Louvre he made a vertue of necessity and to evade the danger that still encreas'd upon him walking out at the back Gate of the Tuilleries he presently took Horse in the Garden near to the Stables and attended only by sixteen Gentlemen retir'd with all possible diligence to Chartres The Duke of Espernon was no sooner advertiz'd of this disorder but that he presently hasted from Rouen where the news was first brought him to the King and as he did believe with very good reason that his Majesties Enemies would not satisfie themselves with what they had already done so he thought it fit to go well accompanied neither did he a little revive the Court at his arrival having above five hundred Gentlemen in his Train They who have undertaken the History of that time variously report the Duke's Reception at this place D' Avila says his entertainment was very cold and that the King looking upon him as his Enemies Pretense for all the mischiefs they did began to distaste him yet he says soon after with a kind of contradiction that his Majesty never went less in his affection to him nor in the confidence he repos'd in him from the first beginning of his Favour Others write that he was receiv'd with great demonstrations of Favour and Esteem of which both the one and the other say true observing the due order of that little space betwixt the Dukes Entertainment at his first arrival and that he receiv'd after he had been two hours in private Conference with the King It is most certain that this Prince afflicted with his Misfortunes and reduc'd more than ever to the necessity of dissimulation did not at first receive him with that excess of kindness he had formerly done and it is likewise true that apprehending at first sight some just reproach from the Duke 's passionate affection to his Service for that his Majesty had not put in execution what he had resolv'd upon at Fresne his Majesty put on an unusual gravity at his arrival But after he had talked with him and that the Duke who was too discreet at such a time to offer the least syllable that might afflict his Master had on the contrary rais'd his Spirits with new hopes he then opened his Bosom to him more than ever and having receiv'd his wonted good Counsels entertain'd again the joy and vigour which seem'd to have been stifled in his Misfortunes and began to meditate the means and that with good hopes of success of restoring his Affairs to their former Condition And then it was that he caress'd the Duke with his accustomed freedom honouring him in publick with as high demonstrations of Favour as ever It was at this Conference that the Duke gave his Majesty an accompt of his Voyage of the good condition wherein he had left his Government and what his Majesty might expect from thence How all things were so well dispos'd there that excepting Havre de Grace the League possess'd nothing in that Province and that even he who commanded there had given very good hopes of returning shortly to his Duty That the Sieur de Caraâ—ges Governour of Rouen formerly enclin'd to favour the League was made firm to his Majesties Service and that the people in general were as well disposâ—d as good Subjects could possibly be An Account so highly satisfactory to the King that he presently â—esolv'd upon a Journey into that Province it seeming to him neither decent nor suiting with his Honour to continue at Chartres where to make a longer stay would look as if he were there shut up and forbidden all the other parts of his Kingdom Neither was it without design that the Duke spoke so advantageously to the King of the Forces of Normandy And he could have wisht his Majesty had conceiv'd the same opinion of all his other Provinces to the end that growing confident of his own Power he might entertain the thoughts of Arms For he certainly believ'd that should his Majesty once undertake a War in good earnest it would succeed infinitely to his advantage that he would soon be in a condition to re-establish his neglected Authority and to make himself fear'd of all his Subjects But the King had already form'd other Designs and the Duke of Guise seeming to him so strongly supported that he could not depress him by open force without endangering at once himself and his Kingdom he thought it safer though less honourable to lull him asleep with the hopes of Peace than by open War to provoke his already approved Power The Duke of Guise also seeing the King escap'd out of his hands and that he could no more impose upon him those conditions he had propos'd to the Queen Mother during the Barricades was likewise not averse to an Accommodation So that both Parties concurring in the same disposition the business was quickly set on foot by the Queen Mother who as she had been of the first was now the Mediatrix of this Peace also She had continued at Paris after the King's departure and had not fail'd upon all occasions to possess the Duke of Guise that the King was willing to be reconcil'd to him and to forgive the Parisians upon their due Submission Whereupon the Duke the better to sound the King's intention herein order'd the Parliament to attend his Majesty at Chartres and there to offer him the first excuses for a fault which in its own nature admitted none But the Provost des Marchands going before and the Eschevins following after both the one and the other return'd with great satisfaction Which the Duke of Guise seeing and interpreting this flexibility in the King to an effect of Fear he reâ—assum'd his former hopes and again set on foot the same propositions which he had before so arrogantly insisted upon to wit that War should be proclaim'd against the King of Navarre that there should be Convocation of the States General and that the Duke of Espernon should be banish'd from Court with a privation of all his Offices Upon which last Article he chiefly insisted openly declaring that there could be no durable Peace nor no sincere reconciliation so long as he had so great an Enemy as the Duke in the Kings Bosom The Queen Mother as has been said before had long been jealous of the Duke of Espernon's Power with the King her Son neither indeed could she well brook any Favourites but those who stood immediately oblig'd to her for their Fortune an humour had made her so much the more impatient of the Duke's greatness because it was an advantage for which he was indebted to none but to his Masters bounty She had often therefore prest the King for his removal as the only means to satisfie the League had propounded several honourable Employments to colour his disgrace and not long before would have had him sent Ambassadour to Rome to justifie the King from the aspersions the League had cast upon him to the Holy Sea
himself to look into the state of those Provinces newly committed to his charge where by establishing such order as he thought convenient by the dispatch of his Levies and by disposing his men into the most important places he prepar'd himself betimes to encounter such Accidents as the severity of the time was likely to produce Soon after the Duke's departure the King went his Journey into Normandy where the greatest Obstacle being now remov'd the Treaty of Peace went on without any further impediment and was presently after concluded the King who had already determin'd how to dispose of the Duke of Guise making no great difficulty to grant him what he was resolv'd he should not long enjoy The Peace concluded the Edict of Union was publish'd first at Rouen and then in all parts of the Kingdom after which they immediately fell to the raising of Arms for the utter suppression of the King of Navarre and his Party But above all things the King was careful to hasten the necessary Dispatches for the Convocation of the States General at Blois in the beginning of October next ensuing an Assembly equally desir'd by the King and the Duke of Guise but to different ends The Duke hoping there by the joynt suffrages of the several Orders of the Kingdom to see himself plac'd in that degree of height to which his great Spirit and vast Ambition had so long aspir'd and the King resolving there and at that time to quench his restless and inordinate Ambition in a torrent of his own Blood Thus do we often see the purposes of the greatest Politicians deluded who when they think they have brought their Designs by the most infallible Rules and Maxims of Humane Prudence to an almost certain Issue find themselves deceiv'd and usually meet with effects quite contrary to their expectation giving us to understand that we ought not to commit our actions to the blind conduct of our own frail and erroneous foresight but into the hands of Providence that governs all and that brings all things to their determinate end The Edict of Union being sworn the Duke of Eâ—pernon remov'd from Court and the King â—atisfied at least in apparence with the Duke of Guise's and the Parisians excuses the Duke confident in the Queen Mother who was of late become absolutely powerful with the KIng had nothing now to hinder his coming to Court so that upon his Majesties return out of Normandy he immediately repair'd to him and having found him at Chartres he there in person deliver'd the same Apologies he had not long before presented by the Mediation of others All which his Majesty received with a Dissimulation that was not only natural to him but that by a long Practice and by the continual traverses and difficulties of his Reign was grown to such a habit in him that it was no hard matter for him to put on any kind of Language or Behaviour on any occasion wherein he was most likely to be surpriz'd So that in outward shew the King was so well pleas'd with no Company as indeed it was almost all he had as with the Duke's his Relations and Confederates Amongst which the Cardinal of Bourbon who was now also come to Court was entertain'd with extraordinary marks of Favour and Respect neither was there any Commands or Offices Military or Civil granted to any but by their recommendation insomuch that some have thought the Duke of Guise by winning and submissive carriage had made some real impression upon the Kings Inclinations and that his Majesty was dispos'd really to love him as he had formerly done if he could have moderated his Ambition and would have laid aside those designs which rendred him suspected to him In a conjuncture so favourable to their Designs neither the Duke of Guise nor those of his Faction slept in their Business but with all possible industry still more and more labour'd the Duke of Espernon's total Ruine as a thing that imported most of all to the confirmation of that Authority and Trust to which they saw themselves by his removal already advanc'd So that the King being daily afflicted with a thousand Accusations against him and wearied by their importunities was at last so far overcome as to consent that many of his Offices should be taken away being not yet to be prevail'd upon for his absolute Ruine Whilst the Duke was present he continually by his good Services fortified his Masters mind against all impressions of calumny his Enemies could invent to the prejudice of his Fidelity and Honour and had ever triumph'd in his Majesties good Opinion over the Envy and Malice of his Detractors but he was no sooner remov'd out of his Eye than that Confidence began to stagger his detractors representing him for an Enemy to the Crown a Friend to the King of Navarre and one that seducing daily all the Garrisons in his Government to a Revolt was upon the point to Proclaim open War against the King himself In the mean time the Duke had very good Intelligence of all that pass'd at Court he very well knew that his Enemies made use of all imaginable ways to destroy him that the King was by them perpetually socilited against him and that consequently it concern'd him in common discretion to frustrate their Designs and to provide for his own safety in the strength of those places he possess'd Neither was he much surpriz'd at the unexpected news of what the King had consented to against him he was very well acquainted with the constitution of the Court and had very well foreseen what would certainly be attempted against him but he could hardly perswade himself that his Majesty could ever forget his Fidelity and good Services yet did he not for all that neglect his own preservation that he might live to do him one day more and better Service the only revenge this faithful honest Servant meditated for the ingratitude of his Master He fell therefore presently into Consultation with his Friends what course he were best to take a Debate wherein Opinions were very different some there were who advis'd him to return to Court representing that his presence would infallibly disperse all those shadows of mistrust which by his absence his Adversaries had had opportunity to possess the King's mind withal that his tried Fidelity would soon recover its former place in his Majesties Opinion and that then he would soon be in a condition to return the mischiefs had been intended against him upon the heads of the first contrivers Others there were who gave him counsel to put himself into Metz others to make immediately for Provence and some of those there to joyn with the King of Navarre That to that purpose he should first go into Angoumois whither he might suddenly and with great facility convey himself where he had a strong City to retire unto and where he would be in a Country very convenient to favour his Passage into Provence by the way of
and Condition from his Enemies Party would draw the greatest part of those who had set up their rest upon the Fortune of the Duke his Father over to his own had granted very advantageous conditions and beâ—ides the Cities of Rheims Chalons Rocroy St. Diâ—ier Guise and other places which had formerly been settled upon his Father and his Uncles conferr'd particularly the Government of Provence upon him The Government of Champagne had formerly been in the possession of the late Duke but his Majesty having since his advancement to the Crown gratified the Duke of Nevers with that Office he rather chose to dispossess the Duke of Espernon who by a thousand calumnies had been rendred suspected to him than to diâ—oblige the Duke of Nevers whom himself had settled in that trust Neither was the Duke of Guise unsatisfied with the exchange who besides that it was in it self at least equal with the other had by this mutation a great opportunity under the shadow of the Royal Authority to depress one of the most powerful and profess'd enemies of his House and Name so that well pleas'd with his new Employment he only waited his Majesties order to begin his Journey into Provence and by assistance of the Royal Arms to put himself into possession of his new and well lik'd of charge But his Majesty who had much rather by little and little to have withdrawn the Duke of Espernon from thence than to kindle a new War in that Country and so soon again to put a Sword into the Duke of Guise's hand who was so lately return'd into his obedience had first try'd the way of negotiation as you have heard and after made use of Arms under the conduct of Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres by which various ways having found he could neither reduce the Duke by reason nor so depress him by force but that he was still in a condition there long to subsist he at last took a resolution to put an end to the work and to effect that by fine force which he saw was neither by Treaty nor by indifferent Forces to be brought about His Majesty had in the beginning of this year proclaim'd a War with the King of Spain which notwithstanding before he would begin or advance into the Enemies Country he would first settle his own Affairs at home and visit some parts of his Kingdom which as yet he had never seen since they were reduc'd to his Obedience by his presence to encourage and confirm them in their duty to him of which the City of Lyons was one and thither it was that his Majesty after having chas'd the Duke of Mayenne out of Burgundy repair'd and where he arriv'd in September 1595. To this place Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres being also come to kiss his Majesties Hand and to give him an accompt of the Affairs of Provence he was thither follow'd by the Deputies of that Parliament and of some other Cities of that Province in hopes that under his countenance and Interest at Court their complaints against the Duke of Espernon would be the better heard by which his Majesty being tyr'd vext at the continuations of these troubles and animated against the Duke by the reiterated ill Offices of his enemies fearing also that the ill usage the Duke had receiv'd from them might during his rupture with Spain provoke him to joyn with the Spaniard so as to receive them into those Garrisons he held in Provence he then took up that final resolution to suppress him by Force and by Arms to reduce him to his Duty Of this War the Duke of Guise as Governour of Provence was to have the conduct whom nevertheless his Majesty judging too young to manage without the assistance of some more experienc'd Captain especially having to do with the Duke of Espernon he made choice of Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres for that purpose by the title of Lieutenant General in Provence under the Duke of Guise Neither could his Majesty have made choice of two Captains more animated against the Enemy they were to undertake the first being prompted on besides the interest of his establishment in that Province by the antiquated and irreconcilable hatred of his Family the other by his jealousie already mention'd and by the conscience of those recent injuries the Duke had receiv'd at his hands And here though every one might reasonably conclude that this torrent of Arms was likely to overwhelm the Duke beyond all possible evasion or recovery yet was his courage and assurance no less eminent in this than it had been in other occasions of this nature 'T is true that he had discreetly endeavour'd to divert it by going to present himself before the King at Lyons where he doubted not to clear those Accusations his Enemies had so falsly contriv'd and so maliciously preferr'd against him But such was his ill fortune that he met intelligence upon the way which assur'd him his Majesty was suddenly and unexpecâ—edly call'd thence into Picardy by the inroads the Condé de Fuentes had made into that Province and by the danger the City of Cambray was in which at this time was closely besieg'd by the Spanish Forces So that he was constrain'd to return back into Provence not without extreme affliction to see his Majesty so positively bent to his ruine with this hope nevertheless that time would at last justifie his intentions especially if he could in the interim maintain his Affairs in any tolerable condition a consideration that made him resolute to defend his declining fortune more vigorously than ever yet not with any design to do any thing contrary to his Majesties Service but with an intent if things came to the last push rather to make a voluntary surrender of his Government into his Majesties own hands as he afterwards did than to suffer himself tamely to be stript of it by his mortal and implacable Enemies The Army design'd against him entred into Provence in November 1595. where the Duke had Friends and strong Holds enough to have held them long in play had they to whose â—idelity he had entrusted the chiefest of his Castles and Towns observ'd the Faith they had sworn unto him but their revolt soon made him understand the influence of the Royal Name and how unhappy a thing it is to have that appear against a man how innocent soever his intentions may be and how well soever dispos'd to his Princes Service for the Duke of Guise and Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres no sooner appear'd in Provence but that there was a contest amongst the Duke's greatest Confidents who should first go over to them Amongst these the Sieurs de Buous Brothers the men of all others in that Country to whom the Duke had given the highest testimonies of Honour and Friendship were the first who forsook him and who besides the prejudice they did him by their ill example carried over with them the two Regiments they commanded in 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
Orders into severe Execution they knew very well that there had been perpetual feuds betwixt him and that Assembly and as it usually falls out design'd to make their own advantage of those Divisions but the Duke taking a quite contrary course in this Affair than what they had expected at Court satisfied himself with only giving the Parliament to understand what should it come to the push he had power to do in case the King should not be obey'd exhorting them withal by their Wisdoms to prevent what he for his part would avoid as far as was consistent with his Duty and remonstrating to them that in a concern of this kind they should not find him any ways to act by his own particular passion neither would he either use or abuse the King's Name to satisfie his own Resentments This discreet and moderate way of proceeding having in time wrought upon some spirits that a more violent course might perhaps have provok'd into more untoward resolutions succeeded so well that by this means he procur'd a very considerable assistance to the advancement of his Majesties Affairs and that even with the good will and free consent of the Company whose interests in return he husbanded upon this occasion with the same tenderness and care as if they had effectually been his own At the same time that these Affairs were in agitation in Guienne the Enemy who had been long preparing for some notable Enterprize was now ready on all sides to invade the Kingdom to provide therefore for the necessary expence in so critical an occasion all ordinary and extraordinary ways besides having been found to fall short the King was constrain'd to lock up his Treasure from all other Expences which did not directly respect the War so that all the great men of the Kingdom saw themselves excluded from all possibility of extracting from thence their Entertainments Pensions or other Assignments of right belonging and annex'd unto their several Offices and Commands To supply which defect part of these expences were thrown upon the people they began at least to impose upon them the Entertainments of the Governours of Provinces to be Leavied upon them by Commissions of the Taille Bullion Sur-Intendant of the Finances who profess'd a particular Friendship to the Duke of Espernon and pretended to be very solicitous of his Interests offer'd him one of these Impositions for the payment of his Salary advising him moreover that out of this stock he should pay himself â—everal Arrears that were due to him but the Duke rejected the proposition with a generosity never enough to be commended sending him word That having for above threescore years serv'd the Kings of France without ever touching peny of the Assignations they had pleas'd to think him worthy of excepting what came immediately out of the Exchequer he would not begin towards his latter end to extract a subsistence out of the poor and miserable people he saw every day perish before his eyes for want of Bread That being plac'd in his Government to serve the King and to govern his People it was from the Master he serv'd and not from those he commanded that he was to expect his Reward That he had much rather be reduc'd to the bare Revenue of his own Estate than to see his Name in the Excise Office or his Table furnish'd out at the price of the Poor Such as solicited his business for him at Court to render him more facile to their perswasions represented to him the example of all the other great men of the Kingdom as well Princes as others who they said received now not one farthing any other way But all would not prevail he returning answer That he did not take upon him to condemn any one for so doing but that he did not nevertheless conceive himself oblig'd to follow the Examples of any whomsoever and that he had much rather undergo the imputation of Singularity in doing a thing he thought to be just than to do the contrary in imitation of all the world besides And indeed he continued to the last so constant in this noble and generous Resolution that he never after receiv'd one peny of any of his Assignments not so much as of those that were due for the year before So that at his Death he had near upon seven years Arrears due to him amounting to above five hundred thousand Livers By which it may be judg'd how much his strongest inclinations for I cannot deny but that he was exceedingly close handed in very many things gave place to Interests wherein his Honour was concern'd If in this particular he was so solicitous of easing the King's Subjects that were under his Government even to the prejudice of his own Interests he was no less careful to keep them within the just limits of their Obedience and Duty The gathering in of the Tailles was at this time a matter of so great difficulty that in several neighbouring Provinces as in Poictou Xaintonge and in Angoumois the people were in manifest Rebellion The Duke determinately oppos'd himself against this ill example and would never tolerate the least Disobedience to his Majesties Royal Pleasure a strictness that being for their licencious Constitutions or at least in their Opinions too severe made the people no less murmur at him for being too rough than he was censur'd at Court for being too indulgent But he was no more mov'd with Complaints of the one than the Jealousie of the other and his own satisfaction being his only Object he did not much regard any other than what he found in his own Conscience Though the Duke's mind was taken up with so many Affairs of great difficulty and trouble he had yet so much room left there as to allow something to his own particular resentments which would ever upon occasion crowd in for a place with the Publick Concerns The impunity of Briet and the liberty had been granted to him again to execute his Office in the Parliament of Bordeaux before his face and as it were in defiance of him was insupportable to such a spirit as that he was possess'd withal so that what command soever the King had been pleas'd to lay upon him to permit him so to do it was impossible for him to pay his Majesty that chearful Obedience in this he did in all other occasions To which indigestive humour of his his Animosity but too just in it self being every day exasperated more and more by new Provocations he in the end was no longer able so to conquer his passion but that his patience being wounded to the last degree must of necessity overflow all bounds of moderation and proceed to some effects of Revenge so disproportionate nevertheless to the Injuries he had receiv'd that if on the one side he was frugal of his own Conscience in sparing the Blood of an Enemy he was not however excus'd from the blame of undertaking and that with great bustle and
mercy that there would afterwards remain the King of Navarre a powerful active and diligent Enemy back'd with great Forces within and ready to receive greater from without the Kingdom he conceiv'd it requisite to subdue him first that he might afterwards dispose of the Kings Affairs with less opposition so that he altogether fell from the extravagancy of his first demands and only insisted vpon the suppression of the King of Navarre which he call'd the extirpation of Heresie though it was in effect in order only to the establishment of his own Power The King had so openly declared himself an Enemy as effectively he was to this new Religion and it so much imported him to clear himself to his Subjects from those aspersions the League had cast upon him that he was now necessitated to declare against the King of Navarre in the most severe Form the League could themselves invent yet was it not without the greatest reluctancy imaginable that his Majesty was constrain'd to that extremity against a Prince whom as has been said before it was not his interest wholly to suppress but having lost the opportunity he once had whilst they were weak and inconsiderable of chastising the Heads of the League he saw himself now necessitated to grant them that he could no longer without apparent Ruine refuse His Wisdom then prompting him to submit to the necessity of Affairs he made a show of complying in all things with their desires and that he might with less difficulty encline the Duke of Espernon to consent to a resolution he had ever before been so much against he privately told him That he did not consent to those things that were exacted from him without very great Aversion but that he hop'd to reap from thence a signal effect and a very great advantage to his Affairs that the Party of the League was now too strong to be supprest by force that they had brought their Armies to the Gâ—tes of Paris and that Paris it self was corrupted in their Favour That he very well saw the time to chastise them was now past and that he now knew but too late what he had lost in letting the occasion slip wherein they might have been punish'd when he had advis'd him to it but that such an opportunity would certainly return again and that then his evil Counsellors should never disswade him from making better use of his time That in the mean time it was necessary to dissemble that they might the better look into their Enemies Interests to discover their weakness and to make use of that discovery to their ruine That there was no Party so strong that was not defective somewhere That it was necessary to discover where that defect lay and that it was impossible to make that discovery without engaging with and being interested in the cause they meant to overthrow That being Head of the League as they would have him declare himself to be he should be able to strew such difficulties in the way of their Designs as that they would find themselues perplex'd in every enterprize they should undertake Though the Duke of Espernon had much rather his Majesty would have defended his Honour and trampled Authority by the Arms of those few good Catholick Servants he had and to have joyn'd with the King of Navarre with whom he did not think an accommodation impossible and with such Foreign Forces as were affectionate to the Crown yet seeing it was now expedient to submit to the necessity of the time he humbly acquiesc'd in the good Pleasure of the King his Master In this posture of Affairs the King writ to the Queen his Mother that she might conclude the Treaty upon such Conditions as she thought fit and for a further testimony of his Candour and sincere intention herein sent the dispatch by the Duke of Espernon whom all the world knew to have the greatest power with him and the greatest Antipathy for the League to the end that the Lords of Guise might not in the least doubt the observance of a Treaty that was ratifi'd on his part by a person who liv'd in so eminent a degree of favour with him This employment of the Duke's though it was only intended to countenance the Queens Negotiation and to make it more easily succeed did nevertheless incense her in the highest degree against him She look'd upon his interposition as proceeding from a diffidence the King had in her and not daring to manifest her dissatisfaction to him she threw it wholly upon the Duke and took from thence a new occasion to augment the ill will she had formerly conceiv'd against him The Treaty was notwithstanding concluded at Nemours wherein the Lords of Guise had the full of their own demands whether against those of the Hugonot Party or in their own particular favour They were to command the Armies that should be set forth against the Hugonots and over and above the great and advantageous Governments they were already possest of the King delivered over twelve or fifteen of the best Cities in the Kingdom into their hands together with vast summes of money And then it was that men were undeceiv'd and that all men plainly saw they minded more their own private Interest and the establishment of their own greatness than they regarded the advancement of the Catholick Religion The Treaty then being concluded the Duke of Guise came to kiss the Kings Hands at St. Maur des â—aussez his Majesty so ordering it purposely to defeat the Duke of the Parisians applause from whence after the Ratification of the Articles the Duke return'd into his own Government of Champagne dismiss'd with some feign'd Demonstrations of Favour which was also on his part receiv'd with the same dissimulation From thence forward the King began with great artifice to spin out the violent designs of the League manifesting nevertheless such an animosity against the Hugonots and so firm a resolution vigorously to effect what had been concluded against them as he conceiv'd necessary to satisfie a people jealous of his sincerity and apt to take up new suspicions upon every instigation of their own corrupted fansie And in order thereunto he went to the Parliament in great Formality and State to cause an Edict to pass against those of the Reform'd Religion where after a revocation of the cautionary Towns of the Chambres Mi-parties of the liberty of Conscience and of other Concessions that had formerly been granted in their Favour they were prescrib'd by a day prefix'd either to abjure their Religion or to be declar'd enemies to the State and punishable to the last degree This first Act thus play'd his Majesty assembled the Provost des Marchands and the Eschevins of Paris to demand money of them for the prosecution of the War they had so ardently desir'd which he also propos'd to the Clergy who had shewed themselves no less zealous than they but finding both the one and the other equally
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
Religion and the German Princes hasting away their Armies into France his Majesty was forc'd to prepare himself to oppose them A Resolution that he effected with so good orders and so prudent a Conduct that their defeat ought to live for a perpetual Monument of this Princes Wisdom no man else having any voice in that deliberation It was he alone who by his own Wise Counsels rendred all the attempts of his Enemies fruitless it was he alone that overthrew them and that having by his own prudent orders made them suffer those incommodities that unnerved them and put them out of all defense gave the Duke of Guise an opportunity to win a great deal of Honour with little trouble and danger So great an advantage it is to live in the publick opinion The King having employ'd all his care and art to hinder the Reiters from entring into the Kingdom and all to no purpose and finding all Treaties and all moderate wayes ineffectual to divert the blow that was intended against him he at last put on his wonted resolution and determined bravely to encounter that danger he then plainly saw he could not with all his dexterity prevent Having therefore in this determination assembled his Council to the end he might advise with his principal Ministers about an Affair of this important consequence and having there laid open the business to them he found their opinions very different neither is it strange that men of several judgments should dissent in a resolution of this high nature some advised him to advance with his Army out of his own Conâ—ines and there to expect and fight the Enemy others were of a contrary opinion neither did the one nor the other want reasons or example to justifie their advice At last the King himself deliver'd his own opinion which was To permit the Enemy quietly to enter the Kingdom but withal to make them pass through so many difficulties and to suffer so many necessities that they should be already as good as overcome before they should come to fight He remonstrated to them that to encounter them fresh and in their trim as they came out of their own Country animated to War by the Interest of Religion and by the compassion of their Confederates were to expose things to a doubtful event That the loss of a Battel in the flourishing condition those of the Reformed Religion would be after such a Victory would endanger France and the Catholick Religion That he had a desire to preserve both the one and the other and to ruine his Enemies more leisurely but withal more surely and that there would nevertheless be Honour enough in the Victory provided it were absolute and entire This being then the final Resolution his Majesty gave order forthwith that his Armies should be all ready in Iuly following to appear at Meaux which he assigned for the general Rendezvous and besides the present Forces that he intended to set on foot he commanded that in every Province the Nobility and Train-Bands should be ready to march at the first Summons He dispatch'd also several Commissions for new Leavies to the end they might either serve to fill up the old Troops as they should grow thin or to stand for a reserve in case any thing should happen amiss to the main Army He sent Commissaries on purpose to beat down all the Ovens and Mills that were in his Enemies way from the Frontier as far as the place he had appointed for his own Quarters He caus'd all the Grain of the Country to be fetch'd in and stor'd up in the good Towns with all Artificers and Tradesmen of what condition soever He caus'd all the defensible Cities to be fortified with Men Victuals and Ammunition and on the contrary demolish'd all such places as were not tenable nor able to withstand a Siege He commanded all the Bridges to be broken down all the Fords to be spoil'd and generally all things to be destroy'd that might any way contribute to his Enemies advantage or subsistance He further sent to the Duke of Lorain that it stood with his Interest in this occasion to do the same in his Territories and having thus dispos'd all things and the Duke of Espernon having highly applauded what he had done he told the King with his wonted freedom that there was one thing yet left undone which though it were more in his Majesties Power and Royal Disposition than all the rest would nevertheless be the hardest for him to execute The King commanded him to explain himself and to tell him what that thing was promising withal to satisfie him in it whereupon the Duke growing more serious told him That he humbly besought his Majesty to command his Army in Person and alone without a Competitor that might dispute with him the Honour of a Victory that by his Prudent disposition of Affairs was as good as certain to him Which the King solemnly promis'd him he would but afterwards according to his custom giving too much ear to the Counsels of others and not enough relying upon his own wisdom he alter'd that resolution and dividing his Army into two gave the better part to the Duke of Guise and so depriv'd himself of the whole glory of that Action to bestow it upon another The Duke of Guise expert and valiant as any Prince of his time had those Forces no sooner committed to his charge but that he immediately march'd them away to the Frontiers of Champagne to observe the Enemies motion and to oblige them by his lying so near to march close together which considering the spoil that had before been made of the Country was as great an inconvenience as they could suffer The Duke of Ioyeuse had also an Employment against the King of Navarre to hold him in play in Guienne and to hinder him from joyning with the Foreign Army that came to his assistance But the Duke of Espernon was reserv'd by his Majesty to attend upon his own person as one in whom he repos'd an entire confidence and as a man whose sole and utmost aim the King evidently saw was equally directed to his Majesties Honour and to the Kingdoms safety To him the King gave the command of the Vantguard of his own Army in which Employment he so behav'd himself both with his Valour his Advice and his Experience that the very Historians of that time though envious as the greater part of men are of the greatness of Favourites could not forbear notwithstanding to attribute to him a very considerable share in the success of that memorable Defeat And here give me leave without being blam'd for a digression from my Subject and that upon the Duke of Espernon's word a man better read than any whosoever in the business of that time to oppose his Testimony against a Scandal D'Avila has publish'd not only to the discredit of the Duke of Ioyeuse his Favour but also to the infinite prejudice of his Honour
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
Messages of Treaty sent to and fro on either part it at last ended in this that many of the Catholick Lords submitting to his Majesties first Proposition what he had then promis'd by word of mouth was now only more formally drawn into a writing interchangeably deliver'd betwixt the King and his Catholick Subjects and Sign'd by the greatest part of Men of Quality that were then in the Army But the Duke of Espernon believing this delay of six months propos'd by the King to be no delay intended only to win longer time and that at last their hopes and expectations would be deluded demanded some further assurance than he yet saw of his Majesties conversion neither could he notwithstanding the importunities of all the Friends he had be drawn upon other terms to seal to that Writing And this was the true and only reason of his refusal and not what both Mounsieur de Thou and D'Avila have reported of it They say that the thing which made him refuse to seal to that Instrument was a contest which hapned betwixt him and the Mareschals de Biron and d' Aumont who should sign first these as Mareschals of France and in immediate command in the Army pretending a priority and he claiming a precedence as Duke and Peer a difficulty that might easily have been overcome had that been all But the cause proceeded from a principle of greater moment than the trivial contest of a â—light Ceremony The King however caus'd him by several hands to be over and over again solicited and importun'd to satisfie himself as other good Catholicks had done and as the Dukes were the best and the fullest Regiments of the Army and as his person and his example which were likely to be follow'd as they afterwards were not only by those under his own command but by many others of good quality in the Army altogether render'd him very considerable So did his Majesty by all sorts of perswasions and promises endeavour to detain him but all to no purpose 'T is true he acknowledg'd the King for lawful Successour to the Crown as he had sufficiently declar'd in a time when the greatest persecutions were practis'd against him and when he was only King of Navarre by which he had in part drawn the hatred of the Duke of Guise upon him And it is also true that he had all the reason in the world to desire that Prince should now become his Master whom he had all his life labour'd to raise to that Dignity to which he was now arriv'd But he thought the Ruine of the Catholick Religion inevitable should things continue in the posture they were now in which made him rather choose to expose himself to all those disgraces he knew his Enemies were preparing for him than to serve his own interests whose advancement he likewise saw infallible in so favourable a juncture to the reproach and prejudice of his own Conscience Fortified therefore still more and more in this resolution he caus'd his Troops to be made ready for his departure these at his first coming to the King consisted of six thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse which though they were now much diminish'd in the Service yet were they notwithstanding in such a condition as that there were hardly so many more French in the whole Army as he had under his sole command The Marquis de Rocquelaure and other of his intimate friends labour'd by all imaginable means to disswade him from his ill taken up resolution but not being able to prevail his Enemies would have perswaded the King to have met his obstinacy with a Stab a Counsel the Duke was as soon enform'd of But whether it was that he thought this generous Prince not to be perswaded into so foul an action or that he thought it at that time a thing not easie to be executed he had the assurance notwithstanding the caution had been given him to go take his leave of the King before he left the Army and to excuse his departure A Ceremony that was pass'd over in few words and I have often heard him repeat the manner of it to be thus The Duke took along with him thirty Gentlemen of his Train in whom he repos'd the greatest confidence and of these he left some at the Doors of the King's Lodgings and others upon the Stairs to facilitate his retirement if any foul play should be offer'd to him and himself with only two more in his company enter'd the Gallery The last Journey he made to Paris he hapned to lie in the same house and shew'd ús the place where he took his leave of the King This house did at that time belong to Mademoiselle du Tillet his old and intimate Friend a Lady illustrious for her courage and constancy and passionate for the Duke's Interests to that degree that he has had few friends who have justified their affection by so great and so continued a fidelity The King was at the one end of the Gallery when the Duke appear'd entring at the other whom the King no sooner perceiv'd but that coming up to him with an angry countenance and striking his stick with some vehemence upon the floor he said What Mounsieur d' Espernon it seems you have refus'd to Sign the Writing which has been Sign'd without difficulty by most persons of Quality in my Army as good Catholicks as your self do not you as well as they acknowledge me for your King To which the Duke made answer That he was his Majesties most humble Subject and Servant That there was not a person in his Kingdom who had more ardently desir'd to see him in the place where he now was should the King his Master die than himself had done That he would never do anything contrary to his Service that he had rather die than once to entertain so dishonest a thought but that he did humbly beseech his Majesty to excuse him if being of a Religion differing from that his Majesty profess'd he could not attend his person that being a thing he could not do without offering the greatest violence to his own Conscience The Duke had scarce made an end of speaking when he heard a noise of armed men behind him in the Gallery and then it was that he certainly believ'd these were the men appointed to kill him as he had been pre-advis'd but he was soon deliver'd out of that fear when he saw the King move forward with a smiling countenance to embrace them These were two Captains of the King 's Light Horse the one call'd le Baron de Sainte Marie du Mont a Norman the others name I have forgot who having upon their Guard which was at a good distance receiv'd intelligence of the Death of Henry III. were come in all haste to congratulate the King with his new Advancement and lighted at the Door of his Lodging were come up in the same posture the news had surpriz'd them in upon
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
themselves renew'd the interrupted Treaty of Peace in order whereunto the Deputies of both Crowns being met at Vervins it was there to their common satisfaction happily concluded That which I observe to be most remarkable in this Peace is that the King what necessity soever there was upon him of regulating the disorders of his own Kingdom which were many a thing neuer to be well done in the confusions of War would notwithstanding never consent his Deputies should meet to Treat till first the King of Spain had given him assurance that all the places had been taken from him in this last War should be restor'd His Majesty choosing rather to expose his Person and Kingdom to the uncertain event of another War than that his Crown should suffer the lâ—ast prejudice by a Treaty of Peace 〈◊〉 although he had hitherto been the loser yet did â—is courage 〈◊〉 him hope so well of his Fortune as to believe he should in the end bring her over to his own side So brisk an Article as this at first dash and before the King would proceed to any further Treaty it is to be suppos'd would startle the Spanish Gravity and must reasonably meet with great difficulty as it did in the Councils of War and Privy Council of Spain it being evident that in this demand the King would impose upon them who were the Conquerors the same conditions he should have done had they been already overcome which made it suffer a long Debate though at last it was condescended to and that being granted no other difficulties were likely to arise so that this happy Peace was Concluded and Sign'd by the Commissioners on both sides the second of May 1598. By the Articles of this Treaty the King was to restore the County of Charolois to the King of Spain to be by him held of the Crown of France who in exchange restor'd the Towns of Calice Ardres Monthulin Dourlens la Capelle and le Catelet in Picardy and Blavet in Britanny which Articles were Ratifi'd and Sign'd by his Majesty the eleventh of Iune who in gayety of humour at so happy a conclusion told the Duke of Espernon That with one dash of his Pen he had done greater things than he could of a long time have perform'd with the best Swords of his Kingdom This Peace was no sooner concluded but that the Court put on a Face far different from that wherewith it had appearâ—d when shaded and overcast with the tumult and trouble of War and Business nothing now was to be seen but State and Lustre nor was any thing now thought on but Feasting and Mirth which also was much added to by the celebration of several Marriages which were at this time consummate betwixt some persons of the greatest quality of the Kingdom For Katharine the King 's only Sister was Married to the Duke of Bar Son to the Duke of Lorain and Henry of Bourbon Duke of Montpensier Married Katharine de â—oyeuse with many other Marriages betwixt Persons of great Quality that were also solemniz'd at the same time but it not being my design to meddle with those wherein the Duke of Espernon was not immediately concern'd I shall only insist upon that of the Duke of Montpensier who contracting himself to so near a Relation of the Duke's that he in a manner supply'd the place of a Father to her it will be necessary I should say something of the reasons and conclusion of this particular Match The King since the Duke's return from Provence had never exceeded to him the favour of meer justice he had it is true left him free in the enjoyment of his Offices his Estate and Degree without doing him any the least injury in any thing that was his just and immediate right But as to the rest his Majesty not being able to forget his formention'd discontents against him he thought he did him a signal favour in that he forbore to do him any publick disgrace In this condition the Duke who saw himself seated at Court in a station far inferiour to that wherein he had formerly been suffer'd not a little in his own bosom from the King's coldness and indifferency to him yet concealing his discontent with the true respect he ought to pay his Prince and Master he avoided at least all occasions the only refuge of a suspected Minister that might any way bring him into a greater disgrace Yet even in this condition his fortune would not forsake him who when all other means seem'd to be lost that could probably restore him to any degree of his former prosperity sprung him a new tide to his stranded greatness and such an one as not only lifted him off those sands wherein he was like to sink and perish but rais'd him again to such a reputation as was no little support to his declining name and power Katâ—arine de Ioyeuse whom I have already nam'd was only Daughter and Heir to the Count de Bouchage and Katharine de Nogaret and de la Valette the Duke of Espernon's Sister a young Lady that besides the advantages of her Birth and Beauty was also Miâ—trâ—â—â— of very great possessions having to her paternal Estate added that of the great Favourite the Duke of Ioyeuse as she also was in expectation of that of the Cardinal de Ioyeuse her Uncle which reckon'd altogether must needs make up so vast an estate as must without dispute entitle her the greatest Fortune of France The Duke of Montpensier likewise as born a Prince of the Blood was also in high consideration wherein the advantage of his Fortune concurr'd with the eminency of his Birth he having alone a greater Revenue than all the other Princes of the Blood to which his Valour Liberality and Courtesie with other good qualities he was Master of had rais'd him to a very great esteem with the King and made him no less a Favourite to the People so that he was not only the Aim and Ambition of the best Matches of France but stood also in the prospect of some Forein Princes Amongst these the Duke of Lorain proceeded so far as to offer him his Daughter who was afterwards Married to the Duke of Cleve's with eight hundred thousand Crowns to her Dowry a proposition that being debated in the Duke of Montpensier's Council was very much lik'd of by some of his Servants who advis'd him to prefer this Match to the other Inheretrix of the House of Ioyeuse the fortune of the last being part of it yet depending whereas the offers of the Duke of Lorain being present and effectual would very much advance his Affairs and establish his greatness at great liberty and ease I have been inform'd and that by a person of Quality who was consulted about this business that one main reason which induc'd this Prince to prefer Madamâ—iselle de Ioyeuse before the other was the consideration of the Duke of Espernoâ— because in marrying her he conceiv'd he should at the
in its due place we shall give a further accompt This satisfaction the King order'd for the Duke though very sufficient of it self was not however the only testimony his Majesty gave him of his Royal Bounty and Justice in this occasion for the offence having been publick his Majesty thought fit that beside the satisfaction had been given in private the Mareschal should moreover pay the Duke some publick civilities to evidence an absolute disowning of the Act it was therefore order'd that the Duke going to Loches as it was determined he should do I believe for that purpose the Mareschal who at the same time was upon his Journey into his Government should give him a visit by the way as he didâ— by whom the King writ a very obliging Letter to the Duke wherein he commanded him to entertain the Mareschal as His Friend a command that was also on the Duke's part so punctually obey'd that the visit was pass'd over with great civility on both sides wherein the justice of this generous and excellent Prince was eminently manifest who would use a man at this obliging rate that had no share in his Royal Favour Not long after this Accommodation the 11th of September the same year the Court was wholly possess'd with the joy all good Frenchmen were full of for the Birth of the young Dolphin whom we have since seen live a long and a glorious Reign under the name of Lewis the XIII of all other a blessing of the greatest importance that could at that time possibly have hapned to the King and Kingdom in him all pretense of past disturbances being determined as the publick Peace seem'd to be for ever secur'd There was now no mutinous Subject nor no ambitious Neighbour who seeing themselves fall'n from their unjust and imaginary pretensions to the Crown did not covet the favour and friendship of a Prince so apparently favour'd by the care of Heaven but if on that side the Duke with other vertuous Subjects of his condition was in a high rapture of joy there hapned to him soon after great occasions of affliction that involv'd him in no few not no little inconveniencies which befel him by the discovery of the Conspiracy of the Mareschal Biron that came to light in the beginning of the ensuing year wherein we shall notwithstanding see that although this business begat him trouble and disgrace in the beginning yet it brought him honour and satisfaction in the end having given him opportunity at once to express his constant affection to his friend and his inviolate Fidelity to the King his Master I have already made mention of the great friendship that was contracted betwixt the Duke and the Mareschal Biron one of the most constant and sincere I have known their interests ever being one and the same and their affections so united in all things that nothing was a secret betwixt them if not in what concern'd the interest of the King and Kingdom but as to concerns of that nature what confidence soever the Mareschal had in the Duke's friendship it is certain he had ever so great a respect to his fidelity and did believe him so impossible to be debauch'd from his duty that he never communicated to him the least syllable of any thought he had conceiv'd to the prejudice of the one or the other though it is to be wish'd for the preservation of so brave a man he had done it because then the Duke would doubtless have perswaded him into better resolutions The King who was very well acquainted with all his designs would himself sometimes talk to him in terms easie enough to be understood on purpose to make him come to himself to see his error and to reconcile himself sincerely to a Prince who proceeded with that tenderness towards him and who was pleas'd in his behalf to moderate the absolute Authority the knowledge of his Crime and his own Royal Power gave him over his Life and Fortune but that would not reclaim him That way then failing and his Majesties obliging language to him wanting force to make that impression upon his obstinate spirit he could have desir'd his Majesty try'd yet further to overcome him by testimonies of confidence in his Loyalty and to divert him from criminal thoughts by conferring upon him his employments of Trust and Honour amongst which that of Ambassador into England was one The King being in Picardy receiv'd a Complement from Elizabeth Queen of England wherein she earnestly solicited the King for an enterview betwixt them at any place he himself would appoint a request that his Majesty not thinking it convenient to gratifie her in he dispatch'd away to her the Mareschal Biron as it were his second self to make his excuse and to Treat with her with all freedom of their most private Affairs An employment wherein Biron receiv'd extraordinary Honours as also several cautions from this prudent Princess enough to have diverted him from his evil designs had not his destiny already blinded his judgment and rendred him incapable of counsel She often laid before him the recent and sad example of the late Earl of Essex she represented unto him what a Subject ought to apprehend even from the greatness of his own Service and Merit if his Ambition was not moderated by prudence and whether it were that she had had some inckling as many have believ'd of Biron's designs or that she only intended by such discourses to justifie the execution of that unfortunate Earl she laid before him a perfect image of his own unhappy destiny though all was lost to a man obstinately bent to his own ruine This Queen also having heard of the strict friendship betwixt the Mareschal and the Duke of Espernon desir'd him at parting to tell the Duke from her that if of his three Sons which she own'd for her Kinsmen and Princes of her Kingdom he would send her one she should gladly receive him upon his accompt and that the world might see the esteem she had of the Fathers Merit would not deprive his Posterity of that place in her Kingdom which was due to the House of Candale wherein she had only one condition to make which was that the Duke should give way that a Son of his so sent should be bred up in her Religion the only one she could by any means suffer in her Kingdom A Complement that the Duke thinking himself oblig'd to take notice of he presented her Majesty with his most humble thanks for the Honour she was pleas'd to do him and his Family in so gracious an offer but that he should ever prefer any Fortune or Condition his Children could attain unto in France making profession of the Catholick Religion before any advantages could derive to them in a belief contrary to his own The Mareschal at his return from England puff'd up more than ever with the vanity of his Ambition and big with the Idea of those imaginary Principalities the Spaniard
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
was busie about the preparation for these solemnities the Prince of Condé and the Count de Soissons suddenly withdrew from Court whose retirement together with some discontent those of the Religion made shew of at the same time gave great apprehension that matters were likely to come to a speedy rupture but the wisdom of the Queens Council having apply'd seasonable remedies to this disorder if they did not absolutely take away the effect of what they fear'd they at least deferr'd deferr'd it so that the publick Peace was for this time secur'd The Queen caus'd the Princes to be treated with who were at last content to return to Court and to sign the conditions of the Marriage and those of the Religion having by this little disorder procur'd some inconsiderable concessions referr'd to a fitter opportunity the design they had to interrupt the main work which they conceiv'd would be infinitely prejudicial to their Interest and Safety I cannot in this place forbear another digression from my Subject to speak of the acquisition the Duke made at this time of one of the principal Servants he ever had in his Family and one whose merit made him afterwards very eminent at Court where he obtain'd no little Favour and Esteem with the King himself and this was the Sieur de Marsillac a Gentleman of as great valour and as graceful a presence as any whatsoever of his time This man had formerly had a dependence upon Balagny call'd the Brave of the Court whom Balagny had taken out of the Regiment of Guards where he trail'd a Pike to put him upon one of the boldest and most honourable Actions a Gentleman of his condition could possibly undertake and that was to carry a Challenge to the Duke of Eguillon since Duke of Mayenne This business hapned in the Reign of Henry the great who did not condemn him for it and though it was the first of this nature that perhaps had ever been known in France gave notwithstanding the Duke of Mayenne his Father no satisfaction therein what complaints soever he could make I have heard Marsillac himself tell the story He adventur'd a poor younger Brother as he was to go execute his Commission even in the Duke d' Eguillon's own Bed-Chamber whose generosity and freedom he could never sufficiently commend he doing him the honour to go out with him alone to give his friend satisfaction without other caution than his own bare word though he could by no means prevail with him to let him be further concern'd in the Quarrel being resolute to end the dispute without a Second the only thing whereof he could complain in the Duke's behaviour towards him though he gave him at the same time as much reason to magnifie the extraordinary and noble care he took to conceal the action from the Duke of Mayenne his Fathers knowledge He was in the house when the Challenge was brought and has often been heard to say that had he known his temerity he would have caus'd Marsillac to have been tost out of the Windows to have taught him what it was to bring a Message of that nature to a Prince from a private Gentleman and doubtless he would have been as good as his word he was so highly incens'd at the affront which perhaps serv'd for an example shortly after to the Baron of Luz in his challenge to the Chevalier de Guise As for Marsillac after the death of Balagny who was kill'd in a Quarrel being entertain'd into the Duke of Espernon's Service he obtain'd under him in the command of his Guard which he bestowed upon him so high a reputation and esteem that he was at last desir'd by the King where his Majesty gave him a Company in his own Guards and his deserts were infallibly raising him to a much higher fortune if at the same time the King express'd the greatest esteem and affection for him he had not at the Siege of Privas receiv'd a Musquetâ—shot in his head which as it determin'd his hopes was also the reward of all his Service We here with a new year enter upon a new disorder of which the immoderate greatness of Conchini was either the effectual or at least the pretended cause and doubtless his favour and insolence were rais'd to that excess as rendred him intolerable either of which are sufficiently odious in whomsoever they happen to befound but being united in him pull'd upon him the hatred or â—nvy of all sorts of men The most part of the great ones seeing themselves excluded from all knowledge of Affairs neither is it possible to satisfie all who will pretend to that priviledge cast their eyes upon the Prince of Condé to interest him in their discontents and the Hugonot Faction not being able without great jealousie to see the Marriage accomplish'd was no less ready than those Grandees to break into open arms The one and the other then being in such a disposition had joyntly by the negotiation of the Duke of Boüillon recourse to the Prince of Condé perswading him to oppose himself to Conchini's greatness to demand punishment for those evils of which he had been the cause and a Reformation in the State the old and common pretense of all such as would infest the publick peace The Prince had ever since the death of the Count de Soissons been in high consideration not only by reason of his quality as first but also as it were sole Prince of the Blood to which his admirable endowments rendred him no less conspicuous than did the preeminence of his Birth He was knowing dexterous and intelligent in all sorts of business beyond what could be expected from his age notwithstanding all which great qualities something yet being wanting that some conceiv'd was requir'd in a person of his eminent condition they had not allow'd him that share in the management of Affairs he either merited or at least desir'd an injury that he very much resneting and moreover animated by the perswasions not of the Duke de Boüillon only but also by the Dukes of Longueville Mayenne Nevers and Luxeâ—bourg who had every one a particular pretext for his defection made him suddenly depart from Court and retire himself to Mezieres in Champagne from whence should he be smartly laid to he might conveniently retreat to Sedan To this place he was follow'd by all the other discontented Lords as for the Duke of Vendosme who had likewise promis'd to do the same not being able to get clear of the Court so soon as he intended having been detain'd prisoner in a Chamber of the Louvre he nevertheless finding means to deceive his Guards escap'd soon after to his Government of Bretagne where he did what he could to fortifie the Faction by the interest he had in that Province This great number of discontents put the Court into strange disorder the old Ministers of State who had seen nothing of a Civil War for many years apprehending this would
some present repose but also to live in greater security for the time to come he resolv'd to take Religion into his assistance and by a principle of conscience to engage the Queen in an absolute dependance on his Majesties good will and pleasure To this end therefore he would exact from her an Oath in the presence of God and his Holy Angels the very words of the Declaration she was to make That she neither now had nor for the time to come would entertain other thought and desire than what should tend to the prosperity and advancement of the King's Majestie 's affairs That she would so long as she had life pay all the Duty and Obedience to his Majesty due as to her Sovereign Lord and absolutely resign her Will into his Royal power That she would have no correspondence neither within nor without the Kingdom in any thing whatsoever to the prejudice of his Service his Crown and Dignity but did and would disown all persons of what quality or condition soever that in her name should contrive any practice or conspiracy contrary to his Majesties pleasure That she would moreover discover all Propositions and Addresses inconsistent with his Service together with the persons themselves so addressing and proposing should any be so inconsiderate as to offer any such thing and impeach and make known whoever should be so evilly affected and that she would never desire to return to Court till the King should be pleas'd to order her so to do Which protestation was accordingly made betwixt the hands of Father Arnoux a Jesuit Confessor in ordinary to the King who had been expresly dispatch'd to the Queen to receive it Wherein we may discover the short-sightedness of humane Wisdom when this great Minister thinking by this expedient to settle himself in the security he so much desir'd engag'd himself even by his own precaution in new and greater difficulties than before For as on the one side Luines thought that through the perswasions of the King's Confessor he had captivated the Queen under the Empire of Religion she on the other side satisfied to the contrary by Father Suffran her own Chaplain and of the same Society conceiv'd she did not violate her Oath by attempting all ways to recover her freedom insomuch that making use of her enemie's credulity she pursu'd her business at greater convenience than otherwise she could have done Neither was this the only benefit she receiv'd by this declaration another signal advantage arising thence which was a very gracious Letter under the King 's own hand wherein to manifest how absolute a confidence he repos'd in her Word and Oath he gave her leave to go whither she pleas'd within his Kingdom which Letter serv'd afterwards as a pretense for her going from Blois as we shall see when we come to speak of that Affair Whilst at Blois the Court Agents were thus diligent to cheat themselves Rucellay was arriv'd safe at Sedan where he had acquainted the Duke de Boüillon with his Commission and wherein he fail'd not with his best Rhetorick to induce him to undertake the Queens deliverance But the Duke who had no mind to stir from Sedan where he thought himself so secure who was already wearied out with his late troubles who in the conduct of those troubles had run so great a hazard of his life and liberty and who likewise foresaw many great and almost invincible difficulties in the business propos'd would by no means be perswaded to engage in that Affair Contented therefore to serve the Queen Mother with his advice instead of that real assistance was expected from him he gave Rucellay this answer That being old and infirm as he was well satisfied with his present condition and upon so good terms at Court as to apprehend no ill usage from thence it would be a great indiscretion in him to deprive himself of the peace he now enjoy'd by engaging in a new Quarrel full of trouble and danger That he was notwithstanding the Queen Mothers most humble Servant of which truth the best testimony he could at present give was to point out to her Majesty a Neighbour of his a man of a vigorous Constitution though in a declining age Wise Valiant Rich Strong in a posterity of men capable of great things that was withal possess'd of many very considerable places both in the Heart and upon the Frontiers of the Kingdom and which was more to be consider'd than all who was so nettled with the ill usage he had receiv'd at Court that there was no doubt to be made but he would readily embrace any overture that would direct him to a just revenge In the conclusion of which Character he nam'd to him the Duke of Espernon Rucellay was not so ill read in Affairs but that he very well knew the person the Duke of Boüillon had propos'd was of all other the most likely to do the Queens business but besides that he had no order to address himself to the Duke of Espernon there had moreover in the time of his being at Court some difference hapned betwixt the Marquis de Roilhac the Duke's Nephew and himself wherein the Duke's Authority having protected Roilhac Rucellay had not receiv'd that satisfaction he might otherwise reasonably have expected for injuries of no ordinary kind These injuries therefore being still fresh in his memory made him very averse to any Treaty with the Duke neither was he ignorant how ill the Queen had us'd him at his departure from Court after the many and great Services that during her Regency she had receiv'd at his hands which altogether put him into a very great confusion All these considerations nevertheless laid aside either out of the desire he had to serve the Queen or to be reveng'd of the Favourites or to re-establish himself at Court which he hop'd would put on a new face in the change of the Queens Fortune he dispatch'd away to her with all diligence to acquaint her how the Duke of Boüillon had excus'd himself and of the advice he had given concerning the Duke of Espernon that he might thereupon receive her Majesties further Command This posting to and fro took up so much time that the Queens Letters of Credit to the Duke of Espernon could not come to Rucellay's hands till towards the latter end of Iuly nor he send them to the Duke till the month following I say send them Rucellay having no mind to sound the Foard himself nor to make the first overtures of that Treaty in his own person for the foremention'd reasons He therefore employ'd herein one Vincentio Ludovici a man in whom he repos'd an absolute trust and one who having formerly been chief Secretary to the Mareschal d' Encre after a long and very severe imprisonment he had suffred since the death of his Master had retir'd himself to Signy and put himself into Rucellay's protection Where living in expectation of some considerable employment
but in the end seeing them after a walk of four or five hours continually brought back at night and that which at first surpriz'd them by its novelty being grown familiar by the continuation of it even the most penetratingly inquisitive began to grow weary of their suspicion letting them at last pass to and again without any regard at all And then it was that the Duke commanded the Sieur de Campels the Gentleman of his Horse who till that time had been as ignorant as the rest at his next ordinary sally to ride clear away and to go to a House near Sanserra and upon the Banks of the River Loire call'd Rezé belonging to le Puigeolet his Lieutenant in the Regiment of Champagne there to expect himâ— which was accordingly perform'd without the least notice taken or any noise at all This part being thus perform'd le Leige Major to Rembure's Regiment a Gentleman very expert in the Geographical Cart and an excellent Quarter-Master for the lodging of an Army came back to Metz whom the Duke had sent a few days before to discover all the ways by which he was to pass into Angoumoâ—s by whose extraordinary diligence the way was already chalk'd out and divided into Journeys the Fords all sounded and the whole thing exactly drawn into a Map After all which precautions the Duke still living at Metz as if he never had design to part from thence and having concluded with his Sons Rucellay and le Plessis the day of his setting out to be the 22. of Ianuary the ensuing year all things were thenceforward prepar'd with the greatest secreâ—ie and diligence imaginable to be ready against the time to come The Queen Mother had as you have heard signified in her last dispatch that she was in hope she might convey her person to any place the Duke should think fit to name thinking that the Letter she had receiv'd from the King after the Protestation she had made to Father Arnoux would priviledge her so to do she having full liberty given her therein to go whither she pleas'd into any part of the Kingdom but because that it was probable the design of that Letter was rather to comfort her in her solitude and to sweeâ—en her captivity than intended to give her absolute liberty to dispose of her person it was moreover thought impossible so to order the time that she could at a certain and punctual hour transfer her self to a place where she might be free to dispose of her self at her own choice Especially considering that all those who were about her the major part at least were Servants made and corrupted by the Court Minion Which sole difficulty appearing invincible it was at last resolv'd that to avoid all suspicion her Majesty should not stir from Blois but that the Duke or some other trusty person by him appointed should advance thither to receive and convey her first to Loches and from thence to Angoulesme This resolution being taken the Archbishop of Tholouze attended only by his own ordinary Train parted from Metz eight days before the Duke his Father to go into Angoumois The pretense of this Journey was to try to raise mony upon their Territories in those parts for their better support they having not as was pretended wherewithal to defray their necessary expense the Duke's Offices being now no longer paid him since his dispute with the Garde des Sceaux though indeed the true cause of his going was to confirm the Servants the Duke had in his Governments there in their Duty and to secure the strong Holds he had in Xaintonge and Angoumois by a seasonable prevention of any practice from Court There was also at the same time a dispatch sent to the Queen Mother to acquaint her with their resolutions that she might make her self ready against the day prefix'd the charge whereof Rucellay having taken upon himself he intrusted it to a young fellow whose name was Lorme one whom he had bred up of a Page and by whom he had in truth been very faithfully serv'd at Court in some affairs of no ordinary nature though in this and in the most critical time for the ruine of the Enterprize in hand he play'd fowl and stumbled into the foulest Treachery in the world He had often been employ'd to and fro upon this occasion wherein he had ever acquitted himself with great sincerity and discretion but now though he had not penetrated into the depth of the design yet guessing by the secresie had been enjoyn'd him that it must necessarily be of very great importance what recompenses soever he had been promis'd by his Master he chose rather by his infidelity to obtain them than by a vertuous action to deserve them Instead therefore of going to Blois and from thence to Confolant in Angoumois where he was order'd to expect the Duke after he should be dismiss'd by the Queen from whom he was to bring an accompt of the precise day of her escape he went directly to Paris where he address'd himself to some of the Duke de Luines his Servants to be by them presented to their Master to whom he said provided he might be secur'd of a good reward he would discover something of more than common concern To this desperate pass was the state of Affairs reduc'd when Fortune by a strange and unexpected accident set the Machine again on work upon its own proper Base Those to whom Lorme had apply'd himself for admission to Luines looking upon him as an Impostor either made no mention of him to the Duke at all or if they did represented him for such a fellow as they themselves took him to be making him wait at the Gates for three whole days together without giving him either admittance or answer In the interval of which three days le Buisson a Counsellor in the Parliament of Paris heard by chance that Lorme Rucellay's man was in Town which he had from one of his own people who being of Lorme's acquaintance had met him accidentally in the street At which intelligence le Buisson a man passionately devoted to the Queen Mother privy to her designs and an affectionate Servant of the Duke of Espernon's by reason of a Brother of his a Lieutenant in the Regiment of Guards who was one of the Duke's domesticks being infinitely surpriz'd forasmuch as Lorme had at other times ever been directed immediately to him and not being able to comprehend the cause of this alteration began presently to suspect there was some knavery in the wind He therefore presently took order to have my companion narrowly watch'd and was by his spies as faithfully inform'd of his being continually seen waiting at the Duke de Luines his Gate by which discovery judging aright at what he was about and foreseeing what mischief the sight of those Letters he knew he had about him would produce he undertook a dangerous but a very necessary act and that indeed prov'd the safety of
ordinary employments and not knowing what to think of so profound a sleep resolv'd to venture into the Queens Chamber Where being enter'd and not seeing the Queen they look'd for Katherine who likewise was no where to be found Every one therefore being amaz'd at so strange a Solitude they sought and call'd but all in vain neither could they imagine which way they could be gone the Ladders by which the Queen had gone down having been thrown into the River the better to conceal the manner of her escape At last having been some time in suspense they had some news of the Queens motion which begot a new astonishment amongst them though proceeding from several motives The most faithful and affectionate were glad she had recover'd her liberty whereas those who had been corrupted by the Favourite which were very many fearing on the one side they should stand suspected at Court to have been assisting to the Queen in her design and on the other lest her Majesty well inform'd of their infidelity should punish theâ— according to their desert knew not which way to turn nor what to do Whilst they were in this confusion her Majesty writ to the Marquise de Guercheville her Lady of Honour to let her and the rest of her women know of her arrival at Loches where she would stay two days to expect them and where both they and her other Servants who had a mind to come to her should be welcome excepting five and forty or fifty which as suspected to her she gave order should be turn'd away withal that such as could not come time enough to Loches might find her at Angoulesme whither she was design'd to go The Queen no sooner saw her self at full liberty but that she began to meditate of the means to defend her self from the Favourite's persecution which in all probability was likely to be violent enough as also to give the Duke the best colour she could to justifie what he had done To this purpose therefore she deliver'd him the original of the Letter the King had sent her under his own hand whereby she was permitted to go whither she would into any part of the Kingdom Which Letter she also accompanied with another from her self to the Duke a few days antidated and after the time of his arrival at Confolans wherein she entreated his assistance in the prosecution of her design By which means the Duke was clear'd of the imputation the Court laid to his charge that he had taken away the Queen by force and against her will which had been a crime as well towards the Mother as the Son The two Letters were these The King's Letter to the Queen under his own hand Madam Having understood you have an intention to visit some Religious places I am infinitely satisfied with the news and shall be much more if for the future you would resolve to stir and travel more abroad than hitherto you have done as I conceive it may conduce much to your health which is exceeding dear unto me If my Affairs would permit I would with all my heart accompany you in my own person as I shall do with my Letters to the places where you go to the end you may be receiv'd respected and honour'd equally to my self who am more than can be express'd Madam Your most humble and obedient Son Lovis From Paris this last of October 1618. The Queen Mothers Letter to the Duke of Espernon deliver'd to him with the former Cousin I stand oblig'd to represent to the King my Son the general Discontents of his people at the ill management of his Affairs and the troubles which by reason of his Nobilities being absent from him I apprehend will ensue to the prejudice of his Crown and Kingdom A duty which as all good men inform me it is particularly mine I resolve to perform though I were certain to lose thereby that little remains to me both of liberty and life Both which you may secure by permitting me to this effect to retire my self first to Loches and then to Angoulesme and by assisting me in my way with your company and advice wherein if neither the necessity nor the justice of my intentions can prevail upon you yet the reading this inclosed from the King my Son ought to do it by which you will see he permits me to to travel whither I think fit expressing a desire that his Subjects should in all places where I go pay me all honour and respect equal to his own person though I intend to make no other use of it than what shall be consistent with the good of his own Service Which being perform'd I do promise and protest â—nto you that when his own good nature shall be as free as my word is now he himself shall thank you for the assistance you have given me in an occasion so important to him and his own particular Affairs The rest I will commit to the fidelity of this bearer that is as to the time and manner of my removal wherein I conjure you not to fail without nevertheless enjoyning you either secrefie or care which your own wisdom will inform you to be very requisite Only I shall tell you that by this you will eternally oblige me to you and yours So praying God to inspire you with this good deliberation and to give you all the satisfaction I desire I rest Your very good Cousin Marie From Blois the 14. of February 1619. This Letter of Rucellay's style who now although a stranger undertook nevertheless to serve the Queen in the nature of a Secretary being dispatch'd it was necessary they should think also of writing to the King to give his Majesty notice of the Queens removal and of the design she had to retire her self to Angoulesme In which Letter she represented The ill usage she had for some time suffer'd at Blois doubtless without his Majesties intention but through the sole Tyranny of some about his person who exercis'd no less Authority over his Majesties own Royal disposition whose insolence and cruelty descending from her upon most of the great men of the Nation she had very great reason to fear that so many men of quality being discontented and those discontents concurring with the dissatisfaction of the people oppress'd by all sorts of violence would in the end be the ruine of his Kingdom That therefore she had put her self into liberty that she might at greater convenience represent to his Majesty matters of so high importance to him and his Affairs and had chosen to retire her self into the Duke of Espernon's Governments by so much the rather by how much his fidelity and good affection to the Crown had never suffer'd the least dispute That the late King her Lord and Husband out of the testimonies he had receiv'd of his Vertue and Integrity had but a few days before his death advis'd her to repose her confidence in him above all other
Forces unprofitably moulder away in Xaintonge and Angoumois Countreys that yet smarted with the last years War he departed thence to quarter them more commodiously in Limousin where better provision was to be made both for Horse and Man Whilst in the Queen Mothers Council they consum'd the time in debates without resolving what to do the King on the other side by the Prince of Condé's advice put his deliberations into prompt execution The Duke de Luines very well inform'd of the Queen Mothers discontents after the interview at â—ours and satisfied that after the offense he had there given her he was no more to expect her favour resolv'd to secure himself under this Prince's Protection wherein he thought he was so much the more safe from the Queens revenge by how much the Prince had himself reason to complain of the ill usage he had receiv'd under her administration during whose Regency Conchini had clap'd him up in prison from whence Luines presently after the King 's coming to Paris got him releas'd An obligation which as it was great in it self was soon after repaid with as grateful a return The Prince had found by his own experience what an influence the Royal name has upon all parts of the Kingdom very well remembring how easie it had been for his Majesty to have suppress'd him when he retir'd from Court to Soissons whither had the King follow'd him in person with no more than the Regiment of his Guards only he had infallibly reduc'd him to a necessity either of submitting to his mercy or of leaving the Kingdom out of which observation he advis'd the King suddenly to mount to Horse and to go in person to Caen which was the nearest of the revolted Cities wherein what the Prince had so judiciously foreseen as happily succeeded Caen surrendring almost without any resistance Prudent who commanded there for the Grand Prior Vandosme delivering it up almost so soon as summon'd into his Majesties hands This little success having frighted all the other places of Normandy that made any countenance of revolt into their Duty his Majesty immediately departed thence to advance towards Anger 's when being met by some Troops upon the way and by them his Regiments of the French and Swisse Guards being re-inforc'd he caus'd le Pont de Cé to be assaulted in his own presence where almost in a moment and after a very light dispute all the Queens Forces ran away leaving the pass to the Enemy by which disaster those who were about the Queens person saw the error they had committed in not calling the Duke of Espernon to her succour it being not to be doubted but that had she had a Captain of his experience and valour to command upon that occasion heâ— interests would have been much better defended The Queen after this blow being in the fright may be imagin'd was fit to reject no overtures of Peace She had indeed before this engagement made some demands and propos'd some conditions but after this baffle her Army had receiv'd she was now to submit to what law the Conqueror would impose upon her Wherein all those who had engag'd in her Party were abandoned to the King's mercy but as for her self she was permitted to come to Court And that was as much as the Bishop of Luçon desir'd which gave some occasion to say that he held intelligence and had contracted with the enemy before he came that he had oppos'd the uniting of her Forces and diverted such as were capable of command from coming to serve her as being beforehand assur'd to obtain the sole condition he aim'd at which being granted he car'd not to leave the rest of her Majesties Servants to shift for themselves but this I shall not take upon me to affirm though it was the common discourse at that time The Duke had notice by a Gentleman the Queen Mother purposely dispatch'd away to him of her Reconciliation with the King who finding him at St. Clau a Frontier of Limousin to which place he was advanc'd with his Forces he presently thereupon without staying a more express Order from Court or so much as thinking of any Capitulation for himself dismiss'd all his Troops insomuch that the Currier who afterwards brought him an express from the King to lay down his Arms found that out of an entire confidence in his Majesties Royal Bounty he had already prevented his command and put himself into a posture of absolute dependence upon his Grace and Favour Neither did the Duke think this act of his own particular obedience enough unless he further commanded the Marquis de la Valette his Son who had never stirr'd from Metz to do the same Upon the breaking out of this second War as in the first he had been there invested with a very considerable Army neither had they fail'd as before to stir up the Inhabitants whose inclinations commonly change with the fortune of those that command them to mutiny against him Of which practice the Marquis having intelligence on all hands that the people had a design upon his person and that despising his weakness who to spare their purses and to win their affections had forbore to quarter any Souldiers upon them they talk'd loud of opening their Gates and letting the King's Army into the City he was constrain'd by the truth and importance of this advice to deal with some Captains of the old Regiments of that very Army that came against him In the old body of which Army there were very few Officers who were not the Duke his Fathers Creatures and who stood not oblig'd to him for their Fortune and Commands whereof some fifteen or twenty deserted the Royal Arms to go serve him in this extremity of danger some sending him in Squadrons by their Serjeants and others bringing over their whole Companies so that by an act of honourable gratitude the example whereof is not nevertheless to be altogether approv'd they brought him over in one night above fifteen hundred men of the best Souldiers in the Army With this relief seeing the Town upon the point of a total Revolt he attempted by disarming the Inhabitants to secure his own Fortune which he accordingly perform'd and that without any notable violence for having dispos'd his men into the most advantageous Posts of the City he made Proclamation that at the beat of Drum upon a penalty impos'd every one should bring their Arms into the Bishops Palace which order being given he himself accompanied with some five and twenty or thirty Gentlemen mounted on horseback to be ready in such places where he had information some bustle was like to be a precaution that was not altogether necessary the people being so daunted at his resolution as with a stupid silence and sheepish tameness with a submission greater now than their insolence had been before quietly giving up their Arms by which means they remain'd incapable of executing any mischief at least
of his own name only he so settled this Province in his Majesties obedience that it is at this time however the most remote perhaps the most quiet and obedient Member of his Kingdom If the Duke was careful to keep his own hands clean in what concern'd the King's Interest he was no less solicitous to keep others from embezzeling the Marquis de la Force's Goods who had fled from Pau in so great haste that he had left his Wardrobe Cabinets and Papers at random of all which the Duke took care to have an inventory taken leaving them safe seal'd up in the custody of a person in whom he knew the Marquis repos'd an entire trust Which being done he return'd loaden with glory and applause but nothing enrich'd either with the King's Money or the Estates of the people not so much as of any of those his Majesty had declar'd to be his enemies and consequently were lawful prey His Majesty thought the Duke to be most busie in the Affairs of Bearne when he receiv'd news that he had already done his work and was about to return Neither could the Duke knowing his Majesty was already grappled with those of the Religion and had laid Siege to St. Iean d' Angely take any rest till he had travell'd from the remotest part of the Kingdom to expose his life for his Service in those occasions wherein he saw his Majesties Person and Honour so far engag'd The Leaguer had been near a month set down when the Duke arriv'd and the King's Forces were so much cool'd in their first ardour that in all apparence the enterprize was not over-suddenly to be effected when the Duke's arrival very much chang'd the face of Affairs Nor do I add this to attribute any thing to him that is not justly his due he has so much honour besides I do not need to forge so small an addition to his Fame neither on the other side the thing being perfectly true ought he to be depriv'd of any particle of his right The Duke having at his arrival receiv'd from the King the applause due to his conduct in this expedition of Bearne and a Declaration from his own mouth of his Majesties high satisfaction whereof he had before receiv'd very favourable testimonies in the several dispatches had been sent him He humbly entreated his Majesty that he might for the future have the honour to serve in his own Army and attending upon his own Person and that he would further be pleas'd wherein his Majesty should vouchsafe to employ his Service that he might have the priviledge to receive his Commands immediately from his own mouth a favour that he easily obtain'd Now the reason why the Duke made this request was because a little before the Kings departure from Paris the Duke de Luines as Favourite not being satisfied with his Fortune unless he rais'd it above all the other great men of the Kingdom had made suit to be honour'd with the Dignity of Constable of France to arrive at which degree which he might well foresee would create him much envy having had occasion to make use of the Duke de l' Esdiguieres he would manifest his Gratitude for the good Offices he had receiv'd at his hands upon that occasion by dividing with him the Employments of this brave Command wherein reserving to himself the honour and emoluments of the place The Duke de l' Esdiguieres under the Title of Mareschal General de Camp executed all the Functions and trouble of it The Duke of Espernon therefore finding at his coming to this Siege so many Commanders in Chief represented to his Majesty That since he had first had the honour to be in Armies he had never been commanded by any but the Kings his Masters nor had ever receiv'd Orders but from them That therefore iin the age he now was he should be very froward and refractory to lose that advantage and to be subjected to the Mareschal de l' Esdiguieres whose worth though he had in high honour and esteem he believ'd nevertheless that the Mareschal himself would not pretend to be above him That he was both an older General an older Officer of the Crown and of much longer standing than the other in all the Dignities to which they had both been advanc'd and that therefore he assur'd himself his Majesty would not deprive him of a preeminence due to his age whereunto the Kings his Predecessors had rais'd him and wherein they had so long maintain'd him which was the only thing he had to desire of his Majesty that he might live satisfied in his Service Neither did the King â—tick franckly to gratifie him in his request which was also allowed to be so reasonable by all that even those whose interest it had been to dispute it chearfully acquiesc'd in his design After this the Duke going to view the Leaguer he especially staid at that Post where the Marquis de la Valette his Son who had one of the approaches committed to his Conduct commanded in Chief and where not being able to contain himself within the discretion of a Superficial Survey the present danger calling up his wonted Valour and the frost of old Age not being of force to freeze his natural heat he had no sooner spy'd in the Trenches one of the eldest Captains of the Regiment of Guards but that calling him to him he made him mount with him upon the Parapet at open view of the Enemy to consider the strength and situation of the place with the order of the Siege Those who were with him were not a little troubled to see him without any necessity expose himself to so manifest a peril neither did they fail though they from the Town sufficiently shew'd him that by the numerous Musquet-shot they made at him to represent to him several times the danger he was in but he taking no notice of them that press'd him in vain to retire continued still his discourse with the Captain shewing him here and there what he observ'd to be well or ill dispos'd in the order of the Leaguer with as much indifferency as he had been in the securest place in the world a piece of bravery 't is said the old Souldier could have been well content to have been excus'd from it being as he conceiv'd very much out of season when the Duke having told him in the end that it was fit they should let the young people see their white Beards were not to be frighted away with noise he came down at last to the astonishment of all in the Trenches who saw the action that he could carry it with that unconcernedness and strange security in so desperate a place The Duke having thus taken a view of the Town gave himself instructions for their further proceeding in their Works which the Marquis his Son executed with so extraordinary diligence that they had soon made their approaches to the very graff of the City and
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
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
where he arriv'd in the beginning of Iuly and where the first thing he did after his arrival was to commit the pretended Maire of Libourne to prison he having been advanc'd to that Magistracy in contempt of the King's Order The first President had herein his hearts desire neither did he fail to make use of this occasion to interest the whole Body in the affront which he said was the greatest violence imaginable upon their Authority a high Complaint whereof was immediately sent away to the Council The King though very much dissatisfied with the first President would not nevertheless absolutely countenance the Duke in the Justice he had executed in his own behalf but writ to him to set the Prisoner at liberty though that Letter could not prevail the Duke pretending to believe that this Command had been procur'd either at the importunity of some of the interested party or negligently granted as many times a Letter under the Privy Seal was not hard to obtain But the Cardinal become now as has been said all powerful in Affairs having undertaken to establish his Majesties absolute Authority which was in effect the establishment of his ownâ— upon the contempt of this order caus'd a positive sentence to be pass'd in the Council bearing date the 12th of August wherein it was order'd That the Prisoner should immediately be enlarg'd By which magisterial proceeding it was then believ'd as it was very likely that the Cardinal would exercise this severity towards the Duke that his will might no more be disputed not doubting but that after an example like this all the other great men of the Kingdom would acquiesce in his Commands This Arrest was directed to the Chief Justice d' Autry to cause it to be put into speedy execution without so much as forbearing to hear any Reasons the Duke could represent to justifie the demur he had given to his Majesties first Order His Sons who were at Court and le Plessis whom he had sent thither not long before upon several accompts us'd their utmost endeavour that the sending away of this Arrest so highly prejudicial to the Duke's Honour might be some time deferr'd they were vehemently importunate with the Queen Mother and the Cardinal to that purpose but all to no effect the Queen in so light though nevertheless so sensible an Affair totally abandoning the Duke's Interest who had so passionately embrac'd hers in so important occasions and the Cardinal being obstinate in his resolution all the favour they could obtain in this business was from d' Autry himself who was perswaded not to produce the Order but it was upon condition the Duke should enlarge the Prisoner as he immediately did and that too the Court would have him understand to be a special Grace After this manner then they began to reward the Duke's and his Sons Services they gave them things of no moment for the highest obligations and most current pay they were continually us'd at this rate and it is not to be believ'd what prejudice these inconsiderable things were to the Duke 's more important Affairs nor what encouragement it gave little people frequently to offend him It had therefore been to have been wish'd either that he could have supported these affronts in his Administration with a better temper or totally have retir'd himself out of their way but his great spirit that had never encountred any difficulty it had not overcome was impatient to be resisted by men who as they were single incapable of contesting with him being embodied would neither relent nor obey The Cardinal stung no doubt with the Conscience of having in so trivial a thing disoblig'd a man who had formerly been serviceable to him in so many important occasions would make himself Mediator betwixt the Duke and the Parliament and consequently dispatch'd away Guron to Bordeaux for that end with Instructions that joyntly with d' Autry he should labour an Accommodation betwixt them By Guron the Cardinal writ to the Duke that his Journey was absolutely upon his accompt and in his favour offering withal his Service in this and in all other occasions but these Complements were accompanied with no marks of honour and respect the Cardinal doubtless nettled at the little Ceremony the Duke had observ'd with him in his congratulatory Letter at his promotion to the Ministry leaving by his example but a very little space above the first line and concluding his Letter with only Your affectionate Servant Before Guron's arrival the difference had been already compos'd by the mediation of d' Autry but the Duke touch'd to the quick at the ill usage he had receiv'd from Court was not to be appeas'd with so light a satisfaction and I have ever thought that the injury he apprehended upon this occasion was perhaps the first if not the only motive that totally alienated his heart from the Cardinal's Interests which as you may have observ'd he once had in as high consideration as his own The Peace that had been concluded before Montpellier in the year 1622. had hitherto continued the Affairs of the Kingdom in some repose and though those of the Reform'd Religion express'd great dispositions to a new Commotion there was as yet no manifest breach so that men rather liv'd in expectation of fresh Alarms than in any disorder of open War When Soubize by an attempt he made upon the King 's Shipping at Blavet began first to break the Ice All the rest of the Party broke into Arms at the same time and the Duke of Rohan who had long been known to be the head of that Faction infecting all parts of the Kingdom which were affectionate to his cause with his discontents stirr'd them into Insurrection without ever moving from Sevenues and without meeting the least contradiction A promptitude in his Partizans so much the more to be wondred at as he commanded a sort of people whose obedience was only voluntary and from which every one conceiv'd himself to be dispens'd by all both Divine and Humane Laws Montauban was one of the Cities not only of Guienne but also of the whole Kingdom that engag'd the deepest in this Revolt the Inhabitants whereof by having had a Siege rais'd from before their Walls and by having baffled a Royal Army even when animated by the presence of the King himself being elevated to such a degree of Vanity as to think themselves invincible and their City a place not to be taken A presumption that it was nevertheless very necessary should be corrected and the people by some exemplary Punishment made sensible of their Crimes It should seem that the Duke of Espernon was by his Destiny call'd into Guienne only for this end he had formerly subdu'd the pride of Rochelle neither did the King doubt but that he would be as successful at Montauban and that his Vertue which had ever been fatal to the Capital Cities of those of the Religion assisted by his powerful Arms
well us'd by the Governour many Decrees by reason of the dissention betwixt the two parties remain'd unexecuted for not being justified by Power which gives life to Justice Such as were the most moderate and best dispos'd of the Company could not without great grief behold these confusions but those were not the prevailing part so that things being every day more and more exasperated it was infinitely to be fear'd they would in the end shoot up to the last extreme though they were already grown to a sufficient height The King inform'd of this strange confusion dispatch'd away Leon Brulart one of the Council of State and a man who having manifested his prudence in many great employments had acquir'd himself a great reputation both within and without the Kingdom to oppose his Royal Authority to the Torrent of these disorders This man arriv'd at Bordeaux in the month of Iune and labour'd with great sincerity and diligence betwixt the parties till September following but all in vain his dexterity that had unravell'd many great intricacies and overcome the greatest difficulties in his former employments could not be so successful here the Animosities were too great and the parties too stiff to admit of any Reconciliation yet did he well enough discover that the greatest aversions to it were not in the Duke as he satisfied the Court at his return to which both parties at last were forc'd to appeal and to submit unto a severe and definitive Determination after they had rejected all rational and moderate ways This Quarrel was on both sides carried on with extraordinary heat the first President himself was deputed by the Parliament to maintain their cause before the Council to whom President du Bernett a man of great esteem and approved wisdom and then thought very worthy one day to possess the first place in that Company as he afterwards did was also joyn'd The Duke also on his part dispatch'd away first le Plessis and after him Magnac his Kinsman a Gentleman of great Courage of an excellent Wit and very great Learning All these Deputies were several times heard in open Council where after having long and with great reverence pour'd out themselves in eloquent Orations a Regulation ensu'd at which both parties were equally displeas'd And then it was that all the world plainly saw and chiefly those who were immediately concern'd that they were not sorry at Court at the continuation of these dissentions and that the design being already laid to diminish all the Authorities of the Kingdom to unite them in one single person they were glad to see them insensibly put their own hands to their own destruction These little disorders were not yet fully compos'd when another of much greater importance began to disclose it self at Court which occasion'd the death of Chalais and the imprisonment of the Duke and the Grand Prior of Vandosme They would also have involv'd the Duke de la Valette who at this time retir'd to Metz in this Affair and to that end tempted him by la Louviere the Confident of Chalais to receive the Duke of Orleans into that City but they had to do with a man so well fortified in his Duty to his Prince that all la Louviere could obtain of the Duke was only a civil repulse in these terms That the place was none of his That he was only a substitute to the Duke his Father That he was therefore to apply himself to him and that for his part he should do whatever his Father would please to command him He could not have serv'd the King more faithfully than by retaining this respect to the Duke his Father whose principles he knew to be perfectly Loyal and himself inseparably ty'd to his Majesties Service yet was not the Court satisfied with this proceeding but the Duke who had also been tamper'd withal from the same part through the Negotiation of the Abbot d' Aubazine by the candour of his deportment so clearly justified their common intentions that both the one and the other had all the satisfaction they could themselves desire Yet was this satisfaction in words only and the Duke was notwithstanding very ill us'd in several occasions of which ill usage he could not forbear highly to complain neither in his complaints were the Queen Mother as powerful as she was nor the Cardinal himself excepted The hard measure he receiv'd under their Administration being so much the more sensible to him by how much he had infinite reasons as may be gather'd out of the former passages to expect they should have been altogether partial to his Interests but though his great and advantageous services had been so lately perform'd the memory of them was notwithstanding totally worn out and the Cardinal was already exasperated though by occasions of so little moment as scarce ought to have been taken notice of Neither doubtless would they have been had he been in another condition but as great Authorities are usually very tender in the great height of State and Power he then stood they carried in his opinion the quality of most high injuries which thenceforward dispos'd his heart to those strange Animosities which we shall see in time break out After the death of Chalais and the removal of such of the Monsieur 's Creatures as were suspected by their evil Counsels to debauch his good Nature and to alienate the affection he had to the King and the prosperity of the Kingdom it was no hard matter to dispose him to a Marriage with Madamoiselle Marie de Bourbon Dutchess of Montpensier This match had been thought worthy of him by Henry the Great his Father and the Duke of Espernon who had the honour to be great Uncle to this Princess prepossess'd with the hopes of so great a Fortune for his Niece and so great an honour both to himself and his whole Family had made no difficulty to expose himself to the hatred of the late Count de Soissons in refusing him as you may have observ'd before this Lady in Marriage for Lewis his Son And truly what rubs soever had hapned in the way of this Match the Duke notwithstanding never lost the hope nor the ambition to see it one day brought to effect It is not therefore to be doubted but that the accomplishment of a thing by him so ardently coveted must be highly pleasing to him The first news he heard of the consummation of these Nuptials was by a Gentleman dispatch'd away purposely to him by Madame the day after her Marriage wherein the high Dignity to which she was arriv'd nothing hindred her from paying the Duke the respect that decency and proximity exacted from her she writ to him therefore with her own hand and the express words of the Letter were these Uncle I doubt not but you will receive as much joy and satisfaction as any person at the happy accomplishment of my Marriage the news whereof I would no longer
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
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
noise a thing of little or no moment and that notwithstanding had like to have turn'd very much to his own prejudice After therefore the Duke had rejected the proposal of one of his own Souldiers who offer'd to stab Briet and to do it after such a manner that he could never be suspected for the Murther he commanded four of his Footâ— men to kill his Coach-Horses in the open Street This Command was executed one day that Briet was returning out of the City to his own House when his Coach-man being assaulted by these four Foot-men they first pull'd him out of his Coach-box and afterwards thrust their Swords into the Flancks of the Horses whereupon the poor Beasts enrag'd with the smart of their Wounds ran away full speed hurrying the Coach and their Master in it three or four hundred paces along the Streets till at last at one and the same instant upon the pavement they fell down and dy'd Briet who had at first been terribly frighted with the sight of the Swords was not much less afraid of his Horses precipitous Career which was also all the harm he receiv'd the Coach stop'd and overturn'd at the death of the Horses giving him time to come out half dead with Fear and to retire to his own House The Relation of this business was immediately carried to the Duke which shadow of Revenge was to him matter of entertainment and laughter for an hour after But the Parliament took it after a quite contrary manner who offended to the height at the Injury done to one of their Robe the next day assembled their several Chambers to enquire into the Fact There was none of them who were not very well satisfied with the Justice of the Duke's resentment and who would not have approv'd of his Revenge had it proceeded a great deal further but there was also hardly any one of them who did not interest himself in the offence offer'd after so publick a manner to the Dignity and Honour of the Assembly Without doubt the business would have gone very ill with the Duke had matters continued upon these terms and those of the Parliament after having declar'd themselves Parties remaining still Judges would neither have spar'd the Duke's Footmen nor any other could have been prov'd concern'd in the Action they had already prepossess'd the Cardinal by representing to him that neither the King's Autâ—ority nor that of his Eminency had been sufficient to protect an Officer in the Execution of his Duty in the most honourable Body of the Province but besides that the Cardinal ever very ill satisfied with the Duke who on his part also did not much study to please him was of himself sufficiently dispos'd to do him a mischief had not the occurrences of the time involv'd the Court in the greatest disorder wherein perhaps it had ever been The Enemy after having long threatned the Kingdom was in the end with a powerful Army entred into Picardy and at their first coming had carried la Capelle and le Catelet assaulted Corbie which they also took and alarm'd Paris it self to such a degree as is sufficiently known to all They were likewise enter'd into Burgundy and were preparing for the like attempt upon Languedoc and Guienne was not to be spar'd neither was it a little while after So that the great Minister wholly taken up with concerns of so high importance had no leisure to look after the Duke's Affairs neither did he think it convenient to nettle him in a time when his services were so necessary to the Kingdom and the Chancellor who still retain'd his old affection to the Duke's Interests seeing himself absolute Master of this business concealing it from the Parliaments knowledge referr'd it to the ordinary Justice where being animated with very little passion it soon fell of it self At this time of all others the Greatness of the Duke of Espernon seems especially to appear by the important Employments and Commands wherewith his whole Family were invested The Duke de Candale his eldest Son was Generalissimo to the Armies of the Republick of Venice an Ally to this Crown The Duke de la Valette his second Son was in the Army of Picardy wherein though he had not in truth the Principal Command the Count de Soissons being General there yet had he the honour to be chosen out by the King to infuse life and vigour into that Army the Souldiers whereof by some ill successes had befall'n them being exceedingly dejected which were the express terms wherewith his Majesty allur'd him to that Service The Cardinal de la Valette was also employ'd against Galas in Burgundy into which Province the Enemy being entred with a formidable Army had already made some Conquests before his arrival there Mirebeau had been taken Saint Iean de Laonne was besieg'd and the best Cities of the Country were highly threatned the fear there was exceeding great and the danger had been no less if the Cardinal de la Valette by opposing himself to their designs had not stop'd the progress of their Arms. He fought them with advantage in five or six several Engagements and without ever being able to tempt them to a Battel with all the provocation he could use forc'd them in the end to retire with the ruine and dissolution of their whole Army that unprofitably mouldred away to nothing As for the Father his business lay in Guienne a Province that as it made up a principal part of the Kingdom of how great utility must the Service necessarily be that preserv'd it from disorder in so critical a time A thing nevertheless fortunately effected by his Wisdom so moderating the discontents of the people as to keep them in so dangerous a Juncture of Affairs from lashing into those extremes whereinto by their former behaviour it might reasonably be apprehended should they find an opportunity of this nature they would precipitously run This was indeed one of the most important but not the only Service he did the King upon this occasion The Spanish Council having as has been said determin'd to invade the Kingdom in several places at once principally hasted to enter into Guienne to come to which Province they were to pass through the Country of Labourt which is that of Biscaye and by the way highly threatned the City of Bayonne They knew very well the Duke of Espernon had no Forces to send into that Country neither had he had them durst he indeed have done it without the consent of the Inhabitants lest being a cholerick and impatient people as they naturally are any thing he should do of that kind out of care to preserve them should put them upon desperate resolutions and make them wilfully lose themselves They had before they came so despis'd the Enemies Forces that they would not endure any one should think of contributing to their preservation a security that did nor a little afflict the Duke who had been of old
Nephew and Friend and the other so passionately enamour'd of his Vertue that he would with all his heart lay aside his condition to obey his Orders in the conduct of those things they were to pursue for their common safety All these Reasons how plausible soever in themselves and how handsomly soever laid before him were not yet of force to shake a man so firm and so confirm'd in his Duty as the Duke of Espernon who although he very well knew and that it was no hard matter for him to judg by the Example of these Princes and of most of the great men of the Kingdom that the Cardinal would not long hold his hand from striking at his Fortune which was the only one almost that remain'd unshaken would nevertheless rather choose to lie expos'd to this danger than to secure himself by being the promoter of a Civil War He therefore answer'd Montresor That he was the Monsieur's most humble Servant that he was the Count's also That they did a great deal of Honour in reposing so great a confidence in him as to communicate so much of their Interests and Designs That they could not do it to one that was a more faithful Servant both to the King and to them or more passionate for their good That the greatest testimony he could possibly give them of that passion was humbly to beseech and if he durst be so bold to advise them to have speedy recourse to his Majesties Bounty and Royal Favour That for what concern'd himself he was very sensible of all the ill usage he receiv'd from Court but that he did by no means impute it to the King That seeing also he could not do himself right without offending him he rather chose still to support the oppression under which he now suffer'd than to revenge himself of his particular Enemies by troubling the Peace of the Kingdom and by adding the mischief of a Civil War to those miseries wherewith the poor people were already afflicted That he did most humbly conjure these Princes by the name and quality they bore and by the Interest they had in the Good of the Kingdom to do the same and to surrender all their Animosities and Discontents to the Publick leaving to Heaven which was just the Revenge of their Wrongs That as to the rest they might assure themselves the Secret they had been pleas'd to entrust him withal should be faithfully lockâ—d up in his heart and that he would suffer all sorts of Extremities rather than revel it Montresor being able to obtain nothing more of the Duke return'd with this answer back to the Monsieur his Master who either prevail'd upon by the Duke's advice or obeying the natural affection he had to the good of the Kingdom very readily embrac'd the first overtures of Accommodation that were from the Court presented to him But the Count de Soissons not thinking it convenient to trust the Cardinal what faithful and sincere reconciliation soever could be promis'd to him retir'd himself to Sedan from whence he never more return'd As there is no secret that time does not in the end discover the advice the Duke had given the Monsieur upon the Propositions he had sent him was not long conceal'd from the knowledge of the Court I am certain the discovery was neither made by the Duke nor by any of his the Fidelity and Secresie he observ'd towards these Princes giving on the contrary the Chancellour Seguier occasion to complain of him This true Friend of his having understood his Prudent and Loyal Conduct in this so important Affair writ to him after other things in these terms Give me leave to assure you that the King is infinitely satisfied with your Behaviour I was ever confident and have ever said that the Princes solicitations would never prevail with you who can entertain no overture nor embrace no Proposition inconsistent with your Masters Service I have learn'd this excellent Maxim from your self and your Actions have ever been so pure from any blemish of that kind that your Fidelity which will stand for a President to succeeding Ages was never in any possibility of being suspected and did you stand in need of any one to undertake for you in this case I should offer my self to be the man I hope the Answer you sent this great Prince will make him see his own good and consider that of the Kingdom We here expect his Resolution which we doubt not but will be very good forasmuch as all things he has desir'd of his Majesties Bounty are granted to him c. The Duke who little expected such a Complement as this and that had not given the Monsieur this counsel with any intent to obtain thereby a thanks from the King return'd the Chancellour a very civil Answer but sent him word withal That if he had observ'd him in those times wherein they had serv'd the King together wholly intent upon his Majesties Interests he was so far from having lost any thing of that Zeal and Affection that on the contrary those years which had pass'd over his head had only serv'd to confirm him in his Duty but that he was infinitely surpriz'd to hear the Court should be inform'd that he should have us'd any Arguments to the Monsieur concerning the present Affairs of force to make him consider what he did owe to the Service of the King the good of the Kingdom or his own preservation That he could assure him since his Highness depaâ—ted last from Court he had not seen him nor any one employ'd by him neither had he directly or indirectly heard from him at all That the discourse therefore which had done him this good Office with the King must be something he might perhaps have said in publick without other design than the vanity he had upon all occasions to manifest his passion to his Majesties Service and to exhort all men to continue firm in that Duty c. The Chancellour was by no means satisfied with this Answer it seeming to him that the Duke was therein more reserv'd than became their old acquaintance or the entire confidence he might safely repose in his Friendship but the Duke who would by no means do the Monsieur the least ill office or fail in his Fidelity to him chose rather to give his friend this little discontent which he also knew would soon be forgot than to fail in his Faith which would be an eternal blemish to him and so great a forfeit to Honour as he could never have forgiven himself as it had been impossible for him ever to repair Although the Cardinal prepossess'd with the ill Offices had been done by the Duke de le Valette had conceiv'd that high distaste against him he usually manifested in such cases he nevertheless made shift to smother it upon this occasion He had at this time great use both of the Father and the Son in the Affairs of Guienne upon their shoulders he
himself to be transported into any action unbecoming his Gravity and Wisdom The Table being taken away and he having retir'd himself into his Chamber sooner than he ordinarily us'd to do he caus'd his Secretary to be call'd in his behalf to write to Messieurs de Ioinville de Turenne de Thou and de Fontravilles to recommend to them the care of his Sons health to whom all humane help was already fruitless and vain writing moreover to him himself some few lines under his own hand One of his Gentlemen who had lately been sent on the same errand was now ready to depart with this new Dispatch when the Duke overcome with the violent agitations of his mind was constrain'd to cast himself upon his Bed where calling his Secretary to him he said to him these words I do not know why you should all dally with me thus long nor to what end you should conceal from me the Death of the Cardinal my Son is it that you imagine me so weak I have not fortitude enough to support the News Do not you deceive me as the rest have done but tell me the naked truth which also cannot long be conceal'd from me At which words the poor Gentleman who for four or five days had had the power to govern his Tongue had not now the same command over his Eyes so that his Tears having whether he would or no betray'd him to be the Messenger of the ill news he had hitherto so faithfully conceal'd he proceeded by word of mouth to interpret what was before but too legible in his tears and told his Master That what he had prophesied the first hour he heard of his Sons Sickness was but too true That the news of his Death had been brought four days ago but that his people apprehending left so great a blow of mishap might ruine his health had address'd themselves to Monsieur de Saint Papoul to fortifie him with his Consolation in acquainting him with the fatal News At which words he lift up his hands to Heaven and after a profound Sigh cried out aloud O Lord since thou hast reserv'd my old Age to survive the loss of my three Children be pleas'd withal to give me strength wherewith to support the severity of thy Judgments Hereupon the Bishop of Saint Papoul was presently call'd in to him who after having highly commended his resignation of himself and his Affairs to the Will of God made him a Learned Discourse infinitely full of such admirable Arguments and Examples both Christian and Moral as were proper for his disconsolate condition And then it was that they presented him with the relations of the Sickness and Death of the Cardinal his Son wherein was observ'd so many testimonies of Piety and Resignation so firm a confidence in the Divine Mercy and so little concern for Humane Life that every one concluded him infinitely happy to have take his leave of it in so good and so holy a disposition and it was also from thence that the Duke deriv'd his chiefest Consolations After this he requested some respite from his Friends wherein to satisfie the resentments of Nature and in private to pay some tears to his Affliction His Curtains were therefore drawn when his tears which he had hitherto with so great violence to his sorrow suppress'd having now liberty to â—ally out flow'd in so great abundance that those about him began to fear his immoderate passion might endanger his health but having remain'd two hours in this condition he himself at last rows'd up his spirits so long overcharg'd with grief and was heard to say That Tears were to be left to women and that it would be a shame a man could not allay his grief but by so poor and effeminate a Remedy That he would live perhaps to survive his Enemies When starting from his Bed he had so great a power over himself as the same day again to appear in publick He entreated the Bishop of Papoul to bear him company where he walk'd with him above two hours on foot entertaining him all the while either with Discourses of Piety or the state of his present Fortune and that with a constancy this good Prelate could never sufficiently magnifie and admire It must nevertheless be confess'd that amongst all these afflictions which were many and extreme the Duke likewise receiv'd very many and great Consolations or at least what were intended for such there being few persons of any eminent condition in France who did not manifest the part they shar'd with him in his grief The King did him the Honour to write very obligingly to him he receiv'd the same Favour from the Queen the Monsieur all the Princes Cardinal Richelieu and almost all who were any ways considerable either in Birth or Dignity in the Kingdom gave him testimonies either of their Affection or Esteem upon this sad occasion But if out of all these Complements he did extract any real Consolation it was chiefly from the gracious manifestations of the Queens Royal Favour to him which took so much the deeper impression upon his mind by how much he knew they proceeded from the heart of this excellent Princess He had ever made her the object of all his Services neither was there any he would not have been very ready to have perform'd for her even in this moment of his greatest Adversity An inclination that as it gave him a legitimate Title to her Grace and Favour so was he the man of all the other Great Ones of the Kingdom that had the highest place in her Esteem but the condition of the time not permitting her to manifest it to that degree her Majesty could have desir'd she did upon this occasion all she had the liberty to do which was to send him a very obliging Letter written with her own hand of which the Contents were these Cousin I can here neither fully express nor altogether conceal the sorrow I share with you for the loss you have sustain'd in the person of my Cousin the Cardinal de la Valette your Son the sence whereof being too great to be express'd by words I shall only entreat you to believe that I partake in it equally with any person living And since it is from God alone that you are to hope for a true Consolation I do from my heart beseech him of his Divine Goodness to fortifie your mind against the severity of this accident and to pour his Blessings upon you in the abundance that is heartily wish'd by her whom you know really to be Your very good Cousin Anne From St. Germains en Laye the 12 th of Octob. 1639. Cardinal Richelieu also would not upon such an occasion be wanting in the Ceremony of a Complement but it signified no more than so and these were the words My Lord I can not sufficiently manifest to you the extreme sorrow I sustain for the Death of Monsieur the Cardinal de la Valette and
the affliction wherewith you must of necessity resent it So that being my self incapable of receiving any Consolation upon this sad Accident I am so much the more unfit to administer it to you The manner wherewith I ever liv'd with him his Affection towards me and the singular Esteem I ever had for him will without much difficulty perswade you to believe this truth which is so certain that were it possible for a man with his Blood to redeem such a Friend I would give a great deal of mine to retrive him There is none save God Almighty himself who can allay your Griefs I beseech you therefore to apply your self to him and to believe that I am My Lord Your c. From Lyons the 19 th of Octob. 1639. It was sufficiently known to all France that if one Friend can oblige another the Cardinal de la Valette had oblig'd that of Richelieu to the highest degree which made the Duke of Espernon importun'd by his Friends to try if he yet retain'd any memory of that Friendship he in his Letter so highly profess'd in the end to obtain so much of his own haughty humour as to write to him this that follows My Lord The Testimonies you have done me the honour to give me in one of your Letters of the part you share with me in the grief I sustain for the loss of my Son the Cardinal de la Valette has made me hope you will be no less sensible of the other Afflictions and Grievances wherewith I am from all parts assaulted I shall therefore take the liberty to represent them to you and to tell your Lordship that since the time I left my Government to retire my self to this place there is no sort of Injury or Outrage with which I have not by my Enemies been unjustly offended Who after having dissected me in publick by injurious Declarations have since publish'd defamatory Libels against me therewith as much as in them lies to blemish the Honour I have justly acquir'd in the Service of the Kings my Masters Neither have they been satisfied with attempting upon my single Person and the Persons of my Sons only but I have neither Friend nor Servant they do not most violently and injuriously persecute as if it were a Crime to embrace or own my Interests and Concerns I know my Lord that neither the King nor your self know any thing of this proceeding and that you are too just to consent that after fourscore years pass'd of which the greatest part have been employ'd in the Service of the Kings my Masters and for the good of the Kingdom I should be so severely us'd under your Administration I have now lost the Cardinal my Son whilst serving the King in Italy his elder Brother but a few months since went before him which great losses I have born with patience out of the sole consideration of the Service they perish'd in which has serv'd for some allay to my Affliction I assure my self that their Merits and Services since I my self am no more in a condition to serve either his Majesty or you will my Lord at least secure the repose of an afflicted Father who daily expects that benefit from his Age and Nature c. From Plassac this first of Decemb. 1639. This Letter with how great reluctancy soever the Duke had consented to write it though it produc'd no good effect the Duke notwithstanding who had expected no better success reap'd this advantage by it that he by that means deliver'd himself from the importunities of those who otherwise would upon other occasions have been pressing with him to have been still imploring the Cardinal's Favour But after this Repulse nothing of that nature was ever more to be extorted from him so that if he afterwards writ it was ever either to preserve the Decorum of common civility or upon pure necessity or to the end his Friends might not condemn him for having by his own obstinacy pull'd upon himself the mischiefs which had long been preparing against him Thus therefore depriv'd of all humane assistance since the Cardinal without whom all the rest of what Quality soever signified nothing was opposite to his Interests he wholly resign'd himself into the hands of God and would no more make application to any other but to him alone He had ever born a great Respect and Zeal to Religion and for above twenty years before his Death had been observ'd to be so constant to his Beads that not a day pass'd over his head wherein he did not spend three whole hours in Devotion At this time as the persecutions of malevolent men grew more violent against him so did he redouble his Prayers to Heaven and has ever believ'd that it was from thence he deriv'd the strength and fortitude to support all the accidents that befel him and the disgraces that were hourly multiplied upon him This calm and innocent way of living created either so great an esteem for his Vertue or so great a compassion for his Adversity in the minds of men that there was scarce any who did not manifest some tendernes for a person of his eminent condition so unjustly oppress'd Insomuch that the Prince of Condé who had not been able so positive his Orders were to avoid employing his Authority to the ruine of his Fortune could not but discover that he also amongst the rest was touch'd with commiseration of his Wrongs and deplorable condition so that whether it were that he therein glancâ—d at some particular advantages to himself or that it was meerly an act of his Generosity in order to the Duke's repose he sent him word as he was upon his Journey to Bordeaux That he had compassion on his Misfortune and Solitude and if he unluckily had formerly had a hand in the Disgraces had befall'n him he would much more willingly employ it to his redress That his Afflictions how great soever were not altogether without remedy but that he had one Son still surviving from whom he might yet derive comfort That although the Court was highly animated and incens'd against him he would notwithstanding do his utmost endeavour and set it hard to obtain his return into France provided he would be content to resign his Governments in lieu whereof he would also procure him some reasonable recompence and that by this means he might spend the remainder of his days in company which it self would render the worst of evils supportable to him Geneste a Counsellor in the Parliament of Bordeaux known of long to have been a particular Friend to the Duke was made choice of by the Prince to offer this proposal to him but he had Instructions withal not to own he did it by any express Order from the Prince unless he should first perceive the Duke very ready to embrace the motion The Duke unable to endure the first overture would return no answer at all thinking by that means to disingage himself from that
calms the Sedition The Boorâ— Mâ—tiny The Duke of Espernoâ—â— goes onâ— againâ—t them And disperses them From whence a calm ensues The Duke â—soers'd after all his brave Service The honesty of one of the Mutineers Cardinal Richelieu's civil Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Duke receives some satisfaction But not full The Cardinal de la Valette sent at the head of a great Army into Germany A brave Retreat of the Cardinal de la Valette The Duke dissatisfied that the Cardinal de la Valette his Son should follow the profession of Arms. The Duke of Espernon falls dangerously sick Anno 1636. The Spaniard mâ—kes preparation to invade Guienne The Coâ—rt neglects the Duke's Intelligence And provides very slenderly â—or the defence of the Frontiers * A Statute of Augmentation * Taxes or Imposts A rare example of the Duke's love to the people The Duke for all the injuries he had receiv'd of Briet would take no other revenge but only to put him into a fright The Parliament of Bordeaux interest themselves in the affront offer'd to Briâ—t The great Employments of the Duke of Espernon's Family The 〈…〉 Guienne The Duke of Espernon falls â—ick at Bayonne The Spanish Army enters into Biscay The Duke de la Valette comes to his Father to Bayonne The Spaniards make themselves Masters of the Country of Labourt and take the Fort of Socâ—a without resistance A panick fear in the City of Bayonne They are encourag'd by the Duke of Espernon The order taken by the Duke of Espernon for the conservation of the pâ—ace A remarkable oversight in the Spaniard The Duke of Espernon goes from Bayonne to Dacqs And from thence sends a Dispatch to the King An exemplary Fidelity in the Inhabitants of Biscay Anno 1637. The Duke of Espernon raises Forces with his own money The fiâ—st cause of the Dâ—ke de la Vaâ—ette's Disgrace The manner of the Duke de la Valett's Conduct after he entred into Cardinal Richelieu's Aâ—liance Discontents arise betwixt them The Monsieur and the Count de Soissons retire from Court And send to the Duke of Espernon to engage him in their Quarrel Who exeâ—ses himseâ—â— The Cardinal dissembles his dissatisfaction with the Dukes of Espernon and de la Valette And puts them joyntly in Commission for the Affairs of Guienne A formidabâ—e Rebell on breaks out in several Provinces of France The number of the Rebels And their progress The Rebels suppress'd by the Duke de la Valette * Des Prevosts The Court 〈◊〉 the news of tâ—e 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 Valett's Victory very coldly The Duke of Espernon refuses to 〈◊〉 money by Impositions upon the people The Duke de la Valette defeats the Spanish Army without Fighting Which nevertheless is but coldly receiv'd at Court The Duke de Candale and the Cardinal de la Valette command the Army in Picardy Annâ— 1638. The Duke asks leave to retire himself to Plassac * Secretaire de Commandemens ou d'Estat The four Principal Secretaries who in the Court of France sign Letters Patents and Dispatches of State Anno 1637. The Duke de la Valette is constrained to make a journey to Court But with infinite danger The Frince of Condé arrives in Guienne The Royal Army baffled before Fontarabie For which the Duke de la Valette is unjâ—stly blâ—m'd Reasons for his Justification The Duke of Espernon returns without Order from the King inhis Government of Guienne The Duke of Espernon receiveâ— news of the Bâ—rth of the Dolphin The Duke receives news of the Defeat of Fontarabie The Duke of Espernon returns to Plassâ—c A very extraordinary accident by Lâ—gâ—â—ning Passionate expressions of the Cardinal agaiâ—st the Duke de la Valette By which he is diverted from going to Courâ— The Duke of Espernon's Dâ—sgraces Hâ— is depos'd of his Government The Dâ—ke of Espernon calumniateâ— Anno 1639. The Duke of Espernon falls dangerously sick The Death of the Duke de Candale The Duke de la Valette sentenc'd to Death with Confiscarion of Offices Honors and Estate The Duke de la Valette solemnly justified The Duke of Espernâ—n still persecuted by the privation of a good part of his Estate The Death of the Cardinal de la Valette The Duke of Espeâ—non's constancy The Duke of Espernon receives many Consolatory Letters both from the King Queen the Monsieur Cardinal and most of the Eminent persons of the Kingdom The Queens Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Cardinal's Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Duke of Espernon's Letter to Cardinal Richelieu Anno 1640. The Prince of Condé offers his Service to the Duke of Espernon upon some Conditions Which are rejected by the Duke New persecutions for the Duke of Espernon The Duke of Espernon's noble constancy Three remarkable stories of the Duke of Espernon's good Fortune whereof this is the first * A piece of money to the value of xviii pence sterling * The second Story The third Sâ—ory Anno 1641. The Duke of Espernon falls dangâ—rously sick The estate of the Affairs of the Kingdom from whence the Cardinal took occasion to send the Duke of Espernon to Loches A malicious Contrivance against the Duke of Espernon The King's Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Duke of Espernon's Letter to the King The generous proceeding of the Mareschal de Scomberg The Duke of Espernon's irresolution concerning the Journey of Loches * One whereof I find in Davila when the Duke of Elbeauf was sent thither Prisoner presently after the Death of the Duke of Guise at Blois The Count de Soissons makes great preparation for War News brought to the Duke of Espernon of the Death of the Count de Soâ—ssons slain at the Battel of Sedan The Duke of Espâ—rnâ—n's Letter to the King His Majesties Letter to the Duke The Cardinals Letter to the Duke The Dâ—ke of Espâ—rnon 〈◊〉 at Leches and is there receiv'd with great Honour The Cardinals Letter to the Duke of Espâ—rnon The Duke's answer The Cardinal's Return to the Duke's answer Commotions at Court stir'd up by the Favourite Cinq-Mars * Above all things take heed of the Baâ—â—ille Monsieur de Thou involv'd in the Grand Esâ—uyer's ruine The Calumny of Madaillan against the Duke the cause of his Death Madaillan's Character His Resolution to ruine the Dâ—ke of Espernon His Artifice herein He proposes his Design to his Complices The Duke 〈…〉 And dispatches his Secretary to Court to justifie himself His Secretary is favourably receiv'd by the Cardinal And an Order granted to apprehend Madaillan and his Complices The King's Letter to the Duke of Espernon The Cardinal's Letter to the Dâ—ke of Espernon * Oâ— Prison The Dâ—ke of Espernon sends a Letter of thanks to Cardinal Richelieu Anno 1642. The Sickness and Death of the Duke of Espernon The Dâ—ke's good dispoâ—â—tions to dye The Duke's last reqâ—est to the King concerning his Children * Amende honorable signifies something more but what cannot be inteâ—ded by the Author in this place His Death
other men usually give for their Follies in such cases will nevertheless serve perhaps to satisfie such as are kindest to me and who will not render themselves over-hard to be satisfied in a thing wherein I presume they would themselves be content to see me justified It was not therefore out of any ambition I had to be again in Print I having suffer'd too much that way already nor to be reputed a good Translator the best whereof sit in the lowest Form of Writers and no one can be proud of the meanest Company neither shall I pretend to be put upon it by my Friends for that would tacitly imply something of opinion they must have of my ability that way and I must be so just to 〈◊〉 my worthy Acquaintance as to decâ—â—re them men of better judgments than to be so deceiv'd besides the greater part of them being better Frenchmen than I pretend to be such as have read the Original could never wish to see it blemish'd by so unskilful a hand neither was I prompted to it by any design of advantage that consideration being ever very much below my thoughts nor to oblige the world that being as much above my expectation but having an incurable humour of scribling upon me I believ'd I could not choose a braver Subject for my Friends diversion and my own Entertainment than this wherein I thought at least I discover'd as much Variety of Revolution and accident as is any where in no larger a Volume to be found besides something of utility here being a general account of the most important Transactions of Europe for above threescore years together and in one continued series of Discourse which are otherwise only to be pick'd up out of several Authors and most of them â—mitted in all but that which gave me the greatest invitation besides the Character of Honour that continues throughout the whole thred of his Life was the great example of uncorrupted Loyalty the Duke of Espernon ever retain'd in all his Exigencies and Disgraces a Vertue which though none of the Nobility of this Kingdom for whom this is chiefly design'd need to be informed in 't is nevertheless a glorious Record and ought to be in History that succeeding times may see after what manner a good Subject â—ow powerful soever ought to behave himself how or how unkindly soever his Prince shall please to dispose of his Person and Fortune This consideration it was that after a first and second reading of this brave life though every year of it contains variety enough to furnish out a History which I must confess to have been the greatest temptation that decoy'd me into this undertaking especially when I reflected upon the times we our selves have too lately seen when Loyalty was not very much in fashion or not to be owned withouâ— manifest ruine And although I know very well we have Examples enow of Vertue Bravery Wisdom Fidelity and Honour in persons of our own Nation as well Kings as Subjects Princes of the Blood Generals Ecclesiasticks and Statesmen both of Former and the present Age and the meanest of those Lives sufficient to create as beautiful a Story yet of those the Dead are many of them already recorded beyond my imitation and to Write in Praise of the Living besides the danger of standing suspected either of Flattery or Design were to offend the modesty natural to all generous minds In the next place I am to acquaint my Reader that the Author of this History Monsieur Girard was Secretary to the Duke of Espernon and a very extraordinary person in himself as you will find in the Texture Disposition and Elegancy of the whole in despight of my ill handling by which advantages he must doubtless be able to give the best and truest account of any wâ—â—ever both of his Masters private Affairs and the general Transactions of that time he being especially in the Duke's later Years continually employ'd by him and the Duke himself being so eternally upon the Scene of Action that we shall seldom find him retir'd and alone in the whole course of his Life And although his dependence upon this great person may render his testimony suspected to some he is however so generally allow'd by the most Intelligent and such as are best read in the Affairs of that Kingdom for a faithful Historian that the truth of the Story ought to Balance any other defect of the work Lastly in the behalf of my Bookseller Mr. Brome to whose Kindness I owe more than I can pay him by this Impression I am to say that although I dare not answer how far this History may suffer by my Oversights or Mistakes or by the Faults escap'd the Press which I know not by what accident are very many and some of them very considerable yet I dare pronounce it one of the best things I have seen in that Language I do not mean for the Excellency or Harmony of the Stile which in the Original it self though the words there be very Significant Elegant and admirably well chosen is notwithstanding none of the smoothest I have read but for the importance of the Subject wherein you will find much of the Policy of that time not only of France it self but moreover of the Courts of England Rome Spain Savoy Germany Sweeden and the States of the United Provinces together with a Narrative of all the most celebrated Battles Skirmishes Rencounters Combats Sieges Assaults and Stratagems for above threescore years together with the Descriptions of the Strengths Situations and distances of Cities Towns Castles Cittadels Forts Rivers Countries Seigneuries Iurisdictions and Provinces and all this collected and deliver'd by a Iudicious and Impartial Hand an exâ—raordinary effect of a French Pen that Nation especially in Records that immediately concern their own Honour having been commonly observ'd to be very civil to themselves So that methinks the Dignity of the Subject and the Ingenuity of the Author consider'd a work how unhappily soever perform'd by me undertaken nevertheless meerly for the common benefit and delight ought not to be discountenanc'd nor very ill receiv'd Yet do I not though in the foregoing Paragraph I have discover'd something of the Charlatan in the behalf of my Bookseller hereby intend to beg any favour for my self or by these large promises to bribe my Reader into milder Censures neither do I think it fit to provoke him by a defiance for that were to be an ill Man as well as an ill Writer I therefore franckly and without condition expose my self to every mans Iudgment of which such as appear civil to me are my Friends and I shall owe them the same respect when it shall be my turn to Iudg as it is now to be censur'd Those who will not be so I shall threaten no further than to put them in mind that if ever they attempt any thing of the same nature they will then lie under the same disadvantage I now do and consequently may
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
valour and other eminent qualities they were Masters of endeavour'd to eclipse the Majesty of the King who being less enclin'd to oftentation liv'd a more retir'd life than they It was necessary to abate the growing greatness of those powerful and dangerous Subjects to effect which which was the chief and most important Affair of State the King first exhibited a publick and general prohibition to all sorts of people excepting the Queen his Mother and the Queen his Wife not to presume to ask any thing of his Majesty whether Money Offices or Commands reserving wholly to himself the disposition of all such things and that of his own voluntary grace and bounty and upon due consideration of the party's Merit And to the end that the over free access to his person might not give occasion to those he most suspected to exceed the limits of this prohibition he seconded that with another That no person of what quality soever should come into his Cabinet without he were call'd but from this general rule he made a particular exception for his Favourites whom he made free to enter at all hours like enough on purpose to nettle the House of Guise though they were not the only men offended at it almost all the great men about the Court being sensibly concern'd to be depriv'd of a priviledge that was now only reserv'd for five or six of his Majesties Creatures The Lords of the House of Guise being by this means excluded from all hope of encreasing their power by new acquisitions of trust the King began to contrive how he might gently withdraw what they already had out of their hands and carried it so that so often as there was any vacancy by the decease of any of their creatures he immediately conferr'd those places upon some of his own and if at any time any of their Partizans were content to take money for such charges as they were seis'd of the King would stick at nothing that might satisfie them to the end he might dispose places into secure and faithful hands The Duke of Ioyeuse by these two ways that is by the King's gift when a Government fell void or otherwise by Contract had obtain'd the Government of Normandy with Haure de Grace â—aen and other places the Government of Anjou for the Compte de Bouchage his Brother the Lieutenancy of Languedoc for his Father with many other important Governments and Places The Duke of Espernon had also the Government of Metz and the Messin Countrey that of Dauphine Boulogne Calice la Fere Loches the Citadel of Lions and some others As it was necessary for these two great ment to find out assured Friends and faithful Servants into whose hands they might safely commit so many several places of trust as the King's bounty had possest them of so was it the Duke of Espernon's care to provide himself of such persons and supposing he could find none who were likely to be more faithful to him than those of his own Kindred and Relation he to that purpose call'd the greatest part of them about his person His elder Brother had by his recommendation the Government of Dauphine in which employment he behav'd himself so well that he preserved that Province entire in his Majesties obedience during all the commotions of the League neither were his Services confin'd within the bounds of his Government he passed over several times into Provence and secur'd that Countrey against the attempts of the said League when assisted both by Spain and Savoy He also oppos'd the power of the Hugonots which was very considerable in both these Provinces so that France has to him only the obligation that Dauphinâ— is not now in the Savoyard's hands as well as the Marquisate of Saluzzo Montcasin the Dukes Cousin was put into Metz Cajan his Brother had the Regiment of Champagne and soon after the Lieutenancy of Xaintogne Angomois and the Countrey of Aulins And many other places were dispos'd into the hands of several men of trust and quality who depended upon the Duke But he had yet a Kinsman in Gascony to whom next to his Brother he had a particular regard above all others which was Roger afterwards Duke de Bellegarde Son to Mounsieur de Termes the Duke's Uncle by the Mothers side and Heir to the House of Bellegarde This young Gentleman being bred up according to his condition to all the exercises becoming a person of his Birth and Quality was by the Duke brought to Court where he continued the care of his Education in his own House keeping him still to his Exercises till he was grown excellent in them all but the Duke was not content to oblige him only in this he further employ'd his care and good Offices to place him in the Kings esteem wherein he succeeded perhaps beyond his own desire Bellegarde arriving to such a degree of Favour as grew at last suspected to the Duke himself Some years past over in these Court practices neither from the time of the Treaty of Peace with the King of Navarre in the Year 1580. until the beginning of the Year 1584. were there any Affairs of importance save those of the Cabinet The King constant to his first Maxims continually labour'd the ruine of the League and of the Hugonot Party neither was he in his own nature more inclin'd to advance those he had a kindness for than he was bent to weaken and depress those who were suspected to him The Duke of Guise the Cardinal his Brother their Relations and Confederates seeing all things directed to this end and not being able to endure the condition of private persons to which they saw the King endeavour'd to reduce them set on foot great practices both within and without the Kingdom and try'd all imaginable ways they thought might help to fortifie and secure themselves And as they had hitherto been proceeded against without violence so had they carried on their practices without noise but at last finding the King more openly labour'd their ruine which was already almost inevitable they would no longer forbear to unmask themselves nor to publish their long premeditated designs by an open Rupture In the beginning then of the Year 1585. the Duke of Guise retir'd himself to Ioinville and there receiv'd into his House the King of Spain's Deputies together with the Sieur de Meneville Attorney to the Cardinal of Bourbon who did all the business of the League in France Where also the Duke of Mayenne his Brother and divers others of his Partizans repair'd to him At which Assembly it was resolv'd to break out suddenly into open Arms upon such conditions as the Historians of that time have already declar'd and which is nothing to my business The King who was soon advertiz'd of this Conspiracy which was now no longer a secret to hinder it from taking any dangerous effect and in due time to provide for the safety of the Kingdom assembled together
with the Queen his Mother such persons as were of chiefest trust about him and whose Counsels he ever made use of in debates of greatest importance to deliberate and advise what in this posture of Affairs was best to be done These were the Dukes of Espernon of Joyeuse and of Retz the Chancellour Chiveruy Bellieure D'O Villeroy and Villequier The Duke of Espernon as the youngest being commanded to give his opinion first of the Proposition in hand freely Remonstrated That so long as the ambition of the House of Guise had contain'd it self within some moderate limits of respect to their Sovereign he had infinitely commended his Majesties Clemency that so long had wink'd at their faults expecting when Subjects of their quality and merit should come to themselves and see their own error That in the beginning of great Crimes Patience was almost a necessary Vertue and that it had often oblig'd such Offenders into their duty as it would have been a matter of some difficulty to have reduc'd by force but that this Patience had its bounds as well as other Vertues and that the excess of it degenerated into Vices of all other most pernicious to Princes That he would never advise his Majesty to cruelty because it was dreadful and inhumane though it often begot tht Sovereign power a more absolute respect That profuseness begot love at least in the receivers and that the other mistakes of Princes were seldom altogether unfruitful whereas an excessive toleration render'd them contemptible to all the world That from contempt men fell into hatred and from hatred ran headlong into attempts That above all things Princes should fear being despis'd which is infallibly destructive to Authority as on the contrary Fear and Respect supports it That it was his opinion the King without further deliberation should have recourse to Arms. That his Enemies not having yet the assistance of Strangers and the Forces they expected at home not being yet united would be easily supprest That his Majesty ought not to suspect his own strength in this occasion that so good a cause as his could want no Souldiers and that his own Royal Courage would give vigour and encouragement to all true Frenchmen to maintain his Authority not only against his Rebellious Subjects but against all the World The Chancellour Chiveruy the Duke de Retz and the Marquis D'O were of this opinion and the King himself had too much experience and too much judgement not to be of the same but the Duke of Ioyeuse Bellieure Villeroy and Villequier were of a contrary advice to whom the Queen Mother adhering the King who had ever a great deference to her Councils cool'd in the inclination he had to that of the Duke of Espernon and was over-rul'd into mildness and moderation which as they are usually the ruine of all Affairs of this nature so they prov'd to be of this They thenceforward therefore began to treat about this War and that by propositions not like those of a Prince to his Subject but such as were more proper betwixt enemy and enemy that stood upon equal ground The King before he would resolve upon the last remedy of Arms first caus'd the Duke of Guise to be sounded to try whether or no he would by fair means be prevail'd with to leave of those practices his Majesty very well knew he entertain'd against his Service and his own Duty which having in vain attempted and finding his obstinacy to be such as was not to be overcome by gentle wayes he presently dispatch'd away into Germany and Switzerland to make speedy Leavies both of Horse and Foot and conceiving he could not in the present necessity receive so prompt and so certain a succour from any as from the King of Navarre his Majesty would try if he could not gain him to his Interest that they might joyntly oppose the first fury of the League that erected it self to their common prejudice In which deliberation there was notwithstanding an almost invincible difficulty namely the difference of Religion for the King what need soever he had of the King of Navarre's assistance could never perswade himself to joyn with him in Arms if he were not first a Catholick wherein the respect to his Conscience prevail'd with him above the consideration of his Fortune and Kingdom This point therefore upon which so much depended was to be discreetly managed and the Duke of Espernon as Supreme in the Kings confidence was before all others chosen to treat with the King of Navarre about this great Affair which that it might be carried with the greater secresie the Duke pretended a visit to Madam de la Valette his Mother at Caumont whom he had never seen since his advancement to favour nor whom a rare example of Vertue and Moderation in a person of her Sex and Condition he could ever with all the instance he could use prevail with to come to Court nor perswade to leave the sweet repose of her own House nor the modesty and retiredness of her former life Things being thus ordered the Duke began his Journey from Court with a Train and Magnificence that is still remembred in all the places through which he past He had above 500 Gentlemen and many of those men of very great quality in his attendance so great authority and esteem he had already acquir'd neither did that authority and esteem ever decline but were his inseparable Companions during his whole life The King writ to all the places through which he was to pass to receive him with the same respect and to pay him the same honours they would do to his own person which was absolutely obey'd if not over-done the Duke receiving infinite and unusual civilities both at Orleans Poitiers Burdeaux Tholouse and in all the other Cities through which he pass'd At last he arriv'd at Caumont where he had the satisfaction of seeing his Mother who was no more dazled with the immediate sight of her Son's greatness than she had been before elevated with the report of it She discours'd with him of Affairs of State and of the advantages of his own Fortune with the Gravity and Authority of a Mother but of a Vertuous and Prudent Mother and I have heard him say That he receiv'd more safe and solid Counsels from the prâ—dent simplicity of that good Lady than from the subtlety and experience of the most practis'd Courtiers After having staid some days in her company and his chief business being not to receive a dispatch there he parted thence towards the King of Navarre who was then in the County of Foix. The King did him the honour to meet him as far as Saverdun where they had the first Conference The second was at Pamiers in the same County of Foix whither the Duke of Espernon who could by no means avoid the great crowd of Nobility and Gentry that came from all parts of Guienne and Languedoc to see him came so extraordinarily accompanied
many several impressions in mens minds as their inclinations were different towards him But the King was afflicted beyond imagination though his Majesty was not long in that error For some of the company having immediately descended the precipice found the Horse who by good fortune fell plum upon his feet and bore the whole weight of the fall kill'd stone dead but the Duke miraculously escap'd with only a slight hurt in the Shoulder This accident set all the Court Wits on work neither was there any who did not write something upon this occasion but that which most pleas'd the Duke was an Emblem that was presented to him The body of the Emblem was a figure of the Duke himself hanging upon the brow of a precipice so as that he seem'd to be irrecoverably falling from that prodigious height when Fortune running to his succour withdrew him from the danger with this Motto in Italian the first words thereof expressing his name Eper non lasciarti mai A Motto the Duke at first took for a good Omen which time and his own good conduct after turn'd into a kind of Prophesie and causing it to be grav'd in a Cornelian and set in a Ring he wore it many years upon his Finger as a mark of his gratitude to Fortune or rather Providence which is effectually that we call Fortune to which he ever attributed all the successes of his life rather than to his own conduct By this accident the Kings affection to the Duke seem'd to be augmented at least it made a greater shew of tenderness than in former occasions his Majesty never almost departing his Chamber during the time he was constrain'd to keep his Bed and it was in this condition that he gave the King a full account of his Journey and Negotiation a thing that furnish'd the League with a sufficient pretense to decry the Kings actions neither did the Chiefs of that Faction fail to cause it proclaim'd in the Pulpits as it is usual to make Holy Places and Religious men the Scenes and Instruments to blemish the Actions of Princes that his Majesty was strictly united with Hereticks and that this slander might the better be believ'd the Duke of Espernon's Voyage whom they endeavour'd to render odious to the people by calling him the Abetter of that Party was first brought upon the stage they publish'd that Negotiation to be a conspiracy against the Catholick Religion which was no way to be oppos'd but with their Swords in their hands So that this was the first Pretense they made use of to colour their Rebellion But before they would proceed to the effects of so violent a Rupture the Duke of Guise who would have been glad to have won the Duke of Espernon to his Party by that means to remove those Obstacles which the Dukes Vigour and Fidelity ever had and were still likely to oppose to his Designs caus'd him to be treated with about a match with his Daughter since Princess of Conty a Princess that for the beauty of her person the vigour of her mind and many other endowments and excellent qualities had few rivals in the Kingdom neither was the Duke of Espernon so blind as not to see the honour he should receive by this alliance had it been propos'd in a more quiet time or had the Duke her Father been upon better terms with the King but knowing he must by such a match abandon his duty or at least be oblig'd to favour designs he could by no means approve the last consideration so absolutely prevail'd above the other that he scarce deliberated upon a thing that was likely to stagger his fidelity and how dangerous soever it were to declare himself an open enemy to the Duke of Guise which he must of necessity do by refusing his alliance he rather chose to run that hazard than to faulter in the least in the duty he ow'd to his Prince and Benefactor It is hard to judge what passions of grief and despite the Duke of Guise was possest withal to see his designs so frustrated and his offer so despis'd by this refusal which was in it self no light offense neither did he afterwards meditate any thing more than his revenge and how to destroy him he could neither by civilities nor by threats acquire unto him but his fury was rais'd to the height by a new Honour the Duke and conferr'd upon him which was the second Pretense the League took hold of to justifie their proceedings The King had some time before this bought the Duke of Mayenne out of his charge of Admiral of France which the Duke had the rather laid down in favour of the Duke of Ioyeuse and his Majesty desirous to conferre upon the Duke of Espernon also some Office of the Crown to continue the same equality he had ever observ'd in their Fortunes propos'd to the Duke of Guise a very advantageous recompense in lieu of his Office of Grand-Maistre to the Kings Houshold and it seem'd probable he would follow the example of his Brother the Duke of Mayenne who doubtless had not quitted so important a charge without his elder Brother's advice but the Duke of Guise notwithstanding would never comply with his Majesties desire and though the King would never permit him to exercise any function of his charge thereby to make him weary of it yet was he still more obstinately bent to keep it nor would ever consent as he said That his Enemy should possess any of those charges he had exerciz'd and been invested withal The King seeing him so obstinate and perhaps not more solicitous to advance the Fortune of his Favourite than willing to spite the Duke of Guise resolv'd with himself to erect purposely for the Duke of Espernon an Office so honourable and so great as should by its authority and power infinitely surpass all other the highest and most important employments both of the State and Crown and this was that of Colonel General of France an Office formerly divided into two on this side and on that side the Mountains of which Andelot had possest the one and Strozzi the other and after Andelot's death they were united in Strozzi who remain'd sole Colonel After Strozzi's decease the King having by an Edict re-united these two Offices into one made it an Office of the Crown under the Title of Colonel General of France caus'd that Edict to be ratified in Parliament attributing to it the absolute power to name in general Officers for all the vacant places in the French Militia without so much as excepting from this nomination that of Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards He establish'd for the Colonel a Sovereign Court of Justice or Council of War to determine of the Lives and Honours of Military men without calling any other to it than his own Officers adding to it besides several Graunts Priviledges and Pensions and finally to sum up all his bounty his Majesty delivering the Commission
sudden danger neither the Town being intrusted in the hands of valiant and faithful friends had it been convenient even when he was most remote from it to provoke him lest a place of that importance should have taken part in his disgrace and follow'd the humour of his discontents It was therefore by the taking of this Town that the League would begin to labour the Duke's ruine and in that the advancement of their own Affairs The most considerable Forces the League had then on foot were those of the Duke of Lorain a Prince who having till this time contain'd himself Neuter in all the Affairs of France upon this occasion thought fit it seems to declare himself partial to his Family in hopes nevertheless to joyn Metz Toul and Verdun to his own Dukedom neither was his design unlikely to succeed for the two last having made no great difficulty of receiving the Duke of Guise he had reason considering the intelligence he had in the City to expect the same from Metz had not the Duke of Espernon by his vigilancy prevented him seasonably re-inforcing the Garrison with divers Gentlemen his particular Servants and a good number of Souldiers by whose coming it was so well secur'd that the League thought it not fit to attempt it This great storm thus blown over the Duke alarm'd by the late hazard this City had run resolv'd to establish himself in that important possession so as that for the future it might be secur'd from the like danger and to that purpose some of his friends having rendred the Governour suspected to him by some carriage of his at such time as the Army of the League were approaching towards him though the grounds of this mistrust were not in the Dukes opinion clear enough to countenance an open rupture with him yet were they sufficient to make the Duke remove him from that trust and to call him about his own person instituting Sobole who before was only Lieutenant of the Cittadel in the absolute authority both of the City Cittadel and Messin Countrey adding withal ten thousand Crowns in Gold to mend his Equipage that he might with the more honour support the honourable charge he had seated him in a bounty we shall hereafter see how Sobolâ— requited but that being the business of another time I shall refer it to another place and pursue my former Subject The Leaguers not contenting themselves with those petty successes in Lorain and being made wise and active by the example of the Kings ruinous supineness who sate still in vain expecting the arrival of his Foreign Forces almost at the same time by the several Captains they had dispos'd into divers Provinces surpriz'd a great many of the chief Cities of the Kingdom and made no light attempts upon the rest The Duke of Guise after the taking of â—oul and Verdun which I have spoke of before possest himself yet of Meziere by which he assur'd to himself the whole Countrey of Champagne The Duke of Mayenne took the City and Castle of Dijon which made him Master of the Dâ—tchy of Burgundy la Chartre seiz'd of Bourges Entragues of Orleans the Count de Brisac of Angiers and many other Cities of that Province Vaillack had hop'd to have done as much by Bordeaux by the neighbourhood of Chasteau-Trompette of which he was Governour but the Mareschal de Matignon broke his design and Marsâ—lles by the Loyalty of her good Inhabitants maintain'd it self against the Faction of some who labour'd to betray it into the power of the League but the enterprize of the Cittadel of Lions succeeded better with Mandelot who was Governour of the City and one of the Duke of Guise's firmest Adherents who having been formerly awed into his duty by the Cittadel in which le Passage had been plac'd by the Duke of Espernon to preserve a City so important to his Majesties Service he who before-hand had been made privy to the Duke of Guise's Designs as soon as ever he heard they were in Arms failed not suddenly to begirt the Cittadel and being assisted by the people who naturally hate to be bridled by a Fortress having surpriz'd le Passage who little suspected any such thing made himself Master of the place and immediately raz'd it to the ground It was upon this occasion that the ill will which had so long been conceal'd yet had continually been fostering in the Bosoms of the Duke of Espernon and Mounsieur de Villeroy broke out from which quarrel in the succession of time sprung so many and so important consequences as do not only take up a large share of the Dukes Life but also make up a considerable part in the general History of that time which obliges me in this place to discourse both what I have receiv'd from the Dukes own mouth and what I have gather'd from the Commentaries of Mounsieur de Villeroy himself Mounsieur de Villeroy had been from the Dukes infancy Secretary and Minister of State a friend to Mounsieur de la Valette the Father and a man of great Credit and Interest in the King's Council he had seen the beginning and encrease of the Dukes Favour at which he ought not in reason to repine but on the contrary had cause to believe that such a friend as he would fortifie him with the King and be no little assisting to support that Trust he already possest in the management of Affairs And in effect the Duke had a true affection and esteem for him who as he was ever very respective and constantly fix'd to all his Fathers Interests whose memory he had in the greatest veneration it is certain had a particular consideration for all his Friends of which number Mounsieur Villeroy being one the first years of the Duke's Favour were past over in a strict correspondency with him but at last Villeroy perceiving the Dukes Credit proceeded so far as wholly to possess that interest in the Kings Bosom he pretended to share he began in the end to grow jealous of a Prosperity he ought so much the more to have cherish'd by how much it was likely to be more useful to him and thenceforward began openly to thwart all his opinions in Council rais'd up a party against him to lessen his Reputation there and the Queen Mother nettled to see her Authority weakned with the King by the great power the Duke had with him desiring nothing more than to have him remov'd that she might recover her former possession could find no one so ready as Mounsieur de Villeroy to second her Passion and the animosity she had conceiv'd against him They joyntly advis'd that it was necessary to sacrifice the Duke to the malice of the League and that the King ought to abandon him for the general satisfaction a Counsel that had been voluntarily follow'd by the Duke himself and I have heard him say he would as willingly have retir'd then from Court as he did not long after could he have
great disorder The King willing upon this occasion of the Dukes Marriage to continue his Liberalities made him then a gift of four hundred thousand Crowns but the Duke had never other advantage by it than the bare testimony of his Masters good Inclinations towards him For the Treasury being either wholly exhausted or containing no more than was necessary to defray the immediate War the money could no ways have been rais'd but by a new Tax upon the People which would have bred new Discontents and though his Majesty notwithstanding desir'd such an Imposition might be laid the Duke a truer Servant to his Masters Interests than a Friend to his own would never consent but obstinately oppos'd it The Papers are yet to be seen amongst those that were found at his Death for an eternal monument of this good Masters Affection and for a testimony of the small accompt the Servant made of a Benefit that must be exacted with the clamours of the People and that was likely to pull down a popular Odium upon his Benefactor Amongst the preparations that were made for the Duke's Marriage the King was still intent upon his business not omitting any due care that might fit his Army to receive the strangers who were now upon their March under the command of the Baron de Dona and were already advanc'd to the Frontiers of Lorain There it was that the Germans first began to be sensible of those inconveniences his Majesties prudent Conduct had strew'd in their way which still as they advanc'd further into France where they promis'd to themselves a great abundance of all things upon the false hopes wherewith their Leaders were prepossest that the whole Court favour'd the King of Navarre and that they had only the Duke of Guise to wrestle with they found more and more to encrease upon them all things remov'd out of their way that should any ways contribute to the support of so great a Body And then it was that they plainly saw the vanity of those aiery promises that had been made them they found themselves in a few days opprest with hunger thirst and sickness their Arms with rust dismounted and useless their Horses unshod and themselves expos'd to all the other miseries with which great Armies in long Marches and in an Enemies Countrey are usually afflicted By which misfortunes their eyes being opened they began to fear and to foresee those that in a short time fell upon them but amongst all those difficulties that which troubled them the most was their encounter with the Duke of Espernon who whilst they were trying to find a pass over the River Loire having continually coasted them and attended their motion with eight hundred light Horse and five hundred Harquebusses on Horseback and having by his activity and vigilancy found an opportunity to beat up a Quarter of twelve hundred Light Horse and to take the Cornets from them they plainly saw by that action what they were likely to expect for they had been made to believe that the Duke was won over to the King of Navarre's Party a slaunder which having been first spread abroad by the League those of the Reformed Religion made good use of to encourage the strangers to enter the Kingdom but they having receiv'd so smart a proof of the contrary were now undeceiv'd and the more clearly they were convinc'd of their error the more did their fears encrease which begetting at first private mutterings and growing on to publick murmurs proceeded at last to an open Mutiny The Duke well enform'd of this disorder in the Enemies Camp began with great dexterity to manage their discontents to the King's advantage he treated therefore for an accommodation both with the Reiters and the Swisse the latter of which made up a considerable part of that Army all their Infantry almost being rais'd out of the Swisse Cantons pressing nevertheless with his flying Army the Rear of the one or the other at the same time that he disturb'd their March and their Quarters with his Armies entertaining them with overtures of Agreement putting them at once in fear of the King's Force and in hopes of his clemency by which different ways of proceeding to one and the same end the two Nations equally perplex'd at last hearkned to an Accommodation which notwithstanding was concluded only with the Swisse at that time and with them the Articles were agreed upon and Sign'd under the King 's good Pleasure the 18. of November 1587. Which being afterwards ratified by his Majesty they immediately retir'd into their Confines This great body thus separated from the Reiters the remaining Army was in such perplexity that there was now nothing but disorder and confusion amongst them so that their courages being abated by the extreme necessities they suffer'd by their being abandoned by their Confederates who made up the best part of their Army and by the fear of worse michiefs to come they now thought of nothing more than of retiring from the extreme danger they saw themselves envellop'd in and then it was that they hearkened in good earnest to the Propositions which were then offer'd to them afresh by the Duke though much harder than the former neither could all the Intreaties or Authority of their Leaders as well French as those of their own Nation prevail any thing or disswade them from concluding a composition and from retiring at last into their own Country The Articles with them were Sign'd the eighth day of December in the same year by the same Duke by which it appears that his courage vigilancy and Wisdom contributed not a little to the diversion of this dangerous storm and to the preservation of the Kingdom from so powerful an invasion as that of an Army consisting of forty thousand fighting men Yet is it not to be denyed but that the Duke of Guise did also very brave service in this occasion he defeated great numbers of them both at Vilmory and at Aulneau but in the condition they then were ruin'd and disarm'd by the King 's forecast beaten and Disunited by the Duke of Espernon's Skirmishing and Practices it infinitely much facilitated the Duke of Guise his Victories to have an Enemy reduc'd to such streights before he came to engage them But if the War was carried on with good success to the King in the forementioned engagements things succeeded much otherwise on his Majesties part with the King of Navarre for the Duke of Ioyeuse having precipitated the Battel of Coutras the advantage of his Forces having blinded him even to a Contempt of the Enemy an ordinary presage of Ruine to whoever is too secure of his Fortune he there lost the Battel with his Life the twentieth of October in the same year together with as considerable a number of Nobility and Gentry as have almost fallen in one day in any one Battel in France Some have believ'd that the King was neither so much displeas'd at the loss
of this Battel nor conceiv'd himself so much prejudic'd by it as he imagin'd himself eclips'd by the Victory he soon after obtain'd over the Strangers a deplorable effect of this Princes misfortune who could neither be afflicted with his losses nor yet absolutely satisfied with his success We have already told you the Reasons the King had not to desire the King of Navarre's Ruine so that he enjoyed in part his own deâ—ire in the loss of this Battel which made for the support of the King of Navarre and his Party by whose assistance he thought with less difficulty to mate the ambitious Designs of the League Whereas the Victory obtain'd over the Reiters only serv'd to augment the Duke of Guise's Glory who was his real and capital Enemy Hence therefore proceeded his disquiet and affliction and this was it that turn'd even the prosperous successes of his Arms to his vexation and trouble His Majesty fearing left the Duke of Guise puft up with the vanity of the popular esteem and the opinion of his own merit should take upon him the assurance to ask some of the Offices which were vacant by the Duke of Ioyeuse his Decease conferr'd them all immediately upon the Duke of Espernon who was in one day made Admiral of France Governour of Normandy Caen and Havre de Grace and the dispatches were deliver'd to him at Gergeau the seventh of November 1587. the Death of the Duke of Ioyeuse hapning but in the end of October the same year Neither was this the only advantage the Duke reap'd from the ill success of this Battel for his Cousin Bellegarde Governour of Xaintonge Angoumois and the Country of Aulnis having there receiv'd a mortal Wound and dying soon after the Duke had also the Governments vacant by his decease conferr'd upon him which as we shall hereafter see at his departure from Court afforded him the benefit of a secure and honourable Retreat Although the Victories obtain'd from the German Army were very great and of great moment yet were not the Designs of the Enemy utterly ruin'd by the Defeat and Dissipation of those Forces beyond the Loire For the Hugonot Party who were infinitely solicitous to adde all the vigour and encouragement they possibly could to their cause were principally careful to re-inforce Mounsieur Lesdiguieres who was effectually a very brave Commander and one of the main pillars of their Faction There had been therefore four thousand Swisse drawn out of the main Body of the German Army and sent away into Dauphine to assist him there and to make him able either to oppose Mounsieur de la Valette or if Fortune so favour'd their Arms absolutely to drive him out of that Province a Force like enough to cut out a great deal of work in those parts But la Valette's Fortune being here constant to his Valour their coming only administred to him an opportunity wherein to share with the Duke his Brother the Honour that was to be acquir'd in the Defeat of that Foreign Enemy For opposing that great Body with only two thousand Foot and three hundred Horse he cut them all off in their passage over the River Lizere Mounsieur de Thou says that there were not fifty Prisoners remaining so that this may be reckoned amongst the other great losses that Nation sustain'd in this Expedition And that which makes it yet more remarkable is that Lesdiguieres and Chatillon being advanc'd on the other side of the River with three thousand Foot and six hundred Horse to favour their passage were beaten back and constrain'd to look on whilst their Confederates were all cut in pieces before their eyes without being able to give them the least assistance By this handsome action so happily perform'd the hopes those of the Religion had conceiv'd of reaping any signal advantage from their Victory at the Battel of Coutras and by uniting with the Foreign Army were utterly frustrated Neither can I forbear in this place to give Colonel Aphonso afterward Mareschal d' Ornano his due share of honour who fought it with singular Valour but still under Mounsieur de la Valette's Conduct and by his directions with whom no man can dispute the absolute honour of that notable Defeat After so many brave exploits atchiev'd by the King for the defense of his Kingdom and after so considerable services perform'd by the Duke of Espernon and by la Valette his Brother for the publick safety who would have imagin'd but that his Majesty should have been welcom'd home with a thousand blessings of his people and that so good Subjects should have received the praises due to their Fidelity and Valour Nevertheless all these Victories with the care industry and hazards that produc'd them wrought a quite contrary effect through the blind affection the giddy multitude had violently plac'd upon the Duke of Guise There was now no other discourse at Paris but of him the Pulpits Courts and Publick Assemblies rung with his Name it is to him only that they owe their Lives and Liberties and 't is only his presence they desire The King 's own Person and those of his most faithful Servants are become odious to the Parisians They talk high of transferring the Regal Dignity to the Duke of Guise They scatter up and down Printed Libels wherein from railing against the King proceeding on to the King of Navarre they would have him declar'd incapable of succession to the Crown to the end there might remain no title to dispute the Duke of Guise's Possession Nay to such a contempt of his Person and Royal Dignity they were grown at last that these discourses were frequent and loud in the Kings own Family his most oblig'd Servants not daring almost to reply renouncing by that poor and unmanly toleration their own interest whilst they abandoned that of their Sovereign and Benefactor Neither was there any save only the Duke of Espernon a man that slighted his own danger and despis'd the malice of all mankind when his Masters Honour lay in the Ballance who generously expos'd himself upon all occasions to the publick violence that he might preserve the integrity of his Duty Of which to give you an instance it hapned one day in a great deal of company that the Archbishop of Lions a Prelate of a ready Wit and great Elocution but passionately zealous for the League openly maintain'd That the Pope had Power to absolve Subjects from their Allegiance to their lawful Prince To which the Duke highly offended as he had reason to be at so dangerous an Argument made answer before them all That it would be as hard to perswade him to that as to make him believe that the Pope could grant a Dispensation to a Prelate to lie with his own Sister Now you must know it was generally believ'd at Court that this Prelate was too familiar with a person related to him in that degree and as injuries make the deeper impression
by how much nearer they approach to truth this so touch'd him to the quick that he from thenceforward conceiv'd against the Duke a mortal and implacable hatred Neither was he long in finding out a way openly to express it for his Arms being his Tongue and his Pen reputed one of the most eloquent of his time he employ'd them both with all the rancour imaginable to blemish the Duke's Honour he set upon him with a thousand injurious Writings nor did he fail for so much as in him lay to stir up a popular Fury against his Life Neither did the Duke of Guise labour his overthrow with less vehemency on his part than the Bishop did on his and as he knew the Duke's Interest to be very great and his spirit inflexible and hardly to be reconcil'd so was he not content to endeavour his ruine obliquely and underhand but openly declar'd himself the Author of what he did the better to effect his desire And see the means he persu'd to work his purpose After the Reiters were driven out of the Kingdom the Duke of Guise accompanied with the principal Heads of his Party retir'd to Nancy where seeing the great Forces he had about him and promising to himself wonders from the precipitous affection of the People he resolv'd to prepare some Articles which should be presented to the King in the Name of the League Wherein as he conceivâ—d himself in a condition to carry by a high hand whatsoever he should propose he principally insisted upon the Duke of Espernon's removal from Court pretending him to be a great abettor of the Hereticks the better to colour the persecution he intended against him interpreting after this sort the affection the Duke had for the King of Navarre and for all the Royal Family though grounded upon principles far distant from being any ways interested in that Princes Religion as his actions ever had and then did most clearly demonstrate But as it was very unlikely that the King to satisfie his Enemies should consent to the disgrace of his beloved Favourite the Leaguers of Paris to impose upon him a necessity of accomplishing the desires of their Party conspir'd thenceforward to seize upon the person of the King that so they might remove all future difficulties that might lie in the way of their Designs neither did they fail much of executing that accursed Resolution The Council of sixteen was at that time first set up in Paris neither is any ignorant what that Council was how impudent their Proceedings and how great their Authority with the People even in the very face of the King himself In this Council it was one day agreed upon to seize upon the King as he came from hunting from the Bois de Vencennes and it had accordingly been executed had not the King advertiz'd of their purpose doubled his Guards at his return That Plot therefore failing there were divers other Ambuscado's laid for him during the Carnival that often put him in great danger of being made a Prisoner to his own Subjects which being all happily evaded by the timely information of one Nicholas Poulin a Lieutenant in the Provosty of the Isle of France who was privy to all these Cabals Many of the Court who as it is believ'd favour'd the Designs of the League endeavour'd to render Poulin's Intelligence suspected that the King discrediting his report might at one time or another fall into his Enemies snare But the Duke of Espernon in an occasion of this consequence making no difficulty of hazarding his own life to search out the depth of these practices franckly expos'd himself to infinite danger that so he might discover the certainty of so necessary and so important a truth Being therefore advertis'd by the same Poulin that the sixteen had concluded an Assassinate upon him himself at the Fair of St. Germains whither the Duke usually repair'd to divert himself with the entertainments of the season he resolv'd to run the hazard and accordingly went The Plot was to have been executed by the Scholars under whose name the Inhabitants of the Suburbs of St. Germains were order'd to slip in to fortifie the attempt all which being discover'd to the Duke it was certainly a dangerous and almost desperate adventure he thrust himself into and which must proceed from an unparallel'd affection and a vertuous care he had of his Princes safety to run so great a hazard in so critical a time when even the Court it self was corrupted in the Conspirators favour And the Duke might excusably enough have forborn going to a place where the danger was immediately directed against his own person and might have made the experiment and have penetrated into the bottom of this Conspiracy by another without endangering his own life and doubtless he had done so had he had only his own Interest to consider in the case but then things would afterwards have been left doubtful and the King's life had been still expos'd in the uncertainty of the truth of those cautions had been given him which the Duke resolv'd by all wayes imaginable to put out of future danger He went therefore to the place where he knew himself to be threatned with death but that could not affright him provided he might secure the life of his Master and being thither come found the intelligence had been given him to be punctually true neither did they fail much of effecting their design for a sort of young people being gather'd about him began to murmur and from murmuring grew lowder into clamours making shew at last as if they would proceed to execute what they threatned whereat the Duke not frighted with their noise put himself into a posture to resist the violence intended against him by which resolute carriage having with as much courage as good fortune disingag'd himself he leisurely retyr'd towards the Louvre not a man daring to attempt any thing upon him as if even his Enemies had been struck with a kind of reverence due to so brave and so honourable an Action After there was no further doubt to be made but that Poulin's intelligence was true and by how much the King's danger still encreas'd by so much the greater was the Duke of Espernon's diligence zeal and ardour for the security of his Majesties Person so that there passed not a night wherein sometimes with two sometimes with three or four Companies of the Regiment of Guards he walk'd not the Round into the most seditious Quarters of the City and if at any time he had notice of any extraordinary Assembly thither it was that he immediately repair'd with a stronger Party nor did he ever go to rest till he had first settled all things quiet and had carefully provided for his Masters safety So that it is not to be believ'd how many of the Enemies Conspiracies against the King's Person were countermin'd and frustrated by his vigilancy and diligence The sixteen seeing their Designs thus travers'd
spurr'd on by these considerations had laid Siege to Bourg and were by the favour of some of the Inhabitants of their Party receiv'd into the Town without any opposition but la Ioviziere a man of approved Valour who commanded in the Castle defended himself so well notwithstanding the ill condition of the place and the vigour of the Assailants who press'd hard upon him that he gave the Duke time to come to his Relief at whose first appearance the Enemy retir'd when the Duke having publickly commended the Governours Valour and the fidelity of some honest Inhabitants who had stuck stoutly to him in this occasion withdrew the Captain into his own Service for the testimony he had given of his Valour leaving Campagno after Colonel of the Regiment of Guards and since Governour of Boulogne with a good Garrison in his room as judging this place of that importance that it ought to have a person of no less Authority to defend it against any attempt from the Garrison of Blaye so near and so dangerous a Neighbour Yet did not the Duke keep it long in his possession for the King not long after commanding him to deliver it up to him he immediately obey'd though he had in a mannâ—r himself made a conquest of it Some say that the Mareschal de Matignon jealous of so considerable a neighbour as the Duke had earnestly importun'd the King to retrive this place out of his hands The Duke having by these successes settled all his Neighbours in peace whilst the rest of the Kingdom was in trouble it was but reasonable that he himself should share in that felicity wherein his Valour and Vigilancy had so fortunately establish'd others and of this he receiv'd the first and most happy fruits by the Blessing God was pleas'd to give his Marriage-Bed for having been already three years Married to Marguerite de Foix Countess of Candale without Issue the great and various agitations wherewith he had been continually exercis'd all that time scarce allowing him the leisure to live in company with his Wife at last this vertuous Lady in March 1591. was at Xaintes brought to Bed of Henry de Foix and de la Valette his eldest Son whom we have since seen Duke of Candale and whose Valour has manifested it self in most parts of Europe where he acquir'd the Reputation of one of the greatest Captains of his time To these Military Vertues he had yet the addition of so many other excellent qualities that it was hard to say which was to be most admir'd his Valour in War his Sweetness in Conversation or his Prudence and Dexterity in the Management and Conduct of the most weighty Affairs The year following 1592. the Duke was enrich'd with another Son Bernard de Foix and de la Valette who was boâ—â— at Angoulâ—sme and who is now the sole Heir of that illustrious Family a Prince whose Vertues would furnish me with sufficient matter for his praise did not his modesty impose my silence The third and last was Lewis Cardinal de la Valette born at Angoulesme the year following one whom the Court esteem'd and acknowledg'd for the greatest and most accomplish'd Courtier that had there been bred for many years He render d himself conspicuous in his profession whilst he continued in it by embellishing and adorning an excellent natural ingenuity with the choicest Flowers of Divine and Humane Learning and doubtless had he apply'd himself wholly to his Book might have gone equal to the most famous Church-men of this latter age but the heat of his Courage having tempted him out of the bounds of his Spiritual Profession he prov'd a better Captain than the chance of War would give him leave long to continue for the Wars of Italy wherein he serv'd the State with unparallel'd Diligence and greater Success than was to be expected from so few Forces as he commanded spurr'd on his untimely Fate as also his elder Brothers who both of them in less than four months space lost their lives in the same Army Whilst the Duke had been employing his Power and Person in these foremention'd exploits there had pass'd much important action about the Person of the King who after the Skirmish of Arques and the Battel of Yâ—ry was grown to such a height of Power and Reputation as had put him into a condition to undertake the Siege of Paris which doubtless he might then have taken if on the one side his Majesty had been less solicitous to preserve the City which would have been utterly destroy'd should his Army have entred by storm or on the other side the Citizens had been less obstinate in their defense but their despair fortifying and hardning them against their necessities which in truth were insupportable they gave the Duke of Mayenne time to fetch the Duke of Parma to their Relief which for some years prorogu'd the entire Victory his Majesty might then but for his Clemency have obtain'd After the raising of this Siege the King's Army being much decay'd by the length and ill success thereof all the Catholicks who had thus long serv'd his Majesty even his most particular Servants took the liberty highly to complain of his slow proceeding towards his intended Conversion as also the several Societies and Companies of the Kingdom generally sent their Deputies humbly to beseech his Majesty to put an end to that good work which would likewise put an end â—o all his own troubles and be the only means to preserve his Kingdom nay even the Court it self grew importunate in the same 〈◊〉 and were already laying the design of a third Party which would have involv'd the King in a new difficulty his Majesty had then no need of but to prevent all inconveniencies to stop mens mouths and to hinder all these Court-practices his Majesty saw it necessary to renew the War with new vigour and by some notable and important action to gain a reputation to his Party He took therefore a resolution to call all the Nobility he could win over to him about his person and that not so much to re-inforce his Army by their presence as to hinder them being at distance and in full liberty to dispose of themselves from joyning either with those Factions already form'd by his Enemies or such as were now even by those who had hitherto follow'd his Fortune forming against him Nevertheless his Majesty knowing very well that the major part of those who had separated themselves from him had done it meerly out of respect to Religion and that they would not easily be induc'd to return unless he first gave them some hopes as to that particular he sent to assure them that he desir'd nothing more ardently than to be instructed in the Catholick Religion to the end that with the satisfaction and safety of his Conscience he might make open profession of it to all the world Upon this assurance of his speedy Conversion which
strong that Mounsieur de la Valette's Battery having plaid upon that side which was best fortified and not working that speedy effect he desir'd he would remove 〈…〉 other side and in 〈◊〉 impatience to put an end to an enterprize so much inferiour to his greater designs would himself help to remove the Cannon to a more advantageous place where being expos'd to the Enemies view open and in his Doublet only 〈…〉 lost many of our best Captains he receiv'd a Musquet shot in the head the eleventh day of Ianuary of which within thirteen hours after he died All the Historians of his time celebrated the Vertues of this 〈…〉 highest 〈◊〉 of Honour the King himself appear'd infinâ—â—ely concern'd aâ— his death by which he was depriv'd of a valiant Captain and a faithful Subject Nay even 〈◊〉 Enemies lamented his loss so great an interest has Vertue in generous minds but the Duke hiâ— Brother was afflicted to the last degree He had ever lov'd him to an example of Fraternal Affection had never made any distinction betwixt the interests of so good a Brother and his own he had invested him in a very considerable share of his own fortune he had bestow'd upon him the Government of Provence with the Office of Admiral of France he had been continually assisting to him with his Purse and Credit and had ever made him a partaker in all the advantages of his Master's Favour benefits of which Mounsieur de la Valette had on his part made so modest and so vertuous an use that he thought himself oblig'd having no posterity to provide for to husband them for the Duke his Brother's Service Which gratiâ—â—de to hâ—s Benefactor was rewarded by a good fortune to himself for having little frequented the Court the discontents and disgraces which sometimes perplext the Duke could neverâ— reach or reflect upon him who had continually been abroad in action and that with so good success that his merit made him by every one thought worthy of that greatness he possess'd so that he was favour'd and esteem'd by all good men without the least mixrure of hatred or envy Neither was he on his part wanting to his own Reputation and Interest but ever behav'd himself in all his Employments with infinite moderation sweetness liberality and noble Courage Vertues that establish'd him in his Government with such Authority and that rendred him so considerable to the Princes bordering upon Provence that their respect to him begot in them a singular regard towards the Duke his Brother whom no man was willing upon a light occasion to offend left this whom all the world knew to be so kind a Brother and so good a Friend by an injury offer'd to so dear a Relation might be tempted into extremities that usually are the effects of so just a resentment It appears therefore by this how great a support he was to his Family but this unfortunate blow depriv'd the Duke at once of so considerable a Fortune of so powerful an Assistant of so honourable Employments and of the person of all others most dearly beloved by him The Office of Admiral of France was presently and that by the Duke's consent conferr'd upon St. Blancart since Duke and Mareschal de Biron his Kinsman and intimate Friend who as we have already observ'd put himself into the Duke's Service in the beginning of his Favour but who afterwards by his good Services had advanc'd himself very high in his Majesties esteem Some have said that the King to whom the Duke's greatness was become suspected had a good mind at the same time to have dispos'd of the Government of Provence also but that having consider'd most of the principal Cities of that Province were in the custody of the Duke's Friends or their Substitutes who had serv'd Volunteers under Mounsieur de la Valette that the Forces there residing were made up of their Creatures such as only serv'd upon the two Brothers account it was to be fear'd the Duke's Discontents would be humour'd by his Friends who might interest themselves in his Disgrace So that his Majesty thinking it neither convenient nor safe as Affairs then stood directly to disoblige the Duke was forc'd to comply with the necessity of the time and to consent to what he could not well hinder without endangering the Affairs of that Province Mounsieur de la Valette was no sooner dead but that all his Officers assembled themselves together to advise what upon this accident they were best to do where without much debate it was concluded that to express the affection they had ever born their dead General and the respect they had for the Duke his Brother to whom they would that affection should now descend it was fit to send to the King humbly to entreat his Majesty that he would send the Duke of Espernon to command them in the place of Mounsieur de la Valette declaring freely withal that under the command of any other they should not so chearfully continue those services they had for the time past so successfully perform'd and accordingly with this Message they dispatch'd away the â—ieurs d' Esgarrebacques and de Mesplâ—s two of the most eminent amongst them both in Valour and Condition to the Court The Duke of Espernon being advertis'd of the deputation of these two Gentlemen to the King by the Sieur de Peyroles dispatch'd to him at the same time by the Chief Officers of Provence sent himself also to solicite his Majesty for that they had so favourably pursu'd in his behalf Representing to him That the Government of Provence could not be reputed vacant whilst he was living who had put it into his Brothers hands upon no other account than to preserve it in his Majesties Obedience whilst himself with such as depended upon him expos'd his Life and Fortune elsewhere for his Service That the first and true title to that Government remain'd in him and that since he was so unfortunate as to survive his Brother he had that confidence in his Majesties Justice that he would not add to his affliction by depriving him of an Employment he had only transferr'd to another that he might himself be at more liberty to do him more and better service And as if the Duke had been already assur'd of his Majesties Favour to him or that he would not seem in the least to suspect it he publish'd his resolution of going into Provence and made great preparations in order to that expedition The King foreseeing that the Duke would of all others be the most acceptably receiv'd by that people and knowing also that in the confusion the Kingdom then was the Government of Provence wherein the Duke of Savoy and the League had made a dangerous progress since the death of Mounsieur de la Valette could not be maintain'd as it ought otherwise than by the Duke's â—nterest there thought fit not to contradict his claim and consequently about the end 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
being so well order'd as he conceiv'd they were there was no doubt to be made of a successful issue That he therefore conjur'd them resolutely to undertake an action of the greatest advantage to the King to his Majesties Affairs and to their own particular benefit and honour that could possibly be propos'd That every one there knew Marselles to be one of the most important Cities whether consider'd in the commodity of its Haven or in its vicinity to Foreign Countries in the whole Kingdom That this City reduc'd by the King of Spain's promises and the Duke of Savoy's together had already put her self into their protection and persisting in her obstinacy was ready to open her Gates to Strangers to receive their Garrisons and to give away her liberty to them after having violated her Faith and Duty to her lawful Sovereign That should strangers once get entire possession of that City it would be lost for ever and that there would be no hopes ever to drive them from so advantageous a post what attempts soever could be made against a place so strong and so easie to be reliev'd That next to the publick concern he consider'd the reducing of this City as a certain and firm establishment of his own interest in Provence and that they themselves ought to look upon it as a pledge whereby that fair and rich Province would be assur'd unto them and that would give them an entire authority over the people who after so brave an exploit would no more be able to vie Merit or Valour with them as they had formerly done That such as had undertaken Enterprizes of this nature were wont to animate their companions with hopes of Booty but that for his part he should take a contrary way That it was not his intent to ruine Provence nor the City of Marselles but to preserve both the one and the other for the King to establish himself there in order to his Majesties Service and to procure for them other advantages and by other means suiting to their great merit and the service they had perform'd That this City once taken there could be no more fear of wanting provisions for the Army the conveniency of the Port bringing in all things necessary in great abundance that the evil-affectedness of the people would for the future be able to produce nothing to their prejudice they having in their own hands either the Keyes of the Province to let in all necessary Succours or otherwise the Chains that would tye them fast to their duty That above all things therefore he most earnestly desir'd them to restrain the insolence of the Souldier whom notwithstanding he did not thereby intend to hinder of the benefit they might justly make of the Inhabitants Estates which were already forfeited to them by by their Rebellion and of which they should soon be possess'd by the Victory but that he desir'd they might be fairly divided amongst them that they might the longer enjoy what they got and not lose and destroy the spoil as it otfen falls out in the sack and plunder of great Cities That he would not upon this occasion suggest unto them the remembrance of their accustomed Valour that he knew by good experience such exhortations were altogether unnecessary to them in bold and dangerous attempts and that he only conjur'd them to follow his example now as hitherto they had follow'd his Person and Fortune The Duke having thus prepar'd his Friends for the Enterprize continued on his way when being come within sight of the place he himself with those that had charge of the Petards advanc'd up to the Gate Of these the first Petard play'd to as good effect as was to be expected having made a hole in the Gate wide enough for a man easily to get through which though made wider by the second yet did not the Gate fall down being supported by a great iron Bar behind The Duke therefore call'd for the third Petard but in vain no Petard being to be heard of no more than the man to whose trust it was committed which made them try to break the Bar with Axes that they might have the passage more free to relieve some of their men who were already got in by the hole of the Gate But the Inhabitants rouz'd at the first noise of the Petards running to their Arms made a stout opposition where having but few to deal withal the Assailants were with great ease beaten back and the Gate as suddenly Barricado'd up It is not to be imagin'd how infinitely the Duke was afflicted at this ill success and the more because he thought he had made himself as it were Master of the event by the prudent conduct of his Design though he has since thought himself happy in failing of his purpose so much should men susspect their own desires in the choice of things that concern the conduct of their lives it being to be fear'd that had the Duke been establish'd in the power tâ—e winning of this City would have seated him in and receiv'd those affronts and that ill usage from Court he afterwards did in the revolutions of Provence the sense of those injuries might have prompted him to do things no ways suiting with his Duty as we shall see he was soon after tempted to do I do much wonder that none of our Historians have so much as mention'd this Enterprize who have some of them been very particular about many others of the Duke 's of much less importance whose omission of this has engag'd me to insist longer upon it than otherwise I should have done that so brave an Action might not be buried in oblivion of which the bare Project could not have been meditated by a mean courage nor the Design carried on so far by an ordinary prudence The Duke being retir'd to his Fort very much discontented at his evil success would revenge himself of that disgrace by new and brisker attempts upon the City of Aix Wherefore having intelligence that the Inhabitants already began to feel themselves straightned for want of Victuals he to take from them all future hopes of supply immediately fell to destroying all the Fruits and Corn of the Country round about and not content to do them this mischief without plai'd so many Cannon-shot into the Town that not a man durst appear in the streets or abide in the upper rooms of their houses But the besieg'd ingenious in their Revenge contriv'd a way to pay him back some of his Balls by a Counter-battery from the great Tower of the Church of Nostredame a Pile of great note and fame as well for its exceeding height as for the excellency of its Architecture and Beauty To the top therefore of this Tower they made shift to crane up two Culverines and had a Cannoneer so expert as not only levell'd them right against the Fort but even against the Duke's own Tent within it where he made the strangest shot that perhaps ever
hands Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres had retir'd himself into the City where he had been receiv'd with all the reputation and respect due to the Deliverer of a people as they look'd upon him to be and where whilst he lay watching all occasions wherein he might weaken the Duke's power or lessen his repute which he call'd executing his Majestices Orders and advancing his Service he had intelligence of the slender and careless Guard was kept by Lafin in the Fort of Aix as also in many other places which as yet were in the Duke's possession wherefore making use of this negligence and pretending some of the Duke's people had broken the Truce in having as he said taken some of his prisoners he took the Field upon the sixth of Iuly and without resistance took the Fort of Aix and favouring the revolt of Frejus St. Paul Troy Mirabel and Cannes gave the Inhabitants of all those Cities opportunity to drive out the Duke's Garrisons and to withdraw themselves wholly from his Party and Obedience As for the Fort of Aix it was no sooner in Mounsieur de l' Esdiguieres hands but that he deliver'd it up to the discretion of the Inhabitants who were so diligent in the demolishing of it that in two days time there scarce remain'd any footsteps of a work the Duke 's whole Army had for three months together with great and continual labour been industrious to raise Toulon soon after follow'd the revolt of the other forenamed places which was of all others a loss of the greatest importance to the Duke Esgarrebaques was Governour of the place a man that had long serv'd in that employment both under Mounsieur de la Valette and under the Duke himself in great esteem of Courage and Fidelity but at last the alliance he had contracted with the House of Souliés a Family that were nothing kind to the Duke's Interests having given his Adversaries or rather his Envyers a pretense to render him suspected to the Duke he to secure the place and to keep Esgarrebaques within the bounds of his duty caus'd a Cittadel to be drawn out and to be begun in his own presence wherein he plac'd Signac the Governours Capital and Mortal Enemy with a sufficient Garrison both to secure the Cittadel and to awe the City But Esgarrebaques either really provok'd by this ill usage or else in this declining condition of the Duke's Affairs willing to disingage himself from his Service making that his pretense so soon as the Duke's back was turn'd assaulted Signac in his new Cittadel where the Fortifications being imperfect and the access open and easie on all sides he without much opposition took the Governour prisoner and made himself master of the place putting himself immediately after into Mounsieur l' Esdiguieres protection which in the Language of the Country was to submit himself to the King The Duke having intelligence of these disorders of which his own absence had chiefly been the cause upon the first report thereof left Languedoc and made all the haste he could into Provence to apply if possible some remedy in this untoward posture of Affairs though all he could do at his return was only to stop the Gangreen from going further and to keep the Province from a general revolt yet either not believing or not seeming to believe that his Majesties Order was in any of these transactions he began to prepare himself to recover by force of Arms what by treachery and surprize had been taken from him when finding his Friends and Followers startled and wavering at the very sound of the Royal Name which his Enemies had made use of in all their designs he thought it necessary before he fell to action first to undeceive them and to clear that error In an eloquent Speech therefore he briefly laid before them The signal Services both his Brother and himself had done for the King in the conservation of that Province and that in the greatest confusion of the Kingdom and at the lowest ebb of his Majesties Affairs the Obedience he had manifested to all his Majesties Orders and Commands how severe soever they had been and how prejudicial soever to his own private Fortune That as an evidence of his Duty and submission to his Majesties Royal Pleasure he had but lately surrendred the Fort of Aix that is to say had divested himself of the possession of that fair City the Conquest of which was by their Valours made certain to him That notwithstanding so many and so recent testimonies of his Loyalty and Obedience with which he knew his Majesty to be very well satisfied his Enemies still shrowding their malice under the shadow of the Royal Name the better to effect their own designs had debauch'd and reduc'd from him most of the places he had lately been possess'd of That this affront reflected upon them indifferently with himself since it had been with their Blood together with his Brothers and his own that those conquests had been dearly bought That therefore the injury being equal both to him and them he hop'd they would assist to revenge them and to maintain his Fortune which as he ow'd it in part to their Valour so did he not so passionately desire its support for any interest of his own as to have means thereby to shew himself grateful to those who had been constant and faithful to him in all the disgraces he had fall'n into and in all the attempts had been practis'd against him His Friends being by this short speech reassur'd and confirm'd in their Fidelity and Obedience and having thereupon express'd as great a Devotion to his Service as he could expect from men who had long been affectionate to him he forthwith took the Field to go seek out l' Esdiguieres but he after he had deliver'd Aix from the Fort that had so long kept them in subjection and clear'd the neighbouring Campagne by the revolt he had procur'd of the foremention'd places retir'd into his Government of Dauphiné without engaging himself further at this time in the Affairs of Provence by whose retreat the Duke having none left to oppose his designs seem'd to be now in a condition not only to redeem his late losses but also to make a new and a further progress into the Country than he yet had done and doubtless he had done so had things continued in this posture but something new and unforeseen fell out which gave the last blow to the ruine of his Affairs The Duke of Guise at last undeceiv'd and better read in the Spanish artifice which had so long abus'd him with vain proposions of Marriage with their Infanta so soon as they could procure his Election to the Crown and perceiving also the declining condition of the League which every day went less in reputation was in the end with his Brothers return'd into the King's Obedience to whom his Majesty hoping the revolt of a man of his Authority
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
of Savoy that he was nothing startled at his other losses as supposing this City to be an inexpugnable Bulwark against whatever could be attempted against him A confidence wherein he found himself very much mistaken for the Duke of Espernon having the command of one quarter at this Siege as Biron and L' Esdiguieres had of the other two whilst they were on all hands busie in their approaches found opportunity sometimes to confer with the Count de Brandis Governour of the place interviews that being frequent and allow'd by the King wrought at last so good an effect that the Governour promis'd to surrender the City to the King if within a month the Duke of Savoy did not raise the Siege A Capitulation of that dangerous importance to the Duke that he labour'd by all possible ways during the limited term to perswade the Governour into a better resolution and had so wrought upon him what by entreaty promises and threats that he was grown infinitely wavering and uncertain what to do which notwithstanding the Duke of Espernon who had drawn the first plot of this great design happily brought it to perfection in the end he absolutely confirm'd by his perswasion the anxious Count in the terms of his first Treaty and thereupon receiv'd new Hostages from him by which dexterity he rendred himself the principal and most effectual instrument of his Majesties victories in that Country as also of the Peace which immediately follow'd the Surrender of this important City Whilst the King's Designs succeeded at this fortunate rate in this little Dukedom the Princes of Italy apprehending that after the ruine of the Duke of Savoy the sweetness and facility of that Conquest would tempt the King to advance further into the Country to seek new Victories were instant with the Pope to interpose his Authority with the King to dispose his Majesty to accept of satisfaction from the Duke of Savoy for what had past that an Accommodation might ensue to which his Holiness being enclin'd both by his own interests which could by no means admit of a War in Italy and by the importunity of the Princes of the Country he dispatch'd away Cardinal Aldobrandino his own Nephew to the King to be in his name the Mediator of this Peace as the Cardinal de Medicis had been before of that which had been concluded with Spain Never Prince came from that Country in a prouder Equipage nor with a more honourable train than did this Cardinal a Magnificence to which his Majesty being willing to hold proportion both in regard to his own greatness as also to express thereby a greater respect to the Pope to whom he was highly oblig'd in the person of a Kinsman so near and dear unto him he made choice of the Duke of Espernon amongst all the other Grandees of his Court to be the man should receive him and that because he both knew him to be a person very acceptable to the Holy Sea as also one who knew as well how to behave himself for his Masters honour as any whoever that was about his person Neither did the Duke deceive his Majesty in his choice he receiv'd the Cardinal at the head of the Army which before had been drawn up into Battalia for that purpose accompanied with the most sprightly and gay Nobility and Gentry of the Court conducting him with infinite demonstrations of Honour and Respect through the several divisions until he brought him into the presence of the King himself and though I must tell you by the way that the Duke 's imperious and haughty humour was naturally very averse to the humility of Complement and the submission of excessive Civilities yet when such an occasion as this oblig'd him to it no man of his time could perform such a Ceremony with a better grace and doubtless if at ordinary times he would have been more liberal of his courtesie and have added that to those other excellent qualities which made him admir'd by all he might have acquir'd thereby what Friends and Servants he had pleas'd Soon after the Legat's arrival the Peace of Savoy was concluded wherein a Prince whose interest it was to recover his own Dominions almost entirely over-run by the King 's Victorious Arms was now to redeem his own with what he had surreptitiously and contrary to the publick Faith snatch'd from the King during the disorders of his Kingdom and which his Majesty was now also ready to force from him as he had already done the greatest part of his own hereditary Territories in pursuit of that Quarrel So that the Duke of Savoy bought his Peace at a cheap rate through the Pope's timely mediation and all things were accommodated that were in dispute betwixt the King and him although his Majesty who very well knew what little trust was to be repos'd in the Faith of this Prince a man that would never keep his word when it was for his advantage to break it would by no means be perswaded to withdraw his Army out of his Dukedom till first the Articles of the Treaty were perform'd But it neither suiting with decency nor the dignity of his Majesties Royal Person himself to attend the execution of a thing already concluded he return'd into France leaving the command of his Army to the Count de Soissons offering at the same time the command of Lieutenant General to the Duke of Espernon who excus'd himself having taken up a resolution never to serve under less than the Person of a King as hitherto he had never done nor ever after did in the whole course of his life He therefore went back with the King whom he attended as far as Grenoble from whence when his Majesty departed for Lyons to consummate his Marriage he at the same time took his leave to return again into his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois The Duke's journey into that Country gave him opportunity to pass over into Gascony to view the Progress of his Building there of which he had laid the foundation at Cadillac in the year 1598. For the King after he had concluded the Peace with Spain from that time forwards not only wholly bent his own thoughts to the Embellishment of his Kingdom in which his principal design was first to Build his Houses and to Beautifie Paris with many great and noble Structures for at this time the Buildings of the Louvre Fountain-bleau and other Royal Palaces were begun as also the designs of the Pont-neuf the Place Royal with other proud and stately AEdifices were continued but would likewise that other men should fall in love with the same humour and whether it were that his Majesty had a mind his greatest Subjects should by his example employ themselves in the same designs or that he intended as some have suppos'd insensibly to drein their purses by this chargeable employment fearing perhaps that too great abundance of wealth might make them more apt to entertain thoughts
Mareschal Biron without my knowledge To whom the Duke reply'd again That he did not conceive it necessary to ask his Majestie 's leave to send a meer Complement to his Friend That seeing him come without a Guard or any apparent marks of disgrace and his Majesty treating him with the same favour he us'd to do he had on his part us'd him at the same rate he had ever done That it had been a custom long observ'd betwixt them that which of them soever had been any time absent from Court was at his return by some Servant of trust enform'd by the other of all the little passages had hapned during his absence That it was true he had in this occasion continued this custom That he humbly besought his Majesty to believe nothing more particular had pass'd betwixt them and that he had rather dye than once conceive a thought to the prejudice of his Majesties Service or his own duty That he hop'd the event would more clearly evidence the integrity of his actions but that nevertheless he thought it fit to give his Majesty that security in hand The King being well satisfied with the Duke's Reasons but much more with the Confidence he perceiv'd him to repose in his Justice and his own Innocency all jealousies that before had been infus'd into him to the prejudice of the Duke's Fidelity and Honour vanish'd away and he with the greatest care and assiduity was more than ever about his Majesties Person His Children which a little before he had brought to Court had order to continue about the young Dolphin's Person to be as it were Hostages of their Father's Innocence and the Mareschal's Tryal being at last over all Witnesses and Parties examin'd and heard without the least mention of the Duke of Espernon's name in all their practice his Majesty was not a little satisfied with himself that he had carried things with that moderation towards the Duke upon this occasion This untoward business was soon after seconded by another which though of far less dangerous consequence begaâ— the Duke nevertheless as much trouble as the first The Duke as he was ever very circumspect in his duty to preserve his Fidelity entire to the King so was he no less solicitous to maintain himself in all advantages deriving to him as particles of any of his Commands That of Colonel therefore having been conferr'd upon him by Henry III. with extraordinary priviledges as by his Patent does appear he could not endure the least violation of his Interest but with a stiffness that doubtless would have offended a less equitable Prince than that under whom he had the honour to serve was ever obstinate to maintain every punctilio of his right One of the greatest and of the greatest Honour that was annex'd to this Command was the power he had to name the Camp-Master to the Regiment of Guards when ever that place should be void and it hapned now that Grillon who had been possess'd of this Command before the Duke was created Colonel was fail'n into infirmities that rendred him incapable of his Charge Yet had his former Services been such as made it very reasonable he should however make his best advantage of it as his Majesty was content he should but having a singular and a very just respect for the Mareschal de l' Esdiguieres and a very great affection for his Son-in-law Crequy he intended the latter having first compounded with Grillon should be preferr'd to that Command intending perhaps hereby as much to clip the wings of the Duke's Authority which he had as Colonel over the Regiment of Guards as altogether to oblige Crequy The Duke advertis'd of his Majesties purpose could not forbear giving out aloud that he would never consent to it and the King on the contrary was resolv'd his pleasure should prevail But in the end after many oppositions which this good Prince was pleas'd to endure from a Servant the Duke who had never discover'd his mind to the King but by the mediation of others was resolv'd to deliver it to his Majesty with his own mouth as accordingly he did representing to him with a liberty which to his Subjects was none of the least felicities of his happy Reign the Justice of his Cause All which notwithstanding his reasons could not so prevail upon his Majesties temper but that he remain'd as firm as ever in his first resolution Which the Duke seeing and conceiving he could not consent to his Majesties desire without going less in the dignity of his place he rather chose to absent himself from Court than to be compell'd by an express and positive command to do a thing so much to the prejudice of his Authority and Honour and accordingly very much dissatisfied retir'd himself to Angoulesme The King who was not yet totally cur'd of a jealousie still kept awake by the practices the remainder of Biron's Faction not quiet extinct yet kept on foot in his Kingdom gave manifest signs of discontent at the Duke's departure and as he knew the alliance the Duke of Montpensier had contracted with his Family by his Match had begot a strict friendship betwixt them so was it to him especially that he spoke of it with the greatest freedom and in terms not without threats of the highest indignation This Prince who concern'd himself as much at the Duke's Interest as his own dispatch'd away to him in great diligence the Sieur de la Chetardie in whom he had an especial confidence to let him understand the King's displeasure and to remonstrate to him the danger he would expose himself unto should he longer persist in opposition to his Majesties pleasure who would herein be absolutely obey'd A caution by which the Duke plainly seeing he was reduc'd to a necessity either to bow or break he indeed chose the latter though not without high complaints of the injustice was done him which were neither so modest nor so private that they were not soon carried to the King's ear And though so stubborn an opposition in the Duke might reasonably enough have more exasperated the King against him yet such was the noble nature of this great Prince that it would not suffer him long to bear in mind the memory of his offense for the Duke had no sooner given his consent to Crequy's admission but that his Majesty commanded him the first thing he did to take a Journey a hundred Leagues from Paris to see his Colonel to take his Oath betwixt his hands to obtain his hand to his Commission and to receive his Order for his admission into his place Civilities by which although the King endeavour'd to give the Duke all satisfaction yet could they not so far reconcile him but that at Crequy's arrival he made him wait a whole day together at his Chamber door and expect some days after before he would receive his Oath or Sign his Commission And although he was himself very sensible that so many manifest aversions were
his obedience and about to dismiss those Auxiliaries who had come in to serve him in that Action his Majesty sent Sobole word That after so great a satisfaction as he had receiv'd from his Services he was as well dispos'd to gratifie him as he himself could desire which nevertheless the present condition of his Affairs not permitting him to do at so honourable a rate as he could wish it was for him to look out for something he had a mind to which should be as readily conferr'd upon him Those who had order to make this overture to Sobole were further intrusted to represent unto him That being Governour of Metz meerly by the Duke's toleration he was subject upon the first capricio to be remov'd after which from the honourable condition wherein he had liv'd for many years he would find himself reduc'd to a very moderate fortune That though he could be assur'd the Duke's humour would continue constant to him yet ought the declining posture of his Affairs in Provence to give him a reasonable Alarm That all things in that Country were so averse to him it was all the Duke could do to keep his head above water and that his Affairs coming to an absolute ruine as they evidently declin'd he would be in danger to be left in Metz without any support or any colourable claim either to command or recompense That the King conceiving a Gentlâ—man of his Valour and Merit worthy a more certain fortune did voluntary offer to make him his own Lieutenant in the Government of the Place and Country under the Duke whose Authority being kept inviolate he could have no just reason to reproach him for seeking to establish his own Fortune without doing any prejudice to his It was no hard matter to perswade Sobole into a thing he believ'd would settle his Affairs so much to his advantage so that he greedily swallow'd the bait and receiving a new Commission from the King retir'd very well satisfied with his Majesties bounty into his Government But as the first step into a fault makes men subject to stumble into another after having once fail'd in his Faith he had now no more regard to his Duty and conceiving he had good title for the future to Lord it over the Inhabitants of Metz with greater Authority than he had formerly done he grew insolent to the last degree Complaints whereof were soon brought to the Duke where to him they accus'd Sobole for having rais'd mony upon them by his own private Authority and to have committed many other insolencies against them The Duke was at this time disingag'd from the trouble of his Affairs in Provence and the residence he had since that time made at Court having inform'd him of Sobole's deportment he was questionless possess'd with an indignation proportionable to the offense but he very well foresaw that the King who had in design rais'd Sobole against him would doubtless uphold him and justifie his own Commission so that he durst by no means act any thing in publick against him not go about by open force to displace him but on the contrary dissembled as much as in him lay both the knowledge and the trouble of his fault and when continually importun'd by reiterated complaints from the Inhabitants of Metz a people he ever had in great consideration he only admonish'd him to behave himself with greater moderation towards them but Sobole was deaf to all those admonitions and so far from slackning his hand that on the contrary to render the Duke's good Offices fruitless to them he contriv'd with himself to accuse many of the principal among them to the King for having as he said endeavour'd to betray the Town and Cittadel of Metz to Count Mansfield Governour of Luxenbourg for the King of Spain Which he did to the end that his Majesty being prepossess'd with so black an accusation no one not so much as the Duke himself might dare to speak in their behalf The business was very strictly examin'd and in the end discover'd to be a meer calumny which made all the world conclude it had been invâ—â—â—ted by Sobole in spite to deprive the Inhabitants of their Lives and Estates a malice so notorious that the Duke could no longer endure a people whom he lov'd and had ever protected should be so ill us'd by a man he himself had appointed to govern but not to destroy them Which made him openly undertake their protection against Sobole's violence against whom the hatred the people had conceiv'd having provok'd them into arms they besieg'd him in the Cittadel a thing the Duke was not sorry for hoping this would counsel the King to remove him and that he being out the place could be supply'd by none from whom he might not promise to himself better things than from Sobole What the Duke had so prudently foreseen fell out exactly as he imagin'd it would for the King alarm'd at the danger of so important a place it being very much to be fear'd his ill neighbours would take the advantage of the evil intelligence betwixt the Governour and the people to seize the Town resolv'd to go thither in person and accordingly with the Queen and all the Court set forward in the beginning of the year 1603. A journy in which the Duke of Espernon was too much concern'd to stay behind and in the issue whereof Sobole was depos'd from his Government with a pardon for all that was pass'd which his ill carriage had made the reward of his Service and all the recompense he receiv'd for so brave a Command After his departure his Majesty resolv'd himself to dispose of his places a thing wherein the Duke of Espernon's interest did most of all consist who till that time had ever had the disposition of all Offices inferiour to his own in that Government and by that means had been absolute over the City but his Authority being suspected to the King who would have no other than his own acknowledg'd in his Kingdom his Majesty gave the Duke to understand that Sobole having resign'd unto him his Lieutenancy to the Government of the City and Cittadel of Metz and the Messin Country which his Majesty had formerly seated him in he was now resolv'd to settle men of Condition and approv'd Fidelity in his room always reserving which his Majesty would by no means diminish for the Duke his Authority in the place that in order thereunto he had cast his eye upon the two Brothers les Sieurs de Montigny and d' Arquien to the first of which he would give his Lieutenancy to the City and Country and to the other the command of the Cittadel but that the one and the other should render him an obedience equal to his own person The Duke having well enough foreseen how things would be had nothing to oppose against his Majesties Royal Pleasure but without coâ—â—â—adiction gave way to necessity and with patience the only remedy
remain'd was content to expect some happy opportunity that might re-establish him in the possession of a place so important to his fortune and whereof he saw himself at present absolutely depriv'd During his Majesties abode at Metz the Provincial of the Fathers Jesuits was by the Duke of Espernon presented to him where the proposition preferr'd by the Provincial for the re-establishment of his fraternity in France was so promoted by the Duke's mediation that it was concluded on to his great satisfaction Neither was this the first good office the Duke had done them nor the sole testimony he had given of his affection and respect to that Society he having ever been one of their most constant and most powerful Protectors in the time of their persecution as he was one of their principal benefactors after their re-establishment Metz that ever till then had made many and almost invincible difficulties of ever admitting them into their Corporation receiv'd them upon the Duke 's single accompt as he also procur'd their admission into Angoulesme before he left that Government Their Colledge of Xaints has no other foundation than what he bestow'd upon it of four thousand Livers a year in two fair Benefices which put all together have rendred him one of the principal Benefactors of that Society by the acknowledgment and testimony of the most ancient and most eminent men of the Order The variety of accidents and business that had befallen the King in these last years were yet too few to take him wholly up he still found leisure enough for his delights and although he himself took a particular accompt of all Affairs and was ever the main director in all things yet his abilities which nothing was too big for rendred him so excellent at dispatch that he still made way for his vacation and pleasure The Peace concluded with all his Neighbours and his domestick troubles extinguish'd either by the punishment of the offenders or by the excess of his own clemency gave him now sufficient leisure to look after the reformation of such abuses as were crept into the state during the licence of War an employment which how becoming soever his Royal care and how profitable soever to the Kingdom took up but a very inconsiderable part of his time the rest being dedicated to the Chace to play and to the diversions of Love entertainments that as the passions and humours of Princes who are the great examples of their people do easily insinuate themselveâ—â—nto their Subjects Affections or at least their imitation were grown so much in fashion at Court that there was scarce any talk of any other thing and if they had during this Voyage to Metz suffer'd a little intermission they were at the return of the Court to Paris more than ever set on foot It has been believ'd that though the King in his hunting and his Mistrisses altogether follow'd the proâ—â—ivity of his own nature yet that for what concern'd play he had in that as much design at least as inclination I have already told you that his Majesty having set down the bringing low the great men of his Kingdom by imperceptible ways to render them more obedient for a Maxime of State had put them upon the humour of Building to drain their purses and doubtless his engaging them in play was in order to the same design amongst whom the Duke of Espernon who already felt the smart of the first and that very well understood his Majesties meaning in the latter refus'd not nevertheless to make one for his Master's satisfaction but if he did it at first meerly out of compliance his ill fortune at last made it become his revenge and enclin'd him so passionately to it that he found himself in the end engag'd in so extraordinary losses as were no little inconvenience to him His Majesty would often do him the honour to play at his house ever inviting him to all his Matches And whether he retir'd to Zamet or to any other place to evade the tumult of Majesty and Greatness the Duke of Espernon was always the first invited so that although he was not in favour he was nevertheless in great esteem of which one of the most signal testimonies he could receive was the honour the King did him in permitting him to enter the Louvre in his Coach a favour till this time reserv'd only for the Princes of the Blood exclusively to all other persons of the Kingdom the Duke being the first that unlock'd this Priviledge for the Dukes and Peers though he enjoy'd it alone during the King's life his Majesty though oâ—ten importun'd by others of the same quality for the same honour never consenting to have it drawn into example 'T is true that after the King's death the Queen Regent to accommodate her self to the time was content to abate much of the Royal State and allow'd the Dukes and Peers and Officers of the Crown the same Priviledge but the respect to the Duke's person was that which first procur'd them that indulgence A famous Gamester call'd Pimentel an Italian came at this time into France whose dexterity in gulling the Court was such that I cannot forbear to mention him in this place 'T is said and it is perfectly true that this Cavalier hearing what an humour of play reign'd at the French Court caus'd great number of false Dice to be made of which he himselâ— only knew the high and the low runners hiring men to carry them into France where after they had bought up and convey'd away all that were in Paris he supply'd all the Shops with his own By which means having subjected the spirit of Play and ty'd the hands of Fortune he arriv'd at last in France where insinuating himself into the Court he was by some of his own Nation who had great interest there soon brought acquainted with the King Some have believ'd his Majesty understood the man well enough and was content to admit him for a Gamester the better to bring about his own design of impoverishing the Lords of his Court whose Riches grew suspected to him The Duke of Espernon was one from whom he drew the most considerable summes who after having got all his ready mony and many of his Jewels he moreover won of him a piece of Ambergris to the value of 20000. Crowns the greatest that ever was seen in Europe and which the Republick of Venice to whom it was after sold preserve to this day in their Treasure for a great rarity The Duke had not long been Master of it a Country fellow that had found it upon the Coast of Medoc having but a little before brought it to him as a thing due to the House of Candale of which the Duke was now the head This Ancient and illustrious Family are possessors of many goodly Mannors in Guienne and principally in the Country of Medoc with as ample priviledges as belong to any of the greatest Territories of the Kingdom
he had receiv'd from the King conceiving this business what gloss soever might be put upon it would be interpreted to his disgrace and would pass in the opinions of men at honour for a Bravado and an affront to him in his Government could by no means perswade himself to digest it which made him very important with the King that his Majesty would please to absolve him from so injurious a condition a thing the King who had him in great esteem would as willingly have done But his Royal Word being already pass'd to the Duke whom he knew to be as obstinate as the other in things wherein his Honour was concern'd and not knowing how at once to satisfie two so different humours matters were in all apparence going into as ill terms as at first when an accident fell out that soon took the Duke off all thoughts of that Solemnity The Dutchess of Bar the King 's only Sister hapned to dye at this time which gave the King occasion to write to the Duke of Espernon that he assur'd himself all such good Subjects and Servants as he was would rather lament with him for the loss of so dear a Relation than to think of Mirth and publick Solemnities of Joy at so unseasonable a time a command so much the easier for the Duke to obey by how much he himself had particular reason to be really afflicted at the death of that excellent Lady So that by this accident the Mareschal d' Ornano saw himself disingag'd from one of the greatest extremities he had ever found himself involv'd in it having been otherwise necessary for him either absolutely to disobey the King which he could not have done without incurring his disgrace or patiently to submit to an affront he himself had declar'd to be the greatest he could possibly receive and that 't is said he was resolv'd to have avoided by laying down his Commission such as were most perfect in his passionate nature being confident had it come to the push he would certainly have ransom'd himself from that submission at the price of his Fortune The Duke continued some time after this in Guienne and from thence returned into Angoumois where he spent the remainder of the year without being call'd thence upon any publick occasion All things as has been said were quiet and the King seem'd to be wholly taken up with the care of husbanding and filling his Exchequer wherein though some believ'd him to be meerly carried on by a natural inclination to the love of mony yet his designs which a few years after disclos'd themselves gave the world an accompt that there was more of design than avarice in the exact care he took to moderate the excessive expense had by his predecessor been introduc'd into the Kingdom The Duke of Espernon nevertheless could have wish'd his Majesty had been more open handed to the Garrisons in his Government those of Angoulesme and Xaintes being so ill paid that they could hardly subsist which putting him into an apprehension that those places become now as it were Frontier Towns since those of the Reformed Religion had made a kind of separation in the State of which Rochelle seem'd to be the Metropolitan City might be lost in his hands he continually represented to the King the danger those Cities were in but without being regarded at all which made him in the beginning of the ensuing year resolve upon a Journey to Court to try if in person and by word of mouth he could not prevail more than by continual importunities in writing he had hitherto done where being arriv'd and presenting himself before the King his Majesty as'd him in what condition he had left his Governments to whom the Duke reply'd That they could not possibly be in a worse the necessity of the Souldiery in Garrison being so great that he durst not undertake for the security of those places committed to his charge To which the King having made answer That they were us'd as others were The Duke who very well knew the difference his Majesty made betwixt his Catholick Garrisons and the neighbouring places possess'd by those of the Reform'd Religion took the liberty to tell him that those who had so inform'd his Majesty had given him a very ill accompt of his Affairs the Garrisons of those of the Religion who perhaps were arm'd to the prejudice of his Service being nothing in Arrear whilst the Catholicks who were firm in their obedience were ready to perish for want of pay The King nettled at so tart a reply and angry that the Duke should give him so publick a reproach in the discovery of a truth he had a mind for many reasons should have been conceal'd suffer'd himself to be so far transported by his passion that he could not forbear to tell the Duke He was perverse and importunate That he sought all occasions to displease him That he would have done him a greater kindness to have kept still at the distance he was at than to come into his presence only to offend him and for the close of all that he had long observ'd he did not love him To which the Duke without being thunder-struck at the King's anger which might perhaps have surpriz'd another man less confident of his Fidelity than he insisting upon the last words answered coldly but after a serious manner Sir your Majesty has not a more faithful Subject than my self in your Kingdom and I had rather die than do any thing contrary to the least particle of my duty But Sir for what concerns friendship your Majesty knows very well that is a thing not to be acquir'd but by Friendship At so bold and generous an answer there was none who was not astonish'd at the Duke's freedom and that was not ready to condemn his rashness though the King himself who knew how to put a just value upon great actions and how to interpret language of this nature was of a more favourable opinion and gave no reply but on the contrary reflecting upon what the Duke had said converted his indignation into esteem and interpreting what others thought temerity for an effect of honest liberty proceeding from a good conscience resolv'd to make himself belov'd by the way the Duke had laid him down and from that time forward began to use him much better than he had ever done Neither was the Duke wanting on his part but perceiving his Majesties good disposition towards him and adding the spur of affection to what he had formerly perform'd upon the meer accompt of duty he at last obtain'd so great a share in his Majesties favour and good opinion that before his death he receiv'd as many testimonies of his Royal good Will and Confidence as any other person of his condition whatsoever in the Kingdom This confidence began soon after to appear by the command the King was pleas'd to give the Duke over the Horse and Foot he sent into Limousin when tir'd
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
come up to them and that in all probability there would be sudden action yet durst no one venture positively to determine whither that preparation was directed or who was to feel the first edge of his Arms neither shall I presume to deliver these conjectures for truth nor suffer my curiosity to transgress the bounds this mighty Prince in his wisdom prescrib'd even to the most faithful Ministers of his Kingdom This brave and laudable ambition having long possess'd his generous heart he had from the first Idea of his design wisely laid up for the means to effect it that it might succeed to his glory and to that end from the time peace was first settled in his Kingdom had been gathering and had now got together a prodigious Treasure His Artillery and Ammunitions were all ready and in equipage fit to execute his vast designs France was able to furnish him with an infinite number of old Souldiers neither in the fair weather he had been so solicitous to maintain at home had he forgot to take a particular care of breeding so many brave Captains and good Souldiers in the Low-Country-Wars as were sufficient in a very short time to bring such raw men as should be rais'd into very good discipline Besides the Forces of his own Kingdom he had made a League with all the neighbouring Princes The Duke of Savoy the Republick of Venice the Duke of Florence and almost all the Princes of Italy the Prince of Orange and most of the Princes of Germany with the Hanse-Towns of the Empire were engag'd to joyn with him And the King of England had made great preparation in favour of his designs so that in all apparence what and how great soever these designs might be they were very likely to succeed Nothing then being wanting but a pretense to give colour to his action the death of the Dukes of Cléves soon supply'd him with one as good as he could desire for after his death the succession to his Dukedom being pretended to by all his Brothers-in-law who were five the Marquis of Brandebourg the Duke of Nâ—whourg the Count Palatine the Duke of Deux Ponts and the Marquis of Burgau all these Princes agreed to appeal to the King and to stand to his Arbitration but whilst they were pleading their titles in the Court of France the Emperour pretending all vacant Jurisdictions to be Fiefs of the Empire and that for want of Heirs Males he had right to seize them in trust had there establish'd the Arch-Duke Leopold his Cousin as his Deputy and Governour for and under him in order to which delegation the Arch-Duke had already by the assistance of the Austrian Forces possess'd himself of the best part of the Dutchy by the taking of Iuliers notwithstanding that the King had publickly declar'd he desir'd things might remain suspended till every man's Title was examin'd and the true Heir could be known And this was in effect all the reason could be given for this mighty preparation though an Army consisting of forty thousand French Foot ten thousand Swisse ten thousand Horse and fifty pieces of Cannon with their Equipage together with the Leavies the confederate Princes were still on all hands preparing to joyn with him giving all the world to understand that so great Forces were design'd for some other end than only for the Accommodation of a particular Quarrel all men were in suspense and in great expectation of what the event would be The Army then being in the Field and the King ready to depart from Paris his Majesty would yet first take so good order to secure the interior Peace of his Kingdom that he might not when at a great distance and in the heat of his Enterprizes be call'd back by Domestick troubles A consideration that made him determine to devolve his Royal Power to the Queen and to cause her to be declar'd Regent in his absence and knowing that how good soever her intentions were and how sincere soever her administration might be yet that the sovereign Authority he left her invested withal would require the Fidelity Courage and Prudence of some great and experienc'd Minister to support it he cast his eye upon the Duke of Espernon to confer upon him that great Trust and Honour In this resolution therefore having one day call'd for the Duke and causing him to come into his Closet where he was then with the Queen alone the Duke was not a little surpriz'd at the favourable and obliging Character his Majesty was then pleas'd to give of him to the Queen on so unexpected an occasion He told her That being upon the point to go out of the Kingdom the Government whereof he had during his absence committed to her care he had consider'd how necessary it would be for her to have a faithful Servant about her person upon all occurrences that might happen and in occasions where the modesty of her Sex would not permit her to act in her own person to be assisting to her with his Wisâ—om and Valour That having to that end severally weigh'd the abilities of all the chief Officers of his Crown he had found none in whom the qualities necessary for so great an employment were more eminent than in the person of the Duke of Espernon there present That having had a long experience of his Fidelity Wisdom and Valour he had determin'd to deprive himself of his Service though infinitely necessary to him in the prosecution of his designs and to send him back to her upon the first sally of his Arms. That she might repose an entire and perfect confidence in him as he himself also did who knew him to be a man of approv'd Fidelity and Honour That he was going to execute designs wherein he was likely to meet with many difficulties and perhaps some danger but that whatever should happen he desir'd her to rest secure in the Duke's vigilancy and care for which he would undertake both to himself and to her After which turning to the Duke he told him That he did not require from him any confirmation by new promises of those things whereof he had assur'd the Queen in his behalf That he had had so many proofs of his Vertue in the integrity of his former Actions it was not now to be suspected that he conjur'd him by the esteem and affection he had for him to justifie his expectation to serve the Queen and the Princes his Children with the same Fidelity he had serv'd him and to promise to himself for his reward all the acknowledgement he could reasonably expect from a grateful Prince and a good Master The Duke a little out of countenance at what the King had said in his favour made answer in few words That he did humbly acknowledge his obligation to his Majesty for so high a Character and for the unexpected Honour he was pleas'd to confer upon him which in the nature of it was far above all others he had
till then receiv'd from his Royal bounty and that if he had a thousand lives he would willingly lay them all at his feet to express his gratitude for so signal a favour That he did humbly beseech their Majesties to retain that favourable opinion of him and to conclude him the most unworthy of all their Subjects and the worst of all men if he ever fail'd in the least part of his Duty After this the King told him he could not leave him at present with the Queen having occasion for him to command the Vant-Guard of his Army till the Prince of Orange should come up to him for whom he had reserv'd that employment A thing the Duke knew before as also that the King intended him the honour of that important command in the mean time But the election of his person in that great employment of sitting at the Helm did not a little displease and increase the envy of many of the greatest men of the Kingdom who had long look'd a squint upon the Duke's Prosperity and Favour though his Majesty having maturely and upon very good grounds proceeded to that choice was not for any consideration or by any arguments whatsoever to be disswaded from that resolution I know not how some who envy the Duke's name and memory may entertain a relation so much to his advantage though were I put to prove the truth of what I report I could bring a great many persons of Honour and Quality to attest it the Queen Mother in the first Letter she writ to the King after her escape from Blois makes particular mention of it than whom no one could be better inform'd in this Affair and has also several times since declar'd by word of mouth what she then publish'd in writing neither was it a secret at that time no more than I hope it will be suspected in this where so many persons are living of Reputation enough to give it Authority should it be contradicted by any who perhaps are not so well inform'd The King having as has been said taken order to secure all things that were likely in his absence to disturb the peace of his Kingdom prepar'd himself to be gone The Queen had been Crown'd at St. Dennis the thirteenth of May and her entry into Paris was design'd to have been on Sunday the sixteenth and on the seventeenth his Majesty intended without further delay to set out towards the Army Nothing was now to be seen in Paris but great preparations of joy and triumph to honour the remaining Ceremony of the Queens Coronation nothing but demonstrations of the Kings Magnificence and of the felicity of his Reign himself being most diligent in giving the Orders necessary for the state of that Solemnity when this Great and Illustrious Prince the terror of his Enemies and the love and delight of his people going abroad upon the fourteenth of the same month to view the preparation of those Magnificences was in a stop he 〈◊〉 upon the way in the street de la Ferronnerie by Saint Innocents Church with three stabs of a Villain 's Knife laid dead in his Coach The Duke of Espernon had the honour to be seated by the King in the hinder part of the Coach upon whom his Majesty was leaning to whisper something in his ear the Duke of Monbazon with the Mareschal de la Vardin was in one of the Booâ—s and other persons of great Quality took up the rest at the first stab the King cried out I am hurt at which the Duke of Espernon who saw the next blow coming holding up his arm to divert it receiv'd part of it in the sleeve of his Doublet that was strook through though the King's Destiny would not suffer him to receive it all nor permit that at the peril of his own life he should save that of his Master as with all his soul he would have done The cursed Parricide proceeded yet to a third stab of which the two last were mortal and with the second the King tumbled dead upon the Duke who receiv'd him in his Arms his blood boiling in great quantities out of his mouth After this execrable act the cursed Assassinate was soon discover'd against whom those who attended the King and amongst them Saint Michel one of his Gentlemen in ordinary prompted by a just fury had already drawn his Sword to dispatch him when the Duke calling to mind how much those Gentlemen had been condemn'd who kill'd Iaques Clement upon the Murther of Henry the III. by whose imprudent zeal a further discovery from the wretches own mouth of the Authors of that abominable Treason was prevented he cried out to Saint Michel and to the Footmen who had drawn their Swords to the same purpose to hold and upon pain of death not to kill him but only to seize kis person that he might be deliver'd into the hands of Iustice. A caution that serv'd not a little to the vindication of an infinite number of worthy men on whom without all doubt the various Factions that after broke out in the Kingdom would according to their several Animosities have laid the blame of that detested Fact to serve for a pretense to their Insurrection The Duke having given this first order commanded the Coach man to turn back to the Louvre and having spied in the King's Train the Marquis de Monferrant his particular Friend and Servant he intreated him to go before and from him to command the Foot Companies that were upon the Guard before the Louvre to stand immediately to their Arms and to secure all the Gates to prevent any disorder in the King's Houshold In the execution of which command and in the distraction the sight of so horrid and so unexpected an accident might reasonably put him into Monferrant met the Chancellour de Sillery then going to Council in the Louvre who asking him the reason of that hurly burly and of the Souldiers running to their Arms Monferrant told him the King was dead at which the Chancellour amaz'd and in suspense how to believe it grasping him by the arm and saying how 's that Mounsieur de Monferrant do you know what you say the Coach arriv'd with the Curtains drawn out of which the King without any motion was carried up in a Cloak and laid upon the Bed in his Wardrobe The Duke after he had paid this last Office to his dead Master though surpriz'd to the degree may be imagin'd at so tragical an accident was not long nevertheless before he recollected himself when considering that the greatest testimony he could give of his gratitude to his dead Prince was to serve those he had left to succeed him he began to pay the Queen those services he had but a few days before in the King's Closet engag'd himself to perform though the Orders he there receiv'd were not intended to have been executed so soon nor upon so fatal an occasion The rumout of the King's death
posture after which he told them that his Sword was yet in the Scabbard his own words but that if before he went thence there was not order taken for the security of the City and Kingdom by declaring the Queen Regent he foresaw to his great grief he must be compell'd to draw it against the Enemies of the Crown and to fill the City with Blâ—od and Confusion That he knew there were some amongst them who would ask respite to deliberate upon the things propos'd but that he must tell them beforehand nothing was so dangerous as delay That in many great occurrences it was wisdom not to be too precipitous and to proceed slowly and by degrees to a final determination but that here it was quite otherwise it being necessary in this Crisis of Affairs to cut off all difficulties and immediately to resolve upon the thing propounded That what might to day be concluded without danger could not be done to morrow without Blood and Slaughter and indeed what pretense could any man have to ask respiâ—e in this case what was requir'd of them out of the rule of Equity and nature To whom was the King's Fortune more properly to be intrusted than to her who brought him into the world or to whose care the safety of the Kingdom than to her who for the space of ten years had with the late King been a Coadjutrix in raising it to that degree of height and reputation wherein it now stood He told them that the Queen was a Princess for whom his Majesty from the hour of his Marriage had never had any reservation in his most weighty and most â—ecret Affairs That he had made her his Companion in all his Expeditions That he had already deputed the Regency of the Kingdom during his absence into her hands a preordination after which he could not believe any one would dare to contradict the Judgment of a Prince so great in himself and so solicitous of the good and welfare of his Kingdom That therefore the most effectual means to preserve the Peace and Tranquillity wherein France had been happy many years was to concur in the King's Judgment and to justifie his Election That the discontents which govern'd in the minds of many men of very eminent condition were very well known to all That those persons it might easily be believ'd wanted no adherents That the impatient humour of the French in hopes to make their advantage of any disorder in the State would be apt to create more Mutineers if things were not settled in due season That there was no time so fruitful in Sedition nor so proper for mischief as when mutinous spirits were in suspense whom to obey That if ever this evil disposition was to be fear'd it was chiefly now when all the Forces of the Kingdom were on foot That they would doubtless soon be practis'd on all hands so that if by the prudence of that Assembly such temptations were not prevented those noble Troops design'd for the enlargement of the Borders of France and for the glory of the French name would by an unhappy and a sad revolution be seen to employ their Arms to the ruine of their own Country That they were therefore to take time whilst things remain'd yet inviolate and capable of the best impressions to mould them into the best form which depended upon their immediate Election That he had put the Regiment of Guards all the King's Servants and his own particular Friends into Arms that they might at convenient liberty and security deliberate of what he then propos'd that he knew very well what he now advis'd them to was without President but that he hop'd an Act of so great utility and importance to the publick good would one day obtain the Authority of Example and add to the Dignity and Reputation of that Honourable Body a priviledge by so much the more their due by how much they had never till then possess'd it That they did not need to apprehend herein their Authority should be prostituted to Arbitration or be disputed by any but that how high and generous soever their results might be they should infallibly be executed and that he and all his Friends were ready to lose their lives or to cause them to be inviolably obey'd The Duke's Oration being ended the whole Assembly remain'd in a profound silence and being equally astonish'd at the Accident had hapned and surpriz'd at the Proposition was made not a man on the sudden durst either by word or action express his thoughts only President Harlay in few words Gave the Duke thanks for the affection he had manifested to the Service of the Kingdom and to the Honour of that Assembly exhorting him to persevere in a passion so worthy of his Vertue and so becoming the place and honour he possess'd amongst them Whereupon the Duke perceiving their silence still to continue and unwilling to give them occasion to complain that by his presence he had extorted from them a resolution contrary to their sense and opinion he retir'd himself But at his departure that they might understand there was something of necessity in the case he told them aloud That what he had propounded was the best course they could take and that they were therefore absolutely and suddenly to resolve upon it Upon which last words the Sieur de la Guesle the Attorny General taking hold began in a short Speech to break the Ice by representing to the Assembly That though what had been propounded by the Duke of Espernon seem'd by the respect wherewith it had been deliver'd to be a thing wherein they were free to determine yet that what he had last said imply'd a kind of necessity but a necessity by so much the more just and honourable by how much the Peace of the Kingdom would not only be secur'd thereby but also a great advantage to their Body would certainly accrue That it was therefore in his opinion better immediately and voluntarily to declare the Regency to be in the Queen than to stay till their consent should be wrested from them upon compulsion and perhaps in a season when they should have no thanks for their labour Which being said the whole Assembly forthwith concluded upon the business by that Act not only securing the Peace of the Kingdom but also introducing a great example to pitch upon the same and an equally salutiferous resolution in our days when out great Queen Anne of Austria was settled in the Regency by virtue of the same Election I have often heard the Duke discourse of this Transaction wherein though he acknowledg'd his proceeding to be by an unusual and something an irregular way Yet that the Queens Regency being as yet not authorized by the Suffrages of any of the Princes of the Blood whose arrival also should it have been expected would probably have put all things into Confusion he thought it necessary to have it ratified by the consent of the people
of this Princes Protection had prevented others in the possession of his Favour and conceiving he should make himself more acceptable by rendring the affection of other Grandees suspected to him he had amongst others pointed out the Duke of Espernon for one of those of whom he had most reason to complain An ill Office that having at first preferr'd in general terms he afterwards pursu'd by particular circumstance telling the Prince that the Duke had doubled the Guards of the Louvre at his arrival and put all the King's Family into Arms as they had been to defend it against a common Enemy Which impression the Prince was more apt to receive by how much he believ'd that the Duke being already in a great degree of Favour with the Queen and very intimate with the Count de Soissons must needs be jealous of his return which he could not consider but as a great power directly opposite to all his concerns which made him at the first interview receive him not only with apparent coldness but also not able to dissemble his dissatisfaction reproach him for having endeavour'd to possess the Queen with some suspicions to his prejudice The Duke surpriz'd at so unexpected an entertainment and so groundless a reproach he having alter'd nothing in the usual Guards that had been kept in the Louvre since the King's Death and nettled with the sense of so injurious an Office gave aloud the Lye to all those who had branded him with so false a Calumny Yet would not this publick and generous profession of the truth so satisfie and appease the Prince that there was not still some remains of discontent in his mind against the Duke He did not think him so affectionate to him as to the Count de Soissons and seeing him advanc'd to that height of Reputation with the Queen could not expect he should be favourable to him in the design he had to assume that place in Court and to share that Authority in the management of Affairs which were due to his Birth and Greatness So that here the Court was divided the Prince of Condé having his Faction and the Count of Soissons his amongst whom the Duke of Espernon was the chief and most considerable member Yet did not this diversity of Interests produce any sudden ill effect the Princes paying a due respect to the Queen and being by her admitted into the debate of Affairs though the most important were carried on by other hands The Cabinet Council at this time consisted of the Duke of Espernon the Chancellour de Sillery President Ianin and Mounsieur de Villeroy wherein the Duke's Vote had the greatest sway and his Opinions did usually prevail by whom it being conceiv'd necessary for the honour of the Nation and the memory of the late King to pursue the Enterprize of Iuliers which had been the pretense of his Majesties Arms he propounded and got it to be concluded that the Mareschal de la Chasire with an Army of 10000 Foot and 1200. Horse should be sent to assist the interested Princes in the restitution of this Place The issue of which expedition was as succesful as could be wish'd the places possess'd by the Arch-Duke Leopold were restor'd into the hands of the Marquis of Brandebourg and the Duke of Newbourg so that Affairs on that side remain'd in as good a forwardness as could be desir'd to be shortly compos'd as they were to the satisfaction of the German Princes As in the occasion we spoke of last things were carried on for the honour so was it no less necessary for the safety of the Kingdom to give some satisfaction and assurance to those of the Reform'd Religion in the beginning of this new Reign it being very much to be fear'd this Faction which at this time was very powerful pretending a violation of the Edicts formerly publish'd in their toleration might run into insurrection to the ruine of the publick peace Wherein the Duke was of opinion to prevent either the real jealousie or else the evil intentions of those who were likely to breed any Commotion by Declarations to confirm the ancient Edicts granted in their favour It is very true that he had no kindness for their Religion but he thought it nevertheless unfit to violate the publick Faith where what he did then for reason of State he has ever since observ'd in his own particular administration so that though an enemy to new opinions he was notwithstanding ever very solicitous to maintain the professors of them within his Governments in peace and safety and it has been observ'd that although at Metz the best Families of the City were of that perswasion that they abounded in Xaintongue and Angoumois and that Guienne was not free it could never be perceiv'd that he made any distinction betwixt them and other the Kings Subjects except where he found them refractory and disobedient to his Commands These precautions so seasonably apply'd in this turn of State secur'd the Peace of the Kingdom both within and without to so fortunate a degree that a more happy Government could not possibly have been wish'd Which certainly if we consider the great number of discontents within before the King's death the distastes many persons of great Quality had taken who breath'd nothing but revenge with the Ambition that reigns in all Courts able to overthrow the surest foundations is infinitely to be wondred at To which may be added the envy of neighbouring Princes who could not without anxiety and apprehension suffer the height of prosperity to which France was already advanc'd together with the Artifices of such as usually in the troubles of a State seek to repair the ruines of their own desperate Fortunes all which evil dispositions could not according to humane imagination have found a more favourable juncture than during a Regency to have produc'd their fatal effects and yet never was France at greater peace within it self nor more respected of her Neighbours than in all the whole time of the Queens administration Wherein though I dare not I confess attribute the whole reputation of the good Government to the Duke of Espernon alone who having call'd the most prudent and experienc'd Ministers of the latter Reign into his Councils they ought also to share in the praise yet can I not in equity deny him the first place of Honour he having without dispute the greatest Authority and consequently having ever carried the greatest sway in the results of the most important Affairs This Power and Reputation being the ordinary objects of envy even amongst men of equal condition it is no wonder if the Princes of the Blood were jealous of the Duke of Espernon's greatness who as they said unknown to them dispos'd the greatest Affairs of the Kingdom wherein they particulary complain'd that he had perswaded the Queen to resolve upon a match betwixt the King and the Infanta of Spain a thing which in his Minority was not to
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
certainly involve the Kingdom in a desperate confusion but the Duke of Espernon having consider'd that the Princes for the most part had neither mony nor credit at home nor no intelligence abroad few places to retire unto and fewer friends amongst the people whom the serenity of the present Government had rendred very well satisfied with their condition was of a quite contrary opinion He therefore advis'd the Queen Regent to cause them by the Regiments of French and Swisse Guards with such Horse as were ready at hand to be suddenly purâ—â—â—d assuring her that if the King would please to put himself into the head of this little Body he might with the greatest ease imaginable and without resistance suppress a faction that had inconsiderately engag'd in a Rebellion without other ground than the meer instigation of some mutinous spirits and no other support at all It was the same advice he had formerly given Henry the III. in the time of his favour and in the first commotions of the League which not having then been hearkened to had cost the King and the whole Kingdom so dear but the same Counsel had here the same success the wisdom of the Ministers of State could not give ear to an advice wherein they apprehended so great a danger so that for want of having observ'd what the presence of a King does in a Kingdom where the respect to the Sovereign Authority has ever been so inviolate as that it seems to be a quality inherent to that people they lost the most favourable opportunity to have secur'd the present peace and to have prevented the mischiefs that ensu'd could possibly have been wish'd An oversight that the Prince of Condé very well observing as I have heard him say himself he of that observation as we shall see hereafter made a great advantage for the King's Service in the Queen Mothers Affairs The advice of taking Arms being thus rejected the Duke of Espernon refus'd to have any hand in the insuing Treaty wherein he saw they were to purchase a Peace he neither thought honourable nor likely long to continue It was nevertheless soon concluded and the Princes having at this time found no disposition in the people to follow the humour of their priuate discontents nor being able of themselves to raise any considerable force made no great difficulty of selling a Peace they would undoubtedly have bought at any price had they once been made to feel the smart of War But for this they had great summes of mony that furnish'd them for another Rebellion with some other conditions as that there should be a Convocation of the Estates General for regulating such disorders as they said were introduc'd into the Kingdom And this was that call'd the Peace of Saint Menehou according to the Articles of which there follow'd after a Convocation of the Estates but not till the Declaration of the King's Majority had first been ratified in the Parliament of Paris that Act having been thought convenient to precede the Assembly to the end that whatever they should there conclude might be more authentick and admit of no dispute for the time to come During this Session of the Estates and in the sight as it were of all France which in the persons of their Deputies seem'd to be then present at Paris the Duke did an action which made a great bustle and noise in the beginning but that in the issue through the high consideration and esteem of his Authority and Vertue was pass'd over well enough I have already said when speaking of the erection of the Duke's command of Colonel General in Title of an Office of the Crown that the King annex'd thereto a Sovereign Justice or Court Martial over all the French Infantry In any difference betwixt Souldier and Souldier the Duke together with the Officers of that Body to which the Souldier did belong was absolute and sovereign Judge of the Offense but if the difference hapned to be betwixt a Souldier and a Citizen there he was to call some Officers of Justice together with the Officers of the Regiment to assist him Rules that being enter'd amongst the Statutes of the Crown are at this day part of the Law as they make up the most noble part of that brave command It hapned that at this time two Souldiers of the Regiment of Guards fighting a Duel in the Pré-au-Clercs a place within the Jurisdiction of the Abby of Saint Germans the one being slain the other was taken and delivered into the hands of the Prevost of Saint Germans who detain'd him in the Prison belonging to the Abby Whereupon the Duke conceiving this had been ignorantly done by the Officer who perhaps might not know how far in this case his Authority did extend sent the Prevost-Martial of the Regiment to the Bailiff to make him understand the right the Duke had to demand his Prisoner and withal civilly to entreat him to deliver him up that he might be brought to his Trial But this entreaty was answer'd with a surly and positive denial which being in the terms it was deliver'd carried back to the Duke made him infinitely impatient that the Laws establish'd in favour of his command should suffer so great a contempt neither could he on the other side submit to pursue all the due Forms by which he was by order of Law and Justice to retrive his man Thinking it therefore the most expedite way to make use of his own Authority in the case he commanded the Lieutenant of the Company of which the Prisoner was to take a Squadron along with him and by fair means or foul to bring him away which was accordingly executed and upon a second refusal the Prison of Saint Germans broke open and the Souldier carried away to be punish'd according to the rigour of the Law but by those nevertheless who were his proper and natural Judges Hereupon the Bailiff goes to the Parliament to complain of the contempt had been offer'd to the Court by a violence upon their inferiour Officers upon which complaint and an Indictment Viva voce preferr'd by the Bailiff himself the Parliament issued out a Warrant to apprehend the Lieutenant for executing his Colonels Order with a Citation of personal appearance against the Colonel himself A proceeding that as it could not certainly be approv'd by all surpriz'd and nettled the Duke to the last degree He complain'd of it to the King representing at the same time his reasons to justifie the Act and not being able to support the contempt he conceiv'd was cast upon his person by a body he had ever honour'd and sometimes oblig'd he would give the world an accompt it was no easie matter to serve a Process upon him That from the Parliament had been granted out the sixteenth of November and on the ninteenth the Duke went thither in person accompanied with five or six hundred Gentlemen besides whom there also crowded as many more young Souldiers of the
Regiment of Guards into the Palace insomuch that all the Base-Court Galleries and the very Hall it self was full of them The Duke pretended he went to present himself in obedience to the Process had been issued out against him though no one could believe he went in such a posture with any intent of submission So that the Parliament advertiz'd of his coming with so great a Train and not knowing his design nor to what his passion might transport him suddenly adjourn'd retiring every man his own way before their usual time As it is hard to govern a confus'd and unruly multitude a sort of young hair-brain'd fellows who attended the Duke offer'd some indignities and affronts to some of the inferiour Officers of the Court and being most of them in Boots purposely intangled their Spurs in the Ushers and Proctors Gowns thinking thereby the more to oblige the Duke as they appear'd more sensible of his offense An insolence that infinitely aggravated the business which without that had been foul enough of it self A great complaint whereof was made against the Duke as responsible for all that hapned at the Palace every one believing that in the design he had to brave the Parliament all things were done by his order which had pass'd in his presence If the Duke had manifested a resentment of the injury he had receiv'd from the Parliament the Parliament express'd no less for what the Duke had done to the contempt of their Dignity yet did they make no complaint thereof to the King but remaining in a profound silence the truest sign of a violent affliction order'd a cessation of Justice with a determinate resolution never to meet again till first a publick and solemn reparation should be made This business proceeding to such a height put the King and Queen into a very great confusion they thought it neither convenient nor safe in this juncture of Affairs which seem'd to threaten some sudden mischief to disoblige the Duke of Espernon neither did they think it an easie matter to perswade him to pay the Parliament any great submissions who on the other side would in such a case as this accept of no ordinary satisfaction At last the King sent the Duke de Vantadour to the Palace to tell the Parliament from him That by their Body his person being represented all the injury they pretended to have receiv'd from the Duke of Espernon reflected immediately upon him That his Majesty also took it to himself to whom it did belong to vindicate his own Honour which he should be sufficiently able to do without any necessity upon them of espousing his Quarrel but that because the business had made some noise that might perhaps have given some offense to the publick he therefore desir'd they should receive a publick satisfaction and such a one as should satisfie the world of the great respect he had to Justice That in order thereunto it was his pleasure the Prisoner should be return'd to the same place from whence he had been taken and by the same person by whom he had been fetch'd away and as for what concern'd the Duke who protested he had no intention to offend the Parliament in what he had done he should be desir'd in his own person to make the same protestation before them Things being thus order'd the Duke of Espernon the nine and twentieth of the same month went to the Palace when though with no extraordinary Train about his person so many nevertheless of his Friends had convey'd themselves into the Palace as were sufficient to make head against his Enemies should they by taking advantage of the place or by pretending to do a right to the Assembly have attempted any thing against him Being come into the great Chamber and having taken his accustomed seat he speaking with his hat on in few words Remonstrated That having never had other intent than to pay all due respect to an Assembly in which he had had the honour for many years to have some place he could not but admire they should interpret what was an effect of that due honour and respect for a premeditated offense That he was not altogether so unthrifty of his own Interest as to offer an injury to them which he could not but know would rebound upon himself That he had for two and thirty years past been a Member of that Honourable Body during all which time there had not been perhaps a man of his condition more passionate for their Service than himself in the Kingdom That he had set down amongst the good fortunes of his life the opportunity he had happily met withal of expressing his good Affection to the Dignity of that Assembly when after the death of Henry the Great of Glorious Memory he had first advis'd them to make use of their own Authority in providing for the Regency of the Kingdom That he had tendred them his Service upon that occasion which had not been altogether ineffectual to the putting them in possession of a priviledge which would doubtless be taken notice of in ages yet to come That if any indiscreet persons had made use of his name either for the pretense of their insolencies or in the prosecution of their own private revenge he seriously demanded their Justice as the person most concern'd in the offense That he very well knew his enemies would lay hold of that occasion to make him appear in all the fault but that he did humbly beseech them to judge more favourably of his intentions and that all things past might be forgot concluding his speech with these very words That he diâ— intreat to be excus'd if in a rude and unpolish'd discourse he had not given that satisfaction he could have wish'd to their Learned Ears who having been all his life a Captain of Foot had ever made it more his study to do than to speak well To which the first President Verdun after having gather'd the Votes of the Assembly return'd this Answer That since the King was graciously pleas'd to incline more to Clemency than Rigour the Court by his Majesties express Command and in consideration of his many brave Services as also willing to make the best interpretation of what had pass'd accepted of his excuse hoping thereby for the future to engage both himself and his Sons to pay those Services to the King and Kingdom to which they were in gratitude oblig'd and to that Court the Honour and respect was due unto them Of which he never after fail'd neither at the hour of his death was there any person of his condition in the Kingdom who had more friends than he in that honourable Assembly nor that had more reason upon several occasions to magnifie their Justice The end of the Sixth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Seventh Book SOon after the forementioned dispute betwixt the Parliament and the Duke the Assembly of Estates broke up which instead of the happy
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
above them Wherein though it was a business of danger enough to affront a Minister so powerful by the favour of his Prince and so violent in his own nature the Duke of Espernon nevertheless made no difficulty to undertake it not having it should seem consented to the first proposal with an intent to leave the execution of it to any other than himself Upon Easter day therefore as has been said the King and all the Court being in Ceremony at Saint Germain de l' Auxerrois and the Garde des Sceaux having according to his custom taken his place above all the Dukes and Peers the Duke of Espernon violently pull'd him from his seat and compell'd him to retire It may easily be suppos'd an action of this kind could not pass without some untoward language neither were those words thrown away upon a man insensible of offense the Garde des Sceaux going immediately out of the Church and expecting with great impatience the end of the Ceremony that he might complain to the Duke de Luines of the affront he had receiv'd Wherein nevertheless he did not reflect upon what had pass'd as an injury meerly respecting his own person But as a Party and a Faction form'd and made in the Court by the Duke of Espernon who had seduc'd all the Dukes and Peers under the colour of an imaginary pretense to interest them in his own private discontents That this ambitious spirit so long inur'd to Government and Command thought himself depriv'd of his lawful possession if remov'd from the absolute sway of the most important Affairs That it was through the sides of a Garde des Sceaux that the fortune of the Favourite was levell'd at and that it was only a tryal by attempting upon his creatures what opposition they were to expect when they should immediately fall upon his own person That it therefore highly imported him whilst he had power to do it betimes to secure an enemy that would not spare him if he once got him into his hands An advice that made so much the deeper impression upon the Duke de Luines by how much he was before well enough satisfied of the Duke of Espernon's hatred so highly manifested by what he had publickly declar'd against him He therefore went immediately with the Garde des Sceaux to the King where being come he insisted not much upon the scuffle betwixt the Duke and du Vair endeavouring on the contrary all he could to disguise that action from looking like a particular Quarrel but qualified it with the name of the most impudent and audacious practice that could possibly be introduc'd into a State that a Duke of Espernon in the face and presence and in defiance of his King should dare to make a combination with persons of the greatest quality in the Kingdom to affront the Royal Authority The King was so highly incens'd at a Remonstrance preferr'd to him by two persons in whom he had so entire a confidence that immediately and without reserving to himself so much as the liberty to consider the interest he himself particularly had in the Duke of Espernons ruine or to call to memory the long and faithful Services he had paid to the Crown he in this case absolutely resign'd over his own Authority to them insomuch that at that very time â— 't is said it was râ—solv'd upon to arrest him Nothing then remain'd but a fit opportunity to effect their design which it was alsoâ— requiâ—â—te should be such as might seem â—o warrant the success of the Enterprize it being very unsafe â—o offend a man of his spirit by halves who having power places friends and mony to improve all those to the beâ—â— and withal a very high discontent upon him mighâ— do more miâ—chief thaâ— any other person whatever of his condition in â—rance To which may be added that from the time of his dispute with Mouâ—â—sieur du Vair the Dukes and Peers at Court were scarcely ever absent from him especially the Duke of Montmoâ—â—ncy who was no 〈◊〉 dear to him not only out of respect to the alliance betwixt them but also by the particular love he bore him and the esteem he had for him than one of his own Children was inseparably with him They eat went to Court and made all their visits together the Duke's two Sons also continually attending upon him so that it was no easie matter to attempt four persons of their courage and who were not without many Friends and Servants of great Fidelity and Valour to serve them upon all occaâ—ions at once To all which the Regiment of Guards were so made up of the Duke's Creatures that he seem'd to be stronger in the King 's own Palace than at home to avoid all which difficulties it was concluded to surround him by night in his own House and to seize upon his Person If the Duke had many and those powerful Adversaries his vertue had on the other side acquir'd him so many Friends and some of those so careful of him upon this occasion that he had timely notice of the design in hand some say by the Princess of County others by the Chancellor de Syllâ—ry but by what means soevâ—r itâ— came to his knowledge upon the first râ—mouâ— of it which as it did here commonly foreâ—runs a more certain intelligence he had taken a resolution to withdraw himself to defeat the effects of what was threatned and contriv'd against him wherein though he was so far cautious as to prevent the intended mischief yet could he not forbear so unseasonable an ofâ—entation of the little fear he had in a place where so much was to be apprehended as doubtloss prompted his enemies sooner to push lâ—ome to the intended business He was for five or six days together continually seen riding through the streets of Paris with so extraordinary a Train under colour of taking leave of several of his friends and acquaintance that those who had before premeditated his ruine interpreting all for contumacy and done on purpose to brave them resolv'd in the end upon a positive night wherein with four Companies of Swisse to surprize him in his own house and to carry him away All which the Duke being likewise inform'd of from so good a hand as that the intelligence was no ways to be suspected he presently put himself upon his preparation to make his best use of that advice This caution therefore being sent him upon the sixth of May at night and the surprizal being design'd the night following he had so little time to lose that he immediately dispers'd Tickets to all his most assured Friends and Servants to be in a readiness by break of day to mount to Horse according to which appointment he found above 300 ready at the precise hour to attend him who after having convoy'd him to his House of Fontenay in Brie where they conceiv'd him lodg'd in a place of safety most of them retir'd to follow their own affairs
the Royal Arms and that upon the preservation of Metz depended in part the life of the whole Action but of how great moment soever this place might be to the design in hand the summes nevertheless were very moderate that were there left for its defense arising to no more in all than an hundred thousand Crowns carried thither by Wagon from Saverne of which summe Vincentio receiv'd an hundred thousand Livers for the use of the Duke of Boüillon who was to take Arms in favour of the Queen a part of the remainder only being left at Metz for the raising of men necessary for the defense of the Town and to buy Ammunition The Duke having found by this mony coming in some though very little effect of those promises had been made him by the Queen did from thence conclude her Servants had provided so carefully for the rest that nothing would be wanting of all those things whereof they had given him before so ample assurance In which belief he set himself wholly upon his preparation to be gone of which also having given notice to the Queen her Majesty whose condition was much worse than his to quicken his haste sent him another Letter in the same Canting style Sir I shall make use of Magurin's one of our Factors Pen meaning Chanâ—eloube to let you know that I was never more overjoy'd in my life than when I receiv'd the Letter you did me the honour to send wherein you give me assurance of your constant love which is so great a comfort to me that what affliction soever God shall be pleas'd to lay upon me I shall notwithstanding rejoyce in this that my Husband loves me and that I shall shortly have the happiness to see him Neither do I doubt of his affection who has so good a soul that I know he can never forget her who in this world most honours and loves him and that so soon as he has settled all our Affairs where he now is he will come to take order about those we have in these parts which praised be God are already in a very hopeful way But I am in great pain to know the place where you are pleas'd I shall expect you for if you think it better that I go to our own house than to stay longer here send me word and I shall do what possibly I can to overcome the incommodities of the season to obey you but if it should fall out that I cannot stir from hence write me word how I may meet you upon the way and provided I be not put to rise too early I shall do wonders I expect therefore your Commands which I shall faithfully observe beseeching you to give me your instruction concerning all our other Affairs that I may do nothing may turn to our prejudice it being impossible I should ever fail in obeying whatever Commands you will lay upon Your humble and very obedient Wife and Servant And in a Postscript This shall be the last Letter I shall write wherefore I conjure you to remember to give me notice of your setting out that accordingly I may prepare my self G. G. And for the Superscription as upon that before A Monsieur Monsieur Fabert being at this present at Saverne This Letter which betwixt persons so well read in one anothers designs might with great ease be explain'd was by the Duke presently put into deliberation first that a day might be resolv'd upon for his departure and next that something might be concluded about the order was to be observ'd in going to receive the Queen To this Consultation the Dukes two Sons Rucellay and le Plessis were only admitted where as it usually falls out the nearer they approach'd to the execution of their design the harder it seem'd to be effected From the time the Duke had first engag'd his word to the Queen he had been very instant at Court to obtain liberty to go into his Governments of Xaintonge and Angoumois very well foreseeing that without such a formal leave he should meet difficulties enough in the very Journey it self had he had no design to favour the Queens escape but the more importunate he had been to procure that Licence the more obstinate he had found them to be in the denial They look'd upon him as it were mew'd up in Metz and were resolv'd to keep him in a manner a prisoner to his own Government in that remote part of the Kingdom So that the Duke in despair of procuring that priviledge and seeing that under the colour of some very inconsiderable excuses the King had a mind to make his presence at Metz appear altogether necessary to his Service he sent his Majesty a very full Remonstrance of the urgency of his Affairs in those parts with a repeated supplication that he would please to permit him to go Not that he expected a better success in this than in his former applications he had lost that hope but by this new Address to lull the Duke de Luines asleep who ought in reason to believe that this reiterated importunity pre-suppos'd an expectation in the Duke to prevail in his request and that consequently he would not depart from Metz till that were first obtain'd This Letter was writ by the Sieur de Balzac and is in my opinion one of the best pieces has flow'd from his admirable Pen which notwithstanding I have not inserted here forasmuch as the Reader may find it printed amongst the rest of his excellent Works By this Letter it was that whilst he was making preparation for his departure the Duke endeavour'd to conceal his Design wherein his policy was of infinite use and this that follows of no less He had a mind to send away before his Stable of manag'd Horses consisting of thirty what Gennets and Barbs the finest and best in France and equipage he had ever been very curious to maintain as he continued to the last hour of his life These horses that had been very unfit to travel such Journeys as he must of necessity take had they staid to go along with him and that could not in the mean time be convey'd out of Metz without much notice taken to hinder that observation and to delâ—de such as were too clear-sighted and too prying into all his actions the Duke caus'd for fifteen days together bridled sadled and in all their equipage as they had been to go a long Journey to be led out at several Gates of the City wherein though it was given out by the Grooms as done only to air them left they should become useless by standing continually still yet for a few of the first days they were seen to go out in that manner no body believ'd other than that they were the Dukes forerunners who intended himself soon after to follow An opinion that made the people crowd in multitudes to gaze upon the sight every one certainly concluding at first what was effectually the Duke's real design
the whole design By a supposititious hand one that took upon him to be a Servant to the Duke de Luines he caus'd five hundred crowns to be paid down to Lorme by virtue of which he retriv'd the Packet out of his hands disposing so of Lorme himself that he was never seen or heard of after by which means this great design in the greatest danger imaginable to be discover'd and lost was again restor'd to its former condition The Duke who as yet was totally ignorant of Lorme's treachery and who knew nothing of it of above a month after put himself in the mean time upon his Journey the order whereof at his setting out and which he also continu'd during the whole Voyage I shall here present you Wherein we shall observe so admirable a conduct that we cannot forbear notwithstanding the Duke's modesty who ever gave Fortune too great a share in all his performances to attribute the whole success of this enterprize immediately to his own prudence No body knew of his resolution till the night before his departure when all the Gates of the City being shut which at Metz as at all other Frontier Towns was commonly betimes he commanded every one to make ready for their departure the next morning He had some time before this caus'd eight thousand Pistols his whole stock at that time to be sowed up in Girdles of Leather which were all found in his Truncks at his death in the same condition they were at his departure from Metz such as a man might without much trouble wear about him which he distributed to fifteen Gentlemen of his Family whom he knew to be the most faithful and that were the best mounted to take care of with orders to follow him wherever he went should any cross accident befal him in the way His Jewels also which were lock'd up in a little iron Chest and carried in a Male was committed to a Valet de Chambre of approv'd fidelity who had likewise order not to stir from his person He had fifty Gentlemen only in his company every one arm'd with a Case of Pistols and a Carabine forty Guards with each one a Musket and a case of Pistols fifteen Sumpter Mules the ordinary Officers of his Houshold with several common Servants With this Troop amounting in all not to above an hundred good Horse and that would have been too little had he gone upon the accompt of a private quarrel only the Duke of Espernon adventur'd upon a Journey contrary to the King 's express Order from one extremity of the Kingdom to another and thence to return back again into the very heart of the same Kingdom there to assist the Queen Mother resolv'd contrary to the King's will to make her escape from a place to which she had been by his Majesty in the nature of a Prison confin'd and without certainly knowing by whom he was to be assisted in his design undertook to change the face of a mighty State so quiet and so united within it self as that it seem'd impossible either at home or abroad to be threatned with the least danger or trouble Wherein if the attempt was bold we shall find the execution no less worthy to be admir'd He must alone make an end of what he had alone begun his good Fortune it seems to his Glory ordering it so that not one great man of the Kingdom either envying or astonish'd at so daring a design would be drawn to embark in an action the honour and success whereof could derive to none but the Duke of Espernon So that they were content to let him bustle it out alone whilst themselves sate idle spectators of this haughty and noble Enterprize though it was certainly reported and believ'd that many of them had engag'd themselves to the Queen to serve her upon this occassion The Duke having thus order'd his little Train and not being able to separate himself from the Marquis de la Valette his most beloved Son without taking his leave he call'd him aside where embracing him with the tenderness of an affectionate Father he told him That the greatest testimony he could possibly give him of his Affection and Esteem was as he now did to commit to his Vigilancy and Valour the Custody of Metz it being the principal member of his Fortune and to the conservation of which he ought to be the more awake as it concern'd himself much more than it did him who having but a short time to live could expect but a few years possession That he might assure himself he should with the soonest be beleaguer'd with all the Forces the King could make and that no better was to be expected from the Inhabitants how well affected soever they might pretend to be to oppose both which much prudence and constancy would be requir'd That upon the success of the Action wherein they were now engag'd depended not only their Fortunes but their Reputations also which if it succeeded well they should be loaded with Honour but if otherwise be look'd upon as Criminals and Traytors That therefore they were to put on a Resolution rather to dye than to fall into that disgrace but that it was much better to live and to overcome as his heart assur'd him they should honourably and fortunately do By which few words the Marquis being confirm'd in the generous resolution he before had taken humbly besought the Duke his Father to be confident he would never do any thing unworthy his own Birth or his expectation when his tears having stop'd all further expression he by that tenderness gave a much better testimony of his courage than otherwise and at a greater liberty of speech his own modesty would perhaps have permitted him to do The Duke was no sooner parted from his Son but that he presently went to Horse to begin his Journey it being Monday the two and twentieth of Ianuary as had been before appointed The Gates of the City had not been opened since the evening before and then only that by which the Duke was to sally which was also shut again so soon as he who would himself be the last man was gone out Neither of three days after his departure was any one opened at all the Duke having moreover lest any Tickets might be thrown over the Walls or any persons let down who might carry intelligence of his motion to Court left order with Paul Lieutenant to a Company of Carabines belonging to the Garrison of Metz night and day to scour the Road to Paris and to intercept and stop all that should travel that way a precaution of so good use that the last news the Court receiv'd of the Duke of Espernon's departure came from Metz so well had all the Avenues been guarded on that side The Duke being now out of the City pursu'd his way with great diligence taking as long Journeys as the heaviness of his Sumpter-Mules would permit which though they ty'd him to
great Ministers of the Kingdom and that therefore she conceived she could not erre in following the advice of so mighty a Prince and in committing her self to the conduct of so faithful a Servant From Loches the 25th of Feb. 1619. The King had no sooner receiv'd this Letter but that the Favourites began to study an answer which though it were in shew respective enough to the Queen was yet full of threats towards the Duke Wherein after his Majesty had express'd to the Queen his astonishment at the violence the Duke of Espernon had committed upon her person he went on with great heat to declare That of all others he could never have suspected an offense of that nature believing there had not been that man in the world who in a profound and inviolate peace had had the impudence which were the express terms of the Letter not only to execute but even to meditate a resolution to attempt upon the liberty of the Mother of his King From whence his Majesty proceeding to menaces of the most severe and exemplary punishment he in the end justified those about his person from the ill usage whereof she complain'd as having been done by his own order and that with as much favour and respect as any Son of a much inferiour Birth could pay to a Mother declaring withal that he was resolv'd to take Arms thereby to put her in full possession of that liberty her enemies had taken from her and to cause the honour and respect to be paid her which was due to her person The rest was committed to the Count de Bethune who was sent away with this dispatch and who was to reside with the Queen to treat with her about an Accommodation a Treaty his Majesty immediately set on foot not thinking it fit till that way had first been try'd to commence a War wherein the Queen his Mother would be head of the adverse party A respect that did not long continue Whilst Bethune with this Commission took the way to Angoulesme the Queen Mother who departed from Loches the same day that she sent her Letter to Court was there arriv'd It was upon the first of March 1619. that she enter'd the City where she was no sooner come but that she dispatch'd away to all parts to dispose those who had promis'd to engage in her quarrel to declare now in her favour Most of the Grandees of the Kingdom were at this time retir'd from Court and almost all dissatisfied with the present Government yet whether it were as I have said that seeing the Duke of Espernon had already so engross'd the entire honour of the Action they could not in reason expect to share with him who had alone executed the most glorious and dangerous part of the design or that they had been taken off by the Favourites promises who in this juncture had not neglected to prevent the effect of their discontents however it was they were glad to do their own work at the Duke's expense and as they had had no hand in the action would not in the least appear in the Queens behalf The Duke of Espernon therefore with such Friends and Servants as he had must alone stand the brunt of the Royal Arms and undergo the utmost effect of his Majesties indignation The Queen 't is true granted out several Commissions and disburst some money not considerable for Leavies all which though it signified little to the work yet had she betwixt five and six thousand foot and betwixt eight and nine hundred Horse that were rais'd in the Duke's Governments by his own interest He had from the beginning of the Queens Regency made provision of Arms for ten thousand Foot and six hundred Horse which were now taken out and of so great use that could the Friends he had in Guienne have assisted him according to their affections he had upon his own accompt rais'd a very considerable Army But the Duke of Mayenne who was Governour of that Province having in this occasion been prepossess'd by the Favourite by whom the command of the Army that was to go against the Queen was conferr'd upon him it was not likely he should suffer those Troops to go out of his Government which were to be employ'd against him yet did not the Duke fail however of a very considerable succour from thence so great an affection and esteem they had for him in that Countrey the Marquis de Montferrant and Foncaude Brothers the Count de Calonges and some other Gentlemen of quality all considerations laid apart exposing themselves freely to the persecutions of the Court and the displeasure of a powerful Governour to pay that duty they ow'd and had sworn to the Duke of Espernon though having opportunity to draw away their men by Files only and that with great difficulty and danger they could not serve him so effectually as they desir'd Is the Queen found her self thus weak in the place where she was in person her party was in no better a condition in other parts of the Kingdom The Duke of Boüillon himself of whom the Marquis de la Valette thought himself secure refuâ—ing so much as to declare for the Queen who having long expected what the first success of Arms and the issue of the Queens Declarations would be and seeing neither the one nor the other which novelty often renders vigorous and considerable had produc'd any signal effect he was content to sit neuter and to attend the event by whose example some other persons of condition who had engag'd to take Arms in Champagne â—icardie and the neighbouring Provinces and that had been made to believe the Duke of Boüillon would head them refus'd likewise to stir all the most zealous and affectionate to the Queens Service could do being to come in in their own persons which signified no great matter Of which number were the Marquis de Môny Breauté Bourbonne Bethancourt and some others The Marquis de Themines came in also of another side though the Mareschal his Father was on the contrary party but it was only to command the Queens Guards of which he was Captain so that in effect the whole weight of the business lay still upon the Duke of Espernon The Favourites were in a far better condition who after they had on all sides prepossess'd the minds of the great ones and perverted the inclinations they might have had in favour of the Queen Mother had powerfully arm'd themselves rather indeed against the Duke than her The Duke of Mayenne was in the head of ten thousand Foot and twelve hundred Horse for the most part old Souldiers ready to enter into Angoumois The Count de Schomberg the Kings Lieutenant under the Duke in Limousin had receiv'd order to make Leavies to impede those the Duke was making in that Countrey which having done he soon employ'd them in an Enterprize of greater noise than moment though very disadvantageous to the Queens Interest
Upon which occasion the Duke of Espernon though very much incommodated with the expense of this War maintain'd almost throughout at his cost and by his interest endeavour'd nevertheless all he could to turn the best side outward pouring out himself in so many magnificences as perhaps he never had in his most flourishing condition so fair an opportunity of shewing the greatness of his mind and fortune After having lodg'd the Princes of Savoy in the Palace belonging to the Bishop of Angoulesme furnish'd throughout with his own rich Hangings emboss'd with Silver and Gold he entertain'd them with the pleasure of hunting a Stag presenting them with two very beautiful Coursers he had supply'd them with for that Chace After which he treated them three several times with so much splendour and magnificence that it could hardly have been greater at Paris The Tables which were forty times cover'd were at every covering serv'd with five several Courses neither was the profusion less at the entertainment of the Cardinal de la Rochefoucault and Brantes wherein if the excess made the Duke's liberality highly esteem'd it gave no less reputation to that little Countrey which could of it self furnish all sorts of provision in so great abundance It was not by the Cardinal de la Rochefoucault alone that the Queen Mother was complemented from the King and assur'd of his good inclinations and affection to her Luines who had a desire so soon as was possible to allure her from Angoulesme sending moreover thither le Pere Berulle at that time General of the Congregation of the Oratory and since Cardinal to settle her mind in a full confidence and security This Father a man of great Vertue and no less Capacity was very acceptable to the Queen and in no less esteem with the Duke to whom he had another quality of it self sufficient to commend him which was his near relation to President Seguier the Duke's most intimate friend After this person had dispos'd the Queen so soon as she could to come to the King he afterwards treated at great liberty and freedom with the Duke in the behalf of the Favourite from whom he deliver'd him other Letters full of affectionate expressions promising him withal in his name all sorts of good Offices and Service to which the Duke having answer'd with the same civility the Queen was in all apparence likely to be very secure and the Duke very well us'd for the time to come whose discontents as they had been the occasion of the War their satisfaction ought in all probability to have settled the Peace of the Kingdom though notwithstanding this fair outside of Affairs we shall see things fall out quite contrary in the ensuing year But to go on with the Subject in hand the Duke seeing all things now perfectly reconcil'd conceiv'd it very fit for him to write to the King to excuse what was pass'd which he accordingly did and indeed in terms of very great submission and respect though nevertheless far from any meanness or so much as any acknowledgment of the least offense Wherein he represented to his Majesty that having obey'd the Queen his Mother whom he had ever known passionately solicitous of the Kingdoms prosperity he never so much as imagin'd that the reverence he should pay to a person so nearly related to him could be reputed for a Crime That although in the very act of taking Arms to which he found himself oblig'd by an inevitable necessity he might possibly have given his Majesty some distaste he nevertheless conceiv'd he had by his behaviour therein so amply justified his good intention that no impression ought to remain in his Royal Breast but what should be to his advantage That he could confidently say that without so much as ever reflecting upon his own grievances and disgrace he had govern'd his passion from resolutions that might evidently enough have succeeded wherein he had sufficiently manifested the Reverence he bore to his Majesties Name and Arms though in the hands of his own particular enemies That he call'd all good Frenchmen to the test whether ever his own interest or animosity had transported him to any action contrary to his duty and whether he had not ever preserv'd his fidelity unspotted and pure during all the disorders of this Kingdom That he had now remaining but a short time to live and that he should himself conclude he had already liv'd too long could he find himself guilty of the least thought contrary to his Majesties Service and his own Duty That his Conscience being clear in that particular he demanded no other recompense for his Services pass'd than only a little repose in his old age expecting an occasion wherein he might honourably dye for his Majesties Service which was the conclusion of his Letter Dated at Angoulesme the 7th of Iune 1619. The Archbishop of Tholouze his Son was dismiss'd away with this dispatch who had also another Letter for the Duke de Luines in answer to those the Duke had receiv'd before The Queen in the mean time was preparing for her departure but her equipage being not to be made ready so soon as was desir'd at Court where she was with great impatience expected the Duke de Monbazon Father-in-law to Luines had yet time to come kiss her Majesties hands which was nevertheless by giving her new and greater assurances of all the good usage she could desire to press her with the soonest to part from Angoulesme and to separate her self from the Duke In the beginning of August therefore according to the Favourites desire she departed from Angoulesme in which Voyage the Duke only attended her to the borders of his own Government not caring to engage himself nearer to a Court to which he was so lately reconcil'd where the Queen at his taking leave after many gracious expressions of the infinite obligation she had to him presented him with a Ring of very great value together with a request that he would continually wear it for her sake as he did almost to his death This Ring was a Diamond cut into a heart and is at this day reputed one of the finest and cleanest for its size in France and this was all the Recompense he receiv'd for his Service he had done the Queen and for above two hundred thousand Crowns he was out of purse upon that accompt which nevertheless was more than he expected in the condition she then was having propos'd to himself in the undertaking no other acknowledgment and reward than the honour to serve her effectually and well upon this occasion The Queen after her departure from Angoumois arriv'd in a few days at Cousieres in Touraine a house belonging to the Duke of Monbazon where Luines accompanied like a Favourite with many persons of very great quality came first to wait upon her complementing her with the greatest civility and respect imaginable as he was also very graciously receiv'd And here
the Queen who had no mind to be kept any longer at a distance from the King her Son endeavour'd with Luines and that with all the insinuation and artifice her haughty and imperious nature would permit to remove those difficulties which as they had been the causes of their former separation were most likely to oppose their concurrence now The next day after her arrival the King with all his Royal houshold came also to Cousieres where at their first enterview there was nothing but mutual manifestations of great affection and tenderness on both sides from whence their Majesties went the same day to Tours where for some days they continued together but in the end after all this dissembled kindness the King returning towards Paris left the Queen more dissatisfied to see her self oblig'd to go to Anger 's after so many assurances that had been given her she should no more depart from Court than she had been before pleas'd with these demonstrations of Honour and Respect wherewith they had endeavour'd to deceive her credulity and to flatter her sincere intention From thenceforward therefore she so far resented Lâ—ines his ill usage as to meditate a revenge and how by a second War to procure what by this first Peace she saw she could not obtain neither was the Bishop of Luçon become now absolute with her sorry to see her so dispos'd He consider'd that whilst his Mistriss remain'd thus excluded from Court her power being so small his could not consequently be very great a consideration that made this aspiring spirit who already had propos'd to himself no less than the Government of the Kingdom suffer if possible with greater impatience than the Queen her self those obstacles that he saw were oppos'd to the level of his haughty Ambition and vast designs Animated therefore with these reflections he began to labour a good intelligence betwixt such as he knew were dissatisfied with the present Government to re-unite them in the Queens Interest as discontented as they Neither was it any hard matter to win many over to her side the happy issue the Duke of Espernon had single and alone procur'd to this Princesses Affairs having got him so great a reputation that the major part of the great ones of the Kingdom made no great difficulty of engaging in a cause they had seen so easily and by so little means to succeed Of this number was the Count de Soissons and the Countess his Mother the Dukes of Longueville and Vandosme the Grand Prior of France the Dukes of Mayenne and Retz with many other Princes and Lords of very eminent condition Had the Duke of Espernon not been concern'd in the first business he could never have been drawn into this so many confederates of almost equal quality giving him to apprehend more from their ill intelligence betwixt one another than he could reasonably hope from their union but the Queen who repos'd her chiefest confidence in him who had already made trial of his Service and found it so successful to her did so ply him with reiterated favours and entreaties that he could not handsomly avoid engaging in her behalf Neither had he so long stood off that he had fewer particular grievances than the rest but having engag'd his Faith to the Duke de Luines it would have been almost impossible to have perswaded him to break his word had not Luines himself given the first example and on that side it was that the Queen assaulted the Duke by representing to him the non-performances of those things had been promis'd and that as it had been principally through his assistance she had obtain'd all that had been granted to her she expected he should see the Articles of the Treaty fulfill'd endeavouring to perswade him that his own honour was no less interested therein than her satisfaction And that he might the better taste her reasons she fail'd not to prepossess him with all sorts of civilities and favour honouring him with some presents whereof one was a very fine Watch set all over with Diamonds and very curiously wrought which she accompanied with a Letter as kind as could possibly be writ upon such an occasion wherein amongst other obliging expressions she told him That the Diamonds wherewith it was embellish'd were not more firm than her affection and that he might assure himself the Services she had receiv'd from his generosity should ofter come into her memory than the hand of that Watch should point out hours every day To which words which were it seems the way of writing at that time and none of my invention I have neither added nor diminish'd But by this complement and several other testimonies of affection and esteem the Queen having awak'd the passion the Duke had to give her always all satisfaction she gave him consecutively a full accompt of her determination of all the persons of quality she had made to her party and of the powerful means she intended to make use of to re-instate her self in that degree of honour which was due to her Person and Dignity Whereupon the Duke considering this second action as dependent upon the first solemnly engag'd himself and made an absolute promise once more to serve her If the Queen was thus diligent to form and redintegrate her party Luines on the other side was no less industrious now than he had been before to break and disunite it He very well knew the Queen to be discontent which she had her self so publickly profess'd that could be no secret He was moreover inform'd that most of the great persons in the Kingdom had engag'd with her and though he doubted not but that the Duke of Espernon from whom she had for the time pass'd receiv'd so many good Offices continued still his ancient fidelity to her yet would he notwithstanding feel his pulse by la Croix de Bleré whom he dispatch'd away to him to that purpose This Gentleman therefore comes to the Duke to Angoulesme in the time of the Carnaval where he found him taken up with entertainments that nothing relish'd of the meditation of an approaching War making merry with the Company of the Town which at this Festival was increas'd with several Families of the neighbouring Gentry La Croix who would by all means make use of his dexterity to sound the Duke's intention met with a person in him that was not easie to be pry'd into so that the Duke after having discours'd with him in general terms of the Queen Mothers Interests and Affairs and having return'd a civil answer to Luines his Complement dismiss'd his Ambassadour perfectly instructed of what he conceal'd from none and of what he did not care Luines himself should know The first Essay having given the Favourite no great satisfaction who already saw that Affairs began to grow hot with the season that the Count de Soissons with the Countess his Mother had left the Court that the Duke of Mayenne
as true in his predictions as unhappy in prevailing with these good counsels his long experience suggested to him had advis'd that a sufficient Guard of Horse should be planted near to the Fort to beat back any that should dare to sally out of the Town to drive our men from their post He knew very well that the enemy had few or no Horse and that therefore they durst not without infinite danger hazard their Foot to come to us the space between being large enough to give our Cavalry room to come to charge and to cut them in pieces before they could come to the Fort that we kept and Calonge has since confess'd to me that had his counsel been follow'd he should never have dar'd to sally out it being not to be done without manifest ruine and that consequently within ten dayes he must have been necessitated to a surrender but this second advice was rejected as well as the first through the opposition of some who car'd not to overthrow the King's Affairs provided they could thereby discredit the Duke's conduct or traverse his designs All these over-sights of ours being taken notice of by Calonges he would no longer defer to re-possess himself of what had been taken from him especially considering that he could not otherwise preserve the place to render therefore his action more illustrious by the light and to put a greater infamy upon our confusion he sallied out at high noon at the head of five hundred Foot seven and twenty Cuirassiers fourteen Carabins and two Trumpets with which small party he fell so vigorously upon the Fort that it was abandoned to him with little or no resistance The noise of this sally at so unexpected an hour and the place where the action was performâ—d by its height expos'd to the view of the whole Army soon call'd all the King's Forces to the relief of their Friends insomuch that many Lords of very great quality and a great number of Gentlemen who hapned to be at that time in the King's Lodgings mounted upon little pad Nags most of them without Boots or other Arms than their Swords to signalize their Valour in the sight of their Prince who was himself spectator of the Action Of these the Duke of Fronsac a young Prince of great expectation was one the Duke of Montmorency another the Marquis de Beuuron Hocqueâ—ot Lieutenant of the Gendarmes to the Prince Cambalet Fabregues with many other Gentlemen of note of all which not one escap'd excepting the Duke of Montmorency and he with two thrusts of a Pike in his Breast so that this unfortunate succour serving only to augment our loss and to condemn those who had contradicted the Duke's opinion he receiv'd to his great grief a publick reparation which he could have been heartily glad to have fail'd of rather than it should have been purchas'd at the price of so much noble Blood and so notable a disadvantage to the Royal Armes Le Plessis Baussonniere Mareschal de Battaâ—le of the King's Armes bravely fighting escap'd in this first occasion though he was therein desperately engag'd but he was not so fortunate in another that â—ollow'd soon after at the storming a Half-moon where after having given his orders for the assault and put himself as his custom was in the head of the Assailants encouraging as well by his example as his voice those he led on to fight he lost an eye by a Musquet-shot which soon after occasion'd the loss of his life After so much blood spilt the difficulties of the Siege daily encreasing the Duke de Rohan was glad to make use of a juncture wherein his party had some little advantage to procure a more favourable Peace which was accordingly sign'd before Montpellier the 22 of October 1622. and Calonges surrendred up the place into his Majesties hands who if he had by his Courage won himself a great reputation in the Siege he obtain'd no less by his ingenuity in the handsome manner of his submission to the King The day after the Peace was concluded the King made his entry into the City when after his Majesty had taken order for the defense of the Town he took the way to Paris by Provâ—â—câ— Avignon Dauphiné and Lionnois so that the Duke of Espâ—â—â—on who never parted from him in all this Journey attended his Majesty into his old Government of Provence There had formerly been as you may have observ'd various dispositions towards the Duke in that Countrey as well friends as enemies but time which is the sovereign cure of all untoward passions had reconcil'd them all by this time to one sense All Animosities were now converted into a general esteem of his Vertue insomuch that I have not observ'd him to have a greater reputation in any Province of the Kingdom nor to be any where receiv'd with greater respect and applause All mischiefs whether publick or particular occasion'd by the former War were buried in oblivion and the people after having seen the King enquir'd aloud for the Duke of Espernon which his Majesty taking notice of fail'd not so often as he met a crowd upon the way to shew them the Duke they were so inquisitive after and when asking them some pleasant questions about their past disorders even their former miseries were at this time turn'd into delight The King at his departure out of Provence pass'd by Avignon where his Majesty was visited by the Duke of Savoy This Prince seeing almost none of the old Court save the Duke of Espernon for whom he had ever had a very great esteem though he had been notably disappointed by him in all his designs upon France as has been said before was particularly and infinitely civil to him He came very frequently to his Lodgings ever carrying himself with great familiarity and very obliging fashion living in the King of France his Court with as much liberty and freedom as he had been all the while in his own His aspect which was gracious open and full of Majesty giving evidences though under a very moderate stature of the great and generous soul he was really master of From Auignon his Majesty pass'd through Dauphiné where arriving about the end of the year he there found the Queens who by his order were thither come to attend him And here it was that the Duke of Espernon receiv'd a new honour in the person of the Marquis de la Valette his Son and which he preferr'd with good reason before all the rest he had hitherto receiv'd from his Majesties bounty The King had a little before as you have heard honour'd him with the Government of Guienne had by his Grace and bounty establish'd and confirm'd him in all the Offices and Dignities he had been invested withal as the rewards of his Service but now for the Crown of all his Favours the King would yet honour him with his Alliance and make him Father-in-law to Gabrielle a legitimated Daughter of
establish the order which for the future was to be observ'd in reference to this work the Duke was upon the matter oblig'd to make a Journey to Paris to examine the Accompts of his Agents there he therefore sent to the King to entreat his Majesty whilst the peace of the Kingdom and the good condition he had settled his Government in rendred his presence less necessary there to give him leave so to do His request was easily granted and he accordingly departed from Bordeaux in the latter end of November 1623. and came to Paris about the end of December following Some have suppos'd he did not so much desire this Journey for any thing that concern'd his Domestick Affairs as to see if any benefit was to be made of the Queen Mothers good inclinations towards him and to try the grateful return she made him to expect for the signal Services he had done her in the time of her disgrace She was of late years become all in all at Court and many of her Servants that had not so well merited from her as the Duke had done had receiv'd very great rewards but he could not perceive the same dispositions towards him nor discover the gratitude she had promis'd him when she was in the worst condition to express it on the contrary as if with her Fortune she had chang'd her Nature and as if by being become happy and powerful she had been no more the same Princess the Duke had so well serv'd when she was under persecution and had no power at all she no more remembred him she was oblig'd to have recompens'd by all sorts of benefit and favour The Duke came to Paris so well attended that of many years before there had not been seen any person of his condition enter the City with so numerous a Train Many persons of very eminent quality went out as far as Chastre to meet him and his coming was very remarkable by the solitude was observ'd in the Louvre where there scarce remain'd any save the King 's own Domestick Servants A thing his Majesty very well observ'd and was nothing displeas'd at it but on the contrary having that day taken notice of some Gentlemen in the Presence who had dependence upon the Duke he merrily said to them How comes it to pass you are not gone out to meet the Duke of Espernon he 'l talk with you for this when he comes So ready his Majesty was to cause that honour to be paid him that was justly his due He was receiv'd at his coming by the King and the Queens with very great kindness and falling to his business presently after his arrival Mauroy a Councellor of State and one of his Agents a man of great vertue and very good at business gave him up his Accompts exactly just and right but Valliech his old Secretary having employ'd some people under him who had either been not very careful or not very honest fell short above fifty thousand Livers which this good Master franckly forgave him his noble nature it should seem not being able to conâ—ent that even so great a fault as his negligence should ruine the Affairs of his own Family All his Accompts and the other Affairs that most requir'd his presence at Paris were in less than four months dispatch'd so that towards the latter end of April he began to think of his return into Guienne The Court was then at Compiegne whither the Duke went to receive the King's Commands supposing this should be the last leave he was to take and not expecting that his Age which was now very far advanc'd he being at this time near upon threescore and ten years old would permit him to make another Journey eight years after as he did in a marvellous health and vigour Whilst the Duke staid at Compiegne the King who would have been very glad to have the mis-understanding betwixt him and the Parliament compos'd caus'd d' Herbaut Secretary of State to treat with him about it wherein the Duke express'd himself very willing to an Accommodation and so far as to consent to the Act about the Couriers which was in his own presence by the Council determin'd in the Parliaments favour He was moreover satisfied with the Order the King sent to suspend the Election of the Maire of Libourne which was another main thing in dispute till his return into the Province But the first President was not so well dispos'd to peace he conceiv'd this Accommodation would infinitely lessen the Authority he had got amongst his Brethren during these controversies and therefore without any regard either to the King's Command or the Duke's Order precipitated the Election of the Maire whom the Duke found establish'd at his arrival from whence arose a new and higher quarrel than before So that if in truth the Duke was herein to be condemn'd for having in the beginning prosecuted things with too much heat the President cannot in my opinion be excus'd for thus urging them to the last extremes without ever yielding to such a reconciliation as might being timely apply'd have prevented the ensuing mischiefs The Duke having thus settled those of his Domestick Affairs that requir'd his presence at Paris and done his part to provide as well for the future quiet of his Government departed first from Compiegne and soon after from Paris to return into Guienne He would in this Journey take Espernon in his way that he might touch at Chartres in order to some Devotions Whither Cartier whom he had left at Court to solicit his Affairs in the place of Valliech dispatch'd an express Courier to him to let him know that Cardinal Richelieu was since his departure created prime Minister of State I was present when the Duke receiv'd this news at which he was the more surpriz'd forasmuch as he had discover'd nothing of that design in the time of his being at Court though he had been very frequent with the Queen Mother who had also constrain'd her self to dissemble a little forc'd shew of particularity and confidence in him by which he evidently saw he was not upon so good terms with her as they had a mind to make him believe he was he notwithstanding said no more at present but this That the Cardinal was indeed a man of great dexterity but that he would very much change the face of Affairs should he long continue at the Helme Upon the instant he according to his custom sent him a Complement upon his new promotion which doubtless was not very acceptable to the Cardinal there being scarce any space left at the top of the Letter and nothing more than Your very humble Servant subscrib'd at the bottom a style that he continued a great while and perhaps too long for the interest of his Affairs though it was indeed no other than what he ever us'd to all other Cardinals After having dispatch'd this Complement he continued his Journey towards Guienne
delay to send you assuring my self you will look upon it as a very great Honour and good Fortune to one who is so near and dear unto you I think my self the more happy therein as I hope to be in a better capacity of letting you see the great esteem I have ever had of your friendship which I desire to preserve by manifesting how much I am Uncle Your very good Niece Marie From Nantes the 7 th of August 1626. There was a strange and sudden alteration in Madames style before her Marriage it had us'd to be Monsieur my Uncle and her Letters always ended with Your most humble and most affectionate Servant but one sole night had so rais'd her above her former condition though very illustrious before that there was now very little difference betwixt her style and that us'd by the Queen and Queen Mother neither was the Duke it may be suppos'd displeas'd to be so us'd and the advancement of so near a Relation being in part his own that which seem'd a little to lessen him in this new way of writing he conceiv'd to be amply recompens'd in the honour of this Alliance The Dutchess of Guise also accompanied this Letter of Madame her Daughter with another from her self wherein she made an excuse for not having written to the Duke before the Marriage as it had been her Duty to do Telling him they had met with so many difficulties in the business that she could never believe it would take effect till she saw it absolutely done which uncertainty had occasion'd that neglect The King presently after did him the same honour as also the two Queens the Monsieur himself with the rest of his new and illustrious Allies but before he receiv'd the honour of these last Complements the Duke had sent the Count de Maillé to Court to prevent them and with all humble respect to let them know how infinitely satisfied he was to see his Family by his Majesties Royal Bounty rais'd to such an eminent degree of honour as it was by this Marriage The Peace of the Kingdom the success of the Marriage of Madame and the news of the Dutchess de la Vallette's being great with child hapning almost at the same time had altogether so overcharg'd the Duke of Espernon with an excess of joy that it must of necessity overflow He would therefore communicate part of his own satisfaction to the publick and as all his Passions would ever break out after an extraordinary manner so this of so excessive a joy gave him a new occasion of shewing the world the largeness of his heart He therefore design'd a Tilting at Bordeaux wherein instead of the vain unprofitable and fabulous representations that are usually exhibited upon such occasions he would make the people with delight and in security to see the various faces of War and in the midst of peace would divert himself with the exercises of his own profession To this entertainment he invited all the persons of Quality of both Sexes in the Province and the Duke de la Valâ—tte came purposely from Metz to supply the Duke his Father's place in all these noble exercises wherein he acquitted himself so well that he was not the least Ornament of that great Solemnity As the expense of this Festival was exceeding great the Assembly continuing for above fifteen days together so Fortune would seem to contribute something to this profusion but she did only seem to do it when after having presented the Duke with Millions and brought them almost to his own door she rather chose to bury them in the Sea than to make good what she had so fairly promis'd It is of the wrack of the Carricks that I am about to speak which hapned at this time and having had a Relation of so remarkable an accident from the Master's Mate of that of those two great Vessels which perish'd upon the Coast of Medoc I ought not I conceive to pass by so memorable a misfortune and of which I am able to give so true an accompt After the Conquest the King of Spain had made of the Kingdom of Portugal the same Custom the Portugals had formerly paid to their natural Princes for the Liberty of their East India Trade devolv'd of course to the King of Spain but with this condition nevertheless that the Portugals should not be oblig'd to unlade their Merchandize in any other part of the Catholick King 's Dominions than that of Lisbon only for a Mark of the antient Right those of their Nation had ever had to that Traffick with the Indies This priviledge was the loss of those two Carricks they had set sail from Goa the fourth of March 1626 laden with Merchandize of very great price as Diamonds and other Stones Amber-gris Besoar Spices Drugs Silks and other rarities both of the Indies and the Kingdom of China to the value of above two Millions and a half of Gold at least in either bottom They had been mann'd out with above four hundred and fifty what Mariners and Souldiers besides several Gentlemen and other persons of condition that either by the curiosity of Travail or thirst of Gain had been tempted into those remote parts of the world All these together made up above six hundred persons and one might indeed more properly have call'd these prodigious Hulks which were each of them of two thousand Tun floating Cities rather than Ships built for Navigation they having in them all sorts of Artizans establish'd Markets Victuallers and almost all sorts and conditions of men with the same policy and civil Regiment that is usually observ'd in the greatest and most populous Cities These two great Vessels that seem'd to be Sovereigns of the Sea and that despising any thing of a Storm fear'd nothing but Quick sands Fire and Rocks after a prosperous Voyage were surpriz'd in the Road of Lisbon with foul weather and driven back to Coruna a very good Port upon the Coast of Galicia in Spain Where the storm continuing very long the Captains of the Carricks were by those of the Town importun'd to unlade their Goods in that Harbour and no more to expose so great Riches acquir'd with so much peril and pains to the dangers of the Sea but they were deaf to that motion and on the contrary highly insisting upon their priviledge the King of Spain at last gave way to their obstinacy commanding only the Admiral of the Portugal Navy Don Manuel de Menezes with six of the best Gallions of his Squadron to put to Sea and to Convoy them safe to Lisbon though this precaution only serv'd to augment his loss The Gallions came up to the Carricks to which the Admiral gave express order not to stir thence till a calmer season But what good Counsel can prevent Mischance the Carricks contrary to all order and advice upon the first little Truce of the Tempest which as it often falls out at Sea only retir'd to return
own perswasion who had born Arms amongst them with great Reputation and Valour and who having upon very good considerations reconcil'd himself to this Duty was the more fit to perswade them to do a thing wherein he had himself been a leading example So soon as these and the rest of their Party had declar'd the King seeing the War kindled in almost all the Provinces of his Kingdom sent away the Prince of Condé into Languedoc in the quality of Lieutenant General of his Armies not only in Languedoc and Guienne but likewise in some other adjoyning Provinces to whom he also deliver'd two Commissions of Lieutenant Generals under him for the Dukes of Montmorency and Espernon The latter of these had no sooner intelligence of the Prince's arrival at Tholouze but that he immediately posted thither to pay him the respect due to a Prince of the Blood and from his own mouth to receive his Majesties Commands He was there receiv'd by the Prince with all the tenderness and manifestation of entire confidence he could possibly expect or desire but how kindly soever he took this entertainment he could not nevertheless force his complacency so far as to accept of the Commission the Prince had to give him of Lieutenant General under his Command He at first defended himself from it by several very civil and respective excuses telling him amongst other things That being his most humble Servant and he was effectually so no condition whatever could more subject him to his Commands than the respect he had for his Quality and Person had already done and that for any thing else the power he had as Governour of Guienne giving him of it self sufficient Authority to cause him to be obey'd in whatever he should please to command within that Province he did not stand in need of any further Commission for that end But at last the Prince unwilling to understand his excuses and still pressing him to receive it the Duke with his usual liberty franckly told him That from his youth till that time he had ever been honour'd with such Commands immediately under the King 's his Masters without having ever accepted that quality under any other than themselves and that he did therefore beseech him he would please to permit him in this last Act of his Life to retain a priviledge he had for so many years and under so many glorious Masters enjoy'd After so candid a Declaration the Prince would no more importune him neither did he discover the least offense or unkindness at the Duke's refusal which he had the more reason to be satisfied withal as he very well knew he had formerly rejected the same Employment under the Count de Soissons The Duke had no sooner taken leave of the Prince but that he return'd back in all diligence towards Bordeaux to take order for the raising of such Forces as he was to set on foot He had at present no more than the same Regiments of Foot and the same Troops of Horse that had serv'd before in the like occasion and those the Marquis de Monferrat whom he had lately made Lieutenant of his own Company of Gens d'-Armes had order to draw into the field but these small Forces were scarce ready when the Duke receiv'd intelligence that a little Town call'd Caussade near to Montauban had had the confidence to declare for the Hugonot Party Upon this news the just apprehension he had lest the other Cities of his Government that were inclin'd this way should follow this ill example and lest in the end instead of Montauban alone he should find thirty good Cities oppos'd against him made him hasten that way to chastize these first Rebels but he was hardly there arriv'd when he understood both by several Letters from the Prince and by other pressing intelligence from the Court it self that the Duke of Rohan had gather'd together a considerable body of an Army in Sevennes where he was still rallying so many other Forces of his Party that of them he doubted not to make up such an Army as would be able by some notable attempt to divert the King from the Enterprize of Rochelle It was therefore necessary for him to strive with all his endeavour to obstruct his passage wherein consisted the main concern of the whole Affair and accordingly he went about it though not without great reluctancy that he should approach so near to Caussade and not stay to besiege it but on the other side he durst not do it lest whilst he should be taken up with an Enterprize of so little importance the Duke of Rohan might take that opportunity to execute his design I heard many of his Servants murmur that he was not more eager of this Siege and he himself knew very well that the Prince had writ something unhandsomely of him to the Court about it but he was nothing moved at all that noise and having good reason for what he did nothing had power to alter his determination Whilst he was thus vigilant about Montauban to obstruct the Duke of Rohan's passage the Prince of Condé who had made a very considerable progress in Languedoc by the taking of Pamieres Realmont and several other places resolv'd to pursue his Victories into Guienne There was a little corner in the lower Roüergue and bordering upon the Sevennes that had never yet felt the power of the Royal Arms it was therefore agreed upon betwixt the Prince and the Duke of Espernon that the Army should advance that way their design herein being either to disunite this little Countrey from the Duke of Rohan's Interests or at least by this Enterprize to divert him from the design he had of moving towards Rochelle it being very unlikely he should think of that whilst the Cities of his party should be so dangerously engag'd in the most advantageous Post he had upon any occasion to retire himself unto The Prince of Condé who was very punctual in all his designs at the appointed day which was in the latter end of May presented himself in sight of Vâbres an Episcopal Sea and almost the only Catholick City of all that Countrey to whom the Duke also the next day joyn'd himself with his Forces Their design was suddenly to clap down before Saint Afrique a Town very considerable in those parts and exceedingly well fortified but the success of this Enterprize did by no means answer their expectation they being after a very brisk assault vigorously sustain'd by those within constrain'd to raise the Siege after which the Prince's Forces being very much decreas'd in the preceding Service and infinitely dejected with this repulse as the Duke 's also were it was necessary to dispose them into several Garrisons to refresh them It seem'd as if this baffle at Saint Afrique had hapned for no other end but to justifie the Duke about the business of Caussade wherein the miscarriage of the one caus'd his wisdom to be highly magnified for not
him to sue for this Peace was doubtless the blocking up of Montaâ—ban and the waste that now the third time by express order from the King was made round about that City The Duke of Rohan had plac'd his latest refuge in the strength of this place and had ever hop'd whilst it could maintain it self in a condition to sustain a tedious Siege that resistance would infallibly put him into a capacity of obtaining very good Conditions but the King who had foreseen this design writ to the Prince of Condé to joyn himself with the Duke of Espernon to whom he also writ at the same time to the same effect to deprive Montauban by destroying their Fruits of all possibility of subsistance and therein the Duke of Rohan of the assistance he promis'd to himself from thence in the last extremity of his declining Affairs The Prince would himself be the bearer of this Dispatch dated from Suze the 27 th of April and accordingly arriv'd at Bordeaux in the latter end of May where betwixt him and the Duke all things were soon concluded on for the execution of his Majesties Commands an Enterprize that although the Duke had neither competent Forces nor other means wherewithal to perform it that no order had been sent either for money to raise men to furnish ammunitions of War or to buy provisions for the support of the Army his affection to the Service notwithstanding supplying all other defects he soon put himself into a condition to second the Princes desires wherein he was indeed necessitated almost alone to undertake the business how difficult soever he knew it to be For the Prince being oblig'd by his Command to have an especial eye to the higher Languedoc his presence was there very requisite and almost continually requir'd but the Duke fail'd not for any other consideration according to his custom to acquit himself very exactly of his share of the work Whilst the Duke was in the heat of this execution the Peace was concluded with the Duke of Rohan in Iuly which all the other Cities of his Faction likewise accepted excepting Montauban which for some days stood out not that they did not desire it equally with the rest they had suffer'd too much and were reduc'd to too necessitous a condition to oppose their own quiet but the Duke whatsoever those of Montauban could pretend to wit That having suffer'd so much by his Arms they could not consent to allow him the honour of having subdu'd them very well understood that all those excuses were suggested to them by the Cardinal who ambitious to have the honour of totally suppressing that party attributed to himself did especially desire that this City which after the surrender of Rochelle was become the Metropolis of the Faction should be deliver'd up into his hands He had therefore acquainted the principal of the Inhabitants that it was from him alone they were to expect whatever advantages they could propose to themselves from this Accommodation and that it would therefore concern them to reserve themselves entirely for him to be the more worthy of his protection from whence they might derive a greater support than from all other powers upon earth The Duke nettled at this usage and unable in the interests of Honour to give place to any whomsoever retir'd himself to his House Cadillac with a resolution seeing the Cardinal would by his Authority ravish from him an honour he had by his Services so highly deâ—erv'd not to pay him so much as the civility of a Visit in his Government into which he was now coming to take possession of Montauban as if he had been the man had reduc'd it But the Cardinal whose design it was as has been said to engross to himself the whole reputation of this War thought nothing would so much illustrate his Triumph as to receive a Visit from the Duke of Espernon in one of the principal Cities of his own Government and conceiving such a Complement would pass in the opinion of all the world for an absolute testimony of an entire submission he was infinitely desirous to have him won to that complacency which being he could not handsomely try to do directly from himself he caus'd him to be very highly importun'd to that purpose by some of the Duke 's own peculiar friends who were at that time about his person These Gentlemen therefore and amongst others particularly Mareschal Bassompierre represented to the Duke that all this time an enterview betwixt the Cardinal and him was highly necessary to the good of his own Affairs without which he could not possibly avoid giving a mortal Affront to a man become absolute at Court by the ruine of a Faction which alone had hitherto serv'd for an allay to the excess of his power An advice that was so well seconded by le Plessis who of all others had the greatest sway with the Duke and fortified with so many powerful Arguments that at last he resolv'd upon this Visit. Yet do I very well remember with how great reluctancy it was and with how strange a violence upon his own humour and haughty spirit that he suffer'd himself to be overrul'd in this particular and how unwillingly he set out towards Montauban Though the Cardinal was very much press'd by his own Interests to go in all diligence after the King who had taken the way to Paris immediately upon the conclusion of the Treaty it is notwithstanding most certain that he waited two whole days together the Duke's coming to Montauban where when he came he receiv'd him with extraordinary kindness and respect and though many things had pass'd upon leveral occasions that might reasonably enough beget ill blood betwixt them the Cardinal by an excess of freedom and civility gave manifest testimonies that he retain'd no memory of any former unkindness but on the contrary protested that he would value the Duke's friendship preferrably to any other persons in the Kingdom which was his own expression and upon an intimation the Duke gave him that he had occasion to make a Journey to Court promis'd him that soo soon as he should see the King he would procure him leave so to do a thing which with all the importunities he could make the Duke had before not been able to obtain Neither did the Cardinal limit his offers here he assuring him moreover that he would serve him in all things and if he would give him leave supply the place of a fourth Son to him wherein he would contend with the other three which should pay him the greatest honour which were the express terms of his Complement The next day after his arrival the Cardinal treated him in his own Lodgings where he gave him the chief place of honour at the Table notwithstanding the Duke of Montmorency was there present omitting no civility that might beget a strict League of Friendship betwixt them so that it is most certain could the Duke have bow'd a little
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
behaviour the more industrious he was as guilty men usually are to wipe off all shadow of suspicion they might justly conceive insomuch that 't is said he dispatch'd post after post to the King to give him assurance of his Loyalty a thing that afterwards prov'd one of the most dangerous circumstances of his offense The Duke of Espernon did not promise so much and perform'd much more he only sending the Sieur de Campâ—ls Gentleman of his Horse to assure the King of his Fidelity and was so punctual in the performance of his word that he fail'd not in the least Article of his duty After the Duke of Montmorency had kept the Court sufficiently in suspense of what he resolv'd to do he at last declar'd himself by taking open arms in favour of the Monsieur who was now come into Languedoc where he caus'd several Cities he had made firm for his purpose to revolt and moreover debauch'd many Gentlemen of very eminent quality whom either the respect and affection to his person or the hope of change had allur'd over to his Party If the Monsieur's designs before the Duke of Montmorency declar'd in his Quarrel had amus'd the whole Court their astonishment was infinitely augmented after he had betaken himself to Arms who having immediately thereupon publish'd several causes of his discontent many at that time allow'd them to be very just though no one could approve the course he took to manifest his resentment The news of his defection surpriz'd the Duke of Espernon at Agen it surpriz'd him indeed who expected nothing less than to see himself engag'd in a party contrary to the dearest friend he had in the world though that friendship as all his other friendships had ever done must here give place to his duty Upon the first Orders therefore he receiv'd from the King after the Monsieur 's entry into the Kingdom he immediately departed from Cadillac to advance into the center of the Province which was Agen to the end that from that prospect he might observe what parts of his Government stood most in need of his presence There was no dispute the Duke of Montmorency having declar'd but that he must of necessity advance towards Languedoc to secure Montauban that being the nearest City of importance to the revolted Province but the difficulty was how to do it so that Montauban might not rather secure him who had only his own Guards about his person with ten Companies of the Regiment of Pâ—alsbourg that remain'd of twenty he had had in Guienne the rest being a few days before sent away to joyn with the Mareschal de Schomberg The Mareschal arriving in Languedoc had sent to borrow these Forces of the Duke of Espernon perhaps out of a design rather to weaken him of whose resolutions they were yet uncertain than to strengthen himself which though the Duke could at that time very ill have spar'd who was to go to expose himself in a place where he had great reason to suspect his own safety yet would he not refuse the Mareschal upon his first demand by that freedom sufficiently manifesting with what integrity and candour he proceeded in the Kings Interest This proceeding how franck and generous soever could not nevertheless so satisfie the Court that they were not yet in great anxiety and suspense what his resolution might be the hereditary friendship and strict alliance betwixt the House of Montmorency and him were sufficiently known neither were they ignorant that the tender and passionate affection he had for the person of this Duke was equal to that he had for his own Children they knew moreover that two days before the Duke had declar'd the Marchioness of Montferrant of the House of Montmorency widow to the Baron de Montaut the Duke's Cousin German and now Wife to one of the most intimate friends he had in the Province had parted from the Dutchess of Montmorency to return into Guienne to her Husband who was then with the Duke of Espernon so that this Lady a woman capable of the greatest Affairs above what is usual in persons of her Sex there were few who did not conclude she had been purposely sent by the Duke her Kinsman to labour an intelligence with the Duke his ally though in truth there was no such thing In fine the good or ill success of Affairs depending without all doubt absolutely upon him the Court had all the reason in the world to be in some fear of what his determination would be All the Gentry of his Government were wavering those of the Reform'd Religion who had been constrain'd to accept of an incommodious Peace in all apparence waited only expecting a fit opportunity to begin a new War thereby to obtain more advantageous conditions than those that had been impos'd upon them and the people oppress'd more than ordinary by new Taxes desir'd nothing more than trouble and confusion which they conceiv'd to be the best and only remedy for their present calamities These evil dispositions were not only in Guienne but Angoumois also Xaintonge Limousin and Poictou panted with the same thirst of Innovation so that in all these Provinces where the Duke had long govern'd they yet retain'd for him so great a love and respect that what resolution soever he had taken would without contradiction have been follow'd by them for the best Neither had he needed to have made any great ado to procure a great deal of mischief since by only sitting still and conniving never so little at those who were ready for Commotion he might have wrought matters into such a confusion as would infallibly have put the Kingdom into very great disorder and then the Mareschal de Schomberg shut up betwixt the Forces of Languedoc and Guienne would have been irrecoverably lost But this good Frenchman what aversion soever he might have to the Cardinal 's immeasurable greatness what affection soever for the Duke of Montmorency or what advantage soever he might reasonably propose to himself from the alteration of Affairs the face whereof he might doubtless have chang'd he still preferr'd the Service of his Prince and the good of his Countrey before any particular Interest of his own and remain'd unshaken in his duty notwithstanding all the overtures had been made and the importunities had been us'd to debauch him The Duke acting with this sincerity and candour thought it very requisite to confirm the King in the assurances he had formerly given his Majesty of his fidelity and truth which he did by sending away the Count de Maillé to that effect and proceeding from words to actions after he was arriv'd at Montauban his first care was speedily to dispatch away two Gentlemen throughout the whole Province to summon in to him all the persons of quality whom he had most reason to suspect There were very few who did not promptly obey this Summons which being deliver'd them by men of Repute they could not make any excuse that
they had not receiv'd his Commands and it was no hard matter for the Duke when he had them so near his person to keep them there and so narrowly to watch them that they were not conveniently to be practis'd by which means besides this advantage which was none of the most inconsiderable he from this way of proceeding deriv'd another of exceeding great moment which was insensibly and as it were almost without design to fortifie himself in a City where he was very weak and the disposition whereof was as yet very uncertain It is not to be believ'd how great an effect these prudent precautions produc'd to the security of Affairs nor how much several persons were disabus'd thereby who otherwise might have suffer'd themselves to have been deceiv'd by false impressions of the Duke and such as were utterly contrary to his intention but his fidelity was so legible throughout the whole order of his conduct and he gave so little hopes to those who were seditiously affected of being to be tempted to embrace any disloyal motion that in so great a disposition to evil and in so favourable an occasion to do it there was not one man of quality of Guienne excepting Saint Croix d' Ornano who was one of the Monsieur 's Domestick Servants that went out of the Province to joyn with him the Duke 's good Example and Exhortations so containing all the rest within the bounds of their Duty that the King had a very good issue of an Affair his Majesty himself thought would not so easily have determin'd It was after all these important services that it was justly said of the Duke of Espernon that In doing nothing â—e had done all for in effect without stirring from the place without arming any other than his own Guards without having spilt one drop of blood or spent six pence of the King's money he procur'd his Majesty without danger or expense a Victory that settled the whole Kingdom in repose The King inform'd by the Duke's dispatches of the good order he had taken in his Government by very gracious Letters which the Count de Maillé brought back at his return signified to him how highly he was satisfied with his conduct wherein amongst other things his Majesty acquainted him with his intention to leave Paris and to take the way of Lyons there to command his Army in his own person a thing the Council would never consent unto till they were secure of the Duke's intentions and the Cardinal in his Letters bearing the same date with the King 's writ to him in these express terms I shall content my self with giving you this assurance that nothing can possibly be added to the infinite satisfaction his Majesty has receiv'd in the Zeal you have manifested to the good of his Service in the present occasion and that I shall with great diligence seek all opportunities that may contribute to the desire I have to let you see that no one is more really than my self Your c. To these during the King's Expedition he receiv'd several other Dispatches of the same obliging style which I forbear to copy here that I may not importune my Reader But how great soever the Duke's Merits and Services were and how large soever the promises that had been made him the memory of those Services was notwithstanding so short liv'd that even before the storm was well over they sought an occasion to quarrel with him thinking it belike better cheap to cavil at some little passages which ought rather to be imputed to his humour than his intention than to stand oblig'd to him for this Service I should never have done should I undertake to relate all the particularities though remarkable enough in themselves or should I so much as insist upon the more eminently considerable passages that hapned upon this occasion which makes me omit many things that perhaps would not be altogether unpleasant to come to the main business of all which is the defeat of of the Duke of Montmorency and his being taken prisoner 'T is well enough known after what manner this unfortunate Lord precipitously and almost alone engag'd himself against a whole Army a rashness by which he became the principal instrument of his enemies Victory insomuch that had he combin'd with them against himself he could not more blindly and wilfully have run upon his own destruction He compell'd the Mareschal de Scomberg to fight against his intention and to overcome him against his will he had not 't is true full fifty men slain in this Engagement which will yet appear a great number considering that he had not above an hundred that charg'd with him upon this occasion The Count de Moret a young Prince of great merit and much greater expectation was so unfortunate as to lose his life without the Trenches that separated the Monsieur 's Army from that of the Mareschal some other persons of quality ran also the same Fortune but although this loss was small in respect to the number of men the taking of the Duke of Montmorency made it nevertheless so highly considerable that every one concluded the ruine of the whole party infallible For the Monsieur having upon him repos'd his whole confidence for the command of the Army the Cities and Forces of Languedoc being wholly ty'd to his person and interest and all things absolutely depending upon him he was no sooner taken but that the Cities revolted and the Army disbanded so that in a few days the Monsieur saw himself so totally deserted that what attempt soever he had a desire to make to rescue the Duke of Montmorency out of the enemies hands and yet to dispute the Victory he had so few left wherewith to execute his desire and those few so dejected with the late misfortune that he was reduc'd to a necessity of relying upon the faith of a Treaty for the preservation of a Servant who contrary to his order had lost himself The Duke of Espernon advertis'd of this accident by a dispatch from the Mareschal de Scomberg dated the second of September which was the next day after the fight was afflicted beyond expression at the Duke of Montmorency's misfortune He gave him at the first for lost and being very well acquainted with the severe Maxims of that time together with the implacable hatred the great Minister had conceiv'd against him did forthwith conclude that this first Offense would also be the last he was ever likely to commit Yet not to fail upon this event in any of his respects he wrote to the King to signifie to his Majesty the joy he conceiv'd for the prosperity of his Arms he sent likewise the same Complement to the Mareschal de Scomberg and to the Marquis de Brezé who had behav'd himself very gallantly upon this occasion but he also manifested to the Duke of Montmorency his great grief for his misfortune It was by a Gentleman dispatch'd on purpose to that end
Majesties Justice That if he should be so fortunate as to obtain a second life for his friend he would with all his heart become his Security that for the future it should never be employ'd but in his Majesties Service and that his Blood should serve for no other use than to wash away the Stain and for ever to obliterate the memory of his Offense The King with great patience and without once offering to interrupt him gave the Duke free liberty to continue his discourse to the end seeming moreover to hearken to him with some kind of hopeful attention but that favourable audience was also the only fruit of his address for his Majesty having from the beginning of the Duke's Speech fix'd his eyes upon the ground never lifted them from thence so much as once to look upon the Duke who was speaking to him neither when he had concluded did he answer him one word by which silence the Duke perceiving the ruine of his friend to be absolutely decreed he spoke again and said Sir since I am so unhappy as not to hope to obtain your Majesties Pardon for Monsieur de Montmorency I humbly beg leave that I may retire When though the King had been dumb to the first he found words to make answer to this last request by telling him Yes you have free leave neither do I intend my self to stay long in this City Whereupon the Duke afflicted to the last degree that he had been able to obtain nothing more though indeed he had not expected much better success presently withdrew himself to go wait upon the Princess of Condé in the Suburbs of Tholouze to which place she was retir'd there to condole with her their common misfortune He found at his coming thither that Cardinal Richelieu was but newly parted thence whose visit by giving her no satisfaction having put her into the last despair the Duke 's hapned to be exceeding seasonable for the composing of her mind agitated with so violent a Passion Though the Duke from that very day prepar'd himself for his departure yet had he time enough before he went totally to reject a proposition made to him on the Cardinal's behalf presently after the King's arrival at Tholouze He had caus'd the Duke to be treated withal to quit the Government of Metz in his favour offering him in exchange the survivancy of that of Guienne for the Duke de la Valette his Son who was already seiz'd of that of Metz in reverson Bullion newly created Sur-Intendant des Finances was chosen by the Cardinal as a person most acceptable to the Duke to make to him this Overture a proposition at which the Duke having serv'd the King so well as he had done in the last occasion was not a little surpriz'd and the rather because his Services having been of great â—â—portance to the Cardinal's Fortune which was much more strook at in the late Rebellion than any thing that concern'd either the King or the Kingdom he had reason besides the satisfaction the King had been pleas'd to manifest of his performance to expect also a very grateful return from the Cardinal himself It was the belief of many at that time that the Cardinal's design was to accommodate himself with the Bishoprick of Metz together with five or six great Abbeys in that City of above an hundred thousand Livers a year Revenue besides the Bishoprick which was worth twice as much and to add thereunto the Government of the City and Countrey with those of the Cities and Cittadels of I houl and Verdun to the end that by providing for himself so certain and secure a retreat he might in time be arm'd against all disgrace to which others have added an opinion that he had a project to reunite all the Provinces that had formerly been members of the Kingdom of Austratia in his own person to hold them in the quality of a Sovereign Prince whereof Lorain and Alsatia which were in his Majesties possession together with the three forenamed Bishopricks of Metz Toul and Verdun made up the greatest part it had been a matter of no great difficulty for the Cardinal to have possess'd himself of this Estate by any title he would have desir'd of the King So that if he ever had this thought it is not to be wondred at if he was sensibly offended that the Duke refus'd to treat and to comply with him in a thing he had set his heart upon for the establishment of his Fortune However it was it is concluded by all that this Affair made the Cardinal take up a resolution absolutely to break with the Duke of Espernon whom he saw to be too stiff to stoop to his Authority and look'd upon as the only person of the Kingdom who had either the power or the spirit to mate his greatness Wherein nevertheless though the Duke appear'd to be very averse yet did he not absolutely reject the Cardinal's proposal but conceiving he did not offer enough demanded moreover a Mareschal's Staff for the Duke de Candale his eldest Son This was a Dignity that could not indeed be deny'd to his merit though it had never been laid in the balance against the Government of Metz but if the Duke had a kindness for this Son the Cardinal had no less aversion who it was said having been wounded to the quick with some smart touches of the Duke de Candale's Wit as pleasant a one indeed as any of his time but withal as tart as pleasant he could by no means forget it but would rather choose to leave a thing of so great importance to the establishment of his Fortune imperfect than to be instrumental to the advancement of a person by whom he conceiv'd himself so highly offended Having therefore broke off with the Duke upon these terms it is to be presum'd he only for the future waited an occasion or at least a pretense wherewithal to colour his revenge Wherein though the Duke's haughty humour was likely enough to furnish him with as good as he could desire it appear'd nevertheless that fortune who will ever have a hand in all humane Affairs seconding the Cardinal's passion produc'd him one much sooner than he expected It was in truth at this time contrary to the Duke's intention who although he would not discover a weakness in condescending below his own Dignity had no desire notwithstanding to provoke the Cardinal's Almighty power by insisting upon any thing he might irreproachably do After that by the death of the Duke of Montmorency the King thought he had absolutely appeas'd the storm in Languedoc his Majesty thought of nothing more than by the nearest way and with a very slender train of returning back to Paris The Queen who was attended by the Council and all the Court two days after the King's departure began her Journey towards Bordeaux at greater conveniency to send away her equipage down the River Garonne where being arriv'd her Majesty was pleas'd to
the safety and conservation of the said Province in my Obedience Wherein being assur'd you will acquit your self with your accustomed vigilancy and care and resting secure in the absolute confidence I have ever repos'd in your Fidelity and good Affection I shall say no more but only assure you of my Affection Praying God c. From Saint Germain en Laye this first of October 1634. With this there were other Dispatches sent directed both to the first President d' Agnesseau that he might acquaint the Assembly with his Majesties intention and also to the Jurats of the City which the Duke having sent away some days before his departure from Plassac he himself followed soon after and return'd into his Government more honour'd and esteem'd for having so handsomely disingag'd himself from this troublesome Affair than if it had never been Men as it usually happens soon forgot all the Disgraces he had undergone to consider how great his Credit must necessarily be who of all the Great Persons of the Kingdom whose Fortunes had been so rudely assaulted alone kept himself upright and entire in spight of all his Enemies or all they could contrive against him All those who had been unkind to him sued to be reconcil'd to his Favour and the Duke de la Valette who would by no means leave him till all things were absolutely settled to his own desire became their Mediator by that means re-establishing matters in so good a posture that for the future there was more repose to be expected for the Duke his Father than he had ever yet enjoy'd since he had first taken possession of the Government of Guienne The End of the Tenth Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Eleventh Book IT was not fortunate to the Duke alone but as much at least to the Province and the whole Kingdom that he was at this time restor'd to his Command the first whereof without his Valour and Wisdom had been in manifest danger and the other embroyl'd in no contemptible disorders but by his Prudence and generous Conduct he brought them both so brave and so reasonable a relief that what we are now about to deliver makes up no small part of the principal Actions of his Life He was no sooner arriv'd in Guienne but that several Complaints were presented to him of the Insolence some Officers who Farm'd the Crown Revenues of that Province exercis'd over the King's Subjects The people were no longer able to support their Exactions and their Poverty which is ordinarily accompanied with despair had so stirr'd them up that they were ready to rush into Arms and to shuffle all things into confusion The Duke could have been glad the Court would have order'd some moderation in these Impositions to have prevented those mischiefs which are usually the issue of general Discontent and the certain effects of popular fury and to that end had made so many several Remonstrances to the Council and urg'd them so home that what he did for a good that as much respected the King's Service as the Publick Interest was in the end so misinterpreted as to turn to his own disgrace Seeing therefore he could by his Prayers and Importunities prevail nothing with the Court he was necessitated to make use of the Authority he had in the Province to prevent a total Revolt to which the generality of men were too visibly inclin'd Wherein his conduct was guided by so admirable discretion that what by convincing such by Reason as were capable of it by feeding such by Hopes as would be satisfied with them and threatning Punishment to those who would be satisfied with neither he for a long time continued all things in a pretty quiet condition He practis'd these gentle and easie Remedies during the course of a very troublesome Disease he had fall'n into presently after his return from Plassac His abode and solitude in his House together with the hard measure he had receiv'd had not lighted upon a heart insensible of wrong nor had committed no ordinary violence upon his generous spirit and although by a wonderful Victory over his own Passions he had suppress'd his discontent from breaking out to the discovery of those about him it is notwithstanding to be believ'd that the more he smothered his fire the more it must of necessity burn him within and discompose his natural Constitution He suffer'd therefore by the heat of Urine so intolerable and so unintermitted pains as scarce gave him any truce of repose in which Distemper that which was most remarkable was the Remedies they made use of for his Recovery â—or of eighteen days together that his Infirmity continued he drank nothing but cold water and of that so prodigious a quantity that I do not think any stomach in the world but his could have digested so much crudity He was moreover very often put into cold Baths so that all the art and industry of his Physicians was wholly employ'd to qualifie the ebullient Blood of a young man of fourscore and four years old He was scarcely deliver'd of his pain when he was forc'd to attend the Affairs of his Government with greater diligence and care than at any time before The King from the beginning of the year having taken a resolution to fall out with Spain would not however engage in that War before he had well and particularly examin'd the condition and strength of his Kingdom to be therefore well inform'd of the State of Guienne the greatest and best of all his other Provinces he writ to the Duke in March to send him a true account of what number of men he could for time of need draw out of his Government and how many men of Command he might relye upon to bear Office in his Armies to which the Duke return'd Answer that although within eight months time above eighteen thousand men had been sent out of the Province as by the Muster Rolls annex'd to his Dispatch his Majesty might perceive there might yet be a very great number rais'd provided the Affections of the People were discreetly manag'd by some good usage that his Majesty would also find a great many Gentlemen of Quality and capable of Command of which he sent a List of above sixscore but that the greatest part of them were so necessitous that to his great grief he durst not promise to himself from their inability all that his Majesty might expect from their good will by which Abstract let any one judg of the Forces of the Kingdom and what a King of France may propose to himself having the Love and Affection of his Subjects The Duke who knew by a long experience what strange effects the good will of the people was able to produce never ceas'd importuning the King to husband it by granting some redress to their Oppressions which though he always did after the most humble and respective manner could be imagin'd it notwithstanding wrought
To this end Captain la Roche was sent to discover nearer hand the depth of the Enemies Designs who soon perceiv'd by the Works they had begun at Socoa that they had no thoughts of making any further progress into the Country that Winter Having therefore at his return given his Masters this assurance upon his Report which they found afterwards to be very true they continued on their way towards Bordeaux The Spaniards on the other side applying themselves to their Fortifications labour'd more successfully than they imagin'd to the Glory which was reserv'd for the Duke de la Valette in their Defeat the ensuing year and having in the mean time lost all hopes of advancing further into the Country by force of Arms fell to Caballs and practices to seduce the Inhabitants of Labourt over to their side They promis'd them Peace freedom Security and all other advantages they could desire if they would cohabit with them they offer'd Protection to all such as would continue Neuters in their own Houses but they threatned no little punishments to those who should retire into France All which Artifice nevertheless prevail'd nothing with the Biscains there being not so much as any one Family that did not prefer a voluntary Exile before any Benefit or Immunity that could derive from the bounty of invading Neighbours So that if they were in the beginning condemn'd by some for having manifested too little heat at the Enemies first coming in every one in the end applauded their Fidelity who would rather choose to abandon their Country and Fortunes than to enjoy them in the greatest quiet and security under the usurpation of a Forein and invasive Power As it was evident enough both by the number of the Enemy and the good condition wherein they had had the leisure to fortifie themselves that it was impossible to attempt any thing against them but by means proportionable to the greatnes of their Forces the Duke sate still at Bordeaux in expectation of Orders from Court for their future proceeding But they waited not long Haumont which was the Gentleman they had dispatch'd thither returning to Bordeaux almost as soon as they furnish'd with several very favourable Dispatches wherein after the King had highly magnified the Duke of Espernon's Conduct who by so little means had preserv'd that Frontier his Majesty proceeded to let him know he infinitely desir'd the Enemy might be disoblig'd from the places they had already possess'd promising in order thereunto Men Provisions Ammunition a Train of Artillery and what was necessary to the execution of so great a design All this notwithstanding remain'd in terms of a bare promise only without ever coming to the least effect nay there was not so much money to be had as would serve for the raising of two Regiments of Foot and four Troops of Horse though the Duke had not so much as one Souldier in the Province a Summe which though it amounted not to above fifty thousand Livers yet the Exchequers of the several Provinces and the King 's other Bancks being totally exhausted there was a necessity for the Duke to advance it out of his own private Stock which he also was willing to do and though it went something hard with him had much rather in this urgency of his Majesties Affairs lay out the money of his own private Revenue for of two years he had not touch'd one peny of the King's than that the Country the Enemy had invaded should be left unto them which also was not to be preserv'd but by the opposition of some considerable Forces While the Frontier of Bayonne found work enough for the two Dukes the Royal Arms were employ'd for the recovery of Corbie that being almost the only place of importance the Enemy had made a Conquest of with all their long aud mighty preparation In the beginning of this Siege there was scarce any who did not believe the Fortune of the Cardinal depended upon the event of that Enterprize and that should the King happen to be baffled before it his Majesty weary of maintaining the Quarrels of his Minister for such were all the Wars of Europe at that time time reputed at so vast an expence of Treasure and with so much disquiet to his Kingdom would infallibly sacrifice him to the Animosities of Strangers and the Discontents of the Great Ones of his own people who equally desir'd his Ruine But the success of this Leaguer more speedy and fortunate than was to be expected having reconcil'd the Cardinal to the Kings opinion and astonish'd all those who had prophesied an alteration in his Fortune every one was strook with admiration at a prosperity so beyond all example insomuch that even those who had most thirsted after his Ruine were the first to congratulate him for the good success 'T is said that of those there were some who that they might with greater Elegancy shrowd themselves from any jealousie the Cardinal might entertain against them made no difficulty to prostitute their own Fidelity and Honour in discovering the Secrets either of their Masters or Friends to him who was their common Enemy It was by that sort of people as is believ'd that the Cardinal had intelligence of a Plot wherein the Monsieur and the Count de Soissons had conspir'd against him with whom the Duke de la Valette was also deliver'd to him for one who had a great hand in this Affair and it is most certain that from thence the Cardinal laid the design to persecute his Families and his own particular Fortune to the last extreme so that from that time forward there was neither bound nor moderation in the implacable Hatred he conceiv'd against him upon this very account How far the Duke de la Valette's Resentments might transport him towards the Cardinal I cannot tell but I am well enough inform'd in the ill usage he receiv'd from him as well in the person of the Duke his Father as his own to be bold to say that hâ— had all the râ—ason in the world to be offended to a very high degree but this Affair having been as has been said either the occâ—sion or at least the pretence of all the great Persecutions of this Family it will not perhaps be impertinent to take things from the beginning that they may be the better understood The Duke de la Valette being as we have observ'd entred into the Alliance of Cardinal Richelieu had examples enough of several persons of very great Quality before his eyes to make him stoop to extraordinary Applications and respects towards him but nothing could ever induce him to bend below the terms of decency and his own condition so that he only paid him what respect was due and nothing more a way of living that by no means satisfied the Cardinal who would exact from all conditions of men a Reverence without all reserve A vanity of his that although the Duke de la Valette
was very perfect in yet did not that knowledge make him alter his resolution choosing rather to live with him in a less degree of Favour than to beg Offices and Employments at the price of his own Honour Many secret discontents arising from this first cause it must of necessity follow that these two Spirits having been so long dissatisfied with one another and so equally dispos'd to a final Rupture would at one time or another produce their ordinary effect An occasion presented it self at the Enemies entring into Picardy and about the taking of la Capelle The Baron du Bec was Governour of this place which this Gentleman very well known to and entirely belov'd by the Duke de la Valette had surrendred sooner than the Cardinal could have wish'd for want as he pretended of Provision The Cardinal who by an example of high severity would oblige the Governours of other places to hold out to the last extremities or perhaps by that means to justifie himself to the King from any censure he might undergo as Prime Minister of State in not having sufficiently provided for the necessities of so important a place caus'd an Honourable Council immediately to be Assembled This Council consisted of all the Officers of the Crown who were then to be found in Paris together with some Counsellors of State whose business it must be to condemn the Baron du Bec as convict of Cowardise and Treachery to a privation of his Life and Honour The Duke de la Valette was amongst the rest summon'd to this Assembly wherein as he saw he was not call'd to it to deliver his free Opinion that the Gentleman was beforehand mark'd out for Ruine and that Sentence of Death must consequently ensue so did he endeavour with all the art he had to decline having any thing to do in that business but it was altogether in vain The Cardinal would admit of no excuses but after having sent three times to his House to seek him Chavigni Secretary of State went the fourth time to tell him plainly he must either satisfie or absolutely break with the Cardinal This express and positive Declaration prevail'd in the end with the Duke de la Valette to go to the Council but it was not nevertheless to comply in the least with the animosities of others The Baron du Bec's Affair was laid open in the Presence of the King and the Cardinal and the greater part of the Judges concluded the Crimes laid to his charge sufficient to condemn the party accus'd but the Duke de la Valette did not think himself oblig'd to be of that opinion and consequently could not consent to his Condemnation If the Cardinal had manifested something of vehemency in importuning the Duke to come to the Council he express'd yet a far greater indignation to find him of a judgment so far dissenting from his own insomuch that at his coming out of the Council taking the Duke de la Valette aside he could not contain himself from breaking into very unhandsome Language proceeding to so bitter and so injurious expressions that the Duke was not able to forbear giving a very smart Reply the Reverence due to the place where they then were permitting him at that time to do no more though such as were acquainted with his temper will easily judg that he would omit no occasion of manifesting a higher resentment In the heat of this Discontent he receiv'd the Command of which I have already spoken to go joyn himself with the Count dc Soissons in Picardy and then the Cardinal could find some expressions of Civility and Complement to smooth him withal at his departure but an Offence being much harder to be repair'd than committed the Wound the Duke carried along with him in his Bosom was not to be clos'd by so slender a Remedy It was presently after this that the Cardinal was inform'd the Duke de la Valette had hearkened to the Propositions had been made to him by the Count dâ— Soissons for the Revenge of their common Injuries and that the Monsieur was also consenting with them At the time the Cardinal receiv'd this intimation the Duke de la Valette to his good Fortune was as far off as Bayonne but the Monsieur and the Count de Soissons being both at Paris escap'd but a very few hours of being both Arrested having nevertheless time enough to withdraw themselves they departed suddenly from Paris when though they scarce knew which way to fly for refuge from the power of their Enemy yet hoping that either the danger the Duke de la Valette ran equally with them or that the Generosity of the Duke of Espernon who on the other side was himself not very well satisfied with the Court might induce him to receive them into Guienne they dispatch'd away thither first the Count de Bourdeille and after him the Count de Montresor his Brother of which both the one and the other had instructions to address themselves to the Duke de la Valette that by his perswasions the Father might be rendred more favourable to their desires But this Duke who had much rather be alone expos'd to the Cardinal 's whole stock of hatred than to disquiet the old Age of the Duke his Father by interessing him in his Quarrels freely told them That the Monsieur and the Count were to expect nothing from his Mediation in this Affair That he was indeed resolv'd to follow his Fathers Resolutions but that he would never prompt him to any thing that might trouble his repose Montresor who came last and who would not depart without a positive resolution finding no hopes of concurrence in the Duke de la Valette desir'd to talk in private with the Duke of Espernon He was accordingly admitted into his Chamber at ten of the Clock at night after all his Servants were retir'd where he represented to him The immediate danger wherein two great Princes of the Blood were at this time engag'd by the violence of Cardinal Richelieu their and his particular Enemy That in securing their lives he might also establish his own Fortune and that of his Family That he knew very well how great was the number of discontented persons how violent the despair of the people and how intolerable the oppression of all the several Orders of the Kingdom That all these favourable dispositions wanted only some considerable heads to work their common safety by the ruine of the Cardinals Affairs That there was not a person in the Kingdom who would not be ready speedily to joyn with these Princes seeing their good intention for the Redress of the Publick should their cause be supported by his prudent Conduct That this Act would crown all the other actions of his life for ever establish the Fortune of his own Family and render oblig'd to him for their Lives and Honour two Princes the one the Son and Brother of the King his Master's his own
towards the Frontier the Service to which they were design'd writ to St. Torse Aide de Camp who commanded them to draw them out against the Mutineers but that Gentleman more discreet and circumspect than the Duke could have wish'd upon so urgent an occasion chose rather betimes to abandon his Quarters to the Rebels than to do them the honour to dispute them by any the least opposition The Duke after this seeing no means left to suppress this dangerous Faction which every day increas'd to a more formidable height and startled with the news he receiv'd from all parts that some of the best Cities were ready to revolt and only expected the approach of the Rebels to receive them writ in all haste to the Duke de la Valette to come speedily to the Relief of the Province with some of those Forces he had with him upon the Frontier since those in the Lower Gascony were not able to make head against the mischief already grown too great to be withstood The Duke at this Summons without deliberating upon the Duke his Father's Command immediately put himself upon his March but yet so that the Forein Enemy still continued shut up within their Trenches by the Marquis de Poganne Mareschal de Camp with whom during his absence he left the Command of the Army whilst himself came to do the King the Kingdom and particularly the Province one of the most important Services could possibly be desir'd in so dangerous a time Being come to Cadillac where his Father expected him sick for he was at last constrain'd to faint under the Burthen 〈◊〉 Affairs and the affliction wherewith these untoward occurrences had overcome his Spirits and having from him receiv'd such Instructions as he was at that time in a condition to give he early the next morning took Horse to go in all haste to Marmanda The Duke his Father had already there caus'd some Troops to be gather'd together under the Command of the Marquis de Monferrant Mareschal de Camp and Lieutenant of his own Company of Gens-d ' Armes where the Duke was no sooner arriv'd but he understood that at la Sauvetat a little Town about four Leagues off there was a considerable Body of the Rebels who had there fortified themselves and made shew of a resolute Defence an information that made him immediately March his Forces that way to go to assault them All the strength he had with him were no more than two thousand five hundred Foot but the Enemy were very many more which notwithstanding he made no difficulty himself to go view the place At the first sight he apprehended the danger of assaulting them without Cannon fortified as they were on every side either with Walls or strong Barricado's and many of the Officers about him were of opinion he should stay for some Field-Pieces he had order'd to follow after but having consider'd that to dally with these kind of people only were to give them greater encouragement and to augment their Insolence he gave order upon the instant to go on to the Assault I have heard several who were present at and had a share in this Action say that the Assault was as vigorously given and as obstinately sustaind as any they had ever seen though they had been in many very memorable occasions and that they should eternally lament that what was there on both sides perform'd had not been done against the Enemies of the Crown since doubtless whatever they had undertaken must have succeeded to their immortal Glory The Duke's men fir'd no further off than at the Muzzle of the Musket and the other party did the same so that on either side a great many men with some Officers of the Duke's Regiments were slain and the slaughter had questionless been much greater had the besieg'd been furnish'd with Pikes to their Fire Arms but being destitute of that sort of Defence they were constrain'd after they had discharg'd their Muskets to abandon their Barricado's and to retire Madaillan who commanded the Rebels gave the first example of a cowardly and shameful flight whom they pursu'd as far as Quercy to which place he fled for refuge but having escap'd the hands of the pursuers he sav'd himself out of the Kingdom from whence he return'd not but to execute one of the most detestaâ—â—e Villanies against the Duke of Espernon that could ever have entred into the imagination of an accursed Villain The fatal and unhappy circumstances whereof we shall soon present before you wherein this wicked and abominable wretch will appear to be both the instrument and the cause of the Duke's approaching Death and Ruine The forcing of this place was presently follow'd by the Surrender of Bergerac the Mutineers had there made a countenance of defending themselves but the example of their Complices being taken by Assault render'd them more facile to the perswasions of their General who was otherwise averse to War than as he was compell'd to it by the unbridled Fury of some of the more violent Spirits who as they prompted their fellows to greater mischief would also urge him on to the greatest extremes These two places being thus reduc'd to their Obedience secur'd all the other Cities of the Province so that although some few of the people continued still on foot they were rather thought fit to be undertaken by the ordinary Officers of Justice than worth the pains or notice of men of Arms. The report of this Defeat soon spread it self into Angoumois Xaintonge and Poictou whither the Duke de Valette also sent some few Forces of those which were now supernumerary after this success and where the people through fear of punishment remain'd in a posture of Obedience by that means delivering the Court of one of the greatest and most troublesome apprehensions wherewith the minds of the great Ministers could possibly be possess'd This Victory was by the Marquis de Duras judg'd of importance enough to deserve the pains of a Journey to Court to carry news of it to the King who as he had by his own Valour contributed very much to the good success the Duke of Espernon who had him in very great esteem was also very willing that he should give his Majesty an account of the Action Being therefore there arriv'd he omitted nothing that might any ways recommend the merit of the Service but he did not find the Court dispos'd to receive things that came from the Duke 's at so favourable a rate as in themselves they did justly deserve they looking upon all that had been perform'd as good as nothing and imposing upon them the assault of the Forts the Spaniard had erected upon the Frontier upon pain of his Majesties Indignation which was the first recompence of their Service Already the Duke de la Valette had taken the way to his ordinary Post and was arriv'd at his Quarters which he had â—ortified opposite to the Spanish Trenches when the Duke his
Father receiv'd his Dispatches from Court wherein he had order and express power to serve himself with the King's money and strength of the Province and moreover to lay what Impositions they should together think fit upon the people for the execution of his Majesties Designs The Duke of Espernon very well judg'd what was to be expected from these kind of Leavies he knew with what difficulties and delays the King 's own Revenue was gather'd in He was also not ignorant of the little kindness they had for him at Court He knew very well that his Obedience herein might be converted to a Crime all Leavies of money being expressly forbidden excepting such Taxes as should be impos'd by the King himself all which being duly consider'd by him made him resolve to write to his Majesty That both himself and his Son were very ready franckly to expose their Lives for the execution of his Majesties Commands provided something of what was necessary might be added to their Endeavours that they might attempt to execute his Orders with some possibility of success but that he should ever impose a Tax upon his Majesties Subjects he most humbly beg'd to be dispens'd from any such Employment and that his Majesty would be pleas'd since hitherto he had kept his hands clean from any thing of that kind he might still preserve his Reputation without exposing it to the Clamour of his miserable Subjects whose Necessities were to him already too well known These last words wrought the most dangerous effect imaginable against him the Court perswading themselves that he affected Popularity and sought this way to ingratiate himself with the people to the end that he might by their assistance be able to maintain himself in his Government and was in effect the principal Cause if not the only Motive that caus'd him to be remov'd from thence the ensuing year Whilst the Duke of Espernon was engag'd in these troublesome Disputes with the Court the Duke de la Valette continued the War with the Enemy after the same manner he had begun keeping them close mew'd up in their Trenches without permitting them to receive any relief from the Country or so much as to taste of the Air of the Field where they never presented themselves without some notable disadvantage This way of making War having continued for two whole months together had reduc'd the Spaniard to Necessities were no longer to be endur'd they were necessitated to have all their Provisions out of their own Country and those to be brought to them by Sea with infinite hazard and inconvenience and at an intolerable expence The Duke de la Valette was very well inform'd of the ill condition to which they were reduc'd their Necessities had bred an infinite number of Diseases in their Camp and the number of six thousand men which they were at first was diminish'd to that degree that not above half of them were left alive In this condition he prepar'd to make some attempt upon them and to that end caus'd those Forces which by reason of the late Commotions he had been oblig'd to leave in the Lower Gascony to advance toward the Frontier not doubting but at this time to effect that which they would have had him some time before have attempted with almost certain and apparent ruine but the Enemy inform'd of his resolution by a shameful and precipitous flight which was the highest acknowledgment of their weakness he could possibly desire prevented his design They embark'd therefore all their Artillery their Equipage and their Sick by night the Port of Socoa which they were Masters of affording them conveniency so to do by the same way and with so little noise drawing off the rest of their Forces that their design was not discover'd till they were all aboard The Duke de la Valette was no sooner inform'd of their flight but that he drew up to the Fort which was surrendred to him without resistance But it is not to be imagin'd how many several Objects of Misery were to be seen in their Camp nor to what extremities by his long perseverance they had been reduc'd They then quitted him their Forts giving him thereby the most absolute and most happy Victory could possibly be desir'd so that he had the good fortune almost without men at least with Forces not half so great as the Enemies without money having never touch'd a peny of the King's almost without Victuals having had none save what by the industry and providence of Vertamont Intendant de la Iustice had been convey'd to the Frontier and without the loss of any one man of note to ruine an entire Army of an invading Enemy to make them spend ten months time in vain to consume Provisions sufficient for the plentiful subsistence of the greatest Army and to leave three thousand of their men behind them for a testimony of their Defeat Yet how great and of what utility soever this Victory might be to the Kingdoms Honour and Safety the Court was notwithstanding dissatisfied with the success who seeing he had done more than any one durst propose to himself and outstrip'd the hopes and expectation of those who were emulous of his Vertue and would have been glad some disaster had befall'n him were by no means satisfied with this performance as if he had not done enough in doing so much with so little means and with so great safety and reputation to his own Person and Name Had he been at this time in a state of Favour what recompence might he not reasonably have expected for two Services of so high importance and both perform'd in one Campagne Which though he fail'd of through the ill Offices of some that blinded by Animosity could not discern his Merit yet such as will make a right Judgment of things must maugre the ingratitude and injustice of the Age set a right Value upon them I know very well without mentioning the Defeat of the Spanish Army which speaks sufficiently for it self that the other exploit has been highly magnified by disinterested persons that had at that time the principal Command of Poictou and Xaintonge who have declar'd that all the Provinces on this side the River Loire had run an extreme danger had the general disorder to which the people were apparently and absolutely enclin'd not been suppress'd by the vigour and celerity wherewith the Duke acted upon this occasion If the King's Affairs had the good success you have heard under the Conduct of the Duke de la Valette in Guienne they succeeded no less fortunately upon the Frontier of Picardy under the command of the Duke de Candale and the Cardinal de la Valette his Brothers These two Generals joyntly commanded the King's Army in those parts and so well that they had in a short time retaken the Castle of Cambresis Maugbeuge and Lendrecies in the end That which was most remarkable in the Siege of this last place was that they
the place having the Sea open to them two several times convey'd Relief into the Fortress in the very face of our Land Army and at one of those put a Governour into it a Relief of so infinite importance as that it was first the cause of the places preservation and afterwards of the disaster that befel the Royal Arms. I shall not trouble my Reader with a long Narrative of the manner of this Siege I could on the contrary wish it were in my power to extinguish the memory of it for ever not that the Enemy however obtain'd any so signal reputation by it they only making use of a kind of Lethargy of which our whole Army was at that time sick so that although they made shift to kill a few people that lay without motion and consequently uncapable of any resistance yet had they no other advantage by it than what their Fortune and our mischance combin'd together put into their hands even beyond their own aim or expectation And this is all I should have said of this business had not some endeavour'd to have engag'd the Duke de la Valett's Honour in the miscarriage but his interests being not to be separated from those of the Duke his Father and the concern here being the vindication of Truth and the defence of both their Honours from Calumny and the malice of malevolent men I coâ—ceive I may here be permitted to say always retaining the respect due to those who were not very favourable to them that it is not to be deny'd but that the Duke de la Valette was the first man who going over on foot and up to the middle in water at the head of the Army open'd the way into the Enemies Country beating them from the Trenches they had cast up upon the Banks of the River to defend that Pass That at the Quarter where he commanded in the Siege he had very much advanc'd his Approaches and so as had infallibly reduc'd the place to a necessity of being taken on that side had it not been reliev'd neither is it to be contradicted but that he gave advice to Fight thâ— Relief so soon as ever it began to appear They know moreover very well that he had nothing at all to do in the Siege at the time it was rais'd he having resign'd his Post to the Archbishop of Bordeaux by express Order from the Prince and under his own hand that he was above a League distant from the Battel when it was sought and that being totally ignorant of the disorder till he had it from the Run-aways who brought the Alarm into his Quarters he thereupon immediately put himself into the head of those men he had with him That he rallied as many as he could of those that were squandered and that with these and his own men having staid the pursuit of the Conquerours he by that means preserved all those who had escap'd from the Defeat These truths though sufficiently known to all the world were not nevertheless of force to hinder his Enemies from laying the whole miscarriage of this business at his door and from charging him who was certainly innocent with the fault of ten thousand who were guilty He was not so much as permitted without a Crime to set a manly counâ—enance upon this disaster or to manifest his Courage and Assurance upon so dangerous an occasion even his Valour and constancy an unheard of injustice were the main things in his Accusation it being objected against him that he was glad of the mischance and was observ'd to laugh at the Defeat because he did not appear dejected and shew'd a countenance void of fear and confusion He was not however so unjust to them but has ever commended as there was just cause both the Actions and Intentions of those who commanded at this Siege never doubting in the least of their Sincerity and passionate desire to serve the King effectually and well and ever believing that had their Valour been seconded as it ought to have been they would have obtain'd those advantages over the Enemy was reasonably to be expected from their Bravery and good Conduct But if the chance of Arms was contrary to them if the panick Terror that seiz'd the Souldier would not permit them to follow the example of their Leaders and if his Counsels which would have procur'd safety to the Army were not follow'd or approv'd why should he be rendred criminal for not having been able to prevail upon the humours or opinions of other men Some days before this Disgrace hapned the Duke of Espernon had return'd without Order into his Government after having continued some months at his House Plassac wherein his design in truth was to have pass'd away his time in repose at his other House Cadillac without intermedling at all with the trouble of Affairs neither would he so much as go to Bordeaux to the end that what accident soever should happen nothing might reflect upon him nor that he might any ways appear responsible for the event of things which he ever apprehended would be finister enough and seeing the Orders had been left in the Province deposited in the hands of men of very little Experience and Authority and who had scarce any other argument to recommend them to that trust save only the hatred they openly bare to him he very well judg'd by the apparence which prov'd also in the end but too certain that from these Orders ill executed as they were like to be nothing but disaster and confusion could ensue Whilst the Duke liv'd in apprehension of this mishap he receiv'd the joyfullest news that could possibly arrive which was that of the Birth of Monsegnieur the Dolphin the same whom we now see reigning with so much Glory and Happiness in the Throne of France that there is not that prosperity can fall within the limits of Humane Expectation we may not reasonably promise to our selves from so auspicious a beginning By a Dispatch from the King dated the fifth of September the precise day of this illustrious Birth the Duke was to order a publick Thanksgiving and to cause Bonfires to be made for Joy of this Blessing to his Majesty and the whole Kingdom The Courrier who had been expressly dispatch'd away to the Duke having found him at Cadillac willing without all doubt to flatter his credulity told him That it was his Majesties desire he should himself in person be assisting at the Ceremonies which were to be perform'd in the City of Bordeaux to render the Solemnity the more Iâ—lustrious by his Presence a deceit that gave a strange addition of joy to the good old Duke who could not in himself but hug and applaud his own foresight by which he had so seasonably prevented the King's desire and in that pleasing error he departed from Cadillac the 29 th of the same month to go to Bordeaux where being arriv'd he began the very same Evening
importance of that which was now in agitation he ought not to expect advice from a Father who was much more solicitous of his safety than he himself could be That herein his tenderness and affection ought to stand equally suspected to them both That as he durst not give him counsel to go to Court knowing as he did to what a dangerous degree it was animated against him so could he not advise him to depart the Kingdom perhaps never to see his face again That therefore he was himself to clear all those doubts and thereupon to form his own determination wherein if he should resolve upon withdrawing himself out of France he was by no means of opinion that he ought to engage his Safety on this side so many Rivers to come to take his leave of him lest his Enemies might take that opportunity to attempt something upon his Person That so short a Visit would only serve to augment their mutual Affliction That he was therefore to have patience and to reserve himself for better times And that he might assure himself of his Affection which should never be wanting to him whatever could possibly arrive We are now come to the time of the Duke of Espernon's greatest Disgraces which from henceforward also were continual and unintermitted to the hour of his Death and Fortune who had hitherto made a shew of going hand in hand with Vertue and Prudence in the conduct of his Life by a volubility by so much the more dangerous and unseasonable as it was the less suspected and unforeseen now totally forsook his Interests to leave him in the Arms and to the protection of his own single Vertue The first and the rudest shock his constancy could possibly receive was the absence of the Duke de la Valette his beloved Son which after he had a few days lamented with the tenderness and compassion of an excellent and passionately affectionate Father he had news brought him of a rumour that was already spread at Bordeaux that the Prince of Condé was to be made sole Governour of Guienne and had already receiv'd Orders to dispossess him of Chasteau-Trompette therein to place one of the King 's Domestick Servants The Duke had all his best Furniture besides other Riches laid up in this place who having not so much as once dream'd of being so suddenly divested of his Command had not consequently at his departure out of the Province remov'd any thing from thence Sudden order was therefore to be taken in an Affair of this importance and even the very moments of time to be husbanded which also were not many more than was necessary for the effecting his purpose Those to whose fidelity and care he entrusted the management of this business were so diligent and so faithful that in one night they secur'd to the value of above a million of Livers what in Money Jewels and Plate of which the Money and Jewels were carried to Plassac and there safe deliver'd into his own hands and the Plate was convey'd to Cadillac and all done with so great secresie that those to whom the Government of the place was a few days after committed expected to have found all this Treasure there which if they had it would have been in great danger of being put into the King's hands as the Arms and other of the Duke 's own peculiar Goods were which he could never again recover to the hour of his Death So soon as they had thus stript the Duke of his Command and wrested thoâ—e places he held in Guienne out of his hands their common Enemies began openly to labour the persecution not only of the Duke de la Valette but of the Duke his Father also wherein the Father being no ways questionable for the disafter of Fontarabie as having had nothing at all to do in that Affair he was blemish'd with all the ignominy that malice could invent or the tongue of Calumny utter against a man of Fidelity and Honour and his Son who by his absence lay expos'd to all the mischief was intended against him was proceeded against as a Criminal and a Traytor In order to the Duke de la Valett's Tryal Accusers and Witnesses were found out some whereof were frighted by menaces and others suborn'd by money for nothing was spar'd upon this occasion into these excellent Offices and out of this kind of Evidence an Information was suddenly drawn up sufficient to darken and overwhelm the clearest and most unspotted innocence in the world The Intercessions and Services of the Duke de Candale and the Cardinal de la Valette who commanded the Army of Italy were fruitless and invalid upon this occasion nay they had much ado to prevail for a little Truce and cessation from those persecutions wherewith the Ruling Powers were resolv'd to disquiet the old Age of the Duke their Father and that was granted to them in the quality of an extraordinary Grace and Favour which was hardly to be excus'd without shame With so unjust a return were they rewarded for the expence of their Fortunes the hazard of their Lives and their continual vigilancy and care with an Army unfurnish'd of all necessaries of War to withstand the greatest power of the most dangerous Enemies to the Crown and Kingdom All these Afflictions how great soever were yet but the forerunners of those which by the Divine Justice or Bounty were prepar'd wherewith to exercise the Duke's Vertue They soon shifted from outward things to wound him more sensibly in his own person and whether it were the unkindness he took at the ill usage he daily suffer'd or the infirmities of his very great Age only that occasion'd his distemper so it was that he fell into the most acute and most dangerous Disease he had ever before sustain'd during the whole course of his Life He was for four months together seiz'd with a defluxion of Rhume by which all his Members were strangely benumm'd and that numness accompanied with excessive dolours in all his parts from which pain he no sooner began to find some ease the March following but that the joy of his Amendment was soon quash'd with the sad news of the Death of the Duke de Candale his eldest Son This Son become infinitely dear to the Duke his Father since his last Visit lay at Cazal with part of the Army he had in charge joyntly with the Cardinal de la Valette his Brother where the tenth day of March falling ill of a Tertian Ague and that growing to a double Tertian at the third Fit and afterwards to an unintermitted Fever it prov'd in the end mortal the eleventh day of his Sickness The Cardinal his Brother immediately upon this accident dispatch'd away a Courrier to the Duke their Father to acquaint him with it but some days pass'd over before any one durst tell him the news for fear left the grief which could not but be exceeding great might cause
him to relapse into his former disposition from which also he was yet but upon the mending hand At last his Servants apprehending it might by some or other be indiscreetly and unseasonably blurted out they conceiv'd it better with some preparatory arguments to sweeten the bitterness of his loss to make him acquainted with it than to detain him still in ignorance of a thing which could not always nor very long be conceal'd from him The Duke had kept about him during all the time of his last Sickness a Father Capuchin in whom he repos'd a singular Confidence This good Father therefore as he was one day talking with him having fall'n into a Discourse of the inconstancy of Humane Life and the necessity of dying and therein slip'd in some mention of the Duke de Candale's Sickness the Duke presently understood the rest and thereupon spar'd the good man the pains of any further preparation When his countenance wherein before this part of their Discourse something of chearfulness had appear'd suddenly changing into a more severe Gravity though only so as to compose it to his constancy he said Father I have ever been dispos'd to submit my self and all my concerns to the good pleasure of God and I beseech him of his goodness to give me Fortitude enough to conform my self also to it upon this occasion My Son is dead I am certain of it and if he died in the fear of God he is happier than we at least out of the reach of those persecutions Fortune is preparing for us who are left behind After which they presented him the Letters that contain'd the Relation of his Death by which the Duke being satisfied it had been very constant and Christian he said again That he praised God from the bottom of his heart that in depriving him of one of his chiefest comforts he had yet left him the hope in a short time to see his â—on in a better Life He afterwards entertain'd himself some time in pious Discourse with that Holy Man after which being again laid in bed that he yet quitted not but by intervals he was heard in that privacy a great while to weep those tears and vent those sighs which with extraordinary violence upon himself he had suppress'd whilst there was any witness by But after having paid what was due to the impulse of Nature he summon'd his wonted constancy to encounter this Accident the bitterness whereof though he could by no art banish from his remembrance yet did he ever keep himself upright from manifesting his sorrow with the least weakness There were very few persons of condition in the Kingdom who did not signifie to him by very civil Messages and kind Letters the part they shar'd with him in his grief upon this occasion amongst whom Cardinal Richelieu himself was one who made shift to find out some consolatory Complements for a man he at the same instant persecuted with the most bloody effects he could possibly inflict upon him he at the same time prosecuting the Duke de la Valette to the last extreme For the information that had been drawn up against him having been laid open in the presence of his Majesty the 25 th day of May the greater part of the Judges had concluded him worthy of Death the forfeiture of his Offices and the confiscation of his Estate yet were they not all of that opinion President Believre amongst the rest taking upon him the honest boldness to defend the innocence of the accus'd and by an Oration no less Judicious and Eloquent than hardy and equitable acquitting his own Conscience and confirming himself in the high esteem already conceiv'd of the great Worth and Integrity which for so many happy years have been eminent in his Name and Race It would not become me in this place to inlarge my self upon the words of this Sentence it having been pronounc'd by persons to whom too great a respect is due for any one to dare to complain neither in truth is it to them that the severity of it ought to be imputed for in criminal matters the Evidence are the chief Judges and consequently they at whose doors all that was extraordinary or severe in his proceeding ought of right to be laid It has since appear'd by the high and publick justification of the party accus'd and that in the face of the most August Tribunal of Justice in all Europe what has been thought of the Depositions that were preferr'd against him the Parliament of Paris having restor'd him to his Honour Life Offices and Estate which had been all taken from him by the Arrest of the Council And he has this Obligation to his Enemies not only by their means to have had an occasion wherein to vindicate his Innocency and Honour but moreover to have receiv'd the Eulogies for his brave Services which his modesty would not have permitted him to have endur'd had his Vertue never been disputed But this last good not arriving in time to serve for any consolation to the Duke of Espernon and that all his misfortunes succeeded in the neck of one another without any the least shadow of Prosperity intervening to sweeten his Affliction is not the stability of his mind and the constancy of his Courage highly to be commended and admir'd that could continue so firm in all the shocks of Fortune A Fortitude that will discover it self much better to our observation if we separately consider the various occasions he had at this time wherein to exercise that Heroick Vertue Disgrace knock'd at his Door from the first arrival of the Prince in Guienne as you may have already observ'd and his Afflictions began to unveil themselves in the ill usage he at that time receiv'd by Order from the Court very much contrary to what he had all the reason in the world to hope for and expect they were continued to him by the Command he receiv'd to withdraw himself out of his Government which seem'd to blast him with some kind of Ignominy and reproach But what an overplus of vexation must it needs be when by the ill success of Fontarabie he saw all the miscarriage of that Expedition cast upon his Son what a grief to see him prosecuted for a Criminal and himself at the same time look'd upon as a guilty man They were both of them divested of their Offices and Commands and those transferr'd into the hands of their mortal and most implacable Enemies So that the Duke de la Valette was constrain'd to give way to their Power and through infinite dangers to fly for Sanctuary into England a Kingdom at that time agitated with Mutinous Factions and Civil Discords of their own whilst the Father in a Country House expos'd to their discretion saw himself strip'd of all his Employments and his venerable old Age so highly reverenc'd and esteem'd throughout the whole Kingdom become an Object of Scorn to such as a few days before had truckled
unpleasing Treaty but the Prince who as it was said having cast his eye upon Languedoc and openly discovered a desire to be invested in that Government had perhaps a design to make that of Guienne the Price of the other It was moreover believ'd he had a mind to translate the Office of Colonel into the hands of a Favourite thereby to promote his own pretence For one or both of these reasons therefore he would not be repuls'd at the Duke's first tacit denial but not long after having left Bordeaux to return to Court his way through Xaintonge gave him opportunity as he pass'd by to see the Count de Ionzac the King's Lieutenant in that Province and one of the most intimate Friends the Duke at that time had in the Kingdom To him therefore he gave express charge to go to the Duke and to go through with that Negotiation he had not only occasionally committed to Geneste to which he also requir'd a precise and positive answer The Count de Ionzac could do no other than obey the Prince in this particular though he was already very well assur'd he should bring him no satisfactory return from the Duke concerning this Affair This Gentleman was without all doubt the depositary of the Duke's most secret thoughts and intentions and I am certain in several very important occasions had prov'd exceeding faithful to him So that there being scarce any thing reserv'd which he did not freely commit to his Secresie and Trust it is to be presum'd the Duke had not conceal'd from him this Proposition from the Prince together with the fix'd and determinate Resolution he had put on as to that business He therefore only confirm'd to him anew what he had already sufficiently assur'd him of desiring him withal since the Prince would have a positive answer to tell him on his behalf That he could have wish'd having ever honour'd him as he had done he had sooner had those considerations for him he was pleas'd at present to profess That his compassion was now out of season That he was content alone to undergo all his misfortunes the remaining part of his life and that he had much rather never more see the Duke de la Valette his Son than to see him reduc'd to the condition of a private person That he would accept no Recompence for his Offices and Commands forasmuch as he was resolved never to part with them and that he had enough remaining through the favour and liberality of the Kings his Masters to spare those profits and emoluments he had formerly receiv'd And to the end that for the time to come he might secure himself from being any more importun'd with such distasteful proposols he declar'd aloud that should any of his Friends ever entertain him with the like discourse he should never take that man for his Friend again but in case any over whom he had an Authority should presume once to open his mouth to such a purpose he would handle him so as should manifest to all the world how highly he was offended at the motion The Duke soon perceiv'd that the Court was by no means pleas'd with this answer the ill usage he had hitherto receiv'd being after this refusal evidently doubled upon him insomuch that he had news brought the Cardinal had been importun'd by the Enemies of his Family to remove him from Plassac that being as they pretended too near to Bordeaux where by the convenience of so dangerous a vicinity he might still maintain a Correspondence there and set what practices he pleas'd on foot to the prejudice of the Publick Peace Thus even when confin'd to a Country House disarm'd and naked as he then was and as it were buried under his own ruines his sole Name and Authority was formidable to his Enemies even in so low a condition Such as were most violent against him advis'd to have him shut up in Prison and the more moderate sort would only have him confin'd to some remote places which they had already pointed out for him iâ— Auvergâ—e Yet did all these ill-sounding rumours at this time produce no evil effects and it was said the Cardinal would keep his word he had given to the Cardinal de la Valette not to add to the persecution of the Duke his Father but if he did not openly do it and so as to own his own act he at least gave the Duke's most implacable Enemies leave to do what he himself was either asham'd of or had no mind to own men who abusing that liberty committed out-rages against him unworthy both of their own and his condition and such as the Prince who at this time was no ways favourable to him could not himself endure and therefore did him a noble right but I rather choose to omit the recital of it than to revive the resentment of things almost if not altogether extinguish'd and forgot by a relation that would otherwise perhaps he pertinent enough to my story In this violent persecution the Duke's Servants humbly advis'd him to slacken the stiffness he had hitherto ever maintain'd and especially towards the Cardinal in hopes that by a little soothing his vain humour immeasurably greedy of Glory with something above what he had formerly us'd to do he might obtain some satisfaction from him Whereupon they represented to him the examples of the Princes of the Blood who by having a little warp'd from their degree and parted with some small advantages in his consideration had by so doing given the other Great Ones of the Kingdom an honourable colour and pretext to go something less in their Quality also in the Cardinal's Favour but these Arguments could by no means prevail upon his invincible Spirit He made answer That could he ever deliberate to submit to civilities beyond what he had usually done he should however much less do it in the time of his Disgrace than at any other That he ought no more to consider the condition to which Fortune had now reduc'd him than that from which he was fall'n That what at another time would pass only for Complement would now be interpreted an act of Fear That if he must perish he had much rather have the injustice of his Enemies whereof to complain than to stand oblig'd to his own weakness for his preservation That the example of the Princes of the Blood signified nothing to him That their Quality was inseparably annex'd to their Birth That therefore it could never by any demission of theirs be alienated from them That what would be call'd Prudence in persons of that condition to accommodate themselves to the time would be interpreted an inexcusable meanness in him and that they should never see him do any thing either by example or perswasion that should in the least prejudice or reflect upon his Honour Before this and soon after the Death of the Cardinal de la Valette some there were who endeavour'd to perswade him to
this tedious and troublesome Sickness he receiv'd very great comfort in the company of the Dutchess de la Valette his Daughter-in-law and the Marquise de la Valette his Grand-child who forsook the Court to attend him in his Solitude and Retirement Both these arriv'd at Plassac sometime before the Dukes Sickness The Marquis de la Valette now Duke de Candale had been there a good while before the Duke his Grand father having resolv'd himself to take care of his Education and to form him betimes to those great Actions of which his Predecessors had left him so beautiful Examples In the sweet Conversation of this innocent Family did this Illustrious old man flatter his Grief and deceive his Afflictions creating to himself a kind of fruition out of that Confinement and Privacy his Enemies had for a punishment inflicted on him Living in this Calm of Repose which the Tempests of his Fortune had at last fretted themselves into and hoping therein to spin out the remainder of his Life he was surpriz'd with an unexpected Command from the King to leave his House of Plassac and to remove thence to Loches And seeing this Affair of it self untoward enough was the fountain from whence several other afflictions deriv'd themselves which also in the end occasion'd his Death it should not methinks be impertinent to give a full Relation of a Transaction by which we are now about to conclude his Life From the time that the Count de Soissons departed from Court to retire himself to Sâ—dan of which we have already spoken this Prince had rested content with the enjoyment of his own Estate and the payment of those Pensions assign'd him from the Crown and it has been said that had those Pensions been continued to him would have remain'd in the same quiet posture wherein he had liv'd ever since his departure from Court choosing rather to languish in Sloth and out of all Employment than by his Ambition to discompose the Peace of his Country But as if his Enemies had been disposers of his Destiny they would never grant him those just and reasonable conditions he desir'd insomuch that they impos'd upon him a necessity of applying himself to Forein Princes These therefore having supplied him with some Forces his own Interest having procur'd him some others within the Kingdom and the Duke de Boüillon who was equally interested with him in his cause having arm'd a great number of his Friends he of all these together made up a very considerable Army These Forces however how great soever they were would notwithstanding have given the Cardinal no very great Alarm had he not found withal that even at home there was so formidable a Faction form'd in this Prince's favour as that the Kingdom was universally engag'd in his designs But when he saw that the people openly declar'd in his Quarrel and that the whole Frontier of Champagne together with the best Cities of that Province threatned to revolt in his Favour that Paris it self open'd her Arms to receive him and that it was to be fear'd if some sudden course was not taken that without a blow strook or the least resistance he should see himself reduc'd to his Mercy then it was as has been reported that he seriously repented himself he had not been more just to him and that he had not rendred himself more facile to his equitable demands But having fruitlesly attempted to quiet this storm by some overtures of Accommodation those Propositions being rejected there was now a necessity of coming to the decision of Arms. The Cardinal therefore endeavour'd with all imaginable expedition to oppose a good Army against him under the Command of the Mareschal de Chastillon to whom he also gave express Orders at any hand to hazard the fortune of a Battel before the evil dispositions of the people could produce those sinister effects he had all the reason in the world to apprehend In this posture of Affairs his most redoubted Enemies being the Great Ones he had offended he conceiv'd it in the first place necessary to secure the Duke of Espernon not doubting but that a man of his known spirit and so highly offended by him would take hold of the first opportunity to revenge himself of those insupportable Injuries he had so continually recâ—iv'd at his hands But over and above this jealousie which the Cardinal had reasonably enough conceiv'd upon the foremention'd accounts the Duke 's ill Fortune would moreover at this time joyn with his Enemy to give him some colourable pretence for this new injury and injustice All the Kingdom believ'd that the Cardinal de la Valette had before his Decease obtain'd of this great Minister an assurance of repose for his Father the remaining part of his Life and there had been no new occasion offer'd that could justifie the violation of this promise so that his private and solitary way of living sheltring him from all the Tempests of the busie World he thought to live quiet and secure in that harbour whereinto even by his misfortunes he had been so fortunately thrown In this estate a wretched Fellow utterly unknown to the Duke or to any of his without any the least acquaintance with any of his Family or any frequentation in his House was so malicious as in his name to go to the Sieur du Bourg Governour of the little Fort the Spaniards had possess'd themselves of at their entry into Biscaye and by me before call'd Socoa offering him in the names of the Dukes of Espernon and de la Valette whom he had never seen a very great recompence if he would deliver up that Fort into their hands Le Bourg easily imagin'd that this place being so well known as it was to these two Dukes could not be so ardently coveted by them it being of very little importance and consequently did at the very first believe the person that made him this Proposition must be some Impostor who hop'd to obtain some recompence for informing against him and afterwards to run away but a Rope in the end was his reward Though as I have said le Bourg well enough understood this Fellow to be a Counterfeit he notwithstanding either to render himself more considerable at these two Dukes Expence or more exactly to discharge his Duty than upon such an occasion he was oblig'd to do fail'd not however to give the Court an account of the Proposition had been made to him detaining the impostor Prisoner in the mean time Whereupon he soon after receiv'd Orders to deliver him into the hands of Lauson Intendant de la Iustice in Guienne by whom though he was condemn'd to die and the Sentence accordingly executed upon him yet at present they made use of this Imposture to colour a Command to the Duke of Espernon to depart from Plassac and to transfer himself to Loches Varennes one of the Gentlemen in Ordinary to the King was appointed to carry this Order who
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
obtain'd the Kings permission but his Majesty very well perceiving that his Favourite was only a pretense the League made use of to cover their own ambition that it was the Royal Authority they aim'd at and that their design was only to remove so good a Servant with less difficulty to make themselves Maisters of Affairs the more obstinately they insisted upon that Article the more resolute his Majesty was to protect him The Duke very well inform'd that Villeroy was one of those who contributed most to his Persecution and seeing how publickly he profess'd to desire his ruine resented it with an Animosity proportionable to the Injury receiv'd which was the more violent by how much the offense came from a person he had never done any ill Office to and whom he had ever made it his business to oblige They were in this posture of unkindness on the one side and the other when happned the taking of the Cittadel of Lions before which time it was thought Villeroy had secretly treated of a Marriage betwixt Alincourt his Son and Mandelot's only Daughter not having dar'd publickly to do it by reason of the intelligence Mandelot held with those of the League but having upon this occasion taken up Mandelot's Interests against le Passage that is to say against the Duke himself le Passage being his creature he offer'd to undertake for Mandelot's fidelity to the King provided his Majesty would please to consent to the Marriage propos'd and settle upon Alincourt the Government of Lions in reversion in favour of the match which the King being reduc'd to the necessity of taking all men for friends who were not actually otherwise was sorc'd to allow of and to ratifie what he could not well impeach by that means trying to draw Mandelot over to him but the Duke exasperated to the last degree could no longer smother his passion nor dissemble his animosity against Villeroy but spoke freely and aloud to his disadvantage and of the Correspondence he held with the League which was the first effect of their open and declared Hatred The end of the first Book THE HISTORY Of the LIFE of the Duke of Espernon The Second Book AFter the Surrender or rather the Revolt of the many places already mentioned the Duke of Guise conceiving it necessary to press nearer the King the sooner and with less difficulty to obtain his ends order'd the General Rendezvous of his Army to be at Chalons Which place he made choice of for two Reasons first because by the nearness of it to Paris being but three little days Journey from thence his presence would be apt to fortifie the Citizens in their Devotion to him and secondly the number of his Confederates being so great and some of them of so great Authority in the City he could by their means continually infuse into the people such dispositions as might best serve his purpose hoping by this means either to incline the King to satisfie all his demands or at least to be able to raise such mutiny and confusion in the City as might give him opportunity at one time or another to effect that by fine Force he could not obtain by the more moderate ways of Addresses and Treaty Then it was that his Majesty perceiv'd the manifest peril his Person and his Affairs were in and then would he take up Arms for his own defense which he had no sooner resolv'd but that at the same time he saw it was too late and impossible to be done The Reiters which he had rais'd in Germany could not come to him the Duke of Lorain having deny'd them a passage through his Countrey and all the Forces within the Kingdom were either engag'd with the League or with the King of Navarre so that the King was left utterly naked of all defense save of those few Servants he had about his own person Nay even those who in the beginning of these troubles would with all their hearts have assisted him to punish to Duke whilst meerly in the condition of a Rebel durst not now he was grown to that formidable height and become the head of a strong Party attempt to succour a weak and disfurnish'd Prince against an armed and prevailing Subject The thoughts of War then being altogether fruitless and impossible in the posture the King then was he must of necessity have recourse to the Treaties of Peace to which resolution he was further necessitated by the King of Navarre's breaking into Arms at the same time which I should not however have mention'd for a second Motive his Majesty had to satisfie the League had this Prince pretended no further than simply to defend his own Fortune with those Forces he had already had in France for then his designs might have been favourable to the King and either have kept the Army of the League wholly imploy'd or at least have diverted their designs but he fearing at once to be opprest by the Union of two Catholick Armies had recourse to strangers for aid The King knew he had treated with the Queen of England and with the States of Holland who both of them assisted him with Men and Money and that all the Protestant Princes of Germany made extraordinary Provision to send him a powerful succour so that he now evidently saw he must in good earnest close with the League and joyn with one of the Factions to preserve himself from being a Prey to both The Queen Mother had for many years been employ'd Mediatrix in all the accomodations of Peace that had been concluded in France and it was commonly believed she was not then altogether without such an Interest in the Duke of Guise as might have establish'd this to the Kings satisfaction I never heard the Duke of Espernon say she was partial to that Faction and though he receiv'd several ill Offices from her in his declining Favour he notwithstanding ever retain'd a constant Respect for so great a Princess who was his Masters Mother and ever defended her Honour against all the calumnies of the time 'T is true he thought she was not altogether displeas'd that there should ever be a party on foot in France such as might oblige the King her Son to make use of her Counsels and Mediation her great and ambitious spirit ill digesting the calms of peace and worse enduring to be depriv'd of an employment in which she had ever been as successful as necessary Her therefore the King passionately entreated to labour an Accommodation with the Duke of Guise an Office she as chearfully undertook and two dayes after began her Journey towards Espernay where she had appointed the Duke to meet and whither he accordingly came together with the Cardinal of Bourbon In the first overtures she found a spirit puft up with success and wholly averse to Peace but when he had more deliberately consider'd that it was not yet time to weaken the King's Authority which he thought was absolutely at his