intended to depart he made his Complements to the Company which were returned to him and then M. de Vair Keeper of the Seals the Chancellor de Sillery being absent spake to him to this effect Sir the King hath commanded us to send for you to acquaint you that he hath thought it very strange that your Master should be so bold as to take upon him to seize on two French Vessels at Legorn by way of reprisal since he is not ignorant that such Practices are not usual between such petty Princes as he and so potent a King as his Majesty that it was very extraordinary that after he had thus violated the respect due to his Majesty he hath not used any of the Solemnities requisite and customary in Reprisals that the King being justly offended at such Proceedings was resolved to cause him to repent it ' ere long and that upon this account his Majesty being no longer able to confide in the Duke of Florence nor consequently in his Agents required him to depart that day from Paris and in three days after out of the Kingdom The Agent replied that he knew nothing of this reprisal but that he was very certain that his Master wanted neither Respect nor Affection to the King and that if time were allowed him to dispatch a Courier to him he promised that he should bring all manner of satisfaction to his Majesty Monsieur du Vair told him that the Kings Orders must be obeyed thereupon he went on that very day to Nancy where he sojourned a great while continuing his former Practices that he had began in France Information had been given by the Syti's that the Sieur de Bournonville Brother to the Baron de Persan Governour of the Bastile had delivered certain dispatches to a man that went often and privately from Paris to Blois who was afterwards discovered and taken being charged with Letters and Memorials written by Monsieur Barbin then Prisoner in the Bastile to the Queen Mother describing the measures that she ought to take to regain her Authority with the King and to destroy those that had obtained a share in his Counsels and that might be able to oppose this design This was the cause that the Officer of the Guard was commanded to go into the Bastile under pretence to speak with another Prisoner where on a sudden according to the Orders that he had received in Writing he caused the Door of the Sieur Barbin's Chamber to be opened that he might enter and seize on his Papers and found him with other Memorials on the same Subject as the former but much larger As soon as he perceived that the Officer took them away he cryed out Alass I am undone he that hath been my only support will see in these Papers what pains I have taken to destroy him but it was to serve my Mistress These Writings being examined in the Council it appeared that Burnonville had suffered himself to be corrupted that he took care of the Letters that the Sieur Barbin sent out of the Bastile and received those that were directed to him It was also inferred from thence that the Baron de Persan and his Family were engaged in the Service of the Queen Mother however the King was satisfied with taking from him the Government of the Bastile But as for Bournonville against whom there were undoubted Proofs he thought fit to order him to be committed into the hand of justice to be brought to his Tryal before the Grand Council that his Majesty had appointed to this end as also to try the others that were discovered to be of the same Faction as well by the Papers of the Seiur Barbin as by the dispatches of the Agent of Florence above-mentioned viz. The Sieur de Marsillac Le See formerly Secretary to the Queen the two Brothers named Syti and Durand a Parisian whom Monsieur de Luines had introduced into the Kings Presence to compose the Verses of the Balls by whose appointment he received two thousand Livers as a reward According to the decree made by the Grand Council Marsillac and Le See on whose behalf Madam de Luines very much interceded were acquitted the Sieur Barbin was condemned to perpetual banishment out of the Kingdom the Younger Syti received Sentence to be Hanged and his Elder Brother and Durand to make public reparation and afterwards to be broken alive on a Wheel These two last had each of them an infamous Libel about them written with their own hands against his Majesties Sacred Person in which Durand omitted nothing that might serve to represent him as the most cruel and abominable Prince that ever lived the Elder Syti finding it too harsh had mollified it a little however he was thought worthy of the punishment to which he was adjudged but they had not time to Publish this Scandalous Pamphlet Amongst Durands Papers were found Letters that assured him of the Office of Secretary to the Queen Mother who was highly extolled therein nevertheless it was believed that she had not read them and that she never would have consented that they should after so base a manner sully the Honour of the King her Son whom all Men acknowledged as one of the most pious most just and most Excellent Princes that ever wore a Crown As for what relates to the Duke of Florence a shew was made of an intention to invade his Country and he began to be afraid of a Storm when he heard that Orders were sent to Monsieur de Lesdiguiers to be ready to command an Army of twenty thousand men in Italy that vast sums of money were provided to set out a considerable number of Ships at Marseilles and that Monsieur de Guise was already departed to go on Board as Admiral and to Act according to his Majesties Orders Insomuch that to allay this Tempest he dispatched the Chevalier Guidy with great diligence to the King to excuse himself on the account of what had passed to the prejudice of the Merchants of Provence of which he protested that he was altogether ignorant till he had received an information thereof in a Letter from his Agent laying the fault on certain Officers whom he had for that reason caused to be put in Prison The Chevalier Guidy brought the Merchants along with him to testifie to his Majesty that not only the Vessels and Merchandizes were restored to them but that they were also satisfied in full for all charges damages and interests and that they were paid for the expences of their journey to the Court The Fleet that was prepared by Monsieur de Guise served to clear the Coasts of Provence of the Pirates of Algier that intercepted their commerce and indeed this was the true reason that such a fund was appropriated for their maintenance The Incendiaries of the Court having as hath been already observed exasperated the mind of the Queen with two different passions distrust and anger made use of the Proceedings above-related
de Luines and the removing of Monsieur Deageant were the only Obstacles that hindered the King from becoming absolute Master of Rochel at that time During the Employment of Monsieur Deageant no other Affairs of consequence were transacted in Italy but that of the Duke of Florence above mentioned the Marriage of the Prince of Piedmont the difference between the Dukes of Savoy and Mantua of which the King was Arbitrator and the Accommodation between the King of Spain and the Duke of Savoy And it would be needless for me to enlarge on them since there are many that are able to produce larger Memorials than I can as for the last Father Joseph can give a true account thereof since he was sent into Spain on purpose to cause the Treaty to be put in Execution that was made for the restitution of Verseil I shall only add one particular passage that happened to my Knowledge which perhaps may be thought worth the observing Cardinal Ludovisio who was afterwards promoted to the Pontificate negotiated for the Pope in the aforesaid Accommodation and Monsieur de Lesdiguiers was one of those whom the King had employed therein The Treaty being concluded Monsieur de Lesdiguiers went to take leave of the Cardinal and amongst other Complements wished him the the Mitre he smiled and made him this answer Will you promise me to become a Catholic when I shall be Pope Yes certainly replied Monsieur de Lesdiguiers who seeing him very Ancient and the last of the Cardinals could not imagine that he could attain to this Supreme Dignity however in a little time he was placed in St. Peters Chair and long after dispatched a Brief to Monsieur de Lesdiguiers to put him in mind of his promise to perform which he was already inclined as shall be hereafter observed he sent an answer to this Brief full of respect and even made use of the terms of most Holy Father and his Holiness notwithstanding the Remonstrances that the Deputies of the Reformed Religion and the Consistory of Lyons from whence he wrote exhibited to him on this occasion There were also certain Treaties in agitation concerning the Affairs of the Valtoline which were disannulled by the Venetians at the very first overture but because I knew not the succeeding Events I shall make no mention of them here And as for Spain excepting the Transactions that related to the composing of the differences between them and the Duke of Savoy there was no other matter of moment depending between the two Crowns and Peace hath been maintained in despight of the mutual Antipathies of of these two Nations one against another and the different Interests of their Kings There arose about that time a certain contest with England the Ambassador of France was come back and left le Cler his Secretary to act in his stead who proceeded so far that a resolution was taken to treat him somewhat severely he thereupon withdrew himself and having sent an express to the King of what passed he received a Command to find out some means to return which he afterwards did there was also an Ambassador from England with the King who upon notice that the other of France was in the Kingdom gave orders that he should speedily depart since contrary to the Law of Nations his Master had abused his The Duke of Savoy who kept a good Correspondence in England and treated there about the Marriage of his Son hoping that these two Kings being united together would assist him much in obtaining the Crown that had been propounded to him interposed and took much pains to reconcile them since their differences were produced on a very slight occasion The principal difficulty consisted in this Point which of them should first send his Ambassador The King alledged that since there was no composition between the two Crowns touching precedency the English having always yielded it to the French and the King of England having obliged his Majesty to recal his Agent it belonged to him to send his Ambassador first into France The King of England did not dispute about the matter of Composition but pretended that he had not treated the Agent of France after so rude a manner that he ought to have withdrawn himself that he was highly offended that his was sent back without any lawful Cause and that this offence could not be redressed but by sending a French Ambassador to excuse it after the arrival of whom he would cause his to depart At last it was agreed that the two Kings should nominate their respective Ambassadors that the English should first pass over the Sea and that as soon as he had given notice of his Arrival in France the King should order his to set forward the first being very active made so great haste that as soon as he landed in France he travelled to the Court and remained there some time before the later began his Journey An amicable Correspondence hath been since maintained between the two Crowns The King of England upon the recommendation of our King did often mitigate and abate the ordinary rigorous proceedings against the Roman Catholicks in that Country He was also very well pleased with the Propositions that were privately offer'd to him on behalf of his Majesty tending to re-unite him to the bosom of the Church insomuch that after some reiterated Conferences that were managed to that effect in the King's Presence without communicating any thing thereof in his Council lest the effect being made known should be obstructed or prevented the Arch-Bishop of Embrun made a Voyage into England as it were without any design in the habit and under the name of a Counsellor in the Parliament of Grenoble whom curiosity had induced to see England he had no sooner set his foot on Land at Dover but the Duke of Buckingham came to meet him and having saluted him whispered him thus in the Ear Sir You that call your self a Counsellor of Grenoble being the Arch-Bishop of Embrun are very welcome into these Dominions you need not change your Name nor conceal your Quality for you shall receive nothing but Honour here and especially from the King my Master who hath a very particular esteem for you Indeed the King of England treated him very honourably granted him several Favours in behalf of the Catholicks and even permitted him to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to them in the House of the Ambassadour of France where there was a great Court the doors being open There were near eighteen thousand persons that received this Sacrament without having any thing said to them in the Entry at the Door or elsewhere although there was a great concourse of the English people in the street that saw this Ceremony performed During the time that he resided there he had several Conferences with the King who being satisfied as to all the points in Controversie wrote a large Letter to the Pope by a Catholick Gentleman his Subject whom he privily
LICENS'D March 8. 1690. J. FRASER THE MEMOIRES OF Monsieur DEAGEANT Containing the most secret Transactions and Affairs of France from the Death of Henry IV. till the beginning of the Ministry of the Cardinal de Richelieu To which is added A Particular Relation of the Arch-Bishop of Embrun's Voyage into England and of his Negociation for the advancement of the Roman Catholick Religion here together with the Duke of Buckingham's Letters to the said Arch-Bishop about the Progress of that Affair Which happened the last Years of King James I. his Reign Faithfully Translated out of the French Original London Printed for Richard Baldwin in the Old Baily 1690. THE TRANSLATOR's PREFACE TO THE READER THE following Memoires need no other plausible Character to recommend them to the favour of the English Reader than that they contain matters of singular Importance manag'd with all imaginable Secresy and Art whereof this Nation had no small concern then and may have no less reason to be inform'd of now there is the more credit to be given them in regard they were written by the Person that was the chief Contriver and Manager of all the Intrigues and Plots that were then form'd to ruine the Protestant Interest in France and to supplant the same in England and for the particular information of the Cardinal of Richelieu when he entred upon the publick administration of the Affairs of France whose private Favourite the Author was We have two illustrious Instances of the indefatigable Industry of the Romish party in those Days hardly to be paralell'd elsewhere one in the Person of a French Hugonot Minister who being a Man of Intrigue and Ambition and having credit with some great Men of his Party was prevailed on by the fair Promises and plausible Insinuations of the Romish Emissaries to abjure the Protestant Religion and embrace that of Rome and yet obtain'd a Dispensation from Rome to continue in the Prosession of the Protestant Religion and Exercise of his Pastoral Function towards his Congregation for several Years on purpose to betray all their Counsels and Designs The other is of the Duke of Buckingham's being reconcil'd to the Church of Rome notwithstanding his continuing afterwards in the Profession of the Religion of the Church of England The whole Negociation of the Arch-Bishop of Embrun who came privately over into England about the latter end of King James the First his Reign to obtain a Toleration for Popery you will find at large at the end of the Book together with some Letters that past betwixt the Duke of Buckingham and the said Arch-Bishop in relation to that Design Besides this Book in the Original is become very scarce and hardly to be found at Paris and I know that it has been sold for a Pistole when it could be met with The Memoires of Monsieur Deageant containing the most secret Negotiations and Affairs in France c. SInce I never designed to commit to Writing any thing concerning the remarkable Occurrences in the Affairs of this Kingdom that happen'd during the time of my Employment therein after my retirement from the Court in the Year 1619. For several Reasons I burnt all the Papers that might be of use to me in preserving the Memory of those Passages that I had seen and been conversant in because I believed that I should never have any further occasion for them especially since I had firmly resolved for the future to lay aside all Thoughts of being engaged in Matters of the like nature Insomuch that it will be impossible for me to make a Relation so perfect and exact as I could wish which I have been nevertheless commanded to do by my Lord Cardinal of Richelieu and whereas I can refuse nothing on behalf of his Eminency that lyes in my Power to perform without transgressing by a manifest ingratitude against those Obligations that are common to me with all the rest of my Country-men as also against those particular Engagements that I lye under for many Favours received by me from his incomparable Generosity I would therefore make it my most humble Request to him graciously to admit the same Reasons that have formerly passed for a lawful Excuse on occasion of the like Commands that his Lordship hath formerly been pleased to lay upon me That I may not waste Paper to no purpose and to avoid tediousness in the description of those things that are commonly known or have been already brought to light I presume his Eminency will be satisfied if I only produce here those Particulars that my Memory can recollect which have not as yet been mentioned by any that I know and whereof as I believe few Persons have been informed About the end of the preceding Reign I began to be employed as well in the managing of Dispatches as in the Transaction of some important Affairs but because I was afterwards discharged from that Office and I have since made but little or no Reflection thereon I am not able to relate any thing very considerable although in reading what may be Written concerning those Times or in discoursing with any that shall have a mind to compose an History of them I could give sufficient Light as to those Particulars that fall within the compass of my Knowledge of which there might be some doubt Amongst other Employments at that time it was my business to make Private Payments to several Persons as well French Men as Foreigners that served the late King in his Grand Design which he was just about putting in Execution at that very instant when he was unfortunately snatcht away from France by that execrable and ever to be deplored Attempt And because as I imagined he would not that any of his Ministers of State not even the Sr. Beringuew the Elder who was his Treasurer as to his more Private and Domestick Expences should know all the particular Circumstances of this Design His Majesty would often in Playing put the Gold that belonged to the Game into his Pocket and secretly convey it into my hands sometimes also I was commanded to go and receive certain Sums of Money from Monsieur de Villeroy who in giving them to me never failed to tell me You may assure the King that I have not enquired how you are to dispose of this Cash By which I judged that he knew nothing of my Employment During that time Monsieur de Lesdiguiers being come to Court the late King Communicated his Designs to him and told him that he intended to give him the Command of an Army which being joyned with the Forces of the Duke of Savoy should make an Inroad into Italy and that he was resolved to appear in Person at the head of Another that was prepared to Invade Flanders and Germany where some Enterprizes were to be performed on certain considerable Places Moreover his Majesty was pleased to shew him the Platforms thereof and required all those that brought them and were employed in these Affairs
so that it might be easily taken out The Council gave notice to his Majesty of what had passed and desired to know his Commands thereupon In the mean time this Wretch laid violent hands upon himself in the Bastile as I have been since informed The second time that I saw the Nun she advised me also to declare that the Garison of Soissons had undertaken an enterprize on a certain Night to seize on the Treasurers that lodged in the quarter of the Celestins at Paris with their Goods and every thing of value that they had in their Houses The Plot was thus laid a sufficient number of Men unknown without any Arms but their Swords were to be introduced into the City and in the Evening appointed for the Execution a Boat privately Laden with Arms was to be brought on the River to the Port St. Paul which about midnight were to be taken by the said Persons who having accomplished their design were to retire through the Mell with their Prisoners and Booty and to repair to the other side of the Bulwark where Horses were prepared ready for them to carry all to Soissons under the Guard of a Detachment of Troopers order'd to attend for that purpose Monsieur de Liancourt Governor of Paris who received an intimation of this project discovered the truth thereof and prevented it from taking effect I shall leave it to the judgment of those that are more capable than I am to determine where this Religious Woman had these two pieces of Intelligence since I never had the Curiosity nor Ability to penetrate into this matter A little after the time that the Prince was Arrested and divers of the Princes and Nobility had withdrawn themselves to Soissons with an intent to make War a certain Person whose name could not be known left at the House of a Gentleman who had the Honour sometimes to attend the King and in whom his Majesty was pleased to confide a Pacquet containing three Letters one for the Queen Mother the other for the Princes at Soissons and the third for this Private Gentleman they were all three open written in a fair French Character without Date or Superscription and in a good Stile though some words had a little relish of the Cloister the two Principal contained several weighty Reasons inforced with passages of the Holy Scriptures and with Examples taken out of profane History the Pacquet was fastned with Spanish Wax without the Impression of any Seal The Letter directed to the Gentleman charged him with a commination of great Penalties in case he neglected it to cause that for the Princes to be sent to them by what means he thought convenient and to deliver the other to the Queen Mother with his own hands entreating her to read it in private and deliberately to consider the Contents without communicating it to any especially to the Party that was more particularly concerned therein and after she had perused it that she would be pleased to restore it to the Bearer The Letter written to the Princes contained several very sound and cogent Arguments to convince them that their Arms were unjust that they would give an opportunity to Foreigners that were Enemies to the Kâ—â—gdom to endeavour to destroy it and would furnish the Protestants with a pretence vigorously to Prosecute their Designs to the great damage of the Catholic Religion and of the State but if these considerations and those of their own safety could not prevail with them to return to their duty they would certainly perish in their Attempts because God had taken a particular Care of the King and promised to Crown the innocency and candour of his disposition with good success As for the Letter directed to the Queen Mother it represented to her the many Favours she had received from the Divine Goodness the little Care she took to demean herself according to the intent of them and the neglect and aversness she shewed to see much good Council that hath been offered to her to follow the pernicious Advice of certain Parasites that had no other end but to advance their own Private Interests and Fortunes to the ruin of the State and even of her Royal Person whom they betrayed The Particulars were not specified but it was apparent that the Marshal D'Ancre and his Wife were principally aimed at in these Reflections several miscarriages in the Government of Public Affairs were also enumerated and the disorders that had already happened as also those that might be expected unless they were speedily prevented If my Memory fails me not these were the Remedies propounded in this Letter in the first place the Queen was exhorted to augment her Devotions in Divine Service and to the Practice of good Works to cause Prayers to be frequently made especially at Paris to give order that young Children of Twelve Years old and under should be exercised therein and that a Solemn Procession should be made and to take care that the Holy Sacrament be better Administred than it hath been in the most part of the Towns and Villages of this Kingdom and that by this means God would divert the evils with which she was threatned in particular otherwise she would suddenly feel the effects of his displeasure it was moreover alledged that in observing the abovementioned directions chiefly those relating to the Holy Sacrament she would soon see the marvellous Fruits thereof throughout all France Secondly The Tenour of this Letter was to perswade the Queen without any farther delay to permit the King to Act in the Administration of the Government for this was a thing that he expected though he did not seem to desire it but it she refused to do it this alone would be sufficient to involve her in extream troubles and Calamities and to overturn the Kingdom which was already embroiled with commotions in all Paris apparently under pretence that the King was â—ept from the knowledge of the Affairs of the State The third Remedy proposed was to send back into their own Country the two occasions of scandal who were the cause of the general discontent and served as a colour to the Insurrection of the Nobility and People that there were good reasons to perswade them to retire viz. That for the future they might not only be permitted to enjoy the great Possessions that they had acquired but might also have more given them that the King would willingly grant this and that thus these two Persons might happily make use of their good Fortune whereas on the contrary if the Queen should obstinately persist in upholding them she would ' ere long with regret see them miserably perishing in her presence and falling into a condition that she hath not yet foreseen would prove an example of the vengeance of Almighty God who hath threatned that the Child shall rise up against the Mother and the Mother against the Child to the great detriment of the Nation and to the manifest Peril of
Religion throughout all Europe I remember that at the end of the Letter there was this Passage that in case the Queen took up a resolution to follow these wholsom Admonitions and Councels the Person that gave them would apply himself more particularly to her Majesty and would lay down such methods for the easy performance thereof that the Success of these Affairs should far surpass the expectation of the most judicious and clear-cited Politicians As soon as the Pacquet was delivered to the Gentleman to whom it was directed he brought it to the King who commanded him to read it in his presence being assisted only with Monsieur de Luines his Majesty thought fit that the Letter for the Princess should be detained and that the other for the Queen Mother should be carried to her without declaring that he had had any Information thereof The Bearer acquainted her Majesty that he had a Paper of great Importance to shew her and that it was desired to be kept Secret whereupon she ordered him to attend her with it at Supper-time when she would retire alone into her little Closet there she caused it to be read and as they were almost at the end the King come to visit the Queen she took that opportunity to keep the Letter saying that she would finish the perusal thereof and take it into consideration at Night as she went to Bed and would restore it the next Morning It hath been since reported that it was given into the hands of her Confessor and afterwards into those of Madam d'Ancre where it remained Some time had passed since the King declared his Opinion to those Councellors in whom he could chiefly confide and signified how much he was displeased at the form of Government then used especially at the little regard that was had to his Person and because they would not suffer him to interpose in any part of the Important Transactions of his Kingdom that had revolted in several Places And divers Methods were already proposed to provide a Remedy against these Disorders but because it was most certain that his Majesty inclined to try the most gentle means rather than to proceed to Extremities the Bearer of the Letter received a great charge to entreat the Queen-Mother as he did as much as possibly he could to weigh the Reasons therein contained to endeavour to induce her to embrace the wholsom Advice that was offered to her for the King was perswaded that if she could but once resolve to remove the Marshal d'Ancre and his Wife she would readily hearken to such Proposals as should be judged most convenient for the Regulation of the Affairs of the State Although the Letter produced not the desired Effect with Respect to the Queen-Mother yet it wrought otherwise with the King for it exasperated his Spirit and animated him to consider more than he had done formerly how to find out proper Expedients as well to stop the course of those Commotions that were already raised and threatned to overwhelm the Nation as to take the Reins of the Government of his Kingdom in his own Hands and to Establish good Rules for the Administration of Public Affairs that were hitherto manag'd altogether by the Passions and particular Interests of the Marshal d'Ancre who though he came not into repute but through the means of the great Influence his Wife had obtained over the Queen-Mother nevertheless would not permit her Majesty any longer to have a share in the Government nay presumed so far as to give orders and to dispose of several things without giving an account or so much as speaking to her thereof Several Conferences were privately holden in the Kings presence on this subject by Persons who were so much the less to be suspected because they were then in little or no Esteem It may be affirmed as a truth that his Majesty in all these Consultations expressed an ardent desire to take upon himself the Government of his Kingdom and seemed to be highly offended that they continued to keep him at a distance and strove to render him more and more contemptible insomuch that he incessantly urged his particular Friends to take such Measures as they should think most proper to satisfie his desire and speedily to put them in Execution several Methods were thereupon proposed of all which none judged with so much Prudence so discreetly managed the Secret nor proceeded with so much constancy and resolution in bringing the Matter to perfection as his Majesty The first way that was tryed according to his Advice was taken from the means that had been exhibited to the Queen-Mother in the above mentioned Letter viz. to cause the Marshal d'Ancre and his Wife to retire into Italy upon Condition that they should not only enjoy all the Goods that they had acquired in France but should also receive more from his Majesty The Bishop of Carcassone who was then at Court with other Deputies of Languedoc was under colour employed herein and without knowing the Kings Design was perswaded to take an opportunity to discourse the Queen in Private and in acquainting her with the Circumstances of his Negotiation to lay down such Reasons as might prevail with her to consent to this retreat and to represent the apparent Inconveniences that would otherwise ensue He discharged this trust very prudently having urged such cogent and pathetical Arguments to the Queen which she afterwards repeated to Madam d'Ancre that both seemed to be inclined to yield thereto and from that time the latter began to convey part of her Goods to Florence and to cause almost all her Moveables to be packed up in order to be sent after them the same way But as for the Marshal the King was informed that he thought himself arrived to that height of Power that none durst attempt any thing against him and that with the Assistance of Spain which he had sollicited he might be in a Capacity to usurp part of the Kingdom therefore he arrogantly rejected this wholsom Proposition and it was then reported that he used such scornful Expressions to his Wife and some of his Confederates that have since quitted his Interests as if he intended to shew to what degree of Grandeur Fortune alone was able to exalt a Man Before it was thought fit to proceed to extremities and violent ways to effect the Change that was desired by the King and which the most part of his Subjects waited for with great impatience a debate arose whether his Majesty should openly declare to the Queen his Mother that he intended to take care of the Government of his Kingdom himself and for the future to cause all Affairs of the State to be transacted according to his Directions and good Councels and should immediately Command the Marshal d'Ancre and his Wife to depart into their own Country But for as much as all the Royal Power was then in their Hands and only the Name of a King remained to his Majesty and in regard
that by reason of the inordinate Ambition of the Marshal and his Wife his Majesty and the State would be exposed to great danger in taking this course it was resolved to find out some other means that might be more safe Divers Expedients being afterwards propounded at last it was agreed to examine which of these two ought to be chosen either that the King should give orders to some of his faithful Friends to kill the Marshal and to confiscate the Goods of his Wife or to send her to Florence or otherwise to impeach them in Parliament the King and most of them that had the Honour to be of his Council in this occasion did not approve of the first Method but concluded to make use of the latter and so much the rather because that besides that it was without Violence and according to the ordinary Rules of Justice his Majesty was assured that in the Papers of the Marshal and his Wife amongst other things sufficient Evidence would be found to prove the secret Correspondence that they had maintain'd with Foreigners to the Damage of the State Whereupon the King resolved to cause the said Marshal d'Ancre to be Arrested and immediately to be committed with his Wife into the Custody of the Parliament in order to their Tryal and his Majesty intended at the same time to entreat the Queen his Mother to vouchsafe to permit him to take the Government of his Kingdom upon himself and to endeavour to rescue it from that eminent Danger wherein it was fallen through the pernicious Councils of the Marshal and his Wife and by the means of the outragious and insatiable Ambition And to the end that the King might be firmly established in the Exercise of his Royal Power and that on this account the Male contents which were very numerous might be all reduced to their Obedience it was ordered that the Queen should also be desired to make choice of one of her own or of the Kings Houses at a little distance from Paris to reside therein for some Months during which time the King might be settled in the absolute Possession of his Kingdom and afterwards would send for her to take the second Place in his Council in which it was determined to recal the Ancient Ministers of the late King his Father that had been laid aside and to expel the greatest part of those that were thought to be introduced by the Marshal d'Ancre and his Wife it was also concluded that Monsieur de Vitry Captain of his Majesties Life-Guards should be employed to Arrest the Marshal d'Ancre but that no notice should be given him thereof till a few days before the Execution however Monsieur de Luines failed not to discover the Design to him It is most certain and I know his Majesty cannot but remember that my Lord Cardinal and Duke of Richelieu then Bishop of Lusson and Secretary of State for Military and Foreign Affairs discharged that Office with so much Judgment and Integrity and gave such signal Proofs of his Affection and Fidelity to his Majesties Service and the public Good of the Kingdom that he received great Satisfaction and was fully perswaded that in keeping him near his Person he might reap extraordinary Advantages from his good Conduct insomuch that he resolved to retain him and to dismiss the other Ministers that were employed with him This Councel being taken was not so soon put in Execution as well because the time was not proper for such an undertaking as by Reason of the fear with which some of the principal Agents were possessed lest the event should not happen according to their expectation this caused them often to doubt and to alter their measures insomuch that without giving any notice to the King nor to those Persons that remained constant with his Majesty in the Resolution that had been taken they agreed to attend him about Midnight and to perswade him that for the Security of his Person it was necessary for him to depart that very hour and to get into Soissons which was then besieged by his Army commanded by the Duke of Angoulesme that he should there declare his Intentions and should publicly act as a King To this end on the 14th day of March 1617. about Six of the Clock in the Evening Monsieur de Luines commanded the Officers of the great and little Stables in the Kings Name to make ready all the Horses against Mid-night and took so little care to conceal the cause of this Order that the chief Groom of the great Horse-Guard knew the Particulars who soon revealed them to one of his Friends that had been as I think a Lieutenant at the Siege of Clermont and at that time lived with Monsieur Mangot Keeper of the Seals whom he also acquainted with what had been declared to him I accidentally and as I believe very opportunely met with him when he received this News which he imparted to me and desired to know my Opinion for upon consideration of what might happen he seemed to be much perplexed whether he should disclose the Matter to the Queen-Mother or not I agreed with him that it was convenient to be silent and promised immediately to endeavour to discover the truth and if possible to frustrate the Design in case I could find that it was really intended However Monsieur de Luines denied that there was any such thing in agitation but being urged confessed it and would have perswaded me to approve it and instantly to go with him to cause the King to resolve upon it But there were so many and weighty Reasons such alledged against this ill-digested Proposition that it was laid aside whereupon having given M. Mangot an account we persisted in our first determination not to mention it to any After the Kings inclinations were sought in relation to this project I know not whether it would have been attempted if he had consented to it but I was informed that his Majesty soon rejected it declaring that he would not depart from the resolution that had been taken in his Presence Although secrecy is the very life of great enterprizes and ought to have been carefully observed in this by reason of the inevitable dangers that the Persons engaged as also the whole Kingdom would be exposed to if it should be discovered nevertheless many that conversed with M. de Luines some of whom had advised him to this design were informed by him what measures and resolutions were taken On the other side M. de Vitry having declared to his neighbours and intimate acquaintance and they again to others it was so far divulged that it became the common discourse throughout all Paris as a thing that was ready to be put in execution One Trevail whom we shall have occasion to mention hereafter was one of those to whom M. de Luines had revealed it and he communicated it to the Chancellor de Sillery whose Pensioner he was and who furnished him with notions and opinions
to be imparted to M. de Luines but so dextrously that if the matter came to light he could not be convicted of having any hand therein M. de Villeroy and President Jeanin acted the same Part with the intelligence that they in like manner had received from others that weretheir particular Friends and indeed all three were continually upon the Watch to get some advantage by this revolution in case it happened according to their expectation However it is certain that none of their expedients were Practised because they spake obscurely and as it were through a Pipe and the design was made so public that it came to the Ears of the Queen Mother and to those of the Marshal and his Wife and of some other Ministers of State but they did not seem much to regard it as well because they did not imagin that they that attended the King were potent enough to undertake such an enterprize as by reason of the orders that his Majesty had given on this occasion for he had subtily introduced into the Presence of the Queen his Mother two Familiar Friends of M. de Luines who igning to give her an account of all that was transacted by him told her that divers Persons had made Propositions to him to drive out the Marshal and his Wife together with the new Ministers of State to recal the old Counsellors and to cause the King to take upon him the Administration of the Government but that M. de Luines through their Advice had rejected all these vain projections which he durst not venture to attempt besides that he desir'd to Advance his Fortune in a fair way under the Protection of the Queen that had already conferred many Favours upon him on several occasions As for the King I am certain that none can truly boast that they received the least intimation from him by which it might be inferred that he had any thoughts tending to such a design or that he had so earnest a desire to Act as a real King on the contrary having taken a resolution ever since the first conference that was managed on this Subject in his Presence to conceal his intentions he affected to be employed in Exercise and Divertisements not agreeable to his Dignity and Disposition demeaning himself after so close and subtil a manner that none could discern his dissimulation only the Sieur Bellier an ingenious and valiant Gentleman of Dauphine who â—as lately come out of his own Country having observed his Majesty advised one of his Friends that had some interest in the Fortune of the Marshal to take care of himself for the King under the colour of mean Actions with which he passed away the time did undoubtedly cover some design of a change and being thus perswaded in regard that he was not in Favour with the Marshal he thought fit constantly to wait on his Majesty to serve him as an opportunity should be offered and indeed without having any knowledge â—f the Affairs in Agitation he was with him when the Marshal was killed as shall be shewed hereafter The Marshal d'Ancre had taken a journey into Normandy intending to reside there for some time As well to cause the Fortifications of Quilleboeus to be finished which he had undertaken for several considerations well known as to dispatch certain Affairs that he had at Roven and to take necessary measures for the securing of of that City and some other Places that he thought to be advantageous to his design but his Majesty of whom he had taken leave for a long time seeing him come back so suddenly and at unawares without being sent for and without any apparent reason of so precipitate a return was easily perswaded to believe that he came upon the Advice of his Wife or of some of his confederates because certain Persons since his departure had taken upon them to inform the Queen that the King intended to act himself and to cause the Marshal and his Wife to be removed as being the principal cause of the present Commotions that were ready to invade all the Parts of the Kingdom The King having embraced this opinion judged that if he did not take care to prevent his further Progress he might attempt to deprive him of the means that he had proposed to stop the course of his irregular and violent Proceedings to take the Government of the Kingdom into his own hands and to put an end to the disorders that were caused therein by his exorbitant ambition therefore his Majesty urged his faithful Friends to prepare all things that were requisite for the immediate executing of the resolution that had been formerly taken They were but few in number that were privy to this design though after it was accomplished many gained advantages thereby the Sieur de Modennes a Kinsman of M. de Luines who was then at Court knew nothing of it till a few hours before it was put in execution however some yet doubted and urged the former Advice that the King ought to go to Soissons but the same reasons that had been already opposed caused it to be again exploded insomuch that it was concluded to proceed without further delay From Sunday at Night to Monday the 24th of April 1617. M. de Luines M. de Vitry and some other that were employed in this Affair took care to give notice to their most intimate Friends that were Men of courage and well affected to his Majesties Person to come into the Court of the Louvre between the hours of eight and nine in the Morning on occasion of a pretended quarrel but the real intent was to make use of them in case of any uproar or tumult because the Marshal d'Ancre was always accompanied with a very strong Guard and that these Persons appearing in the Court might not afford any cause of suspition to the Marshal the Commissioners of the Registry were appointed to be Assembled in the Council-Chamber on Monday Morning to the end that the great Train of Attendants that are usually gathered together at such a time might serve to conceal the others that were ordered to be present The King gave it out that he had taken a Purge that the Great Gate of the Louvre might be kept shut and the little door only opened that by this means the whole retinue of the Marshal d'Ancre might be prevented from following him the Sentinels were assisted with certain resolute and valiant Persons who upon a Word given were to seize on a dozen of Halbards that were under some pretence brought into a little Chamber near the Gate and were to be commanded by a Gentleman that was privy to the design Commeillan Lieutenant of the Gate was charged to attend there and to open the Great Gate when the Marshal came but as soon as he was passed to shut it saying that he would open the lesser which nevertheless he should keep lockt till he had received Orders to open it About Ten of the Clock the Marshal came
hands ready to discharge neither must you ask them any other question but this whether they do not belong to the Duke of Vendome He had moreover desired those that belonged to the retinue of the said Duke who was then with the King in the Louvre to attend at the bottom of the Stairs which they also did whereupon he shewed all these things to Monsieur de Luines exactly as he had described them which he might very easily do since he himself had disposed them in this order He perswaded him that it was not convenient as yet to Arrest these Souldiers that he could take them up when he pleased and that if they were seized the Gentlemen believing their designs to be divulged would hasten the execution of them and would take such measures as might prevent theis being apprehended and entangled all at once as it were in one Net as he had Advised From that very hour he continually sollicited Monsieur de Luines who having according to his promise kept the secret for some time and indeed too long at last revealed it to Monsieur Deageant that he might find out some Means to frustrate these dangerous machinations without communicating them to the other Ministers because Gignier had represented them all as guilty by reason of the particular affection that they bore to some of the Lords of the Conspiracy Deageant told him that the relation he had exhibited to him carried an appearance of some ill design but that he could scarce believe that it was intended to be undertaken that it was to be feared least some deceit should lye hid at the bottom that the Affair being of that consequence it required a diligent security and ought to be more throughly examined in the mean time he concluded that they should stand on their Guard without shewing the least sign of distrust or suspicion He desired to hear Gignier himself being of opinion that from his mouth and by his contenance and demeanour he might better judge of the truth of what he affirmed Gignier refus'd at several times to discover himself to Monsieur Deageant but having consider'd that Monsieur de Luines had revealed the whole Matter to him and would not proceed without his Assistance he agreed to see him privately in one of the Chambers of the Tuilleries and desired to be excused on the account that he had entreated Monsieur de Luines not to declare this Secret to him because he did not think him to be his Friend but upon the assurance that Monsieur de Luines had given him to the contrary he was resolved to open his Heart to him and to conceal nothing relating to this Affair in which he told him that his Life was concerned since the Conspirators intended to begin their Enterprise with his Murther whom they esteemed the only Person that could prevent the Execution thereof he assured him that one named Fiesque a Bastard of that Family who was then Gentleman of the Horse to the Queen Regent and was one of the familiar acquaintance of Monsieur de Luines treacherously betrayed him though he had never so good an Opinion of his Fidelity was appointed to commit this execrable Assassionate It was true indeed that Monsieur Deageant was informed some days ago that this Fiesque waited for him in the Night being well mounted on a good Horse with a pair of Pistols to kill him as he was going out of the Louvre from whence he never departed till Mid night it is certain also that he was seen twice in this posture and that he had given it out publickly enough that he was an Enemy to Deageant without alledging any other Cause but that he was as it were the Gardiners dog that would not eat the Cabbidge nor suffer others to touch it adding that several Persons of divers Ranks and Conditions had bound themselves with an Oath to destroy him Gignier having thus used various Exprestions and Insinuations tending to obtain the good Opinion of Monsieur Deageant related to him all that he had discovered to Monsieur de Luines concerning this Enterprise and the Circumstances thereof Insomuch that there seemed to be a great probability of his Asseverations which he concluded with Reasons to perswade him that all the Lords that he had named ought to be forthwith secured in the Bastile amongst whom he reckoned M. de Guise affirming that after much Sollicitation he at last entered into the Conspiracy Deageant feigning entirely to give credit to all that he had said left him in hopes that he would ' ere long procure the recompence for him that he expected and charged him to persevere in his care and diligence in this Affair Nevertheless he remained firm in his first Opinion that there was a greater appearance of a Cheat than of Truth in this Matter At another time Gignier came and gave Information that these Gentlemen began to suspect lest some one that was Privy to their Conspiracy should divulge it and that they had taken a resolution not to Write one to another any longer but to confide only in a few chosen Persons by whom they would maintain a Correspondence for the future without assembling together any more as they had formerly done fearing lest these frequent meetings should cause them to be discovered Moreover he added that the principal Lords had caused Rings to be made for every one of them on which were enchased Stones of a dark green Colour and certain particular Characters Engraved these were also to be given to such as had engaged themselves in their Design as a Mark that they might be trusted He avouched that some of them had these Rings on their Fingers and on a certain Morning he brought one of them saying that it belonged to the Duke of Vendome that he had found it on his Toylet and that he must restore it the next day before he rise lest he should perceive that it had been taken away The Figure of it was immediately drawn by which another was made after the same manner When he saw any of these Gentlemen assembled in the Louvre he would soon intrude into their Company pretending to impart some Secret to them and afterwards would come to Monsieur de Luines and Monsieur Deageant to tell them that they had discoursed of their Conspiracy He would often appear with a very sad Countenance because so little care was taken to provide for the Safety of the King's Person and his Kingdom and to preserve the Lives of Monsieur de Luines and Monsieur Deageant and in regard as he said the danger was apparent for he expected every hour when the Design was put in Execution since all things weâ—e already prepared in order to it â—e would sometimes stamp with his Feer and tear off the Hair of his Head as it were in a Rage because they had exposed him to such Perils by neglecting to follow his advice It was not thought convenient to give the King any account of this
to cause an absolute inflammation therein And she so easily received these ill impressions that she suffered the Intelligences and Plots that were already promoted in the Kingdom under her name daily to encrease and intended to take a resolution to withdraw her self privately from Blois and to raise a Party in the Nation by the Power of which she was perswaded to hope to be re-established at Court with all the Authority in which she had been heretofore invested The King being informed of these artifices took all possible care to prevent the effect and to give a true account of his intentions to the Queen his Mother which were certainly so full of sincerity and so well known to those whom he employed in these important and most secret Affairs that none durst make the least motion to him that never so little reflected on the honour and respect that he required should be render'd to her or that tended in any manner whatsoever to interrupt the good correspondence that he desired to preserve with her Majesty It is also true that none of them at that time were inclined to the contrary at last the King seeing that all his endeavours proved ineffectual sent Monsieur de Roissy an Ancient Counseller of State to reside with her for these two ends one of which was to use his utmost efforts to disperse those mists of suspition that were cast before her Eyes and to dis-intangle her from those perplexities in which she had involved herself by hearkning to those evil counsels that were continually proposed to her and the other was to have a watchful eye over the actions of those that came near her Person to suggest them to her His Majesty also commanded certain Troops of Horse to be put into a Garrison near Blois to keep those in awe that should attempt to remove the Queen from thence These Orders and in a Word all the Kings Actions relating to the Queen his Mother even those that turned to her greatest advantage and were apparently most innocent were nevertheless converted by the factious into so many fire-brands to inflame her anger But for as much as they saw that their Plots were discovered as soon as they were contrived and that all the projects that they could invent were always frustrated with prudence and great Moderation they imagined that this proceeded chiefly from the vigilancy industry and care of Monsieur Deageant and took a resolution amongst themselves to set all their Engins at Work either to remove or to destroy him There were two Parties that for some time were engaged in the like enterprizes one of which consisted of several Persons who being intimate with Monsieur de Luines were perswaded that if they could induce him to discredit and expel Deageant they might afterwards rule him as they pleased and might thereby insinuate themselves into the Kings favour even to the detriment of Monsieur de Luines The other was managed by the Duke de Monteleon the Spanish Ambassador who had his Emissaries at Court some of whom were in so great repute with Monsieur de Luines by the means of divers secret Springs that although by the Letters dispatched from Spain to the Duke de Monteleon that were intercepted and by large Memorials that were sent to him the whole intrigue was laid open to Monsieur de Luines nevertheless he suffer'd himself to be deluded by it These Memorials were composed after so curious and artificial a manner that Monsieur Deageant who knew the disposition of Monsieur de Luines that was already inspired with jealousie by reason of the great trust and confidence that the King had put in him easily judged what would be the event He acquainted him with his thoughts thereupon and freely protested to him that he was about to consider in good earnest how he might retreat as he afterwards did assuring him that if he desired to remove him he would not oppose it provided that he took care that his Conscience and Honour might not be interested therein He performed his promise to him in this particular for about three Months after Monsieur de Luines having told him that the Ancient Ministers of State and all the cheif of his Family Kindred and Acquaintance had conceived an extream aversion and displeasure against him and that they threatned to abandon him if he did not depart from his interest advised him to forbear coming into the Privy Council and that of the dispatches only for fifteen days in which he would use his endeavours to take away these jealousies earnestly entreating him in the mean time not to declare it to the King because he was unwilling that it should come to his Ear least his Majesty should be provoked against the Ministers and this might cause a Division in the Council This Artifice was too gross not be perceived and it was apparent enough that the design was whilst he abstained from public Employments to slander and accuse him falsely before the King Nothing was left undone to procure this effect but his Majesties generosity was so great that he could not be prevailed with to discard a Servant against whom he found nothing alledged but what proceeded from envy or malice and one that could not be charged with any Mif-demeanour However Monsieur Deageant who observed on the one side that he was too weak to withstand the shock of so many and such powerful Enemies that opposed him and on the other that Monsieur de Luines had by degrees declined to hearken to his Advice to follow that which was suggested to him according to the different Passions of those that constantly beset him for the most part to the damage of the State judged rightly that if he should continue in the Execution of his Office he would be accounted responsable for all miscarriages that might happen though he had no hand in them these considerations obliged him not only to yield to the proportions of Monsieur de Luines but also to assure him that he intended for the future altogether to desist from the transaction of any Affairs of State having nevertheless represented to him divers weighty reasons to convince him that as he had formerly told him he had suffer'd himself to be surprized by those that were his own Enemies disturbers of the Peace of the Kingdom and dis-affected to his Majesties Service who might perhaps at some other time require of him an account of several important negotiations that he had almost brought to perfection and would be lost through his retreat some of which shall be hereafter related in their proper place At that very instant Monsieur Deageant forbore to appear in Council and to transact any Affairs and had also withdrawn himself from Court but Monsieur de Luines who had concealed this Plot from the King caused him to believe that he had voluntarily absented himself by reason of the jealousie of the Ministers till he could find out some means to compose the differences that
report thereof to a private Assembly of the Ministers of State who were of opinion that no mention ought to be made of this Affair for the same reasons that have been produced in the Preceding Paragraph and that the Page should be committed to the custody of some Person appointed to conduct him to the Citadel of Calais where the Governour was to be commanded to entertain him and not to permit him to depart till he had received further orders this was put in execution and I know not what became of him since because I had retired from the Court. About the same time a certain French Man that had lived in Spain about fourteen Years came from Portugal to the Court and made application to Monsieur de Luxemburg lately Deceased the Brother of Monsieur de Luines whom he acquainted that he came on purpose to give information of a matter that he thought was of great consequence in relation to the Kings Person affirming that being very intimate with the Governour of a Sea-port Town the name of which I do not remember this Man believing him to be a Spaniard had often shewed him an Indian Youth that had a Steel Cross bow so little that it might be put into his Pocket which he could draw so dextroufly that he never failed to shoot twenty or twenty five shot within the compass of a penny with a sharp Arrow that entered with great force and very far into the board that was set up as a mark and that he was employed at other times in learning Languages and more especially the French above all others without permitting him to go out of the Fortress nor so much as out of the Tower where six Souldiers were appointed for his Guard This giving him an occasion to suspect that there was some sinister design in agitation against his Country excited in him a desire to penetrate into it as far as he could insomuch that being on a certain day in the Indians Chamber with the Governours Secretary who as his Master had done took him to be a native of Spain and having asked him what they intended to do with this Foreigner that was kept there so long he replied that it was better to maintain one desperate and resolute Traytor than a great Army that such a one usually did more execution and did not cost so much and that he could not be ignorant that this was a Maxim of the Spanish Politicks Therefore from this and from other passages that he observed elsewhere he concluded it to be an undoubted truth that the Indian was thus exercised and guarded that he might be hereafter employed to perpetrate some villanous enterprize in France He earnestly insisted that this maâ—ter should not be communicated to the Kings Council only to some of them in private whose fidelity and capacity was well known and that if some one were chosen that might be trusted and that could speak the Spanish Tongue fluently he could prevail so far as to cause him to be admitted into the Garrison of the Fortress and perhaps into the Guard of the Indian's Tower where he might see the truth of that which he had related and that they might advise together concerning the measures that were to be taken to destroy this Man in case they could perceive that any progress had been made in the design for which he judged that he was entertained after this manner thereupon such a Person was provided as he required who was furnished with a peculiar Cyphet or Character to write down the particulars that he should observe concerning these occurrences he sent divers Letters that confirmed all that the other had reported and urged with much importunity that this Indian ought to be dispatched and that it might be easily effected with a little Money by the means of some of those that belonged to his Guard this was not long after actually put in execution A Gentleman that faithfully served the King in Spain was charged to observe these transactions and gave an account that the two Men that were sent thither had punctually performed their promise I can certainly avouch the truth of this Affair since the sums of Money that were paid to keep it secret were taken out of my Chest a considerable part of which is yet due to me because I was dismissed from the managing of public Negotiations during the time that this was in agitation Before I proceed to discourse of those passages that came to my knowledge after I was thus discharged 〈◊〉 my Employment I thought it not amiss succinctly to relate some particulars touching Foreign Affairs a true account of which perhaps hath not been exhibited elsewhere It is certain that when the King took the Reins of the Government of his Kingdom into his own hands the Court of Rome inclined more to the side of Spain than to that of France Cardinal Bourguere the Popes Nephew privately encouraged this party against ours and to engage himself therein concluded with the Spanish Ambassador the Marriage of the Prince de Sulmone which hath been since consummated Monsieur Deageant perceiving that they to whom the administration of the transactions abroad was committed did not Advise the King to get an interest at this Court that was always able to cause notable revolutions in the Affairs of Christendom entreated his Majesty to permit him to endeavour to accomplish a design that he had contrived for this purpose He was so fortunate as to obtain a considerable esteem with the Pope and the Cardinal his Nephew and Cardinal Bentivoglio being then in France wrought good impressions upon them by his dispatches which procured him great Credit and very much facilitated his enterprize he was also favoured with the great reputation that the King daily acquir'd and by the refusal of the Spaniards to restore Verseil contrary to the re-iterated promises that they had made by the Treaties that were concluded through the Mediation of the Pope and his Majesty from whence the Court of Rome inferred that the Spaniards designed to enlarge their Dominions in Italy to the damage of the other Potentates and particularly of his Holiness Thereupon a Treaty of Alliance was promoted between the House of Bourguere and that of France and to make it more firm and durable a match was propounded between the Duke of Sulmone and Mademoiselle de Verneuil who was afterwards Married to the Duke de la Valette This overture being made to Cardinal Bourguere and several reasons and advantages represented that were proper to perswade him he declared that he did not dislike the Proposition that he would communicate it to his Holiness and that he would in the mean time hold the Marriage in suspense that was Prosecuted by the Ambassador of Spain between the Prince de Sulmone and the party whom he hath since taken to Wife But that he was obliged to say that France would not reap the Fruits that they expected from this Treaty though it should succeed
sent to him on purpose in which he acknowledged him as the Vicar General of Jesus Christ on Earth as the Universal Father of the Christians and the chief of all Catholicks assuring him that after he had taken care of those things to which he had agreed he would openly declare himself in the mean time he promised not to suffer any search to be made in his Kingdom after Priests that were sent by his Holiness or the most Christian King provided they were not Jesuits in whom he protested that he could not confide for divers Reasons principally because he accounted them as the Authors of the Gunpowder Treason by which they had designed to blow him up as he sat in the Parliament-House In his Letter amongst other things he entreated the Pope to vouchsafe that the Goods of the Church that were entred into the Patrimony of the principal Families of England should not be taken from them but on the contrary that they should be permitted to possess them because otherwise great troubles and commotions would ensue he affirm'd moreover that nothing could detain him from making a publick Profession of the Catholick Religion immediately but the desire he had to gain the King of Denmark his Brother-in-law whom he had to that end but under another pretence solicited to come over into England where he hoped to convert him that by doing this he should be able to establish peace in his Dominions which otherwise could hardly be maintained and that they two being joined together in the same design would draw after them almost all the Northern Countries The Duke of Buckingham and the Gentleman whom he sent to Rome were the only persons that were his Subjects to whom he discoursed these Intentions The Duke had promised to follow him and indeed made a considerable progress therein but the Death of King James that happened during this Negotiation prevented the effect at which his Holiness and the King were very much troubled The King of Great Britain always shewed a great aversion to the design of the Prince Palatine his Son-in-law and an extream desire to cause the Duke of Savoy to be made King of the Romans he solicited M. Deageant during his Employment at Court to endeavour to incite the King to this and to persuade him to make use of his Interest with the Electoral Princes that were his Friends as he intended to do with those that were his promising also to raise Forces to assist him in his Election and Enstalment The Affairs of the Low Countries remained in their ordinary course It is true indeed that the Spaniards in Flanders had determined to renew an old Quarrel by digging a certain Channel over Calais in those Lands that were in dispute between the two Estates but the King oppos'd it declaring that he would hinder the work by force of Arms some Conferences were holden on this account by the neighbouring Officers on both sides but they took no effect however the Spaniards desisted from their Undertaking The King of Sweden obtained leave of the King to levy certain French Troops for his Service that were employed in the War in which he was then engaged The Duke of Lorrain who was as yet only Prince of Vaudemont resided some time at Court where he received all manner of demonstrations of the King's Favour and good Will who defended him in a Quarrel that arose between him and the Count of Soissons and took a particular care of all his Affairs in somuch that when he proposed to marry the Heiress of Lorrain His Majesty afforded him his assistance tho some were of a contrary Opinion indeed no Opportunity was offered wherein he could oblige him but he did it affectionately being very much inclined to love him However Divine Justice hath permitted him to be punished for his unparallel'd ingratitude to the King almost assoon as he had arrived to the highest pitch of his power The D. of Vaudemont his Father who never was well affected to France very early implanted the seeds of those pernicious Principles in his mind that have since produced such bitter fruits in his Family and have at last been the cause of its ruin As for the Affairs of Germany when the King took on himself the Administration of the Government of his Kingdom they were sufficiently embroiled the two Parties the Catholick and the Protestant had already harassed one another in several places the Duke of Bavaria hoped to attain to the Empire being animated by the Counsel of the Jesuits who to that end had advised him to engage in his Interest the principal Officers that had served the Emperour and were lately disbanded as also to cause all necessary provisions to be made for the execution of this Design The Prince Palatine on the other side being excited by his own Ambition and by the greatest part of the Protestants and very much importuned by the Duke of Bouillon suffered himself to be decoyed with the same project of aspiring to the Empire and prosecuted it vigorously Both Parties seeing France enjoying a profound Peace and their King ready to mount on Horse-back to turn the Scales to the side that he should think fit to favour diligently sought to make an Alliance with him The King's Council was divided thereupon some thought it convenient that he should promote the Enterprise of the Duke of Bavaria nevertheless without declaring it openly Others on the contrary were of Opinion that he ought to remain Neuter and with the Forces that he had in the Field to march towards Metz that appearing formidable to both Parties he might be ready to lay hold on all advantages that should be offered which consisted amongst other things in counter-ballancing the House of Austria that apparently designed to exalt it self to the detriment of all the Potentates of Europe and in case matters should be disposed to a Peace in endeavouring to become Arbitrator thereof Moreover there happened another occasion that required the King's Presence at Metz an Information had been given of the secret Correspondence between M. d'Espernon and the Queen-Mother that was at last made manifest by her departure from Blois It was known also that the Duke of Bouillon had promised to join with that Party and that under colour of fortifying the Garrison of Metz he intended to cause Soldiers to be admitted therein to the end that in the midst of the Combustions that he saw were ready to break forth with the assistance of them and some other Inhabitants that were at his Devotion he might attempt to make himself Master of the place to annex it to the Principality of Sedan insomuch that the King to secure this City and to rescue it from the power of those that were very industrious in strengthening themselves in their Conspiracies against him was resolved to proceed to the execution of an infallible Enterprise that had been projected at that time when M. d'Espernon began first to be suspected in order to the
performance of which certain Troops were quartered near that City under another pretence This Stratagem was then very privately managed for the King and one of his Privy Counsellors were only privy to it his Majesty not being willing to discover it even to M. de Luines Because said he he knew not how to keep a Secret Amongst the Nobility that adhered to the Factions that were raised in the Kingdom under the name of the Queen-Mother endeavours were used to introduce the whole Body or at least the principal Members of the Professors of the Reformed Religion who were always very watchful to take advantages upon any dissention in the State This was the cause that detained the King in Paris or the places adjacent and prevented his Journey to Metz fearing lest the Incendiaries should grow more numerous and potent in his absence The Artifices of those that favored these Conspiracies and others that made use of them to ruin M. de Luines and to get into his place prevailed so far over him as to persuade him to believe that every thing that was told him concerning them was frivolous and that there were no such Plots in Agitation Insomuch that ten days before the Queen-Mother went from Blois M. Deageant who as hath been said had no share in the transaction of Affairs but remained as yet in Paris according to the desire of M. du Luines having brought to him an Information that he had received from a Gentleman of good Credit concerning the design of this departure and the manner how it was to be performed he despised it saying it was a Dream and a Chimera However M. Deageant failed not after four days were passed to give him a new Account that came from another person of Quality his intimate Friend and one that was very well affected to the King's Service who had hearkened to the Enterprise with an intent rather to be serviceable in revealing it than to do any mischief But M. du Luines treated him in this Rencounter after the same manner as he had done in the preceeding being possessed with an Opinion that had been wrought on his mind that Deageant had invented this piece of News to procure some advantage to himself and to endeavour by this means to recover his favour M. Deageant had a just cause to be offended if his affection to his Master's service and to the particular welfare of M. de Luines with whom he had lived in strict Amity had not restrained him but preferring his Duty before any other resentment he insisted as much as possibly he could to persuade him to advise the King to prevent as he might easily do an action that would infallibly kindle a Civil War but perceiving that he could not convince him of the Truth of this Relation he urged him at least for his own Security to propound it to the Council that was to be assembled at that very hour because otherwise the Counsellors themselves would be the first that should accuse him of Negligence in case the Enterprize should take effect He promised to do it and at the breaking up of this Council that was holden at Paris he told him that all the Ministers were imposed on in this matter and that they ought not to be any longer amuzed thereby The Gentleman that had sent the second Advice seeing that it was not regarded and being credibly informed of the resolution that was taken for the departure of the Queen-Mother from the Castle of Blois with the Retinue Order Manner and other particular Circumstances of the Action rode Post himself to give a certain account thereof thinking that his Words would be more prevalent than his Letters He arrived on the Thursday preceeding the above-mentioned Departure M. Deageant brought him to St. Germain whither the King was gone to divert himself for some Days with Walking and presented him before M. de Luines who would not so much as hear him altho he offered to undergoe any Punishment that should be inflicted on him if he could not justify every Particular that he had averred The Truth soon appeared for on the Saturday following about three of the Clock in the Afternoon the Sieur de Prè a Gentleman that belonged to the King and had a House at Blois brought the News that between Friday Night and Saturday Morning the Queen-Mother was removed after the same manner as had been described to M. de Luines who was now very much perplexed being sensible that this Device was principally contrived against him and that the Ministers of State and the most part of the other Persons that had disswaded him from hearkening to this Advice did not bear that cordial and sincere Affection to him as he imagined It is also certain that some desired to see the Queen invested with the full Authority that she had formerly enjoyed at Court provided that they might rule under her Name as they hoped to do and that others earnestly expected some Change in hopes to advance their Fortune there being very few that preferred the Kings Interest and the common Good of the State before their own private Gain Upon these Considerations M. de Luines began to acknowledg the Damage that had accrued to the King's Affairs and to himself in particular by being so easily induced to withdraw M. Deageant from the transacting of publick Negociations and took a Resolution on this occasion to re-establish him but having discoursed with him touching his Intentions he excused himself altogether as he often did afterwards when he caused him to be solicited by divers worthy Persons some of whom are yet living however he promised that he would never refuse to serve him in particular on any occasion when it should lye in his power as he did very advantageously even in the accommodation between the King and the Queen his Mother On Sunday Morning the King returned to Paris and caused his Council to be assembled to consult what was to be done in this Conjuncture It was resolved that forasmuch as this was the first considerable Enterprize that he had undertaken since he had taken upon himself the absolute Government of his Kingdom to come off honourably and to strike a terrour into the Hearts of the Rebels he ought to raise a great Army and to appear himself at the Head thereof That it was necessary to this end to levy about an hundred thousand Men to be employed in securing the Provinces and that the greatest part of the Army that was to be commanded by his Majesty in Person should immediately go and besiege the Place where the Queen and her Abettors should be retired Of all these Forces only fifteen hundred Men under the Command of M. du Maine were allotted to preserve Guienne tho that Province was most to be feared by reason of the Correspondence that the Queen-Mother and M. d'Espernon had therein at that time more than in any other of the Kingdom The King would not declare his Opinion in this Council but
his Majesty questioned in the least his unmovable Affection and constant Fidelity to his Service in the Religion that he professed he was ready to abandon all his Offices and to retire into any of the Protestant Cities being the Allies of France that his Majesty should think fit to appoint this he enforced with several Expressions which argued that he was touched to the quick It was M. Deageant's part to appease this Passion as he did within few daies to that degree that he obliged him to sign certain Articles that he had prepared concerning all the points that had been already agreed upon as also to vouchsafe that the Marquess de Bressieux should be Mediator in this Transaction since he was content to be serviceable therein without pretending to any particular Interest Thus the Marquess de Bressieux thinking to gain the sole credit and reputation in these Proceedings returned to the Court carrying the Letters of M. de Lesdiguieres and M. Deageant together with a Copy of the above-mentioned Articles the Original of which remained in the Hands of the latter and promised to come again very speedily loden with Dispatches and necessary Orders for the performance of the Agreement But he was very much amazed that after he had made a Report of the Success of his Negociation no further mention was made to him thereof especially when he understood that M. de Bullion was sent to manage it after another manner Although the Expedition of the Marquess de Bressieux ought to have been kept secret as it had been advised unless other designs were in agitation altogether different from those that were pretended Nevertheless his Papers were read in a full Council and it was determined that the Office of a Constable that was vacant by the Death of the Constable of Montmorency should be re-established but instead of the Grant that was promised to be made in favour of M. de Lesdiguieres a Breviate only was ordered to be drawn up in his Name which was sent to him by M. de Bullion who was enjoyned to present it to him and to persuade him at the same time to entreat the King to bestow it on M. de Luines and to be content for his own part with the Office of Marshal General of the Armies and a Pension of Eighteen Thousand Livres per Mensem without being obliged to turn Catholick M. de Bullion whether he had any particular instructions or otherwise intended also to treat with him privately but M. de Lesdiguieres declared to him as he had done to the Marquess de Bressieux that he would disclose every thing to M. Deageant and would follow his Advice upon this account he was sent for at the first Audience of M. de Bullion in which he only discoursed concerning his Conversion and the accomplishment of all those things that were already concluded without speaking so much as one word relating to the principal cause of his Journey But having found an opportunity to talk with him apart he represented it to him and propounded a strick Alliance between him and M. de Luines which was to be bound with the Marriage of M. de Canaples his Grandson with Madam de Combalet the Niece of M de Luines M. de Lesdiguieres demanded some time to consider of it and took an occasion to confer two or three hours with M. Deageant on the subject of these new Overtures at which he was very much incensed being astonished that after his Conversion had been so long solicited and he had been prevailed with so far as to promote it a Declaration should now be made to him that it was convenient for him to remain in the Religion that he professed from whence he inferred all the ill consequences that can be imagined M. Deageant though he was not a little surprized at such a proposition yet considering that if M. de Lesdiguieres should reject it such discontents and suspicious might ensue as would be sufficient to withdraw him from the King's Service his fidelity and adherence to which was at that time necessary produc'd several solid and cogent Arguments in opposition to those that M. de Luines had objected to him as he afterwards declared his Mind to Monsieur de Bullion and concealed not from him that he had been confirmed in this Opinion by the Counsel of M. Deageant Assoon as notice thereof was given at Court M. de Lesdiguieres was ordered to repair thither and M. de Bullion and M. Deageant were commanded to accompany him The King seemed earnestly to desire this Journey as well on the account of M. de Bullion's Dispatch as to take the advice of M. de Lesdiguieres upon the Design that the Protestants had devised to cause a General Assembly to meet at Rochel without his Majesty's leave and contrary to his Prohibition which they actually accomplished and from whence ensued the War that the King brought to so happy and glorious an end Monsieur de Lesdiguieres before his departure in his Journey and at his arrival at Paris received several Informations that all the honour and profit that had been proposed to him would cease in the Imprisonment of his Person in the Bastille during the remainder of his Life and although the greater part knew that there was no such thing intended and only gave out this Intelligence with a Design to corrupt him nevertheless there was somewhat of truth and reality of which M. Deageant had an intimation for it was resolved in a Privy Council of some particular Ministers of State to arrest M. de Lesdiguieres and to proclaim War against all the Protestants who were represented to M. de Luines as so weak and unable to make any considerable Resistence that within a year they might be easily suppressed it was alledged that this would be the only means to advance his Glory and to make it appear to all men that the King had deservedly conferred on him the Office of Constable which they had advised him to assume to himself M. Deageant entreated him to hearken to what he had to offer to his consideration on this account and calling him aside into a little Closet persuaded him to take Pen Ink and Paper and caused him to draw from this affair a great number of Consequences that were almost all necessary and tended to dangerous precipices that threatned the ruin of the King's Person the Catholick Religion the Kingdom and his Family in particular So many inconveniencies said he thereupon were not foreseen but howsoever it may happen the Dice are cast and there is such a progress made in this Enterprize that they were obliged to run the hazard M. Deageant was not able entirely to dissuade him from prosecuting the War though he assured him that by the measures that he had taken with M. de Lesdiguieres preparations were made to gain more advantages over the Protestants in six months without drawing the Sword than could be obtained in many years by all the King's
Forces At length he compelled him to condescend to the performance of the last promises that were made to M. de Lesdiguieres by M. de Bullion that he should be employed in the Armies that he should be honourably treated and that instead of denouncing War against the Protestants it should be only declared against the Factious and Rebellious forasmuch as that first Declaration would necessarily force all those of that Religion to defend themselves and would stir up the foreign Protestant Princes to assist them but this would destroy them after such a manner that none but those that were purely factious and that had nothing to lofe would be willing to be accounted as Rebels All sorts of Artifices were used as well with the King as M. de Luines to excite them to explode this proposition and to adhere to the former as also to cause M. Deageant to be esteemed as the greatest Heretick and most dis-affected to his Majesty's Service that ever was in the Kingdom but their Attempts were vain for his Majesty was inclined to follow the advice that was most gentle most certain and the least dangerous to which all those that had regard only to the King's Service voluntarily subscribed insomuch that the Declaration was published on the fourth day of April 1621. with a resolution that in case the Assembly of Rochel would not disperse themselves and refused to accept the offers and reasonable Proposals that were made to them through the mediation of M. de Lesdiguieres his Majesty should march on that side with his Army to reduce the Rebels to Obedience Nothing could be added to the care that M. de Lesdiguieres took to oblige them to return to their duty whereof I can speak as knowing it by experience because I prepared all the Letters Memorials and Instructions for those that were sent to them at several times who were Persons whom I chose being well affected to his Majesty's Service But when he saw that the Assembly rejected all his good Counsels and proceeded to extremity he advised the King to prepare to go and chastise them and offered to serve him in person with all that belonged to him This Resolution being made known to the General Deputies of the Protestants the Sieur de Favas who was one of them entreated him to make use of his interest to procure the deferring of these proceedings for eight or ten days in which he would endeavour to persuade the Assembly to submit upon the terms and conditions that had been offered to them and engaged himself to effect it His Majesty was willing to grant this time nevertheless he ordered his Troops to march and resided at Fontainbleau expecting the event of this Journey from which he hoped for so much the greater success in regard that ample provision was made for the gratifying of the Sieur de Favas in case he should perform what he had promised But he neglected it and on the contrary took upon him the Office of Admiral on the other side and abode in Rochel Assoon as the King was informed thereof he went forward on the way and being arrived at Tours held a Council to consult what was convenient to be done and especially whether he should pass through Saumur or not it was carried in the Affirmative but to take away all suspicion from the Sieur au Plâ—ssis the King was advised not to â—odge in the Castle but within a few hours after his Majesty having conferred with one of his particular Servants changed his Opinion and dispatcht the Sieur du Hallier Captain of his Guards to prepare Lodgings for him in the Castle that were already provided in the City having also ordered M. de Lesdiguieres to advance and with him M. de Bullion and M. Deageant to treat friendly with him concerning this Affair The Garrison was sent into one of his Houses and it was agreed with him that the Place should be committed for some time to the custody of the Count de Sault who was not as yet a Catholick and afterwards should be restored into the Hands of the Sieur du Plessis it is certain that if it had not been secured there was a Design assoon as the King should depart to introduce a competent number of the Protestant Soldiers to keep it to block up that Passage from his Majesty's Forces and to facilitate the Approach of the Supplies that the Rebels waited for from this Side of the River Croire Some Persons that were intimate with M. du Plessis favoured this Enterprize as it was thought contrary to his Intention I shall not here enlarge on the remaining Circumstances of his Majesty's Journey because I had no knowledge of those Particulars since I was not admitted into the Council and kept no Correspondence with M. de Luines tho he often complemented me after an extraordinary manner I shall only observe that they that had given their advice to use the most violent means perceiving that M. de Luines was dissuaded from it as it hath been above represented prevailed with him by divers Stratagems daily to take measures contrary to his Promise and rending to soment the Jealousies already raised and consequently to encourage the Insurrections and Riots of the Protestant Party to prove this I need only to mention the Transactions to the prejudice of the Capitulation at St. Jean d'Angely at Ponts at Clerac and other places There happened amongst others a remarkable Occurrence at the Siege of St. Jean d'Angely that was sufficient to frustrate the King's Journey and Design if God the visible Protector of his Majesty's Undertakings had not prevented the Mischiefs that would otherwise have ensued The King removed from the first Lodgings that were provided for him at that Siege and to be nearer the Place took others in St. Julien where M. de Lesdiguieres was already posted On a certain Day as Father Arnoux gave Audience after Dinner to several Persons a Gentleman whom Madam de Lesdiguieres had sent to treat with him about a business relating to her entered and advanced very near him without being perceived because he sat with his Back towards the Door discoursing with a Bishop He reported that he heard this Prelat commending Father Arnoux for the good Counsels that he had given to the King and especially for two Motions that were made being attributed to him alone one of which was That he had incited his Majesty to undertake so just a War as that which was now begun and the other That he had drawn M. de Lesdiguieres to the Court who was the only Person that was able to stop the Progress of his Majesty's Arms at which Words this Father answered aloud We have caught the subtil Fox and he shall never escape out of our Hands The Gentleman having observed this Passage retired without speaking to Father Arnoux and related to M. de Lesdiguieres the Circumstances of this Rencounter who was not as yet so perfectly recovered from his Indisposition that was
because I knew that all my Actions were strictly observed neither did I ever much study my one profit however the Queen-Mother went on that very day to the Louvre where she lay and the next morning departed to Compeigne being accompanied with his Eminency who within a few daies after was admitted to the Ministry to the great benefit of the King and Kingdom His Eminency knows better than any the Negociations that were afterwards managed not only in France but also in all the most considerable places of Christendom neither can a perfect Relation of those Occurrences be composed without his instructions As for my own particular since I had no share therein and was not very curious in enquiring into other mens business I could hardly get intelligence of what passed in the lower sphere of the Court therefore I shall only mention some few Transactions in which my Enemies falsely reported that I was concerned against the King's Service and perhaps his Eminency will not take it amiss that I discover the truth which without doubt hath been always concealed from him to give a clearer light into this matter I shall relate all the circumstances thereof from the beginning Above a year had passed since I withdrew my self from the Court and was continually employed in the dispatching of my private Affairs at Paris in order to my total retreat when the late Marshal d'Effiat came to my House and commanded me in his Eminency's Name to endeavour to decipher certain obscure propositions that the Flemmings had exhibited to him for the promoting of Trade and Commerce and in case I could pick out the meaning to prepare the necessary expedients I had formerly applied my self to the study of things of the like nature insomuch that it cost me less pains and trouble in apprehending the intention of these Flemmings and joyning their propositions to the particular knowledge that I had acquired I drew up a method by which according to my weak judgment such a commerce might easily be established as with little or no charge would far surpass all others in Europe and the King would thereby become Master of the Seas some time was spent in this laborious Work during which the Marshal d'Effiat came often to confer with me and to urge the expedition thereof on behalf of his Eminency One day as I read to him what I had composed and being come to a Passage relating to a certain Right of Arrearage that belonged to the Marshal d'Ornano from which the Merchants desired to be exempted he told me that it ought to be reserved to him and desired me to give him notice to meet at my house the next day about the same hour that they might discourse together on this subject they came thither at the time appointed and I can certainly affirm that the Marshal d'Ornano never set his foot within my door since I desisted from managing of publick affairs because he bore no very good will towards me there the Marshal d'Effiat contracted great familiarity with him and promised that he would take care that his right of Arrearage should be preserved Within a few days after his Majesty being departed to Fontainbleau and his Eminency to Fleury the Marshal d'Effiat required me in his name to introduce the Flemmings into his presence and to bring all that I had prepared on account of the propounded Commerce his Eminency having perused my Work and heard the Merchants in particular was exceeding well satisfied with the proceedings ordered them for the future to apply themselves to none but me and enjoined me to finish other dispatches that were requisite for the accomplishment of this design Being returned to Paris the Marshal d'Effiat commanded me as it were in his Eminency's name immediately to endeavour to persuade Monsieur the King's Brother to depart to Fontainbleau according to the desire of the King and the Queen-Mother without refisting any longer as he had done being excited as it was thought by certain factious Incendiaries that designed to detain him at Paris that they might engage him in their Cabals I excused my self alledging that I had no access to him and that a whole year being passed since I forbore to frequent the Court I had an opportunity to speak with his Highness but once which happened six months ago when I met him walking in the Tuilleries and the more I strove to avoid it the more he urged me affirming that it would be esteemed as a signal piece of service at last he was content that I should only go and make an attempt Thereupon I solicited the Marshal d'Ornano insomuch that he offered several Arguments to the Prince to induce him to give their Majesties the satisfaction that they desired in this respect which proved so effectual that his Highness went the same day and lodged at Fontainbleau About that time I was informed that the Abbot Feuquan l' Anglois his Brother and one Ferrier lately deceased formerly a Minister of State who for some months almost continually attended the Marshal d'Effiat and others that had free access to the Cardinal of Richelieu had conceived great jealousies because his Eminency had employed me in the above-mentioned affair and had openly commended my Work after a very extraordinary manner and that every one of them fearing lest if he should keep me near his Person their devices might be frustrated they all conspired together to procure my ruin of which I ought to have been aware and to have stood on my guard but since I had no other aim but to obey his Eminency's Command relating to the matter of Commerce then in agitation which being finished as it almost was as far as it depended on my part to perform I intended to retire However my misfortune was so great that I neglected to follow the advice that was given me since if I had mentioned but one word to his Eminency perhaps the King's Justice and his would not have been prevented as it is probable that it was in this case for within a few days after as I was putting the last hand to the second Memorial that his Eminency had desired that I might deliver it to him the next day at Fleury according to the order that I had received from the Marshal d'Effiat in his name I was carried Prisoner to the Bastille where I have been confined with a great deal of rigour during four years and seven months being shut up close for a good part of that time without liberty to take the least Air though I was certainly informed that his Eminency had wrote at two several times that I should be permitted to walk abroad the effect of which priviledge my Enemies hindered by their Artifices which they also made use of to sow dissensions in my Family that apparently caused the Death of my Wife and the loss of the greatest part of my Estate that I had acquired with much labour and industry during the term of thirty years In this