to the Duke of Eguillon 283 Challenge from the Prince of Joinville to the Duke of Espernon 244 Chartres surrendred to the King 114 135 Chasteau-Neuf Garde des Sceaux in disgrace 507 Chastillon slain before Chartres 135 Church Lands in Bearn restor'd 306 Cicutat taken by the Duke of Espernon 150 Cinque-Mars Grand Escuyer of France 634 Cisteron taken by the Duke of Espernon 150 Cittadel of Xaintes demolish'd 362 Civil War breaks out 431 Commotion of the Princes of the Blood to hinder the Match with Spain 291 Comparison betwixt the Duke of Espernon and â—'Esdiguieres 405 Conspiracy of Angoulesme 87 sequentibus Conspiracy against the Queen Mother at Angoulesme 363 Conspiracy against the Duke of Espernon 180 181 Council of sixteen and their practices 68 69 Count de Brenne 344 Count de Candalle slain at the storming of Sommieres 60 Count de Bethune sent to treat with the Queen Mother 354 Count de Moret slain 496 Count de Soissons retires from Court 572 Count de Soissons furiously exasperated against the Duke of Espernon 273 Crequi made Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards 228 La Croix sent by the Duke de Luines to the Duke of Espernon 369 D. DEath of the Cardinal of Guise 106 Death of the Dutchess of Espernon 158 Death of Pere Ange de Joyeuse 248 Death of the Duke of Cleves 250 Death of the Duke de Luines 395 Death of the Count de Soissoâ—s slain at the Battel of Sedan 628 Death of the Dutchess de la Valette 444 Death of the Dutchess of Orleans 445 Defagues Massacred at Bordeaux 538 Description of the City of Metz 39 Difference betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Parliament of Paris 207 sequentibus Difference betwixt the Duke of Espernon and Villeroy Secretary of State 42 52 Difference betwixt Pope Paul the Fifth and the Republick of Venice compos'd by the King of France 246 Difference betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Archbishop of Bordeaux 507 Disorders of the Kingdom 284 Dispute betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Mareschal d' Ornano 210 211 Another 238 Dispute betwixt the Dukes of Espernon and Guise 243 Dispute betwixt the Prince of Joinville and the Duke of Espernon 244 Dispute betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Baron de la Chastagneraye 274 Dispute betwixt the Duke of Espernon and Cardinal Richelieu about the Portugal Carricks 446 Disputes betwixt the Duke of Espernon and the Parliament of Bordeaux 424 429 Continued 436 Duel betwixt two Captains 170 Duel betwixt two Souldiers 286 Duke de Candalle discontented at his Partage given him by his Father 278 He is Married to the Dutchess of Haluin 278 His Voyage into the Levant 280 He misdemeans himself in Xaintonge 294 He comes to his Father to Bordeaux 443 444 His Death 600 E. EDict de Crue erected 557 Edict of the Vnion with the League published at Roan 80 Education of the Duke of Espernon 's Children 275 English Land in the Isle of Rhe 448 Are Defeated 455 Engagement betwixt the Duke of Espernon and I'Esdiguieres 165 Enterview betwixt the King and the Queen Mother at Cousieres 366 L' Esdiguieres Created Constable of France 405 Esgarrebaques Governour of Toulon 172 Espernon Duke offer'd by the King his Majesties Sister-in-Law in Marriage which he modestly refuses 25 He is sent to Treat with the King of Navarre 31 By whom he is offer'd the Princess Katharine the King 's only Sister in Marriage 33 His dangerous fall near to Lyons 34 35 He is offer'd the Duke of Guises Daughter since Princess of Conty in Marriage which he refuses 36 He is sent with an Army into Provence 50 His Exploits there 51 Espernon Duke Married to Margaret de Foix and de Candalle 59 sequ Espernon Duke beats up a Quarter of German Horse 63 Espernon Duke invested with the Offices vacant by the Death of the Duke of Joyeuse slain at the Battel of Coutras as also with those vacant by the Duke de Bellegarde slain at the same Battel 65 He exposes himself to very great danger 69 He retires from Court 80 He returns to Court and is well receiv'd 111 He refuses to follow Henry the Fourth and leaves the Army 119 121 He is shot into the mouth at Pierre Fonds 134 He is sent Governour and Captain General of all the Kings Forces into Provence 141 142 His miraculous escape before Aix 156 He is forsaken by his Friends in Provence 176 He is traduc'd by the Cardinal d' Ossat 183 He comes to the King to Amiens 200 His expedition into Limousin 240 Espernon Duke goes to the Hostel de Ville at Paris upon the Death of Henry the Fourth 258 And to the Augustins 259 His Harangue there ibid. Espernon Duke re-establish'd in Metz 267 Espernon Duke generously refuses to consent to the Murther of the Duke of Sully though his Enemy 265 He divides his Estate amongst his three Sons 277 He rejects the proferr'd Alliance of the Mareschal d' Encre 282 He falls sick at Angoulesme 295 Espernon Duke in Disgrace 297 Espernon Duke in great danger 298 He retires from Court 299 He presents himself before Rochelle 303 Espernon Duke's preparation in order to the Queen Mothers escape from Blois 332 His Magnificence 364 His Letter to the King 365 Espernon Duke his Expedition into Bearne 380 His successes there 383 His Generosity 384 Espernon Duke his Expedition against Rochelle 389 His Actions there 392 Espernon Duke goes to lay Siege to Royan 398 Espernon Duke created Governour of Guienne 403 He takes possession of his Government 420 He falls sick 456 He entertains the Queen at Cadillac 503 Espernon Duke stops the Progress of Rebellion in Guienne 486 And thereupon is confiâ—'d to his House Plassac 528 He is Excommunicated 505 Absolv'd 532 He falls sick 536 Espernon Duke goes against the Mutineers of Bordeaux 541 And suppresses them 550 Espernon Duke aspers'd ibid. He receives some reparation 553 He again falls sick 555 And again at Bayonne 563 Espernon Duke in the greatest Disgrace 598 He is depos'd from his Government and calâ—mniated 599 Whereupon he again falls sick 600 And again at Plassac 618 Espernon Duke commanded to retire to Loches and upon what occasion 619 sequ His arrival there 631 Espernon Duke falls mortally sick 644 His good disposition to dye 646 His Death 650 Estampes taken by Assault 114 D'Estampes barbarously slain 168 F. FAmine in Guienne 480 Father Arnoux a Iesuite 320 Favier sent to Metz as a spy upon the Duke of Espernon 314 Faure a common Souldier receives a Cannon-shot in the Belly of which he miraculously escapes 402 La Fere surpriz'd by the Prince of Condé 22 Surrendred to the King 169 Fewd betwixt the Princes of the Blood and the Duke of Espernon 273 Wherein the Queen Regent is favourable to the Duke 274 Fontarabie besieg'd by the Prince of Condé 563 The Prince defeated there 596 Fontrailles 634 Fort of Aix demolish'd 172 Fort at Arras taken by
and Laughter But the King afraid no doubt lest this should produce some effect that might hinder his main designs secretly chid him for what he had already done giving him caution for the future to forbear such railleries and to behave himself with more respect in occasions wherein he himself was so seriously concern'd Which sharp reproof giving Caumont sufficiently to understand that although the King did not as yet make publick profession of that Religion yet that he was notwithstanding so moderate and so lukewarm a Catholick that he only wanted a handsome opportunity to do it He resolv'd also to quit his service upon the first occasion that fairly presented it self An effect besides his own Devotion to the Church of a solemn Promise his Brother and he had joyntly made to their dying Father never to serve other than a Catholick Prince From thenceforward therefore he sought all opportunities civilly to disingage himself from the service of this King which soon after a light Indisposition of body gave him a handsome Pretense to do for finding himself not very well and continuing fome few dayes in the same distemper without any amendment he intreated leave to retire into the privacy and convenience of his own house for the recovery of his health which the King though he doubtless well enough understood the meaning of that request without any difficulty or the least shew of unkindness freely permitted him to do France began now to see it self threatned with the approaching troubles which the Duke of Alenson's and the King of Navarre's departure from Court happening much about the same time shortly after produc'd in the Kingdom neither could the Queen Mother notwithstanding her great vigilancy and care to prevent those disorders the discontents of these two Princes together with those of the Hugonot Faction were likely to bring upon the State with all her industry and prudence hinder men in that Crisis of Affairs from running into the tumult of Armes It was in this juncture of time that Caumont prepar'd himself for a second journey to Court He had had the honour to be known to the King first at the Siege of Rochelle and afterwards in his dependence upon the King of Navarre so that these preceding habitudes and acquaintance made him resolve to go and tye himself directly to his Majesties person and service Having therefore left his own house with this resolution he takes his journey to Burdeaux where the Marquess de Villars a great friend and an old companion in Armes of Mounsieur de la Valette his Father and now Governour of Guienne then resided and where he was not a little busie to provide against the disorders which at that time threatned that Province Caumont at his arrival gives him a visit acquaints him with the true design of his journey and withal offers his service if he had any to command him to Court Villars readily accepts his offer charges him with Letters of Credit to the King and the wayes betwixt Burdeaux and Poitiers being very difficult to pass by reason of the continual inroads of the Hugonot party he informs him of the particular state of the Countrey instructs him in the safest wayes he was to pass and finally gives him a full accompt of the posture wherein his Majesties Affairs then stood that he might thereupon receive new orders from the King and Council Caumont being glad to present himself to their Majesties with the advantage of so considerable a service departs throughly instructed in all the Affairs of Guienne from Burdeaux to Angoubesme where he further discourses about his Government with the Marquess of Rufee Governour of that Town and Countrey and by him findes matters there to be in no better a condition than those of Guienne Rufee had made a late denial of that place to the Heads of the Hugonot party to whom by the Treaty of Champigny made with the Duke of Alenson it should have been delivered up for a Cautionary Town He informs himself of the reasons of Rufees refusal in this case with other things that concern'd the Kings Service in that Countrey and continues his journey from thence to Poitiers by the houses of Gentlemen his acquaintance sometimes with Convoys but for the most part in the slender guard of his own inconsiderable train At last by short and wary journeys he arrives at Court which was then at Blois though with infinite difficulty and danger such was the disorder and confusion that rag'd in all the Provinces through which he was to pass I heard him a few dayes before his death relate all the particulars of this journey without omitting the least circumstance that befel him by the way not without admiration that a man after threescore and odde years should retain so perfect a memory of such petty accidents if such ought to be call'd so as gave a beginning to the establishment of so prodigious a Fortune Being come to Court he presented himself to the King deliver'd the several dispatches he had from Villars and Rufee giving his Majesty a particular account of all they had given him in charge The King immediately commanded him to address himself to the Queen Mother and to inform her fully of the same things being at this first Conference highly satisfied with his dexterity and judgement and mightily taken with his behaviour and the gracefulness he observ'd in whatever he said or did neither indeed could there be a more accomplisht Gentleman than he was at that age of two and twenty as I have heard men of great judgement say that very well knew him in those times His Conference with the Queen Mother prov'd no less to his advantage with her than that he had had with the King had done with him she was pleas'd to give him a gracious audience and to take a great liking to his Person so that the King coming as it was his constant custom in the evening to confer about business with her and asking her if she had seen Caumont and what her opinion was of him the Queen made answer That she had seen and discours'd with him and that it was upon men of his condition and merit that his Majesty ought to repose the Trust and Confidence of his most important Affairs which she said as not being unwilling to the end she might still keep her dominion over the Kings affections that Caumont though the King had many Favourties already should yet make one of that number that so his heart being divided amongst many might not too violently encline to one The King told her he was of her opinion and the approbation he found in her judgement having justified his own inclinations after he had entertain'd her some time with merits of the Father and the good qualities of the Son he from thenceforward took a resolution to receive him into a degree of favour and to place him near his own person Yet was it not immediately notwithstanding this
So that the two Factions that of the League and that of the Religion being equally weakned by his Valour and Conduct he then so establish'd those two Provinces in their duty that it was afterwards no hard matter for him to continue them in that posture of Obedience until the death of the King Whilst Mounsieur de la Valette was employ'd about these brave Services for the Crown Mounsieur de Villeroy a declar'd Enemy to the Duke his Brother was no less busie with all the ill Offices he could contrive to ruine both their Credits with the King Which though the Duke had long observ'd and as long forborn to take notice of yet could he at last no longer restrain himself from breaking out to a high and publick Rupture with him It was at St Aignan that it happened at the time the Army of Reiters were preparing to enter the Kingdom and that the King was consulting of the means to hinder their passage I have already given an account of the Animosities betwixt these two great Ministers and the Causes that produc'd them which perhaps I should not so punctually have done neither should I now do it had not D'Avila an Authour of great Repute for the History of that time enlarg'd himself more thatn ordinary upon this Difference as upon an accident very considerable and of great importance to the general Affairs that were then in agitation The Duke then and Villeroy being upon these ill terms the King at the especial instance of the Duke had assigned a summe of 20000 Crowns only for the entertainment of Mounsieur de la Valette's Army a proportion very inconsiderable for the great end to which it was design'd but very great considering the necessities the State was then in which mony Villeroy notwithstanding his Majesties Order having diverted to the Payment of the Grand Provost and his Archers the Duke discover'd it to the King in open Council complaining that a summe so disproportionable to the utility of his Brothers Services should be diverted to another use To which Complaint Villeroy who was present reply'd aloud in his Majesties Presence That what the Duke had said was not true It is easie to judge whether the Duke who was then rais'd to the highest degree of Favour were surpriz'd with so tart and so unexpected an Injury I have heard him say That in his whole life he was never so sensibly offended nevertheless he had so much power over himself as to forbear all kind of violence in the Kings Presence so much as from any extravagancy of words neither made he other reply to Mounsieur de Villeroy but this That the Presence of the King which had encourag'd him to give that Language oblig'd him to be Silent but that he should repent it The King both disquieted and displeas'd at this Quarrel and willing to interrupt them from proceeding further went immediately out of the Closet expecting the Duke should follow him but he staying behind and being now no longer aw'd by the Reverence due to his Majesties Person fell very severely upon Mounsieur de Villeroy for the words past some say he proceeded to high threats that he had his hand up to have strook him and that he gave him some very unhandsome language though I never heard the Duke confess so much in the many times he has discours'd of that business But Mounsieur de Villeroy immediately went and complain'd to the King of the Duke's Threats demanding Assurance and Protection from him where receiving no very satisfactory answer he waited time and opportunity by working his own revenge to procure his own Safety which happened not long after when we shall see the Duke's Valour frustrate all his Enemies Designs But let us in the mean time return to the general Business We have already observ'd that from the first insurrection of the League the King of Navarre not doubting but that all their preparations were chiefly intended against him had earnestly solicited all the Confederates of his Religion not only at home but in Foreign Parts to his aid but when he understood that by the mediation of the Queen Mother the Treaty of Nemours had been sign'd by the King himself at St. Maur he then foreseeing the storm that was ready to break upon him very well knew that he should infallibly be overwhelm'd without a speedy succour He therefore again press'd his Allies immediately to send their Forces if they desir'd to find him in a condition to receive the effects of their Assistance his Enemies so passionately precipitating his Ruine The German Princes spurr'd on by this new Solicitation and having yet been ancient Allies to the Crown of France would it should seem proceed with some shew of respect and thereupon concluded amongst themselves to send first an honourable Embassy to the King before they would engage in so important a Quarrel In this occurrence all the Court expected some Civil Remonstrance on the German Princes part but they soon found themselves deceiv'd for the Ambassadours either prevail'd upon by their Confederates in France or transported with their own Zeal to Religion and the passion they had for those of that Party having publickly reproach'd the King with his breach of Faith towards his Protestant Subjects it evidently appear'd that their design was not to mediate an Accommodation but to push things on to the decision of Arms by giving the King a premeditated Affront I have heard the Duke say that he was present at the delivery of this Oration and that the King justly nettled at so saucy an Embassy after having in the heat and apprehension of so great an injury spoken with greater eloquence than ever till that time he had heard him do he positively and for a final answer return'd the lye to whoever should reproach him with the breach of his Faith The Ambassadors dismiss'd after this manner fail'd not at their return home to exasperate their several Princes to the last degree who being before resolv'd upon a War made speedy and great Leavies and soon set such an Army on foot as they thought joyn'd to that the King of Novarre had already of his dependants should be able absolutely to subdue the Catholick Party in France The King as he very well foresaw what inconvenience the entry of such a multitude of strangers must of necessity bring upon his Kingdom so did he by all imaginable ways try to prevent their coming and seeing that nothing but satisfying the King of Navarre could possibly divert that mischief he once more try'd by the means of the Queen his Mother if possible to win him to a timely accommodation Which being by her undertaken after many delayes scruples and jealousies on both sides a Conference was at last concluded on at St. Brix a private house seated upon the Banks of Charente near Coynack but this Conference nevertheless being able to produce no good effect by reason of that invincible difficulty the difference of
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
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
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
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
very little stop to the progress of the Royal Arms and his Majesty still pursuing the Chase of Victory he resolv'd to lay Siege to Montpellier a design of so high a nature as requir'd the condition of the place should be exactly and maturely consider'd before they ought to come to a determinate resolution It had in one year been fortified to a miracle even in the opinion of those who were best read in Fortiâ—ication which if it had not been the defects of the place would notwithstanding have been sufficiently recompens'd in the Valour of the Governour that had been very considerable in an open Village It was the Sieur de Calonges of whom I speak a Gentleman equally to be esteem'd for his wit and bravery qualities that made him look'd upon so long as he liv'd for an extraordinary person in his own Province whither he at last retir'd himself as full of honour as empty of ambition to end his days after having perform'd many signal Services for his Prince by dying to expiate the glorious fault he committed against his Majesty in his gallant behaviour at this Siege The Duke of Espernon having long been acquainted with this Gentlemans vertues who had formerly out of his own affection ty'd himself to his Service and even in his disgraces paid him a respect at Court above all other great men of the Kingdom gave such a Character of him to the King as prov'd too true in the revolution of this Siege The Constable de l' Esdiguieres by the prerogative of his place having the principal command of the Army would with good Title go to view the place and the Duke who disputed nothing with him but who also receiv'd no more orders from him now he was Constable than when he was only Mareschal General de Camp was also commanded by the King to do the same The Constable went out first accompanied with a strong party of Horse as the Duke also was with some Gentlemen but he forgot not to take his Guards along who prov'd very serviceable to him and also to the Constable in this occasion The Duke of Espernon had not advanc'd far in order to his discovery before he was fir'd upon by some Musqueteers of the City planted in the hedges in which Volley the Count de Maillé who was talking with him receiv'd a Musquet-shot in the face which put him in great danger of his life some others were also hurt and the mischief would have been greater had not the Duke commanded la Roche the Lieutenant of his Guard with his Companies to alight and beat the Enemy from their Post which he having without much difficulty perform'd and the Duke conceiving that Monsieur de l' Esdiguieres would meet with the same entertainment he dispatch'd away la Roche to do the same Service for him if occasion should require Neither could he have arriv'd in a better time for the Constable having taken no Foot with him as the Duke had very well observ'd the Horse that attended him at the rattle of the Musquâ—t-shot began to face about the craggy and difficult passes not permitting them to come up to charge the Enemy who in great security fir'd very thick upon them insomuch that the Constable abandon'd by his men would perhaps have been himself oblig'd shamefully to retire had not the Duke's Guards come opportunely in to clear his way But meeting after this little brush with no further opposition he soon after joyn'd himself with the Duke near Pont Iuvenel where they both alighted and where after the Duke had a little rallied him about his disorder they continued a great while in consultation to consider a Plot of the place presented before them and went afterwards together to the King's Quarter to make their report Immediately upon their return the King call'd a Council of War to resolve upon the manner of carrying on the Siege where the Duke did not only propose but did moreover with many powerful Arguments maintain that they were especially to possess themselves of the Hill Saint Denis an eminence near the City from whence the inside of all their Fortifications were so easily discover'd that it was impossible that post being well secur'd and furnish'd with good Artillery for the Enemy either to go from the Town to the defense of their out-works or to remain secure within But this prudent advice that being follow'd had inâ—allibly made the King within fifteen days master of the place and sav'd the lives of as many persons of Quality and Valour as ever his Majesty lost in any one Enterprize of this kind waâ— contradicted by Chabans the same that has been mention'd beâ—orâ— in the Queen Mothers Affair This man had during the time of the Duke de Luines his favour obtain'd some employment at Court where being a man of sense and very well read in the busineâ—s of the â—ime he had rais'd himself very considerable friends to support him So that those who were enemies to the Duke which were ever a very sufficient number prompted Chabans to dispute his opinion in the Council not considering the King's Service and Interest when they came in competition with the injury and affront they intended against the Duke which Chabans so effectually perform'd as to cause a determination quite contrary to what the Duke had advis'd to be resolv'd upon A thing I observ'd the Duke at his return from the Council very much nettled at and heard him give Chabans some very bitter language about it but the oversight was already committed and the more unhappily by how much it was never to be repair'd of so great importance it is to husband the opportunities of War where a moment's neglect draws after it an irreparable loss Immediately upon the breaking up of the Council they fell to work on all hands to advance the Siege The Trenches were opened when those within soon perceiving of how great importance the foremention'd eminence was to their common conservation they there cast up a little Work and left some Souldiers to Guard it Which Guard was no sooner planted there but that our Commanders eyes being opened they saw the error they had committed in not possessing themselves of that Post whilst it might have been done without any opposition They therefore now resolv'd to foâ—ce it and succeeded in the attempt for assaulting it by night and the besieg'd not daring to sally out of the Town in the dark to relieve their men they suffer'd it to be taken the Guards giving our Souldiers leave to make themselves masters of their Works almost without any resistance But as it often falls out the facility of this little Victory having made our people as negligent to its conservation as if it never ought more to be disputed with them they took no care at all to perfect the Works that to their hands had already been begun Neither was this the sole over-sight was committed in this Affair for the Duke of Espernon
those of the King embodied and acting by one sole authority could in a moment produce the effects of all their power it was no hard matter for the Cardinal to frustrate the attempts of all these Forein Princes and to repel even upon them themselves who were most active to destroy him the designs they had projected for his ruine If the Cardinal's wisdom was of great use to him as questionless it was upon this occasion it must likewise be confess'd that Fortune did no little contribute to his safety who from the extremities of the North rais'd him up a Prince one of the most eminent and great in all qualities both Military and Civil that latter ages have produc'd and that was the great Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden This Prince in truth inconsiderable enough had not his single Person and Valour in themselves been worth the greatest Armies undertook to invade Germany and to assault the Emperour in the heart of his own Dominions notwithstanding that this mighty Prince who had already subdu'd all the powers that were opposite to him possess'd that Empire compos'd of many Kingdoms in a greater degree of Sovereignty than any of his Predecessors who had sway'd that Scepter for many Ages before him had ever done These difficulties sufficient to have discourag'd and withheld the mightiest powers serv'd only for Spurs to the ambition of this generous and magnanimous Prince He entred then into Germany where at his coming he proclaim'd liberty to all the Princes and People a great allurement indeed but his large promises without some advantageous effects were not of force to draw many Partizans over to his side He sought therefore with great eagerness an occasion wherein to make tryal of his Arms which he knew was the only way to win himself Reputation and Friends and the Emperour who had no less Interest to stop the impetuosity of an Invader who came to brave him in the heart of his own Empire oppos'd to this Torrent and that under the command of the best and most fortunate Leaders he had his Army hitherto victorious over all the Forces they had met in the Field but the glory of all those Victories serv'd only to render that of the King of Sweden more illustrious which he obtain'd over these Conquerours at the Battel of Lipsick by which great and famous action having rendred his name till then almost unknown formidable throughout the whole Empire he ran from one extremity thereof to the other almost without any resistance at least without meeting any impediment that could stop his way The Cardinal as he had good reason rendred himself very facile and favourable to this Prince who seem'd to be come out of his Rocks and Desarts for no other end save only to defend his quarrel He assisted him therefore in the beginning with some few men and a little money which though not very considerable the Swede nevertheless gave so important a diversion to the House of Austria that having their hands more than full of their own Affairs they were far from being in any capacity of traversing their Neighbours designs If the Emperour had enough to do at home the King of Spain had no less need of all his Forces at the Siege of Mastrick and the Duke of Lorain depriv'd of the support of these two great Princes under whose shadow and protection he had taken Arms being of himself unable to withstand the King's Power was necessitated as he had done some time before to fly to his Majesties mercy By the Treaty of Vic concluded in the beginning of the year he had dâ—liver'd Marsal to the King by way of caution for the performance of his word and for this second of Liverdune he moreover assign'd to him Stenay Iamets and Clairmont upon which good security his Majesty having granted him peace he was constrain'd to observe it though it was only not long after to break it from whence ensu'd the loss of his whole Dukedom The Monsieur seeing himself thus defeated of all hopes of any Forein assistance his Servants assay'd to procure that for him at home they saw was not elsewhere to be expected to which end Letters from the Queen Mother and himself were presented to the Parliament of Paris to try if by that application they could interest that Assembly in their grievances and inveagle the Parisians into a good opinion of their cause but all in vain they practis'd moreover several discontented persons whose assistance consisting only of a very few men was also of no great effect the remains of the Hugonot party were likewise tamper'd withal but besides that they were reduc'd to such a low condition that they had greater need of some Potent Prince to protect them than that they were in any capacity to repair the fortune of a great Prince declin'd there was so good order taken to hold them in in all parts of the Kingdom that not a man amongst them durst once offer to stir The Cardinal having from the beginning of the year foreseen that the discontents of the Queen Mother and the Monsieur exasperated and fomented by strangers would infallibly bring a War upon the Kingdom had omitted no manner of precaution that might serve to frustrate their designs he had caus'd the Kings standing Regiments both of Horse and Foot to be reinforc'd had put sufficient Garrisons into all the important Cities had by very severe prohibitions forestall'd all such as were likely to engage with the Enemy and those of the Religion though already upon the matter subduâ—d being yet in some sorâ— even in their impotency to be suspected he had taken a particular care to make sure of them upon this occasion What difficulties soever the punctual execution of these Orders had strew'd in the way of the Monsieur 's designs and notwithstanding that he saw himself abandoned by his Forein friends sufficiently taken up with their own particular Affairs he thought nevertheless that the sole interest of the Duke of Montmorency who was absolutely at his Devotion would of it self enable him to execute his revenge for the injuries he had receiv'd Upon which assurance he entred the Kingdom in Iune accompanied only with two thousand Horse pick'd up of several Nations and two thousand Foot or thereabouts taking his way through Burgundy without making any discovery into what part of France he intended to retire and then it was that the King's Orders and dispatches were redoubled and sent with great diligence into all parts of the Kingdom to which it was probable those Forces would direct their March They seem'd principally to threaten either Languedoc or Guienne the Governours of which two Provinces having no great reason to be very well satisfied with the Court the Cardinal did not well know what to think of them nor what to promise to himself from their Fidelity in so critical a time Of these the Duke of Montmorency the more reason the Court had to be jealous of his
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
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
was superior to him in Name and Person wherâ—fore at his entring upon hâ—s command having found the King set down before la Fere he thought he could not give a more glorious beginning to his administration than by force or policy to defeat that his Majesties design An undertaking which for the difficulty and danger thereof was every way worthy the greatness of his mind for the King having foreseen the Spaniard would infallibly attempt a relief had forgot nothing that might serve to frustrate their endeavours His Forces were great his works about the place compleat and perfect and almost all the most experienc'd Captains of his Kingdom were come in from all parts to attend his Majesties Person and to signalize themselves in so brave an occasion all which being very well known to the Cardinal of Austria he durst not notwithstanding his earnest desire to relieve that 〈◊〉 engage his Army in so dangerous an attempt but rather â—earken'd to the Counsels of such as more warily advis'd to raise that 〈◊〉 by an attempt upon some other place of a greater or no 〈◊〉 â—â—portance Amongst the many opinions that were deliver'd in the Cardinals Council abovt this Affair the ill Fortune of France would have the counsel of a Frenchman to prevail that by the procurement of one of her own Sons this Kingdom might receive the greatest dishonour it could possibly sustain And this was the advice of Rhosne a Gentleman born in Champagne upon the Frontiers of Lorain one who having in the infancy of the League devoted himself to the Duke of Guise and done him many signal services in his life after his death persevering in the evil cause he had before embrac'd had put himself under the Duke of Mayenne and so far his too violent zeal to Religion or the error of his judgment which might be deluded amongst the rest were rather to be excus'd and pittied than his carriage absolutely to be condemn'd but after the Duke of Mayenne was reduc'd to reason and had given up his cause his yet engaging himself with the King 's most implacable enemies made it manifest to all that his turbulent spirit would stick at no mischief he could any ways effect against his Prince and Country This man then discrediting in the Cardinals Council all the diversions had been there propos'd as by making an attempt upon St. Quintin Montreuille Boulogne or Guise gave advice to fall upon Calice at the same time offering himself to be the man that would undertake and accomplish the design A proposition of so high and generous a nature that the Cardinals ambition which was bent â—pon some noble atchievement being fir'd thereby he was afterwards deaf to all other Counsels and so wholly bent upon an enterprize so suitable to the greatness of his mind that without further delay he gave immediate order to dispose all things for the execution of that design To which end his Army was forthwith drawn into the Field and there divided into three several bodies to amuse the King and to keep him in doubt of the course he intended to steer a policy not very necessary to the concealment of his design it being impossible any one could imagine he durst so much as meditate the thoughts of an enterprize which to all mens astonishment he so suddenly effected that the King had no sooner intelligence of his motion but that withal news was brought him of the loss of the place Bidossan Governour of Calice surpriz'd with so unexpected a Siege was in a few days reduc'd to so great an extremity that he was forc'd to dispatch a Post to the King to acquaint his Majesty with the Articles of his capitulation which was to make a positive surrender if within six days he was not reliev'd at which unhappy and unexpected news his Majesty being beyond all expression afflicted he advanc'd with all diligence as far as Boulogne in hope that the convenient vicinity of that place would give him some opportunity or other to send in some relief to the besieged before the time of limitation should expire neither did he fail to try all possible ways by which he conceiv'd it might be done but all in vain the contrary winds by Sea and the Enemies vigilancy by Land still frustrating what ever endeavour he could use when one sole Servant of the Duke of Espernon's had the good hap beyond all humane expectation to put himself into the place Fortune being it should seem resolv'd by the performance of one of his Servants to confer upon the Master though absent the honour of the bravest exploit that pass'd upon this occasion The man whose resolution was so eminent in this affair was commonly call'd the black Cadet a Gentleman of the house of Campagnol who bravely undertook and as bravely perform'd the Action His elder Brother by the Duke's Favour was preferr'd to be Captain of a Company in the Regiment of Guards and his own Lieutenant in the Government of Boulogne as this also had a Company in the Regiment of Picardy with which he had likewise been gratified by the Dukes Bounty This Gentleman no sooner receiv'd intelligence of the Enemies motion towards Calice but that he immediately repair'd to his Brother at Boulogne where he was at his Majesties arrival there and where his courage not permitting him to sit still in so general a consternation as appear'd in all persons about the King he made a voluntary offer of himself to pass through the Enemies Guards into the Town of Calice with any number of men his Majesty would please to commit to his charge or to perish in the attempt The valour of the man was so well try'd and known that the King doubted not in the least of his performance to the utmost of what could by man be done but the danger was such that his Majesty was very unwilling to expose so brave a Gentleman to so manifest a ruine yet such was his importunity and the occasion of such importance that at last three hundred men only were assign'd him with which by the favour of the night and his own good conduct he arriv'd safe at Calice without the loss of so much as any one man so that certainly had he carried a more considerable number of men the Town had been sav'd but as the case then stood the must content himself with the honour of his own bravery without reaping any other benefit from the success of his attempt The term of six days being expir'd the Enemy sent to summon the Town to a surrender according to the Articles of Capitulation betwixt them to which summons they had no other return than this that the besieg'd were now acquit of their promise and that they had receiv'd a relief an answer at which Râ—osne being more enrag'd than the Arch-Duke himself he presently caus'd the Cannon to play with greater fury than at any time before during the Siege when a sufficient breach being
sufficient to beget new distastes in the King against him yet was he not so much master of himself nor had so much command over his own Nature but that he must put those affronts upon Crequy or rather upon the King who made this business his own By these disputes which in another time might have turn'd very much to the Duke's prejudice he got nevertheless this advantage that the King to satisfie him for the future in the interests of his Command made a kind of agreement with him if a largess from a Master to his Servant may be so call'd which was That his Majesty would indeed really and effectually reserve to himself the nomination of Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards as also to the other old Regiments but with this condition that the Colonel should swear them that they should be conceiv'd to have their admission from him without which they were not to be receiv'd into the employment That his Majesty having provided for one Company in the Regiment of Guards he was content the Duke should in turn do the same for the next at his own appointment That of all the Foot Companies of the other Regiments new and old the Duke when ever any should be vacant should have the naming of the Captains to the King to fill them up and that no Captain soever whether of the Regiment of Guards or any other Regiment should be admitted into or establish'd in his Command till first his Commission was Sign'd by the Colonel But for what concern'd those Offices that depended upon the Duke's Command as Lieutenants Ensigns Colonel-Ensigns Serjeants and Serjeant-Majors Martials Provost-Martials Quarter-Masters and other Officers that he should place and displace them by his sole Authority without any order from the King or his Majesties taking any notice thereof According to which Agreement the Duke proceeded so regularly and undisturb'd in the Priviledges of his Command that there was never after during this Kings Reign the least Dispute betwixt them saveing once that the King thinking it fit to add two Companies more to his Regiment of Guards and having appointed their Captains the Duke interpos'd his Majesties Royal Promise humbly beseeching him to do him right an Argument so powerful to this equitable Prince that of two Captains he had nam'd he only provided for one which was the Sieur de la Courbe who had but the second Company neither the first being given to the Sieur de Bourdet by the Duke's Recommendation whose turn it was to name the first vacant Company yet did not the business pass without some dispute though at last the King was pleas'd rather to give way to his Servant's just desires than to fail in the least Article of his Word I shall here add since I am upon this discourse of the Office of Colonel a thing that time has sufficiently justified to all France which is that the Duke was so exceeding cautious in the dispensation of Commands whether meerly depending upon his own Authority or in his nomination only that his Majesty would often say he never had better Foot Officers than those of the Duke's preferring And in truth the French Infantry whilst the Duke was permitted to execute his charge were kept in so good order that perhaps no Militia in Europe were better Disciplin'd nor better Officer'd than they a truth to this hour confirm'd by an infinite number of persons yet living who have commanded under him and who were witnesses of his conduct To which I shall further add and to his great commendation a thing not to be contradicted which is that he neither directly nor indirectly ever made the least benefit of any Command he dispos'd of which I think had they been set to sale would in the long course of his life have amounted to above two Millions of Gold after the rate they are sold now adays And I do very well remember that towards his latter end when he saw the selling of Offices began to grow in fashion he did all he could and that the condition of the time would permit to oppose it representing to the King with very convincing Arguments what a prejudice such an abuse would be to his Service although in the end seeing he could not prevail with the Council to alter that toleration he also gave some of his own Servants though very few leave to make mony of the Offices he had conferr'd upon them but I am certain that for his own particular he never converted any the least employment to his own pâ—ofit A thing perhaps such as thought him solicitous of his own Interest will hardly be perswaded to believe as indeed he was enclin'd to the saving side and wary enough when it was fit for him to be so but never upon any occasion where his Honour was concern'd that ever taking with him the upperhand of all other considerations The business of Crequy how troublesome and how hard soever to digest was not yet the last of the same nature the Duke was to wrestle withal in this years revolution another following immediately after which as it nearer concern'd him pierc'd deeper to the quick neither had it so happy an issue as the first The Duke having in the year 1582. been by King Henry the III. establish'd in the Government of Metz he conferr'd the Lieutenancy of the City and Country upon Moncassin his Kinsman and the Command of the Cittadel upon Sobole but in process of time which hapned in the year 1585. having withdrawn Moncassin from this employment to continue about his own person Sobole whom he had bred a Page and in whom he had an entire confidence was by his bounty rais'd to that degree that he conferr'd upon him the command of the City and Country together with that of the Cittadel also which was effectually one of the bravest entertainments in France Metz being at that time the most considerable place of the Kingdom and the noblest member of the Duke's Command In the Year 1594. the King undertook the Siege of Laon to which as to an occasion wherein he expected to meet with great difficulties he invited many of his Servants of the neighbouring Provinces Amongst these Sobole was one who by the Authothority the Duke had given him in Metz having got a great interest in the Country might with great facility raise a considerable party of Horse as he did and at the Head of sixscore Light-Horse very well appointed and fourscore Carabins went to serve his Majesty at this Siege The King receiv'd him with great demonstrations of favour and not being well satisfied with the Duke of Espernon who being at that time in Provence where he did not behave himself to his Majesties liking after he had as he conceiv'd cut him out work enough there he took occasion to raise him greater difficulties about Metz by lessening the Authority he had till that time ever had over Sobole And to that purpose after he had reduc'd Laon 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
soon as a more mature age and experience should render him capable of that Employment he conceiv'd that a high Spirit as his was ought to rest very well satisfied with so fair a Fortune To the Marquis de la Valette his second Son he assign'd his Office of Colonel and the Government of Metz in reversion with the rest of his Estate whether hereditary or purchas'd which made up a Revenue equal to the first together with his share of the Rents and personal Estate For his third Son also he provided to the value of fifty thousand Crowns a year at least in Church preferments of which he was not content only to put him into present possession but gave him moreover a years Revenue advance that he might have wherewithal to maintain a port suitable to his condition to which he further added the survivancy of the Government of Boulogne and Loches with the Office of chief Almoner to the King which was a leading step to that of great Almoner of France In this distribution of his Fortune the Duke 's paternal care and liberality might a man would have thought have amply satisfied the most aspiring Ambitions and the most avaritious Natures neither could the two youngest enough magnifie the bounty of so good a Father who by his Industry and his Blood had rais'd them to such a height of Riches and Honour but some malevolent Spirits enemies to the peace and happiness of the eldest by a violence upon his nature perswaded him he had not been kindly us'd in this partition that therein his younger Brother had the best and most solid Employments assign'd to him whereof one was a Command of it self sufficient to oblige all the Gentlemen of France together with a Frontier much more considerable than the best Province of the Kingdom whereas what was consign'd to him was only an Office of little value and no great repute at Court with the expectation of a Mareschal's Staff considerable 't was true but a great way off and that for his Governments they lay so in the heart of the Kingdom that his Authority would be very little or nothing at all by which means making him at first undervalue the benefits he had receiv'd they so debauch'd his gratitude at last as to make him publickly complain of his Fathers proceeding and to despise all he had seeing he had not all he desir'd The Duke advertis'd of his Sons discontent labour'd all he could to reclaim him and make him see his error which he afterwards did neither could any thing be more grateful and obedient than he ever carried himself so oft as he suffer'd himself to be govern'd by his own natural inclination Even before the King's death the Fortune and Greatness of the Father with the merit and Riches of the Sons had rendred their Alliances so considerable that there were few persons of great Quality at Court who had not been offer'd to the Duke in Marriage with them but amongst the several Matches propos'd for the Count de Candale his eldest Son the Duke preferr'd that with the Dutchess of Haluin Grand-child to the Duke of Haluin and Daughter to the Marquis de Megnelay the inheritrix of a rich and illustrious Family before all the rest Whereupon a Marriage betwixt them shortly ensu'd though discontents soon after arising grew at last to that height that in a few years they came to an absolute separation Those who had the power to sow division in the Marriage-Bed had the same to perswade the Count de Candale into an open breach with the Duke his Father the grief whereof the most sensible of any he had ever met with in the whole course of his life as it was the cause of infinite others which befel him afterwards had like to have brought him to his Grave Yet did the Duke as if he had already foreseen what did after fall out all an indulgent Father could possibly do to reconcile himself to his Son and his Son to his Duty wherein though Le Plessis the usual mediator of all differences in that Family did as much as could be expected from an extraordinary prudence and a sincere affection it proved all to no effect the Count either unable to support the injury he believ'd had been done him in the partition of the Offices or not well enduring the presence of a Father he was conscious to himself he had not kindly us'd being resolv'd by a voluntary Exile to seek some repose for his troubled mind He determin'd therefore to forsake France but the end of his Travel was not simply for diversion neither could he satisfie himself with the meer exercise of some Vertues only to be practis'd in the obscurity of retirement and in the privacy of a Closet it was by painful and perillous actions and by exposing his life to the uncertain event of great Enterprizes that he would qualifie and sweeten his discontents Spurr'd on therefore by this generous resolution he took the second time the way of Italy where arriving at the Court of the great Duke of Tuscany at a time when he was equipping some Gallies for the Levant he entreated that Prince to permit him with his friends to put himself aboard those Vessels There had not any person of his condition for many years gone out of the Kingdom with so honourable a Train of Gentlemen and those in so handsome an Equipage as the Count did having above fifty Gentlemen of good quality in his company whom either their respect to the Father or the esteem of his own person had prevail'd upon to run the same fortune with him Loziere de Themines Monberaut Calonges Magnas the two Brothers de la Tour Villandry Cipierre Vernegue Monplaisir de Vic la Boissiere with many other Gentlemen of note were of this number when the Duke his Father how afflicted soever at his resolution yet unwilling he should be expos'd to so infinite and almost inevitable dangers without some prudent and faithful person to stand by him in all hazards permitted Le Plessis likewise who had been very useful to him in his former Travels to attend him in this sally also not doubting but he would by his conduct be as serviceable to him in his military undertakings as he had formerly been by his dexterity in other Affairs The Duke of Florence having consented that the Count de Candale with his Companions should embarque in his Gallies they cours'd up and down the Coasts of the Levant performing some exploits by Sea and making some attempts by Land and always with good success but the particular design of this expedition being upon the Fortress of Aglimant the most important of all Caramania they were to steer their course that way and to prepare themselves to assault it This Fortress favour'd by a good Harbour was man'd with six hundred Turks and moreover furnish'd with Artillery Ammunition and all things necessary for its defense which as it lay expos'd to the
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
former Masters He therefore sent a Letter to the King in the beginning whereof having excus'd himself in that he had not paid so prompt an Obedience to their Majesties first Orders deliver'd by Boissize and given reasons for it that directly pointed at the Honour of the King himself which as he said he conceiv'd to be very much concern'd in the business of Rochelle he continued in these words I have hitherto Sir preserv'd my Hands clean my Conscience uncorrupt my Reputation entire and my Fidelity without reproach I have never conspir'd but to do you Service neither do I find my self guilty of the least thought disconsonant to the Duty I owe to your Majesty and your Crown And although I am not us'd with that Equity nor rewarded with that Gratitude that without presumption I conceive I have deserv'd and that every day I find something attempted upon my Offices by the diminution and cutting off their just and lawful priviledges which were ever preserv'd inviolate to me during the Reign of the late King your Father yet nothing Sir can prevail with me above my Duty neither is there any so ill usage nor so sensible unkindness that can hinder me from persevering to do well being resolv'd to the last hour of my life to conquer whatever just resentments I may have and to forget all those injuries for which I can obtain no satisfaction but at the publick expense A resolution Sir in which I am infinitely fortified by the firm belief I have that all the disgraces I receive and all the foul play is continually practis'd against me proceed from no dis-affection your Majesty has conceiv'd against my person I know Sir that being naturally quick sighted to distinguish betwixt your false Servants and your true you have ever honour'd me with your favour But I have this obligation to those who are enemies to your Crown that they have upon all occasions discover'd themselves to be particularly so to me and have endeavour'd by their artifice to represent things otherwise to your Majesty than they really are to restrain the liberty of your own Royal disposition from obeying the natural inclination you have to love and cherish good men that as much as in them lies they may alienate your Majesties good opinion from such as by their long and faithful Services have deserv'd the best room in your heart I hope Sir nevertheless that truth will one day prevail in your Royal Breast over those little Arts and that your Majesty will then be pleas'd to distinguish your true and faithful Servants from such as Authorized by your Name and presence oppress your People invade your own Authority and continually disturb your Majesties Peace by their inordinate and unruly Ambition From Surgere the 25. of Feb. 1617. I have the rather inserted the express words of this Letter that you may see after what manner the Duke took his disgrace and how he behav'd himself towards his Enemies notwithstanding they carried the whole favour and sway of the Court the Marescbal d'Encre being manifestly pointed at in this dispatch We have since liv'd in a time when to speak our discontents so plain and loud would perhaps have been out of season but in that wherein the Duke writ this Letter men were at least permitted to complain and oftentimes those complaints procur'd a relief to such as like the Duke had the spirit and power to accompany those complaints with the effects of a vigorous resentment After this manner ended the Enterprize of Rochelle which gave some jeering companions of that party occasion to say for a piece of wit whatd ' Aubigne has recorded since That the Duke of Espernon was come to make hâ—â— Entry before Rochâ—llâ— though it has been thought this entry before gave the King from that time forward to understand it might also be made within and that the Enterprize was not above his power to effect We have since seen him bring about that glorious design and it is certain that this action brought that present benefit along with it that the Council ever after look'd with greater contempt upon the Hugonot Party and the strength of the Rochellers than before They now discover'd the weakness of these by the dis-union of all the rest and from thence judg'd aright that it being impossible for the separate Forces of this Faction without great difficuâ—y suddenly to unite for their common defense one party might be suppress'd in one Province before any of the rest could put themselves in a posture in another to relieve them This opinion that in the sequel prov'd true made the Council the bolder by their Arrest of the 23 of Iune 1617. to order the restitution of the Church Lands in Bearne an Affair that had for three years together been depending in the Council and so long fruitlesly solicited by the Deputies of the Clergy of France Not that the Council did not conceive it very just but they look'd upon it as a thing so highly important to the peace of the Kingdom that they durst never till now give them that satisfaction But the Duke's Enterprize cut off all difficulties by which the Rochellers having been constrain'd publickly to confess their own weakness it was conceiv'd the King's presence would have as much Authority in Bearne as the Duke 's had had in the Country of Aunis I have heard several persons of Quality and those men of imployment at that time as Mounsieur de Roussy and others say that the Service the Duke did the Kingdom in this very occasion was never duly consider'd he having thereby first discover'd the weakness of the Hugonot Party and perhaps chalk'd out the way to their extirpation The Duke of Espernon having openly declar'd himself an enemy to the Marâ—schal d' Encre and already made some preparation in order to 〈◊〉 defense of his Person and Fortune many persons who were afraid of persecution fled to him settling themselves at Aâ—gâ—ulesme under his protection Amongst whom Bulion at that time a Counsellor of State and since Sur-Intendant of the Finances was one where he long continued in the Duke's Family and who ever after retain'd a grateful memory of that obligation as he had good reason to do the Duke receiving him into his Arms in so critical a time as he was threatned with no less than death had he fall'n into the Mareschal's power Guron who was likewise another of the proscrib'd with many others came to seek the same refuge all whom the Duke made no difficulty to receive into his protection The Duke having as has been said settled the Friends he had in his Governments in such a readiness as upon any occasion to make head against his Enemy took a Journey into Guienne his native Country in that great Province to get together what numbers of Friends and Souldiers he could for the better defense of his Fortune in which Voyage he increas'd his Forces to such a degree that being all joyn'd together
who by the Correspondence he had maintain'd with Zaâ—et Bandiny Cenamy and some other active men of that Nation who in those times play'd their game so wisely as to keep in with all parties of the Kingdom had made himself a Fortune in France Amongst other advantages he had there made to himself he had got the possession of several Abbeys arising in all to a Revenue of above ten thousand Crowns a year amongst which that of Signy in Champaigne not far from Sedan was most considerable His eldest Son which was he of whom I am now speaking as most eldest Sons of the best Families of Itlay that education making them capable of the greatest Dignities of the Court of Rome was bred up to the Church neither had he been wanting in his industry to acquire all those qualities that were most likely to recommend him to the highest Preferment He had studied much and particularly been diligent to learn to speak and write accurately in his own Language wherein he succeeded so well that his own fine parts together with the plentiful Fortune he was Master of he having no less in Secular Revenue than in Spiritual Entertainment procur'd him so great a Reputation in the Court of Rome that he there obtain'd the Office of Clerk of the Chamber Pope Paul the Fifth under whose Papacy he was there admitted look'd upon him with a very gracious eye and though a young man intrusted his discretion with many secrets of State not seldom making use of his Pen in Affairs of greatest importance and often saying by way of favour that he discover'd something in him of Signior de la Casa his great Uncle All which favours having possess'd the Cardinal-Nephews with a great jealousie towards Rucellay as himself said or he perhaps having fail'd on his part in a fit complacency to oblige them he was by them persecuted to that degree that he was forc'd to quit the Court of Rome and to retire into France A good part of his Estate lay in that Country the Mareschal d' Encre a Florentine as he was commanded all there and those of his own Nation having ever been well receiv'd in that Kingdom it appear'd he could not make choice of a safer nor a more honourable retreat He was thirty years of age or thereabouts when he arriv'd in France where he was at first very kindly receiv'd by the Mareschal d' Encre and soon after in great esteem with the whole Court where with twenty thousand Crowns a year that he had coming in he liv'd in so extraordinary a degree of splendor as equall'd if not out-went the greatest Nobility of the Kingdom no Table was so neatly serv'd nor so plentifully furnish'd as his no man more nobly nor more handsomly attended than he to which the presents he continually made of all the Curiosities wherewith Italy so abounds as by her overflow to oblige all other Nations were so many and so considerable as that single way of expense seem'd alone to exceed his Revenue Neither did he win less upon the Ladies by his liberalities and extraordinary fine fashion than he did upon the men by his more considerable qualities insomuch that he obtain'd the favour and applause of all And although the Mareschal d' Encre had not as yet fix'd him in any settled employment in the management of Affairs yet was he with him in so eminent a degree of favour as was a fair step in the height the Court Favourite then stood to the greatest Offices of the Kingdom The death of the Mareschal therefore as it had put a period to all Rucellay's future hopes so did it possess him with such a grief as was not to be comforted but by the last effects of an implacable animosity he had conceiv'd against those who had been the instruments of his ruine And this spirit of Revenge it was that prompted him to be one of those who animated the Queen against the new Favourites though such Counsels were not necessary to her who of her self was sensible enough the particular injuries she had receiv'd having already incens'd her to such a height that she was very easily dispos'd to employ him in a Treaty with the Duke de Boüillon on her behalf In this Journy Rucellay was to undergo much trouble and very great danger he never daring to Travel but by night and in disguise for the most part alone and always without any Equipage for how circumspect soever he had been in his intelligencies to the Queen he could not however send them in so secret a manner but that she being continually and narrowly watch'd on all sides by spies set over her by Luines to that purpose some of his practices had been discover'd insomuch that I have heard him say he had notice given him that several of his Pictures were sent to the Magistrates and other inferiour Officers that they might know and apprehend him in any of their respective Jurisdictions Yet could not all these difficulties fright him from undertaking this Negotiation and if he had before given several testimonies of his wit and bravery upon other occasions he manifested no less in this of the constancy of his Courage his Wisdom and Fidelity which were very eminent and of great use in the conduct of this Affair The main thing he apprehended in this undertaking was the infirmity of his own tender and delicate constitution who whilst he had liv'd in the calms of peace the delights of Rome or the effeminacies of the Courts of France had ever been so impatient of the Sun and Evenings Dew Heat and Cold that the least intemperance of the Air would usually cause strange alterations in his health which notwithstanding he was no sooner in Action but that he found those little inconveniencies left behind as if he had had no leisure to be sick Whether it were that the Favourites only guess'd at the Queen Mothers discontents by the offense they had given her or that they had some more certain knowledge thereof than meer conjecture they were however very vigilant to frustrate her Designs To which purpose soon after her Majesties arrival at Blois and the Banishment of the Bishop of Luçon they had sent to her Mounsieur de Roissy under colour of a Council for the management of her Affairs A man that in truth at another season would have been acceptable enough but in this juncture of time and preferr'd to her by her enemies could not but stand highly suspected to her Neither had he without great reluctancy taken upon him an employment of that nature the principal end of his Commission being as it was to discover the Queens practices and designs though neither his unwillingness could excuse him from going nor all his art and observation hinder the Queen from conferring sometimes in private with those of her Servants in whose fidelity she repos'd the greatest trust when he was there Of which Luines being advertis'd and willing not only to give himself
France one of his own natural Sisters being Daughter to Henry the Great by the Marquise de Verneüil and half Sister to Monsieur de Metz. This young Princess exceeding fair and as finely bred as any person of her condition in the Kingdom had been the ambition of most of the great men of the Court but the Duke of Espernon was preferr'd before all The Queens had brought her along with them to Lyons and her inclination as well as her duty having ty'd her particularly to the Queen the excellency of her Wit and Nature the most acceptable the sweetest and most accomplish'd of her time having acquir'd her a very good share in this Princess affection she stood doâ—btless at that time possess'd of the highest place in her Majesties favour So many advantageous conditions and so many admirable qualities having rendred this Lady one of the most considerable matches in France his Majesty would yet make her overweight by giving her himself two hundred thousand Crowns in Dowry assigning her the County of Senlis a Member of his Crown Lands to enter upon for payment of part of the summe to which the Marquise de Verneüil her Mother added a hundred thousand more The Ceremony of this Marriage was perform'd in the Marquis de Saint-Câ—aumont's House the Kings Lieutenant in the Government of Lionnois but the Magnificences at the Duke 's own Lodgings where the Feast was honour'd with the presence of the King both the Queens and all the great persons of the Court. From such an illustrious Marriage what could be expected less than what we now see a Son and a Daughter Inheritors of their Mothers Vertue and good Qualities as imitators of the Fathers and Grandfathers Bravery and Wisdom whose youth is in so great esteem with all the Court that if the Courage and Merit of the Son which have already been â—ignaliz'd in many honourable occasions have got him a reputation throughout all France the Daughter who was nothing inferiour in all the qualities becoming her Sex has obtain'd an equal share of opinion with all that knew her but the world was unworthy to possess her long and the Solitude she made choice of amongst the Carmelites has manifested to us that nothing but God alone could be the object of so elevated a mind and so devout a spirit The end of the Second Part. THE HISTORY OF THE LIFE OF THE Duke of ESPERNON THE GREAT FAVOURITE OF FRANCE ENGLISHED BY CHARLES COTTON Esq The Third Part. Vivos interdum Fortuna saepe invidia fatigat ubi anima Naturae cessit demptis obtrectationibus ipsa se Virtus magis magisque extollit Salust de Rep. ord Orat. 2. LONDON Printed for Henry Brome MDCLXX THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon THE THIRD PART The Ninth Book WE are now entring upon the third and last part of the life of the Duke of Espernon and if in the preceding two you have met with great Actions you will meet no fewer here though perhaps not altogether so shining as the first He had much to do and no little to suffer his Government of a vast extent and fruitful in Novelty would never suffer him to be long at rest and the hatred of the great Minister Cardinal Richelieu gave him now occasion as amply to manifest his constancy as he had before in more favourable occurrences manifested his other Vertues as you shall see in the pursuit of his History Soon after the accomplishment of the Marriage of his Son the Marquis de la Valette their Majesties took their way towasds Paris when the Duke of Espernon having left the new married couple together with his Son the Cardinal de la Valette to attend the Court took his leave of the King to retire into his own Government In which Journey it was necessary for him to pass through Angoumois to take order for the transportation of his Furniture Arms and Equipage in the Castle of Angoulesme which he had there in so great quantity as requir'd no little time nor no few hands to remove them though he found it a greater trouble to part with the Friends and Servants he had in that Countrey it being hardly possible to see in any particular Family upon the saddest occasion so many real tears as were shed by the people in general at this separation From Angoulesme he went to Coignac and from thence to Xaintes which was yet one of the principal Cities of his Government and where he had too dear a concern not to give her a visit before his departure And this was Marguarite de Foix Abbess of Xaintes a Virgin illustrious for her Sanctity and Vertue and in so great a â—epute amongst the Sisters of her Order thaâ— he â—example serves to this day for a Model to all those who aim at perfection in that way of devout living The Duke before he departed from this place would first return an answer to a Letter he had receiv'd a few days before from Marc Antonie de Gourgues first President of the Parliament of Bordeaux The Father of this man had had several very profitable employments under the Mareschal de Matignon in the time of his being the King's Lieutenant General in Guienne which had enrich'd him so as that he had provided very plentifully for his posterity of which this Marc Antonie being his eldest Son he had by the help of the wealth his Father left him advanc'd himself to some publick employments and being a man of notable wit and understanding his parts together with his fortune recommended him so as to be receiv'd into the Family of Seguieres a Daughter of which he married Sister to the Chancellor of France now being who in those days went by the name of Autry and in the end through the interest of his Wives Relations was preferr'd to the Dignity of first President in his Countrey This Gourgues in the time of his being at Court had made great professions of particular honour and service to the Duke of Espernon who also either out of respect to his Allies or to himself had given him reciprocal testimonies of no ordinary affection So that this kindness having pass'd beforehand betwixt them the Duke expected that at his coming into his Government he should meet with a sincere friend at the head of the most illustrious Body of the Province whose mediation in occurrences that might happen would be able to qualifie many little discontents that the jealousie of Authority usually begets in great Commands but at the sight of this first Letter he was of a contrary opinion from which those divisions sprung betwixt him and the Parliament that hardly ended but with the Duke's death though they were begun even before he was receiv'd into his Administration The Letter of which I am speaking after having treated of some Affairs of little importance that respected the general concern of the Province gave the Duke at last plainly to understand That a
continued in a hopeful Heir But as this was the richest Present this young Princess could possibly make him so it was God knows the last she ten days only surviving the Birth who being deliver'd upon the fourteenth of April and dying the four and twentieth after left her noble Husband a Widower and all France her mourners The Duke receiv'd this sad news as he was upon his return from Medoc to which place the Wrack of the Carrick had oblig'd him to make a second Journey and where now that the season gave him leave to come nearer to the Sea we saw a most incredible thing which was the Relicks of this mighty Vessel several pieces whereof were to be seen for above a quarter of a League together along the shoar and in so great number that whoever had seen those floating Spoils would rather have judg'd them the ruines of some demolish'd City than the remains of one single Ship The Duke with much ado recover'd twelve great brass Pieces that were buried in the Sands which were also all that could be sav'd of an hundred and eight or ten that were aboard either the Carrick or the Gallions that Convoy'd her Upon his return from this short Journey the Duke receiv'd intelligence of the Death of the Dutchess de la Valette at which though his Affliction seem'd to be so great that nothing could be more it was nevertheless exceeded by that of the Husband who having staid behind at Bordeaux during this Journey into Medoc knew nothing of his misfortune till the return of the Duke his Father but then all the comfort they were capable of was their mutual Affliction wherein as a more just occasion of sorrow could not possibly arrive so could it not possibly be express'd with more or with more unfained tears Upon this sad occasion both the Father and the Son receiv'd many Complements of Consolation from the whole Court the King the Queens the Monsieur and Madame with all the other Princes and Princesses and almost all of any eminent condition at Court manifested their interest in this dire misfortune But they had scarce wip'd off the tears for this first disaster when it was succeeded by another of almost equal concern for I remember that the Gentleman sent by the Monsieur and Madame upon this consolatory Envoy was scarce departed from Bâ—rdeaux when they receiv'd the intelligence at once of the happy delivery of Madame and the deplorable accident of her death an occasion by which they were oblig'd to their great grief to make a quick return of the Monsiâ—ur's Complement and to recommence a new showr of tears even before the first storm was overblown In this variety of good and evil events but as it usually falls out in the course of humane life such as had more in them of evil than good the Duke saw himself necessitated to engage in a Dispute with the Cardinal and upon this occasion The rumour that had been spread abroad of the infinite Riches the shipwrack'd Carrick carried in her had allur'd the Cardinal to put in that title to the spoil which he pretended his Office of Superintendent of the Navies with which he had also confounded that of Admiral gave him to all the wracks that should happen upon the Coasts of France Wherein doubting nevertheless that the ordinary Officers he had establish'd at Bordeaux as in all other parts and Havens of the Kingdom would not be sufficient to justifie his Claim against the Duke of Espernon who was upon the place and whom he knew to be a man that would not easily be baffled out of his Right he caus'd a Commission to be directed to one Fortia a young Master of Requests that under the Authority of the Royal Name he might with greater facility obtain his own desires This business was at first debated with great civility and moderation and the Duke was very willing to satisfie the Commissioner of his Right and Title by shewing him Evidences of above three hundred years standing by which his Ancestors had ever been maintain'd in their Title to all the Wracks that hapned upon the Coast of Medoc exclusively not only to the Officers of the Admiralty but even to the King himself by whose predecessors it had been formerly demis'd in free gift to the Lords of Candale for ever After which he moreover deliver'd him Copies of those Evidences clearing to him by several Authentick Writings and Records his antient and lawful Right which he desir'd him to prefer to the Council together with his Reasons and the equity of his cause But this was not the thing was desir'd at Court and Fortia was blam'd for having taken cognisance of the Duke's Title and for having receiv'd Copies of his Deeds as if he had a mind to bring a business to the issue of a Suit and Tryal wherein they intended that Authority should stand for Law Fortia therefore having receiv'd this check would for the future endeavour by violence to repair what he had by moderation and respect to Equity overthrown and to that end began to talk to the Duke in other terms than he had us'd at first wherin meeting with a Spirit that was not to be frighted with the menaces of the Court the heat of their disputes grew at last to an open Quarrel betwixt them Whereupon the Commissary either unwilling or not daring to have any more to do with the Duke desir'd to be recall'd as he was and it is not to be doubted at his return to the Cardinal fail'd not to lay all the evil success of his own ill carriage at the Duke's door by whose ill offices the former discontents were not likely to be any thing qualified much less appeas'd The Duke had in the mean time dispatch'd away le Plessis to the King to beseech his Majesty that he would please to send to the Parliament of Paris to do him right in his lawful claim giving him moreover instructions to go to the Cardinal and in his name to conjure him to sue forth his Title by such of his own Council as he should himself think fit and that he for his part would willingly stand to their award but the Duke's case was too clear for the Cardinal to submit his to reference He had already seen his Title which was such as he knew nothing but the Sovereign Authority could supersede and that made him deaf to any thing of Arbitration He chose therefore rather to continue his pretense under the protection of the Royal Name and to that purpose procur'd Monsieur Servient another Master of Requests to be put into Commission to prosecute his Title in Fortia's stead a man that by his dexterity and handsome carriage prevail'd so far upon the Duke's inclination and esteem that he obtain'd that from him and in a very few days which the other had been constrain'd to give over as a hopeless thing and impossible to be effected The Duke
in fine condescended so far as to consent that all the Goods sav'd from the Wrack should be deposited in the hands of two sufficient Citizens of which Goods there were seven or eight thousand little rough Diamonds valued generally at forty or fifty Sous a piece some pieces of Amber-gris or rather black Amber for it was of that colour and nothing near so good as ours several Bezoar Stones and some other Merchandize of no great value and this was all that was recover'd of the rich lading of this prodigious Carrick the rest being either buried in the Sea or pilfred away by the Countrey people though all put together was but a very small part of this mighty loss Servient therefore by a gentle and insensible violence having as has been said won upon the Duke 's inflexible temper obtain'd all the satisfaction he could desire and in exactly observing his Commission acquir'd the Duke withal for his friend performing therein what is only reserved for men of extraordinary Conduct which was to reconcile so opposite Interests and yet to disoblige neither party The differences thus moderated by the prudence of Servient were soon totally hush'd up by the noise of a War with England which at this time unexpectedly broke out The Duke of Buckingham Favourite to Charles King of Great Britain as by an extraordinary priviledge of Fortune he had been before to King Iames his Father was as it was said highly press'd by some of the House of Lords of the Parliament of England to give an account of the Treasure that as they pretended had been imbezzeld during the Reign of the late King upon which occasion the Severity natural to that Nation in such Inquisitions making him justly to apprehend the issue of an Enquiry wherein perhaps it had been impossible for any man living to have satisfied their Judgments or their Malice he chose rather to withdraw himself from the inconvenience of such a Trial and to put himself into a posture of standing upon his own Guard than to run the hazard of a Sentence that he could not expect should be favourable to him from men that were envious of his Favour and Fortune and this has been said to have been one motive to this Invasion Another and which was no less prevalent with the Duke as some have deliver'd who pretended to be very privy to his thoughts was the jealousie he had of the Cardinal's greatness of whom he had been so ill satisfied in a late Embassy into this Kingdom as thenceforward to conceive either so mortal a hatred to his Person or at least so high an emulation of his Power as it is believ'd by many prompted him to undertake this War with France from whence it may be judg'd how light the causes commonly are that bring on the ruine of Nations and the desolation of Kingdoms But the better to perswade the English to approve of this expedition it being no easie matter to raise money there for any preparation of this kind without the consent of the people his pretense was to succour the Rochellers that were infinitely oppress'd and the Protestant Party which he said since the last Peace was very much weakned in France Having with this pretext palliated either his Animosity or his Ambition with a Fleet consisting of a hundred and fifty Sail upon which he had Ship'd ten thousand men he presented himself before the Isle of Ré in Iuly 1627. This Enterprize which in all probability was likely to be favour'd with an Insurrection of those of the Reform'd Religion at home who were not depress'd to that degree but that they were yet very considerable put the whole Court into a very great Alarm wherein the Cardinal who very well understood this affront to be particularly directed against him look'd upon it as his own immediate concern neither did he fail on his part of his utmost endeavour to frustrate his Adversaries Design and to maintain himself in the advantages of his Princes Favour He sent dispatches therefore to all parts of the Kingdom for the raising of new Forces and caus'd a Commission to be issued out to the Duke of Angoulesme to call together such as were already on foot with them to go to the defense of Fort-Loüis built before Rochelle upon which it was likely the English would make their first attempt and therein also to endeavour to curb Rochelle it self which yet retain'd a mutinous disposition under a dissembled shew of Obedience and Duty Le Plessis hapned in this juncture of time to be at Court whither as has been said he had been before dispatch'd by the Duke his Master to solicit his Interest about the Wrack of the Carrick This Gentleman was so generally esteem'd by all both for his Valour and his Experience in matters of War and principally by the Cardinal who had been a witness of his behaviour throughout the Queen Mother's Affairs and had in those times contracted a strict League of Friendship with him that he immediately apply'd himself to him in this urgent necessity neither did he herein forget any promises that might induce him or omit any endearments that might oblige him to render the Duke his Master favourable to his designs and himself to accept of an Employment upon this important occasion Assuring him withal that no more mention should be made of the Carrick or of any other cross Affair he had been perplex'd withal and had now depending at Court Upon this assurance Le Plessis departed from Court provided with ten Commissions for the raising of a Regiment in his own name and with all the civil Language and fair Promises could be desir'd for the Duke his Master whose assistance was exceedingly considerable by reason of the short cut by Sea betwixt Bordeaux and Rochelle Le Plessis arriv'd in Guienne in the beginning of August where he first gave the Duke an accompt of his own Affairs and afterwards acquainted him with the Commission he had receiv'd for himself who was so assisting to him in the raising of his Regiment that it was one of the first that was ready for this Service The Duke no sooner saw Le Plessis Companies compleat but that he fell to making ready the Succours were requir'd of him for the Fort of the Isle of Ré already besieg'd by the English Forces though I must confess it was contrary to his custom in other occasions exceeding slowly not that he did not heartily desire to see Rochelle reduc'd to the King's Obedience but he could have been glad that the Cardinal whom he had no reason to love might have had no share in the honour of this great Enterprize as if he had then foreseen that the addition of Reputation and Greatness he must infallibly derive from that success would one day prove fatal to him Yet in this distraction of thoughts he failâ—d not nevertheless to prefer his Duty before all other respects that regarded either his
avoid the inconvenience of a Winter Journey which he did by coming to Paris before All-Saints At his arrival as at other times he was welcom'd with a great number of persons of Quality who came out to meet him and to attend him to the Louvre where he first alighted and where he was by his Majesty much better receiv'd than he expected by reason of several ill offices he knew had been done him to the King It was indeed chiefly to justifie himself from those aspersions that he had been so passionately importunate for leave to come to Court and he had express'd so much in his Letters which was perhaps the thing that made his permission so hard to obtain Princes being commonly no better dispos'd to admit of excuses than they are to make them From the Louvre he went to wait upon the Cardinal to whom he stood oblig'd not only for his leave to come but also for his Majesties gracious reception now he was come and was by him also receiv'd after a most infinitely obliging manner the Cardinal still improving his civilities and again making him a new tender of his service upon all occasions as indeed from that time forward he began to distinguish him by his respect from all other great persons of the Kingdom Already either the multiplicity of business with which the Cardinal was continually taken up or the design he had to render his person more venerable and more authoritative by communicating it to few had put him upon that stately way of living that he was very rarely to be seen insomuch that the Dukes and Peers of France the Officers of the Crown the blue Garters and whoever of the highest quality of the Kingdom made no difficulty to wait below in the Hall amongst a promiscuous crowd of Clients and Suitors the hours of his leisure whether they came only to visit or to speak with him about their Affairs nay and were glad to go sometimes twice sometimes more before they could get access to his person But the Cardinal who was well enough acquainted with the Duke's temper to know that such a repulse would not need to fright him for ever coming again to see him entreated him beforehand never to give himself the trouble of coming to see him without first giving him notice that he might always be at liberty to receive him a rule the Duke on his part so well observ'd that he never came but all the Gates were open'd to him his Coach admitted into the Court and himself to all the freedom he could desire when oftentimes persons of very great condition could hardly be admitted at the Wicket It has however been believ'd that all these extraordinary civilities began at Montauban and continued to this time were not altogether without design Some have thought that the Cardinal who evidently perceiv'd that the Queen Mother who had suffered her self to be wrought upon by some ill offices had been done him in his absence to be grown cold in her affection to him would have been glad to have made the Duke his friend He was powerful in himself and much more in his Sons so that being secur'd of their friendship which the whole Court knew to be faithful and inviolate where they once took he thought he could receive no so violent an assault of Fortune he should not be able whilst back'd with so powerful a Family to withstand There was great probability in this conjecture and the Duke himself as clear-sighted as any was perhaps of the same opinion but if on the one side the Cardinal courted the Duke's friendship for this reason the Duke on the other side would by no means go directly opposite to the Queen Mothers inclinations He had ever honour'd her though he had not always been well us'd by her and having ever imputed to the Cardinal himself the greatest part of those unkindnesses he had receiv'd from this Princess was more dissatisfied with him than the Queen Mother for the ill returns of his Service But another reason which made him so reserv'd in the acceptation of this precipitous friendship was the imperious superiority the Cardinal pretended to over all the other great men of the Kingdom which the Duke could never allow him over himself to the degree that he desir'd as still retaining a memory how much he had known him inferious to him All these considerations together rendred him less complacent than could have been wish'd for the prosperity of his own Affairs I shall not nevertheless herein take upon me to censure the Duke's conduct nor attempt to pass so liberal a judgment upon a person I am for so many respects oblig'd to honour though the event made it plain that had he carried things otherwise he had done better In short the Duke was so much the more reserv'd to the Cardinal than he expected he should be that the ardour of his sudden affection cooling by degrees every day more and more degenerated at last into a perfect hatred and from thence to persecution as we shall hereafter in due order of time and the occurrences of Affairs make more evidently to appear All things that had hitherto pass'd betwixt the Duke and the Cardinal were well enough understood and this good intelligence continued till the Cardinals departure for Italy the Duke being as has been said ever treated by him with extraordinary kindness and respect far different from what he shew'd to all other persons of the same condition yet could not the Duke whose humour was impatient of any thing that touch'd him sometimes forbear lashing out into very free expressions giving the Cardinal thereby very often to understand that he was not to expect any mean or submiss toleration from him of which I shall here present you one example The Cardinal either presuming upon the authority of his favour with the King or the affection he pretended to have for the Duke took one day the libetry to give him some advice concerning his deportment whereupon falling into discourse of his severe humour and giving him counsel to correct it he did it merrily in the Duke 's own broad Gascon accent from which how long a habitude soever he had had at Court he could never totally wean himself which interweaving with some very civil expressions he seriously desir'd him in the end not to take it ill if he had made a little bold with him in imitating his own way of speaking to which this untractable spirit highly offended at a raillery something too familiar for his humour briskly reply'd Why should I take that ill from you which I suffer from Marais who every day acts me in your presence This Marais was one of the Grooms of the Chamber to the King a pleasant fellow and a Buffoon that had a marvellous faculty of imitation who by his faces and tricks would make folks laugh and when acting before the King and the Cardinal would make a bold with the Duke of
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
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
Chevreuse who was lean'd upon one of the Boots of the Coach on the dark side where he could not be perceiv'd commanded the Coach-man not to stir seeking as it was plain enough out of youthful bravery an occasion to quarrel nor did the Duke fail to give him as good a one as he could desire for not being able longer to endure the insolency of so base a fellow he cudgell'd the Coach-man so well that he forc'd him at last to give back The Prince de Ioinville who perhaps forbore out of respect to the Duke of Montpensier appear'd not at all in the business at that time but in the morning sent the Gentleman of his Horse le Comté by name to question the Duke about it The Duke was yet in his bed and asleep when the Gentleman came but being wak'd by the Groom of his Chamber who never refus'd admittance to any he sent for him to his bed-side where being come the Gentleman told him that he was sent by the Prince of Ioinville his Master to know if when he beat the Coachman over night he did it to affront him To which the Duke returning no answer but only asking him where his Master was and the other having answered that he staid at the foot of Montmartre with a good Horse and a good Sword to expect him he without more words leap'd out of his Bed drest himself in the Gentleman's presence and having led him into his Armory took out thence two Swords of equal length whereof he gave him the choice by which time the Master of his own Horse being also come to him they went all three together to the place Being there come the Duke found the Prince de Ioinville ready to receive him their Swords were already drawn and they were just going to 't when the Prince who had his face towards Paris â—eeing a Party of â—orse coming that way and suspecting it was with an intent to prevent them shew'd them to the Duke telling him withal that they must spur to gain the Bois de Boulogne and without more words turn'd his Horse that way The Duke who by the distance of those he saw conceiv'd they had yet time enough to end their dispute before they could come in to interrupt them had a great mind without going further to have dispatch'd the business there but being necessitated to follow the Prince who was already upon the gallop towards the Wood he spurr'd after though they could not make such haste but that they were interrupted before they could come there and by their Friends carried back to the City Where the King having notice of their Quarrel commanded them both to the Louvre and there took up the buâ—iness making them embrace in his presence and promise to be good friends That which was most remarkable on the Duke's side in this occasion was that the number of those who declar'd themselves of his Party was so great that they took up all the space betwixt the Roule to the Louvre whilst the Duke of Ioinville was only countenanc'd by those of his own Relation whose interest in Paris was at this time very much declin'd from what it had formerly been in the life of the Duke his Father Although the residence of this great City was very pleasing to the King yet could not the delights that entertain'd him there detain his Majesty from visiting all parts of his Kingdom where he conceiv'd his presence to be necessary for the advancement of his Affairs We saw him the last year in Limousin and this invited him into Champagne and as far as Sedan to reduce the Duke of Boüillon to his duty This Duke keeping himself still at a distance from the Court and refractory to several Summons his Majesty had sent him to make his appearance and by justifying himself to obtain his favour it was plain that his refusing to come was a contempt to the Sovereign Authority and that therefore his Majesty in the vindication of his own honour was oblig'd to chastize him Neither did he longer defer for that purpose to make his preparation for a Journey to Sedan In this expedition the Duke of Espernon whom the King began now much better to relish and whose admirable care and vigilancy upon all occasions gave his Majesty infinite satisfaction had the command of the Vant-Guard committed to him and had matters proceeded to the necessity of a Siege was design'd for one of the most important Quarters against the Town but the Duke of Boüillon having at last shut himself up in the place and not willing to pull upon himself the utmost effects of the King's indignation had recourse to his mercy and by his submissions together with the Queens intercession who ordinarily accompanied the King in all his Motions obtain'd of his Majesty an indempnity for all things past upon the most favourable terms he could himself expect or desire Whereupon he receiv'd the King into the City the seventh of April 1606. with a Garrison of 300. men which by the condition of the Accommodation were to remain four years in the Castle during which time his Majesty would make tryal of this new Convert's perseverance in his duty but that long space was by his Majesties favour reduc'd to a few months the bounty of this generous Prince ever contracting the term of mens disgraces his displeasure being short liv'd and of no continuance but his noble nature being ever constant to oblige all his Subjects Though the following year was pass'd over without any disturbance in the Kingdom yet did his Majesties Name and Reputation give him opportunity and by his Authority Power to compose one of the most dangerous differences that could possibly have hapned amongst Christian Princes and that was the falling out betwixt the Pope Paul the V. and the Republick of Venice a disorder that had it not in time been taken up would infallibly have involv'd all Christendom in the Quarrel and it is infiniâ—ely to be fear'd have given the Turk opportunity in so great a confusion to have made a formidable advance into the very heart of Europe A danger that his Majesty than whom none was clearer sighted very well forsaw and retaining a grateful memory of the obligations he had receiv'd both from the Holy Sea and that Republick at his advancement to the Crown as soon undertook to interpose betwixt those two powerful adversaries The business was carried on by the mediation of the Cardinal de Ioyeuse and Cardinal Perron wherein the one and the other proceeding according to his Majesties wise direction their endeavours were at last crown'd with success and all things concluded to the satisfaction of both parties but chiefly to the Honour of France which now appear'd to be the Arbiter of all the Estates of Europe And indeed in those times all things in a manner were sway'd by his Majesties will his desire being almost a rule to all Princes in all Affairs Neither was there
in the whole world a Kingdom to be found more glorious more flourishing or more happy than that of France during the Reign of this mighty Prince Yet could not all this reputation abroad secure him from afflictions at home neither could his greatness and bounty exempt him from the power of Death who first exercising his cruelty upon some of his Family discharg'd in the end his whole rage and fury upon his own person The precedent year had ravish'd from him one of the Princes his Children and this depriv'd him of the Duke of Montpâ—nsier his Cousin a Prince for whom his Majesty had as great a kindness as for any whatsoever of his Blood as he made it appear by the true sorrow he manifested for his death but the Duke of Espernon was afflicted beyond all expression I have already given an accompt of the Alliance betwixt these two and of the particular Friendship that Alliance begot I shall now further say they were inseparable in their conversation their Interests went ever hand in hand with one another and it will be hard to find a Friendship so pure and constant betwixt two private persons as they ever preserved entire in the corruptions and revolutions of the Court Neither could the friendship of a Prince of his extraction and vertue be otherwise than of great importance to the Duke whose prosperity and advancement had procur'd him so much envy and consequently so many enemies yet was he constrain'd to submit to the inevitable necessity of death and to bear with patience a loss for which there was no other remedy This accident was yet follow'd by another the ensuing year at which the Duke was almost equally afflicted Pere Ange de Ioyeuse Father-in-law to the Duke of Montpensier had been return'd into the Order of Fathers Capuchins from the year 1599. from which time he had continued in the austerity of his Canon with so great zeal and sanctity that he was become a president of Vertue and Holy Living to all the Religious Men of his Order Yet did he not when returning to the observation of his Vow he threw off all worldly vanities and desires banish from his breast those true affections which Nature and Reason had planted in his heart but on the contrary had ever in his greatest retirement cherish'd the Duke's friendship as if he had been his true Brother in Blood as he was in Alliance and Affection Neither was the Duke on his part less sedulous to improve so vertuous an Interest ever honouring and loving him even in his penitential Sack-cloath at as high a rate as when he liv'd in the greatest Lustre in the most honourable employments and applying himself with greater diligence to the Interests of his House and to the advancement of his Daughter than when he himself liv'd upon the great Theatre of the busie world so that in different capacities of living their friendship continued still one and the same till death came to cut the knot which along had power to dissolve it This Holy man died at Rivoly in Piedmont in his return from Rome in great reputation of Sanctity and Vertue which has since by time been made more manifest to all The following year affords so little considerable to be said of the Duke of Espernon in particular the Court being at this time wrap'd in so great a calm and security that there is nothing of moment to be reported of any save the King himself that it might well enough be pass'd over in silence But having hitherto found out something or other to record in the foregoing years I had rather travel not out of my subject only but also out of the affairs of the Kingdom than to omit the most glorious proof his Majesty could possibly give of his Authority with all the Princes and States of Christendom in the conclusion of the Truce betwixt the Crown of Spain and the States of the United Provinces This great affair had been fruitlesly propos'd almost from the very first bustle of Arms in that Country neither had endeavours been wanting even in the heat of the most bloody executions that the fury of War has perhaps produc'd in any part of Europe for the effecting of so good a work Treaties of Accommodation having every year during those troubles been constantly by some or other set on foot but the animosity of Factions the difference of Religions and the variety of Events that had ever kept Affairs on both sides as it were in-equal balance had so exasperated the minds of men that scarce any proposition of Peace would be endur'd A work it seems reserv'd to be an additional Ray to the King's Glory whose reputation only could cut the knot of all those difficulties Spain had great need of Peace which having often without interessing the King in the Affair sought in vain he was in fine constrain'd to apply himself to him to procure it and wholly to submit all things to his Arbitration A task the King very well satisfied with so high and publick an acknowledgment of his power as readily undertook and to that purpose dispatch'd away President Ianin and the Sieur de Râ—issy to manage the Work by whose prudent conduct fortified by their Masters Reputation they effected that by the weight of Authority which perhaps their dexterity how great soever without great labour and expence of much time could not otherwise have brought to pass So that things were reduc'd to the point the parties concern'd could themselves desire from whence followed an universal Peace amongst all Christian Princes It was into this tranquille condition that the Affairs of Europe were first to be wrought before the King could begin to form it into the new mould he had long design'd for this great Prince born to reconcile Monarchy and Justice being unable to endure the proud Authority with which the Crown of Spain lorded it over all her Neighbours and more impatient that by the expansion of his Empire the Spaniard should reap advantages which he conceiv'd were more justly due to his Birth and Valour he resolv'd to clip the wings of this soaring greatness to make him give back those Territories he usurp'd from his Neighbours to restore the Republicks their ancient liberty and finally to reduce his power to the limits of his primitive possession This in short is all that can be said of the King's designs and all that such as conceiv'd they penetrated deepest into his most private thoughts could possibly divine it being most certain that he discover'd the bottom of his design to none which had it been communicated to any the Duke of Espernon would doubtless in this conjuncture have participated of the trust but as this great Prince would execute all things in his own person so did he here reserve to himself the secret of his resolutions insomuch that though his Army was all ready drawn into the Field that he himself was immediately to
Guienne dated from the Camp of la Verune the 27. of August 1622. the news whereof was no sooner spread abroad but that all Guienne was as much over-joyed at their good Fortune to be govern'd by a Lord of their own Countrey and one that had already laid so many obligations upon it there being few Families of the Gentry that had not been enrich'd by his bounty as the Provinces that saw themselves depriv'd of him were afflicted and disconsolate at his loss A privation the miseries they afterwards endur'd made them very sensible of a long time after though they have at last found a remedy in the person of the Marquis de Montauzier the present Governour there who by his generous and prudent administration after having procur'd them all the ease and comfort the condition of the time will permit has either so confirm'd them in or so reduc'd them to their obedience to the King as has secur'd them from many inconveniences into which by the ill example of their Neighbours they would otherwise have been seduc'd The Duke de l' Esdiguieres was at the same time promoted to the Office of Constable of France and since Fortune seems to have made choice of these two Lords the most eminent of their time to manifest what she can do when dispos'd to favour men of extraordinary merit it will not perhaps be altogether impertinent to consider the several ways by which she rais'd them to that infinite pitch of Honour They were indeed very different both in the one and the others promotion In the advancement of the Duke de l' Esdiguieres she was observ'd to proceed with order leading him through all the degrees of his profession and from the quality of a private Souldier raising him step by step in revolution of time to the Dignity of Constable of France He had never been preferr'd from a less command to a greater without having first been concluded worthy of it wherein Envy which has seldom been known to be reconcil'd to Vertue never appear'd his adversary insomuch that he ever possess'd all the advantages of the one without once proving the malignity of the other and by a favour particular to him alone was so constantly fortunate that his happiness was never travers'd with the least disturbance He never undertook any thing how dangerous soever where Fortune did not still smooth his way and level all difficulties before him to favour his success even beyond his own expectation and no less solicitous of his person than partial to his Affairs was ever so ready to defend him from the least mischance that whatever he acquir'd of Greatness Wealth or Honour scarce cost him so much as one drop of blood It is in truth very much to rise by so honourable and so easie a gradation to such a place of greatness but yet methinks it must appear more strange as it is more rarely found to see a young man at twenty years old rais'd to the highest pitch to which Fortune and Favour when combin'd could possibly advance him That a man envy'd of every one justled by all parties abandon'd by his own Benefactor and persecuted by a mighty King his Successor should keep himself still upright against all those violent assaults We have seen him wounded in several Engagements blown up by Mines and swallow'd in Precipices notwithstanding all which he overcame all difficulties by a vigorous resistance triumphing at last over Envy it self so that if the one obtain'd from the world a favourable opinion by his Conduct the other forc'd it by his Vigour constraining all France to confess that those Offices and Honours which at first had prevented his desert fell at last very much short of his Vertue Insomuch that if we find the one worthy of Esteem the other is no less worthy of Admiration if the one was promoted by ordinary means the other rose to all his Advancements by extraordinary ways if the one leisurely and by degrees arriv'd at greatness there was a kind of impetuosity in the promotion of the other and yet his foot never slipt back and if the one supported his Fortune erected upon sure Foundations the other which is very strange even without any foundation at all has rais'd his to that prodigious height as to carry it almost out of sight The Duke of Espernon though he had merited well enough from the Crown to expect an acknowledgement like this wherewith the King thought fit to gratifie his desert did yet receive it rather as a new obligation for new and greater Services than as a recompense for what he had already done and conceiving that those he should perform in his Majesties own view would best manifest his Gratitude he deferr'd till a fitter season the taking possession of his new Government that he might not loss such opportunities as the War was likely to offer him whilst he should continue about the person of the King He therefore attended his Majesty to Narbonne where some overtures being set on foot by the Constable de l' Esdiguieres and the Duke de Rohan in order to an Accommodation he thought he might conveniently make use of the interval of this Treaty for the accomplishment of a vow he he had formerly made to our Lady of Monserrat The Duke's design was to go this Journey Incognito to avoid the trouble of many complements he was sure would be put upon him if he should travel in his ordinary State in all places through which he was to pass and to that end had reduc'd his Train to a very small number setting forwards almost so soon as he had taken leave of the King that he might prevent any rumor of his motion but he soon found it was far easier for him to reduce his attendance than to obscure his reputation which had already so far got the start of his preparation and had so fill'd the neighbouring Kingdoms with the reverence of his name that he was no sooner enter'd into the King of Spain's Dominions but he was receiv'd in all places with infinite respect and extraordinary honours He was in this Voyage accompanied by the Marquis de Varennes made Governour of Aiguemortes at his return the Vicount de Fontrailles the Count de Maillé the Sieur de la Iliere Governour of Loches six Gentlemen of his houshold as many of his Guards and a necessary number of Officers yet could he not with all his care to contract his Equipage order it so that he had not above fifty persons in his Train so troublesome a thing is Greatness He lay the first night at la Palme a private house belonging to one of the Gentlemen who went along with him and the next day pass'd close by the Castles of Laucate and de Salses two little Fortresses which at that time divided the Kingdoms of France and Spain by the distance of which from our Frontiers as they now stand it may be seen how far our Conquests have
extended the limits of our own Kingdom Two days after he came to Perpignan Here it was that the Duke first perceiv'd how fruitless all his caution to conceal his person had been he finding at his arrival there the Garrison already drawn out to receive him and the Governour so soon as he was alighted coming to his Lodging to kiss hands and to offer him admittance into the Cittadel though the Duke making no other advantage of his Complement than in such a case he ought to do after having return'd his thanks in the most civil terms so obliging an invitation requir'd would still remain in the Town He parted thence the next morning before day it being necessary to avoid the excessive heats of the Countrey and the season to end his Journey by six of the clock in the morning and to repose himself the rest of the day And here he was likewise constrain'd either for fear of wanting forage for Horse or with less difficulty to pass the Mountains and Rocks to leave his Horses and to mount upon Mules The Gates were set open for him at the appointed hour and two Troops of the Garrison Horse were found ready to convoy him two Leagues from the City he was moreover saluted by all the Artillery at his departure A complement so loud as the adjacent Countrey being thereby given to understand that so unusual an honour was not paid to a person of ordinary condition he found at Stelrie at Girone at la Roque and the other places through which he pass'd that the Spanish pride hindred not their gravity from paying all due honour and respect to Vertue He came at last to Barcelona where the Duke de Alcala Vice-Roy of Catalognia so soon as he heard of his arrival came in person to visit him excusing himself in that he had not had timely notice of his coming that he might have come out to meet him and to receive him without the City as he said he had order from the King his Master to do Being return'd home it was not long before he sent the Duke his Coach of Ceremony drawn by six great and very beautiful Gennets for him to go abroad and take the Aire A sight at which the Duke who had ever been and who continued to his death a great lover of the Horses of Spain was almost impatient that so noble Creatures should be subdu'd to so mean a use nevertheless so great is the contagion of example especially where the glory of emulation seems to be concern'd that he was afterwards himself the first who show'd such another set of Horses in France he being a few years after very often observ'd in the Cours at Paris in a very rich Coach drawn by six dapple-Gray Spanish Horses to which I could add that it was in the company of Ladies too and that at the age of threescore and ten he was content to be seen playing the young man upon the greatest Theatre of Europe He staid two whole days at Barcelona during which time he view'd at leisure the greatness and beauty of the City The Viceroy invited him to his Palace where he had assembled the best company of men to wait upon him and the finest women in the Town to entertain him which was a very extraordinary favour This civility was moreover attended with a Ball a Comedy and a noble Banquet and from hence the Viceroy carried him to the Cours which extends it self in very great length upon the Sea-shore and where we could not but wonder at the delicacy of that people the Ghing of all the Gallies in the Harbour being drawn out every night to water this Cours which is above two thousand paces long We at first thought it an extraordinary thing done only in favour of the Duke but we were soon dispossess'd of that error when we understood that the Inhabitants to defend themselves from the dust and to qualifie the excessive ardours of the Sun had impos'd this new task as an addition to the other intolerable labours of their miserable slaves From Barcelona the Dâ—ke went at last to Monserrat where he continued three days entire at his Devotion not without admiring the excellent Oeconomy observ'd in this Abby where there are ordinarily above two thousand five hundred persons provided for every day for which all the provisions so much as wood and water must be fetch'd a great way off upon Mules the Rock being so dry and unfruitful as neither to afford the one nor the other of these much less the other necessaâ—ies of life The Duke presented the Abby with many very rich and noble Ornaments adding to his Presents an Almes of five hundred Crowns of Gold for three thousand Masses and so return'd into France The Religious Governours of this Abby never take any mony for their Hospitality which they in Charity bestow upon all Pilgrims indifferently of what condition soever for three days together but they also never refuse how much soever any one is dispos'd to give for Masses During the Duke's abode in this place those of his followers who were nimblest of Foot had the curiosity to climb the top of the Mountain to see the Hermitages which being thirteen in number are situated upon the most inaccessible precipices of the Rock and inhabited by so many devout persons who subsist upon almost no other nourishment than Herbs and Fruit. Though we met with great difficulty and danger in this attempt and had very much ado to satisfie our desires we saw nevertheless that one of the most unwieldy and unready footed Animals that is to say a Mule went twice a week the same way alone and without being guided to carry these good people their allowance and could with great security set his four feet in very narrow paths where we had much ado to dispose of our two so great a priviledge has Custom but what we thought the most strange of all was to see Birds of all sorts and of those kinds which with us are the most wild and untractable so familiar with these Holy men as to peck meat out of their mouths and suffer themselves to be handled living in as great security with them as amongst us those of more docile natures which we have reclaim'd and made tame with the greatest diligence and art At his return from this Voyage the Duke found the Treaty absolutely broken off and the King ready to sit down before Unel an Enterprize wherein his Majesty was pleas'd to make use of the Duke's person and particular Servants as he did afterwards at the Siege of Somnieres at both which Leaguers the Duke lost many Gentlemen of great Valour and Desert Of which number Pâ—igeolet a Captain in the Regiment of Guards and who had but lately quitted a Lieutenancy in the Regiment of Piedmont for this preferment was one as also Courbon l' Enchere Brouls and some other Officers of name who depended upon him These two places having given but a