dispos'd to assist the Palatin in the affairs of Germany Luynes said We will none of your advices The Ambassador replied That he took that for an Answer and was sorry only that the affection and good will of the King his Master was not sufficiently understood and that since 't was rejected in that maner he could do no lesse then say that the King his Master knew well enough what he had to do Luynes said We are not afraid of you The Ambassador smiling a little replied If you had said you had not lov'd Us I should have beleev'd you and made you another Answer In the mean while all I will tell you more is That We know very well what we have to do Luynes hereupon rising a little from his chaire with a fashion and a countenance much discompos'd said By God if you were not Monsieur l' Ambassadeur I know very well how I would use you The Ambassador herewithall rising also from his chaire said That as he was his Majesties of Great Britains Ambassador so he was also a Gentleman and that his sword whereon he laid his hand should do him reason if he took any offence After which Luynes replying nothing the Ambassador went on his way towards the doore to which when Luynes seem'd to accompagny him the Ambassador told him that after such language there was no occasion to use ceremony and so departed expecting to hear further from him But no message being brought him from Luynes he did in poursuance of his instructions demand audience of the King at Cognac St. Iean d' Angely being now rendred who granting it where he did in the same termes and upon the same motives Mediat a Peace for them of the Religion and receiv'd a far more gentle Answer from the King The Marshall de Saint Geran coming to Sir Edward Herbert told him in a friendly maner you have offended the Constable and you are not in a place of surety here whereunto he answer'd That he held himself to be in a place of surety wheresoever he had his sword by him Luynes little resenting the affront he receiv'd from Sir Ed. Herbert got Cadenet his brother Duke of Chaune with a ruffling train of Cavaliers neer upon a hundred whereof there was not one as Cadenet told King Iames but had kild his man in duel Ambassadour extraordinary to England a little after who misreporting the clash 'twixt Sir Ed. Herbert and Luynes prevaild so far that Sir Ed. Herbert was presently revok'd to answer the charge that should be laid against him In the mean time the Earl of Carlile that dexterous Courtier was employ'd extraordinary Ambassador to France for accommodating le mal entendu which might arise 'twixt the two Crowns Carlile was commanded to inform himself of the truth of the businesse afore mention'd and he could meet with no relation but what Luynes had made himself wherein more affronting and haughty expressions were laid to Sir Ed. Herberts charge then had truly pass'd for though the first provocation came from Luynes yet the Ambassadour kept himself within the bounds both of his instructions and honor but as my Lord of Carlile was ready to send this mis-information to England the Gentleman formerly spoken of who stood behind the hangings came to the Earl of Carlile and said that he ow'd so much unto truth and honor that he could doe no lesse then vindicat Cavalier Herbert from all indiscretion and unworthines and thereupon related the true circumstances of the businesse The Earl of Carlile being thus rectified in the knowledge of the truth gave account to King Iames accordingly who cleer'd Sir Ed. Herbert and resolv'd to renvoy him Ambassador to France whereof he having notice kneel'd to the King before the Duke of Buckingham and humbly desired that since the busines was public in both Kingdoms he might in a public way demand reparation of M. Luynes for which purpose he beseech'd his Majesty that a Trumpeter if not a Herald might be sent on his part to M. de Luynes to tell him That he had made a false relation of the passages before mentioned and that Sir Ed. Herbert would demand reasons of him with sword in hand on that point the King answering that he would take it into consideration Luynes a little after died and Sir Edward was again sent Ambassador to France But to return to our former road besides those places formerly mentioned the Towns Suilly Merac and Caumont were also taken for the King but the latter two by the Duke of Mayn Governor of Guyen All Poitou being reduc'd to Royall obedience and setled the King resolv'd to go for Guyen to suppresse the Duke of Rohan and la Force who were in arms and had a considerable Army He left behind the Duke of Espernon with 4000. foot and 600. horse to beleager Rochell and stop the advenues in the interim So he advances to Guyen and divers places in the way open'd their gates unto him till he came to Clairac where he found a tough resistance He lost before the Town the great Lord of Thermes and sundry persons of quality besides
550000. Franks found in money He caus'd a Declaration also to be publish'd wherein he and all his Adherents were proclaym'd Rebells Monsieur and Monmorency were grown so strong that the King in Person with an Army of twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse went to suppresse them Some of the Kings Army was about Castel nau-d ' Arry under the command of Schomberg where Monmorency in a martiall heat but more in a desperat then valiant resolution accompagnied with the Earls of Rieux and Fevillade and only eight horse more fac'd and set upon the Royalists broak the ranks of some of them kill'd divers and hurt many but after he was hurt himself in the face and in sundry places about his body so that he fell off his horse and cried out for a Confessor so one of his men taking him upon his back he was taken prisoner and carried upon a ladder to Castel nau d' Arry In the said conflict was kill'd one of Henry the Great 's base sons the Count of Moret with the fore-mentioned Earls of Rieux and Fevillade and the whole Army was routed Notwithstanding all these provocations the King sent a gracious Message to Monsieur inviting him to come unto him and the same day Monsieur had sent to the King Chaudebonne with these Propositions 1. That the Duke of Monmorency should be releas'd and reestablish'd in his estate and government together with the Dukes of Elbaeuf and Bellegarde 2. That his Majesty would render to the Duke of Lorain all the places he detain'd from him 3. That an Act of abolition should passe 4. That a million of Franks which he had borrow'd should be pay'd Whereunto the King made this Answer My Brother the Propositions which Chaudebonne hath made me in your behalf are so little sortable to my dignity to the public and your own proper good that I cannot return any other answer then what I sent you formerly by Monsieur Aiguebonne to testifie my affection unto you I pray dispose of your self to receive the effects of them assuring you that in so doing I shall forget what 's pass'd and shall make it appear unto you more and more that I am your most affectionat Brother Lewis This Letter was seconded a little after with Articles to this effect 1. That Monsieur should acknowledge his fault by writing and desire the King to forget and pardon 2. That he give the best assurance he can not to fall into a relaps 3. To have no intelligence with Spain Lorain or any other strange Prince nor with the Queen his Mother as long as she continues in the case she stands and to sojourn in what place the King shall appoint him 4. That he mingle not his interests with those that were his Complices and ill counsellors which must be proceeded against according to law yet amongst them his domesticks shall be exempted 5. That Puy Laurens who suggested these ill Counsels into him sincerely confesse what further practises were intended against the State and that he acknowledge himself culpable before he receive grace To all these Monsieur subscrib'd in this forme We Gaston son of France unic Brother to the King Duc of Orleans Chartres and Valois Earl of Blois do consent to what is propounded by his Majesty and upon the word and faith of a Prince we promise a religious performance of all the Articles We promise besides to conspire with all our power to all the good desseins of the King for the grandeur and safety of his Kingdoms and to love them that love his Majesty and specially our Cosen the Cardinall of Richelieu whom we hold to be necessary to the Person and States of the King for his fidelity After this a Declaration was publish'd for all strangers that came in with Monsieur to quit the Kingdom within 8. dayes some of the chiefest instruments of this sollevation were cut off by the sword of Justice and amongst other the foure Bishops spoken of before were legally proceeded against by a speciall Brief from Rome wherein there were foure Archbishops nominated as Deligats to judge them whereof the Archbishop and Prince of Arles was chief though the ancient form of proceeding against Prelats for crimes was us'd to be by a Synod of the Gallic Bishops Not one of the foresaid Delinquent Bishops was condem'd to die only the Bishop of Albi was depriv'd of his Bishoprick and confin'd to a Monastery to eat the bread of sorrow There fell this yeer upon the Kings return from Narbon through Languedoc in a sudden showr of rain such huge cataracts of water from the Airie Region that two hundred persons were drownd upon the highwayes four Coches of the Queens and fifty Carts were swallowed up in the deluge The Duke of Monmorency being taken prisoner was carried to Tholouse where he was to receive his tryall not by his Peers but by the ordinary way of Justice he was legally convicted and condemn'd there were all means possible us'd for his pardon but the King was inflexible so with exemplary patience and piety he pai'd Nature her last tribut he put off his doublet himself and cut off his hair and mustachos before he came to the Block Thus fell Henry of Monmorency Duke Peer and Marshall and of the ancientest extractions of France in so much that Henry the Great was us'd to say that he was a better Gentleman then himself the Motto in his Scutcheon was Dieu aide le premier Chevalier Chrestien God preserve the first Christian Cavalier he left no son nor male Heir behind so this Illustrious Family went out like a snuffe such an ill-savor'd sent Rebellion leaves behind it Monsieur for not obtaining Monmorencys pardon though he had prevayl'd for the Dukes of Elbaeuf and Bellegarde grew again discontented and forsakes France The Cardinall of Richelieu had at this time a dangerous fit of sicknes so that a great while the infirmities of his body would not give him leave to exercise the functions of his soule A little after his convalescence there was a chapter of the Knights of the Royall Order the Holy Spirit kept wherein there were forty nine more created and the honor was conferr'd chiefly upon them that had serv'd against them of the Religion The Duke of Lorain appearing more for the House of Austria then the Sweds in the German war the King to quarrell with him demanded homage for the Duchy of Bar the Duke wav'd the performance of this ceremony alledging that those homages which were pretended to be done by his Progenitors were but visits and complements not any reall dutyes there being no act upon record for them There happend another occasion of displeasure against the Duke in that the Princess Margaret was maried to Monsieur not only without the Kings consent but expresly against his command It being observ'd that Matches with that Family have bin fatall and that Lorain milk have engendred but ill bloud in France So he arms mainly against the Duke
by armed hand seizd upon the town and castle of Iuillers The opposit Princes having besieg'd him there sent to France for help Hereupon Marshall de la Chastre march'd with those 12000. Auxiliaries and his conjunction with the other Princes was so fortunat that Iuillers was rendred up upon composition to the Duke of Newburg and Marquis of Brandenburgh but with this proviso that the Roman Religion should still have free exercise there This relief of Iuillers was the first forren act that happen'd in the raign of Lewis the thirtteenth and the expedition was intended before by his father Although in successif hereditary Kingdomes as France and England where the law sayeth the King never dieth the act of Coronation be not so absolutly necessary as to appertain to the essence of the thing yet hath it bin used as a ceremony not superfluous for the satisfaction of the people Hereupon there were great preparations made for the crowning and the anointing of the young King with the holy oyle which is kept alwayes in the town of Rheims in a little vial and the French faith is That it is part of the same oyle wherewith Clovis who was the first Christian King of France converted by his wife above 1000. yeers since was anointed and that a Dove brought down in her beak the said vial into the Church and so vanish'd which oyl they say continues fresh and sweet and without diminution to this day The said vial was once caried away by the English but it was recovered by the inhabitants of Povilleux for which they enjoy divers priviledges to this day This ceremony of Coronation in France is a very solemn thing and continues above eight houres long without intermission The twelve Peers are the chiefest Actors in it whereof there are six Spiritual and six Temporal the last six have now no being in France but only in name For they ought to be the Dukes of Burgundy Normandy and Aquitain the Earls of Tholouse Flanders and Champagny all which are represented by Deputies in this act One of the first circumstances in this ceremony is that two Bishops come and knock in the morning at the Kings Bed-chamber dore the Great Chamberlain asks them what they would have they answer Lewis the thirteenth son to Henry the Great The Lord Chamberlain replies He sleeps The Bishops a while after knock gently again and demand Lewis the thirteenth whom God had given them for their King So the dore opens and he is caried in solemn procession to the great Church At the communion he takes the bread and the wine to shew that his dignitie is Presbyterial as well as Regal The Parisians are bound to provide certain birds which are let loose that day up and down the Church whereof one was observ'd to sit and sing a great while upon the canopy that was caried over the Kings head which was held to be an auspicious augury Grace before and after diner is sung before him and the sword is held naked all the while with a multitude of other ceremonies The King seeming to be tyred having bin so many hours in the Church and born the crown on his head with divers other heavy vests upon his body was ask'd what he would take to take the like pains again he answer'd for another Crown I would take double the pains The King and Queen Regent being return'd to Paris the scene where the last act of this pomp should be perform'd before the triumph was ended there was a dash of water thrown into their wine by news that was brought of an insurrection that was in Berry by Florrimond de Pay Lord of Vatan who undertook to protect certain Salt Merchants by arms which he had leavied but he was quickly suppress'd and his head chop'd off divers of his complices hang'd and strangled This was the first flash of domestic fire that happen'd in the raign of Lewis the thirteenth which was the more dangerous because the said Lord of Vatan was of the Religion and 't was fear'd the whole body of them would have abetted him There arise a little after two ill-favour'd contentions twixt Church-men which kept a great noise for the present One was of the Iesuits who presented a remonstrance to the Court of Parliament that by vertu of an Edict of Henry the Great 1611. they might be permitted to open their Colledg of Clermont for the instruction of youth and to erect Classes for the public Lecture of the Sciences in a scholary way The Rector of the Universitie seconded by the Sindic of Sorbon with the whole body of Academiks oppos'd it mainly The first thing the Court ordred was that the Jesuits should subscribe to a submission and conformitie to the Doctrin of the Sorbon Schoole in these foure points 1. That the Pope hath no power over the temporalls of Kings and that he cannot excommunicat them or deprive them of their Kingdoms 2. That the Counsell is above the Pope 3. That the Ecclesrastiques are subject to the Secular and Politic Magistrat 4. That auricular Confessions ought to be reveal'd which concern the State and lifes of Kings and Soverain Princes All which Propositions tended to the maintenance of royal authoritie the conservation of the sacred persons of Kings and the liberties of the Gallie Church The Jesuit shrunk in their shoulders at this motion so one in the name of the rest answer'd that amongst their Statuts there was one which oblig'd them to follow the rules and laws of those places where they were therefore they could not promise their General would subscribe to the foresaid propositions but their Provincial in France should do it with the whole Colledg of Clermont which was done accordingly yet the Parliament could never be induc'd to passe a Decree whereby they might be authorized to open their Colledg in Paris for the education of youth though afterwards the King and Queen Regent by sole advise of the Counsell of State notwithstanding the opposition of Parliament and Universitie pass'd an Edict in their favour And this was done out of pure reason of State for the world knows what dangerous instruments Jesuits are if offended The other scuffle amongst Church-men was of a greater consequence which was thus The Iacobins who are the chiefest order of preaching Friers have a generall Chapter every three yeers in Paris This convention happen'd this yeer and divers Tenets were propounded there One amongst the rest was That in no case the Counsell is above the Pope There sate in this Assembly many eminent persons as the Cardinal of Perron the Popes Nuncio with divers other great Prelats There were also some Presidents of Courts there and Counsellors and the Provost of Paris Amongst others Hacquevill President in the great Chamber of Parliament at the debatement of the said thesis stood up and averr'd that it was heretical whereat the Nuncio was offended and after some heat of argument pro and con Cardinal Perron took the word
sent to the King Condé to make his quarrel more colourable and being heightned by the said Arrest of the Parliament of Paris added divers Articles more to his Manifesto viz. 1. That further research be made for the assassinat of Henry the Great 2. That a reformation be made of the Kings Counsell 3. That the grievances of the three Estates be answer'd with divers other They of the Religion were yet Neutrals and thinking to fish in these troubled waters propos'd these high demands 1. That the independence of the French Crown be declar'd 2. That the Counsell of Trent be never publish'd in this Kingdom 3. That his Majesty shall be desir'd to declare that upon his Coronation oath for extirpation of heresies he understood not or comprehended his subjects of the Religion 4. That in all public Acts it shall be inserted no more the pretended reform'd Religion but only Religion 5. That their Ministers shall be payed by the King c. These with divers other Propositions were first made at Grenoble where the King permitted them to Assemble but Lesdigueres could not endure them there therefore they remov'd to Nismes and thence to Rochell notwithstanding that the King commanded the contrary The Prince of Condé had an Agent in the Assembly who much press'd them to enter into the ligue with him which they did at last and writ a Letter to the King of the cause of their conjunction with Condé And as the King was importun'd by them of the Religion one way so was he sollicited by the Roman Catholiques of Bearn on the other side that his Majesty would please to restablish them in the possession of their goods whereof they were depriv'd by Iane d'Albret his paternal granmother Amongst these counter-distractions there came news unto the King that the 6000. Suisses which he had from the Protestant Cantons had quitted his pay and party and return'd to their own Countrey by the perswasion and practises of them of the Religion Madame the Kings sister being recover'd He went to Bourdeaux where the Spanish Ambassadour came to demand her for the Prince of Castile The Duke of Guise had a Procuration to marry her the next day which he did the Cardinal of Sourdis officiating and the pietie of the King much appear'd in the ceremony because he commanded the Cardinals Chaire should be put on a higher ground then his The same day the Duke of Lerma married the Infanta of Spain in Burgos for the King of France These nuptial ceremonies being perform'd Madame now Princesse of Castile departed from Bourdeaux conducted by the Duke of Guyse and in regard a rumor ran that they of the Religion as also the Count of Grammont with others who were said to have ligu'd with Condé had way-laid the young Bride the King commanded all the Regiment of his gard to attend her putting himself in the interim in the hands of them of Bourdeaux The exchange of the two Princesses was made upon a river call'd Bidasso hard by St. Iohn de Luz which separats those two mightie Kingdoms there were two stately Barges to waft them the Spaniards on their side had a huge vast globe representing the world rais'd upon a pavilion very high which made an ostentous shew The Duke of Guise took exception at it and protested he would never bring o're the Princesse till it was taken down which was done accordingly The next day the young Queen came to Bayon where Luynes then favorit to the King attended her with a Letter all written by the King himself in these words Madame since I cannot according to my desire find my self neer you at your entrance into my Kingdom to put you in possession of the power I have as also of my entire affection to love and serve you I send towards you Luynes one of my confident'st servants to salute you in my name and tell you that you are expected by Me with much impatience to offer unto you my Self I pray therefore receive him favorably and to beleeve what he shall tell you Madame from your most deer friend and servant Lewis Luynes deliver'd her also from the King two rich Standards of Diamonds which she receiv'd and kiss'd and from her table at Supper She sent a dish of meat unto him In the morning She return'd this Answer to the King Sir I much rejoyc'd at the good news Luynes brought Me of your Majesties health I come therewith being most desirous to arrive where I may serve my Mother and so I am making hast to that purpose and to kisse your Majesties hand whom God preserve as I desire Anne Being come afterwards to Bourdeaux they both receiv'd the nuptial benediction in magnificence according to the qualitie of the act and the persons and medals were made and thrown up and down with this Motto aeternae foedera Pacis pledges of eternal peace but the Poet that made that peece of verse for a Motto was no good Prophet for the eternal peace he spoake of lasted not many yeers between the two nations who notwithstanding that nature hath conjoyn'd them neer enough in point of local distance there being but a small river whereon the two Princesses were exchang'd that severs them yet there is no two people on earth are further asunder and more differing in disposition affections and interests being herein right Antipodes one to the other By this alliance is verified the saying of the Italian that Kings may wed but kingdoms never It appears also hereby what a hard destiny and sorry condition attends the daughters of Soverain Princes who are commonly made sacrifices of State and oblations for Politicall respects being also to be maried to aliens and oft-times to husbands of a different Religion they are wood by Proxy they must choose by picture fancy upon trust and tied in a knot indissoluble to one they never saw but in effigie perchance and afterwards they must be contented to be unpatriated disterr'd and as it were banish'd for ever from their own sweet native soyle and the ayr they first breath'd yet as the Civilian saith although they are the end of the House whence they come they are the beginning of that wherein they enter While the King was celebrating his nuptials in his town of Bourdeaux by divers inventions and exercises of pastime and pleasure as masks tilting playes bals and dances Condé with his Confederats leads another kind of dance up and down France but while he danc'd and revell'd thus the poore Countrey sung lachrymae being pitifully oppress'd torn and harass'd in most parts there being six or seven armies in motion on both sides he encreas'd mightily by concourse of partisans by conjunction of them of the Religion and by divers successfull rencounters The King on the other side was at a very low ebb having exhausted that two millions and a half of liures he had taken himself in person out of the Bastile and being put to hard shifts to get money to
defray his ordinary expences the town of Bourdeaux to her eternal glory shew'd herself carefull of his honor and supplied him Add hereunto that two whole armies fell from him that of the Suisse consisting of 6000. and that under the Duke of Vendosm being the greater of the two the one only left him the other turn'd against him and the whole body of them of the Religion declar'd it self against him and actually help'd the other side Moreover his Parliament at Paris would not verifie his Edicts Yet in the midst of all these straits He marcheth resolutly from Bourdeaux with his new Queen to joyn his army with Bois Dauphin with a purpose either to present battaile to the adverse party or to draw them to a treaty Espernon met him in the way with 4000. foot and 500. horse The Duke of Nevers did very much labour and made journeys to and fro for an accommodation and his endevors took so good effect that a Conference was agreed on at Lodun where Commissioners were appointed and did meet on both sides in the interim the Duke of Guyse perform'd a notable exploit with 2000. of the Kings prime horses wherwith he set upon three Regiments of Condés at Nantueil which he slew took and put to flight carrying all their colours to the King for a present Hereupon a suspension of arms was accorded through all the Kingdom except in Anjou Perch and the frontiers of Britany where Vendosm continued all acts of hostility notwithstanding that he had his Deputy at the Conference The King was then advanc'd to Chastel le Heraud where Villeroy deliver'd him the Articles of the Truce sign'd by the Princes and where a Legat came from the Pope to deliver him the Imperial Sword and to the Queen the Rosetree of flowers and leaves of gold Thence the King went to Blois where after a long debate an Edict of Pacification was publish'd upon the Treaty of Lodun which consisted of 54. Articles wherein all the Princes with their adhaerents as also They of the Religion found satisfaction and divers persons of base condition were nominated therein which the world cryed shame upon By this Edict the King approv'd of all actions pass'd as having bin done for his Service and by consequence tacitly disadvow'd what He and his Counsell had ordain'd to the contrary The former Arrests of the Court of Parliament of Paris which the King had suspended were reestablish'd and they of the Counsell of State annull'd and many high demands were accorded to them of the Religion The Chancelor Sillery and divers others who were the Kings Favorits before were outed of their offices Besides the said Edict there were also secret Articles condescended unto containing rewards and honors to some particular men in lieu of punishment and they were presented in a privat close way to the Parliament to be verified with the gran Edict The Court wav'd them a while but afterwards by expresse commandment of the Kings and by a Declaration he made that those secret Articles contain'd no more then what was granted in the secret Articles of the Edict of Nants already verified by the same Court the businesse pass'd though with much reluctancy for if those of Nants were verified what need these being the same have a second verification This as it were enforc'd Verification was accompagnied with Letters Patents from the King in special favor to the Prince of Condé and others Letters in favor of them of the Religion by which his Majesty declar'd not to have understood his subjects of the Reform'd pretended Religion in the Oath and Protestation he had made at his Coronation to employ his sword and power for the extirpation of heresies which put the world in an astonishment because it made the meaning of the Taker of that Oath and of the Prelat who administred it to differ This turn'd afterwards rather to the disadvantage then the benefit of the Demanders for those hard and high termes which reflected so much upon the conscience of a yong King stuck deep in his breast nor could he ever digest them as will appear in the ensuing Story Nor was his honor thought much to suffer hereby being newly come out of his nonage little vers'd in the art of Government and having not attain'd that courage and yeers which use to strike awe into Subjects This shrew'd tempest being pass'd the weather broak up and clear'd And the King brought his new Queen to Paris having surmounted such a world of difficulties and waded through a sea of troubles he had bin absent thence neer upon a twelvemoneth therefore you may well imagin with what joy and triumph the Parisians receiv'd him Observable it is that in this voyage the King notwithstanding that he had condescended to hard capitulations yet he attain'd his main ends which was to perfect the Alliance with Spain and to fetch home his wife in safety which he did maugre the great Martiall oppositions that were made by most of the Princes of France who malign'd the match In this yeer there happen'd some ill-favor'd jarrs in Italy twixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantova about Monferrat The King employed thither the Marquis of Coeuures to compose the difference but he return'd without doing any good notwithstanding that the Ambassador of his Majesty of Great Britain joyn'd with him He sent afterwards the Marquis of Rambovillet who caried himself with more addresse for he tamper'd with the affections of the French and Suisses which made the better part of the Duke of Savoys army with such dexterity that the Duke entring into a diffidence of them hearkned to a Treaty Don Pedro de Toledo then Governor of Milan was arm'd for the Mantovan and by this Treaty both Parties were to disband in the interim if the Spaniard attempted any thing upon Monferrat France should assist his Highnes of Savoy But the Spaniard though he attempted nothing yet he reinforc'd his Troupes which struck an apprehension of fear into the Venetians who of all Nations are most eagle-ey'd to foresee dangers because there was a small difference twixt them and the Archduke of Grats about the Uscochi which made them confederat and co-arme with the Savoyard there were great Forces on both sides and Don Pedro took Verselli Damian but his Majesty of France employ'd thither Mons. de Bethune who procur'd a Treaty in Pavia to that end which took effect but the Spaniard afterwards delaying to give up Vercelli Modene Luynes kinsman was sent thither who did the work The difference also twixt the Republic and the Archduke of Grats was accommoded by French intercession so that in lesse then a twelve moneths four Ambassadors went from France to Italy About this time the Lord Hayes afterwards Earl of Carlile came in a very splendid equippage to Paris to congratulate in his Majestie of Great Britain's name 1. The alliance with Spain 2. The arrivall of the new Queen 3. The Kings return to Paris 4. The end
notwithstanding that he was offer'd six hundred thousand crowns yearly by the Ecclesiasticks viz. two hundred thousand by the Pope two hundred thousand by the Colledge of Cardinalls and two hundred thousand by the French Clergy La Force whom the King had left Governor of Bearn did not put the Kings commands in execution as he expected therefore the Duke of Espernon was sent thither with an Army and settled all things according to the Kings pleasure and made La Force quit the Countrey who was proclaym'd Traytor and the Marshall of Themines put in his place though afterwards La Force recovered his repute with the King and receiv'd the Truncheon to be Marshall of France and grew to be a great Confident The King having now taken a resolution of war against the Rechellers intended to make a Lord High Constable of France thereupon it was offer'd the old Duke Le'sdigueres provided he would go to Masse which he waving Luynes undertook it which drew much more envy upon him then formerly The King put out a Declaration that it was not against Religion but against Rebellion that he proceeded therefore he offer'd to take into his protection all those Reformed Churches that would contain themselfs within the bounds of their obedience to him and not adhaere to the Assembly at Rochell which Declaration was verified in Parliament with much solemnity so he march'd towards the Loire and being neer Saumur a Town of the greatest consequence that the Reformed Churches had he sent to Monsieur du Plessis Mournay that he desired to lodge in the Castle that night with his Queen The old Governor being above eighty yeers of age was so surpriz'd with this Message that it put him to his wits end for he made full account the King would have lodg'd in the Town as other Kings had and as he was consulting what to do with much perplexity the Guard of Swisses were at the Castle gate so he peaceably let them in the King followed presently after who charming the old man with complement made him discharge his Garrison so the Castle and City was secur'd for the King Yet the Governor which he left in the Castle was a Reformist who was the Count of Sault Monsieur Crequy's son The reductiono and assurance of Saumur was a mighty advantage to the King for the advance of his present dessein in regard that Saumur for her situation was one of the importantst Towns that they of the Reformed Religion had in regard it tied Normandy Britany Anjou and Mayn with Poitou Tourain and other Countreys circumjacent where they were strongest besides it lay upon the Loire and it was the probablest place to stop the Kings passage which they endevor'd to doe afterwards at Saint Iohn d' Angely From Saumur the King marched to Touars a Town of the Duke of Trimovillies where he was receiv'd with all honor and obedience by the Duchesse in the Dukes absence from thence he pass'd through divers Towns of the Reformed Religion where in some places he chang'd the Governors so he came to Moart where Paraberre the old Governor afterward turning Roman entertaind him with all kind of compliance So he found little or no opposition at all till he came to Saint Iohn d' Angely where Soubize had cast himself in with 1500. men a formall siege was planted before the Towne The King had 15000. foot and 2000. horse the flower of the Cavalry of France and Espernon came with 4000. foot more of Gascons and Bearnois A Herald of Arms was sent to summon Soubize who being let a little in at one of the gates in his rich coat he pronounced alowd these words To thee Benjamin of Rohan Lord of Soubize I come and command thee in the Kings name my Soverain Lord and thine to open unto him the gates of this Town to deliver it unto him as his own and to go out presently with all those that assist thee otherwise I declare thee a Rebell and a Traytor against Divine and Humane Majesty in the highest degree thy Houses and Castles to be raz'd thy goods confiscated to the King and I declare thee and all thy posterity Yeomen Soubize answer'd That he was a most humble servant and subject of the Kings but being there in quality of a Soldier the execution of the Kings commandment depended on the Assembly of Rochel who had committed unto him the Government of the place this he spoak with his hat on thereupon the Herald replied Know that neither as Captain or Soldier thou oughtst to answer me with thy head cover'd when I speak to thee in the name of the King thy Soverain Lord and mine Then Haute Fontaine took the word saying That the Lord Soubize having never seen such summons was excusable This Answer and cariage of Soubize that he should prefer an Ordinance of the Assembly before his royal Declaration nettled the King extremley so the siege was poursued very eagerly a mine or two sprung and a generall Storm appointed but in the interim there were Deputies sent to Constable Luynes to Treat he sent them back with this Answer that the King did not use to Treat with his Subjects Hereupon they return'd with Commission to implore grace so the King publish'd a short Proclamation to this effect That his Majesty being contented to admit of a Treaty at the most humble supplication many times reiterated by them which are in the Town of St. John d'Angely or Angerry he was pleas'd to vouchsafe a generall pardon to all provided they ask it and swear never to bear arms again against his service c. So they came out and Soubize kneel'd unto the King and promis'd to observe the conditions his Majesty requir'd Thus Saint Iohn d' Angely was yeelded upon Saint Iohn Baptists day the Patron of the place after fortie daies siege which was furious and very hot for the time divers Lords and Gentlemen of quality lost their lives there the Prince of Ienvill was hurt so was the Duke of Elbeuf the Marquis de la Valette de Saint Claumont Crequy with divers others The Cardinal of Guyse fell down at the puffe of a Canon bullet which put him in such a burning feavor that he died before the Town as also the Marshall of Brissac The King commanded a Convent of Capuchins to be built forthwith the wals to be raz'd and commanded it should be call'd no more a town but a village and to be nam'd Lewis-Bourg The rendition of this town was seconded with good news from the Prince of Condé and the Count of Saint Paul who had taken Gergeau and Sancerre which with Saumur were all they had upon the Loire While the King was before Saint Iohn d' Angely a remarkable passage happen'd twixt Sir Edward Herbert now Baron of Cherberry then Ambassador for his Majesty of great Britain in France and the great Favorit and Constable Luynes which was thus Sir Edward Herbert had receiv'd privat instructions from England to
in so much that he would give no generall pardon but reserv'd five for death and there were most pittifully drown'd and kill'd in the Town above 800. whereof there were above 200. Gentlemen The King having reduc'd Clayrac though it cost him dear his thoughts then reflected upon Montauban which after Rochell was the prime propugnacle and principallest Town of security They of the Religion had in the whole Kingdom There was a Royall summons sent before and it was accompanied with a large persuasive Letter from the Duke of Suilly who was one of the chiefest Grandes they had of the Reformed Religion to induce them to conformitie and obedience some interpreted the Letter to a good sense but the populasse by the instigation of the Ministers would not hearken to it This was that Duke of Suilly that had bin a Favorit to Henry the Fourth whom he had reduc'd from a Roman to be a Reformist when he was King of Navar onely and perswading him to become Roman again the Duke bluntly answer'd Sir You have given me one turn already you have good luck if you give me any more Thereupon the siege began and the great Duke of Mayn who had newly come with additionall forces to the King began the first battery and spent 500. Cannon bullets upon them a breach was made but with losse of divers men of note amongst the Royallists the Marquis of Themines breath'd there his last And not long after the brave Duke of Mayn himself peeping out of a gabion within his trenches was shot by a common soldier from the Town The Parisians were much incens'd for the losse of the Duke of Mayn therfore as some of the reformed Religion were coming from Charenton-Sermon they assaulted them in the way hurt divers kil'd some and going on to Charenton they burnt the Temple there but a few nights after two great bridges ore the Seinn were burnt quite down to the water in the City of Paris and a great store of wealth consum'd and it was interpreted to be a just judgement from Heaven for burning of Charenton Temple The Duke of Angoulesm was sent to counter-car the forces of the Duke of Rohan who was then in motion in Guyen and Angoulesm was so succesfull that he gave him a considerable defeat by taking the strong Fort of Fauch in defence whereof 400. of the Reformists were slain The contagion rag'd furiously in the Kings Army before Montauban and divers persons of quality died of it amongst others the Archbishop of Sens brother to Cardinall Perron and the Bishops of Valentia Carcassona and Marseillis and Pierre Matthieu the Historiographer added to the number of the dead This with the approach of Winter caus'd the King to raise his siege from before the Town having lost above five hundred Noblemen and Gentlemen of qualitie besides thousands of common souldiers During this pertinacious siege before Montauban there was a remarquable thing pass'd which was this There was a cunning report rais'd in the Kings Army that Rochell which was then also beleaguer'd by the Count of Soissons and the Duke of Guyse the first by Land the other by Sea was rendred upon composition this report was made to fly into Montauban which must needs strike a shrewd apprehension of fear into her they of Rochell hearing of it articled with Master Hicks an English Gentleman now Sir Ellis Hicks who spake the Language perfectly well that if he would undertake to carry a Letter into Montauban he should receive a noble reward Master Hicks undertook it and passing through the Army that was before Rochell came to Tholouse where my Lord of Carlile was then Ambassador extraordinary Master Hicks meeting with Master Fairfax a young Gentileman brother to the now Lord Fairfax he did associat much with him They both went to see the siege before Montauban and being Gentlemen and thought to be of the English Ambassadors train there was little heed taken of them They got one day between the Kings Trenches and the Town and Hicks being very well mounted told Fairfax If you love your life follow me so he put spurs to his horse having showers of shots powr'd after him he came safe to the gates of Montauban and so he deliver'd the intrusted Letter which brought news in what a good posture Rochell was this so animated the besieged that the next day they made a sally upon the Kings Forces and did a notable execution upon them and a little after the Siege was rais'd so Master Hicks besides the honor of the act had a guerdon equall to the importance of the service and danger of the attempt but Master Fairfax who was inscious of the dessein staying behind and being apprehended was put to the torture and a Diaper napkin dipt in boyling water was squeaz'd down his throat whereof he died a hard destiny of a most hopefull young Gentleman Within the compasse of this yeer there died Paul the Fift Philip the Third of Spain the Arch-Duke Albertus in Flanders Cosmo de Medicis Gran Duke of Toscany and Cardinall Bellarmin To whom may be added also the Duke of Luynes Lord high Constable of France who died in Longuetille a small Town in Languedoc of the purple feavor He was one of the greatest Favourits for so short a time that ever were in France since the Maires of the Palace from whom Emperours afterwards issued His Countrey was Provence and he was a Gentleman by descent though of a petty extraction In the last Kings time he was preferd to be one of his Pages who finding him a good waytor allowed him three hundred crowns per an which he husbanded so frugally that he maintain'd himself and his two brothers in passable good fashion The King observing that doubled his pension and taking notice that he was a serviceable instrument and apt to please he thought him fit to be about his son the Dauphin in whose service he had continued above 15. yeers by a singular dexteritie he had in Faulconry he gain'd so far upon the young Kings affection that he soard to that high pitch of Honor. He was a man of a passable understanding of a mild comportment humble and debonnair to all suters but he was too open in his counsels and desseins he had about him good solid heads who prescrib'd unto him rules of policy by whose compasse he steer'd his cours He came at last to that transcendent altitude that he seem'd to have surmounted all reaches of envie and made all hopes of supplanting him frustrat both by the constant strength of the Kings favor and the powerfull alliances he had got for himself and his two brothers He married the Duke of Montbazons daughter his second brother Cadenet the Heiresse of Pequigny with whom he had 9000. pound lands a yeer His third brother married the Heiresse of Luxemburg of which House there have bin five Emperors so that the three Brothers with their alliances were able to counterbalance
should be a generall peace now 'twixt the French people because of the businesse of the Valtolin where the Spaniard had a purpose to block out France in all places towards Italy which was very necessary to be prevented so that it was not fit to enfeeble France at this time by attempting to extinguish them of the Religion and to plunge the whole Countrey in an intestine war for it was as if one would cut off his left hand with the right This last counsell took more with the King and so he left no way unessayed to reunite all his subjects Hereupon to content the Reformists he caus'd their Temples to be reedified he appointed 60000. Franks for the payment of their Ministers and permitted them to call a Synod at Charenton with divers other acts of compliance provided that on their part they should entertain no strangers for preachers nor admit Ministers into politic Assemblies In these difficulties and anxious traverses of things the King made the Cardinal of Richelieu his principall Minister of State chiefe of his Counsell and Director generall under his authority in the government of the State He made this election by the advice of the Queen Mother principally nor was it an improper choice for the party had a concurrence of high abilities in him answerable to that transcendent trust and he prov'd as will appear by the sequele of things a succesfull Instrument though many doubt whether his Counsel was as succesfull to France as it was fatall to the rest of Christendom which he hath plung'd in an eternall war touching this we leave the Ingenious Reader a freedom of censure according as his judgement shall be guided by an unpartiall and unbiass'd relation of matters as they ly connected in the ensuing part of this story Thus our third Lustre concludes with the commencement of Richelieus greatnes The fourth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth VVE began the last lustre with the espousals of the Lady Christina second daughter of France with the Prince of Piemont this begins with the mariage of the Lady Henriette Marie de Bourbon the yongest Royall branch of Henry the Great and this was the first great act that the Cardinal of Richelieu performed after he was come to the superintendency of affairs of State France had two causes of perpetuall apprehensions of fear one external th' other internal The still growing greatnesse of Spain without and They of the Religion within doors which were made frequent use of by any discontented Princes upon all occasions and were cryed up by the Jesuits to be as Matches to set France on fire at any time Therefore the first gran dessein that he projected with himself was to clip their wings and diminish their strength by dismantling their Cautionary Towns and making them dismisse their Garrisons The Cardinal knew the King his Master did not affect them since the Treaty at Lodun wherein they forc'd him to put another interpretation upon his Coronation Oth then his conscience did dictat unto him or the Prelat who administred it unto him meant which appear'd in a churlish answer that he gave them not long after when he was solicited to prolong the terme of holding their Cautionary Towns as Henry the Third and Henry the Great his father had done Which answer was That what grace the first did shew you was out of fear what my father did was out of love but I would have you know that I neither fear you nor love you To compasse that great work of taking from them their Garrison Towns it was thought very expedient to secure forren Princes from assisting them specially England and the united Provinces Touching the latter they were charm'd with money for in a fresh Treaty the King accorded them a million of Franks and six hundred thousand Franks every one of the two yeers next ensuing which they were to re-inburse the next two yeers that they should conclude a peace or truce with Spain The Holland-Ambassadors who were employed in this Treatie did promise the King that there should be libertie of conscience given the Catholiks at his Majesties request That the States should associat the French with them in the commerce of the Indies give them some choice ports for traffic and repaire some depraedations they had made by sea but the money being once got there was little care taken to perform these promises which were no more then parol engagements or rather complements whereupon an Ambassador was expressely sent to complain hereof but he effected little To secure England from succouring Them of the Religion the first overture that the Erl of Holland made for an alliance was yeelded unto to whom the Erl of Carlile was sent in joynt commission to conclude it The King told them that he took it for an honour that they sought his sister for the sole sonne of so illustrious a King his neighbour and Allie onely he desir'd that he might send to Rome to have the Popes consent for better satisfaction of his conscience and in the mean time the English Ambassadors might send for a more plenary power to England so in lesse then the revolution of nine moons this great businesse was propos'd poursued and perfected whereas the Sun ran his carreer through the Zodiac ten times before that Spain could come to any point of perfection This may serve to shew the difference twixt the two Nations the leaden heel'd pace of the one and the quicksilver'd motions of the other it shewes also how the French is more round and frank in his proceedings not so full of scruples reservations and jealousies as the Spaniard And one reason that the Statists of the time alledg'd why Spain amus'd the English and protracted the Treaty of the Match so long was that all the daughters of France might be first married to prevent an alliance 'twixt England and her There was a concurrence of many things that favor'd the effecting and expediting of this alliance some previous Offices and Letters of invitation from France wherein there were strains of extraordinary endearments wherewith the King of Great Britain corresponded also in an unusuall stile as appears by this Letter following Most high most excellent and most puissant Prince Our most deer and most beloved good Brother Cousen and ancient Ally Although the deceased King of happy memory was justly call'd Henry the Great for having re-conquer'd by arms his Kingdom of France though it appertain'd unto him as his proper inheritance Yet you have made now a greater conquest for the Kingdom of France though it was regain'd by the victorious arms of your dead father it was his de jure and so he got but his own But you have lately carried away a greater victory having by your two last Letters so full of cordiall courtesies overcome your good Brother and ancient Ally and all the Kingdoms appertaining unto him for We acknowledge Our self so conquer'd by your more then
Soubize he march'd away at last There was a great debate in the Cittadell whether the English should be poursued in the Retreat or whether a bridge of silver should be made them to passe quietly away The first opinion prevayl'd so they had not march'd a Musket shot from the Town but two hundred horse two thousand foot were at their heeles The English made a stand to see whether the French would fight but they would not so they continued their march till they came to la Nova a little village where they made another stand thinking the French would charge which they forboare still Thence they march'd to Lewisbridg where they were to imbark but before two Regiments were pass'd over the Bridg which was very narrow the French fell upon the English horse in the reare and routed them so that the foot could not charge then they began to fly and the enemy had the execution of five Regiments which he put most to the sword except twenty Officers and one hundred common soldiers divers also were drown'd in the salt-pits and dikes so there perish'd in all neer upon two thousand besides the sick which were left before the Cittadell all whose throats were cut and sent in a Bark thrust from the shore to the English Ships My Lord Monjoy now Earl of Newport was there taken prisoner old Colonel Gray was fallen into a salt-pit and being upon point of being drown'd he cryed out cent mill escus pour marancon a hundred thousand crowns for my ransom so the noise of the mony sav'd his life There were divers prisoners besides taken but they were sent as a present to the Queen of England to whom the King writ this following Letter by le Chevalier de la Ramé call'd du Meau Madame my sister It having pleas'd God to blesse my arms in such sort that my Lord Monjoy Colonel Gray divers Captains Officers and Gentlemen remaind my prisoners in the journey which pass'd at Ré the eighth of this moneth I was willing to testifie unto all Christendom the speciall esteem which I make of your Person by sending unto you the said prisoners which I have let go upon their words for your sake Nothing having invited me thereunto but the friendship which I bear you and the knowledge I also have that I cannot do an act more acceptable to the Queen my Mother then to do for your sake what I would not do for any other Du Meau will assure you of my health I pray you have a care of your own which is most deer unto me and I assure you that the world hath not a brother which makes more account of a sister then I do of you so I rest my Lady and Sister your most affectionat Brother Lewis From the Campe before Rochell the last of November 1627. There were also forty foure Colours taken which the King sent to the two Queens at Paris and they hang to this day in the great Church there This was the dismall'st day that the English ever had in France who in times pass'd perform'd such stupendous exploits in that Countrey yet the Invasion was made with much gallantry for they might be said to have swom through water and blood to take footing on the Island which discover'd much of the ancient courage of the Nation Besides they did before the Cittadel as much as men could do upon their marching away they made two stands to draw Schomberg to fight notwithstanding that they had not in number a quarter of the horse that he had newly transported from the Continent They took likewise divers prisoners of note who were released also without ransome by his Majesty of Great Britain Divers omissions there were that prov'd fatall to this expedition 1. The not speedy marching of the English Army in poursuance of their first victory to the Cittadell where Toiras had time in the interim to fortifie 2. The not taking of the little Fort la Prée in the way which might have serv'd for a retreat 3. That the Duke did not follow the advice of Burrowes to go to Oleron a greater Island and afterwards of the knowingst Colonels so often press'd upon him to march away before Schomberg came over for so he might have made an honorable retreat then which there is nothing more difficult in the fait of armes not is it any disgrace to go away in the night for preventing of being beaten in the day Monsieur Soubizes counsell was the cause of these omissions who was the main contriver of this infortunate voyage with Blancart who fell at first landing And it seems a hard destiny hanted the said Soubize though a worthy man of himself in all attempts from the beginning He was taken prisoner at Saint Iohn d'Angely he was forc'd to flye at Royan and twice with this time at Ré He had but ill succes at Medoc and divers ill-favor'd encounters at Sea though he lost lesse honor there then a shore Some outlandish Chroniclers would have it that there were three Furies which impell'd the English to this Expedition 1. The ambition of Buckingham 2. The felony of Soubize 3. The rebellion of the Rochellers but these men write more out of passion then knowledge for as I instanc'd in the beginning of this relation there were divers causes to move England to armes as matters stood then The King having had such rare successe against the English he resolves upon the planting of a serious siege before Rochell thereupon order was given for an exact circumvallation by Land and Pompco Targon an Italian Engineer was employed for Sea works the said Targon being assisted with the Cardinals headpeece fell on a plot to raise a huge dike in the channell which the Rochellers geer'd at first but they found it the bane of their Town at last The Rochellers had recourse to the King of Great Britain for protection who resenting their sad condition employed two Royall Fleets for their succour which made but sory returns The Duke of Buckingham was to be General of the last but he was tragically slain the day before he was to embark Thereupon the Earl of Linzey went in his place but before he appear'd before the Town Targon had finish'd the gran Dike whereof the Cardinal was dayly overseer the King being then in Paris there were certain kind of palissadoes and other strange fabriques rais'd in the channel to the wonderment of the world for Marquis Spinola at his revokment from Flanders to Spain and passing by the Kings Army said he had never seen the like being as trenches and barricadoes erected in the Sea and they were done with that advantage that no navall power could do any good upon them In so much that the English Fleet being arriv'd the Cardinal sent to the General that he should have safe pasport to come a shore with six of his knowingst Commanders with permission to view the works and if they thought in their judgements
that the Town was succourable he would raise the siege without fighting a stroak The General of this Fleet was the Lord Rob Willoughby Earl of Linzey whom the French Chroniclers call Willaby Inghay and the General of the former Fleet they call Count d'Emby in lieu of Denbigh so they call Burrowes Burrache Ashpernham Hasburnim And as in this relation so every where els they seldom or never truly render the sirname of any English or German which under favor is a great error and a kind of stupidity and carelesnes in an Historian The King being return'd with the flower of all the Nobility of France to the siege before Rochell which had now lasted a long time the Town was reduc'd to an extreme exigent and want of provision having for greedinesse of mony sold upon high prises to the English being at Ré much corn and other things therefore they came at last to a submission their Deputies making this speech to the King Sir they who have bin a long time shut up in obscure prisons when they come abroad cannot behold the Sun without dazzling their eyes so we whom a long captivity hath kept reclus'd within our walls coming now to appeer before your Majesties face we are not able to endure the brightnesse of it without dazzlement and some horror of our faults pass'd which adds to our confusion yet the goodnes of your Majesty whereof we have tasted the effects so often and do now find gives us the boldnesse to prostrat our selfs at your feet to implore pardon which our frequent relapses into our crimes do not permit us to hope for c. So they go on with a protest and deep asseveration of their loyaltie for the future wherein they will endeavor to surpasse all the rest of his subjects The King answer'd God grant that you have spoken to me from the bottom of your hearts and that necessity rather then an acknowledgement of your faults hath put these words in your mouthes you have made use of all means and inventions to withdraw your selfs from the duty of good and faithfull subjects yet I cannot forbeare to let you feel the effects of my goodnes and mercy Be wiser hereafter and assure your selfs I will not breake my promise At the beginning of the siege there were in the Town about eighteen thousand souls but at the reddition there were not five thousand and scarce one hundred who had strength to bear a Musket an ounce of bread was worth half a crown a pound of bisket seven crowns an egg six shillings a pound of horse-flesh ten shillings a cabbage leaf three pence many dragg'd themselfs to the Church-yards and made their own graves A little before their reddition they married all the young maids in the Town that were espousable who had any portions The King caus'd all kind of fortifications new and old except those towards the haven to be raz'd all bastions and the walls to be demolish'd and the moats fill'd up so of a City she became to be an open village without Maire Sheriffs or any other Magistrat the Inhabitants to be contributory to all kind of taxes those ramparts that were built out of the ruines of Churches and Monasteries were employed for reedification of the former Churches a great Crosse was erected in the Market-place and a Decree pass'd that there should be a solemn Procession every yeer upon All Saints day about that Crosse in remembrance that the Town was taken that day all their Parishes were reduc'd to three In so much that as the quality of the place so the whole government thereof was entirely alter'd as if they had bin put to begin the world again In the mean time while the King had triumphed thus over Rochell the Duke of Rohan was very active in Languedoc having considerable forces which made the Parlement of Tholouze thunder out a furious Arrest against him That for his so many Conspiracies Rebellions Disloyalties and for bringing the English into France and other most odious Treasons he was depriv'd of the title of Duke made incapable of the benefit of the generall Act of oblivion that he should be drawn by wild horses his body dismembred and burnt his ashes thrown into the wind his posterity declar'd Peasants his Duchy reunited to the Crown and whosoever could apprehend his person and bring him living or dead he should have one hundred and fifty thousand Franks for a guerdon The Duke so little valued this sentence that he cau'd Masvyer the chief President of Tholouze to be hanged the next day in Effigie in the Town where he was There was at this time in Italy a former difference reviv'd 'twixt the Duke of Savoy and the Duke of Mantova about Monferrat which had bin some yeers before accommoded by the intervention of France The Emperour and Spaniard were for the Savoyard hereupon Don Gonzalez de Cordova besieg'd Casal The King of France thought it concernd his honor and safety to assist the Mantovan who had been once his vassal when only Duke of Nevers therefore having settled all things at Rochell he marcheth with his Army toward the Alpes but demanding passage of the Duke of Savoy the Duke a great while did complement with him Hereupon he forceth his passage through snow and yce in the moneth of February and got over to Susa in person which was rendred unto him so the Duke and He were upon good termes and free passage accorded for his Army to passe to Piemont to raise the siege of Casal but Gonzales by the advice of the Duke of Savoy quitted the siege himself in the interim and so retir'd to Milan and the King returned to France While he was t'other side the Alps at Susa by the interposition of the republic of Venice there was an overture made of a reconciliation 'twixt England and France which quickly took effect The King in his return ore the Alps with his Cardinal caus'd a Pillar to be erected in the common road upon one of the highest Mountains with this ostentous Inscription To the eternall memory of Lewis the thirteenth King of France and Navarr most gracious most victorious most happy most just A Conqueror who having overcome all Nations of Europe he hath triumphed also over the elements of heaven and earth having twice pass'd ore these Hills in the moneth of March with his victorious Army to restore the Princes of Italy to their estates and to protect and defend his Allies Being return'd to France he heard the Duke of Rohan rov'd still up and down with forces in Languedoc and that he was upon point of entering into a confederation with the Spaniard to which purpose He employ'd one Clausel to Madrid who propos'd That if his Catholic Majesty would be pleas'd to furnish him with 600000. crowns annually the Duke of Rohan would undertake to raise and maintain an Army of twelve thousand foot and twelve hundred horse to make what diversion his Majesty would appoint
and to continue a war in France There were divers other Propositions tending to the kind usage of the Catholiques and withall a request That the Dukes pension from fourteen thousand crowns might be augmented to eighteen thousand and that his Catholic Majesty would please to add to his brother Soubize's pension of eight thousand crowns a yeer two thousand more For performance of these propositions the said Clausel could give no other caution but the word of an Honorable and most Religious Prince meaning the Duke These offers were accepted by the Spaniard but the sum was reduc'd to three hundred thousand crowns payable in two payments every yeer The Articles being sent by Clausel to France by a Zeland Gentleman he was suspected and taken in a Pond up to the neck so he was hang'd at Tholouse The King at his return to Provence took Privas from them of the Religion after many bloudy sallies and assaults on both sides a place of mighty consequence In the Campe before Privas the Peace was proclaym'd 'twixt France and England to dishearten them in the Town the more for they thought that the King of Great Britain was still involv'd in their Cause This Peace was negotiated by Georgi and Contarini Ambassadors to the Mayden Republic who yet may be call'd the Mother of Policy and able to read Lectures on that Thesis to the rest of Europe nor did there small glory redound to her by her succesfull intervention herein and by making her Saint Mark Mediator 'twixt two such mighty Monarks The words of the Proclamation before Privas pronounc'd alowd by a king of Arms were these Let the world know there is peace amity and good intelligence between his Majesty and his good Brother and Brother in law the King of Great Britain acessation of all acts of hostility betwixt them and their subjects with an entire confirmation of the ancient Alliances and of the Articles and Contract of Mariage with the Queen of Great Britain and an overture of a free and safe commerce between the subjects of the two Crowns Therefore all persons are prohibited to attempt any think in prejudice of the said Peace under pain of being punish'd as Disturbers of the public repose c. The generall Articles also were signed there interchangeably in the ordinary forme where of there were some extraordinary as that In regard it would be difficult to make restitution on either side of divers prises which have been taken in this war the two Crowns are accorded that there shall be no reprisall made by sea or in any other maner for that which is pass'd 'twixt the two Kings and their subjects during the said war And because there are divers vessels at Sea with Letters of Mart which give Commission to combat the enemies which cannot presently have notice of this Peace or receive Order to abstain from acts of hostility It is accorded that whatsoever shall passe the space of the two next moneths after this accord shall not derogate from or empeach this Peace or the good will of the two Crowns The King having dismantled Privas and secur'd other petty places he march'd to Alets a very considerable Garrison Town of them of the Religion which being also surrendred he march'd to Languedoc took Castres and Nismes once the darling of Rome when she had her Legions in those parts though now no Town throughout France be a greater enemy unto her These monstrous successes of the Kings made the Duke of Rohan hearken unto a Treaty therefore being at Anduza he convokes a kind of Assembly of the chiefest of them of the Religion to whom he made this notable speech Sirs You know well enough that the King doing me the honor as to acknowledge me his kinsman hath had particular consideration of me in all generall Treaties made with your party and that he hath made me to be perpetually sollicited to separat my self from you with assurances that he would raise my condition to such a point that might draw upon it the envy of the Princes and the greatest of his Kingdom Neither are you ignorant that the generall interests of the party being deerer unto me then mine own I have bin so far from lending an ear unto those charming propositions that to the contrary I have broak with his Majesty whensoever he hath refus'd or delay'd the execution of the Edicts pass'd in favor of us and exposing my self to his indignation I have run the hazard of my fortun my honor and life Gentlemen I pray do not think that since our Cause is conjoyn'd with that of God but that I continu as strong a zeal and inclination as ever towards it But in regard our affaires are in another condition perchance then you do imagin I have call'd you hither to instruct you and then to take such order that your wisdoms shall afford me to put in punctuall execution with as much fidelity as courage You must then consider that any time these eight yeers that the King hath warr'd with us heaven hath bin so favorable unto him that it seems he rather went to the routing of our troupes then to combat and by assaulting our strongest Towns he prepar'd rather for triumphant entries then sieges so that now the number of our combatants and the strength of our strongest places doth not serve as much to maintain our party as to augment his glory so many Towns in Poitou Saintonge Guyen and Languedoc which have not bin able toresist him as many dayes as we count moneths are most sensible proofs hereof Rochell alas with that he fetcht a profound sigh accompagnied with tears Rochell which we thought inexpugnable that prowd Town one of the miracles of Europe being now reduc'd to an open village on all sides doth carry and shall eternally beare the marks of the valour and good fortune of this glorious Monark Having demolish'd this strong rampart of the Gospel by which the whole party subsisted he hath penetrated the Kingdom from one Diameter to the other and travers'd in five or six dayes the Alps in the most rigorous season of the yeer which Julius Caesar accounted amongst his heroiquest actions and Hannibal could not do it in fifteen dayes without inestimable losse He hath forc'd the passe of Susa marching ore the belly of an Army entrench'd and fortified in a straight He hath deliver'd the Duke of Mantova from the oppression of the King of Spain and the Savoyard and oblig'd the latter who was Author of the War to receive such conditions of peace that he pleas'd to prescribe him Repassing the Alps with like celeritie he hath depriv'd us of Privas and taken multitudes of places more by the terror only of his victorious Arms. He is continually assisted by the Cardinal of Richelieu who for the fertility of his Invention for the solidity of his Counsels for the secrecy of his desseins for his hardines in execution and for his addresse in all affairs of consequence I
would acknowledge him the greatest man of Europe were he not born for the ruine of our party and the abolition of the Reformed Religion This young generous warlike King though too much zealoused to Popery following in every thing the counsels of this Priest as Oracles can we doubt but our defence though lawfull as being for Religion and liberty of conscience be not an occasion to him to advance our destruction under pretext of rebellion and felony After all that Gentlemen you must consider that the taking of Rochell hath extinguish'd all Factions throughout the Kingdom which commonly serv'd to the encrease of our party In so much that of three hundred places good and bad which we had formerly in our hands we have not 30. remaining without rents without soldiers or means to put into them all together as many men as would serve to preserve one alone For although our Parsons cry out daily in their Chaires that we ought not to despaire of heavenly succour yet receiving every day proofs of the wrath of the Eternal there is more appearance to expect punishment for our sins then miracles for the re-establishment of our affaires Peradventure you will promise your selfs some great assistance from strangers and specially from Protestants whom the conformity of Religion which ties them to our interests may oblige to assist us in so urgent necessity But I pray consider that the Germans have enough to defend themselfs from the oppression of the Emperour consider the elusions of the Hollander the impuissance of the Savoyard who hath bled at the nose the lightnes of the English who have concluded a peace with France without comprehending us who were the sole object of the war And if you stay for the offers of Spain which loves not our Nation and our Religion lesse know that he studies how to engage us so far against the King that we may become incapable of his grace and that the succours wherewith he will supply us which is but a little money will not serve but to prolong our ruine by enfeebling France by our Civill Wars and intestine broyles For my self I am now as much solicited as ever to abandon you and to take advantagious conditions of his Majesty but I shall never hearken to any thing but wherein you may find your satisfaction in a generall Treaty for the whole Cause as also particularly for your Towns If your wisdoms find it to purpose that it be more expedient to seek our conservation with the exercise of our Religion and liberty of our consciences within the obedience which we owe to our lawfull Prince then in resistance which though just of it self is held by the Enemies of our Faith no other then a Rebellion and high Treason whereby under a more specious pretext to exterminat and destroy us Or if contrary to all appearance of human reason you take a resolution to stiffen your selfs against so victorious and invincible a power I resolve also to incur all hazards with you though I am sory that neither the advancement of the Faith can be found in my resolution nor your security in my danger nor your safety in my losse This studied speech with the sense of the late ill successe and of the Kings power wrought so far upon the Assembly that it extorted a willingnes to submit unto a Treaty which was propounded accordingly so a little after there was a generall peace concluded with the Reformists and the King being in Languedoc where the Plague after this scourge of War was very rife he went therefore himself to Paris and left the Cardinal behind to consummat all things who amongst other places entred Montauban where Espernon met him and reentred into a perfect friendship with him Montauban following the example of all the rest of the Towns dismantled herself of all new fortifications and restor'd the Church lands c. The Cardinall being return'd to Paris the Peace with his Majesty of Great Britain was solemnly renew'd and sworn unto but they of the Religion took it ill that there was no mention at all made of them in the Treaty they having bin declar'd to be the object of Englands last war with France All the Princes were commanded to be at this Ceremony and because a difference did arise for precedency 'twixt forrein Princes of souverain Houses and the naturall sons of Kings a provisional Order was made by the Privy Counsel That every one should take place according to his seniority of age Thus our fourth Lustre of the life of Lewis the thirteenth ends with an Olive branch of a double Peace one with a forren Prince the King of Great Britain which was solemnly sworn unto by both Kings Sir Thomas Edmunds being Ambassadour for the one and the Marquis of New-Castle de Chasteau neuf for the other The second Peace was concluded with his own subjects the whole Body of the Religion whom he had now reduc'd to an exact rule of obedience having seiz'd upon dismantled and secur'd all their praesidiary Towns which were neer upon fifty whereof Montauban was the last that left her Mantle So that they must hereafter depend no more upon Garrisons but Royall Grace A mighty work then which nothing could conduce more to make him so absolut a Monark Thus ends the fourth Lustre The fifth Lustre of the Life of Lewis the thirteenth THe King having with such a strong hand put a period to the Civill Wars in his own Kingdoms by debelling his subjects of the Religion and utterly disabling them from banding against him for the future in dismantling all the tenable Towns they had for their security and disguarding other places they held to the number of three hundred of all Military strength whereby he brought them to depend totally upon his favor for their liberty and the performance of the Edicts granted in their behalfe he now thinks upon another march ore the Alps for the support of the Duke of Mantova once his vassall and still partly so being a Frenchman by birth though not by extraction And this he might now do with lesse fear then formerly having quieted and secur'd all things in France according to the saying Frustrà foris agit bellum qui domi timet incendium He vainly combats abroad who fears combustions at home The Duke of Nevers being now settled in Mantova the French grew powerfull in Italy which the Spaniard could not well disgest Thereupon a Ligue was struck 'twixt the Emperour and him whereinto the Duke of Savoy entred afterward The Emperor questions the Duke of Nevers about Mantova though not for the Title yet for the investiture which he was to receive from him Hereupon he sends an Army to Italy under the command of Colalto a great Captain and Marquis Spinola a greater was Generall for the King of Spain nor was the little Duke Emanuel of Savoy inferior to either who after Henry the Great 's death assum'd to himself the title of the
staple of Sugars she urg'd also enhancement of toll new exactions and other pressures lastly she complain'd of strangers to be her Viceroys as Casimir the King of Polands brother was intended for her had he not bin intercepted in France In so much that it was easie for Spain to have bin a Prophetesse of this defection therefore her wonted policy and foresight was much questioned that she did not put out of the way and engage in some forren employment the Duke of Bragansa who was us'd to be perpetually almost at Madrid When the King of Spain told Olivares of this revolt and that there was a new King proclaim'd the Favorit slighted it saying Es Rey de havas Sir he is but a bean or twelfnight King but we find now he was far out of his account Never was there a generall Revolt perfected in so short a compasse of time for within lesse then a moneth Don Iohn of Bragansa was so settled in the Kingdomes of Portugall and the Algarves without any opposition at all or marke of strangenes as if he had bin King thereof twenty yeers together before The King of Spain writ a Letter to Bragansa now King to this effect Duke my Cosen some odd newes are brought me which I esteem folly considering the proof I have had of the fidelitie of your House Give me advertisement accordingly because I ought to expect it from you Do not draw a trouble upon your self and hazard not the esteem I make of your life to the fury of a mutinous rabble but let your wisdom comport you so that your person may escape the danger My counsell will advise you further So God keep you Your Cosen and King To which Letter this answer was return'd My Cosen my Kingdom desiring its naturall King and my subjects being oppressed with gabells and new impositions have executed without contradiction that which they had oft times attempted by giving me the possession of a Kingdom which appertains unto me Wherefore if any will go about to take it from me I will seek justice in my armes defence being permitted God preserve your Majesty Don Iohn the Fourth King of Portugall This put the King of Spain at such a stand having on both sides of him two sorts of subjects not onely risen up but quite cut off from him that as the Proverb runs in that Countrey he could not tell what wood to make his shafts of nor could Olivares which was held such a Santon know what Bead to pray upon or what Saint to addresse himself unto And certainly these were two mighty shocks to the Spanish Monarchy nor could they happen in a time more disadvantagious she having so many engagements abroad and having met with such ilfavor'd rancounters by Land and Sea of late yeers It is also considerable that this check at home befell her after well-neer an Age of a profound unshaken peace and desuetude of armes in Spain her self where civil war hath bin so great a stranger notwithstanding that she still bred soldiers abroad and found means to embroyle the world alwayes in some place or other Which makes some interpret this intestine war to be a visible iudgement fallen upon her from heaven for disturbing the peace of her neighbours But I have observ'd it to be the genius of a true Spaniard and I honour him for it not to bow and hang down his head like a bulrush at every puff of adverse Fortune nor to yeeld to the fury of the tempest but to rouse up his spirits more stiffly to resist Et contra audentior ire In this double trance the King was advis'd to apply his strength first to suppresse the Catalan the sturdy Montaneer and till that work were finish'd to stand onely upon the defensive part against Portugall who is not esteem'd so much a man Besides these disasters that befel the K. of Spain thus at his own doors he had another happen'd unto him in the Netherlands for his Brother Don Fernando the Cardinal Infante died in the beginning of his manhood at Brussells being of about the same age as his second Brother Don Carlos was of about 30. who died some yeers before the world did take occasion to wonder that these two Princes in the flower and prime vigour of their age should thus fall Don Carlos the yeer before he died desir'd of his brother to be Viceroy of Portugall which was denied him Moreover it was observ'd he drew more affection from the Spaniards in generall by the colour of his complection because he was black for one shall hear the people of Castillia sigh up and down and pray that God would please to send them a King once again of their own colour Moreover besides this popular affection he was extremely well beloved of the soldiers for whom he was alwayes ready to do good offices and they address'd themselves more to him then to any These circumstances made odd impressions in the minds of many which gave occasion of censuring and scattering of libells up and down touching his death whereof I thought it not impertinent to insert one here but not to impose a beleef upon the Reader thereby It was drop'd down in the Court at Brussels Fernando Carlos murió Y dizen fue su Homicida Quien a vos os desterró Lo que os aconsejo yo Es que a Bethlem no bolvais Hasta que muera Herodes Que la muerte os espera En la sombra que pisais Thus unspanioliz'd and rendred into English Charles died Fernando and they say He who Thee banish'd did him slay If to my Counsell thou give eare Again to Bethlem go not neare Till Herod's gone for death doth watch In thine own shadow Thee to catch This Revolt of Portugall was no great news to the French Cardinal who had his spirits walking there as well as in Barcelona and every where els He had this Spring wrought the Duke of Lorain to come to Paris where he arriv'd in indifferent good equippage considering how many bitter showers had fallen and weatherbeaten him before for he had arm'd five times upon severall desseins and Fortune alwayes frown'd upon him Which some hold to be a visible judgement fallen upon him as also that he is a kind of exile from his own ancient Princely inheritance for abandoning his first wife by whose right he came to the full and unquestionable possession of Lorain and cohabiting with another The King entertaines him with a magnificence sutable to his quality and the Cardinall is as busie as a Bee to give him all outward content The one sends him fifty thousand Pistols the other twenty thousand in a great bason When he came before the King he complemented for matters pass'd and kneeling twise the King takes him up telling him That he had forgotten all matters pass'd and for the future he would espouse his quarrells and interests and make them his own And so it seems he hath done for he hath so
France Principall Minister and Director in chief of all affairs both of State and Warre c. having bin thrice General and once Generalissimo of three Royall Armies Questionlesse he was a man had a rare talent and rich intellectualls of a notable vivacity of spirit and constancy of resolution of a prompt yet profound imagination of a subtill discours yet solid judgement things which seldome meet in one subject under that Clime of pressing and powerfull reason and a tenacious memory in so much that all the faculties of his soule being summond to consult seriously upon any businesse they were enough to make a compleat Senat of themselfs Add hereunto that he had an admirable gift of elocution attended with state and gravity and very swaying as it went along Many examples could be produc'd hereof but we will instance in three only In a Complement in a Letter and in an Oration of his which may serve to make a judgement of the rest For the first when he had receiv'd the Cardinals Hat from Rome he attended the Queen Mother and told her as if he had been surpriz'd with a kind of amazement Madam I want words to expresse the thankfulnes of my heart to your Majesty all that I can say is that I will spend my best bloud and all my spirits in your service and this Scarlet which I weare by your goodnes shall make me always remember this vow For the second when the Queen mother was retir'd to the Netherlands out of a high displeasure against him he writ to her this ensuing Letter Madame I know my enemies or rather the enemies of this State not contented to have discredited me unto your Maiesty do endeavour also to make my attendance neere the King to be suspected as if my neernes to his Person tended to remove him from you and to separat what God and nature hath so closely conjoyn'd I hope by the goodnes of God that their malice will be discoverd that my cariage will be shortly justified and that my innocence shall triumph over calumny Neverthelesse Madame I shall account my self still infortunat in that I am made to cease from pleasing your Majesty and life it self is irksome unto me in the state I am in finding my self depriv'd of the honor of your favor and of that esteem which I valued more then all the greatnes of the earth and as those which I possesse proceed from your liberall hand so I cast and prostrat them all at your Royall feet Excuse Madame your own work and creature whatsoever shall proceed from your Majesties pleasure shall be receiv'd by me without murmuring and accepted with a thousand thanks But Madame out of that piety which is inhaerent in you be pleased to spare the purple of the Church wherewith you have adorn'd me which will lose its esteeme and lustre if your Majesty cast upon it such black spots How can it be that the most oblig'd of men should prove the most ingratefull And that my conscience my first inclination and interest binding me to your service I should now separat my self from it and thereby draw upon my self the name of Traitor to the best and greatest Queen upon Earth This Madame well consider'd should absolve me from all crime and free me from all suspition before your Majesties tribunal where I am almost condemn'd without being heard I appeal not from it in regard of the perfect obedience I beare to your will I only blame my misfortune but will not dispute with my Soverain Mistresse nor ask reason of her for what is pass'd nor do I intend to make use of the Kings favour or any ministers of his or of the remembrance of my former services against the bent of your indignation the very thoughts hereof would be a crime and opposit to my hopes which are to find glory in fidelity and safety in innocence I desire lesse to dragg my fortune in France or to cary it to Rome to see more lamentable ruines then mine own Wheresoever your Majesty shall be if I be not permitted accesse it will be death unto me and wheresoever I go it shall be to go out of the world yet I desire for my reputes sake and for the rank I hold in the House of God that it might be after the vindication of my innocence and if it be not too great a boldnesse after the recovery of your Majesties favor If fortune afford me this I shall little resent my going out of the Court nor out of the world because I die a thousand times a day since your Majesty gives out that I am not the same I was which is Madame Your Majesties most humble most faithfull and most obedient servant Armand Card. of Richelieu Concerning the third which discovers more then any thing the abilities of a Minister this Oration shall serve which he pronounc'd in the great Convention of Notables a new Court generated of the discontinuance of the old Assembly of the three Estates the King himself sitting there in Majesty Sir 'T is needles in my judgemetnt to represent unto this Illustrious Assembly the great Actions your Majesty hath perform'd within this yeer as well in regard the Lord Keeper hath acquitted himself very worthily of that task as also because they speak cleerly enough of themselfs And there is no man but sees that God hath been pleas'd to make use of that piety prudence and courage which he hath infus'd into your Majesty to work those advantages to France in so small a time which some held impossible to be done in an age Nor is there any need to let them know the vast expence these high actions have caried with them because every one knows that in matters of State great atchievements cannot be done with little charge and the numerous troupes of Combatants which your Majesty hath bin enforc'd to entertain at one time in sundry places as well within as without your Kingdom afford understanding men occasion to magnifie your power as well as to admire your vast expence There is not any amongst you my Lords who knows not with what purenesse this treasure hath bin issued and what necessity there was of it the probity of those who manag'd the finances justifieth the first point and the oppression of the Allies of this Crown and the rebellion of them who are Traytors to God in this Kingdom do sufficiently assert the truth of the second the desseins of some having bin no sooner projected then form'd to interrupt his Majesty in reducing France to her first splendor In so much that this State considering the utility she receives thereby together with her Allies have more cause to approve then complain of these charges Matters thanks be to God are now at a good point but one cannot promise that they will continue so alwaies and it were to want judgement to think that they must not be push'd on further Of necessity this Kingdom must be left expos'd to the attempts of