qualities in high esteem after his death And indeed he had so often and so generously employ'd those rare Endowments for the safety and honour of the Kingdom that his Vertue could never have been too highly commended could he have added the qualities of a good Subject to those other excellencies which rendred him one of the greatest men of his time A little before the Duke of Guise's death the King had dismist from Court the High Chancellor Chiverny and the â—ieures de Believre and de Villeroy Secretaries of State upon considerations that were then variously interpreted though the King would have the Duke of Espernon believe that the chief cause of Mounsieur de Villeroy's disgrace was the business of Angoulesme which his Majesty wholly laid to his charge and that the Duke might the better be confirm'd in this opinion the Sieur de Révol a particular creature of the Dukes one that was under him Comptroller of the Exchequer of Provence and that had no interest at Court saving his Protection was receiv'd into his Place His Majesty had no sooner absolutely determin'd the Duke of Guise's Ruine than that foreseeing the consequences so bloody an execution was likely to draw after it he dispatch'd away Colonel Alphonso Corso afterwards Mareschal d'Ornano to seize upon the Duke of Mayenâ—e at Lyons where he then resided which if it could have been in time effected his Majesty had in all apparence been secur'd from the greatest part of those mischiefs which this action afterwards produc'd but the Duke having receiv'd the news of his Brothers Deaths some hours before Alphonso's arrival was already in great diligence got to Horse and fled out at one Gate of the City as Ornano entred at another to surprize him and by that means first recovered Dijon and afterwards Paris without any impediment Where he was no sooner arriv'd than that laying aside that moderation he had euer manifested during his Brother's Life he declar'd himself Head of that Party he had ever till then to his great Reputation seem'd to condemn and drawing together all the Forces of the League that lay scatter'd up and down in several places he of them without stirring from Paris made a very considerable Army His Majesty easily judg'd that this storm would suddenly break upon him and fail'd not out of that foresight to call all his principal Servants about him which nevertheless made up but an inconsiderable Body and such as could no ways secure him from any attempt of the Enemy So that he was advis'd to send once more to the King of Navarre to intreat him to advance with his Troops to his succour which notwithstanding the King not being able to perswade himself to do his regard to Religion and the 〈◊〉 he bore to the Pope opposing that Council he only at that time sent Orders to the Duke of Espernon who had then a considerable Force on Foot to come over to him though afterwards and after many deliberations being also dispos'd to call in the King of Navarâ—e he sent to the Duke that before he put himself upon his march he should first go to this Prince to make the first overtures of this business to him The Sieur de Beaujeu was purposely dispatch'd to the Duke with these Orders which were no sooner receiv'd by him than he departed from Angoulesme to go to St Iean d' Angely where the King of Navarre then was and where having found him well dispos'd and very ready to do his Majesty the Service he desired of his Person and Faction he immediately made himself ready to go to the King who seeing his Enemies now ready to fall upon him had sent a new and instant Express to the Duke in all haste to come and joyn with him which express Order to satisfie with the greatest diligence he rather chose to leave the Negotiation he had already so successfully begun with the King of Navarre to the Dutchess of Angoulesme who soon after brought it to effect than one moment to defer his attendance on his Master in so critical a time and on so urgent an occasion All these great transactions hapned at Court after the Duke of Espernon had retir'd himself from thence into his Governments Neither was he in his retirement or in his choice of the place he retir'd unto either unactive in himself or in a Scene improper for his Majesties Service for he was no sooner disingag'd from the enterprize of Angoulesme but that he put himself immediately into a condition to awe many of his ill Neighbours in the adjoyning Provinces so as either to continue them in or to make them return unto their duty For which purpose having increas'd his Forces the first occasion he had to employ them was against those of the Religion who having beâ—ieg'd Periguex and upon the point to make themselves Masters of the place at the Duke's approach rais'd the Siege in great disorder and retir'd not without some considerable loss The Duke was after this preparing himself for greater enterprizes when Beaujeu brought him those foremention'd Orders from the King by whom having understood the great preparations the Duke of Mayenne made to come first to Blois and from thence to Touâ—s whither the King had then retir'd himself and knowing his Majesty almost naked of all defense and as it were expos'd to the violence of his Enemies he thought it necessary upon the instant to move with all his Forces that way and at the same time by a Gentleman to give his Majesty notice of his motion that he might receive his Majesties Commands upon the way By which Gentleman the King sent him presently word that the most important service he could then do him was to put himself into Blois For the Duke of Mayenne having resolv'd to make his first attempt upon that place either by the ruine of the Castle to revenge in part the death of his two Brothers who there last their lives or to make that City which by its vicinity to Tours was very proper to watch all advantages against the King his seat of War his Majesty conceiv'd there would be little security for him in Tours should his Enemy possess himself of that Post and had therefore bent all his care and endeavour to preserve it out of the power of the League His Majesty would have put the Mareschal de Biron into that place and afterwards he having excus'd himself the Mareschal d' Aumont but both the one and the other having refus'd the danger of defending and with unequal Forces a place that being in it self open on all sides was not well to be defended and that was to expect the first fury of the League to be bent against it his Majesty turn'd his thoughts towards the Duke of Espernon and knowing that the difficulty of the undertaking would be no little motive to make the Duke embrace it his Majesty sent him word that the Mareschals de Biron and d'
having intelligence of the Duke's motion that way he went and met him upon his March where he not only endeavour'd to disswade him from that Design but also by all manner of Arguments to draw him over to the League conjuring him by all the ties of Friendship and by the most instant intreaties he could use neither omitting the respect due to Religion nor the obligations of Friendship and Relation to divert him from his purpose but all in vain for the Duke setting aside all those interests of Friendship and Alliance when they came in competition with the Duty he ought to his Prince was deaf to all Arguments and Entreaties and in spite of them and him advanc'd directly towards the place But upon his Arrival the Enemy not being able to dispute it with him immediately retir d to Tholoze giving the Duke by that means free liberty to fortifie the Town which he did so well as soon after gave the King's Party opportunity to gain in that place a very signal Victory by the death of the Duke de Ioyeuse himself and the absolute defeat of his Army But it was not in this occasion alone that the Duke's Armes were employ'd in that Country for the power of the League being as considerable there as in any Province of the Kingdom their Designs were not â—imited to the reducing of Villemur only they had moreover almost block'd up Montauban which City at that time reputed one of the best in France was in great danger if not speedily reliev'd to be lost On one side it was aw'd by Moissac on another by the Castles of Monbeton of Mauzac and de la Court besides many other little places fortified round about by which the Garrison and Inhabitants were so straightned and kept in that they were reduc'd to great extremity and scarcity of all things This the Duke being advertis'd of and being also solicited by the Inhabitants to free them from these troublesome Neighbours he presently went about it and to that purpose presented himself first before Moissac which surrendring at the sight of the Cannon he remov'd from thence before Mauzac which did the same but the other little places not being so considerable as that his presence was necessary to reduce them he left that part of the work to the Sieurs de St. Megrin and de Bonnouvrier Mareschals de Camp to his Army himself whilst his Forces were employ'd about those petty Enterprizes making a step into Gascony to Visit Madam de la Valette his Mother and to invite his Friends in that Country to go and share with him in the Honour of serving his Majesty in Provence By this little digression into Gascony the Duke had an opportunity yet further to re-inforce himself with some particular Servants of his with whom having rejoyn'd his Army he found now nothing lest to do that might impede his March so that he proceeded without longer stay on his Journey to Provence where being arriv'd and appearing with so gallant and so numerous an Army it gave no small reputation to his Majesties Affairs nor strook no small astonishment into the League and as he in his experience very well knew that this reputation was no ways to be kept up but by some honourable Exploit he undertook divers Sieges at his first Arrrival notwithstanding the season of the year was far spent it being now October whereof that of Montauron was the first This City though in its situation and strength incapable of any notable defense was nevertheless by the Commanders who had eighteen foot Companies there which the Duke of Savoy had put in to entertain the Duke of Espeâ—non in his first heat thought tenable enough and that the number of their men which were nine hundred resolute Souldiers would supply the defects of the place or that at the worst the Duke of Savoy being so near and in the head of an Army they might defend themselves till he should come to their Relief This Garrison the Duke of Espernon at his Arrival presently summon'd to a surrender at the same time representing to them that they were in a place that could not possibly resist the Force of great Shot the Houses of the City making up the greatest part of their Wall and that they would do better not to put him to the trouble of bringing up his Artillery than by doing it to oblige him to use them otherwise than like Gentlemen and Souldiers To which they defying him and despising his Admonitions return'd this peremptory answer That they had undertaken to defend that place and would maintain it or perish and make it good with their lives to the last man An Answer that quickly set the Duke to work who immediately beleaguer'd the Town where the Cannon having in a few days made a wider breach than was neceâ—sary the besieg'd desir'd they might Capitulate To whom the Duke sent word There was now no Capitulation to be granted to them that they had lost that priviledge and that he would not receive them upon other terms than upon surrender to mercy that they were best therefore to deliberate whether they would run the fortune of an Assault or presently submit to that Condition it being the only and final Favour they were to expect Whilst these matters were in agitation the Duke of Savoy who had engag'd these men in this desperate place and knew as well as any the danger they were in was advancing with three thousand Foot and five hundred Light Horse to relieve them which the Duke of Espernon was no sooner enform'd of but that leaving a sufficient Force to maintain the Siege he went out to meet him and bravely offer'd him Battel But the Savoyard not daring to run so great a hazard retir'd without any further attempt so that the Besieg'd being out of all hopes of Relief were forc'd to surrender to the Duke's discretion where their Insolence and Rebellion receiv'd their due reward and that in as high a degree and with the greatest rigour the Law of Arms does permit whereby they were made miserable examples of the greatest cruelty All the Captains found in the place to the number of fourteen were immediately hang'd up and five hundred common Souldiers sent to the Gallies at Taulon the rest either escap'd in the time of the Capitulation or were â—lain during the Siege A severity that ought not to have been practis'd upon our own Nation But the Duke would by this give the Duke of Savoy to understand that he having violated the publick Faith and his League with the Kings of France as he had done he would have no fair Quarter with him nor use him otherwise than as a mortal Enemy to the Crown and Kingdom After this Action the Duke conceiving himself no less oblig'd to protect his Majesties good Subjects than to suppress his Enemies his first care was to secure the Officers of the Parliament of Provence such as had declar'd for the King
into the Dukes hands told him that nothing troubled him but that he knew not how to invest him into a more absolute Authority and that he could not adde a part of the Royal Dignity to his charge And it is certain that in giving the Duke the Governments of Metz Toul and Verdun his Majesty would have given them in Sovereignty and have demis'd to him the Title of the Crown but the Duke displeas'd with this proposition as an injury offer'd to his Obedience and Loyalty complain'd to the King that his Majesty honouring him with so noble an employment should go about to deprive him of the dearest Relation he had which was that of his Majesties most humble and obedient Subject an honour that in his soul he preferr'd before all titles of Sovereignty and all the advantages of Fortune his Majesty could prefer him to and thereupon receiv'd both the Governments and the charge of Colonel General under the Kings Authority From this new advancement the League as I have said before deriv'd their second pretense for the taking of Arms they look'd upon the Duke of Espernon's new Honour as an offence to their whole Party and the Duke of Guise took it for a particular injury to himself and thereupon openly publish'd That there were now no more Employments Riches or Honours save only for the Duke of Espernon and la Valette his Brother That the State was only impoverish'd by profusions made in their favour That they were the true causes of the peoples oppression That the Treasure set apart for the extirpation of Heresie was by them perverted to their own uses and particular profit That the greatest Dignities the most important Places and Governments of greatest concern were too many advantages for their ambition That whilst the Kings good Servants were neglected and kept under there were new Offices with unheard of Priviledges contriv'd and erected for them That if the power they had over the King were longer suffer'd they would equally ruine the State and Religion That the Duke of Espernon was therefore to be remov'd from Court if men desir'd to see an end of publick Miseries That his Majesty being deliver'd from his Counsels which were equally violent and interessed would doubtless for the future be more favourable to his good Subjects and better inclin'd to the Catholick Cause At the same time a Manifesto was publish'd by the Cardinal of Bourbon who was the declared Head of that Faction containing principally the foregoing complaints and immediately after follow'd the rising into Arms. The first design of the League was upon Metz as if they meant to strike at the heart of the Duke of Espernon's Fortune a place so considerable that the Duke had reason to look upon it as the surest foundation of his greatness neither did he in his latter years condescend to any thing with more unwillingness and reluctancy than to the surrender of that place that proposition seeming to him as though men were bent to the total ruine of his House nor could he ever have been perswaded to have stript himself of such a defense upon a less consideration than the investiture of his Son the Cardinal of la Valette into that Government who being younger by forty years than himself he might reasonably hope it would continue in his Family at least during his life but God was pleased to dispose it otherwise To make a right judgment of the importance of this place it will be necessary to consider its Site and condition and the share it has ever had in the Duke's Fortune does indeed require it should be something insisted upon Metz then is a City something bigger than Burdeaux or Orleans that is to say one of the greatest and the fairest in the Kingdom full of Inhabitants and those a rich and industrious people to whom the neighbourhood of Germany gives great facility to an advantageous Commerce She was in former times thought beautiful enough to be the Metropolis of Austrasia once the Inheritance of one of our Kings but when the Empire of Germany began to decline and that the Princes who were Subject to it began to withdraw themselves from their obedience every one being ambitious to be Sovereign in his own Dominions many Cities which were also in the same subjection allur'd by the tempting sound of Liberty follow'd the same example Of these Metz was one who for many years took leave to govern her self by her own Laws annually creating Sovereign Magistrates disposing absolutely of the Lives and Estates of her Subjects Coyning Money and in all things taking upon her the Authority of a Sovereign Jurisdiction in which condition she maintain'd her self till the Year 1552. that the Constable Montmorency passing with the King's Army that way totally freed her from all kind of Homage to the Empire and settled it under the Protection of the Crown of France 'T is true that King Henry the Second in whose Reign this Conquest was made continued to this City her ancient priviledges but withal to assure himself of his possession he did exceedingly fortifie it establishing a Governour of his own and causing a Citadel to be built which was mightily cryed up for one of the best and most exact of that time but this was before Sieges were turn'd into a Science and that the industry of man had left little to Fortune in this kind of War It does not now carry that Reputation and in this condition it was when the Duke entred upon his Government only with this difference that what it s own Laws had formerly perform'd by their own Virtue during its independency was now executed by his order under the Authority of the Royal Name the Duke as I have said before absolutely refusing to accept it upon other terms He annually appointed and created the Supreme Magistrate whom they call Maistre Eschevin and appointed him his Council and Judges who were to determine in Sovereignty upon the Lives Honours and Estates of all the Inhabitants but withal the Duke had Authority upon occasion to censure them had power to remove them from their Magistracy within their year if he saw cause or to continue them beyond their term if he thought fit It is then no wonder if he were infinitely respected in a place where all things so absolutely depended upon him but that which was indeed very rare and very commendable was that in so unlimited a power and in the course of above threescore years that this City continued in his Custody he behav'd himself with that Justice and Moderation that not so much as any one Citizen ever complain'd of his administration neither is there any now living that do not yet remember with a kind of delight the indulgence and sweetness of his Government Whilst the Duke stood seiz'd of a place of this consequence and so dispos'd to his service it was no easie matter to cut him off such a retirement being a sufficient refuge from all
Religion and the German Princes hasting away their Armies into France his Majesty was forc'd to prepare himself to oppose them A Resolution that he effected with so good orders and so prudent a Conduct that their defeat ought to live for a perpetual Monument of this Princes Wisdom no man else having any voice in that deliberation It was he alone who by his own Wise Counsels rendred all the attempts of his Enemies fruitless it was he alone that overthrew them and that having by his own prudent orders made them suffer those incommodities that unnerved them and put them out of all defense gave the Duke of Guise an opportunity to win a great deal of Honour with little trouble and danger So great an advantage it is to live in the publick opinion The King having employ'd all his care and art to hinder the Reiters from entring into the Kingdom and all to no purpose and finding all Treaties and all moderate wayes ineffectual to divert the blow that was intended against him he at last put on his wonted resolution and determined bravely to encounter that danger he then plainly saw he could not with all his dexterity prevent Having therefore in this determination assembled his Council to the end he might advise with his principal Ministers about an Affair of this important consequence and having there laid open the business to them he found their opinions very different neither is it strange that men of several judgments should dissent in a resolution of this high nature some advised him to advance with his Army out of his own Conâ—ines and there to expect and fight the Enemy others were of a contrary opinion neither did the one nor the other want reasons or example to justifie their advice At last the King himself deliver'd his own opinion which was To permit the Enemy quietly to enter the Kingdom but withal to make them pass through so many difficulties and to suffer so many necessities that they should be already as good as overcome before they should come to fight He remonstrated to them that to encounter them fresh and in their trim as they came out of their own Country animated to War by the Interest of Religion and by the compassion of their Confederates were to expose things to a doubtful event That the loss of a Battel in the flourishing condition those of the Reformed Religion would be after such a Victory would endanger France and the Catholick Religion That he had a desire to preserve both the one and the other and to ruine his Enemies more leisurely but withal more surely and that there would nevertheless be Honour enough in the Victory provided it were absolute and entire This being then the final Resolution his Majesty gave order forthwith that his Armies should be all ready in Iuly following to appear at Meaux which he assigned for the general Rendezvous and besides the present Forces that he intended to set on foot he commanded that in every Province the Nobility and Train-Bands should be ready to march at the first Summons He dispatch'd also several Commissions for new Leavies to the end they might either serve to fill up the old Troops as they should grow thin or to stand for a reserve in case any thing should happen amiss to the main Army He sent Commissaries on purpose to beat down all the Ovens and Mills that were in his Enemies way from the Frontier as far as the place he had appointed for his own Quarters He caus'd all the Grain of the Country to be fetch'd in and stor'd up in the good Towns with all Artificers and Tradesmen of what condition soever He caus'd all the defensible Cities to be fortified with Men Victuals and Ammunition and on the contrary demolish'd all such places as were not tenable nor able to withstand a Siege He commanded all the Bridges to be broken down all the Fords to be spoil'd and generally all things to be destroy'd that might any way contribute to his Enemies advantage or subsistance He further sent to the Duke of Lorain that it stood with his Interest in this occasion to do the same in his Territories and having thus dispos'd all things and the Duke of Espernon having highly applauded what he had done he told the King with his wonted freedom that there was one thing yet left undone which though it were more in his Majesties Power and Royal Disposition than all the rest would nevertheless be the hardest for him to execute The King commanded him to explain himself and to tell him what that thing was promising withal to satisfie him in it whereupon the Duke growing more serious told him That he humbly besought his Majesty to command his Army in Person and alone without a Competitor that might dispute with him the Honour of a Victory that by his Prudent disposition of Affairs was as good as certain to him Which the King solemnly promis'd him he would but afterwards according to his custom giving too much ear to the Counsels of others and not enough relying upon his own wisdom he alter'd that resolution and dividing his Army into two gave the better part to the Duke of Guise and so depriv'd himself of the whole glory of that Action to bestow it upon another The Duke of Guise expert and valiant as any Prince of his time had those Forces no sooner committed to his charge but that he immediately march'd them away to the Frontiers of Champagne to observe the Enemies motion and to oblige them by his lying so near to march close together which considering the spoil that had before been made of the Country was as great an inconvenience as they could suffer The Duke of Ioyeuse had also an Employment against the King of Navarre to hold him in play in Guienne and to hinder him from joyning with the Foreign Army that came to his assistance But the Duke of Espernon was reserv'd by his Majesty to attend upon his own person as one in whom he repos'd an entire confidence and as a man whose sole and utmost aim the King evidently saw was equally directed to his Majesties Honour and to the Kingdoms safety To him the King gave the command of the Vantguard of his own Army in which Employment he so behav'd himself both with his Valour his Advice and his Experience that the very Historians of that time though envious as the greater part of men are of the greatness of Favourites could not forbear notwithstanding to attribute to him a very considerable share in the success of that memorable Defeat And here give me leave without being blam'd for a digression from my Subject and that upon the Duke of Espernon's word a man better read than any whosoever in the business of that time to oppose his Testimony against a Scandal D'Avila has publish'd not only to the discredit of the Duke of Ioyeuse his Favour but also to the infinite prejudice of his Honour
himself to look into the state of those Provinces newly committed to his charge where by establishing such order as he thought convenient by the dispatch of his Levies and by disposing his men into the most important places he prepar'd himself betimes to encounter such Accidents as the severity of the time was likely to produce Soon after the Duke's departure the King went his Journey into Normandy where the greatest Obstacle being now remov'd the Treaty of Peace went on without any further impediment and was presently after concluded the King who had already determin'd how to dispose of the Duke of Guise making no great difficulty to grant him what he was resolv'd he should not long enjoy The Peace concluded the Edict of Union was publish'd first at Rouen and then in all parts of the Kingdom after which they immediately fell to the raising of Arms for the utter suppression of the King of Navarre and his Party But above all things the King was careful to hasten the necessary Dispatches for the Convocation of the States General at Blois in the beginning of October next ensuing an Assembly equally desir'd by the King and the Duke of Guise but to different ends The Duke hoping there by the joynt suffrages of the several Orders of the Kingdom to see himself plac'd in that degree of height to which his great Spirit and vast Ambition had so long aspir'd and the King resolving there and at that time to quench his restless and inordinate Ambition in a torrent of his own Blood Thus do we often see the purposes of the greatest Politicians deluded who when they think they have brought their Designs by the most infallible Rules and Maxims of Humane Prudence to an almost certain Issue find themselves deceiv'd and usually meet with effects quite contrary to their expectation giving us to understand that we ought not to commit our actions to the blind conduct of our own frail and erroneous foresight but into the hands of Providence that governs all and that brings all things to their determinate end The Edict of Union being sworn the Duke of Eâ—pernon remov'd from Court and the King â—atisfied at least in apparence with the Duke of Guise's and the Parisians excuses the Duke confident in the Queen Mother who was of late become absolutely powerful with the KIng had nothing now to hinder his coming to Court so that upon his Majesties return out of Normandy he immediately repair'd to him and having found him at Chartres he there in person deliver'd the same Apologies he had not long before presented by the Mediation of others All which his Majesty received with a Dissimulation that was not only natural to him but that by a long Practice and by the continual traverses and difficulties of his Reign was grown to such a habit in him that it was no hard matter for him to put on any kind of Language or Behaviour on any occasion wherein he was most likely to be surpriz'd So that in outward shew the King was so well pleas'd with no Company as indeed it was almost all he had as with the Duke's his Relations and Confederates Amongst which the Cardinal of Bourbon who was now also come to Court was entertain'd with extraordinary marks of Favour and Respect neither was there any Commands or Offices Military or Civil granted to any but by their recommendation insomuch that some have thought the Duke of Guise by winning and submissive carriage had made some real impression upon the Kings Inclinations and that his Majesty was dispos'd really to love him as he had formerly done if he could have moderated his Ambition and would have laid aside those designs which rendred him suspected to him In a conjuncture so favourable to their Designs neither the Duke of Guise nor those of his Faction slept in their Business but with all possible industry still more and more labour'd the Duke of Espernon's total Ruine as a thing that imported most of all to the confirmation of that Authority and Trust to which they saw themselves by his removal already advanc'd So that the King being daily afflicted with a thousand Accusations against him and wearied by their importunities was at last so far overcome as to consent that many of his Offices should be taken away being not yet to be prevail'd upon for his absolute Ruine Whilst the Duke was present he continually by his good Services fortified his Masters mind against all impressions of calumny his Enemies could invent to the prejudice of his Fidelity and Honour and had ever triumph'd in his Majesties good Opinion over the Envy and Malice of his Detractors but he was no sooner remov'd out of his Eye than that Confidence began to stagger his detractors representing him for an Enemy to the Crown a Friend to the King of Navarre and one that seducing daily all the Garrisons in his Government to a Revolt was upon the point to Proclaim open War against the King himself In the mean time the Duke had very good Intelligence of all that pass'd at Court he very well knew that his Enemies made use of all imaginable ways to destroy him that the King was by them perpetually socilited against him and that consequently it concern'd him in common discretion to frustrate their Designs and to provide for his own safety in the strength of those places he possess'd Neither was he much surpriz'd at the unexpected news of what the King had consented to against him he was very well acquainted with the constitution of the Court and had very well foreseen what would certainly be attempted against him but he could hardly perswade himself that his Majesty could ever forget his Fidelity and good Services yet did he not for all that neglect his own preservation that he might live to do him one day more and better Service the only revenge this faithful honest Servant meditated for the ingratitude of his Master He fell therefore presently into Consultation with his Friends what course he were best to take a Debate wherein Opinions were very different some there were who advis'd him to return to Court representing that his presence would infallibly disperse all those shadows of mistrust which by his absence his Adversaries had had opportunity to possess the King's mind withal that his tried Fidelity would soon recover its former place in his Majesties Opinion and that then he would soon be in a condition to return the mischiefs had been intended against him upon the heads of the first contrivers Others there were who gave him counsel to put himself into Metz others to make immediately for Provence and some of those there to joyn with the King of Navarre That to that purpose he should first go into Angoumois whither he might suddenly and with great facility convey himself where he had a strong City to retire unto and where he would be in a Country very convenient to favour his Passage into Provence by the way of
themselves renew'd the interrupted Treaty of Peace in order whereunto the Deputies of both Crowns being met at Vervins it was there to their common satisfaction happily concluded That which I observe to be most remarkable in this Peace is that the King what necessity soever there was upon him of regulating the disorders of his own Kingdom which were many a thing neuer to be well done in the confusions of War would notwithstanding never consent his Deputies should meet to Treat till first the King of Spain had given him assurance that all the places had been taken from him in this last War should be restor'd His Majesty choosing rather to expose his Person and Kingdom to the uncertain event of another War than that his Crown should suffer the lâ—ast prejudice by a Treaty of Peace 〈◊〉 although he had hitherto been the loser yet did â—is courage 〈◊〉 him hope so well of his Fortune as to believe he should in the end bring her over to his own side So brisk an Article as this at first dash and before the King would proceed to any further Treaty it is to be suppos'd would startle the Spanish Gravity and must reasonably meet with great difficulty as it did in the Councils of War and Privy Council of Spain it being evident that in this demand the King would impose upon them who were the Conquerors the same conditions he should have done had they been already overcome which made it suffer a long Debate though at last it was condescended to and that being granted no other difficulties were likely to arise so that this happy Peace was Concluded and Sign'd by the Commissioners on both sides the second of May 1598. By the Articles of this Treaty the King was to restore the County of Charolois to the King of Spain to be by him held of the Crown of France who in exchange restor'd the Towns of Calice Ardres Monthulin Dourlens la Capelle and le Catelet in Picardy and Blavet in Britanny which Articles were Ratifi'd and Sign'd by his Majesty the eleventh of Iune who in gayety of humour at so happy a conclusion told the Duke of Espernon That with one dash of his Pen he had done greater things than he could of a long time have perform'd with the best Swords of his Kingdom This Peace was no sooner concluded but that the Court put on a Face far different from that wherewith it had appearâ—d when shaded and overcast with the tumult and trouble of War and Business nothing now was to be seen but State and Lustre nor was any thing now thought on but Feasting and Mirth which also was much added to by the celebration of several Marriages which were at this time consummate betwixt some persons of the greatest quality of the Kingdom For Katharine the King 's only Sister was Married to the Duke of Bar Son to the Duke of Lorain and Henry of Bourbon Duke of Montpensier Married Katharine de â—oyeuse with many other Marriages betwixt Persons of great Quality that were also solemniz'd at the same time but it not being my design to meddle with those wherein the Duke of Espernon was not immediately concern'd I shall only insist upon that of the Duke of Montpensier who contracting himself to so near a Relation of the Duke's that he in a manner supply'd the place of a Father to her it will be necessary I should say something of the reasons and conclusion of this particular Match The King since the Duke's return from Provence had never exceeded to him the favour of meer justice he had it is true left him free in the enjoyment of his Offices his Estate and Degree without doing him any the least injury in any thing that was his just and immediate right But as to the rest his Majesty not being able to forget his formention'd discontents against him he thought he did him a signal favour in that he forbore to do him any publick disgrace In this condition the Duke who saw himself seated at Court in a station far inferiour to that wherein he had formerly been suffer'd not a little in his own bosom from the King's coldness and indifferency to him yet concealing his discontent with the true respect he ought to pay his Prince and Master he avoided at least all occasions the only refuge of a suspected Minister that might any way bring him into a greater disgrace Yet even in this condition his fortune would not forsake him who when all other means seem'd to be lost that could probably restore him to any degree of his former prosperity sprung him a new tide to his stranded greatness and such an one as not only lifted him off those sands wherein he was like to sink and perish but rais'd him again to such a reputation as was no little support to his declining name and power Katâ—arine de Ioyeuse whom I have already nam'd was only Daughter and Heir to the Count de Bouchage and Katharine de Nogaret and de la Valette the Duke of Espernon's Sister a young Lady that besides the advantages of her Birth and Beauty was also Miâ—trâ—â—â— of very great possessions having to her paternal Estate added that of the great Favourite the Duke of Ioyeuse as she also was in expectation of that of the Cardinal de Ioyeuse her Uncle which reckon'd altogether must needs make up so vast an estate as must without dispute entitle her the greatest Fortune of France The Duke of Montpensier likewise as born a Prince of the Blood was also in high consideration wherein the advantage of his Fortune concurr'd with the eminency of his Birth he having alone a greater Revenue than all the other Princes of the Blood to which his Valour Liberality and Courtesie with other good qualities he was Master of had rais'd him to a very great esteem with the King and made him no less a Favourite to the People so that he was not only the Aim and Ambition of the best Matches of France but stood also in the prospect of some Forein Princes Amongst these the Duke of Lorain proceeded so far as to offer him his Daughter who was afterwards Married to the Duke of Cleve's with eight hundred thousand Crowns to her Dowry a proposition that being debated in the Duke of Montpensier's Council was very much lik'd of by some of his Servants who advis'd him to prefer this Match to the other Inheretrix of the House of Ioyeuse the fortune of the last being part of it yet depending whereas the offers of the Duke of Lorain being present and effectual would very much advance his Affairs and establish his greatness at great liberty and ease I have been inform'd and that by a person of Quality who was consulted about this business that one main reason which induc'd this Prince to prefer Madamâ—iselle de Ioyeuse before the other was the consideration of the Duke of Espernoâ— because in marrying her he conceiv'd he should at the
of Savoy that he was nothing startled at his other losses as supposing this City to be an inexpugnable Bulwark against whatever could be attempted against him A confidence wherein he found himself very much mistaken for the Duke of Espernon having the command of one quarter at this Siege as Biron and L' Esdiguieres had of the other two whilst they were on all hands busie in their approaches found opportunity sometimes to confer with the Count de Brandis Governour of the place interviews that being frequent and allow'd by the King wrought at last so good an effect that the Governour promis'd to surrender the City to the King if within a month the Duke of Savoy did not raise the Siege A Capitulation of that dangerous importance to the Duke that he labour'd by all possible ways during the limited term to perswade the Governour into a better resolution and had so wrought upon him what by entreaty promises and threats that he was grown infinitely wavering and uncertain what to do which notwithstanding the Duke of Espernon who had drawn the first plot of this great design happily brought it to perfection in the end he absolutely confirm'd by his perswasion the anxious Count in the terms of his first Treaty and thereupon receiv'd new Hostages from him by which dexterity he rendred himself the principal and most effectual instrument of his Majesties victories in that Country as also of the Peace which immediately follow'd the Surrender of this important City Whilst the King's Designs succeeded at this fortunate rate in this little Dukedom the Princes of Italy apprehending that after the ruine of the Duke of Savoy the sweetness and facility of that Conquest would tempt the King to advance further into the Country to seek new Victories were instant with the Pope to interpose his Authority with the King to dispose his Majesty to accept of satisfaction from the Duke of Savoy for what had past that an Accommodation might ensue to which his Holiness being enclin'd both by his own interests which could by no means admit of a War in Italy and by the importunity of the Princes of the Country he dispatch'd away Cardinal Aldobrandino his own Nephew to the King to be in his name the Mediator of this Peace as the Cardinal de Medicis had been before of that which had been concluded with Spain Never Prince came from that Country in a prouder Equipage nor with a more honourable train than did this Cardinal a Magnificence to which his Majesty being willing to hold proportion both in regard to his own greatness as also to express thereby a greater respect to the Pope to whom he was highly oblig'd in the person of a Kinsman so near and dear unto him he made choice of the Duke of Espernon amongst all the other Grandees of his Court to be the man should receive him and that because he both knew him to be a person very acceptable to the Holy Sea as also one who knew as well how to behave himself for his Masters honour as any whoever that was about his person Neither did the Duke deceive his Majesty in his choice he receiv'd the Cardinal at the head of the Army which before had been drawn up into Battalia for that purpose accompanied with the most sprightly and gay Nobility and Gentry of the Court conducting him with infinite demonstrations of Honour and Respect through the several divisions until he brought him into the presence of the King himself and though I must tell you by the way that the Duke 's imperious and haughty humour was naturally very averse to the humility of Complement and the submission of excessive Civilities yet when such an occasion as this oblig'd him to it no man of his time could perform such a Ceremony with a better grace and doubtless if at ordinary times he would have been more liberal of his courtesie and have added that to those other excellent qualities which made him admir'd by all he might have acquir'd thereby what Friends and Servants he had pleas'd Soon after the Legat's arrival the Peace of Savoy was concluded wherein a Prince whose interest it was to recover his own Dominions almost entirely over-run by the King 's Victorious Arms was now to redeem his own with what he had surreptitiously and contrary to the publick Faith snatch'd from the King during the disorders of his Kingdom and which his Majesty was now also ready to force from him as he had already done the greatest part of his own hereditary Territories in pursuit of that Quarrel So that the Duke of Savoy bought his Peace at a cheap rate through the Pope's timely mediation and all things were accommodated that were in dispute betwixt the King and him although his Majesty who very well knew what little trust was to be repos'd in the Faith of this Prince a man that would never keep his word when it was for his advantage to break it would by no means be perswaded to withdraw his Army out of his Dukedom till first the Articles of the Treaty were perform'd But it neither suiting with decency nor the dignity of his Majesties Royal Person himself to attend the execution of a thing already concluded he return'd into France leaving the command of his Army to the Count de Soissons offering at the same time the command of Lieutenant General to the Duke of Espernon who excus'd himself having taken up a resolution never to serve under less than the Person of a King as hitherto he had never done nor ever after did in the whole course of his life He therefore went back with the King whom he attended as far as Grenoble from whence when his Majesty departed for Lyons to consummate his Marriage he at the same time took his leave to return again into his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois The Duke's journey into that Country gave him opportunity to pass over into Gascony to view the Progress of his Building there of which he had laid the foundation at Cadillac in the year 1598. For the King after he had concluded the Peace with Spain from that time forwards not only wholly bent his own thoughts to the Embellishment of his Kingdom in which his principal design was first to Build his Houses and to Beautifie Paris with many great and noble Structures for at this time the Buildings of the Louvre Fountain-bleau and other Royal Palaces were begun as also the designs of the Pont-neuf the Place Royal with other proud and stately AEdifices were continued but would likewise that other men should fall in love with the same humour and whether it were that his Majesty had a mind his greatest Subjects should by his example employ themselves in the same designs or that he intended as some have suppos'd insensibly to drein their purses by this chargeable employment fearing perhaps that too great abundance of wealth might make them more apt to entertain thoughts
remain'd was content to expect some happy opportunity that might re-establish him in the possession of a place so important to his fortune and whereof he saw himself at present absolutely depriv'd During his Majesties abode at Metz the Provincial of the Fathers Jesuits was by the Duke of Espernon presented to him where the proposition preferr'd by the Provincial for the re-establishment of his fraternity in France was so promoted by the Duke's mediation that it was concluded on to his great satisfaction Neither was this the first good office the Duke had done them nor the sole testimony he had given of his affection and respect to that Society he having ever been one of their most constant and most powerful Protectors in the time of their persecution as he was one of their principal benefactors after their re-establishment Metz that ever till then had made many and almost invincible difficulties of ever admitting them into their Corporation receiv'd them upon the Duke 's single accompt as he also procur'd their admission into Angoulesme before he left that Government Their Colledge of Xaints has no other foundation than what he bestow'd upon it of four thousand Livers a year in two fair Benefices which put all together have rendred him one of the principal Benefactors of that Society by the acknowledgment and testimony of the most ancient and most eminent men of the Order The variety of accidents and business that had befallen the King in these last years were yet too few to take him wholly up he still found leisure enough for his delights and although he himself took a particular accompt of all Affairs and was ever the main director in all things yet his abilities which nothing was too big for rendred him so excellent at dispatch that he still made way for his vacation and pleasure The Peace concluded with all his Neighbours and his domestick troubles extinguish'd either by the punishment of the offenders or by the excess of his own clemency gave him now sufficient leisure to look after the reformation of such abuses as were crept into the state during the licence of War an employment which how becoming soever his Royal care and how profitable soever to the Kingdom took up but a very inconsiderable part of his time the rest being dedicated to the Chace to play and to the diversions of Love entertainments that as the passions and humours of Princes who are the great examples of their people do easily insinuate themselveâ—â—nto their Subjects Affections or at least their imitation were grown so much in fashion at Court that there was scarce any talk of any other thing and if they had during this Voyage to Metz suffer'd a little intermission they were at the return of the Court to Paris more than ever set on foot It has been believ'd that though the King in his hunting and his Mistrisses altogether follow'd the proâ—â—ivity of his own nature yet that for what concern'd play he had in that as much design at least as inclination I have already told you that his Majesty having set down the bringing low the great men of his Kingdom by imperceptible ways to render them more obedient for a Maxime of State had put them upon the humour of Building to drain their purses and doubtless his engaging them in play was in order to the same design amongst whom the Duke of Espernon who already felt the smart of the first and that very well understood his Majesties meaning in the latter refus'd not nevertheless to make one for his Master's satisfaction but if he did it at first meerly out of compliance his ill fortune at last made it become his revenge and enclin'd him so passionately to it that he found himself in the end engag'd in so extraordinary losses as were no little inconvenience to him His Majesty would often do him the honour to play at his house ever inviting him to all his Matches And whether he retir'd to Zamet or to any other place to evade the tumult of Majesty and Greatness the Duke of Espernon was always the first invited so that although he was not in favour he was nevertheless in great esteem of which one of the most signal testimonies he could receive was the honour the King did him in permitting him to enter the Louvre in his Coach a favour till this time reserv'd only for the Princes of the Blood exclusively to all other persons of the Kingdom the Duke being the first that unlock'd this Priviledge for the Dukes and Peers though he enjoy'd it alone during the King's life his Majesty though oâ—ten importun'd by others of the same quality for the same honour never consenting to have it drawn into example 'T is true that after the King's death the Queen Regent to accommodate her self to the time was content to abate much of the Royal State and allow'd the Dukes and Peers and Officers of the Crown the same Priviledge but the respect to the Duke's person was that which first procur'd them that indulgence A famous Gamester call'd Pimentel an Italian came at this time into France whose dexterity in gulling the Court was such that I cannot forbear to mention him in this place 'T is said and it is perfectly true that this Cavalier hearing what an humour of play reign'd at the French Court caus'd great number of false Dice to be made of which he himselâ— only knew the high and the low runners hiring men to carry them into France where after they had bought up and convey'd away all that were in Paris he supply'd all the Shops with his own By which means having subjected the spirit of Play and ty'd the hands of Fortune he arriv'd at last in France where insinuating himself into the Court he was by some of his own Nation who had great interest there soon brought acquainted with the King Some have believ'd his Majesty understood the man well enough and was content to admit him for a Gamester the better to bring about his own design of impoverishing the Lords of his Court whose Riches grew suspected to him The Duke of Espernon was one from whom he drew the most considerable summes who after having got all his ready mony and many of his Jewels he moreover won of him a piece of Ambergris to the value of 20000. Crowns the greatest that ever was seen in Europe and which the Republick of Venice to whom it was after sold preserve to this day in their Treasure for a great rarity The Duke had not long been Master of it a Country fellow that had found it upon the Coast of Medoc having but a little before brought it to him as a thing due to the House of Candale of which the Duke was now the head This Ancient and illustrious Family are possessors of many goodly Mannors in Guienne and principally in the Country of Medoc with as ample priviledges as belong to any of the greatest Territories of the Kingdom
of which one of the most honourable is that of the Admiralty which might also have been one of the most profitable had the Duke when the Spanish Carricks sufferâ—d Shipwrack upon that Coast in the year 1627 been countenanc'd in his right which however at that time set aside derives to him nevertheless from a Title of above 300. years standing to all the wracks that should happen any where within the extent of above fifty Leagues upon the Coast that bounds this Territory But how just soever his claim might be it was impossible for him to justifie his title against the Power that then under his Majesties name exercis'd a more than Sovereign Authority The Sea of Medoc one of the most tempestuous of the Ocean famous for Shipwracks and for that reason call'd La Mer Sauvage or the wild Sea hath usually in stormy weather cast up Ambergris and the best in the world upon that Coast a truth I can with confidence aver after having been an eye-witness of the difference betwixt that and the other which was brought from the Indies in the Carricks The people of the Country by the profit invited to this search never fail after a storm to rake all along the Shoar for this Commodity wherein they have often very good fortune I having seen in my time a piece which though much less than that I have already mention'd weigh'd above twenty pound and was valued at above 20000. Livers found by a Country fellow in the year 1625. wherein he did all he could to cheat the Lord of his due to whom two thirds of the thing found does of right belong and the third to the finder if he make a faithful discovery but this fellow's fraud being found out the Duke was by justice favour'd in his claim and made master of the whole Whilst the Duke on the one hand lost his Mony and Jewels at play his liberality at the same time acquir'd a Treasure sufficient to recompense those losses and that was the friendship of Messire Philip Cospean first Bishop of Aire afterwards of Nantes and lastly of Lizieux where a few years since he died in as high a reputation of Sanctity and Learning as any Prelate of his time This good Bishop was at this time a young man newly arriv'd from Mons in Hainault where he was born who having run through his course of Study at Lovain under the tuition of Iustus Lipsius with great applause had assurance enough to trust himself upon the great Theatre of Europe and resolv'd upon a Journey to Paris Thither being come he first undertook the Education of Messieurs de Ramboüillet and du Fargis Pupils worthy of so excellent a Tutor when from private Precepts proceeding to publick Lectures he became Philosophy Reader which he so admirably perform'd that he soon eclips'd the Reputation of the most famous Doctors of his time Le Plessis Baussonniere who in the profession of Arms retain'd yet a great inclination to Learning being invited by Cospean's Reputation to his Lectures a particular friendship was soon contracted betwixt them under the priviledge of which Le Plessis importun'd Cospean to leave the Schools and to mount the Pulpit incouraging his modesty with the applause he might infallibly promise to himself from the equity and opinion of all judicious men With much ado Cospean was at last overcome by his Friends perswasions so that he preach'd and in a short time got so high a repute that le Plessis made no difficulty to invite the Duke his Master to hear a stranger preach that had no name at Court The Duke went the first time to hear him upon le Plessis account where being highly satisfied with the Eloquence of this new Orator he afterwards drew most of the Court to hear him where Cospean out-stripping the expectation of all his Auditories arriv'd in a short space to such a degree of Reputation that he became the model of queint Preaching and doubtless by this stranger Eloquence first mounted the Pulpit in France The Duke of Espernon not content only to countenance the Reputation of so deserving a man would further by his bounty advance a Vertue that he had first brought into the light wherefore the Bishoprick of Aire having been some time vacant by the decease of Francis de Foix and de Candale and this Dignity being at his dispose he preferr'd the Merit of his Friend to the consideration and respect of many men of Quality his Relations and unknown to Cospean dispatch'd his Mandamus to the Bishoprick procur'd Bulls from Rome at his own Charge and gave him Furniture and Equipage necessary for the support of his Dignity which would otherwise have been very chargeable to him A bounty this good Prelate would often mention to me in the story of his Life with the greatest acknowledgment and never was man more grateful for a Benefit than he made it appear he was for this all the days of his life Neither if he upon all occasions highly magnified the Duke's Liberality was the Duke less satisfied with his good Fortune that had given him so happy an opportunity to oblige so excellent a man from whom I have often heard him declare he receiv'd more assistance in his Affairs more sweetness and satisfaction in his conversation and more comfort in his afflictions than from all the advantages he had deriv'd from Fortune besides during the whole course of his long life All these things past during the calm the Court at this time liv'd in a tranquillity wherein the King who by the sole reputation of his name kept all things quiet abroad and who had very little to do at home began seriously to think of improving his Revenue and of filling his Treasure his great and noble courage suggesting to him generous designs enough of employing it one day to the glory of his own name and to the advantage of his Crown and Kingdom A time wherein the presence of his great Ministers being not very necessary at Court where all things were carried on by his Majesties own particular conduct every man had leisure to look after his own private affairs It was after the foremention'd transactions that hapned in the Years 1602. and 1603. that the Duke of Espernon willing to share in the liberty of the time departed in the latter end of the last into his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois where bearing still in mind the affront offer'd him by the Mareschal d' Ornano and thinking himself not clear in his Reputation unless he return'd again to Bordeaux to renew the match had before by the Mareschals morosity been broken off he went again to Bordeaux in the beginning of the year 1604. to make ready for a Carnaval to which he had invited a far greater number of Nobility and Gentry than before and where the preparation for Masques Running at the Ring Balls and Feasting were made with great pomp and vast expense But the Mareschal notwithstanding the Orders
he had receiv'd from the King conceiving this business what gloss soever might be put upon it would be interpreted to his disgrace and would pass in the opinions of men at honour for a Bravado and an affront to him in his Government could by no means perswade himself to digest it which made him very important with the King that his Majesty would please to absolve him from so injurious a condition a thing the King who had him in great esteem would as willingly have done But his Royal Word being already pass'd to the Duke whom he knew to be as obstinate as the other in things wherein his Honour was concern'd and not knowing how at once to satisfie two so different humours matters were in all apparence going into as ill terms as at first when an accident fell out that soon took the Duke off all thoughts of that Solemnity The Dutchess of Bar the King 's only Sister hapned to dye at this time which gave the King occasion to write to the Duke of Espernon that he assur'd himself all such good Subjects and Servants as he was would rather lament with him for the loss of so dear a Relation than to think of Mirth and publick Solemnities of Joy at so unseasonable a time a command so much the easier for the Duke to obey by how much he himself had particular reason to be really afflicted at the death of that excellent Lady So that by this accident the Mareschal d' Ornano saw himself disingag'd from one of the greatest extremities he had ever found himself involv'd in it having been otherwise necessary for him either absolutely to disobey the King which he could not have done without incurring his disgrace or patiently to submit to an affront he himself had declar'd to be the greatest he could possibly receive and that 't is said he was resolv'd to have avoided by laying down his Commission such as were most perfect in his passionate nature being confident had it come to the push he would certainly have ransom'd himself from that submission at the price of his Fortune The Duke continued some time after this in Guienne and from thence returned into Angoumois where he spent the remainder of the year without being call'd thence upon any publick occasion All things as has been said were quiet and the King seem'd to be wholly taken up with the care of husbanding and filling his Exchequer wherein though some believ'd him to be meerly carried on by a natural inclination to the love of mony yet his designs which a few years after disclos'd themselves gave the world an accompt that there was more of design than avarice in the exact care he took to moderate the excessive expense had by his predecessor been introduc'd into the Kingdom The Duke of Espernon nevertheless could have wish'd his Majesty had been more open handed to the Garrisons in his Government those of Angoulesme and Xaintes being so ill paid that they could hardly subsist which putting him into an apprehension that those places become now as it were Frontier Towns since those of the Reformed Religion had made a kind of separation in the State of which Rochelle seem'd to be the Metropolitan City might be lost in his hands he continually represented to the King the danger those Cities were in but without being regarded at all which made him in the beginning of the ensuing year resolve upon a Journey to Court to try if in person and by word of mouth he could not prevail more than by continual importunities in writing he had hitherto done where being arriv'd and presenting himself before the King his Majesty as'd him in what condition he had left his Governments to whom the Duke reply'd That they could not possibly be in a worse the necessity of the Souldiery in Garrison being so great that he durst not undertake for the security of those places committed to his charge To which the King having made answer That they were us'd as others were The Duke who very well knew the difference his Majesty made betwixt his Catholick Garrisons and the neighbouring places possess'd by those of the Reform'd Religion took the liberty to tell him that those who had so inform'd his Majesty had given him a very ill accompt of his Affairs the Garrisons of those of the Religion who perhaps were arm'd to the prejudice of his Service being nothing in Arrear whilst the Catholicks who were firm in their obedience were ready to perish for want of pay The King nettled at so tart a reply and angry that the Duke should give him so publick a reproach in the discovery of a truth he had a mind for many reasons should have been conceal'd suffer'd himself to be so far transported by his passion that he could not forbear to tell the Duke He was perverse and importunate That he sought all occasions to displease him That he would have done him a greater kindness to have kept still at the distance he was at than to come into his presence only to offend him and for the close of all that he had long observ'd he did not love him To which the Duke without being thunder-struck at the King's anger which might perhaps have surpriz'd another man less confident of his Fidelity than he insisting upon the last words answered coldly but after a serious manner Sir your Majesty has not a more faithful Subject than my self in your Kingdom and I had rather die than do any thing contrary to the least particle of my duty But Sir for what concerns friendship your Majesty knows very well that is a thing not to be acquir'd but by Friendship At so bold and generous an answer there was none who was not astonish'd at the Duke's freedom and that was not ready to condemn his rashness though the King himself who knew how to put a just value upon great actions and how to interpret language of this nature was of a more favourable opinion and gave no reply but on the contrary reflecting upon what the Duke had said converted his indignation into esteem and interpreting what others thought temerity for an effect of honest liberty proceeding from a good conscience resolv'd to make himself belov'd by the way the Duke had laid him down and from that time forward began to use him much better than he had ever done Neither was the Duke wanting on his part but perceiving his Majesties good disposition towards him and adding the spur of affection to what he had formerly perform'd upon the meer accompt of duty he at last obtain'd so great a share in his Majesties favour and good opinion that before his death he receiv'd as many testimonies of his Royal good Will and Confidence as any other person of his condition whatsoever in the Kingdom This confidence began soon after to appear by the command the King was pleas'd to give the Duke over the Horse and Foot he sent into Limousin when tir'd
out with the continual disorders the excess of his clemency begat every day in his Kingdom he was resolv'd to take order once for all and by a severe and exemplary punishment to quiet the Rebellion some of Mounsieur de Boüillons Servants openly maintain'd after his departure out of the Kingdom in Perigord Quercy and Limousin The Mareschal de Boüillon was seiz'd of many very fair possessions and had many Friends and Servants in those Provinces where the Nobility Gentry and Commons being also naturally inclin'd to Arms it was no hard matter to perswade them into commotion The King had been given to understand that under the pretense of seeking protection only from the Protestant Princes of Germany and the Swisse Cantons the Mareschal endeavour'd to interest them in the Quarrel of those of the Religion in France by possessing them as it was said that since the King's Conversion their usage was far different from what it had formerly been and the liberty of Conscience far more restrain'd than it us'd to be Neither did his Majesty doubt but that all of his opinion in his Kingdom would easily be induc'd to follow the Duke of Boüillon's discontent who had acquir'd an absolute reputation among them He farther saw that many Catholicks made no scruple to joyn with him to the end they might re-enjoy the licence of War which would by no means be allow'd them in the better times of Peace He knew that great summes of mony were distributed for the raising of men which mony was suspected to come from Spain from whence all the intestine broils of his Kingdom had ever been countenanc'd and promoted Evil dispositions that being all joyn'd together were sufficient to produce great disorders in the State and to reduce the King in spite of his heart to the necessity of a Civil War His Majesty therefore thinking it very convenient to prevent all these disorders and to suffocate them in their Birth resolv'd to go in person to Limousin either by his Presence to appease or by his Authority to suppress the begun Commotions but to dispose them to their obedience if possible before his arrival to chastise some Offenders without drawing the Odium immediately upon himself and to reduce every one to his Duty he order'd the Duke of Espernon to go before with six Companies only of his Regiment of Guards and four Troops of Horse not doubting but with this little Body together with the Duke's Interest which was very considerable in those parts of which some places were under his own Government he would be able to give a better accompt of his Expedition than another perhaps could do with greater Forces And to the end that his Justice might accompany his Arms he joyn'd to the Duke Iean Iaques de Mesmes Segnieur de Roissy Master of Requests with Commission of Oyer and Terminer to sit upon the Life and Death of the Offenders This was he so famous for his Integrity and Valour that was afterwards Doyen to the Council of State where though the esteem every one had of his Vertue was very great yet was it no more than was due to his merit although afterwards in the progress of a long life he had this honour added to the rest he enjoy'd to see his name illustrated by a noble Posterity not any man scarce of his condition in the Kingdom having supply'd the State with so great and able Ministers The Duke having taken his leave of the King advanc'd into Limousin where he would have Crequy Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards to command in person the Forces he took along with him and where the most turbulent spirits at his unexpected arrival which by his diligence had almost got the start of any intelligence of his coming mediâ—ated nothing less than their defense some of the most advis'd fearing to have to do with the Duke or de Roissy appeal'd to his Majesties mercy and by the acknowledgement of their offense obtain'd their Pardon others retir'd themselves to the Duke de Boüillon to Sedan the most imprudent or the most unfortunate only falling into the hands of Justice Of which five or six suffer'd death though many others were punish'd by more moderate ways so that before the King's arrival at Limoges all those Countries that before breath'd nothing but Sedition and Disorder were now so calm and still that his Majesty had nothing to do but by his Clemency to settle Rebels newly reclaim'd from their Disobedience in their Duty and to reward his faithful Subjects by the demonstrations of his Grace and Favour The end of the Fifth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Sixth Book THE Affairs of Limousin that had taken up the Duke of Espernon the whole year having been compos'd with the facility you have heard the King return'd again to Paris attended by the Duke who had now nothing left to do behind The antiquated enmity that so many years had been nourish'd betwixt the House of Guise and him continued still which was ready to discover it self upon every light occasion and almost as oft as they met to come to a bustle betwixt them In all which disputes the Duke notwithstanding that that Illustrious Family by the greatness of their Birth and by their Offices in the State by their vast possessions in the Kingdom and above all by the great number of generous Princes of which it was compos'd as also by the potency of their Alliances made up a great part of the Court would never give them the least ground but ever sustein'd their power with great Spirit and Vigour neither did he want such a number of Relations and Servants as might secure him from the apprehension of the greatness of any He had sometime before this had a brisk dispute with the Duke of Guise the King being at Lyons which proceeded so far that the Duke of Espernon by the hands of la Pierre one of the Duke's Gentlemen receiv'd a Challenge from him though the Quarrel had been so publick and the Duke of Guise was so narrowly watch'd by his Friends that he could not get out into the Field wherein the Duke of Espernon was better serv'd by his who permitted him to go out of the City with Gohas whom he took with him for his second but being call'd back by the King's Command who would himself compose their difference that Quarrel was soon at an end There hapned at this time another betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Prince of Ioinville now Duke of Chevreuse and Brother to the Duke of Guise for this Prince having staid the Coach of a Woman of Quality at the outer Gate of the Louvre one night that the King had appointed a great Dancing at Court and the Duke coming out with the Duke of Montensier to go home the Ladies Coach so stopt the Gate that the Duke's could not possibly pass wherefore he commanded the Coachman to make way But the Duke of
Regiment of Guards into the Palace insomuch that all the Base-Court Galleries and the very Hall it self was full of them The Duke pretended he went to present himself in obedience to the Process had been issued out against him though no one could believe he went in such a posture with any intent of submission So that the Parliament advertiz'd of his coming with so great a Train and not knowing his design nor to what his passion might transport him suddenly adjourn'd retiring every man his own way before their usual time As it is hard to govern a confus'd and unruly multitude a sort of young hair-brain'd fellows who attended the Duke offer'd some indignities and affronts to some of the inferiour Officers of the Court and being most of them in Boots purposely intangled their Spurs in the Ushers and Proctors Gowns thinking thereby the more to oblige the Duke as they appear'd more sensible of his offense An insolence that infinitely aggravated the business which without that had been foul enough of it self A great complaint whereof was made against the Duke as responsible for all that hapned at the Palace every one believing that in the design he had to brave the Parliament all things were done by his order which had pass'd in his presence If the Duke had manifested a resentment of the injury he had receiv'd from the Parliament the Parliament express'd no less for what the Duke had done to the contempt of their Dignity yet did they make no complaint thereof to the King but remaining in a profound silence the truest sign of a violent affliction order'd a cessation of Justice with a determinate resolution never to meet again till first a publick and solemn reparation should be made This business proceeding to such a height put the King and Queen into a very great confusion they thought it neither convenient nor safe in this juncture of Affairs which seem'd to threaten some sudden mischief to disoblige the Duke of Espernon neither did they think it an easie matter to perswade him to pay the Parliament any great submissions who on the other side would in such a case as this accept of no ordinary satisfaction At last the King sent the Duke de Vantadour to the Palace to tell the Parliament from him That by their Body his person being represented all the injury they pretended to have receiv'd from the Duke of Espernon reflected immediately upon him That his Majesty also took it to himself to whom it did belong to vindicate his own Honour which he should be sufficiently able to do without any necessity upon them of espousing his Quarrel but that because the business had made some noise that might perhaps have given some offense to the publick he therefore desir'd they should receive a publick satisfaction and such a one as should satisfie the world of the great respect he had to Justice That in order thereunto it was his pleasure the Prisoner should be return'd to the same place from whence he had been taken and by the same person by whom he had been fetch'd away and as for what concern'd the Duke who protested he had no intention to offend the Parliament in what he had done he should be desir'd in his own person to make the same protestation before them Things being thus order'd the Duke of Espernon the nine and twentieth of the same month went to the Palace when though with no extraordinary Train about his person so many nevertheless of his Friends had convey'd themselves into the Palace as were sufficient to make head against his Enemies should they by taking advantage of the place or by pretending to do a right to the Assembly have attempted any thing against him Being come into the great Chamber and having taken his accustomed seat he speaking with his hat on in few words Remonstrated That having never had other intent than to pay all due respect to an Assembly in which he had had the honour for many years to have some place he could not but admire they should interpret what was an effect of that due honour and respect for a premeditated offense That he was not altogether so unthrifty of his own Interest as to offer an injury to them which he could not but know would rebound upon himself That he had for two and thirty years past been a Member of that Honourable Body during all which time there had not been perhaps a man of his condition more passionate for their Service than himself in the Kingdom That he had set down amongst the good fortunes of his life the opportunity he had happily met withal of expressing his good Affection to the Dignity of that Assembly when after the death of Henry the Great of Glorious Memory he had first advis'd them to make use of their own Authority in providing for the Regency of the Kingdom That he had tendred them his Service upon that occasion which had not been altogether ineffectual to the putting them in possession of a priviledge which would doubtless be taken notice of in ages yet to come That if any indiscreet persons had made use of his name either for the pretense of their insolencies or in the prosecution of their own private revenge he seriously demanded their Justice as the person most concern'd in the offense That he very well knew his enemies would lay hold of that occasion to make him appear in all the fault but that he did humbly beseech them to judge more favourably of his intentions and that all things past might be forgot concluding his speech with these very words That he diâ— intreat to be excus'd if in a rude and unpolish'd discourse he had not given that satisfaction he could have wish'd to their Learned Ears who having been all his life a Captain of Foot had ever made it more his study to do than to speak well To which the first President Verdun after having gather'd the Votes of the Assembly return'd this Answer That since the King was graciously pleas'd to incline more to Clemency than Rigour the Court by his Majesties express Command and in consideration of his many brave Services as also willing to make the best interpretation of what had pass'd accepted of his excuse hoping thereby for the future to engage both himself and his Sons to pay those Services to the King and Kingdom to which they were in gratitude oblig'd and to that Court the Honour and respect was due unto them Of which he never after fail'd neither at the hour of his death was there any person of his condition in the Kingdom who had more friends than he in that honourable Assembly nor that had more reason upon several occasions to magnifie their Justice The end of the Sixth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Seventh Book SOon after the forementioned dispute betwixt the Parliament and the Duke the Assembly of Estates broke up which instead of the happy
ordinary employments and not knowing what to think of so profound a sleep resolv'd to venture into the Queens Chamber Where being enter'd and not seeing the Queen they look'd for Katherine who likewise was no where to be found Every one therefore being amaz'd at so strange a Solitude they sought and call'd but all in vain neither could they imagine which way they could be gone the Ladders by which the Queen had gone down having been thrown into the River the better to conceal the manner of her escape At last having been some time in suspense they had some news of the Queens motion which begot a new astonishment amongst them though proceeding from several motives The most faithful and affectionate were glad she had recover'd her liberty whereas those who had been corrupted by the Favourite which were very many fearing on the one side they should stand suspected at Court to have been assisting to the Queen in her design and on the other lest her Majesty well inform'd of their infidelity should punish theâ— according to their desert knew not which way to turn nor what to do Whilst they were in this confusion her Majesty writ to the Marquise de Guercheville her Lady of Honour to let her and the rest of her women know of her arrival at Loches where she would stay two days to expect them and where both they and her other Servants who had a mind to come to her should be welcome excepting five and forty or fifty which as suspected to her she gave order should be turn'd away withal that such as could not come time enough to Loches might find her at Angoulesme whither she was design'd to go The Queen no sooner saw her self at full liberty but that she began to meditate of the means to defend her self from the Favourite's persecution which in all probability was likely to be violent enough as also to give the Duke the best colour she could to justifie what he had done To this purpose therefore she deliver'd him the original of the Letter the King had sent her under his own hand whereby she was permitted to go whither she would into any part of the Kingdom Which Letter she also accompanied with another from her self to the Duke a few days antidated and after the time of his arrival at Confolans wherein she entreated his assistance in the prosecution of her design By which means the Duke was clear'd of the imputation the Court laid to his charge that he had taken away the Queen by force and against her will which had been a crime as well towards the Mother as the Son The two Letters were these The King's Letter to the Queen under his own hand Madam Having understood you have an intention to visit some Religious places I am infinitely satisfied with the news and shall be much more if for the future you would resolve to stir and travel more abroad than hitherto you have done as I conceive it may conduce much to your health which is exceeding dear unto me If my Affairs would permit I would with all my heart accompany you in my own person as I shall do with my Letters to the places where you go to the end you may be receiv'd respected and honour'd equally to my self who am more than can be express'd Madam Your most humble and obedient Son Lovis From Paris this last of October 1618. The Queen Mothers Letter to the Duke of Espernon deliver'd to him with the former Cousin I stand oblig'd to represent to the King my Son the general Discontents of his people at the ill management of his Affairs and the troubles which by reason of his Nobilities being absent from him I apprehend will ensue to the prejudice of his Crown and Kingdom A duty which as all good men inform me it is particularly mine I resolve to perform though I were certain to lose thereby that little remains to me both of liberty and life Both which you may secure by permitting me to this effect to retire my self first to Loches and then to Angoulesme and by assisting me in my way with your company and advice wherein if neither the necessity nor the justice of my intentions can prevail upon you yet the reading this inclosed from the King my Son ought to do it by which you will see he permits me to to travel whither I think fit expressing a desire that his Subjects should in all places where I go pay me all honour and respect equal to his own person though I intend to make no other use of it than what shall be consistent with the good of his own Service Which being perform'd I do promise and protest â—nto you that when his own good nature shall be as free as my word is now he himself shall thank you for the assistance you have given me in an occasion so important to him and his own particular Affairs The rest I will commit to the fidelity of this bearer that is as to the time and manner of my removal wherein I conjure you not to fail without nevertheless enjoyning you either secrefie or care which your own wisdom will inform you to be very requisite Only I shall tell you that by this you will eternally oblige me to you and yours So praying God to inspire you with this good deliberation and to give you all the satisfaction I desire I rest Your very good Cousin Marie From Blois the 14. of February 1619. This Letter of Rucellay's style who now although a stranger undertook nevertheless to serve the Queen in the nature of a Secretary being dispatch'd it was necessary they should think also of writing to the King to give his Majesty notice of the Queens removal and of the design she had to retire her self to Angoulesme In which Letter she represented The ill usage she had for some time suffer'd at Blois doubtless without his Majesties intention but through the sole Tyranny of some about his person who exercis'd no less Authority over his Majesties own Royal disposition whose insolence and cruelty descending from her upon most of the great men of the Nation she had very great reason to fear that so many men of quality being discontented and those discontents concurring with the dissatisfaction of the people oppress'd by all sorts of violence would in the end be the ruine of his Kingdom That therefore she had put her self into liberty that she might at greater convenience represent to his Majesty matters of so high importance to him and his Affairs and had chosen to retire her self into the Duke of Espernon's Governments by so much the rather by how much his fidelity and good affection to the Crown had never suffer'd the least dispute That the late King her Lord and Husband out of the testimonies he had receiv'd of his Vertue and Integrity had but a few days before his death advis'd her to repose her confidence in him above all other
great Ministers of the Kingdom and that therefore she conceived she could not erre in following the advice of so mighty a Prince and in committing her self to the conduct of so faithful a Servant From Loches the 25th of Feb. 1619. The King had no sooner receiv'd this Letter but that the Favourites began to study an answer which though it were in shew respective enough to the Queen was yet full of threats towards the Duke Wherein after his Majesty had express'd to the Queen his astonishment at the violence the Duke of Espernon had committed upon her person he went on with great heat to declare That of all others he could never have suspected an offense of that nature believing there had not been that man in the world who in a profound and inviolate peace had had the impudence which were the express terms of the Letter not only to execute but even to meditate a resolution to attempt upon the liberty of the Mother of his King From whence his Majesty proceeding to menaces of the most severe and exemplary punishment he in the end justified those about his person from the ill usage whereof she complain'd as having been done by his own order and that with as much favour and respect as any Son of a much inferiour Birth could pay to a Mother declaring withal that he was resolv'd to take Arms thereby to put her in full possession of that liberty her enemies had taken from her and to cause the honour and respect to be paid her which was due to her person The rest was committed to the Count de Bethune who was sent away with this dispatch and who was to reside with the Queen to treat with her about an Accommodation a Treaty his Majesty immediately set on foot not thinking it fit till that way had first been try'd to commence a War wherein the Queen his Mother would be head of the adverse party A respect that did not long continue Whilst Bethune with this Commission took the way to Angoulesme the Queen Mother who departed from Loches the same day that she sent her Letter to Court was there arriv'd It was upon the first of March 1619. that she enter'd the City where she was no sooner come but that she dispatch'd away to all parts to dispose those who had promis'd to engage in her quarrel to declare now in her favour Most of the Grandees of the Kingdom were at this time retir'd from Court and almost all dissatisfied with the present Government yet whether it were as I have said that seeing the Duke of Espernon had already so engross'd the entire honour of the Action they could not in reason expect to share with him who had alone executed the most glorious and dangerous part of the design or that they had been taken off by the Favourites promises who in this juncture had not neglected to prevent the effect of their discontents however it was they were glad to do their own work at the Duke's expense and as they had had no hand in the action would not in the least appear in the Queens behalf The Duke of Espernon therefore with such Friends and Servants as he had must alone stand the brunt of the Royal Arms and undergo the utmost effect of his Majesties indignation The Queen 't is true granted out several Commissions and disburst some money not considerable for Leavies all which though it signified little to the work yet had she betwixt five and six thousand foot and betwixt eight and nine hundred Horse that were rais'd in the Duke's Governments by his own interest He had from the beginning of the Queens Regency made provision of Arms for ten thousand Foot and six hundred Horse which were now taken out and of so great use that could the Friends he had in Guienne have assisted him according to their affections he had upon his own accompt rais'd a very considerable Army But the Duke of Mayenne who was Governour of that Province having in this occasion been prepossess'd by the Favourite by whom the command of the Army that was to go against the Queen was conferr'd upon him it was not likely he should suffer those Troops to go out of his Government which were to be employ'd against him yet did not the Duke fail however of a very considerable succour from thence so great an affection and esteem they had for him in that Countrey the Marquis de Montferrant and Foncaude Brothers the Count de Calonges and some other Gentlemen of quality all considerations laid apart exposing themselves freely to the persecutions of the Court and the displeasure of a powerful Governour to pay that duty they ow'd and had sworn to the Duke of Espernon though having opportunity to draw away their men by Files only and that with great difficulty and danger they could not serve him so effectually as they desir'd Is the Queen found her self thus weak in the place where she was in person her party was in no better a condition in other parts of the Kingdom The Duke of Boüillon himself of whom the Marquis de la Valette thought himself secure refuâ—ing so much as to declare for the Queen who having long expected what the first success of Arms and the issue of the Queens Declarations would be and seeing neither the one nor the other which novelty often renders vigorous and considerable had produc'd any signal effect he was content to sit neuter and to attend the event by whose example some other persons of condition who had engag'd to take Arms in Champagne â—icardie and the neighbouring Provinces and that had been made to believe the Duke of Boüillon would head them refus'd likewise to stir all the most zealous and affectionate to the Queens Service could do being to come in in their own persons which signified no great matter Of which number were the Marquis de Môny Breauté Bourbonne Bethancourt and some others The Marquis de Themines came in also of another side though the Mareschal his Father was on the contrary party but it was only to command the Queens Guards of which he was Captain so that in effect the whole weight of the business lay still upon the Duke of Espernon The Favourites were in a far better condition who after they had on all sides prepossess'd the minds of the great ones and perverted the inclinations they might have had in favour of the Queen Mother had powerfully arm'd themselves rather indeed against the Duke than her The Duke of Mayenne was in the head of ten thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse for the most part old Souldiers ready to enter into Angoumois The Count de Schomberg the Kings Lieutenant under the Duke in Limousin had receiv'd order to make Leavies to impede those the Duke was making in that Countrey which having done he soon employ'd them in an Enterprize of greater noise than moment though very disadvantageous to the Queens Interest
delay to send you assuring my self you will look upon it as a very great Honour and good Fortune to one who is so near and dear unto you I think my self the more happy therein as I hope to be in a better capacity of letting you see the great esteem I have ever had of your friendship which I desire to preserve by manifesting how much I am Uncle Your very good Niece Marie From Nantes the 7 th of August 1626. There was a strange and sudden alteration in Madames style before her Marriage it had us'd to be Monsieur my Uncle and her Letters always ended with Your most humble and most affectionate Servant but one sole night had so rais'd her above her former condition though very illustrious before that there was now very little difference betwixt her style and that us'd by the Queen and Queen Mother neither was the Duke it may be suppos'd displeas'd to be so us'd and the advancement of so near a Relation being in part his own that which seem'd a little to lessen him in this new way of writing he conceiv'd to be amply recompens'd in the honour of this Alliance The Dutchess of Guise also accompanied this Letter of Madame her Daughter with another from her self wherein she made an excuse for not having written to the Duke before the Marriage as it had been her Duty to do Telling him they had met with so many difficulties in the business that she could never believe it would take effect till she saw it absolutely done which uncertainty had occasion'd that neglect The King presently after did him the same honour as also the two Queens the Monsieur himself with the rest of his new and illustrious Allies but before he receiv'd the honour of these last Complements the Duke had sent the Count de Maillé to Court to prevent them and with all humble respect to let them know how infinitely satisfied he was to see his Family by his Majesties Royal Bounty rais'd to such an eminent degree of honour as it was by this Marriage The Peace of the Kingdom the success of the Marriage of Madame and the news of the Dutchess de la Vallette's being great with child hapning almost at the same time had altogether so overcharg'd the Duke of Espernon with an excess of joy that it must of necessity overflow He would therefore communicate part of his own satisfaction to the publick and as all his Passions would ever break out after an extraordinary manner so this of so excessive a joy gave him a new occasion of shewing the world the largeness of his heart He therefore design'd a Tilting at Bordeaux wherein instead of the vain unprofitable and fabulous representations that are usually exhibited upon such occasions he would make the people with delight and in security to see the various faces of War and in the midst of peace would divert himself with the exercises of his own profession To this entertainment he invited all the persons of Quality of both Sexes in the Province and the Duke de la Valâ—tte came purposely from Metz to supply the Duke his Father's place in all these noble exercises wherein he acquitted himself so well that he was not the least Ornament of that great Solemnity As the expense of this Festival was exceeding great the Assembly continuing for above fifteen days together so Fortune would seem to contribute something to this profusion but she did only seem to do it when after having presented the Duke with Millions and brought them almost to his own door she rather chose to bury them in the Sea than to make good what she had so fairly promis'd It is of the wrack of the Carricks that I am about to speak which hapned at this time and having had a Relation of so remarkable an accident from the Master's Mate of that of those two great Vessels which perish'd upon the Coast of Medoc I ought not I conceive to pass by so memorable a misfortune and of which I am able to give so true an accompt After the Conquest the King of Spain had made of the Kingdom of Portugal the same Custom the Portugals had formerly paid to their natural Princes for the Liberty of their East India Trade devolv'd of course to the King of Spain but with this condition nevertheless that the Portugals should not be oblig'd to unlade their Merchandize in any other part of the Catholick King 's Dominions than that of Lisbon only for a Mark of the antient Right those of their Nation had ever had to that Traffick with the Indies This priviledge was the loss of those two Carricks they had set sail from Goa the fourth of March 1626 laden with Merchandize of very great price as Diamonds and other Stones Amber-gris Besoar Spices Drugs Silks and other rarities both of the Indies and the Kingdom of China to the value of above two Millions and a half of Gold at least in either bottom They had been mann'd out with above four hundred and fifty what Mariners and Souldiers besides several Gentlemen and other persons of condition that either by the curiosity of Travail or thirst of Gain had been tempted into those remote parts of the world All these together made up above six hundred persons and one might indeed more properly have call'd these prodigious Hulks which were each of them of two thousand Tun floating Cities rather than Ships built for Navigation they having in them all sorts of Artizans establish'd Markets Victuallers and almost all sorts and conditions of men with the same policy and civil Regiment that is usually observ'd in the greatest and most populous Cities These two great Vessels that seem'd to be Sovereigns of the Sea and that despising any thing of a Storm fear'd nothing but Quick sands Fire and Rocks after a prosperous Voyage were surpriz'd in the Road of Lisbon with foul weather and driven back to Coruna a very good Port upon the Coast of Galicia in Spain Where the storm continuing very long the Captains of the Carricks were by those of the Town importun'd to unlade their Goods in that Harbour and no more to expose so great Riches acquir'd with so much peril and pains to the dangers of the Sea but they were deaf to that motion and on the contrary highly insisting upon their priviledge the King of Spain at last gave way to their obstinacy commanding only the Admiral of the Portugal Navy Don Manuel de Menezes with six of the best Gallions of his Squadron to put to Sea and to Convoy them safe to Lisbon though this precaution only serv'd to augment his loss The Gallions came up to the Carricks to which the Admiral gave express order not to stir thence till a calmer season But what good Counsel can prevent Mischance the Carricks contrary to all order and advice upon the first little Truce of the Tempest which as it often falls out at Sea only retir'd to return
desire he come to us to the end we may be fully inform'd of the truth of what has pass'd purposing in the mean time to send one of our Council to our said City of Bordeaux to enquire into and to bring Us thence a perfect Accompt of the business The rest we refer to the said Sieur de Varennes to communicate to you whom you are in all things to believe praying God Cousin c. At St. Germain en Laye this 18 th of November 1633. Sign'd Lovis And below Philipeaux The Duke of Espernon's Friends at Court being inform'd of the severe contents of this Dispatch were not a little in doubt after what manner he would receive it They fear'd his great Spirit full of those generous Maxims which had for so many years and in so many froward occurrences supported his Reputation and Fortune would with great difficulty submit to Laws so different from what they had been in former times Amongst these the Cardinal de la Valette a man as well read in the Court as any whatever of his time upon this occasion laid aside the complacency of a Son to assume the austerity of a faithful Adviser and writ to him to this effect That he did beseech him to look upon this Affair as one of the greatest Difficulty and Importance he had met withal in the whole course of his life That to avoid any inconveniences might befal him he must immediately submit to the King's Pleasure and Command and refer the business wholly and without reservation to the Cardinal which was the only way to put a good end to this Dispute Monsieur de Seguier Garde des Sceaux the Duke 's intimate friend and a man that appeared more for his Interest than the condition of the time seem'd conveniently to permit did the same writing him word That a prompt and absolute Obedience was the only way whereby a cause his Enemies Favour rendred generally disapprov'd might be brought to a successful issue but that without that it was utterly impossible for his Friends and Servants to do him those Offices were necessary for the bringing of matters to any tolerable conclusion All the Duke 's other Friends having confirm'd the same thing he evidently saw that he must of necessity obey yet was it not withour an incredible violence upon his own Humour and great Spirit He had at other times resisted the greatest powers of the State when arm'd against him with the King's Authority and Forces whereas now he saw himself reduc'd to submit to four lines of Paper they made him indeed to depart out of his Government And though it be true that in these latter Times the Royal Authority was rais'd to a more illustrious height than formerly it had ever been yet I do not know that any one has observ'd a greater example of his Power than upon this occasion All France acknowledg'd the Duke for the eminent qualities he was master of to be a man of the greatest Reputation of his Age he was possess'd of the greatest and most important Governments of the Kingdom powerful in Riches Commands Places Servants and much more in his Children His three Sons had all of them great Offices and great Employments and yet with all these advantages he was not able to resist four words and then it was that he plainly saw a Subject had no way to support himself in his Fortune and Reputation but by Obedience and that the Power of a King manag'd as it ought to be can meet no difficulties nor impediments it cannot easily master and overcome He had seen a time when by making a shew of Resolution or Discontent men had sometimes obtain'd part of what they desir'd or at least defended themselves from what they had not a mind to do Under the Reign of Henry the III the diversity of Factions which then divided the State had so weakened the Authority of the Sovereign that he durst scarce pretend to more than a voluntary Submission from his People And Henry the Great his Successor by an excess of Bounty and good Nature had continued to do what the other had been constrain'd to by inevitable Necessity This Mighty Prince was of so noble a Disposition that he would destroy none so that excepting the Mareschal de Biron who would have no compassion of himself almost all the great men of the Kingdom were either actually Rebels or highly Disobedient without ever feeling either the Sword or so much as the Hand of Justice The Regency of Queen Mary de Medici was equally moderate and gentle and the Tempests that arose in her time being appeas'd with money men did not only offend securely but made moreover a profit of their Crimes The Mareschald ' Encre try'd to change those milder into rougher Maxims but he lost himself in the practice of this premature severity In the Ministry of the Duke de Luines there was no more of violence than in the preceding Reigns the good success notwithstanding the Royal Arms always had in all Enterprizes during the time of his favour made it plain that there was nothing his Majesty could not with great facility effect in his own Kingdom He had with great ease supprest the Queen Mothers Insurrection he had invaded the Party of the Religion with very great success wherein having found their weakness by their disunion amongst themselves he was by that discovery encourag'd to undertake their total ruine and the Cardinal entring into the Ministry in so favourable a juncture of Affairs press'd the declining Faction so home that in a very short time he remov'd all Obstacles which could any ways oppose the Royal Authority or impede the establishment of his own The Party of the Religion was totally suppress'd the House of Austria infinitely weakened all the other Princes who were ill affected to the Crown reduc'd to a necessity of complying with whatsoever was impos'd upon them and those of the Nobility who were so bold as to oppose the King's will had been so roughly handled that not a man durst any more expose himself to the punishment they all knew would inevitably follow the least forfeiture of their Duty It had been but of very late years that this new form of Government had been introduc'd into the Kingdom and the Duke was grown old in the practice of other Maxims It is not then to be doubted but that it must needs be with great repugnancy and unwillingness that he could Accommodate himself to a thing so unusual and severe he did notwithstanding do it and without delaying time or spending any more than was requisite for the making of some few Visits and taking leave of his Friends he departed out of his Government suspended from his Functions Excommunicated from the Church and reduc'd to the conversation of his own Domesticks only Though in a condition so different from what it had formerly been and so contrary to his ordinary way of living he could not but be very much afflicted
been agreed upon the day before was totally overthrown and Messieurs the Prelates would by no means accept the high degree of Judges the Duke had so submissively offer'd but would humble themselves to the qualities of simple Parties only They assembled then again at the Archbishop of Bordeaux his Palace and from thence sent a Deputation to the King wherein the Archbishop of Arles was to speak for the rest All that they say was observable in the Bishop's Oration was only an excessive vehemency in the heat whereof he made use of all the odious terms he could invent to allure his Majesties Indignation and to possess him with the highest sense of the Duke's Misdemeanour Upon which occasion it was that Caspian Bishop of Nantes one of the greatest and most vertuous Prelates of his time cry'd out That if it were possible for the Devil to submit himself to God Almighty to such a degree as the Duke did he would infallibly obtain pardon for all his Offenses and that notwithstanding the Church deny'd this Pardon to a Christian who had ever serv'd God and his Church But neither this true Remonstrance nor any other whatsoever that could be offer'd in the Duke's behalf could produce any good effect to the composing of this Affair He had very good intelligence of all the Severity was practis'd to his prejudice for although the greatest Powers were declar'd against him he had notwithstanding friends in the Assembly that were sway'd by no other consideration save only the pure interest of Piety and Justice Of this number were the Archbishops of Sens and of Tholouze the Bishop of Nantes before mention'd that of Mans of Beauvais and some others These Prelates acknowledg'd by the whole Kingdom for men of great Merit and Example no sooner had intelligence of what the rest of their Order were contriving against the Duke but that they came in all haste to Paris to do him all the good Offices the condition of the time would permit but there was an over ruling power that rendred all their endeavours fruitless so that after having long sustain'd the Torrent of Authority that opposed their Reason they were constrain'd at last to give way to force that ever gives the Law to the best Arguments Upon the Complaints of the Clergy preferr'd to the King by the mouth of the Archbishop of Arles his Majesty commanded that the Informations of the Parliament of Bordeaux should be put into the hands of Lauzon Master of Requests to make his Report Villemontée who was also at the same time at Court was likewise order'd to give in his Answer after which and that the Depositions of the Witnesses had been sufficiently canvas'd the Cardinal who was present at the Council was of opinion That upon the Duke 's single Confession contain'd in his Answer he ought to be reputed Excommunicate and as so that the King ought to declare him laps'd from all his Offices and Dignities till by vertue of his Absolution he should be re-united to the Church Though the King's Sentences were by the Duke himself obey'd with all manner of submission his Friends and Servants nevertheless did not forbear even in the face of the Court with many powerful Arguments to move for his Quietus est of which Arguments there were enow of themselves to make an entire Volumn but I have nothing to do to transcribe them here both in regard they were of no advantage to the Duke at that time and that his intention remains sufficiently justified by his Respect and Submissions to the Church The Cardinal de la Valette fail'd not however to urge and dispute those Reasons as he had ever done but not having been able to prevail that the Clergy might themselves be Judges of his Father's Cause nor that the King would please to take off the punishment he had impos'd upon him till after he should be absolv'd The Duke was constrain'd to apply himself to the Court of Rome first to obtain the repose of his Conscience and after his Restauration to his Offices and Commands His Secretary was therefore dismiss'd from Plassac to go to Rome furnish'd with several Dispatches directed to several of the principal persons of that Court The Duke's name famous in all parts of Europe was with his Holiness in very great esteem he had had the honour to be acquainted with him in the time of his Nuntiature in France and he was then reputed no ill Catholick His Holiness therefore very graciously receiv'd his Submissions and contrary to the câ—stom of that Court where delays are very usual chiefly when the Authority of the Apostolick See in any Debate of Consequence is concern'd cutting off a great many of the tedious Forms caus'd the Expeditions necessary for the Duke's satisfaction to be dispatch'd and sent them away to Cardinal Bichi his Nuntio in France So that had the Resolutions of the Court of Rome at that time had less dependence upon those of France the Duke had from thence obtain'd a speedy and full satisfaction But so many rubs were on this side the Alpes laid in the way that four whole months were laps'd before the Duke could receive his Absolution which when it came was no other neither than Ad Reincidentiam a term us'd by those who treat of such matters when it is not a plenary Absolution Who is it that reading the progress of this Dispute but must admire that a little Complement ill receiv'd and a few words ill interpreted should grow to be one of the most important Affairs of two of the greatest Courts of Europe I was very unwilling to have been so tedious in being so particular but others having related it so as they knew would please the Great Ones of that time who were no Friends to the Duke I thought my self oblig'd to render here an account of things as they truly pass'd which if it will not here absolutely excuse the Duke for being in his sudden passion too violently transported against an Ecclesiastical Person it will at least serve to manifest the respect he bore to the Church and to a Dignity he ever had in the highest Reverence and Esteem From this time forward the Duke's Affairs began to appear with a much better face at Court his Sons having by their diligence and discretion so moderated Cardinal Richelieu's heat that nothing remain'd to do save only how to contrive a durable Reconciliation and from this breach as it often falls out to derive an occasion of inseparably uniting their two Families The Cardinal notwithstanding would first have his Will he had as has been said in the Year 1632. desir'd that the Duke would demise his Government of Metz in his favour wherein having not met with that complacency he expected he must now be satisfied Neither would promises serve the turn the laying down the Government of this place must also precede the Absolution the Cardinal being by no means to be perswaded to consent that the
the safety and conservation of the said Province in my Obedience Wherein being assur'd you will acquit your self with your accustomed vigilancy and care and resting secure in the absolute confidence I have ever repos'd in your Fidelity and good Affection I shall say no more but only assure you of my Affection Praying God c. From Saint Germain en Laye this first of October 1634. With this there were other Dispatches sent directed both to the first President d' Agnesseau that he might acquaint the Assembly with his Majesties intention and also to the Jurats of the City which the Duke having sent away some days before his departure from Plassac he himself followed soon after and return'd into his Government more honour'd and esteem'd for having so handsomely disingag'd himself from this troublesome Affair than if it had never been Men as it usually happens soon forgot all the Disgraces he had undergone to consider how great his Credit must necessarily be who of all the Great Persons of the Kingdom whose Fortunes had been so rudely assaulted alone kept himself upright and entire in spight of all his Enemies or all they could contrive against him All those who had been unkind to him sued to be reconcil'd to his Favour and the Duke de la Valette who would by no means leave him till all things were absolutely settled to his own desire became their Mediator by that means re-establishing matters in so good a posture that for the future there was more repose to be expected for the Duke his Father than he had ever yet enjoy'd since he had first taken possession of the Government of Guienne The End of the Tenth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Eleventh Book IT was not fortunate to the Duke alone but as much at least to the Province and the whole Kingdom that he was at this time restor'd to his Command the first whereof without his Valour and Wisdom had been in manifest danger and the other embroyl'd in no contemptible disorders but by his Prudence and generous Conduct he brought them both so brave and so reasonable a relief that what we are now about to deliver makes up no small part of the principal Actions of his Life He was no sooner arriv'd in Guienne but that several Complaints were presented to him of the Insolence some Officers who Farm'd the Crown Revenues of that Province exercis'd over the King's Subjects The people were no longer able to support their Exactions and their Poverty which is ordinarily accompanied with despair had so stirr'd them up that they were ready to rush into Arms and to shuffle all things into confusion The Duke could have been glad the Court would have order'd some moderation in these Impositions to have prevented those mischiefs which are usually the issue of general Discontent and the certain effects of popular fury and to that end had made so many several Remonstrances to the Council and urg'd them so home that what he did for a good that as much respected the King's Service as the Publick Interest was in the end so misinterpreted as to turn to his own disgrace Seeing therefore he could by his Prayers and Importunities prevail nothing with the Court he was necessitated to make use of the Authority he had in the Province to prevent a total Revolt to which the generality of men were too visibly inclin'd Wherein his conduct was guided by so admirable discretion that what by convincing such by Reason as were capable of it by feeding such by Hopes as would be satisfied with them and threatning Punishment to those who would be satisfied with neither he for a long time continued all things in a pretty quiet condition He practis'd these gentle and easie Remedies during the course of a very troublesome Disease he had fall'n into presently after his return from Plassac His abode and solitude in his House together with the hard measure he had receiv'd had not lighted upon a heart insensible of wrong nor had committed no ordinary violence upon his generous spirit and although by a wonderful Victory over his own Passions he had suppress'd his discontent from breaking out to the discovery of those about him it is notwithstanding to be believ'd that the more he smothered his fire the more it must of necessity burn him within and discompose his natural Constitution He suffer'd therefore by the heat of Urine so intolerable and so unintermitted pains as scarce gave him any truce of repose in which Distemper that which was most remarkable was the Remedies they made use of for his Recovery â—or of eighteen days together that his Infirmity continued he drank nothing but cold water and of that so prodigious a quantity that I do not think any stomach in the world but his could have digested so much crudity He was moreover very often put into cold Baths so that all the art and industry of his Physicians was wholly employ'd to qualifie the ebullient Blood of a young man of fourscore and four years old He was scarcely deliver'd of his pain when he was forc'd to attend the Affairs of his Government with greater diligence and care than at any time before The King from the beginning of the year having taken a resolution to fall out with Spain would not however engage in that War before he had well and particularly examin'd the condition and strength of his Kingdom to be therefore well inform'd of the State of Guienne the greatest and best of all his other Provinces he writ to the Duke in March to send him a true account of what number of men he could for time of need draw out of his Government and how many men of Command he might relye upon to bear Office in his Armies to which the Duke return'd Answer that although within eight months time above eighteen thousand men had been sent out of the Province as by the Muster Rolls annex'd to his Dispatch his Majesty might perceive there might yet be a very great number rais'd provided the Affections of the People were discreetly manag'd by some good usage that his Majesty would also find a great many Gentlemen of Quality and capable of Command of which he sent a List of above sixscore but that the greatest part of them were so necessitous that to his great grief he durst not promise to himself from their inability all that his Majesty might expect from their good will by which Abstract let any one judg of the Forces of the Kingdom and what a King of France may propose to himself having the Love and Affection of his Subjects The Duke who knew by a long experience what strange effects the good will of the people was able to produce never ceas'd importuning the King to husband it by granting some redress to their Oppressions which though he always did after the most humble and respective manner could be imagin'd it notwithstanding wrought
indeed fell out At this time every one despair'd of his Life and the report of his Death that was spread in all parts follow'd a few days after with the certain news of his Recovery having astonish'd all the world that now scarce pass'd any longer for raillery which had so pleasantly been said That he had out-liv'd the Age of dying In truth all Forein Parts having for the space of threescore and eight or threescore and ten years been continually full of the great Name of Espernon finding him still in their Gazetts one while taking Towns another in the head of Armies now Triumphing and again in Disgrace but ever in some great and illustrious Occasion Strangers conceiv'd of him that this must be the Grand-child of that Duke of Espernon who had been the Favourite of Henry the III. of France and could not perswade themselves that the lives of two men could furnish this History with so many important Actions The Duke whilst he was yet sick and even in the worst of his Sickness had an inckling of some designs the Spaniard had upon several Frontiers of this Kingdom and particularly upon those of his own Government of which to be better assur'd he was careful to send thither such persons as were capable of discovery and as he durst trust to bring him true intelligence of what pass'd amongst our Neighbours abroad By these Spies he understood that all the Frontiers of Arragon Biscay Guipuscoa and other finitimous Provinces of Spain had order to make Preparation of Arms and were to set out a certain number of Souldiers by an appointed day That to these Provincial Forces they would moreover adde several standing Regiments and of both together to make up a considerable Body Of all which the Duke was so precisely inform'd that he did not only know the number of men but even the names of all the Captains who were to Command them Neither did he fail to send the King an Account of the Intelligence he had receiv'd but our great Ministers were so taken up with other nearer and more immediate Affairs that they were not much concern'd at a danger two hundred Leagues from Paris They therefore contented themselves with writing to the duke that he should cause Bayonne the place that was principally threatned to be fortified at the Charge of the Inhabitants and as to the rest that he was by his Wisdom and Interest to provide for all things within the Precincts of his Command These Orders so general and of so vast a Latitude had formerly been the fullest Commissions the Romans were wont to give their Generals in the greatest necessities of Publick Danger but they were in our times the narrowest and the most limited that could possibly be granted who had the King's Interest committed to their Trust. There were already others establish'd by Law which no one without being Criminal was to exceed and those were That no one should make Leavies either of Men or Mony without Order by Letters Patents from the Council That no one should mount Artillery or take necessary Arms out of the Arsenals without special Order so to do So that all the Power of the Kingdom residing in the persons of the Prime Ministers no Governour could make use of his own without incurring the danger of Censure The Duke knowing that in the evil disposition the Court then was as towards him this was only a device to make him run into some error that might draw the King's Indignation upon him wisely fear'd to be involv'd in those Calamities under which for Causes light enough in themselves he had seen men of great Quality and Merit to perish was not easie to be trap'd that way He therefore again writ to the King for more precise Orders in occurrences that might happen and in those dangers he had humbly represented to him and in the end with much importunity obtain'd Order to send an Engineer to Bayonne to see it fortified as far as forty thousand Livers would extend the one half whereof was to be rais'd out of his Majesties Revenue and the other upon the Inhabitants of the place The Duke seeing he could obtain no more did as he was commanded and began some Fortifications which the want of money caus'd to be left imperfect and by that means the Town left in a weaker condition than if nothing had been done at all This Affair which at this time was the only one of moment in the Province being put into this forwardness the Duke conceiv'd he had now leisure to look a little after the recovery of his own health which that he might do at better convenience and greater vacancy from the perpetual distraction of the Affairs of the Province he humbly intreated the King to give him leave for a few days to retire himself to Plassac to the end he might at greater liberty make use of those remedies that were proper for his Disease The King without any difficulty and in very favourable terms granted his so just request whereupon he accordingly in the beginning of May came to his House of Plassac but it was to make a very short stay he being scarcely there arriv'd but that he receiv'd Order to return speedily into Guienne to look after the Affairs that very much requir'd his Presence there The great Preparations that were every where making by the Enemies of France to invade it obliging him to provide also for his defence as he did and that so well as in the end turn'd all their designs to their own confusion There never perhaps in this Kingdom had been more to do for the great men of it than at this time and as the Government of Guienne by its vast extent made up one of the most important and considerable Members of the State so did it consequently produce for its Governour so many and so various Affairs that it is to be wondred at a man of so extreme an Age could undergo so many and so continual labours The first thing the Duke did after his return into the Province which was in the latter end of May was to execute an Express Commission had been directed to him from the King for the enrolling the Edict de Crâ—e newly pass'd by his Majesty for the addition of one President and twelve Counsellors to the Parliament of Bordeaux This Affair could not pass without encountring several Difficulties all the other Parliaments of France were charg'd with the same Augmentations proportionably to the extent of their several Jurisdictions this being therefore a common interest amongst so many men of condition it begat also a great correspondency amonst them to oppose it The King having foreseen and expected all these obstacles from the Parliament of Bordeaux thought fit to invest the Duke with as much Authority as he could himself desire to overcome them wherein his Majesty and those of his Council doubted not but that he would with great alacrity put all his
noise a thing of little or no moment and that notwithstanding had like to have turn'd very much to his own prejudice After therefore the Duke had rejected the proposal of one of his own Souldiers who offer'd to stab Briet and to do it after such a manner that he could never be suspected for the Murther he commanded four of his Footâ— men to kill his Coach-Horses in the open Street This Command was executed one day that Briet was returning out of the City to his own House when his Coach-man being assaulted by these four Foot-men they first pull'd him out of his Coach-box and afterwards thrust their Swords into the Flancks of the Horses whereupon the poor Beasts enrag'd with the smart of their Wounds ran away full speed hurrying the Coach and their Master in it three or four hundred paces along the Streets till at last at one and the same instant upon the pavement they fell down and dy'd Briet who had at first been terribly frighted with the sight of the Swords was not much less afraid of his Horses precipitous Career which was also all the harm he receiv'd the Coach stop'd and overturn'd at the death of the Horses giving him time to come out half dead with Fear and to retire to his own House The Relation of this business was immediately carried to the Duke which shadow of Revenge was to him matter of entertainment and laughter for an hour after But the Parliament took it after a quite contrary manner who offended to the height at the Injury done to one of their Robe the next day assembled their several Chambers to enquire into the Fact There was none of them who were not very well satisfied with the Justice of the Duke's resentment and who would not have approv'd of his Revenge had it proceeded a great deal further but there was also hardly any one of them who did not interest himself in the offence offer'd after so publick a manner to the Dignity and Honour of the Assembly Without doubt the business would have gone very ill with the Duke had matters continued upon these terms and those of the Parliament after having declar'd themselves Parties remaining still Judges would neither have spar'd the Duke's Footmen nor any other could have been prov'd concern'd in the Action they had already prepossess'd the Cardinal by representing to him that neither the King's Autâ—ority nor that of his Eminency had been sufficient to protect an Officer in the Execution of his Duty in the most honourable Body of the Province but besides that the Cardinal ever very ill satisfied with the Duke who on his part also did not much study to please him was of himself sufficiently dispos'd to do him a mischief had not the occurrences of the time involv'd the Court in the greatest disorder wherein perhaps it had ever been The Enemy after having long threatned the Kingdom was in the end with a powerful Army entred into Picardy and at their first coming had carried la Capelle and le Catelet assaulted Corbie which they also took and alarm'd Paris it self to such a degree as is sufficiently known to all They were likewise enter'd into Burgundy and were preparing for the like attempt upon Languedoc and Guienne was not to be spar'd neither was it a little while after So that the great Minister wholly taken up with concerns of so high importance had no leisure to look after the Duke's Affairs neither did he think it convenient to nettle him in a time when his services were so necessary to the Kingdom and the Chancellor who still retain'd his old affection to the Duke's Interests seeing himself absolute Master of this business concealing it from the Parliaments knowledge referr'd it to the ordinary Justice where being animated with very little passion it soon fell of it self At this time of all others the Greatness of the Duke of Espernon seems especially to appear by the important Employments and Commands wherewith his whole Family were invested The Duke de Candale his eldest Son was Generalissimo to the Armies of the Republick of Venice an Ally to this Crown The Duke de la Valette his second Son was in the Army of Picardy wherein though he had not in truth the Principal Command the Count de Soissons being General there yet had he the honour to be chosen out by the King to infuse life and vigour into that Army the Souldiers whereof by some ill successes had befall'n them being exceedingly dejected which were the express terms wherewith his Majesty allur'd him to that Service The Cardinal de la Valette was also employ'd against Galas in Burgundy into which Province the Enemy being entred with a formidable Army had already made some Conquests before his arrival there Mirebeau had been taken Saint Iean de Laonne was besieg'd and the best Cities of the Country were highly threatned the fear there was exceeding great and the danger had been no less if the Cardinal de la Valette by opposing himself to their designs had not stop'd the progress of their Arms. He fought them with advantage in five or six several Engagements and without ever being able to tempt them to a Battel with all the provocation he could use forc'd them in the end to retire with the ruine and dissolution of their whole Army that unprofitably mouldred away to nothing As for the Father his business lay in Guienne a Province that as it made up a principal part of the Kingdom of how great utility must the Service necessarily be that preserv'd it from disorder in so critical a time A thing nevertheless fortunately effected by his Wisdom so moderating the discontents of the people as to keep them in so dangerous a Juncture of Affairs from lashing into those extremes whereinto by their former behaviour it might reasonably be apprehended should they find an opportunity of this nature they would precipitously run This was indeed one of the most important but not the only Service he did the King upon this occasion The Spanish Council having as has been said determin'd to invade the Kingdom in several places at once principally hasted to enter into Guienne to come to which Province they were to pass through the Country of Labourt which is that of Biscaye and by the way highly threatned the City of Bayonne They knew very well the Duke of Espernon had no Forces to send into that Country neither had he had them durst he indeed have done it without the consent of the Inhabitants lest being a cholerick and impatient people as they naturally are any thing he should do of that kind out of care to preserve them should put them upon desperate resolutions and make them wilfully lose themselves They had before they came so despis'd the Enemies Forces that they would not endure any one should think of contributing to their preservation a security that did nor a little afflict the Duke who had been of old
other men usually give for their Follies in such cases will nevertheless serve perhaps to satisfie such as are kindest to me and who will not render themselves over-hard to be satisfied in a thing wherein I presume they would themselves be content to see me justified It was not therefore out of any ambition I had to be again in Print I having suffer'd too much that way already nor to be reputed a good Translator the best whereof sit in the lowest Form of Writers and no one can be proud of the meanest Company neither shall I pretend to be put upon it by my Friends for that would tacitly imply something of opinion they must have of my ability that way and I must be so just to 〈◊〉 my worthy Acquaintance as to decâ—â—re them men of better judgments than to be so deceiv'd besides the greater part of them being better Frenchmen than I pretend to be such as have read the Original could never wish to see it blemish'd by so unskilful a hand neither was I prompted to it by any design of advantage that consideration being ever very much below my thoughts nor to oblige the world that being as much above my expectation but having an incurable humour of scribling upon me I believ'd I could not choose a braver Subject for my Friends diversion and my own Entertainment than this wherein I thought at least I discover'd as much Variety of Revolution and accident as is any where in no larger a Volume to be found besides something of utility here being a general account of the most important Transactions of Europe for above threescore years together and in one continued series of Discourse which are otherwise only to be pick'd up out of several Authors and most of them â—mitted in all but that which gave me the greatest invitation besides the Character of Honour that continues throughout the whole thred of his Life was the great example of uncorrupted Loyalty the Duke of Espernon ever retain'd in all his Exigencies and Disgraces a Vertue which though none of the Nobility of this Kingdom for whom this is chiefly design'd need to be informed in 't is nevertheless a glorious Record and ought to be in History that succeeding times may see after what manner a good Subject â—ow powerful soever ought to behave himself how or how unkindly soever his Prince shall please to dispose of his Person and Fortune This consideration it was that after a first and second reading of this brave life though every year of it contains variety enough to furnish out a History which I must confess to have been the greatest temptation that decoy'd me into this undertaking especially when I reflected upon the times we our selves have too lately seen when Loyalty was not very much in fashion or not to be owned withouâ— manifest ruine And although I know very well we have Examples enow of Vertue Bravery Wisdom Fidelity and Honour in persons of our own Nation as well Kings as Subjects Princes of the Blood Generals Ecclesiasticks and Statesmen both of Former and the present Age and the meanest of those Lives sufficient to create as beautiful a Story yet of those the Dead are many of them already recorded beyond my imitation and to Write in Praise of the Living besides the danger of standing suspected either of Flattery or Design were to offend the modesty natural to all generous minds In the next place I am to acquaint my Reader that the Author of this History Monsieur Girard was Secretary to the Duke of Espernon and a very extraordinary person in himself as you will find in the Texture Disposition and Elegancy of the whole in despight of my ill handling by which advantages he must doubtless be able to give the best and truest account of any wâ—â—ever both of his Masters private Affairs and the general Transactions of that time he being especially in the Duke's later Years continually employ'd by him and the Duke himself being so eternally upon the Scene of Action that we shall seldom find him retir'd and alone in the whole course of his Life And although his dependence upon this great person may render his testimony suspected to some he is however so generally allow'd by the most Intelligent and such as are best read in the Affairs of that Kingdom for a faithful Historian that the truth of the Story ought to Balance any other defect of the work Lastly in the behalf of my Bookseller Mr. Brome to whose Kindness I owe more than I can pay him by this Impression I am to say that although I dare not answer how far this History may suffer by my Oversights or Mistakes or by the Faults escap'd the Press which I know not by what accident are very many and some of them very considerable yet I dare pronounce it one of the best things I have seen in that Language I do not mean for the Excellency or Harmony of the Stile which in the Original it self though the words there be very Significant Elegant and admirably well chosen is notwithstanding none of the smoothest I have read but for the importance of the Subject wherein you will find much of the Policy of that time not only of France it self but moreover of the Courts of England Rome Spain Savoy Germany Sweeden and the States of the United Provinces together with a Narrative of all the most celebrated Battles Skirmishes Rencounters Combats Sieges Assaults and Stratagems for above threescore years together with the Descriptions of the Strengths Situations and distances of Cities Towns Castles Cittadels Forts Rivers Countries Seigneuries Iurisdictions and Provinces and all this collected and deliver'd by a Iudicious and Impartial Hand an exâ—raordinary effect of a French Pen that Nation especially in Records that immediately concern their own Honour having been commonly observ'd to be very civil to themselves So that methinks the Dignity of the Subject and the Ingenuity of the Author consider'd a work how unhappily soever perform'd by me undertaken nevertheless meerly for the common benefit and delight ought not to be discountenanc'd nor very ill receiv'd Yet do I not though in the foregoing Paragraph I have discover'd something of the Charlatan in the behalf of my Bookseller hereby intend to beg any favour for my self or by these large promises to bribe my Reader into milder Censures neither do I think it fit to provoke him by a defiance for that were to be an ill Man as well as an ill Writer I therefore franckly and without condition expose my self to every mans Iudgment of which such as appear civil to me are my Friends and I shall owe them the same respect when it shall be my turn to Iudg as it is now to be censur'd Those who will not be so I shall threaten no further than to put them in mind that if ever they attempt any thing of the same nature they will then lie under the same disadvantage I now do and consequently may
many several impressions in mens minds as their inclinations were different towards him But the King was afflicted beyond imagination though his Majesty was not long in that error For some of the company having immediately descended the precipice found the Horse who by good fortune fell plum upon his feet and bore the whole weight of the fall kill'd stone dead but the Duke miraculously escap'd with only a slight hurt in the Shoulder This accident set all the Court Wits on work neither was there any who did not write something upon this occasion but that which most pleas'd the Duke was an Emblem that was presented to him The body of the Emblem was a figure of the Duke himself hanging upon the brow of a precipice so as that he seem'd to be irrecoverably falling from that prodigious height when Fortune running to his succour withdrew him from the danger with this Motto in Italian the first words thereof expressing his name Eper non lasciarti mai A Motto the Duke at first took for a good Omen which time and his own good conduct after turn'd into a kind of Prophesie and causing it to be grav'd in a Cornelian and set in a Ring he wore it many years upon his Finger as a mark of his gratitude to Fortune or rather Providence which is effectually that we call Fortune to which he ever attributed all the successes of his life rather than to his own conduct By this accident the Kings affection to the Duke seem'd to be augmented at least it made a greater shew of tenderness than in former occasions his Majesty never almost departing his Chamber during the time he was constrain'd to keep his Bed and it was in this condition that he gave the King a full account of his Journey and Negotiation a thing that furnish'd the League with a sufficient pretense to decry the Kings actions neither did the Chiefs of that Faction fail to cause it proclaim'd in the Pulpits as it is usual to make Holy Places and Religious men the Scenes and Instruments to blemish the Actions of Princes that his Majesty was strictly united with Hereticks and that this slander might the better be believ'd the Duke of Espernon's Voyage whom they endeavour'd to render odious to the people by calling him the Abetter of that Party was first brought upon the stage they publish'd that Negotiation to be a conspiracy against the Catholick Religion which was no way to be oppos'd but with their Swords in their hands So that this was the first Pretense they made use of to colour their Rebellion But before they would proceed to the effects of so violent a Rupture the Duke of Guise who would have been glad to have won the Duke of Espernon to his Party by that means to remove those Obstacles which the Dukes Vigour and Fidelity ever had and were still likely to oppose to his Designs caus'd him to be treated with about a match with his Daughter since Princess of Conty a Princess that for the beauty of her person the vigour of her mind and many other endowments and excellent qualities had few rivals in the Kingdom neither was the Duke of Espernon so blind as not to see the honour he should receive by this alliance had it been propos'd in a more quiet time or had the Duke her Father been upon better terms with the King but knowing he must by such a match abandon his duty or at least be oblig'd to favour designs he could by no means approve the last consideration so absolutely prevail'd above the other that he scarce deliberated upon a thing that was likely to stagger his fidelity and how dangerous soever it were to declare himself an open enemy to the Duke of Guise which he must of necessity do by refusing his alliance he rather chose to run that hazard than to faulter in the least in the duty he ow'd to his Prince and Benefactor It is hard to judge what passions of grief and despite the Duke of Guise was possest withal to see his designs so frustrated and his offer so despis'd by this refusal which was in it self no light offense neither did he afterwards meditate any thing more than his revenge and how to destroy him he could neither by civilities nor by threats acquire unto him but his fury was rais'd to the height by a new Honour the Duke and conferr'd upon him which was the second Pretense the League took hold of to justifie their proceedings The King had some time before this bought the Duke of Mayenne out of his charge of Admiral of France which the Duke had the rather laid down in favour of the Duke of Ioyeuse and his Majesty desirous to conferre upon the Duke of Espernon also some Office of the Crown to continue the same equality he had ever observ'd in their Fortunes propos'd to the Duke of Guise a very advantageous recompense in lieu of his Office of Grand-Maistre to the Kings Houshold and it seem'd probable he would follow the example of his Brother the Duke of Mayenne who doubtless had not quitted so important a charge without his elder Brother's advice but the Duke of Guise notwithstanding would never comply with his Majesties desire and though the King would never permit him to exercise any function of his charge thereby to make him weary of it yet was he still more obstinately bent to keep it nor would ever consent as he said That his Enemy should possess any of those charges he had exerciz'd and been invested withal The King seeing him so obstinate and perhaps not more solicitous to advance the Fortune of his Favourite than willing to spite the Duke of Guise resolv'd with himself to erect purposely for the Duke of Espernon an Office so honourable and so great as should by its authority and power infinitely surpass all other the highest and most important employments both of the State and Crown and this was that of Colonel General of France an Office formerly divided into two on this side and on that side the Mountains of which Andelot had possest the one and Strozzi the other and after Andelot's death they were united in Strozzi who remain'd sole Colonel After Strozzi's decease the King having by an Edict re-united these two Offices into one made it an Office of the Crown under the Title of Colonel General of France caus'd that Edict to be ratified in Parliament attributing to it the absolute power to name in general Officers for all the vacant places in the French Militia without so much as excepting from this nomination that of Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards He establish'd for the Colonel a Sovereign Court of Justice or Council of War to determine of the Lives and Honours of Military men without calling any other to it than his own Officers adding to it besides several Graunts Priviledges and Pensions and finally to sum up all his bounty his Majesty delivering the Commission
cold in the business after he had reproach'd them with their unseasonable violence which he said had hinder'd him from bringing about by easie and infallible ways the utter extirpation of Heresie a thing he more earnestly desir'd than any of them he told them flatly that since by them this business was first set on foot it was reasonable that they who had been the promoters of it should likewise be at the charge of the War His Majesty thought by grasping thus at their purses to take off their edge of fighting and by representing to them the charge and incommodities of War he should at the same time imprint in them a hatred and aversion to it But what reasons can prevail with a pre-possess'd and exasperated multitude The people displeas'd at the difficulties the King laid before them and sufâ—ering themselves to be seduc'd by the malepert Preachers of the League who by their seditious Sermons had soon perswaded them into commotion impos'd upon the King a necessity of beginning the War and forgetting the respect due to the Majesty of their Prince gave him in plain terms to understand that he should not be safe in his own Louvre if he did not forthwith betake himself to Arms. The condition of the time and the conditions of the Treaty lately concluded with the League equally obliging the King to fall into speedy action and also to serve himself with some of the Heads of that Party in this Expedition his Majesty to comply with his own necessity and likewise to satisfie that Article dispatch'd the Duke of Mayenne into Guienne against the King of Navarre the Duke of Guise himself desiring to remain in his Government of Champagne to guard the Frontiers and that he might have in the other Armies He was also to set on foot such persons as he knew were faithful to him He sent the Mareschal de Biron into Xaintonge against the Prince of Condâ— and the Duke of Ioyeuse into Languedoc reserving for the Duke of Espernon as a Servant in whom he repos'd the greatest trust the Employment of Provence A Government which being a little before left vacant by the Death of the Grand Prior of France Bastard of Valois had been conferr'd upon him and a Province wherein of all other his Majesties Authority had the greatest need of support having formerly been much weakned by the two contrary Factions that divided the State Whereof one was commanded by the Sieur de Lesdiguieres Head of the Hugonot Party and the other by the Sieur de Vins the Kings Lieutenant there but a man very partial to the League His Majesty therefore desiring amidst the confusion that was made by these two Parties to secure the Countrey to himself sent thither the Duke of Espernon with a good Army appointing Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother for his Lieutenant in that Service neither was he deceiv'd in his choice for in less than four months time Province and Dauphiné were wholly settled in his obedience the only part almost of the Kingdom where his Majesty was effectively and truly serv'd and had he had many more such Servants to employ his Affairs had certainly and in a very little time chang'd their face and the Royal Authority been rescued from the Rebellious Insolence that trod it under foot in most Provinces of France The Office of Colonel General having given the Duke absolute Authority over the Infantry there was great contest amongst the old Regiments which should be preferr'd to follow him in this action in which he made shift to satisfie the ambition of the greatest part his Majesty who gave him absolute power in matters of greater difficulty being content that his best Souldiers should serve under his trustiest Captain so that he drew out a good part of the Regiment of Guards of that of Ficardy and Champagne with other Companies out of other Regiments to the number of ten thousand Foot to which was added twelve hundred Horse and twelve piece of Cannon with their Equipage The Duke having about the end of Summer led his Army into Provence put them immediately into vigorous Action Vins was the first he undertook who having before been worsted by Lesdiguieres was in no condition of making any great resisâ—ance and Lesdiguieres though victorious over the League finding yet himself too weak to oppose the King's Army conducted by so experienc'd Commanders by withdrawing into his own strength gave the two Brothers liberty to make themselves Masters of Seynes Breoules Chorges and many other Considerable places as well in Provence as Dauphiné with wonderful expedition so that by these successes the two Factions which had so long afflicted those two good Provinces being equally supprest the Duke had leisure to return to Court where his presence was not a little necessary to countermine such Practices of which Mounsieur de Villeroy says in his Mesmoires the Duke suspected him to be Author as were by his Enemies set on foot against him Neither did the Duke need to make any great difficulty of retiring from Provence considering the good posture he had brought Affairs into and that he left his second self upon the place not only in fidelity and zeal to the King's Service but also in valour and experience namely Mounsieur de la Valette his Brother a man whose Vertues had acquir'd so great a Reputation with all worthy men that he is never to be spoke of without very worthy mention and the highest Characters of Honour But the Duke had no sooner turn'd his back of Provence and taken back part of the Army with him than the contrary Factions encourag'd by this Division of the Army made head anew so that it was necessary to set another Army on foot to oppose them the care of which now wholly rested upon Valette nor did there need a more active and experienc'd Captain His principal Exploits were against the League to whose succour the Duke of Savoy came in person an ambitious Prince and one that watching all opportunities of enlarging his own Dominion had from the Leagues first taking Arms joyn'd himself with the Countess of Saut the Sieur dâ— Vins the Compte de Carses and other persons of Quality of that side neither has he what Treaties of Peace soever have been concluded with the League ever desisted from his first design of keeping that Countrey by force of Arms. But la Valette after having won from him the so celebrated Battel of Vignon did so uncessantly press upon him and in several other encounters obtain'd so many advantages over him that he forc'd him to retire beyond the Alpes and to let Provence alone Neither did Dauphiné escape his diligence for Lesdiguieres finding himself too weak to meet him in the Field gave him opportunity to withdraw Geyssens from the Cittadel of Valence which he held in the name of the League having been plac'd in that command by the Duke of Mayenne and to recover Gap into the King's Obedience
He says that the King at the Duke's dismission to go to the Army his Majesty had given him in command gave him this reproach Che la Corte lo teneua in concetto di poltrone é chegli era bene di levarsi questo fregio dal viso which is to say That the Court look'd upon him as a Poltron and that he should do well to wipe off that blemish Towards the Dukes latter end I read this History to him which was then newly publish'd in France and the Duke had very highly commended the Author though in many particulars he had not spoken very favourably of him above all he infinitely commended the exact care he had taken to inform himself of the secret motives by which the several interests of that time were carried on of which he does in truth for the most part render a very precise and very often a very true accompt But when he heard these words which were so highly injurious to the Duke of Ioyeuse he could not forbear crying out â— hat D'Avila was a lyar that he himself was present when the Duke of Joyeuse took his leave of the King that his Majesty could never have had so great a kindness for a man of whom he had once entertain'd so mean an opinion that on the contrary be esteem'd him to be as valiant and as brave a Gentleman as any was in his Kingdom And where D'Avila continues to say that he was become burthensome to the King that the King could no longer bear it and that he therefore sent him upon this expedition purposely to be cut off the Duke of Espernon bore witness That he saw the King weep at the Duke of Joyeuse his departure than which there could not be a greater evidence of his tenderness and affection to him That had the King had a mind to have been rid of him and to have expos'd him to the King of Navarre's Forces he would never have set him out with an Army almost twice as strong as that he was employ'd against and made up of as good Souldiers as any were in the Kingdom so that if he lost the Battel of Coutras it was rather through the chance of War or through the Valour and good fortune of the King of Navarre than by any default of his Army And to answer yet further to what has been writ concerning his Favour of which D'Aubigné only speaks by hear-say making stories as it is his custom at the random of his own passion and fancy The Duke has told me that the King was indeed grown colder towards the Duke of Ioyeuse than he had formerly observ'd him but that he only attributed that to the Alliance the Duke had contracted with the House of Lorain and that it was only a diminution of â—avour and never grew to a disgrace and indeed had his Majesty conceiv'd a positive aversion to him would he have given such publick evidences of sorrow for his Death as he did would he have honour'd his dead Body with that excessive Pomp and those unusual Obsequies which were such as gave all the Nobility occasion to murmur having never before been allow'd to any save to the Princes of the Blood and to the Constables of France exclusively to all other great men of the Kingdom The Historians of that time have further discours'd of the jealousie betwixt the two Favourites to which I can answer on the Duke of Espernon's behalf that I could never find by any thing I could ever gather from him that he had been in the least touch'd with that passion neither is it very likely considering the advantage the Duke visibly had in the Kings Opinion there could be any jealousie on his part but if there had formerly been any such thing betwixt them as it is hardly possible but there must have been some emulation betwixt two concurrents in so high a pretense as that of a Kings Favour the Death of the Duke of Ioyeuse and a long series of time having worn out those impressions there now remain'd nothing more in the Duke of Espernon's memory than the remembrance of their near Relation and former Friendship Some time before the Duke of Ioyeuse his Death the knot of that Alliance had been broken by the death of Catherine de Nogaret and dela Valettâ— the Duke of Espernon's Sister who having at the King's motion and to the common satisfaction of both the Favourites been married to the Count de Bouchage younger Brother to the Duke of Ioyeuse after they had for four or five years only liv'd together in a most perfect harmony this Vertuous Lady died leaving one Daughter only behind her namely Catheâ—ine de Ioyeuse the same who having formerly been Dutchess of Montpensier is now Dutchess of Guise a Princess of undisputed Vertue and such as has ever shone equally bright throughout the prosperities and afflictions that have divided her life The Câ—mpte de Bouchage after having lost his Wife finding nothing in the world either to allure him or to comfort him retyr'd himself from it amongst the Father Capuchins where he took upon him the Habit of that Order and there continued some years under the name of Father Ange de Ioyeuse 'T is true the Pope having since enjoyn'd his Superiours to perswade him abroad again to the end he might be Head of the League in Languedoc that he obey'd his command but it was to return afterwards into the same order again as soon as Affairs would give him leave where he continued to his death and died in great opinion of Sanctity And since upon occasion I have been drawn aside to mention this Marriage out of its due order it is reasonable that I now speak of that of the Duke which happened at this time The Duke therefore having been offer'd a match with the Sister-in-law of his King and having been esteem'd not unworthy to marry with the King of Navarre's Sister her Brother being at that time immediate Heir to the Crown It is to be presum'd he might reasonably pretend to the greatest Fortune whatsoever in France but amongst the many were propos'd to him he preferr'd that with Marguerite de Foix and de Candelle Daughter and Heir to Henry de Foix and de Candelle and to Mary de Montmorency before all the rest The Father and Mother of this Lady died both young her Mother of Sickness and her Father at the Siege of Sommieres For the Duke de Anville his Brother in law having undertaken that Siege the Compte do Candelle rais'd two thousand men amongst his Tenants in Gascony to favour his Design a very considerable supply in the weak condition the Duke de Anville's Army then was where being come and finding the breach already made and the assault ready to be given he intreated the Honour of the first Assault might be conferr'd upon his men who he desir'd might give immediate proof of their Valour A fatal request which having been granted to him
made he prepar'd the Army for a general assault The assault was accordingly given in the beginning of which Bedossan being slain Campagnol took upon him his Authority and Command giving the Enemy after two hours sharp fight a brave and notable repulse which notwithstanding the breach was so wide as was impossible long to be defended by so few men as he had left which made the Enemy by frequent Messages often put him in mind of what he himself knew as well as they by representing to him the desperate condition the place was in and his own inevitable ruine should be longer persist in his defense offering him at the same time conditions of Honour and Advantage if he would deliver up the Town but all to no purpose he had not put himself into that place with so much hazard of his life to depart thence in so great security the assault therefore was again renew'd and the Enemy again beaten back but coming up the third time with greater fury than ever before and bringing up still fresh Companies to succeed those who were beaten off Campagnol's men were in fine overcome by numbers and constrain'd to retire a thing their Captain scorn'd to do who though alone and abandon'd by all still fought with the same courage and vigour when his resistance how brave soever being too weak to stop the torrent of a victorious crowd he was at last rather overwhelm'd than overcome and by a multitude taken prisoner with this resemblance nevertheless betwixt his honour and disgrace that as he had appear'd single in the defense of the Town so was he also alone in his imprisonment the Enemy killing all that fled before them without humanity or respect of persons excepting of his who had so undauntedly stood alone in his defense wherein his Vertue was his refuge D' Avila attributes this Action to the Sieur de Matelet whom he qualifies Governour of Foix although Cardinal Bentivoglio in his description of this Siege Mounsieur de Thou and D' Aubigné make no mention of any such man Yet it is true that Matelet had so great a share in the business as ought not to be pass'd over without its due report of honour for the King having commanded him with an hundred Gentlemen of his Court to cut his way through the Enemies Army during the heat of the Assault and to put himself into the Town it was no fault of his that his Majesty fail'd of his desire he did what was by valour to be done though he was not so fortunate as to perform his Majesties command neither was the Enemies Army so thin but that they had men enough to maintain the Assault and at the same time to intercept such petty succours as those so that those hundred Gentlemen were almost all cut to pieces with very little resistance a panick fear having made them blind to their own safety and honour excepting Matelet who bravely fighting as fortunately escap'd Thus was Calice lost the King himself in a manner looking on after which Guines and Ham were carried without resistance successes with which Rhosne being yet unsatisfied he had moreover the confidence to undertake the Siege of Ardres which the same day that la Fere was surrendred to the King surrendred also to him as if he had been in fee with Fortune and that she had been oblig'd to give him all the respite was necessary for the execution of his Designs for in effect the same day that concluded the Cardinals Conquests had in all probability determin'd of his honour and put a ruinous period to all his Affairs had his successes gone on with never so little a slower pace The King in the whole course of his life was never perhaps more astonish'd and afflicted than at these disgraces and his great spirit was prone enough to prompt him on to an immediate revenge by obstinately settling himself to the recovery of the Places he had lately lost since the Cardinal 's sudden retreat had put him out of all possibility of fighting but his prudence laying before him the difficulty of the enterprize he rather chose to give his Army some refreshment which had been tir'd out with the tedious Siege of la Fere than anew to expose them to other dangers and such as were like enough to be the ruine of them all Wherefore having distributed them into the most commodious quarters upon the Frontier to be in readiness against the next fair season he left the Mareschal de Biron to command them with order upon the first opportunity to enter into the Enemies Country and to make them feel his Majesties Arms whilst himself retir'd to Paris to consult with his Subjects about the means he was to pursue in the vindication of his own and the Nations honour for the Attempts the Enemy had made upon his Crown and Kingdom The King being come to Paris and either not expecting or not finding that readiness or ability he expected in his own people who having been harrass'd and impoverish'd with past mischiefs were now very unfit to supply him with mony proportionable to the greatness of his designs he saw he must of necessity have recourse to Strangers his ancient Consederates and Allies to which purpose he dispatch'd away Ambassadors to Elizabeth Queen of England to the States of Holland and to some Princes of Germany during which Negotiations the Pope who from the month of September 1595. had given the King Absolution in the persons of Messieurs du Perron and d' Ossat his Majesties Agents at Rome desiring now to see an effectual re-establishment of the Catholick Religion in France and a reformation of such abuses as were crept into the Church during the disorders of the Kingdom resolv'd upon sending a Legat at this time to appoint what was necessary to be done for his entire satisfaction Neither was this the only though the principal end of this dispatch this good and holy Pope having further a design to set on foot a Treaty of Accommodation betwixt the two Crowns conceiving he did not fully discharge the Duty of the Common Father of Christians if after having given repose to the King's Conscience he did not also procure a good and lasting Peace betwixt two the greatest Princes of the Holy Church To this good end Cardinal de Medicis the Pope's Legat fail'd not according to his Instructions so soon as he arriv'd in France to offer some propositions of Reconciliation betwixt the two Crowns which though well receiv'd by the King yet did they not hinder him from making his preparations for a smart and vindictive War he had as has been said renew'd his Alliances with his Confederates and had further call'd an Assembly of several the most intelligent persons of his Kingdom by their joynt advice to find out the most easie and indifferent ways of raising mony upon his people for the prosecution of the War which Assembly by reason of the Plague which was that year
come up to them and that in all probability there would be sudden action yet durst no one venture positively to determine whither that preparation was directed or who was to feel the first edge of his Arms neither shall I presume to deliver these conjectures for truth nor suffer my curiosity to transgress the bounds this mighty Prince in his wisdom prescrib'd even to the most faithful Ministers of his Kingdom This brave and laudable ambition having long possess'd his generous heart he had from the first Idea of his design wisely laid up for the means to effect it that it might succeed to his glory and to that end from the time peace was first settled in his Kingdom had been gathering and had now got together a prodigious Treasure His Artillery and Ammunitions were all ready and in equipage fit to execute his vast designs France was able to furnish him with an infinite number of old Souldiers neither in the fair weather he had been so solicitous to maintain at home had he forgot to take a particular care of breeding so many brave Captains and good Souldiers in the Low-Country-Wars as were sufficient in a very short time to bring such raw men as should be rais'd into very good discipline Besides the Forces of his own Kingdom he had made a League with all the neighbouring Princes The Duke of Savoy the Republick of Venice the Duke of Florence and almost all the Princes of Italy the Prince of Orange and most of the Princes of Germany with the Hanse-Towns of the Empire were engag'd to joyn with him And the King of England had made great preparation in favour of his designs so that in all apparence what and how great soever these designs might be they were very likely to succeed Nothing then being wanting but a pretense to give colour to his action the death of the Dukes of Cléves soon supply'd him with one as good as he could desire for after his death the succession to his Dukedom being pretended to by all his Brothers-in-law who were five the Marquis of Brandebourg the Duke of Nâ—whourg the Count Palatine the Duke of Deux Ponts and the Marquis of Burgau all these Princes agreed to appeal to the King and to stand to his Arbitration but whilst they were pleading their titles in the Court of France the Emperour pretending all vacant Jurisdictions to be Fiefs of the Empire and that for want of Heirs Males he had right to seize them in trust had there establish'd the Arch-Duke Leopold his Cousin as his Deputy and Governour for and under him in order to which delegation the Arch-Duke had already by the assistance of the Austrian Forces possess'd himself of the best part of the Dutchy by the taking of Iuliers notwithstanding that the King had publickly declar'd he desir'd things might remain suspended till every man's Title was examin'd and the true Heir could be known And this was in effect all the reason could be given for this mighty preparation though an Army consisting of forty thousand French Foot ten thousand Swisse ten thousand Horse and fifty pieces of Cannon with their Equipage together with the Leavies the confederate Princes were still on all hands preparing to joyn with him giving all the world to understand that so great Forces were design'd for some other end than only for the Accommodation of a particular Quarrel all men were in suspense and in great expectation of what the event would be The Army then being in the Field and the King ready to depart from Paris his Majesty would yet first take so good order to secure the interior Peace of his Kingdom that he might not when at a great distance and in the heat of his Enterprizes be call'd back by Domestick troubles A consideration that made him determine to devolve his Royal Power to the Queen and to cause her to be declar'd Regent in his absence and knowing that how good soever her intentions were and how sincere soever her administration might be yet that the sovereign Authority he left her invested withal would require the Fidelity Courage and Prudence of some great and experienc'd Minister to support it he cast his eye upon the Duke of Espernon to confer upon him that great Trust and Honour In this resolution therefore having one day call'd for the Duke and causing him to come into his Closet where he was then with the Queen alone the Duke was not a little surpriz'd at the favourable and obliging Character his Majesty was then pleas'd to give of him to the Queen on so unexpected an occasion He told her That being upon the point to go out of the Kingdom the Government whereof he had during his absence committed to her care he had consider'd how necessary it would be for her to have a faithful Servant about her person upon all occurrences that might happen and in occasions where the modesty of her Sex would not permit her to act in her own person to be assisting to her with his Wisâ—om and Valour That having to that end severally weigh'd the abilities of all the chief Officers of his Crown he had found none in whom the qualities necessary for so great an employment were more eminent than in the person of the Duke of Espernon there present That having had a long experience of his Fidelity Wisdom and Valour he had determin'd to deprive himself of his Service though infinitely necessary to him in the prosecution of his designs and to send him back to her upon the first sally of his Arms. That she might repose an entire and perfect confidence in him as he himself also did who knew him to be a man of approv'd Fidelity and Honour That he was going to execute designs wherein he was likely to meet with many difficulties and perhaps some danger but that whatever should happen he desir'd her to rest secure in the Duke's vigilancy and care for which he would undertake both to himself and to her After which turning to the Duke he told him That he did not require from him any confirmation by new promises of those things whereof he had assur'd the Queen in his behalf That he had had so many proofs of his Vertue in the integrity of his former Actions it was not now to be suspected that he conjur'd him by the esteem and affection he had for him to justifie his expectation to serve the Queen and the Princes his Children with the same Fidelity he had serv'd him and to promise to himself for his reward all the acknowledgement he could reasonably expect from a grateful Prince and a good Master The Duke a little out of countenance at what the King had said in his favour made answer in few words That he did humbly acknowledge his obligation to his Majesty for so high a Character and for the unexpected Honour he was pleas'd to confer upon him which in the nature of it was far above all others he had
of this Princes Protection had prevented others in the possession of his Favour and conceiving he should make himself more acceptable by rendring the affection of other Grandees suspected to him he had amongst others pointed out the Duke of Espernon for one of those of whom he had most reason to complain An ill Office that having at first preferr'd in general terms he afterwards pursu'd by particular circumstance telling the Prince that the Duke had doubled the Guards of the Louvre at his arrival and put all the King's Family into Arms as they had been to defend it against a common Enemy Which impression the Prince was more apt to receive by how much he believ'd that the Duke being already in a great degree of Favour with the Queen and very intimate with the Count de Soissons must needs be jealous of his return which he could not consider but as a great power directly opposite to all his concerns which made him at the first interview receive him not only with apparent coldness but also not able to dissemble his dissatisfaction reproach him for having endeavour'd to possess the Queen with some suspicions to his prejudice The Duke surpriz'd at so unexpected an entertainment and so groundless a reproach he having alter'd nothing in the usual Guards that had been kept in the Louvre since the King's Death and nettled with the sense of so injurious an Office gave aloud the Lye to all those who had branded him with so false a Calumny Yet would not this publick and generous profession of the truth so satisfie and appease the Prince that there was not still some remains of discontent in his mind against the Duke He did not think him so affectionate to him as to the Count de Soissons and seeing him advanc'd to that height of Reputation with the Queen could not expect he should be favourable to him in the design he had to assume that place in Court and to share that Authority in the management of Affairs which were due to his Birth and Greatness So that here the Court was divided the Prince of Condé having his Faction and the Count of Soissons his amongst whom the Duke of Espernon was the chief and most considerable member Yet did not this diversity of Interests produce any sudden ill effect the Princes paying a due respect to the Queen and being by her admitted into the debate of Affairs though the most important were carried on by other hands The Cabinet Council at this time consisted of the Duke of Espernon the Chancellour de Sillery President Ianin and Mounsieur de Villeroy wherein the Duke's Vote had the greatest sway and his Opinions did usually prevail by whom it being conceiv'd necessary for the honour of the Nation and the memory of the late King to pursue the Enterprize of Iuliers which had been the pretense of his Majesties Arms he propounded and got it to be concluded that the Mareschal de la Chasire with an Army of 10000 Foot and 1200. Horse should be sent to assist the interested Princes in the restitution of this Place The issue of which expedition was as succesful as could be wish'd the places possess'd by the Arch-Duke Leopold were restor'd into the hands of the Marquis of Brandebourg and the Duke of Newbourg so that Affairs on that side remain'd in as good a forwardness as could be desir'd to be shortly compos'd as they were to the satisfaction of the German Princes As in the occasion we spoke of last things were carried on for the honour so was it no less necessary for the safety of the Kingdom to give some satisfaction and assurance to those of the Reform'd Religion in the beginning of this new Reign it being very much to be fear'd this Faction which at this time was very powerful pretending a violation of the Edicts formerly publish'd in their toleration might run into insurrection to the ruine of the publick peace Wherein the Duke was of opinion to prevent either the real jealousie or else the evil intentions of those who were likely to breed any Commotion by Declarations to confirm the ancient Edicts granted in their favour It is very true that he had no kindness for their Religion but he thought it nevertheless unfit to violate the publick Faith where what he did then for reason of State he has ever since observ'd in his own particular administration so that though an enemy to new opinions he was notwithstanding ever very solicitous to maintain the professors of them within his Governments in peace and safety and it has been observ'd that although at Metz the best Families of the City were of that perswasion that they abounded in Xaintongue and Angoumois and that Guienne was not free it could never be perceiv'd that he made any distinction betwixt them and other the Kings Subjects except where he found them refractory and disobedient to his Commands These precautions so seasonably apply'd in this turn of State secur'd the Peace of the Kingdom both within and without to so fortunate a degree that a more happy Government could not possibly have been wish'd Which certainly if we consider the great number of discontents within before the King's death the distastes many persons of great Quality had taken who breath'd nothing but revenge with the Ambition that reigns in all Courts able to overthrow the surest foundations is infinitely to be wondred at To which may be added the envy of neighbouring Princes who could not without anxiety and apprehension suffer the height of prosperity to which France was already advanc'd together with the Artifices of such as usually in the troubles of a State seek to repair the ruines of their own desperate Fortunes all which evil dispositions could not according to humane imagination have found a more favourable juncture than during a Regency to have produc'd their fatal effects and yet never was France at greater peace within it self nor more respected of her Neighbours than in all the whole time of the Queens administration Wherein though I dare not I confess attribute the whole reputation of the good Government to the Duke of Espernon alone who having call'd the most prudent and experienc'd Ministers of the latter Reign into his Councils they ought also to share in the praise yet can I not in equity deny him the first place of Honour he having without dispute the greatest Authority and consequently having ever carried the greatest sway in the results of the most important Affairs This Power and Reputation being the ordinary objects of envy even amongst men of equal condition it is no wonder if the Princes of the Blood were jealous of the Duke of Espernon's greatness who as they said unknown to them dispos'd the greatest Affairs of the Kingdom wherein they particulary complain'd that he had perswaded the Queen to resolve upon a match betwixt the King and the Infanta of Spain a thing which in his Minority was not to
places The first intimation of this design the Duke receiv'd from the Queens own mouth who by a favour never before or since granted to any permitted him to take a number of select Souldiers in his own Livery for the Guard of his Person to attend him in all places so much as into the Louvre it self which favour was highly improved to him when for his greater security she moreover gave way that he should chuse some Gentlemen of Quality of his most confident Friends to enter with him arm'd even into her own Cabinet Those whom the Duke made choice of for this purpose were Chetin Brother to the Mareschal de St. Geran Sauue-Baeuf Bonneval the Count de Maillé Castelbaiart and Marillac all men of approved Valour a Grace which though it gave great jealousie and distaste to the Princes and Grandees of the Court who were the Duke's Adversaries her Majesty thought it fit notwithstanding to give him leave to defend his own life against whomsoever would make any attempt against it Amongst these many and great disputes wherein the Duke saw himself involv'd he forgot not the care of his Childrens Education whom he brought up to the most laborious Exercises and for whom after a foundation of Letters not only of a bare knowledge in the Latine Tongue but in the Principles of Philosophy also he took care to provide the greatest man without contradiction in Europe for the Exercises of the Body especially that of Riding which was the Sieur de la Broâ—e formerly in the Constable de Montmorencies entertainment after whose Death the Duke gain'd him to himself by so great Benefits that he gave him at one clap ten thousand Crowns in Gold with an Annuity of a thousand Crowns issuing out of the Hostel de Ville of Paris the most certain Revenue at that time in France Neither did he here limit his Bounties Under this Gentleman's excellent Discipline his two eldest Sons arriv'd to such a perfection in their exercises that no young Lords of their condition in the Kingdom went before them When they had acquir'd as much by precept as seem'd necessary he conceiv'd it time they should establish that knowledge by experience and by observing the manners and ways of living of other Countries to which purpose having put them into an Equipage suiting their quality he sent them into Germany to the end that by the different Governments of the several little Republicks of which the vast body of that Empire is compos'd they might be better enabled to judge of good and evil customs and extract a more certain knowledge for their own future conduct in the Employments to which they were by him design'd They arriv'd in that Country in a very troublesome time when all ways were very difficult and unsafe but the illustrious name of the Father in greater repute in any part of Europe than in France it self present vertues being for the most part less consider'd did not only open all ways and secure all passes to them but made them also receiv'd with great respect and honour'd with many civilities and favours by all the Princes and Republicks of both parties After having staid some time in Germany and visited at leisure the Cities and most eminent places there they went from thence into Italy where they made a considerable stay and where for the greatest part they made their residence at Rome continuing still their Exercises from whence they went to visit the most eminent Cities of that sweetest part of Europe where having made an acquaintance with most of the Princes and Lords of that Nation they return'd into France Whilst the two eldest were thus forming their minds and bodies to such qualities as were either necessary or at least becoming their condition Lewis the youngest of the three design'd for the Church was with no less care brought up in the knowledge of Letters whom so soon as the Duke his Father conceiv'd to be of a fit age he sent him to La Flesche to the Colledge of the Father Jesuits where the discipline requisite for the profession he was to take upon him was in very great repute He there continued several years and came not thence till he had first run through all the degrees by which men climb to the highest pitch of knowledge and in effect when he was call'd thence to come to Court he had made so happy a progress that Cardinal Perron a great friend of his Fathers having been by him intreated to discourse with his Son had an exceeding great opinion of him and believ'd him likely to make one of the greatest men of that age if he proceeded in his profession with a diligence proportionable to the great parts wherewith he enter'd into it The three Brothers arriving almost all at the same time at Court the Duke their Father began to think of establishing the greatness of his Family upon the surest foundation and thereupon consider'd each of them by himself for the dividing his Estate amongst them wherein though they were all embellish'd with so many excellent qualities that it could hardly be discern'd which had the greatest merit yet the Duke having design'd to confer his own name upon the second that consideration enclin'd him a little more to him than the other two By Article at his Marriage with Margaret de Foix Countess of Candale his eldest Son was to carry the name of Foix and to inherit his Mothers Estate clear'd and augmented by the Duke's mony and his own name was also so great what by the vertue of his Ancestors and what by his own that he would not leave him on whom it was conferr'd inferiour either in Reputation or Estate to any whomsoever of his condition in the Kingdom He had already by his Service obtain'd from the Queen Regent the Reversion of all his Offices viz. of that of Colonel General of the Infantry of France of first Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber an Office he had ever kept since his first Favour of Governour of the City and Cittadel of Metz and of the Messin Country of the Provinces Cities and Castles of Xaintes and Angoulesme of the City and Government of Rochelle the Country of Aulins with the higher and lower Limousin of the City Castle and Territory of Boulogne and of the City Country and Castle of Loches all which he at this time thus divided amongst his three Sons To his eldest the Count of Candale he assign'd in present causing him forthwith to be admitted into it the Office of first Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber with the Governments of Angoumois Xaintonge Aulins and Limousin in Remainder to which he added the whole Estate of the House of Candale amounting to above fourscore thousand Livers yearly revenue in goodly Lordships as also the Dutchy of Espernon with the Earldom of Montfort together with other Lands arising to above fifty thousand Crowns a year to which the Duke having obtain'd an assurance of a Mareschal's Staff for this Son so
inroads of the Christians those who had the Guard of it were so vigilant to its preservation that there could be no hope of effecting any thing by surprize Neither could the Admiral of the Tuscan Gallies Signior Enguerrany by name who was to answer for any miscarriage in the Enterprize resolve to hazard an attempt in which he evidently saw so many and almost invincible difficulties but the Count de Candale having generously desir'd the greatest danger might be conferr'd upon him and his his noble resolution cut off all disputes and the assault was forthwith concluded If in the proposition of this Enterprize the Count had evidenc'd the bravery of his Spirit he made it in the execution more manifestly appear Don Pedro Medici of the Duke 's own Family having resolv'd to make one in this Voyage would do the Count de Candale the Honour to fight in his Squadron which having had the precedency in landing had the same deference continued to them throughout the whole Action which so succeeded to the Count's glory that after a stout resistance he forc'd the place by Petards and took it yet not without the loss of some Christians whereof some Gentlemen of Quality in his own Squadron there lost their lives Pedro Medici was himself desperately wounded Le Plessis more slightly as also Monberaut and some others but Villandry la Boissiere and Vernegue were laid dead upon the place A loss however soon recompens'd by that of the Turks who had above 300. men slain in the Fight with two hundred and fifty of them made slaves as two hundred and forty Christians were set free So that the Florentine General having seiz'd of all the spoil the Count de Candale contented himself with the bare Honour of the Victory The Fortress was set on fire and in a short space totally consum'd the chiefest the â—urk had upon that Frontier and that serv'd as a Port to being but five Leagues distance thence This action carried on with so great prudence and perform'd with so admirable Valour was crown'd with an universal applause So that the Count de Candale return'd into France loaded with Glory and Praise and Le Plessis having whilst he was abroad sweetned his temper and given him a better taste of his Fathers Affection at his return home he also return'd into his Duty and filial Obedience which made the Duke with an excess of joy receive him with open arms into his bosom a re-union that continuing some years the Count liv'd at Court in great Honour and as high Reputation as any Gentleman of his condition in the Kingdom At this time there likewiseâ— hapned an absolute and perfect reconciliation betwixt the Duke and the House of Guise for as the refusal of the Marriage of Madamoiselle de Montpensier had lost him the Count de Soissons friendship so did the consummation of that of the Dutchess of Montpensier her Mother with the Duke of Guise acquire him that of that Duke and all his Family This great Alliance in the revolutions that after hapned was of no little importance to the Duke of Espernon The favour of Concino Concini Marquis d' Encre began at this time to shew it self and to appear out of the concealâ—dness and obâ—curity where it had till now lain hid and to raise it self to such a prodigious stature as drew upon the Marquis the envy of the whole Court I do not here pretend to speak of the Birth of this Favour nor of the degrees by which it rose to that excessive height to which it was so suddenly advanc'd I shall only say that this Marquis finding himself too weak to bear the great weight of Envy with which he found himself oppress'd sought the friendship and support of the Duke of Espernon who he knew was alone sufficient to protect him against all the rest and to whom how ambitious soever he might be in his own nature he made no difficulty to submit He had in the spring of his favour receiv'd several good Offices from him in acknowledgment of which or to interest the Duke further in his preservation he caus'd the Marriage of his only Daughter with the Marquis de la Valette the Duke's second Son to be propos'd unto him offering with her in Dowry the Office of Constable for the Duke himself so soon as the King should come out of his Minority of which the time was near at hand and for the Marquis Mony and Offices as much and as many as they could expect by the means and through the mediation of a Favourite who through his Wife possess'd an absolute Empire over the Queen Regents will Would the Duke have taken the advice of many of his Servants he had not perhaps as he did rejected this pâ—oposal but he would never suffer himself to be overcome either by the importunity of his Friends or the consideration of his own peculiar interest as to that motion insomuch that instead of receiving so advantageous offers with some shew of civility and respect he fail'd little of rejecting them with injury and contempt as he did with great disdain nay he express'd great offense and unkindness against those who press'd him to it An obstinacy that I have often heard condemn'd by some who believ'd the Duke had never fall'n into those disorders whereinto he saw himself afterwards plung'd by the Marquis d' Encres excessive favour had he made himself Moderator that is Master of Affairs as he might with great ease have done but as he would pretend to no favour himself so could he endure no other Favourites insomuch that he would rather make it his business to pull this down than by his interest to serve himself in doing his own work Though by this repulse the Marquis d' Encre upon whom all things depended at that time was infinitely cool'd towards the Duke yet did he not manifest any disgust at all The Duke was so necessary at Court the Queen could not be without him he had propounded and caus'd the Match with Spain to be resolv'd upon contrary to the opinion of the Princes of the Blood and divers others of great condition who follow'd their interests yet could not the busines be carried on to the Queen satisfaction if he did not remain at Court to fortifie such in their first resolution as otherwise might perhaps be taken off by the consideration of the great power of those who so stiffly oppos'd it It was therefore necessary to make use of him in this occasion for the accomplishment of what had been first propounded by him and in the end the conditions of the two Marriages having been mutually accepted of in both Courts there was great demonstration of joy in both Kingdoms France particularly pouring out it self in magnificences to a degree almost of profusion could too much gratitude have been express'd for a blessing that has already produc'd so much happiness and that is likely to bring much more to the Kingdom Whilst the Court
was busie about the preparation for these solemnities the Prince of Condé and the Count de Soissons suddenly withdrew from Court whose retirement together with some discontent those of the Religion made shew of at the same time gave great apprehension that matters were likely to come to a speedy rupture but the wisdom of the Queens Council having apply'd seasonable remedies to this disorder if they did not absolutely take away the effect of what they fear'd they at least deferr'd deferr'd it so that the publick Peace was for this time secur'd The Queen caus'd the Princes to be treated with who were at last content to return to Court and to sign the conditions of the Marriage and those of the Religion having by this little disorder procur'd some inconsiderable concessions referr'd to a fitter opportunity the design they had to interrupt the main work which they conceiv'd would be infinitely prejudicial to their Interest and Safety I cannot in this place forbear another digression from my Subject to speak of the acquisition the Duke made at this time of one of the principal Servants he ever had in his Family and one whose merit made him afterwards very eminent at Court where he obtain'd no little Favour and Esteem with the King himself and this was the Sieur de Marsillac a Gentleman of as great valour and as graceful a presence as any whatsoever of his time This man had formerly had a dependence upon Balagny call'd the Brave of the Court whom Balagny had taken out of the Regiment of Guards where he trail'd a Pike to put him upon one of the boldest and most honourable Actions a Gentleman of his condition could possibly undertake and that was to carry a Challenge to the Duke of Eguillon since Duke of Mayenne This business hapned in the Reign of Henry the great who did not condemn him for it and though it was the first of this nature that perhaps had ever been known in France gave notwithstanding the Duke of Mayenne his Father no satisfaction therein what complaints soever he could make I have heard Marsillac himself tell the story He adventur'd a poor younger Brother as he was to go execute his Commission even in the Duke d' Eguillon's own Bed-Chamber whose generosity and freedom he could never sufficiently commend he doing him the honour to go out with him alone to give his friend satisfaction without other caution than his own bare word though he could by no means prevail with him to let him be further concern'd in the Quarrel being resolute to end the dispute without a Second the only thing whereof he could complain in the Duke's behaviour towards him though he gave him at the same time as much reason to magnifie the extraordinary and noble care he took to conceal the action from the Duke of Mayenne his Fathers knowledge He was in the house when the Challenge was brought and has often been heard to say that had he known his temerity he would have caus'd Marsillac to have been tost out of the Windows to have taught him what it was to bring a Message of that nature to a Prince from a private Gentleman and doubtless he would have been as good as his word he was so highly incens'd at the affront which perhaps serv'd for an example shortly after to the Baron of Luz in his challenge to the Chevalier de Guise As for Marsillac after the death of Balagny who was kill'd in a Quarrel being entertain'd into the Duke of Espernon's Service he obtain'd under him in the command of his Guard which he bestowed upon him so high a reputation and esteem that he was at last desir'd by the King where his Majesty gave him a Company in his own Guards and his deserts were infallibly raising him to a much higher fortune if at the same time the King express'd the greatest esteem and affection for him he had not at the Siege of Privas receiv'd a Musquetâ—shot in his head which as it determin'd his hopes was also the reward of all his Service We here with a new year enter upon a new disorder of which the immoderate greatness of Conchini was either the effectual or at least the pretended cause and doubtless his favour and insolence were rais'd to that excess as rendred him intolerable either of which are sufficiently odious in whomsoever they happen to befound but being united in him pull'd upon him the hatred or â—nvy of all sorts of men The most part of the great ones seeing themselves excluded from all knowledge of Affairs neither is it possible to satisfie all who will pretend to that priviledge cast their eyes upon the Prince of Condé to interest him in their discontents and the Hugonot Faction not being able without great jealousie to see the Marriage accomplish'd was no less ready than those Grandees to break into open arms The one and the other then being in such a disposition had joyntly by the negotiation of the Duke of Boüillon recourse to the Prince of Condé perswading him to oppose himself to Conchini's greatness to demand punishment for those evils of which he had been the cause and a Reformation in the State the old and common pretense of all such as would infest the publick peace The Prince had ever since the death of the Count de Soissons been in high consideration not only by reason of his quality as first but also as it were sole Prince of the Blood to which his admirable endowments rendred him no less conspicuous than did the preeminence of his Birth He was knowing dexterous and intelligent in all sorts of business beyond what could be expected from his age notwithstanding all which great qualities something yet being wanting that some conceiv'd was requir'd in a person of his eminent condition they had not allow'd him that share in the management of Affairs he either merited or at least desir'd an injury that he very much resneting and moreover animated by the perswasions not of the Duke de Boüillon only but also by the Dukes of Longueville Mayenne Nevers and Luxeâ—bourg who had every one a particular pretext for his defection made him suddenly depart from Court and retire himself to Mezieres in Champagne from whence should he be smartly laid to he might conveniently retreat to Sedan To this place he was follow'd by all the other discontented Lords as for the Duke of Vendosme who had likewise promis'd to do the same not being able to get clear of the Court so soon as he intended having been detain'd prisoner in a Chamber of the Louvre he nevertheless finding means to deceive his Guards escap'd soon after to his Government of Bretagne where he did what he could to fortifie the Faction by the interest he had in that Province This great number of discontents put the Court into strange disorder the old Ministers of State who had seen nothing of a Civil War for many years apprehending this would
Reformation was expected to ensue was immediately follow'd by a War upon which the Council after having long waver'd in the uncertainty of the Peace so lately and so dearly bought saw it necessary at last to resolve The discontents of the Prince of Condé was again the cause of this as it had been of the late Commotion and those discontents again founded upon the greatness of Conchini now advanc'd to the honour of Mareschal of France The Mareschal therefore finding the Prince had conceiv'd an implacable animosity against him and very well foreseeing that unless he freed himself from the difficulties he would eternally strew in his way he could never raise himself to that pitch of greatness to which he did aspire he resolv'd to come to a publick Rupture with him and to remove him from the King's Presence by a War that should for a sufficient time secure himself from those obstacles he was otherwise certain to receive from so powerful an Enemy The Prince was already retir'd in great discontent from Court having as before taken the way of Champagne that he might be near Sedan his surest refuge should he be overmatch'd by the Royal Power where after Conchini had long amus'd him with the hope of some advantageouâ— Accommodation he at one blow cut him off that expectation by causing a Summons to be sent him to be in readiness to attend the King in his Progress into Guienne whither his Majesty was resolv'd shortly to take a Journey for the consummation of his Marriage an Affair that having ever been oppos'd by the Prince he very well understood the meaning of that Summons and now plainly saw how he was to trust in the strength of his own Arms. He had ever since the last breach been so solicitous to continue his intelligence and to maintain the League he had contracted with the Lords of his Party the precedent year that it was no hard matter for him to engage them in this nâ—w Quarrel the Dukes of Longuâ—ville Mayenne Vendosme and Nevers declar'd highly in his favour and the Duke of Boüillon whose interest carried the whole Hugonot Faction along with it did the same so that all things were apparently dispos'd for an intestine War in all the best Provinces of the Kingdom So many discontented persons and those so considerable in themselves put the Court into no little disorder the Kings Journey in order to his Marriage had been resolv'd upon and the time with the Spanish Agents concluded which was every where so publickly known that the Honour of the King and the Queen Mother was not a little concern'd in the consummation of a thing to which they were so solemnly engag'd but there was scarce any who durst undertake to overcome the difficulties were prepar'd to hinder that great Affair For after the retirement of all the forenam'd Princes there was not any remain'd at Court except the Dukes of Guise and Espernon who were capable of serving the King in so dangerous an occasion and of these the Duke of Guise though in shew well enough with the Queen stood nevertheless so suspected to her that she durst not trust an Army in his hands lest by joyning with the discontented Princes whereof the greater part were his Kindred or nearly ally'd to him his Majesties Person might be left wholly to their discretion and although she had not the same jealousie of the Duke of Espernon no body doubting his Fidelity yet could not that command be conferr'd upon him without giving offense to the Duke of Guise In this anxiety then how she might satisfie them both the Duke of Espernon went one day to attend the Queen where he made it his humble request to her Majesty she would not in the least consider his particular satisfaction in this occurrence Telling her he should ever be very well satisfied provided their Majesties were serv'd as they ought to be That he did hope they would and that he was doing something in order to securing their Journey so far as Bordeaux wherein he nevertheless pretended to no other Command than barely to ride in the head of those Friends which he should make ready for that Service That perhaps a greater Authority might give distaste to some who at this time were by no means to be disoblig'd That for what concern'd the Princes a good Army interpos'd betwixt them and Paris under the command of some man of Quality and Experience would be sufficient and that for any thing could be apprehended from those of the Religion whose greatest strength were in Poitou Xaintongue and Rochelle upon the way to Bordeaux he himself would undertake his Governments in those parts giving him sufficient power so to do The Queen Mother by this assurance being confirm'd in her first design â— told the Duke that she absolutely resign'd the King's Person and her own to his care and protection that she therefore desir'd him to order all things as should seem to him the most convenient as she absolutely left them to his Valour and Wisdom A Commission the Duke had no sooner receiv'd but that seeing himself authorized so to do he caus'd the King's departure the seventeenth of August to be proclaim'd perswading the Queen to confer the Command of the Army which was to attend the Princes motion upon the Mareschal de Bois-Dauphin advising her Majesty further and in the first place to provide for the security of Paris that the Princes Servants who had great Authority in the City might raise no commotion there in their Majesties absence After therefore that had been taken order for by the securing of some eminent and suspected persons the Court departed from Paris happily arriving in a few days at Poictiers and had not Madam the King's Sister fallen sick of the Small Pox delayed their Journey their Majesties had been upon their return before the Princes could have got their Forces together but that unhappy accident having constrain'd them to stay near two months at Poictiers gave their Enemies leisure to put them into great apprehensions which was also the only harm they received from this insurrection At the same City of Poictiers there hapned another disorder at this time wherein had not the Duke of Espernon who was principally concern'd in the Affair rendred himself unusually tractable another obstacle to that Progress had infallibly ensu'd The Duke of Guise from the time of his Marriage with the Dutchess of Montpensier had pretended to the Wardship of Madamoiselle her Daughter who was Inheritrix to such a Fortune as might reasonably induce any man to covet the management of so brave an Estate which nevertheless he could not obtain without the consent of the Duke who was great Uncle to the young Princess and he having very good reason to believe the Duke of Guise did in this claim more consider his own interest than that of the Dutchess of Montpensier his Niece would never gratifie him in that particular But the Duke of Guise conceiving
security than in any other place of the Kingdom All the Princes and Lords not only those then present at Court and who had engag'd with the Prince in the late commotions but also all the rest of their party astonish'd at so extraordinary a proceeding and believing that after an example like this neither respect of persons nor any security in general was to be expected they suddenly retir'd from Court to whom the rest almost as suddenly re-united themselves for their common safety The Mareschal who thought that by securing the Head of the Faction he had likewise secur'd himself from the danger of the rest was infinitely surpriz'd when he saw them now united in more formidable numbers than before and that the Lords of the House of Guise also absented themselves upon this occasion wherein nevertheless he had this hope that so many persons of equal quality would not long agree together especially if press'd home by the Royal Arms An opinion that made him resolve to set immediately such Forces on foot as should be sufficient to encounter and suppress them in several places at once Neither did he care to reduce any by Treaty save only the Duke of Guise conceiving an Accommodation with him would be more easily effected than with any of the other by how much he had ever observ'd a greater moderation in him and his Brothers towards himself than the rest to which likewise the complacency the Duke had ever manifested for the Queen in other occasions gave him greater assurance of a flexibility in him to her Majesties desires in this and that without much difficulty a good intelligence might be establish'd betwixt them as there afterwards was the Guises having receiv'd caution for their security being content to return to Court This little negotiation being so happily dispatch'd the Mareschal immediately betook himself to Arms and so vigorously that in a very few days three great Armies were set on foot whereof one was sent against the Duke of Mayenne who was retir'd to Soissons another against the Duke of Nevers in Champagne and the third against the Dutchess of Nevers who with a generosity something extraordinary in her delicate Sex was resolute to defend the Dutchy of Nivernois which was the Inheritance of the Duke her Husband In this disorder of Affairs the Duke of Espernon apprehending that the hatred the Mareschal had conceiv'd against him was no less than that he manifested against the rest and that he would infallibly fall upon him so soon as he had dispatch'd with them he had no mind to be surpriz'd nor to suffer himself tamely to be oppress'd considering therefore that alone he should not long be able to resist the power of the King whose name his enemy had usurp'd in all his Affairs he address'd himself to the Duke of Montmorency to engage him in his Quarrel by whose mediation he made no doubt to draw over l' Esdiguieres also The Duke knew those two to be no better satisfied with the present Government than himself who although they were not openly persecuted as he was yet the example of the other persons of the same condition making them reasonably to apprehend for themselves what they already saw others suffer he doubted not but that without much difficulty they would be perswaded to embrace the union neither was he mistaken herein the Duke of Montmorency as also l' Esdiguieres absolutely engaging with him So that these three Confederates having opportunity to concur in the work through the mediation and by the assistance of several powerful friends the Duke had in Guienne nothing could hinder them from uniting in so necessary a defense and so just a Quarrel The Duke notwithstanding he had thus wisely play'd his game and that he was certain to receive very great assistance from his Confederates did nevertheless very well understand that as he was nearest to the approaching danger so it would be very necessary for him to put himself soonest into a posture of defense that the Mareschal might not surprize him His thoughts therefore were fully intent upon the resolution of Arms but he wanted not only a cause but even a pretense to colour his preparation without which only to go about it was to make himself Criminal in the highest degree neither the Court Minion being absolutely his enemy could he reasonably hope either for a Commission from thence for the raising of men in the King's name and at his expense or so much as to be permitted to do it at his own charge In this strait and anxiety what course to take the Rochellers gave him as fair a pretense as he could possibly desire to do that under the vail of Duty and Obligation which he could not otherwise have undertaken without incurring the highest censure They had at this time surpriz'd a little Castle near to their City and situate upon the Sea-coast call'd Rochefort an enterprize condemn'd by all the world for the most sensless and unadvis'd that could possibly have been undertaken to begin a War by an action of so little importance in a time when themselves and their whole party were priviledg'd by so absolute and inviolate a Peace The Duke who had been at so great a loss before and that could not then have wish'd for a more specious pretense it may easily be imagin'd was very ready to lay hold of this occasion now neither did he fail herein to aggravate the misdemeanour to the height but repeating all the Accusations he had formerly preferr'd against the Ambition and Infidelity of those of the Reformed Religion and particularly against those of Rochelle he of them drew up a kind of Manifesto which he caus'd to be publish'd in all parts of the Kingdom In this Declaration he forgot not to reckon up the several insurrections those of that Faction had broke into to make their advantage of every disorder had at any time hapned in the Kingdom notwithstanding all satisfaction had been given them by the inviolate observation of â—everal Edicts granted in their favour That they had been observ'd for many years to call together Assemblies in Rochelle without either his Majesties Order or Royal Assent from which such unjust and unreasonable Propositions and demands were usually sent to the King as made it appear they did not Treat with his Majesty in the quality of Subjects but like Free-States that were nothing ally'd to his Sovereign Power That by such a behaviour it was plain enough the City was arriv'd to the utmost degree of Licence and that the Rochellers could never satisfie their Ambition till they had introduc'd a popular Government amongst them That if hitherto his Majesties Council had contrary to his Judgment and Advice wink'd at the progress of so dangerous a design that nevertheless he to whom the Government of their City was entrusted and who therefore was more concern'd than any other to keep such in their obedience as were committed to his care was
resolv'd to chastise their insolence which he nothing doubted but by the assistance of his own friends he should be able to do and to make them know they had hitherto been only strong in the weakness of our own Counsels This had in truth ever been his saying and the effects made it appear he had made a right judgment so that under this pretense he took Arms which as it was colour'd by a design that immediately pointed at his Majesties Service so did he not scruple to make use of the King's mony in the Levies he made upon this occasion With these summes though very small and some mony of his own he rais'd four Regiments of Foot consisting of above four thousand five hundred men and betwixt five and six hundred Horse to which were added sixscore Guards on Horseback in his own Livery a force which though not very considerable for their number were yet such as he conceiv'd sufficient to keep the Field against any he had a mind to offend The Rochellers who formerly had by many injuries highly incens'd the Duke no sooner saw him resolv'd and ready to advance in a posture of War even to the Gates of their City but they began now to examine their Forces which they had not so well consider'd before the danger and which the more they examin'd the weaker they found them to be This City the Capital of a powerful Faction and that had so often disputed the King's Authority enrich'd by an extraordinary Traffick and confederated with all the Protestant Princes of Europe finding it self in so weak a condition that it could not in this necessity muster 2000. men to sally out of their Walls utterly without Horse or the least assistance from any of their Confederates and Friends So that converting their usual Rhodomantades and Menaces into the most submiss terms of Humble Supplication addressing themselves by their Deputies to the King they humbly and with all importunity besought his Majesty to interpose his Royal Authority betwixt the Duke of Espernon and them that he might not commence a War against them Had the Rochellers made this confession of their weakness at another time it would doubtless have very well pleas'd the Council and 't is likely the Duke of Espernon would have been countenanc'd in his design to the end that City might have been made to know what they were one day to apprehend from their Prince's indignation but the Mareschal d' Encre unable to endure that his Capital Enemy should be in Arms and consequently in a posture fit to frustrate the design he had long projected of his ruine made the Council resolve to dispatch away Boissize one of the Council of State to the Duke with a positive command to lay down his Arms. Boissize at his arrival found the Duke with his Forces quarter'd at Surgeres but four Leagues only distant from Rochelle and ready to march up to the City neither did he fail with all the Rhetorick he had to disswade him from that resolution Representing to him the danger of what he was about lest the noise of the enterprize in hand should alarm the whole Hugonot Party whom the King would by no means should be provok'd and in which case of a particular Quarrel he would be the cause of a general War With which commands from the King and Queen he moreover mix'd menaces of their highest indignation should he disobey with many promises on the contrary of all satisfaction from the Court and the Rochellers if he would desist all which wanting force to divert him from his purpose the Duke gave order in the presence of Boissize to sound to Horse and nettled to the last degree at the difficulties he saw strew'd in the way of his designs march'd directly towards Rochelle Boissize seeing his endeavours altogether ineffectual and that the Duke was obstinate in his first determination after having highly protested against his proceeding went and put himself into the Town giving the Inhabitants thereby to understand that their Majesties had no hand in the Duke's Enterprize that it was absolutely contrary to their order and that therefore they were at full liberty to arm themselves for their own defense But this consent though it warranted their Arms gave them nevertheless no other power so that they were to suffer whatever the Duke was pleas'd to inflict upon them He quarter'd his men in their best Farms made his approaches up to the very Gates of their City and defeated some who under the protection of their Counterscape attempted to oppose him till in the end after having maintain'd his Army for almost a month at their charge and that his fury was a little abated by that little revenge he had taken in some inconveniencies he had put them to he grew more flexible to a new Order he receiv'd from Court and was at last content to let them alone It was by Vignoles that the Duke receiv'd this last Command a man for many years well known and highly esteem'd by him which rendred the Duke more flexible to a Treaty with him than the other from whose mouth having receiv'd his Majesties pleasure he made answer That having now made a discovery to the whole Kingdom of the Rochellers weakness the dis-union of their Faction and with how much ease they were to be reclaim'd when ever his Majesty should think fit he was content to let them rest in peace but that if the King had pleas'd he might at this time have punish'd their insolence as it was in his power easie to do he could without much trouble have done his Majesty a very important Service but he saw to his great affliction his Enemies who were prevalent with his Majesty envy'd him the honour of this Action but that he must however give place to their malice in obedience to his Royal pleasure though in a thing very prejudicial to his Majesties own peculiar Interest That therefore he would retire so soon as the Rochellers should surrender the Castle of Rochefort into his Majesties hands and that after that act of their Obedience having no other particular concern he had nothing more to desire of his Majesty for his own private satisfaction than that his Majesty would please to assert and avow what he had only undertaken for his Service in the past occasion Which being accordingly in another dispatch brought him by Vignoles and all those who had assisted and serv'd him in this occasion compriz'd he rose from before Rochelle dismissing his Army nevertheless in such sort that most of the Commanders most of them having relation to him might be ready upon the least warning to re-unite in the same equipage as before What the Duke had express'd to Vignoles of his discontents by word of mouth did not nevertheless save him the labour of writing to Court in such a style as manifested he still retain'd the honest liberty his great spirit had ever suggested to him during the Reigns of his two
but in the end seeing them after a walk of four or five hours continually brought back at night and that which at first surpriz'd them by its novelty being grown familiar by the continuation of it even the most penetratingly inquisitive began to grow weary of their suspicion letting them at last pass to and again without any regard at all And then it was that the Duke commanded the Sieur de Campels the Gentleman of his Horse who till that time had been as ignorant as the rest at his next ordinary sally to ride clear away and to go to a House near Sanserra and upon the Banks of the River Loire call'd Rezé belonging to le Puigeolet his Lieutenant in the Regiment of Champagne there to expect himâ— which was accordingly perform'd without the least notice taken or any noise at all This part being thus perform'd le Leige Major to Rembure's Regiment a Gentleman very expert in the Geographical Cart and an excellent Quarter-Master for the lodging of an Army came back to Metz whom the Duke had sent a few days before to discover all the ways by which he was to pass into Angoumoâ—s by whose extraordinary diligence the way was already chalk'd out and divided into Journeys the Fords all sounded and the whole thing exactly drawn into a Map After all which precautions the Duke still living at Metz as if he never had design to part from thence and having concluded with his Sons Rucellay and le Plessis the day of his setting out to be the 22. of Ianuary the ensuing year all things were thenceforward prepar'd with the greatest secreâ—ie and diligence imaginable to be ready against the time to come The Queen Mother had as you have heard signified in her last dispatch that she was in hope she might convey her person to any place the Duke should think fit to name thinking that the Letter she had receiv'd from the King after the Protestation she had made to Father Arnoux would priviledge her so to do she having full liberty given her therein to go whither she pleas'd into any part of the Kingdom but because that it was probable the design of that Letter was rather to comfort her in her solitude and to sweeâ—en her captivity than intended to give her absolute liberty to dispose of her person it was moreover thought impossible so to order the time that she could at a certain and punctual hour transfer her self to a place where she might be free to dispose of her self at her own choice Especially considering that all those who were about her the major part at least were Servants made and corrupted by the Court Minion Which sole difficulty appearing invincible it was at last resolv'd that to avoid all suspicion her Majesty should not stir from Blois but that the Duke or some other trusty person by him appointed should advance thither to receive and convey her first to Loches and from thence to Angoulesme This resolution being taken the Archbishop of Tholouze attended only by his own ordinary Train parted from Metz eight days before the Duke his Father to go into Angoumois The pretense of this Journey was to try to raise mony upon their Territories in those parts for their better support they having not as was pretended wherewithal to defray their necessary expense the Duke's Offices being now no longer paid him since his dispute with the Garde des Sceaux though indeed the true cause of his going was to confirm the Servants the Duke had in his Governments there in their Duty and to secure the strong Holds he had in Xaintonge and Angoumois by a seasonable prevention of any practice from Court There was also at the same time a dispatch sent to the Queen Mother to acquaint her with their resolutions that she might make her self ready against the day prefix'd the charge whereof Rucellay having taken upon himself he intrusted it to a young fellow whose name was Lorme one whom he had bred up of a Page and by whom he had in truth been very faithfully serv'd at Court in some affairs of no ordinary nature though in this and in the most critical time for the ruine of the Enterprize in hand he play'd fowl and stumbled into the foulest Treachery in the world He had often been employ'd to and fro upon this occasion wherein he had ever acquitted himself with great sincerity and discretion but now though he had not penetrated into the depth of the design yet guessing by the secresie had been enjoyn'd him that it must necessarily be of very great importance what recompenses soever he had been promis'd by his Master he chose rather by his infidelity to obtain them than by a vertuous action to deserve them Instead therefore of going to Blois and from thence to Confolant in Angoumois where he was order'd to expect the Duke after he should be dismiss'd by the Queen from whom he was to bring an accompt of the precise day of her escape he went directly to Paris where he address'd himself to some of the Duke de Luines his Servants to be by them presented to their Master to whom he said provided he might be secur'd of a good reward he would discover something of more than common concern To this desperate pass was the state of Affairs reduc'd when Fortune by a strange and unexpected accident set the Machine again on work upon its own proper Base Those to whom Lorme had apply'd himself for admission to Luines looking upon him as an Impostor either made no mention of him to the Duke at all or if they did represented him for such a fellow as they themselves took him to be making him wait at the Gates for three whole days together without giving him either admittance or answer In the interval of which three days le Buisson a Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris heard by chance that Lorme Rucellay's man was in Town which he had from one of his own people who being of Lorme's acquaintance had met him accidentally in the street At which intelligence le Buisson a man passionately devoted to the Queen Mother privy to her designs and an affectionate Servant of the Duke of Espernon's by reason of a Brother of his a Lieutenant in the Regiment of Guards who was one of the Duke's domesticks being infinitely surpriz'd forasmuch as Lorme had at other times ever been directed immediately to him and not being able to comprehend the cause of this alteration began presently to suspect there was some knavery in the wind He therefore presently took order to have my companion narrowly watch'd and was by his spies as faithfully inform'd of his being continually seen waiting at the Duke de Luines his Gate by which discovery judging aright at what he was about and foreseeing what mischief the sight of those Letters he knew he had about him would produce he undertook a dangerous but a very necessary act and that indeed prov'd the safety of
Upon which occasion the Duke of Espernon though very much incommodated with the expense of this War maintain'd almost throughout at his cost and by his interest endeavour'd nevertheless all he could to turn the best side outward pouring out himself in so many magnificences as perhaps he never had in his most flourishing condition so fair an opportunity of shewing the greatness of his mind and fortune After having lodg'd the Princes of Savoy in the Palace belonging to the Bishop of Angoulesme furnish'd throughout with his own rich Hangings emboss'd with Silver and Gold he entertain'd them with the pleasure of hunting a Stag presenting them with two very beautiful Coursers he had supply'd them with for that Chace After which he treated them three several times with so much splendour and magnificence that it could hardly have been greater at Paris The Tables which were forty times cover'd were at every covering serv'd with five several Courses neither was the profusion less at the entertainment of the Cardinal de la Rochefoucault and Brantes wherein if the excess made the Duke's liberality highly esteem'd it gave no less reputation to that little Countrey which could of it self furnish all sorts of provision in so great abundance It was not by the Cardinal de la Rochefoucault alone that the Queen Mother was complemented from the King and assur'd of his good inclinations and affection to her Luines who had a desire so soon as was possible to allure her from Angoulesme sending moreover thither le Pere Berulle at that time General of the Congregation of the Oratory and since Cardinal to settle her mind in a full confidence and security This Father a man of great Vertue and no less Capacity was very acceptable to the Queen and in no less esteem with the Duke to whom he had another quality of it self sufficient to commend him which was his near relation to President Seguier the Duke's most intimate friend After this person had dispos'd the Queen so soon as she could to come to the King he afterwards treated at great liberty and freedom with the Duke in the behalf of the Favourite from whom he deliver'd him other Letters full of affectionate expressions promising him withal in his name all sorts of good Offices and Service to which the Duke having answer'd with the same civility the Queen was in all apparence likely to be very secure and the Duke very well us'd for the time to come whose discontents as they had been the occasion of the War their satisfaction ought in all probability to have settled the Peace of the Kingdom though notwithstanding this fair outside of Affairs we shall see things fall out quite contrary in the ensuing year But to go on with the Subject in hand the Duke seeing all things now perfectly reconcil'd conceiv'd it very fit for him to write to the King to excuse what was pass'd which he accordingly did and indeed in terms of very great submission and respect though nevertheless far from any meanness or so much as any acknowledgment of the least offense Wherein he represented to his Majesty that having obey'd the Queen his Mother whom he had ever known passionately solicitous of the Kingdoms prosperity he never so much as imagin'd that the reverence he should pay to a person so nearly related to him could be reputed for a Crime That although in the very act of taking Arms to which he found himself oblig'd by an inevitable necessity he might possibly have given his Majesty some distaste he nevertheless conceiv'd he had by his behaviour therein so amply justified his good intention that no impression ought to remain in his Royal Breast but what should be to his advantage That he could confidently say that without so much as ever reflecting upon his own grievances and disgrace he had govern'd his passion from resolutions that might evidently enough have succeeded wherein he had sufficiently manifested the Reverence he bore to his Majesties Name and Arms though in the hands of his own particular enemies That he call'd all good Frenchmen to the test whether ever his own interest or animosity had transported him to any action contrary to his duty and whether he had not ever preserv'd his fidelity unspotted and pure during all the disorders of this Kingdom That he had now remaining but a short time to live and that he should himself conclude he had already liv'd too long could he find himself guilty of the least thought contrary to his Majesties Service and his own Duty That his Conscience being clear in that particular he demanded no other recompense for his Services pass'd than only a little repose in his old age expecting an occasion wherein he might honourably dye for his Majesties Service which was the conclusion of his Letter Dated at Angoulesme the 7th of Iune 1619. The Archbishop of Tholouze his Son was dismiss'd away with this dispatch who had also another Letter for the Duke de Luines in answer to those the Duke had receiv'd before The Queen in the mean time was preparing for her departure but her equipage being not to be made ready so soon as was desir'd at Court where she was with great impatience expected the Duke de Monbazon Father-in-law to Luines had yet time to come kiss her Majesties hands which was nevertheless by giving her new and greater assurances of all the good usage she could desire to press her with the soonest to part from Angoulesme and to separate her self from the Duke In the beginning of August therefore according to the Favourites desire she departed from Angoulesme in which Voyage the Duke only attended her to the borders of his own Government not caring to engage himself nearer to a Court to which he was so lately reconcil'd where the Queen at his taking leave after many gracious expressions of the infinite obligation she had to him presented him with a Ring of very great value together with a request that he would continually wear it for her sake as he did almost to his death This Ring was a Diamond cut into a heart and is at this day reputed one of the finest and cleanest for its size in France and this was all the Recompense he receiv'd for his Service he had done the Queen and for above two hundred thousand Crowns he was out of purse upon that accompt which nevertheless was more than he expected in the condition she then was having propos'd to himself in the undertaking no other acknowledgment and reward than the honour to serve her effectually and well upon this occasion The Queen after her departure from Angoumois arriv'd in a few days at Cousieres in Touraine a house belonging to the Duke of Monbazon where Luines accompanied like a Favourite with many persons of very great quality came first to wait upon her complementing her with the greatest civility and respect imaginable as he was also very graciously receiv'd And here
the Queen who had no mind to be kept any longer at a distance from the King her Son endeavour'd with Luines and that with all the insinuation and artifice her haughty and imperious nature would permit to remove those difficulties which as they had been the causes of their former separation were most likely to oppose their concurrence now The next day after her arrival the King with all his Royal houshold came also to Cousieres where at their first enterview there was nothing but mutual manifestations of great affection and tenderness on both sides from whence their Majesties went the same day to Tours where for some days they continued together but in the end after all this dissembled kindness the King returning towards Paris left the Queen more dissatisfied to see her self oblig'd to go to Anger 's after so many assurances that had been given her she should no more depart from Court than she had been before pleas'd with these demonstrations of Honour and Respect wherewith they had endeavour'd to deceive her credulity and to flatter her sincere intention From thenceforward therefore she so far resented Lâ—ines his ill usage as to meditate a revenge and how by a second War to procure what by this first Peace she saw she could not obtain neither was the Bishop of Luçon become now absolute with her sorry to see her so dispos'd He consider'd that whilst his Mistriss remain'd thus excluded from Court her power being so small his could not consequently be very great a consideration that made this aspiring spirit who already had propos'd to himself no less than the Government of the Kingdom suffer if possible with greater impatience than the Queen her self those obstacles that he saw were oppos'd to the level of his haughty Ambition and vast designs Animated therefore with these reflections he began to labour a good intelligence betwixt such as he knew were dissatisfied with the present Government to re-unite them in the Queens Interest as discontented as they Neither was it any hard matter to win many over to her side the happy issue the Duke of Espernon had single and alone procur'd to this Princesses Affairs having got him so great a reputation that the major part of the great ones of the Kingdom made no great difficulty of engaging in a cause they had seen so easily and by so little means to succeed Of this number was the Count de Soissons and the Countess his Mother the Dukes of Longueville and Vandosme the Grand Prior of France the Dukes of Mayenne and Retz with many other Princes and Lords of very eminent condition Had the Duke of Espernon not been concern'd in the first business he could never have been drawn into this so many confederates of almost equal quality giving him to apprehend more from their ill intelligence betwixt one another than he could reasonably hope from their union but the Queen who repos'd her chiefest confidence in him who had already made trial of his Service and found it so successful to her did so ply him with reiterated favours and entreaties that he could not handsomly avoid engaging in her behalf Neither had he so long stood off that he had fewer particular grievances than the rest but having engag'd his Faith to the Duke de Luines it would have been almost impossible to have perswaded him to break his word had not Luines himself given the first example and on that side it was that the Queen assaulted the Duke by representing to him the non-performances of those things had been promis'd and that as it had been principally through his assistance she had obtain'd all that had been granted to her she expected he should see the Articles of the Treaty fulfill'd endeavouring to perswade him that his own honour was no less interested therein than her satisfaction And that he might the better taste her reasons she fail'd not to prepossess him with all sorts of civilities and favour honouring him with some presents whereof one was a very fine Watch set all over with Diamonds and very curiously wrought which she accompanied with a Letter as kind as could possibly be writ upon such an occasion wherein amongst other obliging expressions she told him That the Diamonds wherewith it was embellish'd were not more firm than her affection and that he might assure himself the Services she had receiv'd from his generosity should ofter come into her memory than the hand of that Watch should point out hours every day To which words which were it seems the way of writing at that time and none of my invention I have neither added nor diminish'd But by this complement and several other testimonies of affection and esteem the Queen having awak'd the passion the Duke had to give her always all satisfaction she gave him consecutively a full accompt of her determination of all the persons of quality she had made to her party and of the powerful means she intended to make use of to re-instate her self in that degree of honour which was due to her Person and Dignity Whereupon the Duke considering this second action as dependent upon the first solemnly engag'd himself and made an absolute promise once more to serve her If the Queen was thus diligent to form and redintegrate her party Luines on the other side was no less industrious now than he had been before to break and disunite it He very well knew the Queen to be discontent which she had her self so publickly profess'd that could be no secret He was moreover inform'd that most of the great persons in the Kingdom had engag'd with her and though he doubted not but that the Duke of Espernon from whom she had for the time pass'd receiv'd so many good Offices continued still his ancient fidelity to her yet would he notwithstanding feel his pulse by la Croix de Bleré whom he dispatch'd away to him to that purpose This Gentleman therefore comes to the Duke to Angoulesme in the time of the Carnaval where he found him taken up with entertainments that nothing relish'd of the meditation of an approaching War making merry with the Company of the Town which at this Festival was increas'd with several Families of the neighbouring Gentry La Croix who would by all means make use of his dexterity to sound the Duke's intention met with a person in him that was not easie to be pry'd into so that the Duke after having discours'd with him in general terms of the Queen Mothers Interests and Affairs and having return'd a civil answer to Luines his Complement dismiss'd his Ambassadour perfectly instructed of what he conceal'd from none and of what he did not care Luines himself should know The first Essay having given the Favourite no great satisfaction who already saw that Affairs began to grow hot with the season that the Count de Soissons with the Countess his Mother had left the Court that the Duke of Mayenne
without the least opposition an action that nevertheless he undertook with great reluctancy so great an affection and esteem he had for the Governour but his Duty ever carried it with him above all considerations The Chevalier de Valette was therefore establish'd in this Isle and very opportunely for had not the Duke taken this course and that the Rochellers who had a design to seize it had once got footing there great force and vast expense must have been employ'd to remove them but the Duke by this foresight sav'd the King that charge and labour Certainly never was War carried on at greater convenience for the Souldier than in this Countrey which by its situation and vicinity to the Provinces of Poictou Xaintonge and Angoumois lay so exceeding conveniently for the bringing in of all sorts of Provision and other necessaries that they were scarce to be had in greater abundance or at cheaper rates in the best Cities of the Kingdom than they were in the Camp continually to be sold as also the people came in with their commodities with as great confidence and security as to the publick and ordinary Markets and they might do so the least violence to any Higler Sutler or other Provisionary Person being a crime so capital as never escap'd unpunish'd By which we may judge how much the continuation of our civil dissentions has impair'd the flourishing condition the Kingdom was then in and how much the constitution of War by being grown older is alter'd from what it us'd to be in those better times Whilst the Duke thus bravely acquitted himself of his Command before Rochelle his Majesty had also with extraordinary vigour prosecuted his designs in Guienne where he had compell'd most of the places possess'd by those of the Religion in that Province to submit to his Authority and Power Of which he had reduc'd Bergerac Saint Foy Puimirol Tournon Monflanquin with several others besieg'd and taken Clerac and at last laid Siege to Montauban though herein he had not been so successful as in his other enterprizes so that the year ending with this variety of Events his Majesty was constrain'd to return to Paris to let the stormy quarter blow over that he might in a more favourable season recommence the interrupted progress of his Arms. In his Majesties return to Paris a little paltry place situated upon the banks of the River Garonne call'd Monhurt had the impudence to stand out against the Royal Army an insolence which though it receiv'd its due reward prov'd notwithstanding fatal to the Duke de Luines who by a burning Feaver there ended his days by whose decease both the place he possess'd in the King's favour as also the Office of Constable of France became void The Duke of Mayenne had likewise a few days before left a vacancy in the principal Government of the Kingdom which was that of Guienne by a Musquet-shot he receiv'd in his head before Montauban by the fall of which two great Ministers the King as we shall hereafter see had means to recompense the Services of the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschal de l' Esdiguieres two of the eldest and best deserving Servants of his Crown The Winter was no sooner a little abated of its fury but that those of the Religion more elevated with the raising of the Siege of Montaubon than they had been dejected with the loss of so many other places as the King had taken from them took the field to give his Majesty a new and greater provocation than before Of these Soubize was the first that fell in his Majesties way who having fortified himself in the Isle of Reé and some other Islands of Poictou thought the difficulty of their access would protect him from the Royal Power but he soon found that all places are firm Land to Kings when his Majesty overcoming all difficulties that oppos'd his way pass'd over the Marshes and his own Fortifications within them to fall upon him where he gave him so notable a defeat that he could not of a long time after recover that blow nor put himself again into any tolerable posture of War So soon as the Duke of Espernon had intelligence of the King's motion towards those Provinces where he had the honour to command he design'd a Journey to his Majesty to give him an accompt of those discoveries he had made whilst he lay before Rochelle that were of greatest importance to his design a desire he had no sooner acquainted his Majesty withal but that he gave him leave to come to him to Poictiers where he accordingly arriv'd in the beginning of the year 1622. He could not possibly desire a more favourable reception than his Majesty was here pleas'd to give him who openly declar'd himself infinitely satisfied with his Service neither indeed could it by any one have been perform'd with greater fidelity or to better effect so that the King being resolutely bent to punish the Rochellers disobedience had a great desire that the Duke should still pursue the Siege as he had begun But the Count de Soissons a young Prince of great courage and expectation having been prompted by his friends to ask some employment he was not handsomly to be denied any thing almost he could demand every thing he would pretend to seeming justly due to his Birth and merit Amongst all the Commands of the Kingdom that the Duke had before Rochelle was without all dispute the most honourable and the Duke had notice given him a few days after his return to his Camp of the importunate suit the Count de Soissons made to have the Command of the Army under his charge conferr'd upon him an intelligence that perhaps the informer presum'd would have been very unwelcome to him but if the Duke knew how to stand upon his punctilio and to hold his own amongst his equals he also better understood than any man of the Kingdom what deference was due to the Princes of the Blood He was therefore no sooner advertis'd of the Count's desire but that he was himself the first man to second it representing to his Majesty in his dispatches how much it stood him upon to favour the inclinations of this young Prince that he might the sooner be made capable of performing those Services his Majesty was one day to expect from his Valour and Conduct He also renew'd the same instances by word of mouth when his Majesty came a few days after out of Poictou into Xaintonge though when all was done he himself would never be prevail'd upon to serve any more in this Army under this new General Monsieur d' Herbaut Secretary of State his old and particular friend was commanded by the King to speak to him about it who represented to him That his Majesties intention herein was not in the least to diminish his Authority in the Army nor to cut him off in the least from the exercise of his Command That if they took
well us'd by the Governour many Decrees by reason of the dissention betwixt the two parties remain'd unexecuted for not being justified by Power which gives life to Justice Such as were the most moderate and best dispos'd of the Company could not without great grief behold these confusions but those were not the prevailing part so that things being every day more and more exasperated it was infinitely to be fear'd they would in the end shoot up to the last extreme though they were already grown to a sufficient height The King inform'd of this strange confusion dispatch'd away Leon Brulart one of the Council of State and a man who having manifested his prudence in many great employments had acquir'd himself a great reputation both within and without the Kingdom to oppose his Royal Authority to the Torrent of these disorders This man arriv'd at Bordeaux in the month of Iune and labour'd with great sincerity and diligence betwixt the parties till September following but all in vain his dexterity that had unravell'd many great intricacies and overcome the greatest difficulties in his former employments could not be so successful here the Animosities were too great and the parties too stiff to admit of any Reconciliation yet did he well enough discover that the greatest aversions to it were not in the Duke as he satisfied the Court at his return to which both parties at last were forc'd to appeal and to submit unto a severe and definitive Determination after they had rejected all rational and moderate ways This Quarrel was on both sides carried on with extraordinary heat the first President himself was deputed by the Parliament to maintain their cause before the Council to whom President du Bernett a man of great esteem and approved wisdom and then thought very worthy one day to possess the first place in that Company as he afterwards did was also joyn'd The Duke also on his part dispatch'd away first le Plessis and after him Magnac his Kinsman a Gentleman of great Courage of an excellent Wit and very great Learning All these Deputies were several times heard in open Council where after having long and with great reverence pour'd out themselves in eloquent Orations a Regulation ensu'd at which both parties were equally displeas'd And then it was that all the world plainly saw and chiefly those who were immediately concern'd that they were not sorry at Court at the continuation of these dissentions and that the design being already laid to diminish all the Authorities of the Kingdom to unite them in one single person they were glad to see them insensibly put their own hands to their own destruction These little disorders were not yet fully compos'd when another of much greater importance began to disclose it self at Court which occasion'd the death of Chalais and the imprisonment of the Duke and the Grand Prior of Vandosme They would also have involv'd the Duke de la Valette who at this time retir'd to Metz in this Affair and to that end tempted him by la Louviere the Confident of Chalais to receive the Duke of Orleans into that City but they had to do with a man so well fortified in his Duty to his Prince that all la Louviere could obtain of the Duke was only a civil repulse in these terms That the place was none of his That he was only a substitute to the Duke his Father That he was therefore to apply himself to him and that for his part he should do whatever his Father would please to command him He could not have serv'd the King more faithfully than by retaining this respect to the Duke his Father whose principles he knew to be perfectly Loyal and himself inseparably ty'd to his Majesties Service yet was not the Court satisfied with this proceeding but the Duke who had also been tamper'd withal from the same part through the Negotiation of the Abbot d' Aubazine by the candour of his deportment so clearly justified their common intentions that both the one and the other had all the satisfaction they could themselves desire Yet was this satisfaction in words only and the Duke was notwithstanding very ill us'd in several occasions of which ill usage he could not forbear highly to complain neither in his complaints were the Queen Mother as powerful as she was nor the Cardinal himself excepted The hard measure he receiv'd under their Administration being so much the more sensible to him by how much he had infinite reasons as may be gather'd out of the former passages to expect they should have been altogether partial to his Interests but though his great and advantageous services had been so lately perform'd the memory of them was notwithstanding totally worn out and the Cardinal was already exasperated though by occasions of so little moment as scarce ought to have been taken notice of Neither doubtless would they have been had he been in another condition but as great Authorities are usually very tender in the great height of State and Power he then stood they carried in his opinion the quality of most high injuries which thenceforward dispos'd his heart to those strange Animosities which we shall see in time break out After the death of Chalais and the removal of such of the Monsieur 's Creatures as were suspected by their evil Counsels to debauch his good Nature and to alienate the affection he had to the King and the prosperity of the Kingdom it was no hard matter to dispose him to a Marriage with Madamoiselle Marie de Bourbon Dutchess of Montpensier This match had been thought worthy of him by Henry the Great his Father and the Duke of Espernon who had the honour to be great Uncle to this Princess prepossess'd with the hopes of so great a Fortune for his Niece and so great an honour both to himself and his whole Family had made no difficulty to expose himself to the hatred of the late Count de Soissons in refusing him as you may have observ'd before this Lady in Marriage for Lewis his Son And truly what rubs soever had hapned in the way of this Match the Duke notwithstanding never lost the hope nor the ambition to see it one day brought to effect It is not therefore to be doubted but that the accomplishment of a thing by him so ardently coveted must be highly pleasing to him The first news he heard of the consummation of these Nuptials was by a Gentleman dispatch'd away purposely to him by Madame the day after her Marriage wherein the high Dignity to which she was arriv'd nothing hindred her from paying the Duke the respect that decency and proximity exacted from her she writ to him therefore with her own hand and the express words of the Letter were these Uncle I doubt not but you will receive as much joy and satisfaction as any person at the happy accomplishment of my Marriage the news whereof I would no longer
of most of the Duke of Mantua's Cities and excepting Casal and Mantua it self were masters of the whole Dutchy The King justly incens'd at so great an injury offer'd to him in the person of his Ally might reasonably enough have reveng'd himself by the same way by which he had been offended but retaining it should seem a greater respect for the Duke of Savoy than he had done for him he dispatch'd an Ambassadour to him to complain That without denouncing of War and to the violation of their former Treaties he had taken Arms against a Prince whom as an Ally he was oblig'd in honour to protect advising him in the conclusion either to restore things to the condition wherein he had found them or to prepare himself to withstand the utmost power of his Arms which he was resolv'd to employ for the vindication of his own Honour and the protection of his Friends and Allies If the Duke of Savoy a Prince truly great in all things had not yet been more ambitious than he was great it had been no hard matter for him to have found out such a remedy as might easily have prevented the ensuing War but being big with the hope of taking Monferrat he was not to be perswaded to give over an Enterprize which he thought as good as certain to him He could not imagine that the King's Army tir'd out as it was with the incommodities of a tedious Siege could be in any condition of coming to trouble his designs neither did he believe that the King himself who had been expos'd to the same inconveniences his Army had suffer'd could be so soon able in his own person to undertake so troublesome a Journey which being presuppos'd nothing could have power to hinder his Affairs so that endeavouring to hold his Majesty in hand without giving his Ambassadour any positive answer or absolutely engaging his word he still continued his Usurpation The King impatient of this injury to his own person and more of the injustice done to the Duke of Mantua with a Resolution as generous in it self as the execution prov'd glorious to his Name concluded the following February to cross the Alpes and through all the difficulties of Snow and Ice to force his way to the defense of his Honour which in Italy was so highly engag'd An Expedition that the Duke of Savoy finding he could not with all his dexterity prevent he resolv'd by Arms to guard the Entry into his own Dukedom and to that end he caus'd the passage of Suze a pass nature her self had made inaccessible if any thing could be so to Valour to be strangely fortified but this strong Post the King made no difficulty to assault in which Service the Duke de la Valette Colonel of the Foot putting himself in the head of the Forlorn Hope drawn out of the Regiment of Guards first mounted the Enemies Works and shewing himself as much Superiour to his Followers in bravery as he was in Command in a few hours overcame all difficulties both of Mountains and men that oppos'd his way The Duke of Savoy after this defeat not knowing what to oppose against the King's victorious Arms since his best Forces when fortified in a Post of so great advantage had not been able to withstand them began to see his danger and to perceive he had no way left but by an Accommodation to defend himself from manifest and apparent ruine which made him sue to the King for Peace and obtain'd it upon condition the Duke should favour the passage of his Army to the relief of the Duke of Mantua so unjustly invaded An Accommodation with Savoy being thus concluded the Spaniard who despair'd of being able to make good his ground in the open Field against an Army that had with so great facility forc'd the Duke of Savoy's people in their own Trenches thought fit to accept of the same conditions and accordingly not only rose from before Casal but moreover restor'd all the places they had already taken in the Duke of Mantua's Dominions wisely choosing rather to give way to the King's Fortune than to run the hazard of a Battel the event whereof they fear'd would be fatal to them though this discretion only serv'd to defer for a time the Victories heaven had destin'd for us over that insolent and implacable Nation Doubtless had the King pleas'd to have made use of this occasion and the power he had to effect any design he would have undertaken he might at this time with great facility have given the Spanish Forces such a blow that they would not of many years after have been in any condition to have brav'd him again in Italy but his Majesty contenting himself with having rescu'd his Ally from the oppression of those two mighty Enemies would not in his own person seem to violate that Equity and Justice he had travell'd so far to defend If the Forein Princes had taken a wrong measure in the belief they had entertain'd of the length of the Siege of Rochelle the Duke of Rohan was no less mistaken in the Expedition of Italy wherein he doubted not his Majesty would meet with so many great and tedious difficulties that he hop'd himself who was the soul of his whole Party might in the mean time and in the interval of the King's absence infuse so much vigour into his declining cause as that they would be in a condition for some time at least to defend themselves He had therefore taken Arms in the Sevennes and with the assistance of the Cities of Montauban Nismes Millaut Castres Privas Vsetz and some others had got such a body of an Army together as therewith he hop'd to maintain himself in that little angle of the Kingdom and either presently to obtain some advantageous conditions or to expect a more favourable time for the reestablishment of his depressed party In the mean time he treated secretly with Spain from whence he had also obtain'd a promise of some supply of money but the King who had intelligence of his practice returning with the same celerity out of Italy into France in the most violent heats of Summer with which he had pass'd out of France into Italy in the greatest extremity of Winter presented himself before Privas one of the Rebel Cities in Iune which also at his first coming he carried by assault after which Aletz another of the same principles surrendred without any resistance The Duke of Rohan observing what a tâ—rror the taking of these two places had infus'd into his whole Faction and knowing on the other side that a Peace with Italy and England was already concluded began to apprehend at last he should be totally deserted by all his Confederates and Friends and left alone to bear the shock of his Majesties victorious Arms which made him in time seriously to apply himself to his mercy to avoid the severe effects of his Justice One of the most powerful motives that induc'd
Majesties Justice That if he should be so fortunate as to obtain a second life for his friend he would with all his heart become his Security that for the future it should never be employ'd but in his Majesties Service and that his Blood should serve for no other use than to wash away the Stain and for ever to obliterate the memory of his Offense The King with great patience and without once offering to interrupt him gave the Duke free liberty to continue his discourse to the end seeming moreover to hearken to him with some kind of hopeful attention but that favourable audience was also the only fruit of his address for his Majesty having from the beginning of the Duke's Speech fix'd his eyes upon the ground never lifted them from thence so much as once to look upon the Duke who was speaking to him neither when he had concluded did he answer him one word by which silence the Duke perceiving the ruine of his friend to be absolutely decreed he spoke again and said Sir since I am so unhappy as not to hope to obtain your Majesties Pardon for Monsieur de Montmorency I humbly beg leave that I may retire When though the King had been dumb to the first he found words to make answer to this last request by telling him Yes you have free leave neither do I intend my self to stay long in this City Whereupon the Duke afflicted to the last degree that he had been able to obtain nothing more though indeed he had not expected much better success presently withdrew himself to go wait upon the Princess of Condé in the Suburbs of Tholouze to which place she was retir'd there to condole with her their common misfortune He found at his coming thither that Cardinal Richelieu was but newly parted thence whose visit by giving her no satisfaction having put her into the last despair the Duke 's hapned to be exceeding seasonable for the composing of her mind agitated with so violent a Passion Though the Duke from that very day prepar'd himself for his departure yet had he time enough before he went totally to reject a proposition made to him on the Cardinal's behalf presently after the King's arrival at Tholouze He had caus'd the Duke to be treated withal to quit the Government of Metz in his favour offering him in exchange the survivancy of that of Guienne for the Duke de la Valette his Son who was already seiz'd of that of Metz in reverson Bullion newly created Sur-Intendant des Finances was chosen by the Cardinal as a person most acceptable to the Duke to make to him this Overture a proposition at which the Duke having serv'd the King so well as he had done in the last occasion was not a little surpriz'd and the rather because his Services having been of great â—â—portance to the Cardinal's Fortune which was much more strook at in the late Rebellion than any thing that concern'd either the King or the Kingdom he had reason besides the satisfaction the King had been pleas'd to manifest of his performance to expect also a very grateful return from the Cardinal himself It was the belief of many at that time that the Cardinal's design was to accommodate himself with the Bishoprick of Metz together with five or six great Abbeys in that City of above an hundred thousand Livers a year Revenue besides the Bishoprick which was worth twice as much and to add thereunto the Government of the City and Countrey with those of the Cities and Cittadels of I houl and Verdun to the end that by providing for himself so certain and secure a retreat he might in time be arm'd against all disgrace to which others have added an opinion that he had a project to reunite all the Provinces that had formerly been members of the Kingdom of Austratia in his own person to hold them in the quality of a Sovereign Prince whereof Lorain and Alsatia which were in his Majesties possession together with the three forenamed Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun made up the greatest part it had been a matter of no great difficulty for the Cardinal to have possess'd himself of this Estate by any title he would have desir'd of the King So that if he ever had this thought it is not to be wondred at if he was sensibly offended that the Duke refus'd to treat and to comply with him in a thing he had set his heart upon for the establishment of his Fortune However it was it is concluded by all that this Affair made the Cardinal take up a resolution absolutely to break with the Duke of Espernon whom he saw to be too stiff to stoop to his Authority and look'd upon as the only person of the Kingdom who had either the power or the spirit to mate his greatness Wherein nevertheless though the Duke appear'd to be very averse yet did he not absolutely reject the Cardinal's proposal but conceiving he did not offer enough demanded moreover a Mareschal's Staff for the Duke de Candale his eldest Son This was a Dignity that could not indeed be deny'd to his merit though it had never been laid in the balance against the Government of Metz but if the Duke had a kindness for this Son the Cardinal had no less aversion who it was said having been wounded to the quick with some smart touches of the Duke de Candale's Wit as pleasant a one indeed as any of his time but withal as tart as pleasant he could by no means forget it but would rather choose to leave a thing of so great importance to the establishment of his Fortune imperfect than to be instrumental to the advancement of a person by whom he conceiv'd himself so highly offended Having therefore broke off with the Duke upon these terms it is to be presum'd he only for the future waited an occasion or at least a pretense wherewithal to colour his revenge Wherein though the Duke's haughty humour was likely enough to furnish him with as good as he could desire it appear'd nevertheless that fortune who will ever have a hand in all humane Affairs seconding the Cardinal's passion produc'd him one much sooner than he expected It was in truth at this time contrary to the Duke's intention who although he would not discover a weakness in condescending below his own Dignity had no desire notwithstanding to provoke the Cardinal's Almighty power by insisting upon any thing he might irreproachably do After that by the death of the Duke of Montmorency the King thought he had absolutely appeas'd the storm in Languedoc his Majesty thought of nothing more than by the nearest way and with a very slender train of returning back to Paris The Queen who was attended by the Council and all the Court two days after the King's departure began her Journey towards Bordeaux at greater conveniency to send away her equipage down the River Garonne where being arriv'd her Majesty was pleas'd to
Duke should be allow'd to be a Christian to God and his Church whilst he continued a Rebel to him Yet was it not nevertheless at this time to make any private advantage of this Demission he had alter'd that design and the possession of Metz seeming to be superfluous in the assurance he had of the King's Favour which he thought he had absolutely acquir'd by the necessity of his Service the sole end he could in all apparence propose to himself herein was to let the world see that no one was thenceforward to contend with him and by an example of this nature to establish his Authority over all the other great men of the Kingdom The place however only chang'd the hand without going out of the Family it being transferr'd to the Cardinal de la Valette as the Duke his Brother was made choice of by a Marriage wholly to piece up what the late Disorders had disunited And then it was that they began in good earnest to treat about a plenary Absolution of the satisfactions were to be made to the Church and other things that were of course to precede the Duke's Restauration to his Offices and Commands But before I proceed to the conclusion of this Affair it will not I conceive be impertinent to give an account of two passages which will render the Duke's constancy and generosity highly considerable even in the greatest cloud of his Disgrace the first whereof was this In the time that the Court Persecutions were most violent against the Duke many of his Enemies both of the Parliament of Bordeaux and other parts of the Province out of a vanity of Generosity would needs offer themselves to be reconcil'd to him believing that in such a time of affliction he would be more flexible to an Accommodation and that seeing how many Enemies he had to deal withal he would be glad to leslen their number at least they doubted not but he would receive into his Favour and good Opinion those who in so malignant a Juncture should out of the sole respect to his Person and Vertue offer their Service to him but he on the contrary apprehending that to appear facile to Reconciliations in a time of disgrace would be interpreted weakness and want of Spirit sent them word That he could not deny his Friendship to such as should desire it of him in a time when he should be in a capacity to oblige them but that he would never reconcile himself to receive any good Offices from any who had not been his Friends And he remain'd so constant to this resolution that he was never to be perswaded to alter it what prudent considerations soever could be laid before him to that effect The other thing was a Proposition made to him by a Letter from Paris writ by an unknown hand Seal'd with an unknown Seal and without Superscription In this Letter there was propounded to him an infallible way to cut off Cardinal Richelieu his worst and implacable Enemy and bent to his ruine which were the express terms of the Letter He who was the Author of this design deliver'd himself to be a Gentleman of Lorain and an Engineer who for this piece of Service would demand no more but six hundred Pistols only three hundred in hand and the rest when he had done his business The Duke had the very thought of so great a wickedness in the greatest horror and detestation and what cause soever of unkindness or offense he might have against the Cardinal he had his person notwithstanding in very great esteem which had it been less or that his Animosity had been greater it is most certain that he would never have chosen so base a way to his Revenge He therefore burnt the Letter without speaking a word of it to any save one of his Domesticks only though the Proposition was thrice repeated The Servant the Duke was pleas'd to entrust with this secret observing with what obstinacy the Villain persever'd in his damnable resolution did very rightly judg that it was not to the Duke alone he would discover his treacherous intent well foreseeing he would say as much to all the great men of the Kingdom that he thought to be discontented and that in the end he would be trap'd as it fell out That if then he should accuse the Duke to have hearkened three times to his Proposition without making any discovery of it his silence in such a case might pass in the Cardinal's Opinion for a tacit consent He was therefore of advice that the Duke should acquaint the Cardinal with it but it was impossible to perswade him to that resolution whilst he was in disgrace He always profess'd that he would never consent to the death of an Enemy by so infamous a way but that withal he would not give him that advantage to perswade himself that he had invented this Artifice he not being able to produce the Author by that pittiful way to seek his Favour The business then rested in this posture till after the Duke's return to Bordeaux that he was restor'd to his Government when the same person persisting in the same wicked design and importuning the Duke to accept his offer without securely sleeping which were his own words under the dissembled shew of a counterfeit Reconciliation he then yielded to the advice of the Duke de la Valette his Son who was now with him and at his perswasion resolv'd in the end to send his Letters to the Cardinal de la Valette to communicate them to Cardinal Richelieu And they could not have been sent in a better time for the same proposals that had been made to the Duke having also been tendred to the Dutchess of Lorain she had discover'd them to the Cardinal who being alarm'd with the conformity of these Intelligences set spies upon the actious of him that propos'd them He was therefore Arrested upon the marks he had given of himself in his Letters neither was there any thing how daring soever that might not be expected from the temerity of this man He was known to have been formerly a Servant to the Duke de la Valette and for one of the most resolute fellows of his time of which at his being taken he gave notable proof having kill'd two men of seven that came to apprehend him and dangerously wounded two more but in the end gor'd with Wounds he was taken and had life enough left to end his days upon a Gibbet Some of these things having hapned before the overtures of Agreement we are now to continue the thred of our Discourse where it was broke off before The Cardinal de la Valette therefore pursu'd the conclusion of this Treaty with great vigour and so as that he had concluded the Marriage of the Duke de la Valette his Brother with the eldest Daughter of the Marquis de Pont-Chasteau a match that was to be the main tye of this Accommodation This Lady who was Neece to
towards the Frontier the Service to which they were design'd writ to St. Torse Aide de Camp who commanded them to draw them out against the Mutineers but that Gentleman more discreet and circumspect than the Duke could have wish'd upon so urgent an occasion chose rather betimes to abandon his Quarters to the Rebels than to do them the honour to dispute them by any the least opposition The Duke after this seeing no means left to suppress this dangerous Faction which every day increas'd to a more formidable height and startled with the news he receiv'd from all parts that some of the best Cities were ready to revolt and only expected the approach of the Rebels to receive them writ in all haste to the Duke de la Valette to come speedily to the Relief of the Province with some of those Forces he had with him upon the Frontier since those in the Lower Gascony were not able to make head against the mischief already grown too great to be withstood The Duke at this Summons without deliberating upon the Duke his Father's Command immediately put himself upon his March but yet so that the Forein Enemy still continued shut up within their Trenches by the Marquis de Poganne Mareschal de Camp with whom during his absence he left the Command of the Army whilst himself came to do the King the Kingdom and particularly the Province one of the most important Services could possibly be desir'd in so dangerous a time Being come to Cadillac where his Father expected him sick for he was at last constrain'd to faint under the Burthen 〈◊〉 Affairs and the affliction wherewith these untoward occurrences had overcome his Spirits and having from him receiv'd such Instructions as he was at that time in a condition to give he early the next morning took Horse to go in all haste to Marmanda The Duke his Father had already there caus'd some Troops to be gather'd together under the Command of the Marquis de Monferrant Mareschal de Camp and Lieutenant of his own Company of Gens-d ' Armes where the Duke was no sooner arriv'd but he understood that at la Sauvetat a little Town about four Leagues off there was a considerable Body of the Rebels who had there fortified themselves and made shew of a resolute Defence an information that made him immediately March his Forces that way to go to assault them All the strength he had with him were no more than two thousand five hundred Foot but the Enemy were very many more which notwithstanding he made no difficulty himself to go view the place At the first sight he apprehended the danger of assaulting them without Cannon fortified as they were on every side either with Walls or strong Barricado's and many of the Officers about him were of opinion he should stay for some Field-Pieces he had order'd to follow after but having consider'd that to dally with these kind of people only were to give them greater encouragement and to augment their Insolence he gave order upon the instant to go on to the Assault I have heard several who were present at and had a share in this Action say that the Assault was as vigorously given and as obstinately sustaind as any they had ever seen though they had been in many very memorable occasions and that they should eternally lament that what was there on both sides perform'd had not been done against the Enemies of the Crown since doubtless whatever they had undertaken must have succeeded to their immortal Glory The Duke's men fir'd no further off than at the Muzzle of the Musket and the other party did the same so that on either side a great many men with some Officers of the Duke's Regiments were slain and the slaughter had questionless been much greater had the besieg'd been furnish'd with Pikes to their Fire Arms but being destitute of that sort of Defence they were constrain'd after they had discharg'd their Muskets to abandon their Barricado's and to retire Madaillan who commanded the Rebels gave the first example of a cowardly and shameful flight whom they pursu'd as far as Quercy to which place he fled for refuge but having escap'd the hands of the pursuers he sav'd himself out of the Kingdom from whence he return'd not but to execute one of the most detestaâ—â—e Villanies against the Duke of Espernon that could ever have entred into the imagination of an accursed Villain The fatal and unhappy circumstances whereof we shall soon present before you wherein this wicked and abominable wretch will appear to be both the instrument and the cause of the Duke's approaching Death and Ruine The forcing of this place was presently follow'd by the Surrender of Bergerac the Mutineers had there made a countenance of defending themselves but the example of their Complices being taken by Assault render'd them more facile to the perswasions of their General who was otherwise averse to War than as he was compell'd to it by the unbridled Fury of some of the more violent Spirits who as they prompted their fellows to greater mischief would also urge him on to the greatest extremes These two places being thus reduc'd to their Obedience secur'd all the other Cities of the Province so that although some few of the people continued still on foot they were rather thought fit to be undertaken by the ordinary Officers of Justice than worth the pains or notice of men of Arms. The report of this Defeat soon spread it self into Angoumois Xaintonge and Poictou whither the Duke de Valette also sent some few Forces of those which were now supernumerary after this success and where the people through fear of punishment remain'd in a posture of Obedience by that means delivering the Court of one of the greatest and most troublesome apprehensions wherewith the minds of the great Ministers could possibly be possess'd This Victory was by the Marquis de Duras judg'd of importance enough to deserve the pains of a Journey to Court to carry news of it to the King who as he had by his own Valour contributed very much to the good success the Duke of Espernon who had him in very great esteem was also very willing that he should give his Majesty an account of the Action Being therefore there arriv'd he omitted nothing that might any ways recommend the merit of the Service but he did not find the Court dispos'd to receive things that came from the Duke 's at so favourable a rate as in themselves they did justly deserve they looking upon all that had been perform'd as good as nothing and imposing upon them the assault of the Forts the Spaniard had erected upon the Frontier upon pain of his Majesties Indignation which was the first recompence of their Service Already the Duke de la Valette had taken the way to his ordinary Post and was arriv'd at his Quarters which he had â—ortified opposite to the Spanish Trenches when the Duke his
him to relapse into his former disposition from which also he was yet but upon the mending hand At last his Servants apprehending it might by some or other be indiscreetly and unseasonably blurted out they conceiv'd it better with some preparatory arguments to sweeten the bitterness of his loss to make him acquainted with it than to detain him still in ignorance of a thing which could not always nor very long be conceal'd from him The Duke had kept about him during all the time of his last Sickness a Father Capuchin in whom he repos'd a singular Confidence This good Father therefore as he was one day talking with him having fall'n into a Discourse of the inconstancy of Humane Life and the necessity of dying and therein slip'd in some mention of the Duke de Candale's Sickness the Duke presently understood the rest and thereupon spar'd the good man the pains of any further preparation When his countenance wherein before this part of their Discourse something of chearfulness had appear'd suddenly changing into a more severe Gravity though only so as to compose it to his constancy he said Father I have ever been dispos'd to submit my self and all my concerns to the good pleasure of God and I beseech him of his goodness to give me Fortitude enough to conform my self also to it upon this occasion My Son is dead I am certain of it and if he died in the fear of God he is happier than we at least out of the reach of those persecutions Fortune is preparing for us who are left behind After which they presented him the Letters that contain'd the Relation of his Death by which the Duke being satisfied it had been very constant and Christian he said again That he praised God from the bottom of his heart that in depriving him of one of his chiefest comforts he had yet left him the hope in a short time to see his â—on in a better Life He afterwards entertain'd himself some time in pious Discourse with that Holy Man after which being again laid in bed that he yet quitted not but by intervals he was heard in that privacy a great while to weep those tears and vent those sighs which with extraordinary violence upon himself he had suppress'd whilst there was any witness by But after having paid what was due to the impulse of Nature he summon'd his wonted constancy to encounter this Accident the bitterness whereof though he could by no art banish from his remembrance yet did he ever keep himself upright from manifesting his sorrow with the least weakness There were very few persons of condition in the Kingdom who did not signifie to him by very civil Messages and kind Letters the part they shar'd with him in his grief upon this occasion amongst whom Cardinal Richelieu himself was one who made shift to find out some consolatory Complements for a man he at the same instant persecuted with the most bloody effects he could possibly inflict upon him he at the same time prosecuting the Duke de la Valette to the last extreme For the information that had been drawn up against him having been laid open in the presence of his Majesty the 25 th day of May the greater part of the Judges had concluded him worthy of Death the forfeiture of his Offices and the confiscation of his Estate yet were they not all of that opinion President Believre amongst the rest taking upon him the honest boldness to defend the innocence of the accus'd and by an Oration no less Judicious and Eloquent than hardy and equitable acquitting his own Conscience and confirming himself in the high esteem already conceiv'd of the great Worth and Integrity which for so many happy years have been eminent in his Name and Race It would not become me in this place to inlarge my self upon the words of this Sentence it having been pronounc'd by persons to whom too great a respect is due for any one to dare to complain neither in truth is it to them that the severity of it ought to be imputed for in criminal matters the Evidence are the chief Judges and consequently they at whose doors all that was extraordinary or severe in his proceeding ought of right to be laid It has since appear'd by the high and publick justification of the party accus'd and that in the face of the most August Tribunal of Justice in all Europe what has been thought of the Depositions that were preferr'd against him the Parliament of Paris having restor'd him to his Honour Life Offices and Estate which had been all taken from him by the Arrest of the Council And he has this Obligation to his Enemies not only by their means to have had an occasion wherein to vindicate his Innocency and Honour but moreover to have receiv'd the Eulogies for his brave Services which his modesty would not have permitted him to have endur'd had his Vertue never been disputed But this last good not arriving in time to serve for any consolation to the Duke of Espernon and that all his misfortunes succeeded in the neck of one another without any the least shadow of Prosperity intervening to sweeten his Affliction is not the stability of his mind and the constancy of his Courage highly to be commended and admir'd that could continue so firm in all the shocks of Fortune A Fortitude that will discover it self much better to our observation if we separately consider the various occasions he had at this time wherein to exercise that Heroick Vertue Disgrace knock'd at his Door from the first arrival of the Prince in Guienne as you may have already observ'd and his Afflictions began to unveil themselves in the ill usage he at that time receiv'd by Order from the Court very much contrary to what he had all the reason in the world to hope for and expect they were continued to him by the Command he receiv'd to withdraw himself out of his Government which seem'd to blast him with some kind of Ignominy and reproach But what an overplus of vexation must it needs be when by the ill success of Fontarabie he saw all the miscarriage of that Expedition cast upon his Son what a grief to see him prosecuted for a Criminal and himself at the same time look'd upon as a guilty man They were both of them divested of their Offices and Commands and those transferr'd into the hands of their mortal and most implacable Enemies So that the Duke de la Valette was constrain'd to give way to their Power and through infinite dangers to fly for Sanctuary into England a Kingdom at that time agitated with Mutinous Factions and Civil Discords of their own whilst the Father in a Country House expos'd to their discretion saw himself strip'd of all his Employments and his venerable old Age so highly reverenc'd and esteem'd throughout the whole Kingdom become an Object of Scorn to such as a few days before had truckled
himself to be transported into any action unbecoming his Gravity and Wisdom The Table being taken away and he having retir'd himself into his Chamber sooner than he ordinarily us'd to do he caus'd his Secretary to be call'd in his behalf to write to Messieurs de Ioinville de Turenne de Thou and de Fontravilles to recommend to them the care of his Sons health to whom all humane help was already fruitless and vain writing moreover to him himself some few lines under his own hand One of his Gentlemen who had lately been sent on the same errand was now ready to depart with this new Dispatch when the Duke overcome with the violent agitations of his mind was constrain'd to cast himself upon his Bed where calling his Secretary to him he said to him these words I do not know why you should all dally with me thus long nor to what end you should conceal from me the Death of the Cardinal my Son is it that you imagine me so weak I have not fortitude enough to support the News Do not you deceive me as the rest have done but tell me the naked truth which also cannot long be conceal'd from me At which words the poor Gentleman who for four or five days had had the power to govern his Tongue had not now the same command over his Eyes so that his Tears having whether he would or no betray'd him to be the Messenger of the ill news he had hitherto so faithfully conceal'd he proceeded by word of mouth to interpret what was before but too legible in his tears and told his Master That what he had prophesied the first hour he heard of his Sons Sickness was but too true That the news of his Death had been brought four days ago but that his people apprehending left so great a blow of mishap might ruine his health had address'd themselves to Monsieur de Saint Papoul to fortifie him with his Consolation in acquainting him with the fatal News At which words he lift up his hands to Heaven and after a profound Sigh cried out aloud O Lord since thou hast reserv'd my old Age to survive the loss of my three Children be pleas'd withal to give me strength wherewith to support the severity of thy Judgments Hereupon the Bishop of Saint Papoul was presently call'd in to him who after having highly commended his resignation of himself and his Affairs to the Will of God made him a Learned Discourse infinitely full of such admirable Arguments and Examples both Christian and Moral as were proper for his disconsolate condition And then it was that they presented him with the relations of the Sickness and Death of the Cardinal his Son wherein was observ'd so many testimonies of Piety and Resignation so firm a confidence in the Divine Mercy and so little concern for Humane Life that every one concluded him infinitely happy to have take his leave of it in so good and so holy a disposition and it was also from thence that the Duke deriv'd his chiefest Consolations After this he requested some respite from his Friends wherein to satisfie the resentments of Nature and in private to pay some tears to his Affliction His Curtains were therefore drawn when his tears which he had hitherto with so great violence to his sorrow suppress'd having now liberty to â—ally out flow'd in so great abundance that those about him began to fear his immoderate passion might endanger his health but having remain'd two hours in this condition he himself at last rows'd up his spirits so long overcharg'd with grief and was heard to say That Tears were to be left to women and that it would be a shame a man could not allay his grief but by so poor and effeminate a Remedy That he would live perhaps to survive his Enemies When starting from his Bed he had so great a power over himself as the same day again to appear in publick He entreated the Bishop of Papoul to bear him company where he walk'd with him above two hours on foot entertaining him all the while either with Discourses of Piety or the state of his present Fortune and that with a constancy this good Prelate could never sufficiently magnifie and admire It must nevertheless be confess'd that amongst all these afflictions which were many and extreme the Duke likewise receiv'd very many and great Consolations or at least what were intended for such there being few persons of any eminent condition in France who did not manifest the part they shar'd with him in his grief The King did him the Honour to write very obligingly to him he receiv'd the same Favour from the Queen the Monsieur all the Princes Cardinal Richelieu and almost all who were any ways considerable either in Birth or Dignity in the Kingdom gave him testimonies either of their Affection or Esteem upon this sad occasion But if out of all these Complements he did extract any real Consolation it was chiefly from the gracious manifestations of the Queens Royal Favour to him which took so much the deeper impression upon his mind by how much he knew they proceeded from the heart of this excellent Princess He had ever made her the object of all his Services neither was there any he would not have been very ready to have perform'd for her even in this moment of his greatest Adversity An inclination that as it gave him a legitimate Title to her Grace and Favour so was he the man of all the other Great Ones of the Kingdom that had the highest place in her Esteem but the condition of the time not permitting her to manifest it to that degree her Majesty could have desir'd she did upon this occasion all she had the liberty to do which was to send him a very obliging Letter written with her own hand of which the Contents were these Cousin I can here neither fully express nor altogether conceal the sorrow I share with you for the loss you have sustain'd in the person of my Cousin the Cardinal de la Valette your Son the sence whereof being too great to be express'd by words I shall only entreat you to believe that I partake in it equally with any person living And since it is from God alone that you are to hope for a true Consolation I do from my heart beseech him of his Divine Goodness to fortifie your mind against the severity of this accident and to pour his Blessings upon you in the abundance that is heartily wish'd by her whom you know really to be Your very good Cousin Anne From St. Germains en Laye the 12 th of Octob. 1639. Cardinal Richelieu also would not upon such an occasion be wanting in the Ceremony of a Complement but it signified no more than so and these were the words My Lord I can not sufficiently manifest to you the extreme sorrow I sustain for the Death of Monsieur the Cardinal de la Valette and
the 20 th of Iune about two of the Clock in the afternoon arriv'd with it at Plassac The Duke was at that time a Bed where he us'd to take two or three hours repose every afternoon by reason whereof Varennes being necessitated to attend his waking he ask'd to speak with the Count de Maillé in the mean time which he did to anticipate the Duke by some excuses in that he was so unhappy as to be always sent upon unwelcome Commissions for it was he also who in the business of the Archbishop of Bordeaux had been the Bearer of the Order was sent the Duke to retire out of his Government to Plassac The Count de Maillé having by discoursing with him understood Varenne's Errand doubted not but that the Duke must needs infinitely surpriz'd at the Novelty of this Command wherefore having consulted with such of the Duke's Servants as were of most consideration about him they concluded it most convenient that he should by his Secretary be beforehand acquainted with it to the end he might be prepar'd to receive it with less emotion The business therefore being thus order'd amongst them was accordingly executed and the Duke was no sooner awake but that the Secretary coming to his Bed-side told him that a Gentleman from the King was newly arriv'd who had brought him an Order to depart from Plassac and go away to Loches The Duke who had of old fortified his mind against the worst of events and not finding in this that extremity of evils it lay in his Enemies power to inflict upon him without being at all mov'd at the suddenness of the thing calmly reply'd and is that all After which words a little composing himself he commanded his Secretary to call the Gentleman in Varennes was presently brought into his Chamber who advancing to the Bed-side presented him with the King's Letter which the Duke opening he found it to contain these words Cousin I am sorry that by your Sons ill carriage together with some Intelligence I have lately receiv'd out of Guienne I am constrain'd to tell you that I desire you will at present leave your abode at Plassac where you now are and come to Loches Varennes one of my Gentlemen by whom you will receive this Dispatch will inform you more particularly of my intention herein in whom you are to repose an entire confidence and belief In the mean time I pray God Cousin to have you in his Holy Protection From Abbeville this 13 th of Iune 1641 This Letter being read and Varennes offering a new at the same excuses he had already made to the Count de Maillé the Duke cut him short by telling him that whatever came from the King was infinitely welcome and that excuses were not necessary where a man did nothing but what it was his Duty to do after which he fell into a pretty long discourse wherein he manifested so much judgment and constancy upon so unpleasing an accident as made every one admire that heard him It was very near word for word in these terms That threescore years being now laps'd since he had first had the Honour to serve the Kings his Masters and to teach such as their Majesties had subjected under his Authority to obey it would be inexcusable in him should he in that time have profited so little himself as not to know how in his own person to practice the Precepts he had laid down to others That he was very ready to pay the King all the Obedience his Majesty could himself desire That had he a sufficient stock of strength and health to perform that Journey Post he would immediately mount to House by that promptness to shew how every Subject ought to obey his Prince not that he did not nevertheless understand himself to be very unkindly us'd and look'd upon this proceeding as excessively severe to him who had never fail'd in the least in his Majesties Service and to whom no one living could impute the least offence to his Duty That his Enemies made it their pretence to use him ill from the ill carriage of his Son as if a Father could be any ways responsible for the defaults of his Children or ought to suffer for their Offences Not that I do he presently caught himself in the least confess those wherewith they have charg'd my Son the Duke de la Valette he is an honest man and innocent and had the King been rightly inform'd of his Actions his Majesty might with better reason have commended his Services than as he is pleas'd to do to condemn his Conduct Upon which expression excusing himself for that little escape of his resentment he proceeded to say Is it not very hard that my Enemies will expose my old Age to the scorn and mockery of the one half of the Kingdom I am to pass through to the place of my Exile Why will they not at least give me leave to finish the small remainder of my days I have to live in the obscurity of this Solitude After which asking him if there was any time limited for his setting out or if he had receiv'd any Order to continue with him till his departure and Varennes having deny'd both the one and the other he continued to say That since they were pleas'd to proceed so favourably with him he would be no ill Husband of his time That he would give order to have his Equipage made ready with the soonest but that he had let them hang by to rust and rot for four years together that he had been in that House In the conclusion of all Varennes having entreated an Answer to his Letter the Duke gave him one in these terms SIR I have by the Sieur de Varennes receiv'd the Command your Majesty has been pleas'd to send me to quit my Residence in this place and to go to Loches upon some information your Majesty has receiv'd to the prejudice of the Duke de la Valette my Son If my said Son continue to follow my Counsels and Example as I am certain he will ever do he can never commit any thing that may either offend your Majesty or that shall be unworthy of his Birth For what concerns my self Sir who for threescore years pass'd have never ceas'd to render the Kings your Royal Predecessors and your Majesty all sorts of faithful and humble Service and Obedience I shall continue with all possible expedition to testifie my respect to this new Command It is true Sir that I am something surpriz'd at it and that having continued now four years together in this House I had set up my rest and concluded here to end my days by which mistake I am at present utterly destitute of Equipage both for my self my Daughter-in-law and my little Children but I shall with all possible diligence make my preparation and though my Health be exceedingly impair'd both by my great Age and my late Sickness which having detain'd me four months in
Suze The Duke of 〈◊〉 takes Arms whilst the King is in Italy The Cardinal come to Montâ—ubâ—n The Dâ—ke gives the Cardinal a visâ—â— at Montauâ—an 〈◊〉 and is very well receiv'd by him The Duke of Espernon gives Cardinal Richelieu new cause of oftense Which is nevertheless dissembled by the Cardâ—nal The Duke acquaints the Prince of Condé with his resolution of going to Court * A Countrey in Languâ—dâ—â— The Duke of Espernon arrives at Court and is very well receiv'd Anno 1630. Extraordinary civilities of the Cardinal to the Duke of Espernon A smart râ—ply of the Duke of Espernon to the Cardinaâ— New stirs at Court occasion'd by the discontents of the Queen Mother and the Monsiâ—â—r The Queen Mother professes an open hatred to the Cardinal The War with Savâ—y The Monsiâ—ur discontented The Duke of Lorâ—in takes Arms The Cardinalâ— dexterity in compoâ—ing these Affairs The Cardinals expedition into Italy The King resolves upon a Voyage into Italy Upon the bruit that the Imperialists design'd an attempt upon Metz the Duke of Espernon puts himself inâ—o the place The Duke of Espernon comes to Metz. He visits the Marâ—schal de Marillac The Duke's orders for the defense of Meâ—z The Dâ—ke offers the King to raise an Army upon his own interest Which is accepted The Duke of Espernon returns to Paris The King falls sick at Lyons A sudden answer of the Duke of Espersion to a very nice qâ—est on A Famine in Gâ—ienne Cardinal Richâ—lieu in disgrace Cardinal Richeliâ—u restores himself with the King by the advice of the Cardinal de la Valette The two Cardinals go together to the King to Versaille where whilst the Queen Mother remains at Paris they overthrow all her designs An alteration in Affairs at Court All people address themseâ—ves to the Cardinal Except the Duke of Espernon Anno 1631. The Cardinal falls foul upon his enemies noâ— sparing the Monsieur nor the Queen Mother The Duke of Espernon retires into his Government of Guienne which he finds in a most deplorable condition The Duke goes into the higher Gascony The Duke of Espernon stops the progress of a new Rebellion by dismanteling several strong Cities of the Hugonot party The Inhabitants of Montauban behave themselves very well upon this occasion The Duke goes to the Baths of Banieres The Marquis de la Valette takes his Oath for Duke and Peer of France The Cardâ—nal de la Valâ—tte made Governour of Anjou The death of le Plessis Baussonniere the Duke's principal Servant Anno 1632. Troubles arise upon the retirement of the Queen Mother and the Monsieur The Emperour the King of Spain and the Duke of Lorain engage in their quarrel The Monsieur enters the Kingdom The Duke of Montmorâ—ncy declareâ— in favour of the Monsieur The Duke of Espernon aâ—vâ—nces towarâ—s Languedoc The Court in 〈◊〉 of the Dâ—â—e of Espâ—rnon's resolutions The King writes very graciously and the Cardinal very kindly to the Duke of Espernon in acknowledgment of his good Service The Engagement of Castelnaudary wherein the Caunt de Moret was slain and the Duke of Montmorency taken prisoner from which disaster the ruine of the Monsieur 's party ensues The Duke of Espernon sends a Complement to the Duke of Montmorency in Prison * Not otherwise to be rendred without spoiling the sense The Duke advances to Tholouze The Duke of Montmorency brought to Tholouze and his Tryal begun The Duke of Espernon intercedes for the Duke of Montmorency The Duke of Espernon not being able to prevail with the Kiâ—g in the behalf of he Duke of Mâ—ntmorency begs leave to retire and obtains it Cordinal Richeliâ—u's amoitioâ—s deâ—â—gns The Queen goes to Cadillâ—c The Cardinal comes to Cadillâ—â— where he takes new offense at the Duke of Espernon The Câ—rdinal's first complaint The Cardinal 's second complaint The Cardinal's animosity against the Duke of Espernon fomented by the Archbishop of Bordeaux The Cardinal arrives at Broüage Anno 1633. The disgrace of Chasteau-Neuf Garde des Sceaux President Seguier made Garde des Sceaux The difference betwixt the Dâ—ke of Espernon and the Archbishop of Bordeaux The Archbishop of Bordeaux sends to complement the Duke of Espernon * Siquis suadente Diabolo c. * The Prosnes are the Publilications of the Feasts and Fasts of the Church Banes of Mâ—trâ—mony Excommunications c. Thâ— Archbâ—shop pronounces a Sentence of Excommunâ—cation against the Lieutenâ—nt of the Dâ—ke of Espernon's Gâ—ard and tacâ—tly against the Dâ—ke himself Cardinal Richeliâ—u endeavourâ— an Accommodâ—t on betwixt them Bâ—t in vain The Sentence of Excommunication pronounced against the Dâ—ke of Espernon The Court 〈◊〉 with the Archbishop And the Parlâ—ament oâ— Bordeaux also who draw 〈◊〉 Inâ—ormaâ—â—â—n against him The Duke Signs his Answer wherein he gives a true Relation of â—he whole business The Dâ—ke receives a Command from the King to depart out of his Government The Duâ—e comes to Plassac where he observes his Excommunication And submits to the Church The Dâ—ke sends a Dâ—spatch to the King The Archbishop of Bordeaux goes to Paris Anno 1634. A Sentence against the Duke of Espernon The Duke sends a Dispatch to Rome to procure his Absolution The Duke's Affairs begin to discover a better face An Alliance with the 〈…〉 The Alliance concluded with the Duke de la Valette The Duke's Absolâ—tion resâ—lved upon The Absolution The Duke of Espernâ—â— returns into Guienne Anno 1635. The Seditions of Guienne their birth and progresâ—â— The Dâ—ke of 〈◊〉 falls 〈◊〉 An account of the Forces oâ— Guâ—enne The Excâ—se noon the Victuallers begets a Sedition in Bordeaux The first effects of the Popâ—lar 〈◊〉 * Prâ—vost de Hostel an Offiâ—er belonging to the King's Houshold that set rates upon Victuallerâ— the same I suppose with one of our Officers of the Green-cloth A Clerk of the Market The Progress of the Sedition The Parliament sends to the Duke to quicken his haste The Duke's presence appeases the tumult The people run into open Armâ— The Dâ—ke aâ—most alone goes out against them The Duke though stoutly opposed forces the first Bâ—rricade And breaks through with his Horse The Dâ—ke forces tâ—ree other 〈◊〉 wherein several of his men are slain and wounded The Duke goes into another quarter of the City which was also in mutiny and Barricado'd The Duke's danger The Duke's Clemency The Dâ—ke prepares to go to a new occasion which he effects without fighting The whole City upon the point to run into Sedition But are with-held by the Duke's success The Dâ—ke 〈◊〉 the Kâ—ng an Account of the latâ— Insurrection The whole Province of Guienne except Montauban break into Sedition * A Sovereâ—gn Court wherein all caâ—â—es that concern the Aidâ— or Taâ—les that is Tâ—xâ—s or 〈◊〉 are â—ear'd and determâ—n'd * Eleus Aâ—sessors or Collectorâ— of the Kings Sâ—bsidies President du Bernet opposes the Sedition of Agen. Aud Monsieur de Vertâ—mont that of Perigueux The Duke sends his Orders into all parts of the Province Which a little
calms the Sedition The Boorâ— Mâ—tiny The Duke of Espernoâ—â— goes onâ— againâ—t them And disperses them From whence a calm ensues The Duke â—soers'd after all his brave Service The honesty of one of the Mutineers Cardinal Richelieu's civil Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Duke receives some satisfaction But not full The Cardinal de la Valette sent at the head of a great Army into Germany A brave Retreat of the Cardinal de la Valette The Duke dissatisfied that the Cardinal de la Valette his Son should follow the profession of Arms. The Duke of Espernon falls dangerously sick Anno 1636. The Spaniard mâ—kes preparation to invade Guienne The Coâ—rt neglects the Duke's Intelligence And provides very slenderly â—or the defence of the Frontiers * A Statute of Augmentation * Taxes or Imposts A rare example of the Duke's love to the people The Duke for all the injuries he had receiv'd of Briet would take no other revenge but only to put him into a fright The Parliament of Bordeaux interest themselves in the affront offer'd to Briâ—t The great Employments of the Duke of Espernon's Family The 〈…〉 Guienne The Duke of Espernon falls â—ick at Bayonne The Spanish Army enters into Biscay The Duke de la Valette comes to his Father to Bayonne The Spaniards make themselves Masters of the Country of Labourt and take the Fort of Socâ—a without resistance A panick fear in the City of Bayonne They are encourag'd by the Duke of Espernon The order taken by the Duke of Espernon for the conservation of the pâ—ace A remarkable oversight in the Spaniard The Duke of Espernon goes from Bayonne to Dacqs And from thence sends a Dispatch to the King An exemplary Fidelity in the Inhabitants of Biscay Anno 1637. The Duke of Espernon raises Forces with his own money The fiâ—st cause of the Dâ—ke de la Vaâ—ette's Disgrace The manner of the Duke de la Valett's Conduct after he entred into Cardinal Richelieu's Aâ—liance Discontents arise betwixt them The Monsieur and the Count de Soissons retire from Court And send to the Duke of Espernon to engage him in their Quarrel Who exeâ—ses himseâ—â— The Cardinal dissembles his dissatisfaction with the Dukes of Espernon and de la Valette And puts them joyntly in Commission for the Affairs of Guienne A formidabâ—e Rebell on breaks out in several Provinces of France The number of the Rebels And their progress The Rebels suppress'd by the Duke de la Valette * Des Prevosts The Court 〈◊〉 the news of tâ—e 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 Valett's Victory very coldly The Duke of Espernon refuses to 〈◊〉 money by Impositions upon the people The Duke de la Valette defeats the Spanish Army without Fighting Which nevertheless is but coldly receiv'd at Court The Duke de Candale and the Cardinal de la Valette command the Army in Picardy Annâ— 1638. The Duke asks leave to retire himself to Plassac * Secretaire de Commandemens ou d'Estat The four Principal Secretaries who in the Court of France sign Letters Patents and Dispatches of State Anno 1637. The Duke de la Valette is constrained to make a journey to Court But with infinite danger The Frince of Condé arrives in Guienne The Royal Army baffled before Fontarabie For which the Duke de la Valette is unjâ—stly blâ—m'd Reasons for his Justification The Duke of Espernon returns without Order from the King inhis Government of Guienne The Duke of Espernon receiveâ— news of the Bâ—rth of the Dolphin The Duke receives news of the Defeat of Fontarabie The Duke of Espernon returns to Plassâ—c A very extraordinary accident by Lâ—gâ—â—ning Passionate expressions of the Cardinal agaiâ—st the Duke de la Valette By which he is diverted from going to Courâ— The Duke of Espernon's Dâ—sgraces Hâ— is depos'd of his Government The Dâ—ke of Espernon calumniateâ— Anno 1639. The Duke of Espernon falls dangerously sick The Death of the Duke de Candale The Duke de la Valette sentenc'd to Death with Confiscarion of Offices Honors and Estate The Duke de la Valette solemnly justified The Duke of Espernâ—n still persecuted by the privation of a good part of his Estate The Death of the Cardinal de la Valette The Duke of Espeâ—non's constancy The Duke of Espernon receives many Consolatory Letters both from the King Queen the Monsieur Cardinal and most of the Eminent persons of the Kingdom The Queens Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Cardinal's Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Duke of Espernon's Letter to Cardinal Richelieu Anno 1640. The Prince of Condé offers his Service to the Duke of Espernon upon some Conditions Which are rejected by the Duke New persecutions for the Duke of Espernon The Duke of Espernon's noble constancy Three remarkable stories of the Duke of Espernon's good Fortune whereof this is the first * A piece of money to the value of xviii pence sterling * The second Story The third Sâ—ory Anno 1641. The Duke of Espernon falls dangâ—rously sick The estate of the Affairs of the Kingdom from whence the Cardinal took occasion to send the Duke of Espernon to Loches A malicious Contrivance against the Duke of Espernon The King's Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Duke of Espernon's Letter to the King The generous proceeding of the Mareschal de Scomberg The Duke of Espernon's irresolution concerning the Journey of Loches * One whereof I find in Davila when the Duke of Elbeauf was sent thither Prisoner presently after the Death of the Duke of Guise at Blois The Count de Soissons makes great preparation for War News brought to the Duke of Espernon of the Death of the Count de Soâ—ssons slain at the Battel of Sedan The Duke of Espâ—rnâ—n's Letter to the King His Majesties Letter to the Duke The Cardinals Letter to the Duke The Dâ—ke of Espâ—rnon 〈◊〉 at Leches and is there receiv'd with great Honour The Cardinals Letter to the Duke of Espâ—rnon The Duke's answer The Cardinal's Return to the Duke's answer Commotions at Court stir'd up by the Favourite Cinq-Mars * Above all things take heed of the Baâ—â—ille Monsieur de Thou involv'd in the Grand Esâ—uyer's ruine The Calumny of Madaillan against the Duke the cause of his Death Madaillan's Character His Resolution to ruine the Dâ—ke of Espernon His Artifice herein He proposes his Design to his Complices The Duke 〈…〉 And dispatches his Secretary to Court to justifie himself His Secretary is favourably receiv'd by the Cardinal And an Order granted to apprehend Madaillan and his Complices The King's Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Cardinal's Letter to the Dâ—ke of Espernon * Oâ— Prison The Dâ—ke of Espernon sends a Letter of thanks to Cardinal Richelieu Anno 1642. The Sickness and Death of the Duke of Espernon The Dâ—ke's good dispoâ—â—tions to dye The Duke's last reqâ—est to the King concerning his Children * Amende honorable signifies something more but what cannot be inteâ—ded by the Author in this place His Death
and that bear the greatest sway in all Humane Designs The end of the Second Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Third Book WHilst the Dukes Enemies exercis'd his Vertue with these continual troubles they were themselves no less afflicted with their own Ambition The Assembly of the Estates was held at Bloâ—s where all things in outward shew were dispos'd in favour of the Duke of Guise but still as he approach'd nearer to his Object the greater the height and the more difficult the access unto the place to which he aspir'd appear'd unto him That one remaining step he was to climb to reach the height of his desires seeming to rise still further from him as oft as he attempted to gain it So that tir'd out with so many present difficulties and apprehending yet more those which were to come 't is said he was often almost resolv'd to leave off his Designs and to rely upon the King's Word that had so often assur'd him the enjoyment of his present greatness wherein also he doubted not without any great difficulty to maintain himself The Duke of Mayenne either jealous as some have thought of his Brothers Greatness or else of a more moderate temper than the rest of his Family had often advis'd him to this Resolution but the Cardinal their Brother and the Archbishop of Lyons were the Incendiaries that rekindled his dying Ambition and that hurried him on to that precipice into which they themselves at last fell with him They represented to him by what infinite labours and industry they had plac'd him in that height to which he was already arriv'd That if he ever had resolv'd there to limit his desires and to content himself with a competent Fortune he ought never to have undertaken those pains nor to have undergone those dangers he had so gloriously and so fortunately overcome That the merit of his Ancestors had left him greatness enough to satisfie an ordinary Ambition but that if he ever had the thought of rising above them as doubtless he had the way was open to him and that he had already overcome the greatest difficulties That the greater part of France stood for him and that almost all Foreign Princes and States were favourable to him That God himself seem'd to take his part by giving him a negligent and voluptuous Prince whose nature being softned and unnerv'd by ease and sloth had laid him open to his Designs That it was an easie matter in the condition himself then was to make him sure That not suddenly to do it it was to be fear'd the King might recover from his Lethargy and looking into himself might re-assume his former vigour and recover his almost lost Authoriâ—y That the very fear the King then liv'd in ought to be highly suspected to him That no Counsels were so violent and dangerous as those that proceeded from apprehension or extream necessity That he infinitely deceiv'd himself if he thought there could be any safety for him what promises soever the King might make in that height to which he had already rais'd himself That the Fortune of a Subject was never more unstable and unsafe than when it rendred him suspected to his Prince That he must boldly therefore step out of the quality of a Subject if he would be out of the danger of a Sovereign They further remonstrated to him what Opinion all Europe who were joyn'd together in his Favour what all good Frenchmen who were passionate in his cause what all posterity to which he ought to have a greater regard than to the present could have of his courage if the Duke of Guise only should think himself unworthy of that Dignity to which all the world besides so passionately wish'd he might arrive That he ought then boldly to end what he had so generously begun and so gloriously pursu'd and that though death it self should follow which was not in the least to be doubted it were notwithstanding more honourable to perish in so brave a Design than to survive the shame of not daring to perform it The Duke of Guise whose ambitious and unquiet Spirit was apt enough to take fire at such Counsels as these haughty and mutinous Prelates were fit to give was soon perswaded to renew his former practice and as if he had only suspended the prosecution of his Designs to take a little breath that he might fall on with greater violence he presently sent new dispatches to Rome and into Spain still more and more to fortifie himself in the Authority of the one and Strength of the other assuring further to himself at the same time either by promises or threats by himself or by his Adherents almost all the suffrages of the several Deputies of the Assembly which the King to whom all these practices were very well known being enform'd of and then seeing the manifest danger he was in of losing both his Authority and his Crown he determined to prevent the Duke by Counsels as severe and bloody as his own were rash and mutinous and to cut him off before he should have time to effect what he had so politickly and so dangerously design'dâ— A resolution which â—eing soon agreed upon with some of the Nobility his Majesty knew most faithful to him had the execution of it without further delay committed to eight of the five and forty These five and forty were all of them Gentlemen of approved Valour and for whose fidelity they who had recommended them to the King stood themselves engag'd so that of this Company to which the number had given the name his Majesty made his most assured Guard the greatest part of his Domesticks being become suspected to him and as it were wholly entrusted the safety of his Person to their Fidelity and care They attended him where-ever he went they nightly kept Guard in his Anti-Chamber and as nothing is so powerful as benefits to win the hearts and affections of men there was not one of them who besides his Salary of an hundred Crowns of Gold a month which was very much in those times had not over and above either receiv'd or had not very good reason to expect great recompenses from his Royal bounty So that these men being absolutely ty'd to all his Majesties Interests it was no hard matter to induce them to make an attempt upon the Person of the Duke of Guise against whom the King had conceiv'd a violent and implacable Hatred I shall here say nothing of the manner and circumstances of the Death of this Duke nor of that of the Cardinal of Guise his Brother who at the same time came to the same violent end most of our Historians being particular in that Relation but I can bear testimony that the Duke of Espernon did neither then nor ever since approve of that execution and that although he had receiv'd very hard measure from the Duke in his life he notwithstanding had his great